Android 4.4.3 is now seeding to HTC One (M8) devices in Europe

Android 4.4.3 KitKat is now seeding to unlocked HTC One (M8) smartphones across Europe. The firmware update brings the device’s software version to 2.22.401.4 and comes in at the substantial 613MB in size.

Android 4.4.3 brings a host of improvements to HTC One (M8). They include mobile network, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth performance optimization. Most importantly, the new OS version delivers to the metal-clad smartphone all security upgrades from Android 4.4.4.

HTC Sense has been tweaked as well. Boomsound, Extreme Power Saving Mode, Motion Launch, and the Quick Setting menu have all been optimized.

The upgrade also includes updates for the native HTC apps. They include the camera, the image gallery, the settings menu, as well as HTC Sync Manager.

If you are an unlocked HTC One (M8) owner in Europe, you may head over to your device’s settings menu to check if the update is available.

Via

}

Latest Chrome beta hints at Android L being version 4.5

Ever since Google announced Android L at Google I/O last month, speculations ran wild as to not only what L will end up being called (Lollipop seems to be the fan favorite), but also what version number it will sport. The latest Chrome beta 37 release reveals a Android 4.4.99; Build/LPV79, which indicates that the next build of Android will be Android 4.5, rather than 5.0.

Version 5.0 has many proponents, as that will result in a larger amount of changes than what a smaller incremental update will bring. Google has already rolled out numerous updates to its Play services, Maps, and Gmail, among others, so we've yet to see what else the eventual 4.5 update will bring.

Expect Android L - likely under the version 4.5 build number - to arrive this fall. Meanwhile, check out the Google Chrome beta 37 release right here.

Thanks to our anonymous tipster!

Source

}

Samsung launches Galaxy TabQ with 7" display in China

Samsung has officially launched its mid-range Galaxy TabQ tablet in the Chinese land. The tablet will be compatible with China Mobile and China Unicom.

The Galaxy TabQ sports a 7-inch TFT display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The tablet is powered by an unknown quad-core 1.2GHz processor and the company hasn’t specified the amount of RAM on board.

Samsung’s latest slate measures 191.8 x 99.7 x 8.9mm and weighs about 250 grams. The device features an 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front facing shooter, microSD card slot that supports expansion up to 64GB and 3,200mAh battery. Connectivity options of the TabQ include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS and 4G LTE.

The back of the Samsung Galaxy TabQ comes with the faux leather finish, which was first seen on the Galaxy Note 3.

Unfortunately, there is no word on the pricing details of the tablet. As for official availability outside of China – you probably shouldn’t hold your breath.

Source | Via

}

Alleged specs of Sony Xperia Z3 surface

Unlike most of its competitors, Sony refreshes its flagship Android line up twice every year. It looks like the company is already gearing up to introduce the next-generation Xperia Z smartphone, as the rumors and leaks have started to pour in.

We recently saw the alleged image of the Sony Xperia Z3, but we didn’t get to hear about the internal specifications of the device. Now, @evleaks has revealed some of the hardware configurations of the upcoming smartphone.

According to the popular leakster, Sony Xperia Z3 will carry the model number D6653. The smartphone will sport a 5.15-inch Full HD display, which is about the same as on the current model. The Xperia Z2 successor is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 801 chipset with a quad-core 2.4GHz processor and Adreno 330 GPU.

Sony Xperia Z3 is going to be equipped with 20.7 megapixel rear camera with the company’s G Lens technology. This means that the camera department will not see any changes. If the rumors turn out to be true, Z3 will be the fourth smartphone from company to feature the same sensor - Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact and Xperia Z2 are the earlier ones.

Sony’s upcoming flagship device will house 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and it’s a pretty safe bet that device will have a microSD card slot. For now, the Xperia Z3 is said to run on Android 4.4.4 KitKat, but we might see the device come out of the box with Android L.

Sony is expected to unleash its Xperia Z3 smartphone during the IFA trade show in September, but there is no word on the exact event date just yet.

Source

}

Vodafone Smart Power 4 with 5" display launches

Affordable carrier branded smartphones is probably are the easiest way to jump onto the smartphone bandwagon. Vodafone, with its newest offering, the Smart Power 4 will be hoping to bolster its smartphone sales in the United Kingdom.

Vodafone Smart Power 4 sports a 5-inch qHD display and is not a high-powered smartphone by any measure – it packs a MediaTek MT6582 chipset with quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex A7 processor. The device is equipped with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory with the ability to expand it via microSD card.

The Smart Power 4 has 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and it looks like the front facing shooter has been scrapped to keep the cost down. In the connectivity department, there’s Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and supports LTE-CAT 4.

Vodafone Smart Power 4 is not very compact, measuring 141 x 71.4 x 9.5m and weighing 162 grams. The smartphone runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and comes with 3,000mAh battery.

The Smart Power 4 is now available for £175 on Vodafone’s Pay as you go plan or you can also pick up the device for £26.50 on Red 4G monthly plan. If you are in the UK and planning to get hold of one, then head on to the source link below to locate a Vodafone store near you.

Source | Via

}

iPhone 6 renders show up in screen protector listing

Online retailer XtremeGuard has the Apple iPhone 6 covered with screen protectors. The listings have both the rumored 4.7" as well as the 5.5" iPhone 6 models.

The site offers protectors for the iPhone 6 and 6c but interestingly thinks that Apple will release 4 models - an iPhone 6 with a 4.7" and 5.5" display and the iPhone 6c with the two screen options as well.

We find this unlikely but we'll see. Keep in mind that we've seen this very same render before but it still could mean that it's a close approximation of what's to come.

The design is more or less set in stone as of now with most leaks pointing to the same one with rounded, slimmer edges and a thinner frame.

The screen is expected to be Sapphire-coated, pointed out by many a source already and we expect Apple to unleash the new iPhone on September 19.

Hat tip to Amandeep!

Source

}

Amazon's Fire Phone uses head-tracking for games

Amazon's Fire Phone is packed with a lot of interesting, never-seen-on-a-smartphone-before tech, but the big question was just how the online retail giant was going to utilize all of the phone's new fancy features?

Well it looks like Amazon certainly has its eyes on the gaming landscape, especially when it comes to the Fire Phone's head-tracking, eye-watching cameras installed in the device. There are two games that are being designed specifically for the Fire Phone: Saber's Edge and To-Fu Fury. Saber's Edge is a pirate-themed puzzle game, and To-Fu Fury is another puzzler, but with platforming elements, a la, 'Splosion Man.

So how do the titles utilize the Fire Phone's "Dynamic Perspective" feature? Well you won't exactly be tilting your head and wagging your chin to control your characters, but you will be able to take a peak around corners to see any obstacles or bonus items that are hidden away. If you'd rather not use the feature, then you can just tilt your phone, but then again, where's the fun in that?

The games retail for $1.99 each, which are exclusive to the Amazon Fire Phone, which will be ship out this week.

Although "Dynamic Perspective" is relegated to some basic features for these two titles, it'll be interesting to see the kind of exclusive games that are announced for the Fire Phone. In any event, it's promising to see that two apps were announced before the phone has even been made available to the public.

Source | Via

}

Mobile device use trumps PC use in China

Recent statistics reports in China show that more people are going online with mobile devices than they are with computers. Out of 632 million internet users in the country, 532 million (83%) of them were using their mobile phones to connect to the web some of the time, with 512 million (81%) connecting with their PCs.

What's more is that internet traffic has increased as a result of the ever-growing presence of mobile devices in the region. Overall internet use has grown 2.3% in just six months, with mobile users growing 5.4% which suggests that there are some people who exclusively connect to the internet with just their cell phone or tablet; it may be the only device that they have.

The huge growth for mobile in China isn't exactly surprising; given that the mean income is relatively low per capita (around $7,333). This, combined with the new influx of cheap, quality devices that are available in the Chinese market, and you have all the makings for a society that thrives on mobile phones; making owning a computer more and more unnecessary.

It might only be a matter of time before the same trend spreads to the US and Europe, especially since smartphones are becoming more and more capable devices.

Source | Via

}

Asus PadFone X review: Like no other

GSMArena team, 21 July 2014.

Introduction

The Asus PadFone X for AT&T is the Taiwanese manufacturer's first offering from the family of hybrid devices to officially hit the US market. Announced during this year's CES in Las Vegas, the device consists of a high-end Android handset and a tablet docking station with 9" IPS display and stereo speakers.

Asus PadFone X official photos

At a quick glance, the Asus PadFone X could well be the dream device for an Android power user. Thanks to the combination of Snapdragon 800 SoC, 13MP camera with 4K recording, and 5" 1080p Super IPS+ display, the handset can rub shoulders with most high-end offerings out there.

The bundled docking station on the other hand, will surely appeal to the budget-minded, as no competitor offers such functionality for the price. To top things off, the optional full keyboard cover will transform the device into a capable compact notebook.

Key features

• 5" Super IPS+ display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels


• Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Asus Zen UI out of the box


• 2.3GHz quad-core CPU; Adreno 330 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC; 2GB RAM


• 13MP PixelMaster camera with 4K video recording and LED flash; 2MP front-facing unit; 1MP front-facing unit on the tablet tock


• 16GB of built-in memory; microSD card slot


• Bundled tablet dock with 9" 1920 x 1200 pixels IPS display; stereo speakers


• 2,330 mAh built-in battery; 4,990 mAh unit on the dock


• PMA wireless charging support


• Optional full keyboard dock with touchpad

Main disadvantages

• Not the best looking handset around


• Rather late to hit the market (six months after the product announcement)


• No IR blaster


• Tablet has huge bezels


• Heavy in tablet mode

By the looks of it, as far as available features go, the Asus PadFone X is anything but lacking. The device packs a powerful chipset, a top-notch display, and capable camera, topped by an Android KitKat build with useful additions from Asus.

The bundled tablet dock is what truly separates the Asus PadFone X apart from its competitors. Available out of the box at no additional cost, the docking station is certain to make the PadFone X a mighty attractive option for those who cannot shell out additional cash for a tablet.

However, as is the case with many devices that try to offer multiple talents, the Asus PadFone X is not exactly perfect in all departments. The handset is hardly one of the best looking in its segment to begin with. The tablet dock has also seen some engineering compromises as it's bulky in size and has wide screen bezels.

Asus PadFone X live photos

As always, we will kick our review off with an unboxing of the Asus PadFone X, followed by a design and build quality inspection.

Editorial: You may notice that this review is shorter than usual and doesn't include some of our proprietary tests. The reason is it has been prepared and written away from our test labs. Still, we think we've captured the essence of the device in the same precise, informative and detailed way that's become our trademark. Enjoy the good read!

}

Apple iPhone 6 tipped to launch on September 19

A promotional flyer for the upcoming Apple iPhone 6 has been posted by a Weibo user in China. It depicts two iPhone smartphones, a 4.7" and a 5.5" one, alongside their respective prices.

A lot of rumors have suggested that Apple is considering to launch two iPhone devices this year and this promotional flyer is yet another hint that this might indeed happen. The flyer also suggests pricing for the iPhone duo.

The 4.7" iPhone 6 would carry a price of $850 (RMB 5,288), while its larger 5.5" sibling is tipped at $1012 (RMB 6,288). According to the flyer, the launch date of both is September 19. Historically, that's not surprising, as the iPhone 5s launched on September 20 and the iPhone 5 did so on September 21.

GSMInsider cites reports from China that claim Apple has already sent the iPhone 6 to Chinese carriers like China Mobile and China Unicom to test its 4G LTE connectivity.

The 4.7" screen version of the iPhone 6 will reportedly have a resolution of 960 x 1,704 pixels. We've witnessed a slew of dummy units of the phone, with a recent one having the following dimensions – 137.5 x 67 x 7mm. For reference, the iPhone 5s is 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm.

Via

}

Huawei outs Ascend P7 Arsenal Edition smartphone

Earlier this year, Huawei announced a new global partnership with prominent UK football club Arsenal, promising exclusive offers, content, and brand presence for Arsenal fans. The partnership apparently also includes specially-branded smartphones, as Huawei has just released a new variant of its Ascend P7 flagship that's especially targeted at Arsenal fans.

The Ascend P7 Arsenal Edition features the Arsenal logo mounted on the rear cover of the P7, alongside a wide range of Arsenal-based themes and menus. The integrated clock widget is even based on the famous Arsenal Clock End.

The special edition device is also set to come preloaded with FIFA 14 to take care of your football gaming needs. Huawei representative Richard Ren promised a few more surprises for Arsenal fans for the coming season, so be sure to check back with us often for more on the Huawei-Arsenal partnership.

For our take on the ultra-thin Huawei Ascend P7, check out our comprehensive review.

}

ZTE to make Google Now Launcher default on future phones

Android’s customization is one of the OS’ biggest selling points over other mobile operating systems. However, sometimes, manufacturers really fudge up the Android experience with their software overlays. Delayed updates, cluttered menus, and sluggish user interfaces are all problems associated with over-customization.

There has been a trend of manufacturers sticking closer to the stock Android experience, and it looks like ZTE will also further this trend. The phone manufacturer has announced that all of its future smartphones, beginning with the Hong Kong release of the Blade Vec 4G next week, will have the Google Now launcher set as the default home screen.

The cleaner, more streamlined user interface will probably please the majority of users, as well as Google, as the tech giant’s services and features command the spotlight on the launcher interface.

More and more manufacturers moving to a stock, or "stock-ish" Android interface is indicative of a positive response to Google's work in making Android a more pleasing experience to use overall; if a greater number of people prefer Stock Android to other customized interfaces, than the Google design team has to be doing something right.

Source | Via

}

Windows Phone 8.1 new lockscreen to be available soon

Although Windows Phone 8.1 has been out for a while now, there are still a few complementary features that weren’t included with the upgrade’s rollout. One of the more interesting promised features teased by Microsoft is a new lockscreen experience.

The new API for the lock-screen is going to be a piece of software you’ll have to install separately, and won’t be built into the OS itself.

So what’s the big deal about the new lockscreen? Apparently it is going to add a greater degree of customization to Windows Phone devices. This is good news for an OS that has, often-times, been deemed a bit too homogenous from device to device; Windows Phones more or less all act the same.

There are some limitations for the updated Lockscreen, however. If you’re rocking a Windows Phone with less than 1GB of RAM, then you’re going to be out of luck, as you’ll need at least a gig of memory to use the new feature. Also, the new lockscreen only plays nice with English language settings.

If you’re fine with these stipulations, then you’ll be able to download the new Lockscreen beta in about a week.

Source | Via

}

Xiaomi Mi 4 purportedly shown again in leaked pictures

Next week Xiaomi will hold an event during which it's going to unveil the Mi 4, its next flagship smartphone offering.

The phone has so far been teased by the company's execs, and at one point in the past we've seen it in a couple of blurry photos.

Today we get a new round of leaked images that are said to depict the Xiaomi Mi 4. As you'd expect, they come from China, and they bring along a few rumored specs.

The Mi 4 could therefore have a 5-inch touchscreen with 1080p resolution, a 13MP rear camera with LED flash, and a 5MP front snapper.

It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with a 2.5 GHz quad-core CPU, aided by 3GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage space.

All of these innards will be kept running by a battery that will be 3000 mAh or more, and the Mi 4 is expected to run MIUI v6, the next iteration of Xiaomi's interpretation of Android. It will have 4G LTE support.

As you can see, the back of the handset looks like it's made out of metal, but apparently that's not the case. It's just a material that imitates the metallic look - possibly something akin to what LG has done with the G3.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

}

BlackBerry Passport extensive hands-on video leaks

The upcoming BlackBerry Passport is certainly one of the most unorthodox devices currently in the rumor mill. Packing a square screen with a resolution of 1440 x 1440 pixels, the Passport is probably the last chance for the troubled company to save itself.

The smartphone was already showcased by BlackBerry’s CEO himself, but outside of some live shots and vague specs info we didn’t get to learn much about it back then. Now however, a leaked video shows the BlackBerry Passport in action, demonstrating its UI and some of its cool new features.

A particularly impressive feature is the touch-sensitive three-row QWERTY keyboard that doubles as a trackpad. It gets its time in the spotlight towards the end of the video.

The BlackBerry Passport will launch in September at an yet unknown price.

Via

}

The Sony Xperia Z2 now available in the US for $700

The Sony Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact certainly took their time before they became available on the US market, but that's not the case with the Sony Xperia Z2.

The Sony Xperia Z2 is now available for order at Sony's US website for a handsome amount of money. The no-commitment price is $700.

That falls in line with the rumors that no carrier will be picking up the Xperia Z2. It has got to be noted that a recently leaked image suggested that the Sony Xperia Z2 will be available at least on Verizon's network, although only later - in mid-August.

The Xperia Z2 has been internationally available since April this year and we already managed to test it throughly, so don't miss checking out our review if you are considering buying one. Despite Sony's long-standing great reputation in the imaging department, the Xperia Z2 failed to impress it in our Flagship camera shootout 2014.

Source

}

Sapphire display to be limited to some iPhone 6 models

The iPhone 6 will have a sapphire display - this fact has been leaked and rumored countless times before. We've even seen the sapphire screen being put to the test, and surviving anything except a car running it over.

But if you thought that all iPhone 6 models will benefit from this technology, you might be in for a surprise.

According to a new report from Asia, there won't be enough sapphire panels to go around for every last iPhone 6 sold. That means only certain models will get this feature.

Apparently there's a limit to how many sapphire panels will be produced this year - around 10 million, to be exact. And obviously sales of the new iPhone 6 are expected to go well over that.

So it's possible that the sapphire screen will be limited, for example, to iPhone 6 models with 128GB of storage - which will be the most expensive in Apple's portfolio.

Another possibility is for Apple to only use the sapphire tech for the bigger, 5.5-inch iPhone 6, since at one point it was rumored that only 10 million units of that phone will actually be made this year.

However, production of sapphire displays is set to pick up in 2015, and it's then when we can expect to see many more iPhones with such panels.

Each sapphire display may cost as much as $45, compared to around $10 for one furnished with Corning's Gorilla Glass.

All of this speculation comes courtesy of JP Morgan Securities, through their latest report on the matter. Regardless of the source, though, you should always take such things with a grain of salt.

Source | Via

}

Microsoft kills Nokia X Android phones, lays off 18,000 people

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced today in an email to employees that the company is preparing to layoff a total of 18,000 people within the next year.

Additionally, Stephen Elop, chief of Microsoft devices, also announced that the Nokia X Android project is over. Future Nokia X designs and products will be shifted to Windows Phone devices. He notes that the company will make the shift immediately, but support and sales for existing Nokia X products will remain.

There's no further information on what's the destiny of the recently announced Nokia X2. It's an existing product technically, so it should go on sale, but given the new developments Microsoft might as well cancel it. After all, we doubt anyone will be interested in buying into the platform now that it's officially pronounced dead.

Here's an excerpt from Elop's email.

In addition to the portfolio already planned, we plan to deliver additional lower-cost Lumia devices by shifting select future Nokia X designs and products to Windows Phone devices. We expect to make this shift immediately while continuing to sell and support existing Nokia X products

.

Out of the total of 18,000 planned job cuts, the Nokia Devices and Services unit will lose 12,500 people. Each one of them will be notified over the next six months and will receive a severance package. Those 12,500 jobs are comprising of both factory workers and IT professionals.

Satya Nadella said that the workforce reductions are dictated by the need of work simplification and strategic alignment with the Nokia Devices and Services integration.

Microsoft's phone engineering efforts are expected to be concentrated in Salo, Finland (for future, high-end Lumia products) and Tampere, Finland (for more affordable devices).

Source • Source (2)

}

Sony Xperia phones can now move apps to SD cards

Sony began rolling out Android 4.4.2 KitKat-based firmware update yesterday for the mid-range Xperia T2 Ultra. It brought the new OS version plus updated system and Sony exclusive apps. What we missed to notice the first time is the awesome function to move apps to the SD card.

Once you go to application manager in your Settings menu and select an app, you'll notice the new Move to SD card option. There is even a new column that shows only the apps installed on your microSD card.

This particular feature is priceless for the mid and low-end phones, which come with very limited internal storage and system partition. It isn't available with the KitKat updates on the Xperia Z top lineup, but as it turns out Sony has different plans for the less-capable devices.

Currently Sony is still prepping the KitKat updates for Xperia M2 and Xperia E1 and we bet we'll see Move to SD card feature premiering on those with the new firmware as well. Maybe the KitKat-running Xperia smartphones will get it with the next update, too.

Source

}

Apple iPhone 6 to come with an improved TouchID sensor

The TouchID fingerprint scanner was one of the key selling points of the Apple iPhone 5s and while its initial reception was mixed at best, the sheer number of devices to come with a fingerprint scanner since suggests it was a smart move. So it will hardly come as a surprise that Apple is working on improving the TouchID hardware for its next flagship - the iPhone 6.

Images of the new TouchID sensor have surfaced, complete with some details about it. The screw of the sensor has been relocated to make it fit in the new design, but we also got word that it will be more durable than before. The company is reportedly employing a new manufacturing process that uses tin to achieve the increased endurance.

While there haven't been too many reports of TouchID failures from iPhone 5s users, Apple might be preparing for the rumored expansion of the functionality of the sensor, which would certainly make people use it more and increase the strain on the hardware. Besides, we are less than one year into the lifetime of the product, so you never know.

Meanwhile, we got more photos of the panels of the rear panel of the smartphone. While those do not show the complete design like the dummies floating around, they should be made from the same material as the final product. That would mean that the parts that we do see is actually a more accurate representation of what we'll get in the end.

Apple iPhone 6 rear panel

Source 1 | Via | Source 2

}