Jerry Hildenbrand's blog

Ouya shows that they realize the value of communication, fills us in with another shipping update

Ouya wants to be the next big thing on console gaming. We've heard today that they now have 10,000 developers lined up, and since the end of March they have been busy shipping units out to Kickstarter backers. They realize that to be successful, they need to get units in the hands of people who want one, and more importantly, keep communicating with the folks waiting on their order.

They are doing that with weekly shipping updates on their Kickstarter page and via email, like the one they have sent out today. There's no real breaking news to tell, but the prove that they are listening to feedback and have adjusted a few things in their shipping workflow:

• Limited Edition units have been "fast-tracked" and will be shipped out sooner, cutting nearly two weeks off the original time.
• Standard orders are no longer prioritized over orders with extra controllers. The orders with spare controllers will start shipping early next week.
• They are working on methods to get international orders out the door faster

Good news all around, and it's awesome to see a company let us know how things are going during the crazy process of shipping out tens of thousands of units. Well done, Ouya.

Source: Ouya

Sony says Jelly Bean is close for a range of 2012 Xperia phones via an official Twitter account

An official Sony Twitter account has spilled the beans on the upcoming Jelly Bean update for a handful of Xperia phones today. Users with an Xperia P, Xperia Go, Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia Arco S and Xperia Ion should be seeing Android 4.1 in short order, as work on the updates is in the final stage.

Sony has come a long way in a very short time when it comes to Android versions and compatibility. The company that once left phones to die on old versions of Android is now the company that has worked with the AOSP maintainer and is taking an active hand in providing code and updates. We love seeing that sort of communication and cooperation between manufacturers and Google.

Sony says to expect more news about Jelly Bean for the mentioned Xperia phones next week. We'll keep an eye on things, and let you know as soon as they have more to say.

Source: @SonyMobileNews; via Android Central forums

No date was given, but previous leaked information points to May 30

Verizon has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available on their network during the month of May via Twitter this afternoon. We've previously seen a May 30 date leaked from Staples for the Verizon version of the S4, but no actual date was given today.

As just about every other US carrier has given out release information on their version of the Galaxy S4, it' nice to see Verizon say something -- even if it is just the month. With May right around the corner, I've a feeling we'll know more soon. Of course, we'll let you know as soon as we do.

Source: @VZWnews

The One where you help us pick the winner of the HTC One developer edition

Last week we started up a contest with an awesome prize -- a 64GB HTC One developer edition. It wasn't an ordinary contest (this isn't an ordinary phone) where you drop your name in a hat and Mr. Random Number Generator grabs one. Instead we decided to make it fun and all of you involved and engaged by submitting a short video of yourselves and your old phone. 

Part 1 of the contest is over, so it's time to begin the next phase -- the one where you fine folks pick the winner.

The Touch Drawing App puts the touchscreen on your Pixel to use

Googler and Chromium Evangelist François Beaufort has released a little Chrome app that gives you a chance to put your touchscreen to work. Aptly named Touch Drawing App, all it does is present a canvas which you can draw on with your finger or a stylus. 

Yes, it's pretty basic, and not something that will make folks rush out and spend $1300 on a Chromebook Pixel. But we have to start somewhere if we want great touch-based apps in Chrome, right? Besides, it's fun and free -- what's not to like.

If you have a Pixel, or any touchscreen laptop with the Chrome browser installed, you can grab it at the Chrome Web Store right here.

Via: +François Beaufort

Sales of Samsung's Galaxy S4 phones will go through the roof, tell us where you're going to use yours

All the major carriers in the US are going to carry the Samsung Galaxy S4, and we'll be seeing them hit the streets in the coming weeks. It's going to be a huge seller, that much were sure of. Samsung has taken their winning strategy formed with the Galaxy S3, improved everything on the hardware side, added a bunch of new features, then put it in a smaller case. People will be buying.

We're pretty sure this one will be heavily skewed towards Verizon, as there is no HTC One to consider for folks using Big Red. At least for now. But seeing how the spread forms between the different carriers is good data to have, so I'm asking -- Which U.S. carrier will you be getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 on? There's a poll in the sidebar to the right, or you can find it embedded after the break. Let us know!

While we're all here, let's look at last week's poll.

It looks like most of us choose Android and stick with it. That makes sense, as we're here because we're all fans. But it's still nice to see people coming over from those "other" phones. I'll ask this one again in a few months to watch the trend.

Sharing from the web to your friends just got a little easier with today's Pocket update

Pocket, the app that makes it easy to read it later, just got a really nice update in Google Play. If you're not sure what the app is, think of it as a locker where you can store things you find on the web that you want to have a look at later. I use it a lot while surfing on my phone, sending links to Pocket so I can look at them a little closer on my computer. It works well, looks beautiful, and has some pretty savvy developers behind it. 

With today's update, a way to specifically share links and snippets with a friend has been added, Open anything in your list from the pocket app, and you're able to send it directly to anyone with an email address, along with a comment. What makes it interesting is that if your friend has Pocket installed, they get a push notification via the app letting them know you've sent them something. The sharing menu also remembers who you've recently shared with, which makes it even more handy.

Phil and Alex, get ready for hundreds of ICanHasCheezburger links, because I'm going to love this feature. You can grab Pocket (it's free) or update via the Google Play link above.

Individual release date details and pricing to come from carriers and retail outlets themselves

Samsung this morning has announced that the Galaxy S4 will be available in the United States by the end of the month. Individual carrier announcements are still to come, but here's what we know so far:

• T-Mobile: Already announced its GS4 will be available May 1 for a $99 down payment. (Might we see that date shift to meet this April window? Wouldn't surprise us.) Update: T-Mobile will have it available online April 24, in stores May 1.
• AT&T: We've got a pretty good indication that AT&T will begin to ship out Galaxy S4 orders (and presumably have them on store shelves) on April 30, but Samsung wants to remind everybody that it's going to be awfully easy to get your hands on the new Galaxy S4 in the very near future.
• Verizon: Still no official date, but the phone did just show up on Samsung's site in black and white. (Not like we didn't know they exist, of course.) 
• Sprint: Previously said to look for it in the second quarter, so, yeah. Update: April 27 it is, folks. Preorders start April 18.
• Other carriers: US Cellular, Cricket and C Spire are all on the same April time frame.
• Retailers: The Galaxy S4 also will be sold at seven retail outlets (Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile, Costco, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Staples, Target and Wal-Mart). You'll not be able to shake a stick without hitting a Galaxy S4 it seems -- and that's a good thing.
• The U.S. versions of the S4 will offer the proven powerhouse of the Snapdragon 600, with a new high -res 1080p 5-inch display. That, and 2GB of RAM have been crammed into a package that's actually smaller than the Galaxy S3 by reducing the bezels on either side of the device. The folks who have had the chance to use one are saying some good things, and we're looking forward to getting one of our own to play with and put through the paces. 

We'll continue to tell you the official word from carriers and stores as they trickle out, in the meantime hit the break for the full press release from Samsung.

• More: Watch our Galaxy S4 hands-on
• Also: Visit the Galaxy S4 forums

Samsung knows you like Galaxy S4 accessories, announces a few more

If there is one thing smart phone enthusiasts like more than a new phone, it's accessories to go along with it. Samsung knows this, too, and has announced a few of the official Galaxy S4 accessories this morning. While it's not the complete list of things we saw leaked last month, a couple of the favorites should be available soon -- hopefully along side the device itself.

First up is the Flip Cover we all know and love, but redesigned to fit the S4 perfectly. Available in seven colors (Black Mist, White Frost, Light Blue, Pink, Green, Orange and Yellow), the Flip Cover will retail for $39.99. A new take on the Flip Cover is the new S View design (pictured above) which has a clear cover so users can see information like SMS messages or the current time. It's available in Black Mist or White Frost for $59.99, and it looks like a new software mode will work in conjunction with the cover to put the information you need front and center of the window itself. Samsung will also offer what they're calling the Protective Cover+. It looks like a high quality protective case, and comes in White, Navy, Green, Blue and Pink. It will retail for $29.99.

Beside the cases and covers, Samsung announced a Spare Battery Charging System. Checking in at $49.99, it consists of charging stand, a wall charger, and a spare 2,600 mAh battery. This sounds like a very good price for the dock and the extra battery, and is sure to be a popular seller.

Of course, plenty of the existing Galaxy S accessories will work just fine with the S4. Besides the obvious like headphones and wireless media devices, the Smart Dock and Universal Multimedia Desktop Dock will work for various Galaxy S devices, including the S4. See the full fact sheet after the break.

Microsoft has updated their Outlook.com application today, bringing a new user interface and a few new features

Microsoft and SEVEN Networks have revamped the Outlook.com application for Android, and released a huge update today on Google Play. There's a whole new look  -- a mashup of a strange Holo-esque feeling combined with Microsoft's traditional Windows phone style elements -- and a trio of new features. Users can now have threaded conversations,  use filters for unread and flagged mail, and now have the ability to mark messages as junk. 

To build the all-new app, Microsoft partnered with SEVEN Networks. These are the same folks they used to build the Hotmail app on Android, and makers of what Phil calls "an old-school bad-ass Exchange conduit for Windows Mobile".  

While most Android users will use Gmail, we can understand why Microsoft cares enough to try and provide a good experience for Android users. Outlook.com is a successful venture for them, and it makes sense to be able to deliver it -- and deliver it with quality and class -- on as many screens as possible. If you haven't tried it yet, and use Outlook.com for email (or are thinking of trying it), hit the Google Play link above. SEVEN's full press release is after the break.