Google Play celebrates its own 1st birthday

It's been a year since Google shed the Android Market name in favor of Google Play. As questionable as the rebranding may have been, Google has decided to celebrate the change with special promotions for all types of content in Google Play, as well as some real-world rewards.

The Google Play Team announced the "Our Gifts To You" promotion that offers several free TV episodes, bonuses to stores, and discounts on other purchases. The promotion will last for the remainder of the week and will feature things like:
- 99 cent movie rentals
- 99-cent magazine purchases
- Book purchases for only $5
- Music album purchases for $3.99 to $6.99
- Free single TV episodes
- Heavily discounted in-game purchases for virtual goods

Google offers discounts and gifts for items outside of Google Play. For instance, users who download the Hotels.com app can save 10 percent off their next booking. Fancy offers a $15 gift card with first purchase, and Gyft offers $20 gift cards to various big box retailers. Full information is available at the Google Play Birthday promotion landing page.

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Another set of leaked Samsung Galaxy S IV screenshots confirm 13 MP camera and 1.8 GHz quad-core processor

Next Thursday's Galaxy S IV announcement is fast approaching, and Samsung is having troubles keeping the phone's features under wraps as more and more carriers and partners are already in possession of the handset.

Right after the first batch of screenshots from the new Nature UX today, comes another one, this time from Israel. The new leaks confirm a 13 MP camera, 5" 1080x1920 pixels display, 1.8 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM….Read more

Samsung Galaxy S IV features Smart scroll, Smart pause, Smart rotation revealed by screenshots

There have been several rumors concerning the Samsung Galaxy S IV, which is set to be officially announced on March 14, and new screenshots supposedly from the Galaxy S IV appear to back-up many of those rumors.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the Galaxy S IV will feature eye-tracking software that will be able to determine when to scroll down. As the user looks at the bottom of the screen, the phone then automatically scrolls. Leaked screenshots lend credence to that rumor, showing a "Smart scroll" feature that fits that description. It also shows Smart Pause, which pauses when the user looks away; Smart rotation, which changes screen orientation based on angle of sight; and the already available Smart stay, which prevents screen timeout when it detects a user is looking at the screen.

The screenshots, courtesy of GSM Israel, also suggest that the Galaxy S IV will have a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor, a 1080p display (480 ppi), a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a screen size of at least 5 inches. These are just rumored specs that appear likely to be true, but we won't know confirmed details about the Galaxy S IV until next Thursday at Samsung's launch event.

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HTC One to hit Russia in April, to carry RUB 29,990 price tag

Info on HTC One pricing keeps rolling in – the flagship is expected to hit Russia on the first Sunday of April for RUB 29,990 ($977). This is according to info shared by Russian retailer Euroset, but other retailers should get the One around the same time for about the same price.

The HTC one can already be pre-ordered at the Euroset’s website in silver or black. There are a number of plans available for multiple carriers.

The HTC One is also coming to the UK (£510 / $773 SIM-free or£41/month for 2 years on contract) and Germany (€600 / $782). It will also hit the US on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

The HTC One will be available in a huge number of other countries too, you can check the complete list.

Canon’s new full-frame CMOS sensor for video cameras has whopping 19-micron pixels

Canon has developed a high-sensitivity, low-noise, full-frame 35mm sensor specifically for video capture. The new sensor opts for 19-micron pixels, which are 7.5 times bigger than those on the EOS-1D X…Full Article

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Next Apple iPhone might feature a smart stylus, rumor suggests

As the rumor has it Apple might be working on a smart stylus for its next-gen iPhone 6. It should work the similar way as the Note and Note II S-Pens but support even more functionality.

You should definitely take this one with a healthy pinch of salt as it's coming from The Sun, which is not exactly known for its tech industry coverage. Anyway the tabloid's sources had it that the next iPhone will have a smart stylus, just like the S-Pen on the Note smartphones.

The rumor also has it that the next flagship by Apple will offer some sort of motion gesture password protection and mini barcode scanner.

What lends some credence to those rumors is the fact that Apple recently filed three patents for stylus technology. The Cupertino giant might simply be preparing for another legal round (with Samsung probably), but it might be getting ready to try and attack the Koreans' Note lineup instead.

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SONY XPERIA Z VS. NEXUS 4 COMPARISON [VIDEO]

The Google Nexus 4 is at the cutting edge when it comes to the latest Android software, but the recently released Sony Xperia Z is pushing boundaries when it comes to hardware. First announced at CES in January, the Sony Xperia Z has a 5-inch 1080p display, a 13 megapixel camera capable of HDR photos and videos, and a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor. It even manages to deliver those features in a body that's waterproof and dustproof. Does that make it a better option that the Nexus 4, Google's flag-bearer for Android 4.2? Here's a video touring the Sony Xperia Z hardware and software options, as well as an Xperia Z vs. Nexus 4 side-by-side comparison.  

Video: By MobileBurn

Samsung Galaxy S IV will reportedly feature eye scrolling

It looks like the headline-grabbing Smart Stay feature of the Samsung Galaxy S III will be taken even further in its successor. According to a New York Times report, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S IV will have eye scrolling on the list of its software tricks.

The word on the Samsung Galaxy S IV's software talent is reportedly coming from an anonymous Samsung employee who has had the pleasure of trying the handset out. Samsung's trademarking the terms EyeScroll and Samsung EyeScroll in the EU and the United States points at such feature as well.

The Samsung Galaxy S IV will break cover on March 14 in NYC. We will be reporting live from the unveiling, so be sure to tune in for the full scoop on the upcoming Android beast.

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