Droid Life

Phonebloks Posts Project Ara Update Video, Shows the Team Behind the Undertaking

Rithvik — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:30:53 +0000

Now that we're so close to the Project Ara Developers Conference set to go down on April 15th and 16th, it seems Phonebloks couldn't resist uploading an update video on the progress of the team behind Project Ara. The video shows some of the prototypes of Project Ara, but there are no finished products to be revealed here. A lot of goodies are in the video, including some details about how Google plans to get Ara out to consumers. We also meet with two Google Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) engineers, the aptly-named Mechanical Workstream lead, Ara, and the Electrical Engineering and Software lead, Seth. The two have devised a way to connect modules to the endoskeletons with electropermanent magnets, which means progress. We also learned of ATAP partnerships with 3D Systems for manufacturing 3D printed parts for use on Ara, and Soso Limited for a simple Ara configuration application to experiment with different modules. The head of Design at Google ATAP also appears in the video, and shows off the three different endoskeleton renders while stating that ATAP will not be covering the modules up with anything to show the modularity of the device. While I don't personally agree with this, at least we're seeing headway here. What do you think of these new details? Do you think Ara could be hitting the market this year? Let us know down below in the comments.

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Via: Phonebloks (YouTube)

Cyanogen Inc. Gains "New Identity" By Unveiling Redone Branding and Logo

Rithvik — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:24:04 +0000

Custom ROMs have always been a thing, whether you love them or hate them, and CyanogenMod has always been the most popular one. If you can remember, they incorporated a few months ago, and are now working with OnePlus on their One smartphone (set to launch soon), so they've made some ground from early last year. Today, they're looking to take this further by unveiling new branding and a retouched logo. Abhisek Devkota attempts to explain every bit of the new look, including the logo's minute details. He also states that freedom to modify devices as the user wishes is still at the core of CyanogenMod, and is the focus of Cyanogen going forward.

With the picture above, Devkota goes on to explain the intricacies of the logo. At the heart of everything, as mentioned before, is customization. The "C" is to "bring together the users and the community," as it represents the security of the ROM. And finally, now the smallest part of everything, is remaining open source.

It is also noted that the arrow for open source points forward, and that the whole "screw" design is meant to show that this is a project in motion still. Interesting stuff, folks.

If you were wondering about Cid, the old CyanogenMod mascot, he lives on as part of the community. In the words of Devkota, "Cid belongs to the community, he is yours, not the company’s". Oh, and the recklessness isn't quite yet gone. One of the images still shows "Void your warranty," so we know we're still dealing with the same ol' folks.

The blog post is ended with Cyanogen telling users that they will "build something unique" -- that's what we like to see. Thoughts on the new look?

Via: CyanogenMod

HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition Unboxing and Quick Look

Kellen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:14:26 +0000

Last year, during Google I/O, Hugo Barra stood on stage to announce Google's new Google Play Edition program of Android devices that would offer stock software experiences, with timely updates, on the same hardware sold through carriers with manufacturer skins. Samsung and HTC wound up having the first two entries, since their flagships at the time - the Galaxy S4 and HTC One (M7) - were still fairly new. Both were received with praise, even though they each carried premium prices. Since HTC decided this year to make their new flagship, the HTC One (M8), available in as many different ways as possible, we once again have a Google Play Edition to check out. Similar to last year, the GPE HTC One (M8) is indeed the exact same hardware as the version sold through carriers, but it has given up HTC's Sense 6.0 for stock Android 4.4.2. That means no BlinkFeed, no Sense software customizations (except for a couple), and no HTC camera software. HTC told the press on launch day that the Duo camera would work, though we're still trying to figure out exactly how that's possible. So far, in our time with the device, we're seeing the stock Android camera app and nothing else. (Edit: We found the HTC photo editor, but it's not exactly making itself easy to find or obvious. More coming in a follow-up video.) If you were looking for some good news or carry over from Sense, both BoomSound and HTC's Motion Launch gestures made it into the Google Play Edition. We'll have more on those in a bit, but that's all we're seeing so far that has stuck around on the stock software. As we find out more, well be sure to pass the info along, including some thoughts on the camera in the GPE vs. the regular HTC One (M8). Update: Here is a software tour of the device, showing Duo Camera in action, BoomSound, Motion Launch Gestures, and HTC apps like their TV service. In the mean time, be sure to check out the video unboxing and tour below.

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Nest Abruptly Halts Sales of Nest Protect Units, Cites Potential Safety Risk

Tim — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:26:11 +0000

Nest, the company with the smart smoke detector and thermostat which was recently acquired by Google, has halted sales of its Nest Protect smoke + carbon monoxide detectors, due to findings of a possible safety risk. With Nest Protect comes a feature called Nest Wave, which enables you to turn off your alarm with a wave of the hand. After laboratory findings, it appears that in "a unique combination of circumstances," Nest Wave can be unintentionally deactivated. If deactivated, this could delay an alarm going off if in fact there was a real fire, which means lives are potentially at risk if not fixed. For now, Nest is sending out a software update for all existing units, which will disable the Nest Wave feature. This means, that if you are cooking and your alarm goes off by accident, you can no longer wave at Nest to turn off the alarm - you'll have to do things the old fashioned way. To make sure no one buys a unit with the issue installed, Nest is halting sales until all units can be updated with a fix that is currently in the works from the company. Once a fix is tested, then are 100% positive that no one is in danger, the update will be pushed out, and all existing Nest Protect units will have Nest Wave reenabled. Look below for the full story and message to the Nest community from the Nest CEO, Tony Fadell.

To the Nest community: Since introducing the Nest Protect: Smoke + Carbon Monoxide alarm, we've heard touching stories from many of you about how we've helped keep you and your families safe. I consider your safety a huge part of my job and it’s something I think about and take pride in every day. At Nest, we conduct regular, rigorous tests to ensure that our products are the highest quality. During recent laboratory testing of the Nest Protect smoke alarm, we observed a unique combination of circumstances that caused us to question whether the Nest Wave (a feature that enables you to turn off your alarm with a wave of the hand) could be unintentionally activated. This could delay an alarm going off if there was a real fire. We identified this problem ourselves and are not aware of any customers who have experienced this, but the fact that it could even potentially happen is extremely important to me and I want to address it immediately. We feel that the best and safest thing to do is to immediately disable the Nest Wave feature to resolve the issue and remove any safety concerns. While we fix Nest Wave, we have also halted sales of all new Nest Protect alarms to ensure no one buys an alarm that needs an immediate update. Once we have a solution that ensures Nest Wave works as intended, we will update our software to turn this feature back on. This will only happen after extensive testing and once we have received approval from safety agencies in the the US, Canada and UK. We expect this to take at least two or three months and we’ll continue to update you as we have more information. We're enormously sorry for the inconvenience caused by this issue. The team and I are dedicated to ensuring that we can stand behind each Nest product that comes into your home, and your 100% satisfaction and safety are what motivates us. Please know that the entire Nest team and I are focused on fixing this problem and continuing to improve our current products in every way possible. If you don’t want to keep your Nest Protect smoke alarm, we will give you a complete refund. Our customer support team is available to help answer any and all questions you have, and we've posted detailed answers to some of the questions we anticipate here. Thank you for your continued loyalty and support. Tony Fadell CEO

Via: Nest

Last Day to Purchase HTC One (M8) Developer Edition at Discounted Price of $649.99

Tim — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 14:52:34 +0000

Today is the last day you can pick up an HTC One (M8) Developer Edition for the discounted price of just $649.99. After that, it goes up $50 to $699.99, which might have a few people screaming. Regardless, Developer Edition units of the M8 feature support for 4G LTE connectivity on both AT&T and T-Mobile, 32GB of on-board storage, and also comes with an unlocked bootloader. The devices run HTC Sense 6, carry the same specs as the carrier-branded units, and will give you the same experience, but with a feeling of freedom. Buy ($649.99)

Via: @HTC

Google Play Movies and TV Updated, Brings Enhanced Video Control to Your Fingers

Eric — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 14:28:45 +0000

Lost in the wave of app updates that we received yesterday, Google pushed out an update to the Play Movies and TV application. The changelog for this update might not be the flashiest, but it is full of solid features that will make watching your TV shows and movies on your Android device even better. First up, is the new feature that Google seems really excited about. You can now scrub back and forth through the movie to rewind or fast-forward just by dragging your finger across the screen. As we have seen with plenty of other Google apps, Play Movies now features an updated slide-out menu as well. The rest of the changelog features updates to the user account selection, episode descriptions, and closed captioning. Head over to Google Play to pull the update. If you don't see it yet, keep checking back periodically. Play Link

Via: Twitter

Google Opinion Rewards Launches Today in Canada, Australia and the UK

Eric — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:33:32 +0000

Were you intrigued by the launch of Google's Opinion Rewards app, but unable to get in on the action due to your location? The small, yet awesome survey app that Google launched a few months ago has gone through more testing, and is now ready to branch out farther into the world. When it was first introduced, Google was apparently only interested in the survey answers from the U.S. Today, however, the app expands to 3 more countries; Canada, Australia, and the UK. Once signing up and giving Google a few bits of information about yourself (age, sex, and occupation), you can start taking surveys that will get you credit to use on Google Play. Other than launching in new countries, the app and premise stay the same. If you don't want to take needless surveys, you don't have to, but you can try and earn as much credit at your leisure. If you don't have a problem filling out somewhat personal information and opinions for Google, hit the link below and get your download on. Play Link

Sprint's Framily Plans Headed to Best Buy on April 4

Tim — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:46:36 +0000

Announced today, Sprint is bringing Framily Plans to Best Buy stores, starting April 4. As of right now, Framily Plans are only purchasable through a Sprint store or through its website. In addition to this news, Sprint and Best Buy are handing out $100 Best Buy gift cards April 4 thru April 13 when customers also sign up for a Sprint Easy Pay device installment plan. Allow me to explain Framily Plans real quick - one line of service will cost a new Sprint customer $55 a month. This gets you unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data to use however you see fit. For each additional new Sprint customer who joins the "Framily" group, the cost per person goes down $5 a month, up to a maximum monthly discount of $30 per line in the group. If you build a group of at least seven people, all members get unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data for just $25 a month up to ten people. Not a bad deal, right? Minus Sprint's coverage and network speeds. Head on into a Best Buy starting tomorrow to sign your group up. Much friends. So family. Wow.

Via: Sprint

New "People" Section Shows Up in Google Play

Kellen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:19:53 +0000

If you are still running version 4.6.17 of Google Play on your phone or tablet (and you are because it's the newest), swipe out the navigation menu and see if you notice anything new. See it? That would be the new "People" section that just went live. In the section, we are seeing recommendations based on people we follow through Google+, like +1s and reviews. Google is also using this to highlight featured content and recommend others that you should follow. You can even tap on individuals that you already follow to see what kinds of shared activity they have made available. The new "People" section seems to be controlled server side, as no update has hit our devices. I should point out that I'm seeing the new section on my Nexus 5, but not my One (M8). Anyone else seeing this?

Report: Google Could Launch Own Wireless Service in Fiber Cities, as MVNO Partner With Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:22:37 +0000

First it was with Dish, then Sprint, and now Verizon - Google has apparently had talks with almost everyone to potentially launch its own wireless network. According to a new report out of The Information, Big Red and Google chatted most recently about the Mountain View search giant using its network as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) in cities where Google sells its Fiber at-home internet. That would be awesome, except Fiber is currently only in two markets. As an MVNO, Google would buy access to Verizon's network and then resell it to you and I. The big question surrounding such a deal, would be, "Which part of Verizon's network?" One would have to assume that in 2014 that Google wants no part of Verizon's ultra-controlled 3G CDMA network, so it could mean access to their massive LTE network. With VoLTE on the way, this would actually make a lot of sense. The Information also speculates that Google could depend greatly on WiFi access points for the majority of the service, with connectivity to Verizon towers only happening if needed. Keep in mind that Google has already partnered with Starbucks to offer free WiFi, plus is rumored to be working on a WiFi app that will help easily log you into public networks. Maybe this is all a part of their wireless plan? Google Fiber may only be in two markets at this time (Provo, UT and Kansas City, MO), but Google has plans to hopefully expand that, and is already exploring nine new markets.

Via: The Information (Subscription) | The Verge

OnePlus One Hype Continues, European Price of Under 350€ Announced Via Twitter

Eric — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:05:37 +0000

The startup OEM manufacturer, OnePlus, continues to drum up some grassroots excitement about its upcoming device, the One. We have heard hints towards the phone's specs and accessory options, and we even have a launch date, but up until today nothing as far as pricing goes. OnePlus took to Twitter to change that. In a quote that was then publicized on OnePlus' Twitter account today, CEO Pete Lau said that the European market has shown good interest in the One. He apparently went on to say that they could expect a sub-350€ price point when the device eventually launches. That translates to about $480 for the unlocked, Cyanogen-powered smartphone. With an alleged 5.5" screen packed into a 5" body, swappable backs made from different materials like denim and bamboo, and customized Cyanogenmod skins, the OnePlus One is stacking up to be a pretty decent device. Would a price point under $500 for an unlocked phone catch your attention?

Via: Twitter

SwiftKey Update Brings Google+, Evernote Personalization

Kyle — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 10:17:35 +0000

If you use SwiftKey and are as horrible a touch typist as I am, you'll be extremely pleased to hear that the makers of the venerable third-party keyboard for Android are rolling out features to improve typing predictions and autocorrect. Updated personalization options within SwiftKey version 4.4.5 allow the app to collect typographical data from Google+ public posts and Evernote archives, much in the same way as Google's most recent Keyboard release. The app goes one step further for owners of iOS devices; if you have SwiftKey Note connected to Evernote, the app will now also glean typographical information from that. The SwiftKey update also includes bug fixes, most notably an issue with mentioning people within Google+ posts. A few forced closes and crashes have also been remedied. The new SwiftKey is available for download from both Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. For those interested in joining the beta, you can download it here. Play Link | Amazon Appstore Link

Via: SwiftKey

Samsung SM-G906S Appears in Benchmark With QHD (2560x1440) 5.2-inch Display, is It a Premium Galaxy S5?

Kellen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:31:35 +0000

In mid-March, shortly after Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S5 to mixed reactions, their mobile boss, JK Shin, told Korean press that his company was not working on an ultra-premium version of the phone. The question was posed to Shin because rumors (benchmarks too) for months leading up to the launch of the GS5 pegged Samsung as introducing a potentially new premium line of devices, one of which sported a QHD (2560x1440). We even saw apps from a Galaxy S5 ROM mention WQHD, but yet, the device came with a 1080p display instead. With the Galaxy S5 now days away from an international retail launch, speculation over a premium line is back, thanks to another benchmark. According to a listing at GFXBench for a phone under the model number SM-G906S, Samsung has another device in the works with a 5.2-inch QHD display and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 805 clocked at 2.5GHz (APQ8084, Adreno 420 GPU). The device also runs Android 4.4.2, has a 15MP camera (16MP?), and a 2MP front camera. In other words, it sounds like a beefier version of the GS5. For reference, the Galaxy S5's model number is SM-G900. While benchmarks should never be taken as a confirmation of anything, they are often right and do lead us down a path of information that isn't typically available until a company announces a product. Scores and info from GFXBench have long been one of our best resources. So what do you guys think? Is this the new premium version of the Galaxy S5?

Via: GFXBench

Reported Picture of Samsung's Galaxy S5 Zoom Leaked

Tim — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:04:15 +0000

Rumors of a Galaxy S5 Zoom from Samsung have been popping up here and there, with reported specs for the device already leaked. What we had yet to see is an actual look at the device, and thanks to the most recent leak, we can check that off of our list. All we have is a single picture from what appears to be some type of Samsung fan site, but at least the photo is in focus. We can't be thrilled enough to see an in-focus leaked photo. From a look at the image, it appears that Samsung is attempting to cut back on the size of the Zoom line, throwing more mechanical work of the camera into the body of the phone itself. If you will recall, the Galaxy S4 Zoom was somewhat bulky, with its 16MP sensor and 10x optical zoom sitting on the outside of body. This device appears to be much more flush. Specs attributed to this device appear to be good, coming with a 20MP sensor, 10x optical zoom, 4.8" HD display, Exynos 5 Hexa processor, 2GB of RAM, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and will come running Android 4.4.2 with Samsung's newly revamped TouchWiz UI on top. What are your thoughts on the design? Could be worse, right?

Via: SamMobile | KZoom

Intel Releases 64-bit Kernel for Android 4.4

Kellen — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:13:12 +0000

Intel, still somehow hovering around the Android space, announced last night that they have released a 64-bit kernel for Android 4.4 (Kit Kat). Since Kit Kat doesn't natively support 64-bit hardware just yet, this gives manufacturers who want to start to dabble in devices with 64-bit chips a chance to. Well, assuming they want to go with Intel. Here is the note from the company's press release on the matter:

Intel also released Android KitKat 4.4 with a 64-bit kernel optimized for IA. With this release, the company ported, validated and tested the Android Open Source code on IA, taking on the work that developers typically would need to do on their own. This release will provide the ecosystem with 64-bit kernel support for development of next-generation devices. Fisher said Intel will regularly make Android code for IA available as part of the company’s effort to speed up the device development process and improve quality.

And, yep.

Via: Intel | CNET

The Droid Life Show: Episode 54

Tim — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 22:15:40 +0000

Due to traveling and other miscellaneous issues, we were unable to bring you an episode dedicated entirely to the HTC One (M8) last week. With that said, you can expect there to be plenty of discussion tonight regarding HTC's latest flagship smartphone. But don't worry, we won't only be talking about the M8. In store for tonight, the DL crew will be talking about Amazon's new Fire TV set-top box, our favorite April Fools' Day gags from around the web, a report claiming Google is to release a standalone Camera app to Google Play, and we will also try for a Q&A session as well. As always, it is sure to be a really good time. We’ll be live at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). Join us live through the embeds below! If you can’t catch us live, be sure to subscribe through one of the various outlets listed.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

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This Improved USB Cable Brings a Reversible Connector, Coming This Year

Rithvik — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:05:35 +0000

USB cables have never been the most frustration-free things in the tech world, and many of us (myself included) have yet to plug one in correctly on our first attempts. The new design, known as USB Type-C, has been officially confirmed by the USB Implementers Forum (IF) at Intel's Developer Forum conference today. The main changes include a small, reversible connector on both sides, meaning you can plug your phone and laptop into either end rather than the "bigger one on the laptop, smaller one on the phone" philosophy we work with already. Type-C cables will be fully supporting 10Gbps transfer rates found on the USB 3.1 specification, and they'll do this while having USB ends measuring just 8.35x2.55mm -- keep in mind that, despite the fact that this is much smaller than the traditional USB connector, this is larger than Micro-USB. Specifications for Type-C will likely be completed by the IF in July 2014 according to CNET, which means we'll likely see some cables to try out by the end of the year. The transition for mainstream PC and mobile device manufacturers, however, will likely be slower. Also according to CNET, here are the current design attributes of the cable:

It'll make an audible click when plugged in correctly.
It's designed to accommodate future USB incarnations with higher data-transfer speeds.
It'll support USB's growing role in carrying power to operate and charge devices through the USB Power Delivery technology.
It's designed to be plugged and unplugged 10,000 times.

Are you ready to finally stop getting laughed at by your Lightning connector-toting iPhone buddies? Let us know down in the comments.

Via: CNET

Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini Specs Leaked, Mid-range Handset With Few Notable Specs

Rithvik — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:40:06 +0000

Now that we are less than two weeks away from the official Galaxy S5 launch (and eBay is already calling it a Daily Deal), it's time to look forward to the same phone in different variants. Last year's Galaxy S4 came in Mini, Zoom, and Active forms, so as far as we know, the S5 will be getting similar treatment. An exclusive out of SamMobile today, attempts to confirm the existence of the Galaxy S5 Mini, going on to reveal probable specifications of the mid-range device. As far as the specifications go, we aren't looking at any competition for Sony's high-end Xperia Z1 Compact. Mid-to-lower end specs like a possible Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 1.5GB of RAM don't get us too excited, but we're glad Samsung decided to update the S4 Mini's ultra-low-res qHD display to a nicer looking 720p.

Specs

4.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 720p resolution
Unknown Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, likely the Snapdragon 400
8 megapixel rear-facing camera
2 megapixel front-facing camera
1.5GB of RAM
16GB internal storage
IR blaster
2100 mAh battery
Expected to be water-resistant with IP67 certification
Android 4.4, Kit Kat (we think it will be 4.4.2)

We do not yet know any pricing or availability details, but based on last year's S4 Mini, we could be seeing this device land on major US carriers for free on contract.

Via: SamMobile

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on Sprint Receives Minuscule Update to Include WiFi Calling

Tim — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:50:43 +0000

An update is rolling out for the Galaxy Note 3 from Samsung to customers on Sprint, bringing the ability to make calls over WiFi. While it may not be anything too worthy of writing your mother about, this is still more than Note 3 owners on Verizon can talk about. Still no Android 4.4.2 for those poor folks. The new version number for this update is N900PVPUCNC5, although estimated size of the update is still unknown. Our guess is that it's rather small. Since we are on the subject, let's have a moment of silence for the Galaxy Note 3 on Verizon. Big Red still remains silent as to when customers can expect an update. All other major carriers have announced and pushed out the update, with Sprint being the first to do so back in February. That's hurtful, Verizon. Note 3 owners on Sprint, go grab the latest update.

Via: Samsung

A Quick Look at Domo, Kovdev's New Icon Pack, Plus That Wallpaper You Keep Asking About

Kellen — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:22:57 +0000

"What's that wallpaper?" "Wallpaper please." "I do want that wallpaper." I think someone even recreated it from the video. Yes, I'm talking about the wallpaper I shouldn't have exposed in last night's AcDisplay video. Never have I seen such a response to a wallpaper that I wasn't allowed to share. But that's how it always works, right? Thankfully, we can finally talk about that wallpaper, plus the app it came from. That app is called Domo, and it's the latest icon pack from our friend, Dave Kover (kovdev). Like all of Dave's work, Domo is of the highest quality in terms of detail and range. There are over 1,600 icons, support for all of the major launchers (Nova, Apex, Action, etc.), and of course, includes 17 beautiful wallpapers. The icon pack carries some shadow (just not the overkilled long shadow), some dimension, and a crease down each icon that provides subtle lighting highlights. Kover describes it as "Perspective. Touch. Feel. Love." I like it. The pack drops April 11, so mark your calendars.

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Google Play Newsstand Updated to 3.2.0 - Includes Reworked Layout, New Combined Sections

Kellen — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:48:29 +0000

It's Wednesday, which often times means that Google is going to release all sorts of updates to its suite of Android apps. We already saw a sizable update to Keep, but are now seeing one with Play Newsstand. In the update, which jumps us up to v3.2.0, we're seeing a re-organized app in terms of layout and sections. From the main "Read Now" tab, you'll see topics strung across the top for Highlights, News, Business, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, and so on. A swipe to the right or left will jump you in between them quickly. In the navigation menu, the My News and My Magazines sections have been combined into a My Library tab. We're also seeing the "Keep Read Now on device" option missing, which was a way for you to store that section on your device for offline reading. Maybe the app is doing that automatically now? I would hope not. The rest of the app is then mostly the same, but this update certainly makes finding news easier, thanks to the new categories on the main Read Now page. We have both Play and .apk links for you below. Play Link | Download Link

Google Keep Updated, Brings Searchable Images and Updated Interface

Tim — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 11:55:59 +0000

Google Keep, Mountain View's proprietary note-taking application, received an update today on Android devices. The update brings a newly-polished user interface, much like we have been seeing on many other Google applications. In addition to an updated look, users can now search text within images, allowing for an even better archivable/searchable database of notes and lists. List Settings have been added, which allows users to select where lists and notes are placed. To top it off, a Trash bin has ben added, meaning that after a note/list is gone, it won't be completely deleted until the Trash is emptied. Sometimes, you need to go back and recheck lists. This feature will allow for that. Go grab the update from Google Play. Play Link Note: Not seeing the update in Google Play? Here's the apk for you.

Cheers @tmglmoat!

Xiaomi's New Product is a Clone of Kickstarter Project Pressy

Kyle — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:52:40 +0000

Remember Pressy, the one-button controller for Android phones that raised nearly $700,000 on Kickstarter last October? Looks like Xiaomi didn't, because the company today revealed a nearly identical product. Functionally similar to Pressy, Xiaomi's accessory plugs into your smartphone's headphone jack and can be configured to perform up to 10 different tasks based on different click types. One big difference between Xiaomi's device and Pressy, though, is price and availability: Pressy retails for $27 and missed its March shipping window, while Xiaomi intends to launch its button worldwide on April 8 for 4.9 Yuan ($0.79). Unfortunately for Xiaomi, the folks behind Pressy aren't too enthused about the company's new accessory. A company spokesperson said, "We have IP rights for the design and functionality of Pressy, and are considering our next moves to handle the situation." Shots fired.

Via: +Hugo Barra | Xiaomi | Engadget

Chrome Remote Desktop Goes Into Beta on Android, Here is a Quick Look

Kellen — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:21:49 +0000

According to a lucky reader of ours, Google opened up a beta test for its Chrome Remote Desktop app on Android within the last few days. The beta is invite only at this time, with invites rolling out to those who "expressed interest" in helping Chrome improve their remote desktop client. Like the Chrome extension, this app does indeed give you remote access to your desktop computers, only this time through Android devices (both phones and tablets). The application listing on Google Play mentions that you can "securely access your computers from your Android device." All you need to do is setup remote access on the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the Chrome web store, then open your remote Android app and tap on the computer you'd like to connect to. Here are the screenshots from the Google Play page:

As you can see from those screenshots, the app is pretty bare bones. Then again, the whole point is to give you quick access to your desktop machines, not show off with a flashy UI. Also, it is still in beta, so there is a chance we'll see the interface improve as it moves towards a stable build. Since we can't test the app ourselves, that's what we know for now. As we have more, we'll be sure to pass it along.

Cheers M!

Amazon Releases Fire TV - Gaming, Video Streaming Set-top Box for $99.99

Tim — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:06:29 +0000

Amazon took the stage this morning, unveiling its Fire TV set-top box for the living room. Much like many other media streaming boxes, the Fire TV comes with access to all of your favorite content providers (minus a few exceptions), such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, Watch ESPN, Pandora, NBA, MLB Network, and so much more. However, an update to the box will later hopefully bring HBO Go, which does not come with the service as of right now. The Fire TV features quite the little spec sheet, making it one of the most powerful set-top boxes available on the market. It comes powered by a Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz, 2GB of RAM, Adreno 320 GPU, and dual-band/dual-antenna WiFi for excellent 1080p streaming - all in a slim package that resembles that of an Apple TV. Not only do customers get access to shows and movies from its huge library of titles, but the Fire TV is also capable of gaming. Users can game away on Minecraft, The Walking Dead series, Riptide GP2, Asphalt 8, and many other titles available from Amazon's Appstore. As for what the Fire TV has over any other competitor, it's the fact that it has access to games. This is kind of a first from the major companies, and as I have stated countless times, this is what I have been waiting for. On top of gaming, the voice search capability that is featured seems to be extremely accurate, as previewed by the lovely Gary Busey in the TV spot below.

Music lovers are also taken care of, as Fire TV has access to plenty of music/radio apps, such as Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Qello Concerts, plus any others that are available through the AppStore. The Fire TV is also capable of photo and video syncing from your Kindle Fire tablet and Android device, thanks to Amazon's Cloud Drive, which allows users to share their favorite moments right to their HDTV in seconds. Topping it off is a feature which reminds us of information cards from Google Play Movies. When you pause a flick, you are shown information about actors, as well as other movies they have appeared in. Amazon has brought the same feature, with information being pulled directly from IMDb, meaning you can dive deep into your favorite titles with trivia, music, characters, and much more. The price is listed at the same as the Apple TV, $99.99 with a game controller accessory listed at $39.99. The full package will come with a $139.99 price tag. Not too bad, but we would by lying if we weren't hoping for something a bit cheaper. Ready to own one? Get your Fire TV right now for $99.99.

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Via: Amazon

Google Reportedly Readies New UI for Android Gmail Users

Tim — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:25:54 +0000

We know a few folks around these parts that would go so far as to say Android is somehow the step child to Google. With their apparent love for iOS, showering of Apple's users with gifts of gorgeous UIs, and Hangouts with Google Voice built-in, it's easy to see that in no way does Google discriminate against people who don't rock Android as their daily driver. If you use Google services, whether on Android or not, you best believe their teams will attempt to deliver a good user experience. For quite some time now, iOS users of Gmail have been treated to a fancy UI, with Android still rocking a mildly-ugly interface for the email service. According to Geek, who posted up screenshots of an upcoming Gmail build, it looks like Android users are in for the same UI treat, finally. The overall look is rather flat, going along with every other interface that has been seeing updates. 2013-14 has been all about the flatness. From what we can take away in the screenshots, it pretty much looks like the same Gmail, just a new appearance. As for new features, it appears we have a new "pinned" feature, which allows users to pin emails to the top of their inbox. In addition, it is reported that there is also a "snooze" feature, allowing users to snooze email notifications - much like we see with Google Hangouts. No word as to when we can expect to see this UI roll out, but the source states it could still be quite some time away. Take a look at the screenshots below, then let us know your thoughts below.

Via: Geek

T-Mobile Backtracks on Plan to Eliminate Corporate Discounts (Updated)

Kyle — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:09:48 +0000

It looks like T-Mobile's decision to end corporate discounts didn't go over as well as the carrier had hoped. After hundreds of frustrated customers took to Twitter to voice their displeasure with the T-Mobile's plan to end all employee discounts April 1, the carrier seems to have backtracked. T-Mobile CEO John Legere tweeted last night that "Current corp customers can keep their discount." Details are forthcoming. The consumer anger stems from T-Mobile's latest "uncarrier" announcement last Friday to replace reduced rate corporate plans with $25 reward cards for purchasing new devices. Legere defended the move at the time, saying employee discounts were "designed to help big carriers close big corporate contracts with employees as bargaining chips," and that the change was about "simplifying wireless for everyone." Had the switch gone into effect, customers with corporate discounts would have seen their monthly rates increase by as much as $150. The plan to end corporate discounts was seen by many as an attempt to cut down on T-Mobile's continued losses. Though the carrier's earnings have improved from a year ago, T-Mobile lost $20 million in the Q1 of this year. Update: Here is the updated press release with note from T-Mobile -

Update: Current Customers to Keep their Employer Rate Plan Discounts Listening to customers is what makes us the Un-carrier. In fact, the simple act that first ignited the Un-carrier revolution was that we listened to customers -- what they want, what they need, what frustrates them about this crazy industry. That was the spark. Over the past couple days, I’ve been doing a lot of listening to our customers. And, we've decided to update our implementation plan for the changes I announced to the Advantage Program. Everyone enrolled in the Advantage Program or who applied to enroll before April 1st will be able to keep a rate plan discount as long as they work at a participating employer and remain on a qualifying plan. All of our Simple Choice plans currently qualify. We will be asking that customers participate in a simple annual online employer verification. That's it. Listen, I still believe that complicated rate plan discounts and backroom deals with big corporations are unfair and part of what needs changing in the US wireless industry. And, I meant what I said: we’re not going to play that game anymore. As of April 1, new customers in these programs can get a $25 Reward Card whenever they buy a device. We're moving away from the notion of different prices for different customers, so we can invest in providing simplicity and value to all customers. As America’s Un-carrier we’re never going to stop listening and learning and – most importantly – changing what needs fixing in wireless. You have my word on that.

Via: @John Legere

Verizon Matches AT&T's $160 10GB Family Plan, Adjusts Discount

Kellen — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:53:49 +0000

At only a month or so old, Verizon is already adjusting its MORE Everything data plans to better align with their biggest competitor, AT&T. You may recall AT&T's headline grabbing move at the beginning of February, where it announced its "Best Ever Prices" for a family of four, with a 10GB $160 plan leading the charge. Verizon reached out today to note that they had recently made a move to match this offer. Through MORE Everything, customers will now see a discount on smartphone monthly access lines of $25, up from the $20 original discount. In other words, instead of paying $40 per line for a smartphone, you would pay $15 per line per month. Keep in mind that the discount only applies if you also sign-up for EDGE, Verizon's monthly phone payment plan. If you do the math on a family of four, assuming all sign up for EDGE, that's $60 ($15 x 4) in smartphone line access charges, plus $100 for the 10GB data package. So yeah, you are at $160 for a family of four with 10GB of shared data. But again, you also have to sign-up for EDGE and pay the monthly payments on all four phone lines (similar to what AT&T requires - they also give you the discount if you bring your own phone).

Via: Verizon

Deal: Woot has the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) Starting at $344

Kellen — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 07:59:32 +0000

Daily deal aficionado, Woot, is currently hosting what it believes is the ultimate Samsung Galaxy tablet blowout. I wouldn't necessarily disagree with their mindset, since the tablet lineup includes the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014), which was Samsung's flagship tablet from September of last year up until the NotePRO lineup was introduced at CES. We're talking S Pen, an Octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. This is a top-of-the-line tablet, my friends. Woot has both 16GB and 32GB versions available, also in white or black. The 16GB model can be grabbed for $344.99, while the 32GB version will run you $384.99. If you need something to compare to, we can look to Amazon, which is selling the 16GB and 32GB models at $499 and $549, respectively. Keep in mind that these tablets through Woot are "factory recertified," so they aren't exactly brand new. With that said, some believe that recertified or refurbished models are often better than originals since bugs and hardware defects have been worked out. Woot Link

Cheers Paul and Brandon!

AcDisplay Receives Major Update to v2.1 - New UI and New Features

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:03:52 +0000

AcDisplay, an app we have become bigs fans of thanks to its Moto X-like abilities, received a major update to version 2.1 today that introduces a new UI and all sorts of other new features. This new version is currently only in beta, but after helping test the app over the last couple of days, I can tell you that it works quite well in its current state. So what's new? Well, since the last time we wrote up the app, all sorts of stuff. First, you'll notice that the UI has changed quite dramatically. It no longer fully mimics Active Display from the Moto X in terms of looks, but that's OK since it greatly improves upon Motorola's initial idea. Your notifications are now stacked below a clock that is separated with a timer line to show how long you have before your screen goes to sleep. If you grab an icon and drag it above the timer line, you can pin items for further viewing or action. Each notification can now be dealt with individually or kept alive for later. You really have much more control now than you did before. Also in the update, you'll find a new Active Mode, that helps wake your phone once it has been pulled out of your pocket (a lot like how the Moto X does). You can set AcDisplay to replace your current lock screen, use a wallpaper as its background, blacklist apps, and even set proper inactive hours. Again, it's a major update that you should check out after you watch our video of it in action. To join the beta, be sure to join the AcDisplay Google+ community. [Play Link]

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Dragon Mobile Assistant Receives 5.2 Update, Brings With it the Ability to Unlock Devices With Voice

Rithvik — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:43:36 +0000

Dragon Mobile Assistant, the free Android virtual assistant app from Nuance, is receiving an update to version 5.2 today with a couple of neat goodies. The main attraction is Nuance's voice print recognition features, which allows users' devices to respond only to them and to even wake up when a command is given. By teaching the service your voice print through the app, you'll be able to cut down on others' being able to command your device. You'll also be able to unlock your device using a command, but stay wary as this will likely impact battery life significantly. Also added in the update is support for landscape mode, which means hands-free usage in the Drive Mode will be made a little bit more smooth. The final new feature (apart from bug fixes, of course) is an improved in-app web browser, with greater efficiency in downloading content and the ability to share right from your results. The free app update is available on Google Play right now. Give the new voice recognition features a shot and let us know how it's impacting your battery down in the comments. Play Link

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Android Distribution Updated for April 2014 - Kit Kat Cracks 5%!

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:41:08 +0000

The Android distribution numbers of been updated for the beginning of April, with Kit Kat (Android 4.4+) showing signs of growth. The newest version of Android now commands 5.3% of the pie, up from 2.5% last month. With that growth we are seeing a slight decline in Jelly Bean numbers to 61.4% from a flat 62.0%. In other words, the newest devices running the newest version of Android continue to run the newest version of Android. Ice Cream Sandwich saw a decline to 14.3% (from 15.2%), as did Gingerbread (17.8% from 19.0%). And that's that.

Via: Android Developers

Want to Run Facebook's New Android App UI? Follow These Simple Steps

Tim — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:10:23 +0000

Over the past couple of months, Facebook has been experimenting with a new UI for its official Android application. Members of the Beta testing group, as well as the Alpha testing group have seen it come and go, while others in the group have never been able to use it, thanks to the UI being completely controlled by Facebook's servers. While that still might be the case, it looks like anyone running Version 9.0 and up of the application should be seeing the new UI. In order to get Version 9.0, you will need to become an Alpha tester for Facebook. Luckily for Android users everywhere, this is very simple. Follow the steps below to run the new Facebook Android app user interface.

Directions

Make sure you are not a Beta Facebook tester. If you are, simply leave the Google Group under Settings.
Become an alpha tester by joining this Google Group.
Follow the link in the Google Group to download the alpha version of the app from Google Play. (If you are asked to "Become a tester" before you hit the Facebook landing page on Google Play, click "Become a Tester.")
Push the application to whichever Android device you would like from Google Play.
Log into the Facebook application on your phone after it is installed.
You should now have the new flat Facebook UI.

Note: If you do not see the new interface, and have confirmed you are running version 9.0+ under the app's settings, do a click "Clear Data" under the app's settings on your Android device. Once you have done that, you should have the new UI if you didn't already.

Alternative Method

For those who are merely looking to dabble with the new UI, as this is still an Alpha build, you can sideload the apk onto your device, but you will not receive Alpha updates for it through Google Play, since you are not marked as an Alpha tester. Again, if you sideload the apk, and do not see the updated UI, simply wipe the app's data from the Settings menu on your Android device, then sign back into Facebook, you should be good to go with the new interface. Download: com.facebook.katana_9.0.0.0.18.apk [mirror] Enjoy.

Via: Reddit

Unofficial OTA Build of Kit Kat for LG G2 on Verizon Released for Flashing

Tim — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:38:34 +0000

Hardcore Android enthusiasts currently rocking an LG G2 on Verizon should enjoy this news, as an unofficial OTA build of Kit Kat has been released by third-party developers for flashing. The current installation method requires a bit of adb knowledge, but if you are comfortable with tinkering, then this should not prove too difficult for you. The process is pretty straightforward, but there are a few tricky steps if you are unfamiliar with the device's build history. First, you must flash a stock build of VS98012B via an available method, then root that build using a root tool from autoprime or manually doing so. After downloading the new bin file, simply rename it, push it to the device in a specified folder, then run a few commands in adb. Once completed, the device will reboot, then you should be running Kit Kat on your G2 on Verizon. Sounds easy, right? To get started, follow the XDA link below. Warning: The build linked may not be a final build from LG and Verizon. As with other flashable zips from third-party developers, doing these procedures could harm your device, rendering it unusable. Proceed at your own risk.

Via: XDA

Cheers iOSh8er, Michael, and Thomas!

Google Throwing Another 25% Off Sale on Nexus Accessories to Ease Your April Fool's Day

Eric — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:30:19 +0000

April 1 is a weird day. Everyone is hesitant to believe in anything they see or hear, but we can guarantee you that this sale from Google is legit. If you absolutely need a case or sleeve for your handy Nexus device, today is the day to buy. Nexus-branded cases are notorious for being a little on the pricey side. So much so that we have seen this 25% sale repeated by Google many times. Today, the Nexus 5 Bumper and Quickcover cases (two that we were not crazy about) are both discounted as well as the Nexus 7 Sleeve and folio case (which was also not high on our list). If the Chromebook is what you are rocking, the sleeve for the HP Chromebook 11 is also discounted in this deal. Anyone planning on taking Google up on their offer this time? Play Link

How to: Turn Off HTC One (M8) Voice Dial Gesture, Other Motion Launch Gestures

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:10:13 +0000

HTC may be in a neck-and-neck battle with Samsung for king of the gimmicks, but even I can admit that they innovated or at least created something useful in one area - the lock screen with Motion Launch Gestures on the HTC One (M8). Motion Launch Gestures allow you to quickly wake your phone, unlock it, jump to your home screen, launch BlinkFeed, or even activate a voice dialer for making mostly-hands-free calls. Most of the gestures are incredibly useful, especially since the phone is uncomfortably tall with a lock/wake button placed at its very top. With these gestures, you almost never need to press that button. But what if you find the gestures to be a nuisance? For example, we have found that voice dialing on the M8 is mostly miss, with a few hits here and there. It's also confusing to dismiss should you accidentally activate it, since there isn't a cancel button. The good news is that you turn all or some individual parts of these Motion Launch Gestures off. If you head into Settings>Displays & gestures>Motion Launch gestures, you'll find a box to turn off all gestures at the very top. If you'd like to keep all but "Quick call" or voice dialing active, simply uncheck the box for "Quick call." That will at least keep the other gestures active. And there you have it!

Humble Bundle 9 for PC and Android Released, More Great Games for the Same Great Cause

Eric — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 11:47:29 +0000

Another edition of the Humble Bundle is upon us. The 9th edition of the Bundle for PC and Android brings us 6 new games at a price that you choose. Want your money to go to charity? Or more to go to the developers? You get to choose who gets the cut and how much you want to pay. Everyone wins. Out of the six games that are being offered in this Bundle, you get 4 of them no matter what you pay. Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror, Bridge Constructor, Ravensword: Shadowlands and Type:Rider are all yours for whatever cost you choose. Bridge Constructor puts the engineering wrench in your hand and lets you build working bridges across spans of different difficulty. Type:Rider looks to be a very stylized take on the platforming genre, taking you on an adventure through the history of fonts. Ravensword is an epic open-world RPG, pitting you against vile beats such as dinosaurs and large spiders. Lastly, Broken Sword 2 puts you into the shoes of a journalist, investigating a ruthless drug gang. While snooping on the gang, you stumble across an ancient artifact. Can you use it for good against the evil doers? If you pay above the average price, which is only $3.51 at the time of writing this, you get two more games as well. Kingdom Rush and Knights of Pen & Paper will be thrown in with your previous games. And as with all Humble Bundles, if you pay above average, you get the extra games that they love to add to the deal after purchase, usually within the next week or so. If you are itching for a few new games to play, and want the money to go to a good cause, stop by their website.

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Via: Humble Bundle

Rumor: Google to Release Overhauled Stand-alone Camera App, Address All Sorts of Issues

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 11:24:32 +0000

I think it's safe to say that for years, our biggest complaint about Nexus devices and stock Android has involved their cameras or camera apps. From a confusing menu system to a weird viewfinder experience, the camera app that Google has shipped over and over again is not great. Pair it with sensors that do not appear to have been optimized and you are left with frustrating results. We keep hoping that Google will fix one of its longest standing issues, but even a camera-specific update to the Nexus 5 in Android 4.4.1 didn't quite do the trick. According to a report out of Engadget, Google is on the verge of releasing a new camera app that should address a number of complaints, while also opening up new opportunities for both developers and non-Nexus devices. In this overhaul, Google is said to have changed to a 100% no-crop viewfinder, made panoramas and Photo Sphere pictures high-resolution, and added a new mode to allow for shallower depth-of-field, so that users can get that bokeh effect you see on the HTC One (M8) and Galaxy S5. Google may also open the app up to third party developers who want to create filters for the camera app. This report also mentions that Google plans to release the app separately from Nexus devices, which we would assume means via Google Play. By making the app available through Google Play, Google can not only update it more regularly, but also potentially make the app available to everyone. Google has yet to announce anything, but once we know, we'll be sure to pass it along.

Via: Engadget

Deal: Buy Select Xperia Phones, Get Michael Jackson's XSCAPE Album for Free

Kyle — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 11:01:42 +0000

What sells smartphones? Michael Jackson, apparently. At least, that seems to be Sony's belief with its new deal for Xperia buyers. The promotion, which starts today, will gift customers of select Xperia devices the XSCAPE album - a postmortem release of new music by Michael Jackson - free when it releases on May 13. The deal includes the Xperia Z2 and Z1. Sony says Xperia Z2 owners are in for a treat, especially; the company optimized the record's sound for both the MDR-NC31EM headset that comes bundled with the smartphone and the SBH-80 Bluetooth headset accessory, ensuring a true "centre seat experience." Xperia Z2 owners will be able to access the high-quality version by selecting ClearAudio+ mode. And no, this is not an April Fools' gag.

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Via: Sony

Nexus 10 Listing on Google Play Changes Status to "Coming Soon"

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 10:27:44 +0000

Google's Nexus 10 tablet sold out on Google Play months ago, around the time of the Nexus 5's introduction. Since, its store pages have almost always contained some form of "we are out of inventory" or "check back later," like most Google products do when they sell out or are about to be replaced. Today, though, those listings changed and now say "Coming soon" in the area that typically lists out shipping info. The prices for the 16GB and 32GB are also back at $399 and $499, respectively. Before we get too excited about the imminent arrival of a new Nexus 10, understand that Google changes Nexus product pages quite regularly. It's as if they can't ever figure out exactly what they want the status to be on older, sold out products. But "Coming soon" is a new one that I haven't seen before. It's also a bit odd that pricing has returned, since it had been removed for some time. So what do we think? Is a new Nexus 10 about to arrive? Tough to tell, though it seems odd that Google would put a "coming soon" notice next to a product that has been gone for months. Are they suggesting a re-stock of the old or is a new one about to replace it? We have seen rumors suggest that Samsung, LG, and Asus could all be making it, but none of those rumors have anything backing them. We'll keep an eye out. Also, don't be surprised if Google flips the "Coming soon" back to "We are out of inventory."

Via: Google Play

April Fools Roundup: Hasselhoff+, Waze, SwiftKey, Imangi Acquires Doodle Jump, and More

Tim — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 10:07:40 +0000

Instead of filling up your feed with a ton of pointless prank articles, we will combine them all into one nice, digestible piece for you to see here. This year, we had lots of good jokes coming from Google, as well as a few not-so-funny attempts from Samsung and HTC. Plenty of other companies got in on the fun as well, so here's a quick look at what each company did for April Fools' Day. Hasselhoff+ Finally, you can tell your friends you hung out with David Hasselhoff, and Google has the proof. Upload photos to Google+, and David will automatically appear. God bless, AutoAwesome. Waze It's reported that folks waste 3 hours per week stuck in traffic. Since you are just sitting there, alone, why not find yourself a new romance? Waze has introduced WazeDates, the perfect way to find your soulmate while stuck in traffic.

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SwiftKey Flow Hard Rumors were apparently circulating around the web, pegging SwiftKey to introduce the same Flow feature we use on our smartphones for our physical desktop keyboards. Today, the rumors were confirmed with the announcement of SwiftKey Flow Hard. Pretty awesome, right?

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AutoAwesome for Resumes Let's face it, your resume probably sucks. Bro, do you even format? Anyways, Google, being the helpful company they are, is ready to AutoAwesome your resume with Pokemon and Shiba Inu doges. That's right, doge!

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Chromecast This adorable little TV spot may be one you actually see on TV, as it is clear Google balled to the wall with squirrels and Chromecast. In the video, a talking squirrel goes ham about how Chromecast is the ultimate media streaming accessory. I had no idea squirrels played soccer or could sing ballads, but you learn something new every day.

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Imangi Buys Doodle Jump for $1 Billion April 1 seems to be a day of acquisitions, and this year, we had a few. The big play was by Imangi, that announced the purchase of the Doodle Jump franchise for $1 billion. Going forward, the two games will become one, called Doodle Temple Jumping Run.

Imangi’s idea to buy Lima Sky was sparked from the simple, disruptive idea of creating a game that will have 1 trillion installs. Igor Pusenjak, CEO of Lima Sky, elaborated: “Imangi told us they wanted to combine the endless jumper with the endless runner to create the ultimate gaming hit, and we were sold. The combined game Doodle Temple Jumping Run will be out later this year.”

Toshiba Digit Since Samsung and HTC's smartgloves weren't enough, Toshiba also went in on the fun. Although, they apparently spent much more time and money on theirs.

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Apple purchases iFixIt If a website is always talking smack about your products, just buy them! If you saw any other great pranks on the Interwebz, share them below!

Samsung Announces Tab4 Series 10.1-inch, 8.0-inch, and 7.0-inch Tablets

Kyle — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 09:27:03 +0000

Like clockwork, Samsung revealed today that it's refreshing its Galaxy Tab line of tablets. Dubbed the Tab4 series, the new devices will come in 10.1-inch, 8.0-inch, and 7.0-inch screen sizes and feature Samsung software. The details of the announcement confirm most of last week's leak. The Tab4 series devices evoke the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S5 design-wise, but pack low-end hardware. Each has a faux-leather finish evocative of the Note, but capacitive multitasking and back button placement like the S5. In terms of internals, all three models share an identical 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, a 1280x800 WVGX display, 1.5GB of RAM, 3MP rear-facing and 1.3MP front-facing cameras, at least 8GB of internal storage, and MicroSD card slots. A notable difference is power capacity between models; the 10.1-inch tablet packs a 6,800mAh battery, while the 8.0-inch maxes out at 4,450mAh. In addition to WiFi-only versions, the Tab4 series will come in flavors compatible with LTE and HSPA+. All will ship with Android 4.4 KitKat and Samsung's Group Play, Samsung Link, ChatON, and WatchON applications. Samsung intends the ship the devices sometime during Q2 of this year. The company wasn't ready to reveal pricing, but considering the low-end nature of the Tab series, you can expect them all to be relatively affordable.

Via: Samsung

Chrome Wants to Emojify the Internet, Now Available on Android

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 09:10:13 +0000

The best April Fools' pranks from Google are the ones that you can actually participate in. (Anyone remember 8-bit Google Maps?) Thanks to today's shenanigans, you can add Emoji translate for Chrome to the short list of awesome, over-the-top, pranks that are best enjoyed with user participation. As the Chrome team explains it, using Chrome on Android or iOS today will allow you to translate the web "using efficient and emotive illustrations, instead of cumbersome text." Damn, text. So cumbersome. Like the brilliant Egyptians, your world can be read through pictures and symbols that cut out all of the fluff. To check out how Chrome translates the web into emoji, be sure you have the latest version of Chrome (beta works too). Tap the menu button and choose "Translate to Emoji."

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Cheers Mike, Josh, Ryan, William, Jerry, Dirk, Kyle, Robert, and Luke!

April Fools: Google Fiber Announces Coffee-To-The-Home for All Subscribers

Kyle — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 08:49:06 +0000

If you love Google Fiber, are lucky enough to live in an area that receives it, and also happen to be a coffee aficionado, you may be interested in Google's new Coffee-To-The-Home (CTTH) service. (Provo subscribers get Hot Chocolate-To-The-Home.) Announced today, the program aims to deliver delectable beverages from local baristas to your home via Google's "hot beverage backbone" (HBB). Google said it was inspired to create CTTH by Fiber users who enjoy hot cups of joe while watching the news or reading email, and consulted "java junkies, renowned roasters, and cupping connoisseurs" to create the best hot beverage delivery system ever. The company says the program works in parallel with fiber optic lines, and should be available to all subscribers soon. For those with early access, CTTH requires downloading the Google Fiber App on your smartphone or tablet. After that, clicking "Coffee" in the menu and selecting the desired brew will notify a barista, who will make the drink and transmit it through the HBB to your house's "Fiber Spout." It can then be dispensed when desired. In my humble opinion, CTTH is just one more reason Fiber is the best ISP in the country. Take that, Comcast!

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Via: Google Fiber

Samsung and HTC Try to Pull Off Same April Fools' Prank - a Smart Glove

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 07:54:36 +0000

Every year, we sit back on March 31 and wait to see what kinds of silly ideas tech companies can try to push through on April Fools' day. Google has decided to kick things off earlier and earlier each year, but the rest at least wait until it's midnight somewhere in the world. Two of those companies are HTC and Samsung, both of which tried to pull off the same exact prank - the introduction of a smart glove. Samsung's is called Samsung Fingers, while HTC created the Gluuv. HTC's requires that you strap your brand new One (M8) to your wrist to take 87.2MP "armie" photos, while Samsung went a little more realistic with its 16MP selfie camera. The ideas are filled with tongue-in-cheek references to cultural oddities and jokes. I think the biggest joke may be that HTC realized that their fake wearable needed a higher-resolution camera than their actual flagship phone. OK, I'll get over it. You tell us who did it better.

Via: Samsung | HTC

Today is April 1.

Kellen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 07:26:37 +0000

Just a reminder. You know what's coming, all day.

New Moto X Boot Animation Features Sci-Fi All-Stars, "Powered by Android" Branding

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 17:57:58 +0000

Remember over the holidays when Motorola surprised Moto X owners with a new holiday-themed boot animation? Well, they have updated the animation again as of today with a clip that features some of your favorite sci-fi characters. In the video below, you'll see the Loch Ness Monster, a UFO, and what appears to be a yeti (or Sasquatch or some other type of walking man-like harry thing). Oh, the boot animation also shows a "Powered by Android" note at the bottom at initial boot, because Google has reportedly mandated such a move. That's apparently a big deal to Android news sites. Because, well, you must not have known that your phone was powered by Android. Or maybe it's a slow news week. Or maybe...I don't know. But hey, the Moto X, Galaxy S5, and HTC One (M8) all say it. Joy!

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Cheers Kover!

Top 5 Android Apps: March 2014

Rithvik — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:14:29 +0000

Apps are one of the best parts of owning an Android device, and while some people (ahem, Tato) may argue that iOS has the better selection, there are tons of quality apps available on our side as well. We go through a lot of apps here at DL every single month, but only a few of them are worth keeping around on devices we use each day. Here are the best applications for the month of March. 1. MarkAsRead: (Play Link - $1.31) While not everyone may be faced with the predicament this app looks to remedy, for those who have, it's a godsend. If you have ever looked at the expanded notification view on a Gmail notification and wished there were a third button to let you do more than just Archive and Reply, you're in luck. Straight from the Gmail notification, you can go ahead and mark emails as Read. The developer also looks to provide new features through updates, like the enhancements we saw in the latest one.

2. Facets: (Play Link - $0.99) If you were on the hunt for a wallpaper or two to grace your home screen, you must take a look at Justin Maller's Facets. If you were looking for a mobile-optimized version of any of those wallpapers, though, you were out of luck until recently. The Facets Android app comes with all the great originals, but in a redone form for mobile. The app's interface is different than what we're used to, but with the quality of the art and the recently added Muzei support, it may be worth $0.99 to support this artist and enjoy the sweet backgrounds.

3. Fiverr: (Play Link - free) Want someone to do something for you for a Lincoln? Fiverr is a service you want to look into, a service that lets users buy services from other users for denominations of five dollars. The Android app makes the whole process easier, with a neat interface and messaging system. In fact, I was able to hire a writer on the service to write this blog post for me for just $5. Just kidding... or am I? Grab Fiverr on Google Play for absolutely free, though you'll have to drop Fives every time you want to get something done.

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4. Glitchr: (Play Link - free) Before going into what the app does, I'd like to point out that the app's retro interface is what got me into it in the first place. Besides the neat look, though, Glitchr is a photo editing app that's worth keeping around. With effects ranging from "Gameboy Camera" to "VHS," you won't have trouble finding something that may tickle your fancy. Glitchr is free with no in-app purchases whatsoever, so drop it in your photo editing repertoire just in case you may need it.

5. QuickClick: (Play Link - free) Jealous of the HTC One (M8)'s gesture features? Or how about the ones found on the LG G2? You may be able to get some of that goodness on your phone with QuickClick, an app letting users map actions to a sequence of volume button presses. Possibly the highlight feature of QuickClick is the fact that it'll let you use the app in conjunction with Tasker, which makes possibilities endless (especially for rooted devices). For example, set "up-up-down" to start your favorite music player, or "down-up-down-up" to turn your WiFi radio on. This app is entirely free as well, so go give it a try.

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HTC, You are Guilty of Gimmicks Just as Much as Samsung is, Maybe Even Worse

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:34:19 +0000

HTC cracks me up. Because they are fighting for their lives, they'll say anything at this point to try and win you over. Whether that's by claiming to reinvent the smartphone or by attempting to re-create the camera with the "UltraPixel" or calling out Samsung for pushing out a couple of gimmicks instead of innovating , they want to be loud and in-your-face. Let's be clear though - there isn't anything wrong with a little trash talking, but if we're being brutally honest here, HTC is guilty of just as many gimmicks as Samsung. And that includes their new HTC One (M8), which may contain the mother of all gimmicks. For reference, during HTC's unveiling of the One (M8) last week, their president of Americas (Jason Mackenzie) stood on stage all broseph'd up, and told us all how they aren't into just adding a few dimples to the back of a phone, tossing in a software gimmick here or there, or blasting out the word with billions of dollars through marketing channels. Here is the exact quote:

"...so much better than just launching another plastic phone, throwin' a few dimples in the back, maybe a software gimmick or two and then masking it all with expensive advertising. That's not HTC's style. We're about delivering innovation and putting the world's best innovation, the best crafted design, the maximum value to our customers' hands."

No, instead they are about tossing in a few rounded corners to last year's design, slashing features from their same panned 4MP camera technology in favor of a couple of software gimmicks, and then hiring celebrities that tell you to "ask the internet." Spin it however you want, HTC, you did the exact same thing that Samsung just did, maybe even worse. I'd argue that the camera in the new HTC One (M8) is a bigger gimmick than anything Samsung did. I say that because things like Samsung's heart rate monitor are indeed gimmicks, except they aren't gimmicks that could potential ruin a major feature in your phone (the camera). What HTC has done to the camera on the One (M8) could potentially do that for many users. At 4MP (or "UltraPixel if we're being fancy), HTC gave us a camera that takes photos with a resolution smaller than the resolution on a 15-inch Macbook Pro with retina display. It's also just barely bigger than the resolution on my iMac. In other words, good luck cropping, editing, zooming, or displaying your photos anywhere outside of Instagram or Facebook or your phone. Even photographers who received the device earlier than anyone had a problem with it. Beyond the low resolution, HTC also took away optical image stabilization (OIS) in favor of a 2nd camera sensor that is used for depth and creating 3D-like images. First of all, killing OIS instantly affects low-light shots and video steadiness. Are those two areas you would be willing to see a decline in? Second, those two were gimped so that you could re-focus photos after the fact to add bokeh (UFocus) or a wobblying 3D-thing (3D Dimension). The UFocus feature is implemented horribly, but is also something that Samsung and Sony have accomplished as well (if not better) with a single camera that also isn't at a horrifyingly low 4MP resolution. The 3D Dimension feature should probably never be used by anyone. It doesn't offer a 3D effect, it just blurs and distorts whatever image you are looking at. It's terrible.

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In the end, what I'm trying to say is that everyone is doing gimmicks because innovation has slowed. But if you are going to do gimmicks, at least make sure your gimmicks aren't killing off features or offering a sub-standard experience. While the HTC One (M8) is designed and crafted beautifully, there is one major gimmick that could ultimately be its downfall. I believe the saying goes, "The best camera is the one that's with you." I'd only add, "Unless that camera is a gimmick."

Chromecast Support Comes to Vudu, Crackle, and Rdio

Kyle — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:13:50 +0000

In a crowded market, Walmart's Vudu on-demand movie and television service has done little to distinguish itself. Sure, the app has an impressive selection of 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound movies, but what difference does that make when the Android app isn't the most usable? Thankfully, it looks like Vudu may be listening to feedback, as an update to the app fixes bugs, improves compatibility for devices with high-resolution screens, and adds Chromecast support. Vudu may be playing catch-up with Chromecast support - many other streaming services have had the feature for weeks - but the app's addition is a notable one because of Vudu's ability to access UltraViolet lockers. If you've got a sizable DVD or Blu-ray collection, that may be reason enough to check out the updated app. On top of the moves by Vudu, Crackle, with is library of HD movies and TV shows also received Chromecast support. In addition, music lovers can grab the updated Rdio application from Google Play, which also brings support for the media streaming HDMI dongle. Vudu is available for download from the Google Play Store. Play Links: Vudu | Crackle | Rdio

Via: +Chrome

Cheers Stephen!

How to: Change Launchers on the HTC One (M8)

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:10:08 +0000

The new HTC One (M8) runs HTC's BlinkFeed launcher out of the box. It's not a bad OEM launcher, but if you aren't a fan of BlinkFeed and also want custom icon pack support in a launcher that carries a much more classic Android appearance, a 3rd party launcher should be installed immediately. Since the One (M8) is an Android device, getting a 3rd party launcher up and running isn't all that difficult - download one you like, run it, and be on your way. Should you be the type that often switches between multiple launchers through Android 4.4's (Kit Kat) new Home toggle, we wanted to make sure you knew where to find it on HTC's new flagship. It's not in the typical Settings>Home location that you would see with a stock Android device and is instead tucked into HTC's Personalize menu. To access the Home launcher switcher, either follow the video below or cruise into Settings>Personalize>Home screen, and then tap the launcher you want to use.

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T-Mobile Brings End to Employer Rate Plan Discounts, Opts for Transparency Instead

Tim — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:45:19 +0000

T-Mobile's CEO John Legere made an announcement at the end of last week that his company would be ending employer rate plan discounts, opting for a more "transparent" game plan. "The old programs were designed to help big carriers close big corporate contracts, with employees as bargaining chips. We aren’t playing that game anymore," was what John had to say about the current setup of employee discounts. The end of discounted rate plans will begin tomorrow, April 1. Starting then and going forward, customers with a qualifying account will receive a T-Mobile reward card of $25 each time they purchases a new device through the carrier. According to T-Mobile, this method is simple, clear and transparent. John closed the message with a hopeful look to the future, as the Uncarrier has even more plans at simplifying wireless for everyone. "A year ago, I promised we’d change this industry, and this is just one more step in the movement. And, we're not done yet. Stay tuned." Are you affected by this change? If so, let us know your thoughts on the new "deal" below in the comments section.

Via: T-Mobile

HTC One (M8): 25+ Tips and Tricks

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:30:42 +0000

Whenever a flagship device is released, we want to make sure that new owners of it know exactly how to use all of its major features without having to figure it all out on their own. From navigating around to changing wallpapers to fully utilizing camera software, our 25+ tips and tricks series is one of our favorites to put together. The latest to receive the tips and tricks treatment is the brand new HTC One (M8). HTC's 2014 flagship, which launched just last week, introduces new off-screen gestures, a brand new camera UI, tweaks to Sense with version 6.0, on-screen navigation buttons, better control over wallpapers and home screen setups, plus more. The device itself is an upgraded version of the One (M7), last year's model, mostly in all the right places. So, if you are ready, here is our tips and tricks video for HTC's latest.

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Top 5 Android Games: March 2014

Tim — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:21:13 +0000

We are back again with the Top 5 Android Games for the month of March here in 2014. It was actually a really great month for mobile gaming on Android, with the release of a few titles which will undoubtedly go into some type of mobile gaming Hall of Fame. This month, we saw the release of Cut the Rope 2 (hooray, Om Nom is back!), Threes for Android, as well as Smash Hit. We are sure that these games have been played by many of our readers, so we hope you agree with our list. If you don't, let us know which games would have made it better. Check out our top 5 games for Android below. 1. Threes ($1.99) With the launch of Threes onto Android, our favorite mobile platform has yet another fantastic puzzler/brain workout game; full of numbers, great music, and silly voices. In Threes, you match pairing numbers to make bigger numbers. As you play on, the board fills up with 1's and 2's, challenging you to make as many pairs as you can before you have no more moves to make. The game is fun, yet challenging. And as stated, they apply little personalities to the numbers you make, so every now and then you get to hear a few cute voices while playing. On top of the voices, the game actually features a pretty decent soundtrack, with a melody that easily gets stuck in your head. The game costs only $1.99 on Google Play, with a very high replayability rate. Go check it out.

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2. Smash Hit (Free) Another game which hit Google Play to super positive reviews was Smash Hit, a title which actually surprised the heck out of me. At first, I thought it was too easy, but then once you progress to the later levels, it's easy to see why many would rage quit. The object is to throw steel balls at glass objects that block your route, while also tossing balls at glass pyramids to help you collect more balls. If you hit enough pyramids without missing any, plus you don't get hit by objects, you get to throw more balls at once, which ups your chances of not dying/running out of balls. The game is easy to understand, but does take a little practice. Once you get the hang of it, you are instantly addicted. Smash Hit is free to download, but features a single IAP to unlock a save feature, which is a must-have feature if you plan on playing the game more than once.

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3. AirFighters Pro ($4.99) AirFighters Pro hit Google Play just last week, and over this past weekend, I was lounging on the couch flying through the skies in my fighter jet. Claimed to be one of the best flight simulation games ever released for mobile devices, the game delivers a highly-detailed world to fly in, complete with real-world airports which you can land and take off from. After completing the game's tutorial, which gives you a basic idea at flying the aircrafts, landing and taking off, and dog fighting, you can choose to enter the game's missions. These missions put you up against the best fighter planes in the world, with many of the missions being quite difficult. As stated in my post about the game, my main gripe with flight sim games are the controls. To my joy, this game actually has fantastic graphics, as well as superb flight controls. The game does come with a premium price tag of $4.99, but if flight simulation is your guilty pleasure, then you should love it.

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4. Cut the Rope 2 (Free) What is there to actually say - it's Cut the Rope! After years, we finally have a true sequel to Om Nom's adventures, and in true fashion, the game is quite good. It's the same rope cutting goodness that was featured in the last couple of titles, except now, Om Nom is out in an open world. He must go through jungles, junkyards, and many more environments to find his beloved candy. However, there is a downside to this game. The developers have implemented an insane set of IAPs, which deliver more time to play, different outfits for Om Nom, and a ton more extra in-game content. It's a lame move, but we understand why they do it. Instead, we truly wish there was an option to buy the game outright, which would remove ads, unlock all content, and just let us play the game we love. Oh well. Go grab it for free off of Google Play.

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5. Out There ($4.99) The last game I would like to cover for our list is Out There. When released, this game pretty much consumed my Android life. With the overall gripe that I can never beat the game and only do a little better each time, this game keeps me coming back for more frustration; time and time again. In Out There, the Earth is dying. In search of more resources for our planet, an astronaut is sent out to the furthest parts of our solar system, only to awake in a distant part of the galaxy. His mission has changed - he must now find a way back to Earth. You would think that this would be an impossible task, and let me tell you, it pretty much is. From my time with it, I can tell you that the only way to beat this game is with luck. As you explore different worlds, you must hope to come across friendly aliens who deliver goods to you, as well as make sure you don't run out of fuel, oxygen, or take heavy damage from exploring the galaxy. With so many ways to die or run out of fuel, you will find yourself becoming highly frustrated with this game. But please, don't lose hope. The game comes with a $4.99 price tag. It might seem high, but if you love space and exploring new worlds, then this should be right up your alley.

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LG G2 Mini (LS885) Headed to Sprint, Still a Disappointing Device

Tim — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 11:00:55 +0000

The G2 Mini (LS885) from LG is headed to Sprint, so sayeth @evleaks. The device was made official back in February, and at the time, no US plans were announced. As of right now, there are still no official dates, but Evan is usually spot on with his information. The G2 Mini, which we wished was more of a G2 Compact (featuring high end specs in a smaller package), isn't the device many G2 fans would have hoped for. There are two variants of the device for different global markets. Depending on the market, the device features a 4.7-inch qHD IPS (960 x 540) display, a Qualcomm 1.4GHz quad-core processor or Tegra 4i quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 8MP or 13MP rear-facing camera, comes powered by a 2,440mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4+. While the device is decent enough for most markets, the US consumers are a bit spoiled by displays, so the G2 Mini with its 4.7" qHD display is pretty upsetting. Sprint probably won't be the only carrier, so stay tuned for additional info.

Via: @evleaks

Galaxy S5 Display is the Most Accurate and Best Performing Screen Ever Tested

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:37:56 +0000

Display expert and guru of all things pixel, Dr. Raymond M. Soneira of DisplayMate, released his latest shoot-out of top tier devices, this time focusing on the Samsung's new Galaxy S5. As noted in his report, Soneira talks about Samsung's move this year to not drastically bump up the display size or resolution and instead focus on viewing angles, display brightness, color accuracy, and power efficiency. In other words, fine-tuning their AMOLED technology was the goal. How did they do? According to Soneira, the 5.1-inch FHD Super AMOLED display in the Galaxy S5 is the best display he has ever tested. Here are some of the highlights of his report:

Evolution of OLED Displays: The Galaxy S4 and Note 3 both showed tremendous improvement in the OLED display category, but the Galaxy S5 brings a "major improvement" over both on a number of levels.
Best Smartphone Display: The GS5 display is the best performing display that DisplayMate has ever tested. It set new records in performance for highest brightness, lowest reflectance, highest color accuracy, infinite contrast ratio, highest contrast rating in ambient light, and smallest brightness variation with viewing angle.
Highest Color Accuracy: With the GS5 set to "Cinema Mode," the device has the most accurate colors of any smartphone or tablet ever tested.
Brightness: The Galaxy S5 is 22% brighter than the Galaxy S4 and 13% bright than the Galaxy Note 3. The GS5 also comes with a "Super Dimming Mode" for using the display in dark environments.
Power Efficiency: The GS5 showed a 27% improvement in display power efficiency over the Galaxy S4.

I thought the display on the Galaxy Note 3 was the most beautiful display I had ever used, so after reading this report, I can tell you now that I cannot wait to get my hands on the Galaxy S5 for further testing. I've always been a fan of AMOLED displays, but if it is now topping charts of display gurus, I can't imagine I'll be in the minority with my love of this display type, even if Samsung is using a diamond pixel arrangement. To read Soneira's full and extremely detailed report, hit up the source link below.

Via: DisplayMate

Google Looks to Hire Pokémon Master in Latest April Fools' Gag

Tim — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:02:02 +0000

With April Fools' taking place tomorrow, Google will look to continue its long running stand as the king of pranks. With tons of cash to spend on elaborate ideas, the company has become known for over-the-top jokes; featuring celebrities, fantastic videos, and a ton of custom software to go along with the schemes. The latest prank from Google is the Pokémon Challenge, which is an attempt by the company to hire a "Pokémon Master." In order to get the gig, folks from all over the world must explore their surroundings using Google Maps, capturing Pokémon. The first to "catch 'em all" will win the position at Mountain View. So, is there a real job opening? Probably not. Is this another great April Fools' joke from Google? Absolutely! Watch the full video explaining the Pokémon Challenge below.

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OnePlus One Screenshots Leak, Show Customized CyanogenMod

Kyle — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:15:00 +0000

It's no secret that CyanogenMod has been quietly working on a modified version of the company's Android fork to power the OnePlus One, but the aesthetics of the software have thus far remained a mystery. That changed today, with the leak of several alleged screenshots captured from an unreleased One. While the pictures aren't very revealing, one does show a customized lockscreen, very different from the one found in the vanilla version of CyanogenMod 11. Similar to extensions like DashClock, the lockscreen shows beneath a picture (background?) information like battery life, weather, and text messages. The feature looks to be an exclusive part of "CyanogenMod 11s," the designation given to the One's unique branch of CyanogenMod. The One launches on April 23, and while OnePlus has remained mum on pricing, rumors suggest the smartphone will retail for less than $400. That's not bad for a top-tier handset.

Via: Engadget

One-click Root Method Released for HTC One (M8) on Verizon

Tim — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 08:51:22 +0000

It's not even a week since the release of the One (M8) from HTC, but already developers have been able to root it. The latest device to receive root love is the M8 flagship on Verizon's network, with a "Weak Sauce" one-click method now available for download. Once the one-click application is installed on your M8, the only other step you need to do is install the Superuser app from Google Play. After that, you will have root, along with access to all of the root-only applications that are available for Android devices. Losing root is even easier, as all you need to do is uninstall the one-click app. Users can also dive deeper down once rooted, experimenting with the Firewater S-Off tool for HTC devices. That will lead to custom ROMs, theme zips, and everything else you could image. If you are a fan of root access, plus you own a Verizon One (M8) from HTC, hit up the source link below.

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Via: XDA

Cheers Shane!

Kit Kat Update Approved for Rollout on the Sprint LG G2

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 08:37:39 +0000

Sprint announced this morning that its variant of the LG G2 is ready to receive an update to Kit Kat (Android 4.4). No other details were provided, but we do know from the update that hit the AT&T variant what we can expect. According to AT&T's changelog, we are looking at restyled UI elements in the notification and navigation areas, improved battery efficiency, faster processing speed, cloud printing, and enhancements to Knock On. The update should be available now, so if you'd like to try and pull it, head into Settings>System updates>Update LG software. That basically leaves the Verizon variant as the only G2 to not officially receive Kit Kat. There are OTA builds floating around over at XDA, but for the small chance that they aren't final builds, you may want to approach those with caution.

Via: Sprint

Random, Non-Promoted Galaxy S5 Feature: Baby Crying Monitor

Kellen — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 08:19:57 +0000

If you could name one game-changing feature that Samsung failed to show during its unveiling of the Galaxy S5, what would it be? Maybe, QHD display? Or innovative, all-metal design? Or baby monitor? OK, so no one was hoping that the GS5 could double as a baby monitor, but apparently it does just that. Tucked inside the Accessibility menu of the phone, there is an option with a box that reads "Baby crying monitor." The feature, at least according to the screenshots included in this post, will detect if your baby is crying and then alert you with a vibration through what we can only assume is a Gear smartwatch. I would also assume that there is some sort of companion app that can be installed on the watch that communicates with the phone, though I can't confirm that until I get a unit in-hand, full time. The "Baby crying monitor" is as you can imagine, filled with warnings, like this is not to be used "as a medical device or substitute f0r human caregiving." Samsung also notes that it won't be held responsible should you suffer "consequential loss" while using your Galaxy S5 as a baby monitor. As long as you place the phone within 1m of the baby and have no background noise, it could be an option should you need a baby monitor in a pinch. Maybe? Anyone willing to give it a try with their new phone (once it launches April 11)?

Via: GSMArena

This Week in the Life of DROID – 3/28/2014

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 16:46:13 +0000

This week was HTC's week without a doubt, as we finally saw the unveiling of the company's highly-anticipated and highly-leaked One (M8) flagship smartphone. That's not all the news from this week, though - we have found out that Apple's iTunes may be making its way to Android, we saw an official unboxing of the Galaxy S5 from T-Mobile, got new Google Glass partner information, and much more. Take a look at this week's top stories below.

Video: HTC One (M8) unboxing and tour.
Video: Hands-on with the One (M8) Dot View case.
Video: HTC One (M8) vs. One (M7).
Our initial reactions to the One (M8) from HTC.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 was unboxed by T-Mobile.
Is Apple bringing an official iTunes app to Android?
Google Now is now available on Chrome stable releases for desktops.
New colors for the HTC One (M8) already in the works?
Sense 6.0 coming to the One (M7) in May or June, One Max and Mini later down the road.
Google partners with Luxottica (maker of Ray-Ban and Oakley) for Google Glass.
Major update incoming for NVIDIA SHIELD.
OnePlus One coming April 23.
Is a Galaxy S5 Active on the way?
AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3 getting Kit Kat.
The HTC One M8 Mini possibly in the works.
Amazon announcing a streaming box next week?
No mobile OS is more stable than Kit Kat.
Android 4.4.3 incoming?

Have a fun and safe weekend, folks!

Dot View Case for HTC One (M8) Now on Sale, Priced at $49.99

Tim — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:48:56 +0000

Unlike the phone itself, which was launched on the day it was announced this past Tuesday, the Dot View case for the One (M8) from HTC is finally available for those who are interested. The case is actually quite neat, as not only are you protecting your gorgeous new device with its plastic back and front flip cover, but it also brings a bit of added functionality with it. The case allows users to swipe and tap on it, bringing voice dial actions as well as gesture commands for when new notifications and phone calls pour in. The case is $50, which seems sort of steep, but the added functionality is quite neat. Also, announced at the time were different colors of the Dot View case, but for now, only the Black version seems to be available. To get a sense for how the case looks and feels on the M8, take a look at our hands-on video below. Buy.

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Is Google Readying an Android 4.4.3 Update?

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:15:58 +0000

While the rumor mill has already started for Google potentially preparing an L-release Android update for I/O 2014, it appears we may not be quite done with Kit Kat yet. According to a new report out of Myce, Google employees have been spotted running new builds of Kit Kat on both the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7. The latest build spotted on Hammerhead, aka Nexus 5, is version KTU83, and this update will hopefully bring a fix for the camera's battery-draining bug some users have reported. By Google's naming scheme for deciding a build number, we can assume that this build is running Kit Kat and is from March 24, 2014. The Nexus 7's last appearance on the Android 4.4.3 radar pegs the build number as KTU79, which means the build date for this one is likely March 21.

Considering that Android 4.4.3 (if it ever does indeed come out) is a 0.0.1 version bump up from the latest public version, not much is expected from the release except to squash bugs. We'll update you as we learn more information.

Via: Myce

VSCO Cam Version 2.3 Update Brings New Organization Tools, UI Tweaks, and Bug Fixes

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:40:10 +0000

VSCO Cam, a popular camera replacement app that debuted first on iPhone, received an update today to version 2.3 with new features centered around organization. Changes have been made to the layouts of both Presets and Tools, plus the usual bug fixes and subtle UI tweaks are also to be found in the updated app. To be able to rearrange and show/hide parts of your Presets and Tools menus, head to Settings > Preferences > Toolkit/Preset Order and make changes as you wish. The update is rolling out to users via Google Play as we speak, so be sure to hit the Play link down below and get your version of VSCO up to date. Play Link

Via: VSCO

Friday App Sales: Paper Camera, Colin McRae Rally, TuneSync, and More

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:10:50 +0000

Hooray, it's Friday again - it has come time to hook you all up with a few deals on apps and games for the weekend. This last list of March includes titles like Paper Camera, Colin McRae Rally, plus much more, which means finding an app or two to pick up shouldn't be an issue. As usual, the full list can be found down below.

Friday app sales

Paper Camera - ($0.99)
Colin McRae Rally - ($1.99)
Dokuro - ($0.99)
Handy Photo - ($0.99)
mazec3 Handwriting Recognition - ($1.86)
mazec3 (jp) -Handwriting - ($1.86)
Evertales - ($0.99)
Vritra - ($0.99)
TuneSync - ($2.99)
FireJumpers - Wildfire RTS - ($0.99)
Oh!Edo Towns - ($1.20)

That's all for this week!

Feature Request: Google, Don't Make Music Listening on All Access an Individual Experience

Eric — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:39:39 +0000

Welcome to another edition of our feature requests. Last time, we asked Motorola to tweak its Active Display features to be a bit more like AcDisplay, to make things a bit easier to use. Today, our request focuses on Google Music All Access. We are humbly asking Google to let us get other people involved, because as The Beatles once said, we all get by with a little help from our friends. Google's All Access was announced about a year ago, at Google I/O 2013. There was much excitement leading up to the announcement, and Google responded with a very capable and competitively priced service. When stacked up against other streaming music services like Pandora or Spotify, All Access brings a lot to the table. I have been using it ever since (thanks to the $7.99 early-adopter pricing), but there is one thing I would like to propose to Google. There is a lot that I like about All Access, but when I am using it, I get the feeling that this is solely my collection of music to enjoy. Only mine. If you go to the All Access web portal, it feels like you are detached from any other human beings who might also be using the service. There is an "Explore" section that is great for finding the newest albums and chart-topping singles, but where are the people that are listening to this music? Google has a built-in sharing feature with Play Music, but it centers around Google+. When I'm in the mood to listen to music, I want to be browsing in the Play Music library, not the pages of Google+. The only thing that comes close to sharing within the Play Music web portal is the "Shared with me" section, which is incredibly cluttered and unusable for exploring what your friends are listening to.

What happened to the days of creating mix-tapes for your summer jams or a burned CD for that special someone to tell them how you felt? Music exploration is in a good place right now, but sharing has taken a hard hit thanks to the migration away from physical content. Spotify does a great job of pulling in your friend's music selection and their custom playlists into its application. Even when you are only listening to your stations and music, it doesn't feel like you are in a vacuum. So, my suggestion for All Access would be to at the very least, find an interactive way to bring in playlists and recently played tracks from a person's list of Google+ friends. If they wanted to really blow the doors off this feature, they could make All Access the place to create a playlist/mix-tape for someone. Giving users the ability to pull from Google's music library into a playlist that would create a shortlink that could be shared on other social networks outside of Google+ would be amazing. Google, if you are looking for a last minute feature to work on to announce at this year's Google I/O, this friendly feature would be welcomed. If you have other general Android or device specific feature requests that you would like to see us talk about, be sure to hit us up.

Official Captain America: TWS Game Lands on Google Play, Haters of IAPs Beware

Tim — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 12:46:20 +0000

Is a new blockbuster movie on its way? Oh, there is? Is it called Captain America: The Winter Soldier? Well, that means we can expect Gameloft to come out with a new game for it, and in fact, they have. The game is now available for Android users through Google Play, complete with a price tag of free...kind of. In Captain America: TWS, you play as world's most patriotic superhero, leading a squad of S.H.I.E.L.D. assault team members, battling baddies from different crime organizations. Better yet, when you get into trouble, you can call on a member of the Avengers for help, which is a nice touch by Gameloft. The game features pretty good graphics, as well as a good multiplayer system for fighting baddies with your friends. You can learn new fighting techniques, unlock and upgrade Captain America's suits, plus research new skills to help your progress through the game faster. The game's first two levels are free to play, but after that, prepare to whip out your Google Wallet. The full game needs to be purchased for $2.99, then following that, there are additional IAPs. The ol' bait and switch. For shame, Gameloft. Play Link

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Study Finds Kit Kat to be Most Stable Mobile OS Available

Eric — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:42:15 +0000

For a long time, Android has been saddled with the stereotype of being a buggy operating system when compared to the competition. Times have changed, and with that, so has Android. The launch of Android 4.4 brought a very mature-looking OS to the mobile world, as well as a very stable one. Crittercism is a company that produces the Mobile Experience Benchmark Report, which puts different operating systems through stress tests to find weak points. In its latest Report, Crittercism tested 2,582 devices across 691 mobile carriers and 106 different operating systems. The company found a lot of statistics, but the OS that was most likely to crash was Android 2.3 Gingerbread at 1.7%. In comparison, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and Kit Kat were all rated at 0.7% crash rates. Those are pretty good numbers when compared with the best performing version of iOS (version 7.1), which got a 1.6% crash rate. It's also worth noting that according to this report, the most stable Android phones on the market are manufactured by Samsung. As with most statistics, you should take these numbers with a grain of salt. iOS is much more widely spread around the world than Kit Kat, which as of the last distribution chart,was only on 2.5% Android devices worldwide. That being said, this is a good sign for Android, no doubt helping its market share going forward. If you want to see the full report, click the source link below.

Via: Information Week

Check Out AirFighters Pro, One of the Best Flight Simulator Games We've Played on Android

Tim — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:12:06 +0000

A new flight simulator game is available on Google Play, titled AirFighters Pro. The game comes from developer Rortos, known for a handful of other flight simulator games on both Android and iOS. This title is priced at $4.99, with no free version currently available. However, don't let the price tag scare you away - this flight sim rules. Much like every other flight simulator, you take the controls of a few of your favorite fighter jets. Included in the game is the F-16, F-14, F/A-18, A-6, MiG-29K, F35B Lightning, and many more. This game's claim to fame is that it is the most advanced fighter jet combat and flight simulator for mobile devices. With a claim like that, we expect great controls, awesome graphics, and righteous action - to keep it short, the developer delivers all of that. My main issue with most simulators are the controls; they are usually garbage. Thankfully, AirFighters Pro brings smooth, well-laid out controls for touchscreen devices. Everything is well labeled, which makes for the actual flying and combat scenarios much easier to learn. Once you get your bearings on where controls are located, you will be flying around like Tom Cruise in Top Gun in no time at all. What makes this game really great is the real-life environments it puts you in. In your planes, you get to fly around the Earth as we know it, with access to 569 of the world's major airports, with detailed runways and landing strips. Sounds awesome, right? Well, it is.

The planes you can use are true to life in performance, characteristics and fuel capacity: you can test yourself in vertical takeoff, take advantage of the variable-geometry wings and fly in the cockpit of the best fighter jets on the planet. The flight engine allows you to navigate the entire face of the earth, but pay attention to fuel capacity and make sure to ask for in-flight refueling in time.

Again, the game is $5, but if flight sims are your game of choice, then this game won't leave you wanting. Play Link ($4.99)

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Reader Opinion: If You Bought the HTC One (M8), Tell Us Your Thoughts

Tim — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:27:39 +0000

Since HTC decided to be awesome and make the One (M8) available the same day they announced it, we know that a few of you currently have the device in hand. With that being said, we know there is an even greater number of folks who are still undecided as to whether the M8 would be a good purchase. Who better to trust with such a decision than the fine DL reader community, right? As far as our thoughts are concerned, we feel that the M8 has been a major step forward for HTC. The device's build quality is unrivaled, the user experience so far is quite fluid, and we are even trying to get over the fact that it only features a 4MP rear-facing camera. However, we do have a few dislikes, mainly being the overall size of the phone; it's just too tall. When the phone is in your pocket and you are moving around, it's at times easy for the phone to dig right into your thigh; a feeling which can be most uncomfortable. As for other downsides, there aren't too many. While we may have to get used to the Ultrapixel camera, it doesn't mean we love it - it just means we can tolerate it. We want to know your thoughts on M8, though. We know our readers have a very diverse outlook on Android phones, so for anyone who currently owns the M8, we would love to know how you are liking/disliking your time with it. Shoot down below to the comments section and let the community know your thoughts on the M8.

This is How Google Responds to a U.S. Search Warrant

Kellen — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 09:50:03 +0000

Privacy. Privacy. Privacy. It's such a painful topic to discuss. We hate it. The government hates it. Google hates it. You hate it. But it's a hot item thanks to all of those just mentioned. As is such, Google needs to keep addressing your privacy in order to keep many of you using their services. In their latest privacy-focused video, Google discusses how it handles U.S. search warrants that have been received from a criminal investigation on one of its users, while maintaing privacy. The video walks through the entire process from investigator to search warrant to judge to that warrant being served on Google. Once it hits Google, a number of people touch the warrant, deciding how much information is needed, if the warrant is too vague and needs to be sent back to investigators, and then if the user needs to be notified. It's worth a watch, criminals.

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Cut the Rope 2 Hits Google Play, Help Om Nom Through New Worlds (Updated)

Tim — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 09:00:26 +0000

It seems weird that Cut the Rope 2 is just now launching onto Android, as there have been a few Cut the Rope titles released in between this one and the first one years ago. How they decided to do that, I don't know, but it has finally arrived on Google Play. In Cut the Rope 2, Om Nom is back - freakin' sweet. There are also new characters to help you progress through a completely different world, complete with tons of new levels. According to the app's description, Om Nom has escaped his box, forced to find his candy among bustling cities, deep woods, as well as junkyards. We wouldn't recommend eating candy found at the junkyard, Om Nom, but maybe your cuteness will kill the bacteria that lives on it. According to reviews of the game so far, it appears that the developers have implemented some type of energy/time bar. If you run out of energy/time, you can't play until you get more. Reviewers state it's like Candy Crush, and if that's true, we have a bad feeling about this game. Since the game is unavailable here, we can't confirm this quite yet. For now, it appears that the game is unavailable for folks in most regions, but you can start refreshing the Google Play link to grab it as soon as its available. Update: The game is now live. Let us know what you think. Play Link

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Sequence of Volume Button Clicks Will Start Actions Using the QuickClick App

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 08:31:28 +0000

For those of you jealous of the devices featuring dedicated camera buttons and other gesture shortcut features, fret not. QuickClick will let you use your volume buttons in specific sequences as triggers for your camera and much, much more. The free app will let you toggle your flashlight, start any of your apps, record audio, and even connect to Tasker to run any other device functions, exponentially increasing the power of this little tool. Choosing an action from the wide assortment of those available will let you fine tune settings for it, and then you are thrown into a screen where you can define which combination of volume key presses will trigger said command. It's as simple as that. The possibilities really get interesting when you consider the app's integration with Tasker. For those of you familiar with Tasker, you know that you can basically set the app up to do many things (such as control all system settings) on your phone, though some actions may require root access. That's a win. The app is available on Google Play for free, so it's worth giving it a shot and assigning a few simple functions to it. The full list of features can be found right down below.

Features

Start any Action with a sequence of Volume Buttons clicks
Take a photo or a video
Toggle flashlight on and off
Record an audio
Make a call
Start a message
Launch a Tasker task
Start any of your apps

Play Link

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TwitchCast Lets Users Stream Twitch.tv Streams to Chromecast

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 05:00:13 +0000

If you're one of the many people who uses Twitch, the online video game broadcasting platform, you may want to pick yourself up a Chromecast. TwitchCast is a free app that'll let you view live Twitch streams on the big screen, a big win for hardcore Twitchers. To get the Casting up and rolling, all you have to do is type in the name of the channel you want to stream from (I recommend a certain Eric, known as CPT_R3DEARD), hit the Chromecast button on the top bar, pick a stream quality, choose your Chromecast, and then press the big purple Cast button. In my tests, the app has worked fairly well. TwitchCast is a mobile version of the website allowing users to do the same. Fans of Twitch, go try this one out and let us know how it works for you. Play Link

HTC's Jason Mackenzie Calls Samsung's Galaxy S5 a "Product Built Out of Cheap Plastic"

Rithvik — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:10:43 +0000

In wake of the launch of HTC's 2014 flagship, the One (M8), a lot of Android talk has turned to "One (M8) vs. Galaxy S5," with executives from both companies not shying away from the subject. We have already seen a friendly Twitter rivalry between HTC's Jeff Gordon and Samsung's Phillip Berne, but now the attention has shifted over to to Jason Mackenzie, President of HTC America. Mackenzie is quoted by Business Insider as saying, "If you want to buy a product built out of cheap plastic, there's a solution for you" when questioned about Samsung's flagship, and goes on to mention that "[HTC is] a company that invests in our customers and delivers a beautifully designed product that you can feel proud of." Even though Mackenzie makes some fairly large claims about the S5, sales will likely still be extraordinarily high given Samsung's marketing prowess, likely resulting in less-than-hoped sales of the One (M8). Although, the year is still young, with plenty of time for consumers to decide which device they will be choosing. Nevertheless, J-Mac, you're on the right track. Just scrap the new ads, will ya?

Via: Business Insider

Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster Launches for NVIDIA SHIELD, Priced at $14.99

Tim — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 15:48:47 +0000

The streak continues, as yet another title has launched onto Google Play as an NVIDIA SHIELD exclusive. The game is called Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster, and while it is stated that the game will come to additional Tegra 4-powered devices in the future, this is still a pretty small percentage of Android gamers. In Wonder Momo, which is apparently a comic strip that has been around for years and years, you play as Momoko, a well endowed schoolgirl/bikini model/superhero who battles the evil forces of Waru. Alright, you got me, this sounds pretty hot. The game plays as a kick ass side scroller, as Momoko jumps and kicks baddies, collecting in-game coins to get more continues and for use in a mini game inside the app. Naturally, as it is built specifically for SHIELD portable gaming consoles, the controls are smooth and the graphics are superb. Got a SHIELD? Got $15 to spend on a game you can only play on that device? Well, there you go! Rest assured that after you purchase this game, you will not be pestered by IAPs. Play Link ($14.99)

AT&T Releases Specs for ASUS PadFone X, Still No Release Date

Eric — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 14:47:43 +0000

Ever since the PadFone X from ASUS was announced at CES this year, we have been patiently waiting to learn more about the device. We know that it will be on AT&T, that it will have LTE Advanced, feature HD Voice and VoLTE, but that was about it. Today, AT&T has dropped the spec list for the phone/tablet hybrid to satisfy our appetite until the launch date. A few of the highlights would be that the PadFone X is launch with Kit Kat, a 13MP camera on the rear of the PadFone itself, and an unspecified 2.3GHz quad-core processor. What is awesome about this spec list is that the PadFone and the PadFone dock have their separate specs, which when combined make for one awesome device. Unfortunately, we still do not have a set release date from ASUS or AT&T. AT&T promises that we are "one step closer" to getting our hands on it, but nothing more than that. As soon as we hear more, we will keep you updated. Take a look at the spec list below. Size

PadFone: 143.93 x 72.46 x 9.98 mm (150g)
PadFone Station: 250.4 x 172.25 x 11.63 mm (514g)

Operating System

Android 4.4 (KitKat)

Display

PadFone: 5”, 1920 x 1080 (441PPI)
PadFone Station: 9”, 1920 X 1200 (252PPI)

Camera

PadFone: 13MP Pixel Master + 2MP front-facing
PadFone Station: 1MP front-facing

Processor

2.3Ghz quad-core

Baseband chipset

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800

Internal Memory

16GB (2GB RAM)

Memory Card

microSD™ slot in smartphone extends external memory up to 64GB

Wi-Fi

WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)

Bluetooth

BT 4.0

GPS

GPS/aGPS

Battery/HAC

PadFone : 2,300mAh
PadFone Station: 4,990mAh

Via: AT&T

Video: HTC One (M8) vs. HTC One (M7)

Kellen — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 13:50:57 +0000

You have seen the unboxing and tour of the new HTC One (M8), so it's now time to talk about how it compares to last year's model, the One (M7). HTC will hope that you believe it has reinvented something with the 2014 model, that the design is strikingly different, and that there are all sorts of new features to differentiate the two. After all, they need not only Galaxy and iPhone owners to buy the new One (M8), they need current One owners as well. If the comeback is to happen, HTC needs to win big with everyone. So in this video, we take you on a tour of each from both hardware and software standpoints. Where are the real differences in the design? How much bigger is the new One versus the old One? What does Sense 6.0 look like when compared side-by-side with Sense 5.5? Are the cameras different? Specs different? All of that is answered below.

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Microsoft Makes Office Mobile Free to Download, Looks to Move in On Google Drive

Eric — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 13:17:48 +0000

Even though a lot of us have invested in the Google ecosystem for our document creating and editing, Microsoft Office is still a giant in the game. Up until today, editing and sharing Office documents through mobile wasn't accessible or it cost money if you were not on a Windows device. Today, Microsoft is changing up its strategy. In a post today on its blog, the Office team announced that its Android mobile app is now free to download and use to your heart's content. As long as your Android phone is running Android 4.0 or up, and you are using Office for home use, you should be in the clear. Office users who are using the service in a business situation need a paid Office365 subscription. At least it's a step in the right direction. In addition, tablets are not supported quite yet. The update is live in Google Play, so if you have not grabbed it yet, hit the link below to bring Word, Powerpoint, and all of the MS Office goodness to your phone. Play Link

Via: Microsoft

Themer Homescreen Replacement App Updated With Custom Icon Support

Tim — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 12:35:32 +0000

The clouds have parted and the sun is shining, as Themer now has custom icon pack support for your homescreen and app drawer. Themer is the easiest way to bring a completely redesigned look to your Android device. After downloading the app from Google Play, users can select from tons of different community-created themes, complete with custom icons, custom widgets, layouts, and so much more. In the newest update to hit the app, Themer now allows users to choose their own icon packs from Google Play for both the homescreen and app drawer. This feature has been highly requested from those in the community. Setting up a custom icon pack with Themer is very easy - open your app drawer, tap on Apps, Manage App Drawer, then Set Icon Pack. All done. All of the icon packs I currently have installed seem 100% compatible, including all of the packs from our buddy kovdev. Looking to change up your Android device in a big way? Check out Themer. Play Link

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Via: Themer

Rumor: Amazon Plans to Announce Video Streaming Box Next Week (Updated)

Eric — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 12:00:57 +0000

Finding a way to get customers to stick to a single streaming media service is always tricky business for a company. With that being said, the battle for hardware space in your living room has been heating up recently, and Amazon is ready to throw its hat in the ring. Latest reports show that Amazon's event next week in New York City is centered around a new web-to-TV streaming box. An invite is making the rounds to news sites, inviting reporters to an event on April 2 that starts at 11AM. That is next Wednesday in case you don't have your calendar within arms reach. The invite offers people to get an update on Amazon's video business from Peter Larsen himself. Rumors going around say that we will finally get to see Amazon's delayed media streaming device. We are expecting to see a heavily forked version of Android powering this device, and you can expect a lot of talk about Amazon Prime considering its recent price increase. Amazon Prime owners, does this news interest you at all? Update: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the video service that will be announced next week by Amazon will be a free-to-use video service. This is quite different from Amazon's current video plans, which require a paid Amazon Prime subscription. The WSJ says this new service will be ad-supported to keep it free, and that it will feature lots of original programming. The report also suspects Amazon is to announce a set-top box alongside this new service.

Via: re/code

Next Version of Android May Focus on Enterprise Security

Kyle — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:20:43 +0000

If rumors are to be believed, the next version of Android may emphasize enterprise security and business-specific features. That's according to a report by The Information, which says Google's own Sundar Pichai is leading the initiative to make Android more attractive to businesses. Security is said to be a major focus. A range of features are under consideration, including stronger encryption, storage of data on secure chips, better compatibility with biometric authentication, and new APIs for managing devices and apps remotely. Google may also introduce an app approval process separate from the Play Store that will ensure that apps within corporate app stores are "safe." The article didn't elaborate, but it would likely be an added protection against malicious code that can be surreptitiously embedded in apps. Google is expected to unveil the next version of Android in June at I/O. Registration begins April 10.

Via: The Information

GamingCast Brings Classic Titles to Your HDTV Through Chromecast

Tim — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:09:43 +0000

One of things I have wanted to see for a long time are all of my favorite mobile games (ex. Dead Trigger, NFS: Most Wanted) being played on my HDTV through Chromecast, then using my phone as a controller. While a new app called GamingCast may not be that special, it's definitely a start in the right direction. With GamingCast, users can play classic titles like Snake, Pong, and Tetris right from their couch on the big screen, using their phones as the controller. For now, you can only game in single player mode, but the developer states that a multiplayer function is coming soon. The app costs $1.49, which isn't bad at all. If you are worried about the lack in titles to play, don't worry, as the developer states there are more on the way. Play Link ($1.49)

Swedish Carrier Telia Outs the HTC One (M8) Mini

Tim — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 10:10:51 +0000

We have been awaiting more news on an upcoming "mini" version of HTC's latest flagship, the One (M8), and it comes to us this morning all the way from Swedish carrier Telia. Posted on its site is a list of devices capable of HD Voice. Under the HTC brand name, we see the M8, then right below it is the M8 Mini. So there is no confusion, the One and One Mini are also listed below that, which means it's safe to assume there wasn't a mixup and Telia did intentionally post that there will be an M8 Mini. HTC has been rather hush hush about a mini variant of the phone, but that's the way all companies are until a device is officially announced. Much like the M8, we can expect there to be plenty of leaks regarding the M8 Mini, so if this device interests you, then you need not worry.

Thanks to a previous leak, we already have an unofficial spec sheet, and it doesn't even sound all that bad for a mini phone. The device is rumored to come with a 4.5" (mini?) 720p display, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 13MP rear-facing camera, 5MP front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Sense 6, on-screen buttons, and come running Android 4.4.2 at launch. Looks as though HTC can't catch a break.

Via: Swedroid | Telia

Star Wars: Assault Team Launches on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:40:00 +0000

A new game called Star Wars: Assault Team launched on Google Play this morning, from Lucas Arts and Disney. The premise is that you must build an assault team comprised of your favorite Star Wars characters, then lead battles against the imperial forces. The gameplay reminds me of Pokemon, as it is a turn-based game. The overall look of the battles isn't very compelling, but the story takes place between Episode IV and Episode V, which means you will be battling against characters you know (and love), and fighting on planets you have seen before in the movies. And don't worry, there is no Jar-Jar. When a battle takes place, your characters rank up, becoming stronger, allowing you to battle more powerful foes. As you progress through the missions and the story, it appears that this is all leading up to a few boss battles, which includes a battle against Darth Vader. The title is free to download and play, but there are most definitely a few IAPs to help you progress through the game quicker. Star Wars fans, go get some. Play Link

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Samsung Debuts LED Smart Bulbs with Bluetooth Connectivity

Kyle — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:20:52 +0000

So-called smartbulbs appear to be all the rage. Merely days after LG unveiled its new line of remotely controllable home lights, Samsung is doing the same. Today, the Korea-based company announced it will launch a range of new wireless Smart Bulbs at the Light + Building architectural conference in Frankfurt, Germany. Samsung's Smart Bulbs are, at least on paper, substantively similar to other competing products on the market. The LEDs utilize Bluetooth for connectivity, and up to 64 of them can be dimmed or power toggled via a mobile app. Samsung says the bulbs should last for approximately 10 years. Anyone pumped for wireless lightbulbs?

Via: Samsung

HTC One (M8) in Stealth Black and Stealth Red Reportedly in the Works

Tim — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:00:55 +0000

HTC launched the new One (M8) only a couple of days ago, but it looks like two new color variants are already in the works. For now, folks can pick up the M8 in Gold, Silver, and Grey, but according to a report from HTC Source, the company is working to bring the M8 to market in Stealth Red as well as Stealth Black. The source of this info are two advertisements that were done through Google searches. If "Red HTC One M8" was searched, a text ad would pop up stating that this color was available for purchase. The same goes for the black. While it would have been killer to see HTC make all of these color variants available on the same day, we think that with them holding off for a bit to re-establish the hype surrounding the phone is probably a smooth move. Personally, I think the idea of a Red M8 is uber hot.

Via: HTC Source

Kit Kat Update for AT&T Galaxy Note 3 Approved and Available Today

Kellen — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:38:14 +0000

AT&T announced this morning that its variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is finally receiving an update to Kit Kat (Android 4.4). The update introduces an "improved user interface" with a restyled notification area, option to choose a default messaging app, cloud printing, Immersive mode, color Emoji support, and stronger security. Outside of the goodies from the Android portion of Kit Kat, Samsung has also made camera access easier from the lock screen, improved GPS performance, added new sound controls, and more.

What's New

Improved user interface: The latest version of Android includes enhancements such as re-styled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen-immersive mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security and smarter power use.
Default messaging app: Choose a default messaging app when multiple messaging services are installed.
Improved GPS performance
Enhanced music access: Full screen album art and media controls are available from the lock screen when listening to music.
Camera access: The camera can also be accessed directly from the lock screen.
Location menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS and share location details.
Wireless printing: Integrated support for wireless printing available in enhanced settings.
New sound controls: Set sound for specific Samsung applications in enhanced settings.

To pull the update, head into Settings>More>About device>Software update>Check for updates.

Via: AT&T

"VERIZON30" Coupon Code Will Get You Two New HTC One (M8)s for $140

Kellen — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:17:55 +0000

Verizon is currently running a BOGO (buy one, get one free) offer for the all new HTC One (M8) that is certainly something to consider, though you'll have to sign a 2-year contract to get in on the deal. If contracts do not scare you, then to save some extra cash, there are a couple of coupon codes that could save you up to 30% on the $199 2-year contract price. A long-standing "VERIZON30" code has worked for both readers and our staff in the past. I actually tried it again this morning as a new customer and saw success, with the price of the One (M8) dropping to $139.99. That's a whopping $60 off. If for some reason that code doesn't work, feel free to try "VZWDEAL," which should drop the price to $149.99. All codes are applied at checkout. "VERIZON30" seems to work with the BOGO deal, as seen in the image below. Verizon Link

Cheers Craig!

Twitter Adds Mobile Feature Allowing Users to Upload Multiple Pictures, Tag People Too

Rithvik — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:25:59 +0000

For you Twitter users drooling over Google+'s extensive photo posting, editing, and tagging features, Twitter has announced today that mobile users will now be able to tag faces and upload up to four pictures per tweet. Finally. The first feature is the ability to tag up to 10 people in one picture with Twitter usernames, without wasting your precious 140 characters. Tagged users will be notified just like a mention, plus the interface to tag people is fairly simple.

The second feature being added allows users to upload up to four images per Tweet, up from the previous limitation of just one. The pictures are turned into a collage of sorts, and can be viewed on mobile, desktop, and embedded clients.

The new features are rolling out on iOS first (ugh), but we'll be seeing them on desktop and Android soon.

Play Link

Via: Twitter

Cerberus Acknowledges Data Breach, States Some Usernames and Encrypted Passwords Stolen

Rithvik — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:00:40 +0000

If you are committing to an anti theft software, you would think that the last thing on your mind would be the security of the information held by that company. The three-person team behind Cerberus, a popular anti theft application for Android, revealed today that a data breach caused usernames and passwords (encrypted, thankfully) to be stolen by hackers. 96,564 accounts have had their passwords reset, so this isn't some small scale hack we're talking here.

Cerberus goes on to inform users via their email by stating that no personal information other than what is stated above was accessed, including email addresses. They strongly noted that "These accounts have not been accessed in any way."

Users are also told to go here to reset their passwords as soon as possible, and to verify that no unauthorized instructions were sent to your Android phone or tablet while your account was vulnerable.

Only three accounts have actually been accessed by the hackers, but if you are unfortunate enough to be one of those three, know that your activity was blocked and your password reset. As of March 26, none of the data obtained by the attacker was released publicly, that they know of.

The full email sent out to users is down below:

Our Security Team recently discovered and blocked suspicious activity on Cerberus servers. The investigation found no evidence that your account was in any way accessed or compromised.
However, the attacker(s) were able to gain access to usernames and encrypted passwords for a subset of our users. No other personal data (emails, device information, etc.) has been accessed. While the accessed passwords are encrypted, as an extra precaution we have immediately secured these accounts invalidating the current passwords. Please create a new password by signing into your account at www.cerberusapp.com and selecting the "Forgot password?" option, or go directly here: https://www.cerberusapp.com/forgotpwd.php . Submit the form and you will receive an email with further instructions to set your new password. After you reset the password, you can verify that no unauthorized commands have been sent to your Android device. Open Cerberus on your device, log in and select the "View Cerberus log" option at the bottom of the app settings. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of having to change your password, we take security of our users very seriously and are constantly working to improve it. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cerberus Support at support@cerberusapp.com The Cerberus Team

For more, check out their Google+ post on the matter.

Via: +Cerberus

MarkAsRead Updated to Version 1.21, Allows Users to Mark Emails As Read and Archive With One Touch

Rithvik — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:24:11 +0000

A while ago, we ran a feature asking Gmail to implement a third button to allow users to mark email as read straight from the expanded notification shade. One developer decided to take the idea and run with it, and went on to create MarkAsRead to let users rock a third button. Its latest update to version 1.21 brings with it the ability to mark an email as read and archive at the same time, plus there are design tweaks. The update is fairly meaty for an app of this sort, and the most major change is likely the ability to mark emails as read and archive with one button press, a feature I see myself using. The other major tidbit is a new "Extended Notifications" style that keeps Gmail's features like cross-platform sync intact. Also added is LightFlow support for Extended Notifications, and the developer mentions that we'll be seeing support for regular notifications in a future LightFlow update.

What's New

MarkAsRead AND Archive in one action!
Updated look
Changelog
New "Extended Notification" style for that better preserves gmail notification settings (Moto X, cross-platform sync, etc.)
Supports all labels
Notification & Lightflow support fixed with new "Extended Notifications". Regular Notification setting will also support Lightflow in Lightflow's upcoming update

Anyone rocking this app? Play Link ($1.31)

Android 4.4 KitKat Update Begins Rolling Out to HTC One Mini on AT&T

Kyle — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:50:20 +0000

HTC may have just launched a high-profile smartphone, but that doesn't mean that company is neglecting purchasers of older devices. As HTC executive Mo Versi promised earlier this week, an update to 4.4.2 and Sense 5.5 is now available for HTC One mini owners on AT&T. The updated firmware weighs in at 658MB and comes with a long list of improvements, including requisite Android 4.4 KitKat features and a tweaked BlinkFeed app. Here's a full list of changes:

What's New

Improved user interface with Android (4.4 KitKat): The latest version of Android includes enhancements such as restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen immersive mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security, enhanced bluetooth and smarter power use.
Phone dialer app: The phone app now includes the ability to look up contacts directly from the dial pad, see and tap frequent contacts, and search corporate directories easily.
Caller ID: Whenever a call is received from a phone number not in saved in contacts, the phone will look for matches from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps.
HTC BlinkFeed™ app: The new menu gives quicker access to switch content sources and search for custom topics and includes more news sources.
New copy and paste options: Copy and paste allows users to share or Google highlighted information.
New e-mail user interface: E-mail look and feel similar to Gmail and allows in-line editing.
Camera app from lock screen: Click on the camera app icon on the lock screen for quick access to the camera app.
Control music from the lock screen: Jump to specific past songs or videos from lock screen.
Immersive viewing: Immersive mode enables full screen viewing of books, videos, and games.
New clock interface: The clock now has an enhanced analog user interface.

If you're impatient and the proud owner of an AT&T HTC One mini, you can check for the update manually by navigating to Settings > System updates > HTC software update > Check now. Otherwise, expect to see an update notification within the next few days.

Via: AT&T

Google I/O 2014 Registration Happening April 8-10

Kellen — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:14:18 +0000

It's official - registration for Google I/O 2014 is open from April 8 to 10. As was announced previously, Google is doing a random, almost lottery system this year to see who gets in. In other words, there is no rush to get in the minute tickets go live before they sell out. Google is trying to make it as fair as possible this time around. Here is the full breakdown of the application and registration process from Google during the application period (April 8-10):

You will need to sign into Google+ to begin the registration application.
You will then complete the required registration fields and continue on to authorize the purchase of your ticket via Google Wallet. At this time, Google Wallet will not complete the charge, but a pre-authorization will be placed to ensure the funds are available.
Your credit card will only be charged if you are assigned a ticket. By completing the registration application, you are authorizing Google Wallet to complete the charge at the conclusion of the application window, should you be randomly selected to receive a ticket.
Tickets can only be used by the original registrant and cannot be transferred or resold.
Ticket holders have until June 1, 2014 to request a full refund.
In order to obtain your Google I/O badge at check-in, a photo ID is mandatory.

General admission tickets are $900; academic tickets are $300. The conference will take place on June 25 and 26. Make sense?

Via: Google I/O [FAQ]

Google Music Now Allows Users to Upload Songs Through Chrome Browser

Tim — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:42:19 +0000

Since the launch of Google Music, the only way for users to upload music was through a separate desktop application. If you used that application, you might know that it's not the most intuitive thing ever created, and sometimes, would bog down your entire computer while it uploaded tracks. Today, Google is looking to fix this issue, with the release of a new Lab which allows for the uploading of songs right from your Chrome browser. To get this working, you will need to enable the lab under the settings menu right here. Once enabled, any track that is on your computer, simply drag and drop the files onto the "Add Music" popup. Easy peasy. Not only do we get to upload tracks right from our browser, but Google has introduced a fancy new mini player as well.

But, wait, there’s more! This new lab has extra goodies. You can now open a handy mini-player by clicking the arrow in the bottom right corner of our web app so you can see what’s playing or skip songs from any tab.

As Ice Cube once said, "Today was a good day."

Via: +Google Play

Rapid Fire Thoughts on the New HTC One (M8)

Kellen — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:54:50 +0000

Both Tim and I have had the HTC One (M8) in our possession for 24 hours now. We have taken the phone through an unboxing and quick tour, showed off the Dot View Flip Cover, and are deep diving into preparations for a full review. But before we get there, all sorts of initial thoughts have run through my mind about this 2014 flagship from the Taiwanese manufacturer that I wanted to share. Some good, some bad. Below, since this is by no means a full assessment of the phone, I've put together a bunch of quick hitters that touch on things like the randomness of HTC using "(M8)" in the name, how much I love on-screen buttons, and how confusing it is that HTC and Google want you to pay $699 for the Google Play Edition. We'll have more later, but here are some initial thoughts.

What's with the name? Since when do we use codenames in official product names that consumers see? "2014" or "new" wasn't good enough? We had to go M8? Talk about the potential to be confusing to everyone involved. Is it the One or the M8? Is it both? No one would have complained if the name just stayed "HTC One." Google did it with the Nexus 7 last year, as has Apple in the past with the iPad. It worked just fine.
Preparing to be disappointed by the camera. We are far from finishing up our testing of the M8's camera, but I'm not going to lie - I'm super skeptical already, bordering on expecting to be disappointed. HTC gave us the same 4MP ("UltraPixel") camera as last year, took out OIS, and slapped on a gimmicky depth sensor, so that you can refocus photos after the fact or do really terrible 3D-shaky-processed things. Both Sony and Samsung are doing refocusing with one sensor and are also giving us a real image resolution. The shutter is insanely fast though, so there is something.
Holy sh*t does this phone feel premium. I mentioned this in my unboxing yesterday, but the minute you pick-up the One (M8), you are guaranteed to notice the quality. I keep referring to it as mobile luxury. No other phone on the planet feels as premium as this device. The soft curves, the all-metal body, the fine lines, the color, all make this the prettiest and most well built phone I've ever touched.
But why is this phone so damn tall? As premium as it feels, though, this phone is way too tall. It's almost a full 10mm taller than the original One, which I'd argue was already too tall of a phone. I've had to adjust the way I hold a phone with the M8, because there is a constant need to shimmy to get to the notification bar.
On-screen buttons! HTC failed miserably last year with its capacitive Home-Back button setup on the original One. It was confusing and required too many double taps or long presses to get anything done. With on-screen buttons on the M8, it makes the phone feel like it's actually running Android and meets some of Google's vision for the operating system.

Headphone jack on the bottom! Yes! Finally, someone else gets it (or had to for engineering purposes). A headphone jack on the bottom of a phone is one of those design tweaks I will praise until the end. It makes sense for when you put your phone in your pocket, for when you are holding the device in hand and listening to music, and also if you use your phone in the car. Thank you, HTC!
micro SD slot! One of the first things I did yesterday upon opening my One (M8) from Verizon, was slap in a 128GB micro SD card. Why? Because why not? In a time where Google is trying to convince everyone to kill off the micro SD slot, HTC went ahead and brought it back. Screw the cloud.
Gestures are awesome, but let me customize them. One of my favorite features of the M8 is screen-off gestures. With the phone in an off state, you can double tap to wake the screen or swipe in a variety of directions to get into BlinkFeed, launch a voice dialer, and unlock. I just wish HTC would let us customize them. Think if you could set swipes to open specific apps or launch something like Google Now? Let's do it, HTC, the infrastructure is already there.
BoomSound needs to be in all phones. Do I need to say anything else? The One (M8) - like the original One - is a portable speaker with a phone attached. The sound it produces, is simply amazing for a phone.
That display tho'. The 5-inch Super LCD 3 display on the One (M8) is gorgeous. Colors pop without looking cartoonish, viewing angles are amazing, text is crisp, and there isn't a pixel to be seen.
Google Play Edition price, lulz. Seriously, $699 for the Google Play Edition? It's like HTC is giving you a discount for the Sense version, which is the version they put all their hard work and energy into. If you want the phone with all of their efforts removed, that'll cost you more! Ridiculous.
Still liking BlinkFeed, I know, I'm weird. After all this time, I still like BlinkFeed. The new version is much prettier than the last, has more apps I like that can be added into it, and still gets me easily digestible news and information without much effort.
Great job on availability, HTC. Terrible job with the leaks, HTC. HTC should be given props for making this phone available on all major U.S. carriers from day one. They should also be given major props for making the phone available in store at Verizon on day one. With that said, since they waited to announce it until it was ready to ship, it leaked left and right. There were zero surprises yesterday even though their marketing team kept telling us to wait to see the truth and not believe everything on the internet. This was one of those cases where the internet was 100% right.
HTC is so close. This phone is not the perfect smartphone. I know that within the first day of using it. It seems like a really great phone - potentially one of the best ever made - but it's not perfect. There are trade-offs with the camera, plus the size can be a bit overwhelming. We'll have more on that in the full review.

For those who picked this phone up already, do you have any thoughts to share?

Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 Render Leaks in White and Black

Kyle — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:15:10 +0000

With all the fervor surrounding the Galaxy S5, it's easy to forget Samsung has product upon product in the pipeline, one of which is the Galaxy Tab 4 7.0. Today, we have some news on that from in the form of a leaked renders, courtesy of @evleaks, which showed a restyled tablet more in line with the Galaxy S5's design. The device renders are of the white and black Tab 4 7.0 model. Notable changes include the replacement of the menu button found on previous Galaxy Tabs with a multitasking button. The tablet also appears more rectangular in shape, reflecting the Galaxy S5's refinements. Hardware rumors suggest all Tab 4 models will sport a WXGA (1280x800) display and an unknown 1.2 GHz quad-core processor. The 7-inch Tab is decidedly low-end, with reportedly only 1GB of RAM compared to 1.5GB for the 10.1-inch variant, a 4,450mAh battery (the 8- and 10-inch pack a 6,800mAh battery), and 8GB of storage. Still, it might be a good budget buy.

Samsung inadvertently revealed the refreshed line of Galaxy Tabs on its promo page for the Gear Fit. If the information proves accurate, we should see a Tab 4 8.0 and 10.1 alongside the 7.0 when it eventually launches. Anyone excited for the new Tabs?

Via: @evleaks [2] | Trusted Reviews

Thank You, HTC, for Finally Figuring Out That Changing Wallpapers Shouldn't be the Most Painful Process on Earth

Kellen — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:02:46 +0000

I almost can't believe it, but my eyes do not deceive me. HTC, in Sense 6 on the new One (M8), has finally realized that changing the wallpaper on your phone, shouldn't make you want to stab your eye out. I know this probably seems like such a non-story to many, but if you have ever used an HTC product for more than a couple of minutes at a time, you'll know what I mean. Their Sense skin, while good in some ways, has removed far too many standard Android actions over the years. I'm not saying that changing it up is always a bad thing, but HTC, for no apparent reason that any reasonable person can understand, likes to do things to Android that go against standards that have been there since the beginning of time. Take for example how HTC decided to ruin the simple task of moving an app from the app drawer to the home screen to the dock in Sense 5, when initially launched on the original One. They have fixed it for the most part through updates, but man, was that painful for months. And then you have the point of this post, which comes down to making wallpaper changing harder than it should have ever been. Let me just ask you - how do you change the wallpaper on your non-HTC phone? I'll give you a minute. You long press the home screen, then choose "change wallpaper" from the pop-up, right? It's that way on every phone. It's a standard action. Before Sense 6, HTC asked that you pull down your notification bar, tap a Settings icon, scroll to find the "Personalize" section in Settings, tap it, then tap "Wallpaper," and then choose the wallpaper source before setting the size you'd like. A long press on a home screen in Sense 5 would only open up your widgets adding menu. Don't believe me? HTC's own support page for changing wallpapers has those exact steps listed out. In Sense 6 on the new One (M8), they finally made the long-press give you a menu with options, one of which is a "Home screen wallpaper" selector. Good job, HTC. /end personal random story-rant.

HTC BlinkFeed Will be Available to Non-HTC Devices Soon

Tim — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 09:20:43 +0000

Tucked away in the HTC One (M8) press release yesterday, the company announced that BlinkFeed would seen not be a Sense UI exclusive. Thanks to the "popularity" of BlinkFeed, the service will be pushed to Google Play for other Android devices to use it, not just the lineup of One devices. As you know, the press release is a little late - HTC put BlinkFeed on Google Play the night before the One (M8) was announced. With HTC's push to move many of their proprietary services to Google Play, much like Motorola has done with the introduction of the Moto X, the company can now update the software and apps without having to send out a full system update OTA. Here is the tidbit from yesterday's press release of the M8.

Following its popularity with HTC users, HTC will now make HTC BlinkFeed available to other Android devices, launching on the Google Play store soon.

No exact date is given for its launch on other devices outside of the new One, but it is currently available on Google Play for M8 owners. We know this news will make Kellen happy, but does anyone else feel like running BlinkFeed on their non-HTC devices?

AT&T Expands 4G LTE Network to Lots of New Markets

Tim — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 08:50:44 +0000

AT&T announced a gang of new 4G LTE markets this morning, spanning from New York state on over to California. In total, there are nineteen new LTE markets listed, brining the wireless carrier's number of markets over 500. The full list can be seen below.

New Markets

Sweetwater, TX
Merkel, TX
Tye, TX
Abilene, TX
Traverse City, Mich.
Ogdensburg, NY
Norfolk, NY
Lisbon, NY
Rensselaer Falls, NY
Waddington, NY
Lisbon, NY
Massena, NY
Plattsburgh, NY
Reno, NV
Truckee, CA
Grass Valley, Ca
Elkhart, Ind.
Eureka, CA
Yuma, AZ

Via: PR Newswire

HTC One (M8) Developer and Unlocked Editions Available for $649, Ship in 1-2 Weeks

Kellen — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 08:31:32 +0000

During its official unveiling of the HTC One (M8) yesterday, HTC made tinkerers and carrier jumpers happy by announcing that unlocked and developer editions of the device would be available as well. The unlocked version is open to switching between carriers, likely T-Mobile and AT&T in the States. The developer edition carries essentially the same unlocked phone freedom, but also comes with an unlockable bootloader. To tell you the truth, I'm actually not sure why we have both models, because last year, the unlocked edition had an unlockable bootloader as well. The difference was in the storage - one had 64GB of storage, the other only 32GB - but HTC's spec listing says 32GB of storage for both. Odd. In terms of price, you are looking at $649 for either unit. The unlocked version comes in gunmetal gray, glacial silver, and amber gold. The developer edition only comes in gunmetal gray and amber gold. The devices all run HTC Sense 6, carry the same specs as the carrier-branded units, and will give you the same experience but with a feeling of freedom. According to HTC's site, unlocked and developer editions ship within 1-2 weeks.

Via: HTC

iFixit Tears Down the HTC One (M8), Good Luck Repairing by Yourself

Kellen — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 08:09:36 +0000

HTC may have made the most luxurious feeling handset on the planet in the One (M8), but should you need to do any sort of repairs on the phone, you'll likely end up replacing the whole thing. iFixit, the king of fix-it-yourself tutorials for gadgets, ran through its typical "teardown" of the new HTC flagship and found that it was slightly easier to repair than the original One, though it's still nearly impossible. The original One scored a 1 out of 10 for repairability, which is the worst score you can receive. The One (M8) scored a 2 out of 10, so not much better. With the unibody design and HTC's interesting arrangement of internals, something as simple as swapping out the battery requires the entire removal of the phone's motherboard. Need to replace the screen yourself? That would require complete phone disassembly. Thankfully, you have HTC Advantage and a free screen replacement from HTC should you crack that pretty Super LCD 3 within the first six months of ownership. A 2 out of 10 iFixit score isn't exactly reason to not go buy this phone if it was on your radar, it just means that if something were to go wrong and you are the type that would try to fix it yourself, you may run into problems. Best to leave maintenance on the One (M8) to the pros.

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Via: iFixit

Samsung Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870x) Headed to AT&T, Sprint, and Others According to Leaker

Tim — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 07:55:02 +0000

In true Samsung fashion, it appears we have yet another device on the horizon. evleaks took to Twitter recently to state that the Galaxy S5 Active, model SM-G870x will land on AT&T, Sprint, and a few other unlisted carriers. Last year's Galaxy S4 Active saw quite a few issues, with many reports out there of people not sealing the device properly, then dunking the phone in pools and tanks, then getting water damage. Let's hope Samsung fixed the issue and has made the sealing of this new Active device much easier. The only real question Samsung needs to answer is, why does this device exist? If the Galaxy S5 is already water resistant (IP67) and dust proof, what does the Active bring to the table? There's a video floating around of the GS5 being completely submerged in water for about 30 minutes, coming out of a fish tank working just fine. The only other thing the Active could bring is a completely shock resistant body to protect against falls and drops. It will be interesting to see how Samsung promotes this device against the Galaxy S5.

Via: @evleaks

LastPass Android App Updated to Allow Users to Fill Passwords in From Within Apps and Google Chrome

Rithvik — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 18:25:23 +0000

In the 21st century, hacking is something to fear, which means using one password for all of your services is a bad idea. Fortunately, secure tools have sprung up allowing users to create and store complex passwords for different services, LastPass being one of the more prominent ones. Today's update allows Android users to automatically fill in logins for apps and Google Chrome. Using the accessibility functions found on Android version 4.3 and higher for Chrome, LastPass is able to conjure a box allowing users to autofill password information. Those insane passwords you generate through LastPass can finally now be used on mobile without a heck ton of memorization -- it doesn't get much simpler than that. The update also sports bug fixes and allows users to use PINs up to 12 digits long, if any of you were into that sort of thing. And for those of you who are unfamiliar with the app, it is available as a free 14-day trial and will run you a dollar a month henceforth. Also, keep in mind that to use the new feature in apps, you must be running an Android version Jelly Bean or higher, and for the Chrome feature Android 4.3 plus. Play Link

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Valve Ports Popular PC Game Portal to NVIDIA SHIELD, Looks to be an Exclusive

Rithvik — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:30:28 +0000

PC gamers out there have likely encountered Portal at some point, given its popularity and intriguing storyline. The game's following has been bottle-capped, however, by the fact that it's not available as a mobile title. Today, NVIDIA has announced that that is going to change, as they have teamed up with Valve to bring the unique game over to Android, seemingly exclusively on their SHIELD mobile console. The game is currently in "coming soon" status, and there's no word on whether the sequel Portal 2 will also be making the leap to Android. Either way, this can only be considered a win for NVIDIA, who recently updated SHIELD with more new features. You three folks with the SHIELD, excited to be wandering through the Aperture Science Labs with GLaDOS on Android?

Via: NVIDIA

Fleksy Keyboard Updated to Version 2.0, Brings Cloud Personalization and New Badge System

Tim — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:00:22 +0000

An update to version 2.0 for the Fleksy keyboard will bring rewards in the form of badges for those of you who have conquered the learning curve found in the keyboard. Fleksy takes a couple of days to really get down, with its gestures, as well as the ability to type with an "invisible" keyboard. To award users who have mastered gestures and invisibility, badges are awarded, which you can tote around showing off to all of your friends. In addition, the update brings Cloud Personalization, allowing users to sync their own writing techniques using a Fleksy algorithm, which is then usable on any device you are logged onto using the same account.

Also with the 2.0 update, Fleksy upgrades its My Fleksy personalization features. My Fleksy tailors the keyboard’s language algorithm with the user’s unique writing style using their email and social networks. The new My Fleksy Cloud features also sync between the user’s Android devices, bringing a seamless experience to those using multiple devices.

Users can grab the update through Google Play right now. If you have yet to try this 3rd party keyboard, then give it a try. Play Links: Paid ($1.99) | Free

OnePlus Announces One Availability, Launches April 23

Kyle — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:40:32 +0000

In a conspicuously timed announcement, OnePlus, the company founded by former Oppo executive Pete Lau, revealed that it will launch its first smartphone on April 23. The handset, called the One, certainly seems to fulfill Lau's promise of top-tier specifications. The smartphone sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, a 3,100 mAh non-removable battery, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 6-megapixel front-facing camera. Uniquely, the One will run a customized version of CyanogenMod and feature replaceable "StyleSwap" covers in silk, sandstone, denim, bamboo, and Kevlar designs. As always, OnePlus was mum on carrier availability and pricing. If the company manages to support nine-band LTE and hits its sub-$500 off-contract retail target, though, the One may have a fighting chance against giants LG and HTC.

Via: OnePlus

Deal: OUYA Is Amazon's Gold Box Deal, On Sale for $70

Kyle — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:38:12 +0000

OUYA, the little Tegra 3-based Android console that everyone has mixed feelings about, is Amazon's Gold Box deal today. That means a sale price of $70, which is $30 less than retail. The OUYA may've failed to deliver on its promise of disrupting the console game market, but the console has improved over time. The OUYA unofficially supports emulators and streaming apps via sideloading, recognizes custom controllers, has a respectable library of games and continues to receive major software updates, the last of which was released in February. The company behind OUYA faces an uphill battle, though; some game developers have pulled support of the console in favor of more established platforms. Basically, you could do worse for $70. Amazon Link

HTC Posts 10 Video Tutorials and Feature Highlights for the One (M8)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:36:07 +0000

Didn't find our unboxing and tour of the HTC One (M8) or Dot View flip cover overview useful? Don't worry, HTC has you covered with 10 individual videos that highlight everything from the phone's camera to its accessories. Each video is short and to the point, so if you want to see how Zoes work or how you can apply effects that utilize the depth sensor in the Duo Camera, these are right up your alley. The videos also include tutorials on using gestures with the screen off, what info is shown through a Dot View cover, and the point of BlinkFeed. For users new to HTC's Sense skin or who missed out on last year's One but are picking up this year's, these are probably worth a quick watch.

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HTC and Gary Oldman Tell You to "Ask the Internet," Rather Than Sell You on the One (M8)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:05:05 +0000

What do you do if you are HTC, are barely hanging on for dear life in the mobile race, have zero marketing budget, and just released your latest phone that needs to be a winner in order for you to survive? Apparently, you hire Gary Oldman and have him say nothing related to your product other than "Blah blah blah" and "Ask the internet" about it. I wouldn't say that the spot is worse than those embarrassing Robert Downey, Jr. "Hipster Troll Carwash" commercials, but it's not giving us much. I know that HTC needs to do something different while spending wisely, but talking about your product might help, you know, sell it. Maybe a feature mention or two? At least take it out off the dark and actually show it off?

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HTC One (M8) Unboxing and Tour

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 14:41:16 +0000

And here she (apologies for the delay, it has been that kind of day). The HTC One (M8) is in house (and also in NYC with Tim), unboxed, and on film with thoughts to share. After seeing the phone leak more than any phone in history, you are probably surprised that we actually have any new thoughts, but trust me, we do. First off, I'll just say this - the minute you pick up the new One (M8), it is guaranteed that you will say, "Wow, this is the most premium smartphone I have ever felt." That doesn't necessarily mean you are going to love BlinkFeed or the 4MP duo camera thingy, but there is no denying the craftsmanship here. HTC builds beautiful hardware, with this new One being their finest work aesthetically to date. The rest of the package is a combination of new and old. The new being a refreshed UI with gestures I plan on using frequently. The old is the fact that it's still HTC's Sense. I've only spent a few hours with the phone up until now, but so far am enjoying the device just like I did the original One. While we get to fully testing everything from the new gestures to UFocus, check out the unboxing and video overview below to hear more.

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HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition Now Available for $699.99

Tim — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:45:49 +0000

For those of you who are loving the design of the HTC One (M8), but can't stand Sense 6.0, then the Google Play Edition is now available through Google Play. The device is priced at quite the premium, coming with a price tag of $699.99. The GPE will still feature the duo camera, as well as BoomSound, so the device should still be a beast with its Snapdragon 801 processor. The device comes with 32GB of storage, support for an external memory card, and compatibility with GSM networks. According to Google Play, the device ships in 2-3 weeks. What do you think, is it overpriced? You can purchase the device off contract through a carrier like Verizon for $599.99, and other carriers have it in the low $600 range. A few would say that since there is no Sense software you are actually paying more money for less features, but some people really love stock Android. If you love stock Android that much, go get it before its gone. Play Link ($699.99)

Video: HTC One (M8) Dot View Case Hands-on

Tim — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:55:40 +0000

One of the new things released alongside the One (M8) from HTC today, is the Dot View case. When the case is placed on the device, it brings up a dotted look on the lockscreen. From here, you can perform certain tasks, such as voice dial contacts, and check on notifications. The case can show off notifications for the following HTC applications - Messages, Email, Calendar, Phone, Alarm, Weather, and more. What is unfortunate is that the case does not work for 3rd party apps from Google, such as Gmail, Hangouts, Google Now, or anything like that. The cases can be purchased through HTC's website for a whopping $49.99 (not available quite yet). That seems a bit steep, but the Dot View case is certainly a new take on interacting with your device while it's locked. Check below to see our full hands-on video with the Dot View case.

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Video

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NVIDIA Announces Major Update for SHIELD - Includes Android 4.4.2, Revamped TegraZone, and Remote GameStream

Tim — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:00:40 +0000

Big news out of the NVIDIA camp today, as the company announced a major update for the SHIELD portable gaming console. To freshen your memory, when SHIELD was first launched, NVIDIA was quite open about keeping the device updated with the newest versions of Android. Well, not only does this new update for SHIELD bring Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat, but NVIDIA isn't stopping there. On top of the newly updated mobile OS, NVIDIA is pouring on GameStream enhancements - including Remote GameStream (streaming PC games from outside of your home), remote login support, and Bluetooth keyboard/mouse support - as well as a completely overhauled UI for TegraZone, which includes new features such as an integrated news feed for all of the latest and greatest concerning Tegra gaming. Users will also be able to take advantage of enhancements made to the Gamepad Mapper, with a polished up interface and easier access to download Mapper profiles. To top off this great news for current SHIELD owners, portable gaming console hopefuls will have a chance to buy the SHIELD for a lowered price of just $199 starting today, running through the end of April. Ready for a full look at what's new with SHIELD? Take a look down below.

What's New

GameStream Enhancements

Remote GameStream (BETA) – stream your PC games to SHIELD from outside your home
Wake on LAN support: remotely wake up your PC from sleep mode
Remote Login support: login to a locked PC remotely from SHIELD
Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse support – play your favorite keyboard and mouse PC games on the big screen in Console Mode
Notebook support (BETA) – stream your PC games to SHIELD, using a compatible GeForce GTX-based notebook PC

Additional features

Manually add unofficially supported games to your GameStream list from GeForce Experience.
Pin-based PC to SHIELD pairing with ability to pair multiple PCs to your SHIELD
USB Y-cable support – charge your SHIELD when using Ethernet in Console Mode with a micro USB Host OTG Y Cable
Advanced Settings – manually set bitrate, FPS, and optimal settings preferences

New TegraZone

New user interface to better organize and discover games
Over 140 games now in TegraZone
Integrated news feed for the latest SHIELD and TegraZone articles

Gamepad Mapper Enhancements

New, polished up user interface with easier access to download and share Mapper profiles
Ability to access Mapper by long holding either NVIDIA button (Power Menu) or Start

Android 4.4.2

Upgrade to the latest KitKat OS

HTC One (M8): Hands-on Gallery

Tim — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 11:57:12 +0000

We got our hands on the One (M8) from HTC, and we gotta say, this is a nice device. This morning in New York City, HTC's CEO Peter Chou spoke of making the best smartphone in the world even better. Featuring a slight, yet significant bump in specs and hardware, the M8 will lead the charge against Samsung's Galaxy S5 in 2014. Overall, the device feels like a One, but much more premium. There are no sharp edges as you would see on the original One, yet it does keep the overall shape, size, and weight of the M7. The M8 features a 5" 1080p display, dual back-facing cameras (1x Ultrapixel / 1x 2MP BSI sensor), a Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM, 5MP front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, expandable microSD storage up to 128GB, Sense 6, running on top of Android 4.4. Check out our brief device gallery below, then keep your eyes peeled for our full hands-on video coming right up.

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HTC One (M8) Now Available Through Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint - Google Play Edition Listing Now Live

Tim — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:41:50 +0000

The HTC One (M8) is finally official, now available through a few select US carriers through their online stores. Customers hoping to grab the new One can do so online through Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, but it appears folks hoping for T-Mobile and US Cellular will need to remain patient. Each carrier has the device listed at $199.99 on a new two year agreement, but all of them do offer a type of financing and monthly payment options. Links: Verizon | AT&T | Sprint Also, a listing for the Google Play Edition of the device is now live, priced at $699.99. You can't buy it yet, but with the page being live on Google Play, we can't be too far off from a release. Play Link Who here is buying one?

LG Bringing KnockCode to More LG Phones Via Future Firmware Update

Eric — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:20:48 +0000

Ever since it was introduced with the LG G2, the KnockOn tap-to-wake software that LG patented has been a major focal point of its OEM software. LG even improved its own design by announcing KnockCode alongside the G Pro 2, which will launch later this year. Apparently, demand was so high for creating a personalized knocking pattern to unlock your device that LG is bringing it to more of their older devices. According to a survey done by LG, over 50 percent of the participants listed KnockCode as their most anticipated feature of the G Pro 2. After hearing that kind of response, LG has announced plans for its LG G Flex and the G2 to receive KnockCode sometime in April. No hard date has been set in stone and neither has the list of devices to receive this update. LG promises to keep us updated in "the weeks ahead" to give us more details of when exactly we can expect this firmware update to come through.

KEY LG SMARTPHONES TO GET KNOCK CODE(tm) Upgrade

LG's Newest UX Feature to be Available for G2 and G Flex
SEOUL, Mar. 25, 2014 -- As announced at Mobile World Congress last month,Knock Code(tm) will be a key feature in LG smartphone models this year,including G Pro 2, G2 mini, F Series and L SeriesIII. Now LG Electronics(LG) will make its innovative Knock Code(tm) feature available on earlier LGsmartphone models via a firmware update starting in April. Owners of LG G2and G Flex in specific countries will be the first to receive the KnockCode(tm) update which will give users instant access to their smartphones viaa customized "knock" pattern. With recent consumer research showing that most users check and unlocktheir devices between 100 and 150 times a day, LG was inspired to furtherenhance its KnockON feature with a higher layer of security andconvenience. KnockOn, which LG patented in 2008, was the perfect foundationto further develop Knock Code(tm), which is unique in its ability to both wakeand unlock the phone in one step, a clear time-saver for users. It's nosurprise that more than 50 percent of participants in a recent surveyselected Knock Code(tm) as the most anticipated feature of G Pro 2,demonstrating the real need for an alternate solution to smartphonesecurity.1 The consumer benefits of LG's Knock Code(tm) technology are obvious in itsability to wake and unlock the phone simultaneously, providing moreconvenience and greater security over conventional password andpattern-based security options. With Knock Code(tm), the smartphone display isdivided into four invisible quadrants. The user taps or "knocks" anywherefrom two to eight times in the quadrants in a specific sequence. With morethan 80,000 possible combinations and no fingerprint streaks, Knock Code(tm)offers a level of security far greater than other devices, even those withfingerprint recognition systems. And because Knock Code(tm) can be implementedanywhere on the screen in any size without having to view the screen,there's no chance of password theft. In addition to being safer and moreconvenient, Knock Code(tm) is also more responsive compared to bio-recognitionsystems, which are much more susceptible to variations in the environment. "LG engineers placed a great amount of emphasis on providing users withexceptional security and convenience when developing Knock Code," said Dr.Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile CommunicationsCompany. "Making Knock Code accessible to a wider audience is consistentwith our direction to differentiate LG mobile devices on the basis of userexperience."

Verizon BOGO Deal: Buy an HTC One (M8), Get a Second Free

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:27:11 +0000

Verizon not only has an in-store availability exclusive (through April 9) on the new HTC One (M8), but they are also hosting quite the deal for interested parties. For a limited time, starting today at 1PM Eastern, customers will be able to buy the One (M8) and receive a 2nd One (M8) for free, as long as they sign 2-year contracts. Big Red is selling the One (M8) for $199 on-contract.

Via: Verizon

Tuesday Poll: Are You Buying the HTC One (M8)?

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:14:43 +0000

Well, what do you think? Now that HTC has proven that there was no mystery at all behind the HTC One (M8), you can fully decide if you are buying the phone. The decision is more interesting this time around, because it goes on sale today online at all major U.S. carriers, but can also be purchased in-store at Verizon shops. Yes, you can buy this phone today even though it was only announced moments ago. The price depends on the carrier, with many pushing monthly payment plans. $199 with 2-year contract is the typical price, which includes 32GB of storage. You buying? [poll id="294"]

HTC One (M8) Available Today at 1PM - Online at All Carriers, In-store at Verizon

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:53:36 +0000

Just as we exclusively reported yesterday, the all new HTC One (M8) will be on sale today at 1PM Eastern in the U.S. All of the major U.S. carriers will put the device up for sale through their online stores, but Verizon will have some in-stock, in-store today. That's right, if you want to get your hands on this phone now, you can. If you don't want to go to Verizon, all U.S. carriers will have in-store stock within first few weeks of April. Most in-store before April 10.

HTC Guarantees Sense 6 Update to Existing One, One Mini, and One Max Owners This Spring

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:48:59 +0000

During its unveiling of the HTC One (M8), HTC announced today that it will update the One, One Mini, and One Max to Sense 6 by this spring. Sense 6 brings all sorts of new improvements over the the current version of Sense, so the update will likely be greatly received. No other details were provided, so we'll have to wait for specifics over the coming months. Just remember, HTC has already laid out its process of updating carrier models in a fancy infographic - the process is extensive.

Google Play Edition of HTC One (M8) Available for Pre-order Today

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:36:08 +0000

HTC not only announced the new HTC One (M8) today, but they also confirmed our previous report that a Google Play Edition will be available as well. According to HTC's press release for the new 2014 flagship, the Google Play Edition will be available for pre-order today and then available in the "coming weeks" on Google Play. For those new to Google Play Editions, just understand that it's the same hardware as the regular One (M8), except it'll run stock Android 4.4.2. So all of HTC's custom Sense software is removed in favor of a pure Android experience. I'll let you decide if that's a good thing or not. Google will sell the device for $699 (ouch).

HTC Announces the HTC One (M8)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:10:41 +0000

It's now official, and we also have a new official name of HTC One (M8). Seriously, we're now using codenames in official names. OK then, HTC. The phone is just like the one you have been hearing about for months. The live blog and stream are still going though, so as HTC unveils more, we'll be adding to this post. Be sure to follow along. Until they make everything official, you can see specs here, features here, and availability here. Update: Press release below. 230 operators across the globe, 100+ countries. The rest, you knew. Update 2: The device is available today at 1PM Eastern from all carriers online, in-store at Verizon. Just like we reported. See the first promo video below.

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Press Release

THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER: INTRODUCING THE HTC ONE (M8)
Delivering breakthrough design and packed with the latest HTC SenseTM 6 experience, HTC Duo Camera for advanced imaging, and intuitive Motion LaunchTM, the HTC One (M8) delivers an unparalleled smartphone experience for 2014 London, UK, 25th March 2014 – HTC, a global leader in innovation and design, today unveiled the highly anticipated new HTC One (M8), the ultimate evolution of the award-winning HTC One (M7). Launching in Gunmetal Gray1 with the all-new HTC SenseTM 6, the new HTC One (M8), boasts a high quality metal unibody with a Smart Sensor Hub that anticipates your needs and uses Motion LaunchTM controls to make everyday tasks easier. New Duo Camera technology delivers creative, professional-looking photos and amazing effects, and HTC BoomSoundTM again sets new standards for audio quality on a smartphone. Peter Chou, CEO, HTC said: “In 2013 we introduced the best smartphone in the world, but we never stopped challenging ourselves and the status quo in this category. As pioneers in mobile innovation, we continue to design and build devices that will dazzle, inspire and transform the smartphone industry. Today I’m proud to launch the most stunning, intuitive and advanced handset that the industry has seen to date, the new HTC One (M8).” Beautifully designed inside and out Achieving another breakthrough in design and quality with the new HTC One (M8), the phone’s body has been re-crafted to create an even more stunning yet approachable look. The beautiful, durable, high quality metal unibody flows right up to the 5-inch, full HD (1080p) display, tapering to thinner edges, with softer curves for a smooth, more natural grip. Supported by the QualcommTM Snapdragon® 801 processor with 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait CPUs and fully integrated 4G LTE, and running Android 4.4, KitKat, the latest version of the Android OS, the new HTC One (M8) features the all-new HTC SenseTM 6, available on the device and as an upgrade from the Google Play store2. Completely redesigned with a cleaner, more striking visual style, HTC SenseTM 6 features bold, customisable colour themes and delivers a more intuitive, personalised user experience. For those who prefer the stock Android experience, the HTC One (M8) Google Play edition will be available for pre-order from today and for purchase on the Google Play store in the coming weeks. A leap forward in smartphone imaging The new HTC One (M8) brings a totally different dimension to mobile imaging by combining the world’s first smartphone with a Duo Camera that features HTC’s innovative HTC UltraPixelTM module, a dual flash and full 1080p HD video recording, producing incredible images in all lighting conditions and rich, high-quality video. A 5- MP wide-angle front facing camera also captures superior selfies with ease. The Duo Camera boasts a depth sensor in addition to the main HTC UltraPixelTM module, capturing detailed depth information from a scene and enabling a range of beautiful and creative effects that allow you to do more with your images than ever before. Instantly create professional-looking portraits by altering the focus of your image after the photo has been taken with UFocusTM or make your subject stand out in a more surprising way by altering the background with creative effects using Foregrounder. You can also give your best shots a seasonal flavour using the Seasons animations. Copy & Paste3 lets you place your family and friends in a different photo entirely, while Dimension PlusTM presents a unique perspective on your photos by letting you view your image from a different angle by simply tilting the screen. The advanced camera technology also works behind-the-scenes capturing images right from launch, so that when the shutter is activated, the sharpest possible image is instantly displayed. The camera autofocus operates at a speed of 300mseconds, producing beautifully crisp images of split-second action and when the flash is required, the intelligent LED Dual Flash automatically selects the exact colour tone and light intensity for more natural skin tones and a professional-looking shot. With so much scope to create exciting imagery, Gallery organisation has also been a priority for the designers of HTC SenseTM, who have introduced Image match, a visual search tool that intuitively moves all the photos containing a particular subject into one album. Finally the new HTC One (M8) has also integrated Slow Motion mode, which lets you shoot HD slo-mo video and then edit that video so you can slow down the action at the part you want – perfect for adding drama or for highlighting a moment. ZoeTM in the cloud In 2014, ZoeTM will evolve into a cloud-based service. Upload Zoe Videos for all to see, and invite friends to add their own photos, videos and music to share incredible highlight reels of classic moments. The new Zoe app will be available for download through Google Play in the summer. Motion LaunchTM – convenient gesture controlled shortcuts With the introduction of HTC SenseTM 6, the new HTC One (M8) boasts capabilities that give the product a sixth sense. For example, Motion LaunchTM is immediately able to detect its position and movement, thanks to built-in motion sensors that allow you to interact with the phone without turning on the screen. A simple swipe will activate the device, Auto Answer allows you to answer a call by putting the phone to your ear without touching the screen – a handy tool if the phone rings when you are digging the garden or washing the dishes – and a double tap turns the lock screen on and off. HTC Dot ViewTM case – protect your phone with retro flair Taking that sixth sense functionality one step further you can extend Motion LaunchTM by double tapping the dot view case, in addition to checking the time, weather, new texts, emails and calls - without touching or revealing the screen. An outstanding phone deserves a case that protects and extends its innovative design and industry-leading functionality. Optimised by HTC SenseTM 6, the new HTC Dot ViewTM phone case protects the screen, whilst displaying notifications and interactions in a retro, dot-matrix style. Extreme Power Saving Mode – extra standby time at no extra cost The innovation doesn’t end there, as we are also changing how people use their phone battery. With the original HTC One (M7), HTC optimised power consumption so that you could get the most out of your phone. The new HTC One (M8) takes this to a whole new level making the battery power last 40% longer. Whilst normal power saving mode delivers a great experience, we have also included an Extreme power saving mode that makes your battery last even longer. Fully charged it will deliver 14 days’ worth of battery power, whilst still allowing you to receive calls, texts and emails – perfect for when you are travelling. Activated either manually or automatically, it delivers 60 hours of extra standby time at 20% power, 30 hours at 10% power and 15 hours at 5% power so, whether you are out late at night or hiking in the mountains, you never have to worry about running out of battery again. HTC BoomSoundTM gets bigger The new HTC One (M8) again takes the smartphone audio experience to new heights. The latest HTC BoomSoundTM technology creates an immersive, powerful, crystal-clear sound with rich tones from bass through to treble. Delivering sound that is 25% louder than the HTC One (M7), without compromising quality, the new HTC One (M8) has dual frontal stereo speakers with a new amplifier, redesigned speaker chambers and a tailored audio profile for a truly high definition experience. HTC BlinkFeedTM – Your news direct to your home screen HTC BlinkFeedTM is now more intuitive, with continuous scrolling for a fluid browsing experience, adaptable tiles and a new layout that presents articles in a clean, easy- to-read way. With the introduction of a new SDK that allows partners to integrate their own content, users can more easily find and subscribe to new media sources, in addition to instantly creating custom feeds on any topic. So whether you are into sports, movies or shopping, this feature ensures that that you will get the information most relevant to you. With News Bundles that bring all articles and tweets on the same topic together for easy reading and over 1000+ content partners now clearly categorised on one page, following the most interesting news couldn’t be simpler4. Fitness at a glance With the new HTC One (M8), you can get healthier and stay motivated by combining its power-saving sensor hub with the preloaded Fitbit® app.5 Alternatively, use the phone in conjunction with one of Fitbit’s range of trackers6 to access advanced features such as sleep tracking and smart alarm or to capture data when exercising without your phone. Set your fitness goals and see your achievements brought straight to your HTC BlinkFeedTM home screen with no additional effort. Fitbit is the top downloaded app for connected fitness devices on the Google Play store. HTC SenseTM TV The only remote you need on the new HTC One (M8) has been redesigned to provide an interactive second screen. You can follow the conversation about the programme online with integrated official Facebook and Twitter streams along with all the latest fan commentary from your social circles. HTC SenseTM TV now also brings live sports statistics for the 10 most popular sports in the world, with sports fans now able to access the latest scores, match statistics and live updates from unmissable games while they watch another game on the main TV screen. Ranging The new HTC One (M8) will be ranged with over 230 operators across the globe: Europe, Middle East and Africa: 1&1 Germany, A1 Telekom Austria, AB Poland, Action Poland, Allo Ukraine, Amazon Germany, Amazon UK, AMC (Cosmote) Albania, Avea Turkey, Batelco Bahrain, Belcompany Netherlands, BH Telecom Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bibob Denmark, Bite Latvia, Bite Lithuania, Bouygues Telecom France, Brightstar 20:20 mobile, BT UK, Call me Denmark, Carphone Warehouse Ireland, CarphoneWarehouse UK, CBB Denmark, Cell C RSA, Cell C South Africa, Cellcom Israel, Chess Norway, Citrus Ukraine, Cosmote Cyprus, Cosmote Greece, Cosmote Romania& Global Bulgaria, CYTA Cyprus, Digitec Switzerland, Djuice Norway, DT Mobile(TS) Latvia, Du UAE, Dustin Sweden, Eagle Mobile Albania, EE UK, Elisa Estonia, Elisa Finland, Elgiganten Denmark, Elgiganten Sweden, Elkjöb Norway, EMT (TS) Estonia, ERC Ukraine, Etisalat UAE, EuroRtvAGD Poland, Expert Denmark, Gigantii Finland, Go Malta, H3G Austria, H3G Denmark, H3G Italy, H3G Ireland, H3G Sweden, HT Eronet Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ingram Micro Germany, Ingram Micro Poland, Ingram Micro Mobility UK, Interdiscount Switzerland, Irange Poland, Komplett Norway, Komputronik Poland, Komsa Poland, KPN Belgium, KPN Netherlands, Lefdal Norway, LICK France, Life Belarus, LuxGSM Luxembourg, MediaExpert Poland, Media Markt Austria, Media Markt Poland, Media Markt Swizerland, Melita Malta, Meteor Ireland, Mobilcom Debitel Germany, Mobilezone Switzerland, Mobilochka Ukraine, Mobily KSA, MSH Belgium, MSH Germany, M-Tel Montenegro, M-Tel Bosnia & Herzegovina, MTI Ukraine, MTN Cyprus, MTN RSA, MTN South Africa, MTSBelarus, MTS Russia, Nawras Oman, Neonet Poland, Netcom Norway, Netcom shops Norway, Netshop Norway, (Telefónica) O2 Czech, (Telefónica) O2 Germany, (Telefónica) O2 Ireland, (Telefónica) O2 UK, Omantel Oman, Omnitel Lithuania, One Macedonia, One2Cel Norway, Ooredoo Qatar, Orange France, Orange Moldova, Orange Poland, Orange Romania, Orange Slovakia, Orange Spain, Orange Switzerland, Orange Parteners Israel, Otto Germany, Partner Communications Israel, Pelephone Israel, Perimeter Cyprus, PhoneHouse Germany, PhoneHouse Netherlands, PhoneHouse Sweden, Phones4U UK, Play Poland, Plus Communication Albania, Plus Poland, Polkomtel Poland, Proximus Belgium, Saturn Austria, Saturn Poland, Selfridges UK, SFR France, Siba Norway, SiMobil Slovenia, Space World Norway, STC KSA, Sunrise Switzerland, Svyaznoy Russia, Sveris Poland, Swisscom Switzerland, TDC Denmark, Telcom RSA, Tele2 Croatia, Tele 2 Estonia, Tele2 Latvia, Tele2 Lithuania, Tele2 Norway, Tele2 Sweden, Telia Denmark, Telia Sweden, Telekom Slovenija, Telenet Belgium, Telenor Denmark, Telenor Norway, Telenor Sweden, Telenor Hungary, Telenor Serbia, Telenorbutikken Norway, Telering Norway, Telkom Serbia, Tesco UK, Three UK, TIMItaly, TMD Germany, T-Mobile Austria, T-Mobile Croatia, T-Mobile Czech Republic, T-Mobile Germany, T-Mobile Hungary, T-Mobile Macedonia, T-Mobile Montenegro, T-Mobile Netherlands, T-Mobile Poland, T-Mobile Slovakia, Turkcell Turkey, Tus Mobil Slovenia, Velcom (TAG) Belarus, Ventelo Norway, VIP Operator Macedonia, VIP Mobile Serbia, Vipnet Croatia, Virgin Mobile France, Viva Bahrain, Viva Kuwait, Vivacom Bulgaria, Vodacom RSA, Vodacom South Africa, Vodafone Albania, Vodafone Czech Republic, Vodafone Egypt, Vodafone Germany, Vodafone Greece, Vodafone Hungary, Vodafone Ireland, Vodafone Italy, Vodafone Malta, Vodafone Netherlands, Vodafone Quatar, Vodafone Romania, Vodafone Spain, Vodafone Turkey, Vodafone UK, Wataniya Kuwait, Wind Cyprus, Wind Greece, Wind Italy, Yoigo Spain, Yug Contract Ukraine, Zain Bahrain, Zain KSA, Zain Kuwait. Asia-Pacific: 2degrees New Zealand, 3 Hong Kong, Celcom Malaysia, China Mobile Hong Kong Ltd, Chunghwa Telecom Taiwan, CSL Ltd Hong Kong, CTM Macau, DiGi Malaysia, dtac Thailand, Far Eastone Taiwan, Indosat Indonesia, M1 Singapore, Maxis Malaysia, Mobifone Vietnam, Optus Australia, PCCW Ltd Hong Kong, SingTel Singapore, Smartone Mobile Communications Ltd Hong Kong, StarHub Singapore, Taiwan Mobile, Telecom New Zealand, Telkomsel Indonesia, Telstra Australia, U Mobile Malaysia, Vibo Taiwan, Vodafone Australia, Vodafone New Zealand, XL Indonesia China: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom North America: All major wireless carriers and retailers including Amazon, Appalachian Wireless, AT&T, Best Buy, Bluegrass Cellular, Car Toys, Chat Mobility, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, Costco, Military Exchange, Net10 Wireless, Pioneer Cellular, RadioShack, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Walmart in the United States, and Airtime, Bell, Rogers, Sasktel, and TELUS in Canada 1 Other available colours at launch are Glacial Silver and Amber Gold 2 Certain SenseTM 6 experiences will be made available via an upgrade on the Google Play store in the coming weeks 3 The Copy and Paste feature will be available to download from the Google Play Store soon 4 Following its popularity with HTC users, HTC will now make HTC BlinkFeed available to other Android devices, launching on the Google Play store soon. 5 The Fitbit app is only pre-loaded in certain countries. Please speak to the local market for verification. It is available to download from the Google Play store and tracks your steps / monitors your activity 6 Sold separately

One More Leak: Here is HTC's Full List of One (M8) Features That are About to be Announced

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 07:53:58 +0000

In under 20 minutes, HTC will tell you everything you are about to read on this two cards. Yes, this is one final "All New HTC One" leak before things get official. The feature sheets include everything from the leaks, so none of it is necessarily new. We are seeing mentions of BoomSound, new BlinkFeed, Duo Camera with UFocus and Zoe, Motion Launch (off-screen gestures), Sense 6, and the new Dot View Cases. Each item has a description and way to "try it out" listed, so if you had any questions as to how these things will work, now you know. The bottom of the sheet below also lists out the official specs. Yep, there you go.

Cheers O!

HTC One (M8) Specs

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 07:22:25 +0000

HTC will unveil the "All New HTC One" or HTC One (M8) in a few minutes, so we thought a refresher on specs would be worth a look. Keep in mind that these specs are not 100% official until HTC makes them official, but thanks to leaks from carriers (which include spec lists) and a handful of in-depth video reviews, we have a pretty good idea as to what we are in for. We will update the list once everything is official.

Specs

Display: 5-inch FHD (1920x1080) Super LCD 3
Processor: 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (quad-core)
Storage: 32GB internal; microSD up to 128GB
RAM: 2GB
Camera: Duo Camera (4.1 UltraPixel + 2MP depth cameras); 5MP front camera
Battery: 2,600mAh (talk time 21 hours, standby time 21 days)
Ports: 3.5mm headphone, microUSB (MHL)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), GPS, NFC
SIM: nanoSIM
Other: BoomSound, IR Blaster
Size: 146.3 x 70.6 x 9.35mm
Weight: 160g

Networks

3G WCDMA and HSPA+

AT&T: HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps 850/1900/2100;
Sprint: HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps 850/1900/2100 (CDMA too)
Verizon: HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 (CDMA too)
T-Mobile: HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps 850/AWS/1900/2100

4G LTE

AT&T: 700/850/AWS/1800/1900/2600
Sprint: FDD 800/1900; TDD 2600
Verizon: 700/AWS/1800/2600
T-Mobile: 700/AWS (Band 4 and 17)

All HTC One (M8) coverage.

Live: HTC One (M8) Event in NYC

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 07:06:58 +0000

We are finally here! After more leaks than anyone can possibly keep track of, HTC will take the stage at 11AM Eastern (8AM Pacific) at dual events in London and New York City and make the "All New HTC One" or HTC One (2014) or HTC One (M8) official. It has been quite the journey, leaving few surprises, but we are still looking forward to the show (and time with the device). While nothing is confirmed yet, once this wraps, you will more than likely be able to order the phone from a variety of carriers at 1PM Eastern (10AM Pacific), with in-store exclusivity belonging to Verizon. And yes, Verizon stores will have the phone on-hand today if you want to go play with it. Pricing is looking like $199 on-contract for a 32GB variant, with full retail dropping in at a respectable $599. We won't run through the specs again, because you probably know them by heart at this point. We'll have all of that official info ready for you shortly. HTC will live stream the event, so should we happen upon a URL to embed, we will include that below. If they don't make the stream embeddable, you can watch it here. We have also included a live blog, since our man Tim is on the scene in NYC, ready to take in the event. Join us!

HTC Follows Motorola's Lead With Software Updates, Adds Key Apps to Play Store

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 06:52:53 +0000

Over night, HTC pushed live to Google Play a whole bunch of apps for the "All New HTC One" that will be announced in under two hours at events in London and NYC. The apps are BlinkFeed, Gallery, SenseTV, Service Pack, and a companion app for their Fetch accessory. The story isn't the apps, though, it's what this move means for HTC devices going forward. Fans of the Moto X know that once Motorola started updating system apps through Google Play, that things became instantly more awesome. By updating Active Display, Touchless Control, and the Gallery for the Moto X, Motorola was able to introduce new features and fix bugs for their key apps without having to issue an entire firmware update to the phone. HTC can now do that as well with this move. Their launcher - BlinkFeed - can see continual improvement without the need of an OTA update, that as we all know, takes months to get through carriers. Their Gallery app, SenseTV (remote and TV service), and Service Pack are all now capable of receiving updates as well, without interference from a carrier. In other words, you should see new features and updates for your new One often. This could also mean that general OTA updates will be much easier, as HTC doesn't have to worry about updating to new core apps, since the Play store will take care of that. Pretty cool move, one that we certainly can't find fault in. Oh, the Gallery app listing also mentions that a Google Play Edition of the new One (M8) is on the way, but we already told you that. Play Links: BlinkFeed | Service Pack | Gallery | SenseTV | Fetch

HTC's Website Mentions 1PM Sales Start, 4 Carriers, 4 Colors and Unlocked, Developer and Google Play Editions of New One

Kellen — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 06:28:30 +0000

We are moments away from the unveiling at this point, but little details that are helping fully shape the full picture of the "All New HTC One" are still trickling in. We know all about its software features and specs, have seen it in countless videos, and really only needed release information to make this story complete. HTC's own site may have outed that last item for us. According to a "Buy Now" landing page for the HTC One (M8), which seems to be the other official name for this 2014 flagship, the device will indeed be available for order at 1PM Eastern (10AM Pacific). Should you buy through HTC's site, you'll even be upgraded to free express shipping, so that you'll have your device within a day or two, I'd imagine. The site also lists out four carrier variants of Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. We should point out that once the site is fully live and each of those variants is chosen, that they may have different release times or purchase availability when selected. No matter what, all major carriers are at least listed, which we would assume means that you will be able to purchase the phone with compatibility on them at some point. In even better news, the landing page also lists out developer and unlocked editions, plus a Google Play Edition. So for the tinkerers in the building, or those who don't want a device that is specifically tied to a carrier, you'll have options.

We had previously heard of three color variants - silver, grey, and gold - but this site lists four: gun metal gray, silver, gold, and black. And last, the HTC Dot View case is listed as a compatible accessory. Those would be the cases that show patterns of light (like weather and time) from the device through a dotted screen cover - these were leaked weeks ago. If listed, I'd bet that they will be available at launch. Now, there is always a chance that this info was simply moved over from the original One's "Buy Now" page, but the colors certainly differ, as does the layout for the page and way in which the device types are listed. Only hours away! Then this all becomes official.

Via: HTC

Cheers Nick!

Google Joins Forces with Luxottica for Google Glass, Retail Availability Looms Closer

Rithvik — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:20:10 +0000

Itching for a pair of Google Glass, but can't let go of those Ray-Bans? That's the exact situation I'm in, which makes me really pleased to see this latest news coming out of Google. Luxottica, a head honcho of sorts in the eyewear business, has just announced that they are working with Google X to "combine high-end technology with avant-garde design offering the best in style, quality and performance". Count me in.

Perhaps the biggest story within this news is that Google will have a way to get Glass out to the general public now. Luxottica, which just so happens to be the parent company of LensCrafters, will be able to scale Glass and give it a tremendous retail push when Google is ready to take it live.

The two main eyeglass companies involved will be Ray-Ban and Oakley, and this will be a U.S. only affair for the time being. A team of experts from both Google and Luxottica will be "devoted to working on the design, development, tooling and engineering of Glass products that straddle the line between high-fashion, lifestyle and innovative technology," which I interpret as making Glass more fashionable and allowing for styles beyond the Titanium Collection currently offered by the Glass team.

While it is pointed out in Google Glass's Google+ post that you're "not going to see Glass on your favorite Oakleys or Ray-Bans tomorrow," it's exciting to see that Glass finally has a way to get out to the world.

Via: +Google Glass | Luxottica

Latest Fitbit Update Adds MobileTrack and BlinkFeed Badges for "All New HTC One"

Rithvik — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:14:48 +0000

So, Fitbit rolled out an update today for its Android app. You now have a widget for your activity goal, design updates, and support for simplified and traditional Chinese. But that's not the story here -- looking through the update's changelog, we also have "Adds MobileTrack for All New HTC One" and "Adds ability to view badges in BlinkFeed for HTC devices running Sense 6.0+." What does this mean?

Digging deeper into the MobileTrack feature first, the only other device to feature it currently is Apple's iPhone 5s, because of its M7 motion coprocessor. Essentially, the iPhone app allows users with the M7 to monitor their activity and step count without having the app open, and in an accurate sense too. Users can use all of the basic functions of a Fitbit, but to access the full functionality of the app a hardware tracker is required to be purchased.

What we can infer based on the fact that the One (2014) is going to feature this is that we'll have some sort of activity tracker or pedometer present, which somehow hasn't been leaked as of yet. In yesterday's 14-minute German review, when translated, it is said that the device will feature a "pedometer" as well, so I wouldn't be surprised to see HTC try their hand at the fitness industry when they unveil this phone tomorrow.

The second thing mentioned is the ability to view badges in BlinkFeed for Sense 6.0 devices. I can only guess at the meaning of this as BlinkFeed showing new fitness goals and badges as you reach them.

For those of you who got Verizon to sell you an All New One early, give the free app a shot and let us know how it goes down in the comments.

Play Link

Cheers vernSL and Chris!

Rogers Outs "All New HTC One" Early, Official Specs Confirmed

Kellen — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:34:16 +0000

There isn't much more we can say about the "All New HTC One" at this point - it has been leaked more than any phone in history. It will officially be announced tomorrow by HTC, but who cares at this point what HTC has to say. If you want this phone, then you probably already know all there is to know. You really do. All you should think about now is when you can buy it from carriers outside of Verizon. That should be at 1PM Eastern, the same time Big Red plans to sell it, as far as we know. But if you needed one last HTC One (M8) post to run through, an official spec list probably isn't a bad one to check out. Thanks to Canadian carrier Rogers, we have just that. According to Rogers, we are looking at a 5-inch 1080p display (Super LCD3), UltraPixel camera (Duo Camera), 5MP front camera, 32GB of internal storage, expandable storage up to 64GB, 21 hours of talk time, a weight of 160g, a thickness of 9.35mm, and Android 4.4.2. None of that is new, but hey, it's the real deal now.

Via: Rogers | Android Police

Starting Today, Google Now Will Notify You of Incidents to Avoid on Your Trips

Rithvik — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 15:35:48 +0000

We've all had that feeling -- driving for hours and then finding out it's all in vain because of a traffic incident that could have been avoided. Actually, I haven't, but if you have you'll be glad for Google Search's latest addition to Google Now. Through Now, Google will send you notifications if you are likely to run into traffic situations (incidents) during a trip. Presumably, Google will take a look at your regularly made trips to provide these barrier notices, and will push notifications to affected people. Also, Google's purchase of Waze looks to finally be paying off, with the incidents feature only available because of users of the app reporting them. If you have the latest Google Search update, you should be eligible to receive these new notifications.

Via: +Google

Chinese Galaxy S5 Firmware Made Available for Download, Let the Extractions Begin

Rithvik — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:35:49 +0000

Just as Galaxy S5 pre-orders begin on major US carriers, we're finally starting to see official software builds from the device arrive. Today, SamMobile has dropped a download of the Chinese Galaxy S5's firmware for Android 4.4.2, which means we'll start seeing system apps, wallpapers, and ringtones available for download very soon. The firmware for model SM-G9009D has already had at least one app extracted from it, the updated S Voice. SamMobile has made the APK for S Voice available for download as well, and Galaxy S4 and Note 3 users rocking Kit Kat can update to it with no worries. Other system apps such as WatchON, S Note, Calculator, and Gear Fit Manager had also been leaked earlier, and anyone with a TouchWiz Kit Kat ROM should be able to use them by installing the APKs. You can grab the download from right here. Hopefully we'll be seeing more goodies get outed as folks search through the firmware a bit more, but for now we are content.

Via: SamMobile [2] | XDA

Leaked HTC Document Claims 2013 HTC One to Receive Sense 6.0 Update in May/June, One Max and Mini in June/July

Rithvik — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:05:25 +0000

Now that HTC's latest software enhancements in version 6.0 of their Sense software skin are soon to be made official, it's time to start talking about updates for older devices. The most obvious candidate for some update goodness is HTC's 2013 flagship, the OG One. According to leaker @LlabTooFeR, we'll be seeing the update (presumably only for unlocked and developer models) sometime in May or June. The other devices confirmed to be receiving the update are the dual-SIM One, One Max, One Mini, and Butterfly S, with the 2012 One X and One X+ smartphones currently having no plans for an update.

As far as the actual enhancements in the update, we know pretty much everything -- a video leak of Sense 6 and ROMs for the original One have told us what we can assume is all there is. The main points include new gesture features to wake up the device (a la LG) and enhancements to the look of stock applications. Also updated is the Camera app with a couple tweaks. A video showing off some of the Sense 6.0 features is embedded down below.

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Via: LlabTooFeR

Muzei Plugin Brings Your Favorite Comic Book Covers to Your Homescreen

Tim — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:55:03 +0000

We have another plugin for those of you who can't get enough of the Muzei live wallpaper, titled Comic Cover. With this plugin, fans of comic books - mostly Marvel for now - can access countless comic book covers, then apply them to their homescreen. Unlike many of the other plugins, Comic Cover has a refresh interval, which is perfect for people like me who can get easily tired of looking at the same wallpaper all day long. What can I say, I like change. The plugin, much like Muzei itself, is completely free. Go check it out on Google Play. Play Link

"All New HTC One" Inventory Arriving at Verizon Stores, "Exclusive" Likely Only In-store

Kellen — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:33:57 +0000

Sources have informed us that "All New HTC One" inventory is now arriving in Verizon stores, ready for tomorrow's launch. That lines up with our report last week, saying that Big Red would indeed have stock available minutes after HTC makes the phone official. With that said, we also reported last week that Verizon would have some sort of exclusive on the device, however, that will likely just be for in-store availability. AT&T and other carriers should have the phone available for order (online or via phone) tomorrow as well, if not within a couple of days. Verizon itself said on Facebook over the weekend (before editing the post) that they would have the phone "in our stores exclusively on 3.25.14." The word "stores" is the key word here. If you were worried about the potential exclusive from Verizon, I wouldn't get too upset just yet. Plus, HTC should know better at this point. An exclusive with a single carrier in the U.S. isn't going to save them.

On a semi-related note, a Facebook page for PDA Plaza just uploaded a bunch of beauty shots from an unboxing of the Verizon variant. If you haven't seen enough of this new flagship from HTC, these should help satisfy your cravings.

I'm hearing good things about the device from those who have it in hand already.

LG Posts Another Picture of the G Watch, Looks Quite Plain

Tim — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:42:10 +0000

While Motorola has been very happy to show off the looks of the Moto 360, the other smartwatch which was announced alongside the Android Wear platform, the LG G Watch, hasn't seen much face time. LG has posted another picture of it today on Facebook, allowing us to finally see the full device in total light with its screen on. Our first take is that is looks very smartwatchy, following the same squared design which we have seen for a couple of years now. We can see it has a nice little color display, but all in all, it's quite plain looking. Not much else to say about it yet until LG gives us more details. According to LG, the G Watch is set to launch in Q2 of this year. Anyone here rooting for the G Watch? According to our recent poll, it seems as though everyone wants to get their hands on the Moto 360.

Via: LG Mobile

Google Now Available for All Chrome Desktop Users

Tim — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:15:53 +0000

Back in February, Google Now was rolled out to desktop Chrome Beta browser users, but now, it's being shipped to everyone. With Google Now on your desktop, users have access to the same exact cards as they do on their mobile devices, including flights, shipping notices, sports scores, and so much more. To enable this feature, no extra settings need to be played with except for making sure you are signed into Chrome using the same email as you are on your phone. Once the feature hits your machine, notifications and cards will start popping up in your system notification tray automatically. Google states that this feature will begin popping up for users over the next couple of weeks. If you don't see Google Now on your desktop yet, hang in there, it's coming.

Via: +Google Chrome

Verizon Posts/Pulls "HTC One Offer" Promo Video, Posts "All New HTC One" Teaser Page

Kellen — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 10:39:15 +0000

Last week, we first reported that Verizon would more than likely be selling the "All New HTC One" shortly after HTC announces it at a press event tomorrow in New York City. The day following our report, Big Red stores began posting signage that hinted at customers wanting to "hit refresh" at 1PM Eastern (10AM Pacific) on the 25th, all but confirming the phone's availability, if anything, through online sales. Today, Verizon posted both a teaser on their website suggesting the same thing, plus an "HTC One Offer" video on YouTube that was immediately pulled. In fact, it was pulled so quickly that I didn't have a chance to watch or download it. But knowing what we have in-store for tomorrow, I can only image that video was a promo for the new One, not last year's model. The offer appears to be combined with Verizon's new More Everything plans. I know you are probably sick of the hypebeasting, but you have to admit that HTC may make a phone available minutes after announcing it is pretty cool.

Via: Verizon | YouTube

LG Unveils Smart Bulbs, Home Lightbulbs Controllable Via Smartphone

Kyle — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 10:22:08 +0000

Lightbulbs controllable via smartphone are by no means new, but more companies continue to jump on the home automation bandwagon. Case in point? LG launched the Smart Bulb in Korea over the weekend, a 100W LED bulb that pairs with your iOS or Android device over wireless or Bluetooth to perform a variety of functions. Phones connected to the lightbulb can obviously control the lighting, but can also schedule the light to turn on and off at certain hours of the day. The bulb can also flash when you receive a notification on your smartphone, or pulsate to music on your Android handset. The LG Smart Bulb retails for 35,000 won in Korea, which is equivalent to $32. No word on US availability.

Via: LG

Contest: $300 in Google Play Gift Cards Up for Grabs From Droid Life!

Kellen — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 09:46:16 +0000

Last night on Twitter, we teased a contest for this morning, because who doesn't like to start out a week with a chance to win freebies? In case you can't count or do simple multiplication, yes, we have $300 in Google Play gift cards to give away. No sponsors, no special occasion - just Droid Life saying "Thank you" to the wonderful community that gathers here each and every day. The contest is simple and only asks that you follow the easy steps in the Rafflecopter widget below. You don't have to do all of the items, but the more you do, the more chances you have to win one of the six $50 gift cards that we are giving away. Easy enough? Let's do it.

Contest

Prizes: 6 (six) $50 Google Play gift cards for 6 (six) winners. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners: Tomorrow at 12:45PM Pacific we will choose our six winners.

Google Releases Photowall Chromecast App, Coming to Android Today (Updated)

Kyle — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 09:15:32 +0000

Ready to try out an exciting new Chromecast-enabled app from Google? Well, you'd better have an iPhone or iPad, because it's exclusive to iOS for the time being (Edit: Updated below with Android details). Called Photowall, the Chrome Experiment lets people produce a collage of photos by uploading them via the app or the web, doodling on them using the built-in paintbrush tool, and then sending them to a Chromecast. The result can be exported to YouTube and shared with friends. The app is available for iOS devices from the App Store. Here's hoping that Google will port the app to Android in the near future. App Store Link Update: Google has made Photowall official, also acknowledging that an Android version will be here today. Once we have the Play store link, we'll add it to this post. Update 2: Here is the link. [Play Link]

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Report: Apple Debates Bringing Official iTunes App to Android

Tim — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:50:53 +0000

In an interesting story that broke late last week, it is being reported by Billboard that Apple is currently mulling over the idea of launching an official iTunes application for Android devices. At the heart of the report is a year-over-year drop in iTunes percentage of sales, as well as an 11% drop in music sales in the US. As a new source of income, Apple will also attempt to launch a true on-demand service to compete against Spotify, Beats Music, and Google's All Access, according to this report. Much like many other stories that concern Apple's long-term goals, Steve Jobs was brought up, as it was known that he felt fans would never pay subscription prices for music. At the time, he might have been right, but the market is ever changing. If Apple wishes to continue remaining relevant in the music sales space (they currently hold more than 40% of recorded music revenue in the US), it may be time to look at subscription avenues According to Billboard's sources, the thought of an iTunes app for Android is still in the very early stages, meaning we could be months upon months before we see any evidence of an actual app. If an iTunes app launched for your Android device, would you use it? If you are a Mac user, it's sometimes hard not to use iTunes, but thanks to All Access from Google, I haven't used iTunes in quite some time.

Via: Billboard

This 14-Minute Review of the "All New HTC One" Tells You Everything You Need to Know

Kellen — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:23:27 +0000

The "All New HTC One" officially arrives tomorrow, but HTC clearly handed out devices early to select press who can't calculate time properly and decided to post their initial reviews early. Thanks to German site Notebook Info, we get a full 14-minute clip of the new One, with tours of its hardware, Sense 6.0, off-screen gestures, and of course, that camera. Oh, and before you shrug this one off like that painfully long leak from the 6-year old kid, know that is a well-made video from an actual tech site. This is the video to watch. Well, it's the video to watch until you get to see us with the phone. So what's new in this video that we haven't seen in others? First, we get to see a tour of the hardware in clear imagery, followed by a look at how those nifty little off-screen gestures will work. We then get a look at Sense 6.0, plus an in-depth look at the camera, which can take pictures that can be refocused and also in a semi-3D panning mode. We also get a glimpse at HTC's new "Extreme" power saver mode, that turns your phone into a basic phone of sorts, in order to sip those last ounces of juice. According to this review, we the camera setup on the back is a 4MP (UltraPixel) camera, paired with a 2MP secondary camera that records depth info for those re-focus and 3D-like moments. Other specs include a 2,600mAh battery, Snapdragon 801, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 5-inch 1080 display, and Kit Kat. Who is ready for tomorrow, especially if you can order the phone?

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Via: NotebookInfo.de

Samsung Galaxy S5 Receives Official Unboxing Treatment From T-Mobile

Tim — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 07:44:26 +0000

Release of the Galaxy S5 from Samsung is still set for April 11 on all major carriers here in the US, but that didn't stop T-Mobile from recently opening up the device on its YouTube channel. A T-Mo employee went hands-on blogger status, ripping open the GS5's packaging, giving viewers a peek at what they will find upon purchase of the phone. Nothing too special is found inside, but that's not a surprise. Once the contents are pulled out, the employee flips on the device, gives us a brief software and hardware tour, and that's about it. If you can't wait for all of the blogs and tech sites to start posting up unboxing videos and reviews, this is a good place to start.

[responsive_vid]

Deal: Amazon Gold Box has 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB Samsung microSD Cards at 65% Off

Kellen — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 07:33:09 +0000

Just in time for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One (2014), Amazon is hosting a Gold Box deal on Samsung micro SD PRO and PLUS cards with prices up to 65% off. Since both devices have a slot for expandable storage, you may want to think about picking up a card to take advantage. We should point out that the Galaxy S5 was announced with a micro SD slot, while the "All New HTC One" is only rumored to have one at this point, but all leaks currently point to it having a slot. The PRO cards start at $15 and go up to $50 for the 64GB version. These cards are capable of transferring data at 70MB/s. The PLUS cards are the slightly cheaper model with prices ranging from $10 to $36 and can transfer data at speeds of 48MB/s. All cards are Class 10 UHS-1, and come with adapters. PRO Cards: 16GB ($14.99) | 32GB ($24.99) | 64GB ($49.99) PLUS Cards: 16GB ($9.99) | 32GB ($17.99) | 64GB ($35.99)

Maps Measure for Android Lets You Measure Distances and Areas in Google Maps

Rithvik — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 12:48:18 +0000

If you've ever wanted to quickly check distances, Google Maps hasn't had the most streamlined of approaches. And don't even think about areas, as Google has yet to implement this feature in both the desktop and mobile versions of Maps. Maps Measure is a handy new app letting users quickly check up on areas or distances simply, even all the way across the world. The design of the app is simple -- drop points wherever you want by searching for addresses, and then choose whether you want the distance between them or the area. You can drop as many points as you would like, so you can go insane with intricate polygons covering the Earth (or at least however much of it Google's cartographers care to cover). You can choose satellite or map views when searching around, and can delete points in reverse chronological order by hitting the trash can icon near the top of your screen. I tried the app out for measuring the area of my house and the distance from here to the nearest park, and it seems that accuracy is a non-issue given the performance as of yet. Possibly the best thing about the application is the fact that it is entirely free, with no in-app purchases or ads. Thanks, devs! Also, Android 4.4 (Kit Kat) transparent notification bars are made use of for applicable users, which gives the app an overall better look. Weighing in at well under a megabyte, this app is easily recommendable to keep around as a utility for use from time to time. Go check it out. Play Link

We Just Upset Duke to Take You into the Weekend

Kellen — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:00:04 +0000

If you missed episode 53 of the Droid Life Show this week, shame on you. You missed the first show with five DL team members, plus our focus was on Android Wear and the gorgeous Moto 360. In fact, a solid 45 minutes was dedicated to Google's new Android wearables platform. We not only covered the 360, but the LG G Watch, our thoughts on the UI, and if we really think this could be the wearable breakthrough we needed to finally buy into the category. After Wear, we cruised through new goodies surrounding the "All New HTC One," talked QHD displays, our favorite apps and games of the week, and more.

New Google Search Voice Command for Android Allows Users to Start Play Music's "I'm Feeling Lucky" Feature

Rithvik — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:19:46 +0000

Earlier this week, Google added the ability to open your phone's Camera with a simple "take a picture" or "record a video" voice command in the Google Search app. Now, functionality has been added allowing users to instantly start Google Play Music's "I'm Feeling Lucky" radio station feature with a simple voiced request. The radio station will take into account what you've been listening to recently to tailor music in your library (or for All Access users, a lot more) for your ears' pleasure. Users, to try the new feature out, just need to say "OK Google, listen to music" to initiate the request from within the Search app, but variations of the phrase like "play me music" should be working for users as well. Obviously, you'll need Play Music installed to get the new features to work as it seems other music services are not supported at this time. The changes to Search itself are server-side, so if you have the latest version you should be golden.

Via: +Google

This Week in the Life of DROID - 3/21/2014

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 16:30:11 +0000

It was a busy week, with Google's announcement of the Android Wear platform, followed by Motorola and LG's unveiling of their very own smartwatches based on it. While the Moto 360 smartwatch seems to have everyone's attention, other OEM partners include Samsung and HTC, which means we can expect to see a ton of wearable devices this year. Besides the Android Wear craziness, which led to an eventful Droid Life Show on Wednesday, pre-order announcements for the Galaxy S5 began popping up all over the place. All major US carriers besides Verizon have announced pricing and availability, with most of them offering the device for $199 on a new two year contract. Of course, it wouldn't be right if there weren't a few HTC One (2014) leaks here and there. Needless to say, we weren't disappointed. Thanks to a leaked video, the world got its first real good look at Sense 6.0, which is to launch on HTC's next flagship. If you missed any of the highlights, we have them listed for you below.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 53 [Subscribe]
Video: Hands-on tour with the Android Wear SDK.
Google unveiled Android Wear, its smartwatch platform.
LG announced the G Watch, coming in Q2.
Motorola announced the Moto 360, coming this summer.
Motorola hosted a special Hangout for the Moto 360, here's our recap.
Ready to pre-order the Galaxy S5? AT&T | Sprint | T-Mobile | US Cellular
Rumors swirling around the Moto 360's specs.
New leak gives detailed look at Sense 6.0 from HTC.
Companies ready themselves to sell HTC All New One minutes after unveiling.
The All New One to see launch at Verizon on March 25?
Samsung's Gear 2 and Gear Fit see official pricing.
New report claims Google to begin production of Nexus 8 starting in July or August.

Have a great weekend, folks! Next week is HTC One (2014) week!

Friday App Sales: Osmos HD, PVSTAR+ PRO, franco.Kernel Updater and More

Rithvik — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 14:12:07 +0000

In case you're low on cash, but still need a weekend app or game to keep you company, look no further than today's app sales list. This week's rendition is quite short, even when compared to last week's show of modesty, but among the sale apps are some jewels. Osmos HD has received a price cut, plus PVSTAR+ PRO has also seen its cost reduced. Rounding it all up is franco.Kernel Updater, which is celebrating a meaty franco.Kernel update. It's all below.

Friday app sales

Osmos HD - ($0.99)
Field Recorder - ($3.99)
Camera 2 - ($0.99)
G-Stomper Beat Studio - ($3.79)
Oh!Edo Towns - ($1.20)
PVSTAR+ PRO - ($1.97)
OLO - ($0.99)
franco.Kernel updater - ($4.12)

Go show your developers some love.

AT&T Teases HTC One (2014), Might go on Sale March 25

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 13:29:17 +0000

According to AT&T, the company has a secret. Unfortunately for them, and thanks to a gazillion leaks over the past couple of months, the entire world knows what it is. On March 25, HTC is set to unveil the All New One smartphone, with evidence pointing to a same-day release. AT&T is hosting a sweepstakes in which a few lucky folks can win the upcoming device simply by filling out a form. The sweepstakes ends on March 25, so as hypebeasts, we are assuming that could mean the carrier intends to have the device for sale on its network on the 25th. To sign yourself up for a chance to win a new HTC smartphone, follow the via link below. If HTC pulls this off, announcing a phone and then has it available the same day on multiple carriers, what does that say about the company? It's a bold statement, one which screams "Get some, Samsung!"

Via: AT&T

The Running Dead, by Far the Most Pixelated Zombie Game You'll Ever Come Across

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 12:44:54 +0000

A new game on Google Play, The Running Dead, is challenging you to survive 30 days in a zombie apocalypse. For all you zombie killers, that may sound like a breeze, but what about surviving in a world that is pixelated beyond belief? Each level in the game that you pass is a day. After my time with this title, I've gotten through 8 days, so I can honestly say it's a pretty difficult game. The controls are extremely basic, as all you can do is jump, double jump, and shoot a little pistol. As your character runs through a level, you must dodge brain-hungry zombies or shoot your way through the hordes. But again, it's pretty hard to tell what the heck is going on with so much pixelation going on. The game is free, although I can't lie, a metric crap ton of ads await any player willing to take up the challenge. The ads are not shown during gameplay, but since you die very often, you're bound to see quite a few. Do I think ads make a game awful? Not entirely, but they certainly turn me off from a game a lot quicker than a game without them. Play Link

Verizon In-store Signage Teases March 25 "All New HTC One" Launch

Kellen — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 11:32:48 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, we broke news on Verizon's plans to carry the "All New HTC One" on March 25, shortly after HTC makes the phone official. Today, we're seeing more proof that Big Red will have the phone available the minute that HTC wraps up its live streamed song-and-dance. Teaser place holders are arriving in Verizon stores with a message that reads "Get ready to hit refresh, 3.25 at 1PM ET." In other words, Big Red will more than likely make the phone available through their website at 1PM ET, 10AM Pacific. So you are aware, the press event for the HTC One (2014) takes place at 11AM ET. By 1PM ET, HTC should have wrapped up their series of announcements for the phone, we'll have done some hands-on with it, and then if this all plays out correctly, will be available for purchase. You have already seen the Galaxy S5 and what it has to offer - how tempted will you be to pull the trigger on the new HTC One come Tuesday?

Cheers ___!

Galaxy S5 Experience App Brings the Eyes-on Look of the GS5 to Your Own Device

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 11:18:18 +0000

If you are on the fence about the Galaxy S5, possibly more curious about how the device performs, then you will need to check out a new app from Samsung. The company has created the Galaxy S5 Experience app, which aims to put the Galaxy S5 right in your hands, without actually doing so. In the app, users can get a hands-on/eye-on feel for the Galaxy S5, but exploring its features, and the ability to touch Samsung's new TouchWiz interface running atop Kit Kat. If you have been paying attention to what Kellen and I have been saying, then you will know that our feelings about TouchWiz are actually quite positive lately. You can explore the GS5's super-quick auto focus camera, how it handles your fitness needs, check out its Download Booster feature, and much more. Yes, your phone is merely playing a video of how the GS5 will perform, but it is still a great way to actually visualize the phone's performance.

To get a eye-on look at the Galaxy S5 from the comfort of your own chair, check it out on Google Play. Play Link

Lumberwhack: Defend the Wild, a Team of Misfit Animals Take on Angry Redneck Lumberjacks

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 10:14:28 +0000

Fans of tower defense-like titles should check out Lumberwhack: Defend the Wild, a game which pits your animal forces against an ever-growing gang of pissed off lumberjacks. The loggers are encroaching on your animal territory, and it is your duty as a monkey to group your forces, not allowing the humans to cut down your beautiful forest home. The game plays much like Plants Vs. Zombies - continuous waves of lumberjacks and ninja loggers come piling down into your forest, and you must used upgraded tigers, gorillas, and other various jungle creatures to battle them. The graphics are decent, and gameplay is fluid. As mentioned, if you dig tower defense games, this title should do the trick for you. The game is free to download, however, you will see a few IAPs to help you progress quicker. Go save those animals. Play Link

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Amazon Posts Up More Free Apps and Games for Its Birthday, Valued at Over $50

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 09:50:55 +0000

To keep relevancy up surrounding its birthday, Amazon continues to mark down apps and games through its Appstore for Android device owners. This weekend, you can play a handful of new games thanks to Amazon, all for the price of free. Let's talk about what you can download for free this morning, shall we? Today, users can grab EA Game's Monopoly game for free, Worms: Armageddon 2 for zilch, SketechBook Pro for nada, Polaris Office for nil, Ski Safari for zippo, and plenty of other sweet titles. All of the savings adds up to over $50, so that's quite the generous gesture from Amazon. Head on over to their site for a look at the full list of apps and games. Again, you will need to install the Amazon Appstore to take advantage of these deals.

Via: Amazon

Sprint Shutters Stores and Lays Off Employees in Effort to Stem Losses

Kyle — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 09:20:34 +0000

In a bid to restore profitability, Sprint is laying off workers and closing repair centers and stores. That includes 330 technical consultants, 15 service and repair centers, and 55 "worst-performing" retail locations, which are in addition to the 450 customers service employees Sprint let go earlier this week. Sprint is couching the slimming of staff as a way to "improve efficiency," but the move seems mainly in response to the company's $1 billion loss in the fourth quarter of last year. Under the ownership of Japanese carrier SoftBank, Sprint has seen revenues decline as competitors have encroached on its prepaid markets and rapidly outpaced its deployment of 4G LTE. The lack of device repair centers may inconvenience some; Sprint said it will refer customers with broken phones to staffed stores within a 45-minute drive. However, the company said it's aiming to keep the consumer impact to the cuts minimal.

Via: CNET

Sprint Offering Galaxy S5 In-store Pre-order at $0 Down, Online for $199

Tim — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 08:45:49 +0000

This morning, Sprint announced its pricing and pre-order availability for the Galaxy S5 from Samsung. Much like T-Mobile, Sprint hopes to snag a few customers with the all impressive zero money down tactic. For folks who go into a Sprint store, and then qualify, they can pre-order the Galaxy S5 with $0 down, followed by 24 monthly payments of $27.09. However, for anyone not willing to spend an hour in the Sprint store, hoping to do your business online, you will be looking at a price of $199 on a new two year agreement. If you were concerned, the Galaxy S5 will come in both White and Black through Sprint. David Owens, vice president of Product at Sprint spoke on the network's offering of Samsung's newest flagship.

Samsung Galaxy S5 is exactly the type of device Sprint Spark and Sprint Framily were designed for. Galaxy S5 customers will be able to do more than ever with their smartphone, and they will appreciate the ability to use all three bands of 4G LTE wireless network spectrum available on the Sprint network for an enhanced LTE experience and won’t want to wait for a slow network to catch up while they’re enjoying the incredible features of this exciting device.

To locate a Sprint store near you that is hosting pre-orders of the Galaxy S5 at $0 down, follow the via for more info.

Via: Sprint

Moto 360 Rumored to Sport OLED Display, Sapphire Glass, and Wireless Charging

Kyle — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 08:19:25 +0000

When Motorola released naught but a launch window and device renders for the Moto 360, the company left everyone scrambling to fill in the blanks through unofficial channels. G For Games claims to have heard rumblings first; according to the publication, the Moto 360 will feature an OLED display protected by sapphire glass and magnetic induction wireless charging. Although we were unable to independently verify the rumors, they don't sound outside the realm of possibility. An OLED screen would allow Motorola to implement battery-saving Active Display-style notifications. Sapphire glass would provide the durability the smartwatch form factor necessitates. And, considering the Moto 360 doesn't have a USB port, wireless charging was probably a given. Looks like we'll have to wait until "Summer 2014" to get the full Moto 360 rundown, but if you're as anxious to find out more about it as I am, you can sign up to learn more through Motorola's website.

Via: G For Games

Pocket Creates Developer SDK for Android Wear, Save Content Directly From Your Watch

Rithvik — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 08:00:29 +0000

Ever since the recent launch of Android Wear, most of the buzz surrounding it has been of the upcoming hardware, LG's G Watch and Motorola's Moto 360. Almost forgotten is the fact that soon after the Android Wear announcement, a preview SDK was also released for developers. One of the first developers to make use of this is the team behind the read-it-later Pocket service, having launched today a prototype of a service allowing users to save content for later with merely a swipe and a tap.

The proposed mini-app will allow users to save to Pocket, but won't let them view the articles themselves. Much like many of Android Wear's built-in services, this will initiate a service on your phone rather than on the watch itself.

Pocket's prototype SDK has now been pushed to GitHub for our developer friends out there to implement in their own apps.

Excited?

Via: Pocket

Test the Galaxy S5 and New Gear Line in Best Buys Starting Today

Kyle — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 07:45:00 +0000

Itching to try out the Samsung Galaxy S5 or Gear smartwatches? If you live near a Best Buy, today is your chance. The chain announced yesterday that many stores will have sample units of the S5 and Gear line on hand starting March 21, several weeks before their respective April launch dates. According to a Best Buy spokesperson, it's the first time the electronics retailer has showcased a phone prior to launch. The stunt is an extension of Best Buy and Samsung's nearly year-old partnership, which began April of last year with the construction of 1,400 Experience Shops within Best Buy retail locations. Pushing preorders seems to be a priority. The Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, and Gear Fit will be available for preorder, AT&T revealed earlier today that customers would be able to order its variant Galaxy S5 handsets shortly after midnight Friday through BestBuy.com and other retailers. A select number (around 100) of AT&T stores will also have sample Galaxy S5 units. To check which Best Buy stores will have the device on display, head over to this link. The Galaxy S5 officially launches April 11 on all major US carriers.

Via: Mashable

IFTTT Adds Pushbullet Notifications Integration, Get Alerted Whenever Something Happens

Rithvik — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 17:00:44 +0000

If This Then That, or IFTTT as it is better known, is a service that lets users create actions for triggers throughout the web. One example would be getting a text message every time something new was listed on your local Craigslist for a certain search term. Another would be emailing Kellen every time you Tweet something (a personal recommendation). Today, Pushbullet (one of our essential productivity apps of the year) has been added to the mix, allowing users to get notifications every time a recipe is triggered. A prime example of this, at least for us DLers, is getting a notification every time Droid Life publishes something to the site. For the "this" part, or trigger, you'd list the "Feed" option and link it to our RSS feed. Then, you could go ahead and download Pushbullet on the device you want notifications on, and add an Action to send a notification. Boom, you're now getting a regular ol' Android notification for a new RSS item. The possibilities, however, don't end at RSS -- users can go wild, with everything from Belkin's WeMo to Instagram available as triggers for this Pushbullet option. IFTTT users can set up the new notifications service right over here.

Via: Pushbullet

White House Testing Samsung and LG Phones, Looking to Get President Obama Off of BlackBerry

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:20:01 +0000

It seems BlackBerry devices don't see much use here in America unless you work for the US government, as "only BlackBerry is designed to meet the high-security needs of U.S. and allied government agencies," said a BlackBerry spokesperson. That was stated following the news that our nation's White House staff is internally testing devices from both Samsung and LG, possibly looking to get President Barack Obama off of his beloved BlackBerry device. While declining to state which exact devices from the two OEMs are currently being used, a Dept. of Defense representative was quoted as saying, "we can confirm that the White House Communications Agency, consistent with the rest of the Department of Defense, is piloting and using a variety of mobile devices." With that said, they commented further, clarifying that we could be months away from this great nation having a new First Smartphone. A Samsung spokesperson also commented on the news, stating that the company is working with various government agencies to start a pilot program up in Washington D.C. However, on the contrary, an LG rep stated they haven't heard of any such testing taking place. It's gonna be a sad day at BlackBerry HQ when and if Obama drops their hardware for something a bit more "new."

Via: WSJ

"All New HTC One" Cases Arrive at Verizon Stores, Ready for March 25 Launch?

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:01:16 +0000

We already know that the "All New HTC One" will arrive March 25 through events in New York City and London. But outside of Carphone Warehouse announcing that they will have it available for purchase shortly after HTC unveils it, we have yet to hear from a U.S. carrier. With that said, sources of ours have been led to believe that Verizon may be your option next week. At least one source believes that Verizon will be the exclusive carrier on launch day, with other carriers making the device available in April. Another is hearing that the phone could be available on either the 25th or the 26th at $199 on 2-year contract. As you can see from the image below, accessories have already begun arriving in stores, as if a launch is imminent. We should see up to 7 different color flip cases ($49.99), just like the ones leaked by evleaks a few weeks back. HTC may also make the Mini+ ($79.99) and Fetch ($29.99) available in the U.S. as well. Obviously, none of this is official at this time. We'll be in NYC on March 25 for the "All New HTC One" festivities. I cannot wait for this rumor saga to be over. Give us the device!

Gmail Will Always Use an Encrypted HTTPS Connection When You Check or Send Email

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 15:24:47 +0000

Today, Google announced that going forward, all emails coming and going through their Gmail servers will use an encrypted HTTPS connection. Since its launch many years ago, Gmail has supported HTTPS, and the protocol was set by default in 2010, but this new move will ensure to users that messages they are sending and receiving are secure ("100 percent of them"). Google notes that this move became a top priority "after last summer's revelations." The encryption is intact not only when messages move between you and Gmail's servers, but also as they cruise through Google's data centers. In addition to HTTPS encryption, Google recommends setting strong passwords, as well as looking into 2-step verification for accounts you want extra secure. Here is an excerpt from Google's post about the recent change.

Today's change means that no one can listen in on your messages as they go back and forth between you and Gmail’s servers—no matter if you're using public WiFi or logging in from your computer, phone or tablet. In addition, every single email message you send or receive—100 percent of them—is encrypted while moving internally. This ensures that your messages are safe not only when they move between you and Gmail's servers, but also as they move between Google's data centers—something we made a top priority after last summer’s revelations.

Now go forth, emailing with complete privacy.

Via: Google

Samsung Galaxy S5 Pre-orders on T-Mobile Begin March 24, $0 Down With 24 Equal Monthly Payments

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:20:27 +0000

With pre-order dates and pricing for the Galaxy S5 from Samsung set through AT&T and US Cellular so far, it's time for the rest of the American carriers to jump onboard. The next to announce pricing and pre-orders is T-Mobile, putting a slight twist into how they plan on selling the device. For those looking to pre-order the GS5 through T-Mobile, you can do so beginning March 24 (next Monday), at the price of $0 down. Yes, $0. While that might seem fantastic, you will be made to pay 24 equal monthly payments (two years) of $27.50. Added up over the two year period that equates to $660 for the full retail price, which isn't all that bad when you think about it. T-Mo's CEO, the one and only John Legere, spoke briefly about the high levels of anticipation the company has seen with the Galaxy S5.

This thing is so hot we’ve already seen over a half a million pre-registrations for the Galaxy S 5. That’s a lot of very smart people grabbing this opportunity to pay nothing down, save more than a grand over the life of the other guys’ contracts, and have T-Mobile pay off every penny of their family’s early termination fees. It’s a brilliant move.

We would like to quickly point out that the high number of pre-registrations could be thanks in part to the fact that T-Mobile is currently holding a giveaway, in which one pre-registered customer will receive a free Galaxy S5. So, yeah, that number might seem a bit high. Pre-orders will take place online and in-store.

Via: T-Mobile

Link Bubble Released to Google Play, a Nifty Way To Manage Links From the Developer of Action Launcher

Rithvik — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 13:30:29 +0000

Most of us have experienced Android's management of links in various apps. One example is scrolling through Twitter and finding a link to an Instagram photo that you'd like to view. Clicking on it will take you to Chrome, where you will face the short wait for a t.co redirect, and then to Instagram. Chrome, in this case, is just an unnecessary middleman. Link Bubble is a new app from the highly-successful Chris Lacy looking to remedy this flaw. It provides you with a nifty bubble to load redirects in the background and take you straight to where your link ends up, along with additional useful features such as a handy way to add links to Pocket. Another possible use case of Link Bubble is when you want to click two links on a page. For example, if you're reading an article in Feedly, you can tap one and then the other, and they will both load in the bubble off to the side of your screen. You can then tap it to view both links, and easily jump right back into Feedly. You can also click on links, and then drag their bubble straight onto the Pocket icon to read them later. Unfortunately, we don't have support for other read-it-later platforms such as Instapaper, but it's easy to see how saving a link could be nifty in a pinch. The final current feature of Link Bubble is the ability to load embedded YouTube videos on a webpage directly in the YouTube app. The default Android method for opening embedded videos is quite trashy, and opening links in the regular YouTube app from embeds has not been the easiest thing to do, but we can finally view videos without the hassle.

Features

When you click on a link in an app, Link Bubble loads that webpage in the background, leaving you free to keep using your current app rather than your precious time being wasted watching a page load. Once the page has fully loaded, it will animate on screen.
Link Bubble's flick physics allow you to go from clicking a link to sharing a link or adding it a service such as Pocket in little more than a second!
Load multiple links from your current app at the same time (requires Pro).
Gracefully handling links that redirect to other apps. No longer does clicking an Instagram link in Twitter redirect to a full screen browser before loading Instagram!
Deep integration with the apps on your system.
Locates embedded YouTube videos on web pages, and provides a shortcut to load those videos directly in the YouTube app.
Handy stats that illustrate how much time you are saving by using Link Bubble.

Link Bubble is broken apart into two components. A free version is available with the features listed above, but the $4.99 pro version allows for an infinite number of tabs, link importation from all your apps, and supporting the developer's future projects. Play Link [Pro License]

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Via: +Chris Lacy

HTC Will Live Stream "All New HTC One" Event

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 13:15:50 +0000

The "All New HTC One" or HTC One (2014) will arrive in just over four days from now during dual events in both London and New York City. To help continue building hype around a phone that we seem to know everything about, HTC has set up a live stream page that is counting down to its unveiling. That's good news for those who aren't members of the press, as you'll be able to watch along and experience the new One. Carphone Warehouse has already stated that it will have the new One available for purchase within minutes of its unveiling over in the UK. We have yet to hear plans from any U.S. carrier, though we would be somewhat surprised if that doesn't change between now and Tuesday morning. It seems like we have been waiting for this event for months. I almost can't believe we are only days away. The live stream will be broadcast here.

Motorola Camera Update Turns Volume Into Shutter Button

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:38:52 +0000

Motorola updated their camera app today for the Moto X, DROID ULTRA, MAXX, and Mini, to allow users to take photos using the volume button. Previously, you could only take photos by tapping the screen, so Motorola decided to give you all an option, in case you happen to like physically pressing a button. And that's pretty much all the update does. The rest is bug fixes. Play Link

Samsung Outs the SM-G750A, an S5 Mini Featuring a 720p Display and Snapdragon 800

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:20:55 +0000

Thanks to Samsung itself, and not the vast ocean of leakers which exist in this beautiful industry of ours, we now know there is a new smartphone on the horizon. With model number SM-G750A (A standing for AT&T), most of the evidence leaked points to this device being the Galaxy S5 Mini. Thanks to the site that this info was taken from, we are able to paint a somewhat decent picture of what this phone will feature. So far, we can see that a 720p display will be front and center on the device, a Snapdragon 800 processor will be on board, and the phone apparently comes running Android 4.3. However, since we could be quite some time away from launch, Samsung does have plenty of time to bump that up to Android 4.4. Much like last year's Galaxy S4 Mini, and contrary to how Sony handled its Z1 Compact from this year, Samsung looks to lean much more towards the affordable range with less specs in tow. That being said, it could be safe to assume to keep price down, you won't see a fingerprint scanner or heart rate monitor featured on this device. However, nothing is confirmed until we hear from Samsung in an official manner. Another day, another Samsung device to add to the ever-growing portfolio.

Via: TechnoBuffalo | Samsung Mobile

Dead Trigger 2 Updated With Arena Mode, New Environments, Leaderboards, and More

Kyle — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:00:01 +0000

Dead Trigger 2, the graphically impressive zombie survival FPS from Madfinger Games, received a big update to version 0.5.0 yesterday. In addition to the highly anticipated "Arena of Death" mode, new zombies, environments, and weapons are in tow, along with a leaderboard that allows you to challenge your friends. The Arena is a survival-type gamemode with point-based rewards for killing endless numbers of zombies. The new "ejecting traps" weapon should make that easier, along with "lucky boxes" that grant temporary abilities and powers.

What's New

The Arena of Death
Kill zombies in a variety of gruesome ways to amuse the bloodthirsty audience.
Ejecting Traps - Build traps that kill the zombies by catapulting their rotten bodies high into the air.
Lucky Boxes – Boosts and power up increasing Arena carnage
Leaderboard – Get noted, compare to your friends, challenge them
New Zombies
New Warfare
New Environments

Grab Dead Trigger 2 from Google Play. Play Link

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"What's New" in Google Play Listings Now Configurable for Alpha, Beta, and Production Releases

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 10:35:45 +0000

Changelogs - they're an important step for any developer who pushes out an update to an application. Today, Google announced changes to the What's New section for developers, as creators can now configure the section to show changes for different versions of their applications. For example, a different changelog can now be shown if a user downloads the beta version of an app. In that same instance, if someone downloads the production version (aka general release version), they will see a separate changelog. The same goes for Alpha builds, too. For those of you concerned with changelogs as much as we are here at DL, this is a step in the right direction. However, it's still up to developers to maintain an updated changelog for their apps. Keep up the good work, devs.

Via: Google

Cheers Dave!

US Cellular Galaxy S5 Pre-orders go up March 21, Extra $50 Google Play Gift Card Added

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 10:20:03 +0000

Not only will AT&T's pre-order go up for the Galaxy S5 from Samsung tomorrow morning, but so will US Cellular's. The company announced this morning that after an instant rebate, customers can pre-order Samsung's newest flagship for $199.99 on contract. As an added bonus, those who pre-order will also get a free $50 Google Play gift card to use at their own discretion. US Cellular will have two color options for the Galaxy S5, which includes White and Black. As a reminder for those interested, the device goes on sale in-store and online starting April 11. Residents of select towns in Iowa and Wisconsin will be able to get a special hands-on preview of the device, starting March 25. For details on how you can be one of the first to check out Samsung's latest offering, look below for store locations that are hosting the events.

U.S. Cellular Presale For Samsung Galaxy S 5 Begins Tomorrow With Free $50 Google Play Offer

Device will be available for purchase in stores on April 11
CHICAGO (March 20, 2014) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) have announced that the 4G LTE™ Samsung Galaxy S® 5 will be available for customers to preorder at uscellular.com/GS5 beginning tomorrow. The Galaxy S 5 will be offered in Charcoal Black and Shimmery White and will be $199.99 after an instant rebate is applied. In addition, U.S. Cellular is offering a $50 Google Play promotional code for free to anyone who pre-orders the device online. It will be available in stores for purchase on April 11 along with the Samsung Gear™ 2, Samsung Gear 2 Neo and Samsung Gear Fit. Customers who purchase the Galaxy S 5 from U.S. Cellular receive a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty and a network that covers them wherever they want to go. Currently 90 percent of U.S. Cellular customers are covered by a 4G LTE network, and the Galaxy S 5 is the latest 4G LTE smartphone to join the company's cutting-edge device line-up. "The features on the Samsung Galaxy S 5 are designed to enrich customers' everyday lives, making it easier to get things done and stay connected with friends and family," said Joe Settimi, vice president of products, pricing and innovation for U.S. Cellular. "We will continue to focus on providing our customers the best-in-class network, devices and technology that gives them access to experiences that enrich their lives." Residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Milwaukee and Madison, Wis., can get an early look at the Galaxy S 5 and the Gear devices by visiting select U.S. Cellular stores in their area. These devices can be checked out in Iowa and Wisconsin exclusively at the following U.S. Cellular locations beginning on March 24th:

2315 Edgewood Rd., Cedar Rapids, Iowa

4444 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

101 Junction Rd., Madison, Wis.

740 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.

5670 N. Port Washington, Glendale, Wis.

The Galaxy S 5 has a 5.1-inch screen with a Full HD Super AMOLED™ display and is powered by technology that enables intuitive new camera experiences, lightning fast data connections, and fitness and nutrition tracking. You can capture photos and memories in an instant, watch crisp HD videos on an adaptive display with wide viewing angles, and keep a close eye on your exercise progress and monitor your heartbeat with S Health™ and the world's first built-in heart rate monitor†. The second generation of Gear offers a refined look and customizable experience with a trio of options: Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo feature interchangeable straps, compatible with standard watch bands for a personalized look. Both feature a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display with new shortcuts and additional app support for easier navigation. The Gear Fit has an athletic design with a 1.84-inch curved Super AMOLED display and interchangeable band, The Gear Fit tracks your steps, monitors your heart rate on the go, and provides notifications of incoming calls, texts and emails.

Developer Takes Our "Mark as Read" Gmail Idea, Makes MarkAsRead App

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:48:31 +0000

Back in January, we wrote up a "Gmail Feature Request" that focused on the need for a third button in Gmail notifications, specially a "Mark as read" button. That post gave one developer in particular the motivation to make it happen, since there is no telling if Google will ever even consider the idea. And with that, MarkAsRead was born and is now available on Google Play. The developer reached out to us last night to get us to take a look at the app that was based off of our idea, saying that he "found a clever way of intercepting the notification and allowing you to mark an e-mail as 'Read' straight from the notification." With it now installed and up and running, I can say that my Gmail dreams have almost been realized at this point. The app works well, and does indeed put a "Mark as read" button in your notification for new Gmails. Once installed, all you need to do is select which Gmail account you'd like it to use (multi-account support coming soon), give it notification access, and then click "Start." Your new Gmails received through the specified Gmail account will now show a third button. For those concerned about security, here are the permissions that the app requires:

INTERNET - To flag the email as read ACCOUNTS & USE CREDENTIALS - To automatically authenticate you into your gmail account using Android's build-in account manager (this is much more secure as we do not have to store or save your username/password anywhere) NETWORK STATE - Helps us determine your internet connection stability. CONTENT PROVIDER - Read unread count of your gmail account RECEIVE BOOT COMPLETED - Allows MarkAsRead to launch on startup

Update: The developer works for the MIT Media Lab as well, and had this to say in response to a couple of security questions we had:

It’s just a one-time thing that they don’t need to worry about. I think there’s a way to remove tokens through Google formally but I’m not 100% positive. Happy to look it up for you. It’s a pretty common technique used for Google authentication by apps :) and it’s the technique Google recommends b/c then I don’t have to store or upload a username or password anywhere. There are no servers, everything happens on the device.

If you want to disable it, you can disable notification access and it won’t do anything anymore.

Play Link ($1.31)

Official: Samsung Gear 2 Priced at $299, Gear Fit at $199

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:24:50 +0000

AT&T announced this morning that it will begin taking pre-orders for Samsung's new wearables, the Gear 2 and Gear Fit. The Gear 2 will be priced at $299, while its close relative the Gear 2 Neo will run $199. If you want the Gear Fit, Samsung's take on a smartband or fitness band, you are looking at $199. Keep in mind that there are no contracts involved here - you pay those prices and you own them out right. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are Samsung's latest attempts at producing smartwatches. Both feature a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display, have interchangeable straps, are water resistant, can take calls, send text messages, and have all sorts of health-related apps built-in. The Gear 2 also has a camera, you know, for those creep shots you like to take so much. The Gear Fit is probably the coolest of the group, as a wearable device wit ha curved AMOLED display. It tracks all sorts of health-related activities, included your heart rate. You can see notifications on it, swap out bands, and potentially go without charging it for 3-4 days. If you buy a Galaxy S5 from AT&T, you can save yourselves some cash on purchases of the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo - $50 to be exact.

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Galaxy S5 Pre-orders Open Tomorrow at AT&T for $199

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:11:47 +0000

AT&T announced this morning that it will open up pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S5 starting tomorrow for $199 on-contract. Pre-orders can be made in-store or online, with shipments starting in "early April." That's right, no specific date has been set, but Samsung did mention April 11 during their big device unveiling back in February. If you'd like to buy the phone at full retail, you will pay $649. You could also join AT&T Next 18 or AT&T Next 12 and spread that cost out over equal monthly payments of $25 and $32.50 per month, respectively. In case you were wondering, this is the 16GB model, but it does support up to 128GB micro SD cards. AT&T will have both the black and white models. In a related deal, you can save $50 off of a Samsung Gear 2 or Gear 2 Neo when you buy a Galaxy S5 from AT&T. This promo ends June 5.

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Production of Google's Nexus 8 Tablet to Start Around July-August

Tim — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:28:19 +0000

According to IHS Technology, who recently spoke with CNET, Google is readying an 8.9" premium tablet device, with volume production set to take place in July or August. The price tag, as said by the source, will carry quite a bit of weight, as Google plans on packing top tier specs into the tablet. With price set to be over $299, IHS states that the production volume would be rather low in comparison to other tablets. The device, which we know as the Nexus 8, is reportedly manufactured by HTC. If HTC is indeed making the tablet, then this would mark the company's second opportunity to create a Nexus device alongside Google. No details were released as to what type of top tier specs we can expect, but it could be safe to assume we can expect no less than a Full HD display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a bit more on top of that. CNET also reports that a new Nexus 7 (2014) is in the works, but no contracts are known at this point. With that being said, there is no additional information as to which company is actually manufacturing the next Nexus 7. Let's hear your opinion - yay or nay for a Nexus 8 from Google and HTC?

Via: CNET

Drizly, the Alcohol Delivery App, Makes Its Android Debut

Kellen — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:21:53 +0000

An app that lets you order a bottle of alcohol and then track it as it is delivered within an hour (often within 20-40 minutes) to your front door? Why this has not already become the next global phenomenon, I do not know, but it has finally arrived on Android. It's called Drizly, and if you live in New York City or Boston, you can fill up your NCAA opening round weekend with driver-delivered booze at what the company describes as prices you pay in-person at the liquor store. The app doesn't look half bad, but since I live out west, am not able to fully enjoy it. From what I understand, you can order everything from liquor to beer to wine, and pay non-marked up prices. The app tracks orders as they make their way to you, shows you big beautiful images of your favorite beverages, and even lets you choose soft drinks (read: mixers). A map of the areas they serve can be found below. Play Link

The Droid Life Show: Episode 53

Kellen — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 23:15:15 +0000

Want to take a guess as to what we'll be talking about on tonight's episode of the Droid Life Show? If you said, "Android Wear," then you are correct. Google surprised us all yesterday with an unveiling of its new wearables platform that has already given us products to drool over from partners. We'll decide if Google has figured out a correct smartwatch UI and also share thoughts on the Moto 360 and LG G Watch. After we finish up with Android Wear, it's on to immediate availability of the HTC One following its press event, new QHD devices making rounds, our favorite apps and games of the moment, plus more. It should be another hefty show. We’ll be live at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). Join us live through the embeds below! If you can’t catch us live, be sure to subscribe through one of the various outlets listed.

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Cubed Snowboarding is a Retro Downhill Game, Flip From Cliffs and Crash Into Snowmen to Beat Your Friends

Rithvik — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:40:44 +0000

Folks on the hunt for mid-week entertainment, give Cubed Snowboarding a try. Navigating a retro-looking snowboarder through cliffs, around snowmen, and into flips, you must try to beat your friends' high scores while simultaneously having fun. A set of very basic controls is available; tap the top left and right parts of your screen to switch lanes, and use the controls on the bottom to control flips. When you need to make a turn, there isn't a special controller combination. Rather, you run into a blue thing that will steer you in the right direction. As the game progresses, more and more obstacles pop up. There are trees, halfpipes, and destructible snowmen to boot, and you'll be able to flip your way through all of this to gather XP to brag to your buddies about. Google Play Games integration is also present for leaderboards, which helps to see how the folks in your inner circles are performing in the game. Fans of retro, give this 99-center a nice long look. Play Link ($0.99)

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Wednesday Poll: What is Your Biggest Concern With Smartwatches?

Tim — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:13:19 +0000

The Moto 360 from Motorola has clearly taken the tech community by storm, as it is arguably one of the more beautiful devices ever previewed in the field. In a world filled with with rectangles and squares, the Moto 360 is a huge breath of fresh design-centric air, but a smartwatch's style isn't the only thing that has people wondering. Motorola is tight-lipped with regard to pricing and battery life on the device, and the same goes for LG's G Watch. As stated very well by one of Motorola's designers this morning in a Google Hangout, the first barrier you must break down with consumers is the look and design of the device. Once you have done that, it comes down to price and specifications. With that being said, we want to know which aspect of a smartwatch is most important to you, our readers. Does it need to be cheap? Does it need to last a full week without a charge? Must it feature a new Mirasol display? Let us know about your thought process behind purchasing a smartwatch below in the comments section. [poll id="293"]

Google Adds "Take a Picture" and "Take a Video" Voice Actions to Search

Rithvik — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:35:58 +0000

Many Android fans have been waiting for Google to integrate more system options and controls into Voice Search. While turning off WiFi with your voice is still unsupported (we wish it was), a new update for the official Google Search app has us one step closer to full voice integration. Following the update, users now have the ability to take pictures and record videos just by talking to their phone. To initiate the action in the Search app, all you have to say is "OK Google, take a picture," or "OK Google, record a video," and your camera app will automatically fire up. Still unsupported, however, is the ability to actually perform these tasks. Executing the "OK Google" command just launches the camera app, and user interaction is still required for the picture or video to be taken. For those of you with camera apps supporting picture taking with a keyword such as "cheese," you can now take a picture just by launching Google Search, saying the command, then stating the keyword. No hands required. Although, you may want to still hold your camera up to capture a good shot. The update looks to be server-side, as it is working for us on version 3.3.11.1069658 already. Go try this feature out, and let us know how it goes.

Via: +Google

Motorola Gallery Updated Through Google Play for Moto X, G, and DROIDs - More Design Tweaks and Actions

Rithvik — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:11:36 +0000

One of the subtle tweaks Motorola added to stock Android for its 2013 flagships was a different Gallery application. This is appreciable, considering stock Android's implementation isn't the greatest looking app we've seen these days. Motorola has made an effort to fix that with their rendition, with a hamburger style menu and better looking image thumbnails. Today's update brings an updated design and a couple under-the-hood improvements. First of all, you can now drag the scroll bar to run through your photos and videos more quickly -- photogs rejoice, you can finally now find those snaps from ages ago. You can also now see more pictures on one screen, making for a better experience as well. Those of you on a new DROID device who lost your notification bar now finally have it back, so checking your QuizUp challenges while taking in your beautiful photos shouldn't be an issue anymore. Rounding out the update is new behavior when you select the Albums view -- it will become the default view until you switch things back. Gallery version "200008" is now rolling out to all of Motorola's 2013 phones through Google Play, so sit tight as it makes its way to you. Play Link

OnePlus One to Feature Swappable Backs Made of Kevlar, Bamboo, Denim, and More

Tim — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:43:03 +0000

More info is popping up on the OnePlus One smartphone from overseas, as the company is actually feeding into the hypebeast machine instead of running from it. Announced this morning are swappable backsides, ones which will come in a variety of different textures/materials and colors. It will be much like the Moto X, except they are replaceable by users, and they won't be just colors. As stated in the company's forum post, where they do most of their announcements, the backs not only help protect your device, but will bring a flavor of personality to them. The backs confirmed so far are made of Bamboo, Denim, Kevlar, Sandstone, and Silk.

To ensure the best look, feel, and level of protection, these covers will actually be made with their own respective materials (not silk or sandstone though). Are you someone that drops your phone often? Why not get a tough, rugged Kevlar back cover for protection and durability? Do you want the feel of something soft and natural? How about an eye-catching, elegant bamboo back cover? Want a nice texture that feels like it will never slip out of your fingers? The known grit and feel that denim offers may be what you’re looking for.

Specs confirmed for the OnePlus One by the company are as follows.

Specs

Customized version of CyanogenMod
Sub $400 price tag
5.5" 1080p display
3100mAh battery,
13mp Sony Exmor camera
Snapdragon 800 CPU
Voice wakeup capabilities
Global LTE
16/64GB versions

We must say, this device is becoming more and more attractive as the days pass.

Via: OnePlus Forums

Here is a Recap of Motorola's Hangout Focused on the Moto 360

Tim — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:07:18 +0000

Motorola hosted a special Hangout this morning, featuring the lead designer behind the Moto 360 smartwatch. The discussion started off rather slow, with most of the time going into the fact that the watch's face is actually circular; not square as we are used to seeing in this sector of devices. Once we got past that point, we got into the viewer-submitted questions, concerning pricing, battery life, functionality, and more important topics. For the most part, Motorola was unable to answer any of the juicy details concerning the watch's price, expected battery life, although Moto's employees stated that focus on battery life was a top priority. Around the 11:30 mark in the video, the speaker begins talking about lessons learned with from the MotoActv and power management. As he states, the power management system from the Actv was a big part of the Moto X, and that all of the lessons learned from both devices on power management and sensors have gone into this watch. A few other neat things to take away from the Hangout is that Motorola has developed a "secret" charging method for the device, as it is known that the device features no ports for plugs or anything of that sort on its exterior. So, will it be a type of wireless charging system? Our guess is "yes." In addition, Motorola states that the watch will work with all Android devices running Android 4.3+, which means no one needs to worry about brand exclusivity. Other notes included that the watch is water resistant (not water proof), it will not feature a camera (dang, no nipple cam), and availability is slated to be global. We didn't get any real juicy details, but this is a good start. If you missed the Hangout, you can watch the recording below.

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Google Keyboard 3.0 Released, Adds Personalized Suggestions From Other Google Apps

Kellen — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:36:05 +0000

Google just pushed an update to Google Keyboard this morning, jumping the version up to 3.0.19373 from version 2.0. The update introduces a couple of tweaks, like an "ABC" button to get back to the keyboard from the emoji tab and a new Settings icon when long-pressing the mic button. The big update here, though, is new Personalized Suggestions. Upon first loading the keyboard, I was prompted with a line that read "Personalization is on. Touch for info." Once touched, a pop-up explained that the Google Keyboard uses data from other Google apps and services to improve suggestions and corrections. It also made it clear that this info is only stored on the device. Since the option is turned on initially, you'll need to turn it off if you don't want Google capturing your keyboard info as you use their suite of apps. You can do that through Settings (long-press the mic button), followed by an uncheck of the box next to "Personalized Suggestions." Play Link | Download Link

Reminder: Motorola is Talking Moto 360 Design in a Live Hangout Today

Kellen — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:13:43 +0000

Shortly after Motorola announced its new Moto 360 smartwatch, the (for now) Google-owned company told us to mark our calendars for a Google+ Hangout with the watch's lead designer, Jim Wicks. Wicks plans to talk only design and style features, most of which we know from yesterday's promo video and a couple of interviews that have spread around this morning. In other words, this won't be about price, specs, or software features - you know, the important stuff. The Hangout should be live any minute, though they seem to be having issue getting it up and live. Here is the event page. We'll update this post, hopefully with an embedded stream as soon as we have it. In the mean time, re-watch yesterday's introduction video and drool. Update: Video is live and below.

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HTC One (2014) Dummy Unit Compared to iPhone 5S, Galaxy S4, LG G2, and Others

Kyle — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:25:59 +0000

This morning, the world is getting yet another look and perspective on the HTC One (2014). Steve Hemmerstoffer, a French technology blogger, was able to get his hands on an HTC One (2014) dummy unit, posting comparison photos of the M8 unit alongside popular smartphones. The photos give a good idea of how the HTC One measures up to the iPhone 5S, Galaxy S4 and Note 3, the Sony Xperia Z1, and the LG G2. Its accentuated curves and height (it's taller than all but the Z1 and Notes 3) differentiate it from the rest, to say nothing of obvious standouts like the dual cameras and stereo speakers. Those considering upgrading to a One (2014) won't have to wait much longer. HTC is scheduled to announce the device next week, and will supposedly make it available for order immediately following the unveiling.

Gallery

Via: Not Anywhere Else

Blurone Wallpaper App Gives the Effect of Muzei, Minus the LWP Aspect

Tim — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:59:19 +0000

If you love the effect that the Muzei live wallpaper brings to your device, but get the feeling that a live wallpaper is no bueno for your device's battery, then Blurone is your new best friend. The main feature that Muzei brings to your homescreen is a blurred effect on any given wallpaper. If you double tap on the wallpaper, it comes into focus. It's a very simple, yet powerful feature. Blurone is even more simple, as all it does is blur your existing photos and wallpapers, but doesn't allow any type of tapping on them. It's just a static image on your homescreen. Once you select which image you would like to blur, you use a dial button to select the amount. Once selected, you can save the image to your gallery, and from there, set it as your wallpaper. Again, it's very simple, but adds a new element to any wallpaper you already have. The app is completely free and very straightforward. Go check it out. Play Link

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Sony Rolling Out Android 4.4 KitKat Upgrade for Select Xperia Devices

Kyle — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:31:41 +0000

All hail Android updates. Sony announced this morning that it finalized Android 4.4 Kit Kat firmware for the Xperia Z Utra, Xperia Z1, and Xperia Z1 Compact. According to the company, the update brings performance enhancements, tweaks to Sony's suite of applications, and the Xperia Themes theming engine. In terms of specifics, the Android 4.4-based firmware includes "more intuitive" and customizable status bar and Quick Settings. A new UI takes design cues from the PlayStation 4's OS, with an updated launch animation and live wallpaper. All of Sony's apps - which includes MyXperia, Smart Connect, TrackID, Sony Select, and the like - have been "improved." Finally, Xperia Themes has been integrated, allowing Xperia owners to select themes that switch up to 280 UI elements of their respective devices. Feeling left out, tablet and phablet owners? Don't worry quite yet. Sony said the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, and Xperia ZR, and Xperia T2 are next in line for the update. As far as when Xperia owners can expect to see the update, Sony only stated that timing and availability would vary by market and carrier. That's not exactly reassuring, but we can only hope to see the update stateside sooner rather than later.

Via: Sony

Oppo Find 7 Unveiled - 5.5" 2K Display, Snapdragon 801, and 50MP Photos

Tim — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:57:32 +0000

For those interested in checking out a phone with an insane set of specs, the Find 7 from Oppo has arrived this week. The device, which many rumored to be an absolute beast in the specs department, is nothing short of that. The device, which is now up for pre-order marked at ¥3498.00 ($565 USD according to Google) for the high-end model, features specs which we had initially hoped to see on the Galaxy S5. Real quickly, do note that there are four versions of the Find 7 as listed on Oppo's website. Two models feature a 5.5" 1080p display, as well as the same list of specs seen on the higher-end models. Since they are just 1080p though, we are going to focus on the other devices. The high-end variants of the Find 7 feature 5.5" QHD displays, with a resolution sitting at 2560 x 1440. For the mathematicians out here, that's 538ppi. A few may argue that any pixel density that high is indistinguishable to the human eye, but poo-poo to those party poopers. Beyond the crazy display, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset, features 3GB of RAM, a 13MP Sony sensor along its backside, 32GB of storage, a 3,000mAh battery, Gorilla Glass 3, microSD expansion with support up to 128GB, 4G LTE connectivity, capacitive touch keys (ouch), and comes shipped with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The interesting thing about the camera is its ability to shoot a still of up to 50MP. The way it achieves this is that the user snaps a still, in which the phone captures roughly 10 different images, then stitches them together into a huge photo. At "50MP," the end resolution is 8,160 x 6,120, perfect for your next billboard rental. To pre-order your very own superphone from overseas, click the link below.

Via: Oppo | Engadget

Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Chromecast Available in All Sorts of New Countries

Kellen — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:32:29 +0000

Last night, Google pushed forward on its quest to bring its range of hardware to other parts of the world outside the U.S. The Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 are now available in eight new countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. Google's HDMI dongle, the Chromecast, is now available in eleven new countries including Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. Retailers like Amazon, Google Play, Currys PC World, Elkjøp, FNAC, Saturn, and Media Markt will all carry it. And, yep.

Via: Chrome Blog | Google Support

Reminder: Join the DL Bracket Challenge 2014 and Win a Nexus 5!

Kellen — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 07:48:22 +0000

You joined the DL Bracket Challenge 2014, right? I'm hoping that only a handful of you answered with "no," but either way, here is a reminder to all. Our Droid Life group, which already has over 2,000 members, is only open for submissions for another 24 hours or so. The NCAA Tourney officially kicked off last night with a couple of play-in games, but you still have all day today to get your bracket submitted. Officially, you have up until about 9AM Pacific on Thursday morning. Why should you join? Well, because I need more people to dominate (kidding of course). Because there are fabulous prizes up for grabs, that's why. If you win, you'll walk away with a Nexus 5 32GB in any color, plus $100 in Google Play gift cards. And remember, you don't need to know a thing about basketball. Get in now!

Contest

ESPN Group: Droid Life 2014 Password: droidlife Prize: Winner takes home a Nexus 5 32GB from Google Play and $100 in Google Play gift cards. How to enter: 1. Entry is free. 2. Join the Droid Life group from above (create an ESPN account if you need to). 3. Fill out your bracket and submit before the games start Thursday (20th) morning. 4. There are games tomorrow and Wednesday, but you still have until Thursday before you need to be entered. 5. Winner with the highest total points following the NCAA Championship is our winner. 6. We use ESPN and their scoring system, along with their tiebreaker system. 7. This is a “winner takes all” competition. Two rules: 1. We use the “Locked” setting, which means you can’t swap out brackets once the competition starts. 2. We also only allow 1 entry per person. Winner: Our winner will be messaged through their ESPN account once the competition is over, so be sure you have notifications turned on there if you are in the running as we get close to the Final Four. Feel free to invite your friends and family members – the more competition, the more fun we have. Good luck, all! Apps: ESPN Tournament Challenge (manage your brackets) | NCAA March Madness Live (watch all games live)

AT&T Moto X Android 4.4.2 Update Approved as Build 165.44.1

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:25:02 +0000

The Android 4.4.2 update for the AT&T Moto X has been approved by all parties and should begin to rollout as build 165.44.1. A soak test for the update was scheduled to begin last week, so we'll just assume that went well. Motorola posted up the changelog for the update this afternoon, showing an identical update to the other carrier variants of the Moto X, in that it brought cloud printing, better battery life, and fixed an email sync issue. Well, there was one difference - the AT&T model "fixed a bug that caused data connectivity issues for AT&T Moto X users while traveling outside the US."

Via: Motorola

Qualcomm Acknowledges That Snapdragon Processors Will Power New Android Wear Products

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:51:12 +0000

Earlier this morning, Google announced that it had already been working with a handful of OEMs and chip makers on its new Android Wear platform. The list featured names like Motorola and LG, both of which have already announced products that will be available later this year. There were other big names included as well, though, like HTC, Samsung, Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek, and Qualcomm. We have yet to hear from all of these other players individually, but Qualcomm did drop a quick note this afternoon to confirm that "a number" of new Android Wear-based devices will run their Snapdragon processors. As you can imagine, they didn't specify the names of the OEM customers, but you can probably guess after looking at the original list of names again.

We’re excited to share that we’ve been working behind the scenes with Google, and our OEM customers, to enable the development of a number of Android Wear-based devices that will be powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processors.

No mention of Mirasol was included, and that has me a little disappointed. As you know, Mirasol is Qualcomm's display tech that is featured in the Toq smartwatch. It sips power, gets clearer in brighter light, and can remain on for days without the device needing a recharge. In my review, I called the Toq my favorite smartwatch of the moment, in large part because of the display. As we hear more from the rest of the names on the list, we'll be sure to pass the info along.

Via: Qualcomm

Justin Maller's Facets Wallpapers Redone for Mobile, Available Now Through Android App

Rithvik — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:16:31 +0000

Over the last year, a lot of us discovered Justin Maller, the Aussie artist who put out a high-quality wallpaper everyday for 365 days last year. Although his Facets wallpaper project concluded last year, the imagery lives on, and has now been retouched to look best on mobile. These wallpapers have become commonly chosen by members of the tech community, so it's safe to say that if there is one thing lacking from this app, it's probably not the quality of the art. The images, as previously mentioned, have been retooled by Maller himself to make up for the fact that the originals were designed for desktops. Wallpapers are organized by date of creation and the properties of an image, just in case there is that one you have to rock on your device. To apply an image, all you have to do is view it in full screen and then swipe upward. Swiping down will show you information about the picture, as well as let you purchase prints from the artist. The app is $0.99 without any in-app purchases. If you are a fan of the artist's desktop wallpapers, this companion app is a must have. Play Link ($0.99)

Video: Android Wear Hands-on and Tour

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:56:53 +0000

Today, has been 100% about Android Wear, Google's new wearables platform. We saw an announcement from Google, then LG and Motorola both make watches official, and then a developer preview go live. We spent the better part of the afternoon getting the preview up and running and are ready to show it to you now. After all, isn't that what we care about - how Android Wear will look and function on your wrist? So in the video below, you'll see how to interact with notifications, how to maneuver through the UI, how actionable buttons will look, ways to dismiss or manipulate an item, and more. Keep in mind that this is a developer preview, so it's pretty bare bones. You won't see "OK, Google" working or flashy clock faces. Those will come later. If you have any questions, let us know!

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Skype 4.7 for Android Looks to Give Your Battery a Breather

Eric — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:08:23 +0000

In a post today on their blog, the Skype team reminded us that it made a promise back in July of last year, to make Skype for Android a better experience. Today, only 7 months later, Skype says it is finally delivering on that promise in the form of making its application less taxing on your device's battery. Skype's eventual plan is for you to be able to leave Skype on all day in the background without ruining your battery. The team says that it has had to transform the way that Skype works fundamentally, and while the process isn't quite done yet, Android users can get benefits out of it today. Although, it will come with a cost. Starting in Skype 4.7, instant notifications in group messages will be turned off. This will be fixed in a future update, but to stop the battery drain on this application, they had to take it out temporarily. It can be turned on manually, but that defeats the purpose of the battery savings they have worked towards.

What's New

Workaround for the KitKat bug which caused a runaway process when the camera was synced in the background.
Fix for audio and video calling on tablets that do not have Bluetooth.
Now lists your Windows Live Messenger contacts in the Skype (default) view, not just the All contacts view.

The update is live for us in the Play Store now, but if you don't see it immediately, keep checking back over the course of today and tomorrow. Play Link

Via: Skype

Report: Google to Kill Off Voice Within Couple of Months, Functions to be Solely Handled by Hangouts

Tim — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:37:11 +0000

It was right around this time last year when news was breaking left and right that Google had ambitions to introduce a unified messaging service for its mobile and desktop platforms. At Google I/O in 2013, Google unveiled Hangouts, which connected all of the various chat and messaging services found in Gmail, Google+, and on Android devices into a single service. Hangouts later took over all SMS duties on vanilla Android devices, further solidifying its place as the umbrella messaging service Google wanted to create for its mobile OS. Back in May of 2013, it was confirmed by Google that Hangouts would in fact be the future of Google Voice, but we were never given a solid time frame. One post by a Googler indicated that it would take place sometime after May 15 of this year, which during the time leading up to that date, Google would be killing off third party apps that milked from Google Voice. According to the newest rumor from 9to5 Google, sources indicate that Hangouts will take over all of Voice's functions, without anyone losing their info/data/profile, in the next couple of months. With a timeline like that, it seems as if marking June 25 and 26 on your calendar for Google I/O 2014 is a mighty safe bet as to when this transition take place. Not only will Hangouts look to kill off Google Voice completely, but it sounds as if true VoIP functionality will come to the Android app as well, which would allow users to place and take calls over a data connection, without the need of a carrier network. Could it happen? Most definitely. Will it? We will have to wait and see.

Via: 9to5 Google

Samsung's Russian Twitter Teases New Level of Device, Being Announced Tomorrow

Eric — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:04:15 +0000

Today, we have had quite the number of announcements from Google and the gang, but Samsung seems to have a bit more left in store for us. Samsung's official Russian Twitter account has posted the image that you see above, with a quote that seems to hint at an entirely new device from the Korea-based manufacturer, ready for announcement on March 19, which is tomorrow. We are still waiting to get the Galaxy S5 in our hands after Samsung announced it a few weeks back, but today, the company's Twitter is teasing a "new level of device" (once translated through Google). The word "device" is a little heavy for something that is just an accessory to their existing line of devices, so what could it be? The bright color of the device in this picture is worth noting, as well as the 5 colored dots above the date. There are turquoise, pink, white, brown, and black dots. Are we in store for some type of custom color device? Something more fashion sensible for the ladies? At this point, your guess is as good as ours.

Via: GSMArena | @SamsungRU

Motorola Hosting Google Hangout Tomorrow at 11AM Pacific to Talk Moto 360

Tim — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:05:54 +0000

Tomorrow morning, Motorola will host a Google Hangout at 11am PST featuring Jim Wicks, the company's lead designer of the Moto 360 smartwatch. During the Hangout, preselected questions will be answered specifically regarding the smartwatch's design/style, and not actual operation of the device. Motorola unveiled the Moto 360 this morning, with a circular watch face, unlike many of the other designs we have seen released in the past. Most smartwatches, like the Pebble, Galaxy Gear, and Qualcomm Toq feature either square or rectangular faces. Motorola's take on a Android Wear smartwatch looks incredibly unique, so it should be a nice conversation to listen in on. We will be sure to post a link to the Hangout tomorrow, but to sign yourself up through Google+, you can do so right here.

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Via: +Motorola

Amazon to Launch Media Streaming Device in April

Kyle — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:38:23 +0000

The competition for the living room is heating up. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon's long-rumored streaming device is set for an April unveiling, and will carry the Fire name the company uses for its Kindle line of tablets. Although leaks regarding Amazon's media device have been largely unspecific, early reports indicated it would run a modified version of Android, and have access to a variety of streaming apps. More recent information suggests the device will come in a dongle form factor, include a remote control, and may retail with a gaming controller accessory. Despite intense competition in the set-top box space from established players Apple and Roku, Amazon believes its Prime membership offers a unique value proposition. The company licenses and commissions television shows and movies for streaming through its Prime Instant Video service, and is currently in talks with record companies about an on-demand music service. The Wall Street Journal said the device will go on sale both through Amazon and brick-and-mortar retailers like Best Buy and Staples, but was unable to nail down a launch price. Anyone interested in buying another media box, or are you all waiting on something better?

Via: Wall Street Journal

Moto 360 in 360 Degrees [GIFs]

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:19:22 +0000

Motorola just announced what can only be described as the most gorgeous smartwatch to date, the Moto 360. If you ask me, the rest can all be thrown out - Moto has won me over. They gave us a watch that looks like a classic timepiece, yet is smart and runs Android. It's not some completely off-track take on the future. It's not trying to be edgy or trendy or a reinvention. It reminds me of a timepiece I would actually purchase, smart features aside. Now, there are still plenty of things that could ruin it, like lousy battery life or a crazy steep price tag. For now, though, I'm on-board. And with that, I've found myself staring at the 360-degree images that Motorola posted, plus the official press renders. This thing really is beautiful. So, because I'd imagine a few of you might like to watch these watches go round-and-round, we have included them in GIF formats below. Enjoy.

Moto 360 in Metal

Moto 360 in Leather

Oh, and because they are also gorgeous, here are the official press images for each model.

Via: Motorola

Tuesday Poll: Are You Going to Buy an Android Wear Smartwatch?

Tim — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:05:55 +0000

With Google's announcement of the Android Wear platform for smartwatches this morning, we can see that Google's vision for what a smartwatch should be is exciting to many of you. Two companies have already unveiled their plans for bringing Android Wear to the market - the Moto 360 from Motorola and the G Watch from LG. Other companies including HTC, Samsung, and even Fossil have announced partnerships with Google to bring Android Wear to the market. With that being said, it's time for us to gauge who among us plans on dropping cash as soon as they hit the market. As for when that will be, LG states that the G Watch should launch in Q2 of this year, and Motorola states the Moto 360 will be available "this summer." Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section below. [poll id="292"]

Beautiful Widgets Update to Version 5.6 Brings New Widgets

Tim — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:28:02 +0000

An update to Beautiful Widgets, one of the longest running widget apps available for Android, has an update to version 5.6 this morning. In the update, users will be happy to see a new selection of widgets, which focus more on looks than adding any type of "new" functionality to the widget's purpose. In addition to new widgets, the app received a few bug fixes, as well as a new "color picker," which will help users get that perfect look for the current theme they are running on any given device. The update is now live for both the paid and freemium versions of the app. Head on over to Google Play to check it out. Play Links: Pro ($2.69) | Free

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Via: @levelupstudio

Motorola Announces Moto 360, A Smartwatch Powered by Android Wear

Kyle — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:52:33 +0000

Hot on the heels of Google's release of the Android Wear preview SDK, Motorola has announced a smartwatch powered by Android's UI for wearables dubbed the Moto 360. The device's hardware evokes a classic timepiece, with a premium metal body and a visually stunning round display. On the software front, the Moto 360 will feature the standard array of Google Now elements - like "Ok Google" voice commands and contextual cards - central to Android Wear, in addition to a wrist-twisting gesture which will allow you to quickly view e-mail, call, and appointment notifications. Pricing and release details on the device are scarce, but Motorola is aiming for a Summer 2014 launch window. For those interested in the Moto 360 (and who isn't?), head on over to Motorola's website to sign up for more info. [responsive_vid]

Via: Motorola

Android Wear Developer Preview Now Available

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:48:14 +0000

Developers, your Android Wear developer preview is now available. We already showed you Android Wear in action, but in order to get your own apps ready for that type of experience, Google is letting you get in on the action early. The dev preview - once you sign up - will get you into an emulator that will let you preview how your notifications will look on both square and round Android wearables. That's right, we are getting multiple shapes, including a round watch from Motorola dubbed the Moto 360. The preview also includes new Android Wear APIs, so that you can "customize and extend notifications to accept voice replies, feature additional pages, and stack with similar notifications." Sign up to be a part of the preview here. You'll also find the Android Wear developers community on Google+ here. Check out the intro to Android Wear developer features below.

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Via: Android Developers

LG Introduces G Watch, Smartwatch Powered By Android Wear Coming Q2

Tim — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:40:09 +0000

If you thought you would have to wait a year or more to see Android Wear on your wrist, how does Q2 of this year sound? Announced right after Google unveiled Android Wear this morning, its Android-powered smartwatch platform, LG has given us a glimpse of the G Watch. LG claims the G Watch will launch in Q2 of this year (Google I/O?), as the company has been working closely with Google to make sure the smartwatch hardware worked perfectly with the newly-announced platform. To put concerns of exclusivity to rest, LG claims the G Watch will work with a large range of Android devices, which means LG won't be limiting availability to a select line of devices. Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications, spoke on the partnership with Google to bring the G Watch to life.

The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering. With the LG G Watch, LG is continuing the milestones we’ve set in wearables following in the foot-steps of the world’s first 3G Touch Watch Phone in 2009 and the Prada Link in 2008. We’re confident that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.

LG has yet to release any specs for the watch, but state that more info will be made available in the coming months.

Via: LG

Video: See Android Wear in Action on a Watch That Doesn't Look Like It's From the Future

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:26:03 +0000

In the press release for Google's new wearables platform, called Android Wear, they talked about a developer preview that can be downloaded by developers who want to get their apps ready for live action on wrists. They also released a video for the developer preview, which just so happens to show a watch in action (or at least a video rendering of how it could work). You get a full preview of the UI, how the card-style information is presented, navigated through, what happens when you say "OK, Google" to perform an action, and how quickly you can reply using your voice to something like a Hangouts message. Oh, and the best part may be that Google is showing how Android Wear would look and work on a watch that well, looks like a watch, not something out of the future. Reminder to OEMs, just because you are making technology a bigger part of our lives, doesn't mean we need our lives to look like a sci-fi flick. To see Android Wear in action, you can jump to the 58-second mark, though I would recommend watching the whole clip below.

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Google Announces Android for Wearables, Dubbed "Android Wear" - Very Google Now-powered

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:07:20 +0000

Well, Google just unwrapped it's new wearables SDK, along with a video preview of their vision for Android in products on your body. It's called Android Wear, and yes, it's certainly just like Google Now, in that it provides you with information as you need it or as it happens in a card-style format. Google is starting first with watches, but as Android boss Sundar Pichai already said, watches are only the beginning. Through Android Wear, you can ask your watch questions with an "OK, Google" command, monitor your fitness, control other devices from your wrist, and of course, see timely info and suggestions "right when you need them." Google is claiming that they created a new UI specifically for wearables that is based around contextual information, along with your voice. Here are the highlights:

Useful information when you need it most. Android Wear shows you info and suggestions you need, right when you need them. The wide variety of Android applications means you’ll receive the latest posts and updates from your favorite social apps, chats from your preferred messaging apps, notifications from shopping, news and photography apps, and more.
Straight answers to spoken questions. Just say “Ok Google” to ask questions, like how many calories are in an avocado, what time your flight leaves, and the score of the game. Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm.
The ability to better monitor your health and fitness. Hit your exercise goals with reminders and fitness summaries from Android Wear. Your favorite fitness apps can give you real-time speed, distance and time information on your wrist for your run, cycle or walk.
Your key to a multiscreen world. Android Wear lets you access and control other devices from your wrist. Just say “Ok Google” to fire up a music playlist on your phone, or cast your favorite movie to your TV. There’s a lot of possibilities here so we’re eager to see what developers build.

Google is already working with manufacturers Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung, along with chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek, and Qualcomm. Fashion brands like Fossil may make the first watches available later this year. Check out the video below to see Android Wear in action.

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Via: Official Android Blog

Paranoid Android ROM Announces Active Display-like Feature Called Peek

Tim — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:39:35 +0000

Late last evening, when most folks were already snoozing, the Paranoid Android team announced Peek, an Active Display-like feature, much like you would find on the Moto X. Since the Moto X's release, many ROMs and applications on Google Play have attempted to recreate Motorola's magic with the feature. One which has caught our attention for a few weeks is AcDisplay. Anyone not rooted and ROM'ing can go ahead and check that app out. Making Peek standout from the pack, after the device receives a notification, it will go into a type of listening mode for 10 seconds following the notification. If the device detects noise or motion, like taking it out of your pocket or picking it up from a desk, the device's display will turn on with a minimalist UI, displaying your notification. To see Peek in action, watch the video below.

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Via: +Paranoid Android

"All New HTC One" to be Available Minutes After HTC Announces It on March 25

Kellen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:05:15 +0000

We talked at length recently during a DL Show about how we were starting to wonder if HTC would try to release the "All New HTC One" to the public, the same day that they unveiled it. That day, as you know, is going to be March 25 (next Tuesday). According to Carphone Warehouse, a UK electronics retailer, they are indeed going to make the phone available for purchase at six of their London stores just minutes after HTC unveils it to the press. Carphone Warehouse didn't mention specs or anything else in the release, this note was simply created to say that the phone will be available on "announcement day." Customers can pre-register their interest in the device today. At this time, we have no word from U.S. retailers, but with press events being held in both London and NYC, there is always a chance that we'll see something similar happen in NYC or online or in select markets. So much for HTC missing out an opportunity to launch the new One before Samsung released their Galaxy S5. It looks like they'll clear Sammy by a couple of weeks.

All New HTC One Available From Carphone Warehouse From 25th March Announcement Day
March 18th, 2014 London, 18.03.14: In a retail first move, Carphone Warehouse has revealed that the new HTC One (M8) handset will be available from selected stores from around 4pm on Tuesday 25th March – just minutes after it is officially announced. The new HTC flagship device will be officially unveiled by the manufacturer at special events in London and New York earlier that afternoon. Shortly after, the new HTC One (M8) handsets will be transported directly from the venue of the launch announcement to six Carphone Warehouse stores in London. Westfield Stratford, Westfield White City, Oxford Circus, Centrepoint and Tottenham Court Road stores will all be hosting special events celebrating the HTC launch with entertainment and giveaways as well as the first chance for customers to get their hands on the new device. Carphone Warehouse at Selfridges will also be stocking the handset from the same time. Full information including videos of the new handset will be shared on http://www.carphonewarehouse.com and customers will be able to order the HTC One (M8) over the phone from the same afternoon, before it is available from all 770 Carphone Warehouse stores and to order online shortly afterwards. A Carphone Warehouse spokesperson comments, “The HTC One is an award winning handset that set the bar for design during 2013 and made many sit up and take notice – the new HTC One M8 is likely to continue that trend and will cement HTC’s future as a heavy-hitting smartphone manufacturer. We know how keen customers are to get hold of the latest tech as soon as possible and that is why we are so excited to be able to offer the new HTC One so quickly after it is unveiled.” Customers can pre-register their interest in the new HTC One (M8) now at http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/help-support/advice-and-news/news/launchpad-rumours/htc-rumours

Via: Carphone Warehouse

Google Play Services 4.3 Rolling Out - Includes APIs for Game Gifts, Analytics, Drive, and More

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:05:09 +0000

This morning, Google announced all sorts of new Google Play Games-relate goodies like Game Gifts, that allows players to send virtual in-game objects to fellow players. But what good are new goodies without APIs for developers to use to build them in? This afternoon, Google is giving us a Google Play Services update to v4.3 that introduces all sorts of APIs. We're talking Analytics and Tag Manager APIs now being incorporated into Google Play services as a "first class citizen," Game Gifts API, updates to the Drive API (pinning, app folders, change notifications, etc.), and an Address API. The Google Play Services 4.3 update is rolling out worldwide as you read this. Play Link The dirty details of all of these new tools can be found below.

Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager The Analytics API and Google Tag Manager has existed for Android for some time as standalone technologies, but with this release we are incorporating them as first class citizens in Google Play services. Those of you that are used to the API will find it very similar to previous versions, and if you have not used it before we strongly encourage you to take a look at it. Google Analytics allows you to get detailed statistics on how you app is being used by your users, for example what functionality of your app is being used the most, or which activity triggers users to convert from an advertised version of an app to paid one. Google Tag Manager lets you change characteristics of your app on-the-fly, for example colors, without having to push an update from Google Play. Games Services Update The furious speed of innovation in Android mobile gaming has not slowed down and neither have we when it comes to packing the Google Play game services API with features. With this release, we are introducing the Game Gifts API, which allows players to send virtual in-game requests to anyone in their Google+ circles or through player search. Using this feature, the player can send a 'wish' request to ask another player for an in-game item or benefit, or a 'gift' request to grant an item or benefit to another player. This is a great way for a game to be more engaging by increasing cross player collaboration and social connections. We are therefore glad to add this functionality as an inherent part of the Games API, it is an much-wanted extension to the multi-player functionality included a couple of releases ago. For more information, see: Unlocking the power of Google for your games. Drive API The Google Drive for Android API was just recently added as a member of the Google Play services API family. This release adds a number of important features:

Pinning - You can now pin files that should be kept up to date locally, ensuring that it is available when the user is offline. This is great for users that need to use your app with limited or no connectivity

App Folders - An app often needs to create files which are not visible to the user, for example to store temporary files in a photo editor. This can now be done using App Folders, a feature is analogous to Application Data Folders in the Google Drive API

Change Notifications - You can now register a callback to receive notifications when a file or folder is changed. This mean you no longer need to query Drive continuously to check if the data has changed, just put a change notification on it

In addition to the above, we've also added the ability to access a number of new metadata fields Address API This release will also includes a new Address API, which allows developers to request access to addresses for example to fill out a delivery address form. The kicker is the convenience for the user; a user interface component is presented where they select the desired address, and bang, the entire form is filled out. Developers have been relying on Location data which works very well, but this API shall cater for cases where the Location data is either not accurate or the user actually wants to use a different address than their current physical location. This should sound great to anyone who has done any online shopping during the last decade or so. That’s it for this time. Now go to work and incorporate these new features to make your apps even better! And stay tuned for future updates.

Via: Android Developers

Flyne Offline Reader Gets Improved UI, New Features in Update

Rithvik — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:33:22 +0000

While Feedly may have a bit of a monopoly over news reading apps, that doesn't mean there aren't underdogs out there. Flyne was announced as a bit of a different take on the classic reader, as it pulls content from Twitter rather than the traditional RSS syndication. Selecting topics of interest pulls Tweets from Twitter accounts known for expertise in the area, and presents those articles in an easy-to-read manner. Its latest update brings a bevy of enhancements, including smoother transitions and animations and an overall polished look. Users can now double tap to close articles and mark said articles as read while scrolling. There is also a new list-based navigation setting which can be toggled in the display settings menu, and a refreshed layout for tablets. Apart from that, the rest of the update is made up of basic UI improvements such as a new transition animation and faster article preloading. The app remains free on Google Play, but beware the in-app purchases if you want to add Feedly integration, a Twitter account, or the ability to download your feeds as offline magazines.

What's New

New list based navigation, with big or small article previews (toggle it in the display settings)
Polished looks for both day and night themes
Double tap to close article
Zoomable, downloadable images
Mark as read while you scroll
Feedly two way sync
New tablet layout
Faster preloading of articles
Smoother navigation
New transition animation
Many bug fixes

Play Link

Software Test Drive Incoming for RAZR HD, Hoping It's Kit Kat

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:00:53 +0000

Motorola confirmed back in November that it would bring a Kit Kat (Android 4.4) update to the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, and RAZR M, but we're four months removed from that announcement and haven't seen any movement towards new software pushing. Or did we just get exactly what we needed to see? Select members of Motorola's Feedback Network (MFN) received invites within the last 24 hours to "test drive" something. The invite doesn't say "software" like a normal soak test invite, but I can't imagine we aren't talking software here. The MFN email mentions that this invite isn't going out to just anyone, and is instead going to select users who have provided quality feedback in the past. That sounds to me like we are testing software before even a soak test can be ready. Here is the email:

Subject: MFN Test Drive RAZR HD 2014 reg. Hi. Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. This particular invitation is not going to everyone. We are reaching out to you because you have demonstrated that you are willing and able to provide quality feedback on Motorola software. If you are interested in a special Motorola Feedback Network opportunity, please click this link: This link is uniquely tied to this survey and your email address. Please do not forward this message. Thanks for your participation! Matt (Forums Manager) Motorola Owners' Forum Motorola Feedback Network

Motorola had no problems updating their new DROID line, along with the Moto X, to Kit Kat because they all run near-stock Android. Last year's RAZR line (HD, MAXX HD, and M) all run the company's previous Blur efforts. While it became less invasive with those phones, it's likely not as easy to update as the software running on their 2013 phones. Maybe for that reason alone, Motorola is needing to take a slightly different approach this time around. As we know more, we'll be sure to let you know. I can imagine that 2012 DROID owners are ready for their update.

Cheers _, _, and ___!

Possible Samsung Galaxy Beam 2 Goes Through Certification

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:48:28 +0000

Could it be possible? A new Galaxy Beam is in the works from Samsung? If you don't recall the original Galaxy Beam, we don't blame you, as the device didn't see much action here in the US, and we can probably expect the same from any type of sequel. Regardless of its past, it appears as though a Galaxy Beam 2 recently underwent certification in China, on its way to one of the country's mobile providers. The Galaxy Beam features a built-in projector, perfect for those among us who need to set up an impromptu board meeting at a local Starbucks coffee shop. Besides the built-in projector, this device doesn't seem to have much else going for it. Specs include a 4.66" display with a WVGA resolution, a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP rear-facing shooter, and comes running Android 4.2.2. No word on what the projector's specs will exactly be, but again, I wouldn't hope on seeing this land in the US anytime soon.

Via: GSM Arena

Facebook Announces Messenger Beta Testing Program, Go Sign Yourself Up

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:58:08 +0000

This afternoon, Facebook announced a new beta testing program, specifically for Facebook Messenger. For months, there has already been an official Facebook beta app for users, but this is the first time they have also opened it up to the Messenger side of things. The beta, as Google has been doing with its staged rollouts for months, will act as a first line of defense against problematic bugs that get pushed through the app. Updates will go out to this select group of folks, and if there are issues, Facebook will have an easy time narrowing down problems and releasing fixes before the update is sent to the masses on Google Play. Not only should you expect to see bugs and wacky app behavior, but you may also be first in line to see new features. Beta testing apps definitely has its ups and downs.

The beta program will provide us with an early warning system that will help make everyone's experience with the app better, once we push it more broadly. Also, since Messenger is all about private sharing and small groups communication, the beta program will give us another channel to understand what kinds of sharing tools resonate with people using Messenger.

If you are willing to help out Big Brother, go sign up and download the beta app from Google Play by following the link provided below. Sign up here.

Via: Facebook

Best NCAA March Madness Apps for Android: 2014

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:01:51 +0000

March Madness and the NCAA men's basketball tournament kick off this week, which you already knew since you joined the DL NCAA Bracket Challenge. But, you may not know exactly how you should be following all of the action. Don't worry, just like last year, we have you covered with a list of the best apps that will let you track brackets, see the latest news and scores, and even watch games live. From ESPN to CBS to Yahoo, all of the best apps can be found below. If there are three apps that I could recommend, it would be the first three on the lists. One lets you watch live games, another will help you keep track of your bracket in the DL Challenge, and a third is a must-have for sports scores.

NCAA March Madness Live (Play Link): This is a must have app for all NCAA March Madness lovers. With the NCAA March Madness Live app, you can watch every single game (all 67 of them) live, for free. Well, a TV subscriber login is is required after a short preview period, but assuming most of you have TV, that shouldn't be a problem. The app seems to be greatly improved (we'll see on Thursday morning), lets you view your official Capitol One NCAA bracket, set notifications for games, and read news on the tourney.
ESPN Tourney Challenge (Play Link): Since you joined the DL Bracket Challenge, and we use ESPN to run the show, you should probably install this app. It's free, only requiring that you login with your ESPN account to check your bracket or status in our group.
theScore (Play Link): You won't be able to manage your bracket through theScore, but a dedicated NCAA Tournament section in bracket form makes it incredibly easy to follow scores and games as they roll-on through the week. This has been my go-to sports app over the last year, so I'm excited to see how they handle March Madness.
Yahoo Sports and Tourney Pickem (Play Link): This app used to be called Yahoo's Sportacular, but it appears to have been renamed for the Tourney. Yahoo will let you create a bracket or sign-in to view yours upon first launch. Yahoo (outside of ESPN) is largely thought to be the next best fantasy sports or pick'em locations on the web. If you aren't using ESPN for your bracket groups, this is the app to have.
CBS Sports (Play Link): This app is well designed, general sports app that has a dedicated NCAA Tourney section. You can check your CBS brackets, read up on regional previews through News, check live scores, see spreads, follow specific teams, and make better selections through their Bracket Stats section.
ESPN SportsCenter (Play Link): This app is mostly garbage these days, but it's ESPN and they'll have plenty of NCAA Tourney coverage to gobble up. From news to scores, it's certainly an app to have hovering around your phone if any of the others aren't doing the trick.
NCAA Sports (Play Link): This isn't a Tourney specific app, but it is a well made app for following all college sports. You can pick your favorite schools, sort by sport, and see all of the NCAA Men's basketball news as you need it. It's made by the same folks who designed the March Madness Live app.
365 Sports (Play Link): Hasn't been updated yet for the Tournament, but it has been good in the past. You may want to keep an eye on it.

Any others you would recommend?

Rovio Working on an RPG Called Angry Birds Epic, Here's the Trailer

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:25:33 +0000

A week or so ago, Rovio began teasing and soft releasing a new Angry Birds title, named Angry Birds Epic. The game is already available for those of you who live in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, but for the rest of us, we are still waiting to see what exactly to expect from AB: Epic. From what we see in the trailer for the game that was released today, it's a role-playing game, one which will take your forces of either birds or piggies, and then pit them against one another in a fictional world where these things are plausible. Weapons and characters appear to be upgradable, much like in any other RPG title for desktop or mobile devices. The graphics as you would expect from Rovio, are quite cartoony, falling right in line with other Angry Birds and Bad Piggies titles. While the premise is cute, there are certainly a few among us that wouldn't mind seeing Angry Birds go the way of Flappy Bird. Gone forever...maybe.

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Walk and Work at the Same Time With Nameless ROM's "On-The-Go" Mode

Kyle — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:32:41 +0000

Admit it - at some point, you have tried to use your phone and walk at the same time. It's a behavior that every smartphone owner probably engages in at some point or another, but really shouldn't; it's rude at the least, and can be downright dangerous at the worst. For those who can't seem to momentarily avert their eyes from their smartphone, though, there are apps and features that aim to make simultaneous walking and working a bit less precarious. One the coolest implementations we have seen is from the makers of Nameless ROM. Called On-The-Go-Mode, it uses transparency and camera data to keep you aware of where you are walking. On-The-Go-Mode, which is toggle-able via the Nameless ROM settings menu, adds adjustable translucency to the Android UI and replaces backgrounds with a real-time feed from your phone's rear-facing camera. Even if it doesn't necessarily help you avoid collisions between pedestrians and cracks in the pavement, the visual effect is pretty darn cool. Nameless ROM currently supports more than a dozen devices, including the LG G2, Nexus 5, and other devices from LG and Samsung. Be forewarned that the steps required to install it on your smartphone will most certainly void your warranty. To see if your device is supported, head on over the ROM's main website.

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Via: XDA

Cheers, Jason!

Pocket Casts Updated on Google Play to Support Chromecast Streaming

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:00:12 +0000

For anyone who takes their podcasts on the go, Pocket Casts received an update on Google Play recently, bringing with it support for Chromecast. Now, anyone who wants to listen to their favorite podcasts from the comfort of their couch in the living room may do so. In the update, which is version 4.5, users can also rearrange their queue of podcasts, thanks to an editable Up Next Playlist. Users will also see a somewhat updated UI, which even picks up on the colors of the podcast. How it does that, I do not know, but apparently it does. Pocket Casts is one of the more expensive solutions for podcast problems, running at $3.99. However, for the price, you can rest assured that they have a team of hard-working developers, consistently bringing you the best possible way to stream your podcasts from an Android device. If you haven't already, go grab the update. If you are interested in trying the app out, go do so. Play Link ($3.99)

Godzilla "Smash3" Stomping Its Way to Android This May

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:46:25 +0000

Unless you live under a rock or simply don't care, a new Godzilla movie is on the horizon. Scheduled for theatrical release this May, it appears as if a new movie isn't the only thing fans of the fire-breathing monster can look forward to. Teased this morning, development team Rogue Play announced that the Godzilla Smash3 game will make an iOS and Android debut around the same time as the movie. While a new Godzilla game is always welcomed, I think most people might be a bit disappointed in what type of game it is set to be. Unlike other Gojira games where you play as our hero, smashing cities and destroying other monsters, it appears that you will play a Bejeweled-like puzzle game, and if you are good at the colored challenges, you get to smash buildings. The game will feature 3D graphics, so at least that is a start. The monster does look quite good, but let's be honest, a jewel puzzle game is not something we'd expect from Godzilla. Does he have time for puzzles? No way. All he thinks about is destroying the world. Fans of Godzilla's true nature would be much happier with a kill 'em all type of game, but unfortunately, we aren't the people developing the game. To get a better sense of what to expect in May, watch the teaser trailer below.

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Via: Rogue Play

HTC Posts Final Episode of Technical Translations, Focuses on Zoes

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:15:54 +0000

The fourth and final Technical Translation from HTC is on YouTube, this time focusing on Zoes, HTC's photo/video sharing platform built into the company's camera software. Zoes were introduced last year, as a neat way to capture more of life's moments. For example, if you went to a concert the night before and were snapping a lot of pictures with Zoes turned on, the One would take up to 20 photos and a 3-second video at once. The device would then stitch together its creation and save itself to the gallery for sharing later on. The new video seems to claim that something new is coming to Zoes in the One (2014), but we will need to wait for March 25 to get a real sense of what HTC has in store. I don't know if this happened to anyone else, but don't these two guys in the video remind you of the Windows vs Mac commercials? One is a hip dude who totally understands today's youth. The other is a nerdy-type guy, who takes more comfort in his Excel sheets and technical wizardry. Just thought I should throw that out there. Check out the video below.

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Amazon Appstore Hosting Third Birthday Celebration, Save Money on Select Apps and Games

Tim — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 10:50:39 +0000

What a shocker, the Amazon Appstore is now three years old. When first launched, the Android community embraced it with complete open arms, maybe because they were giving away free awesome apps every day But over the years, our stance with the Appstore has changed somewhat dramatically. After the Appstore was updated with a new UI (August '12), a bug inside the app was draining batteries like crazy (November '12). Following that mess, Amazon fixed the issue, but there were plenty of people who had already decided to abandon the app. It's now 2014, with the Appstore still growing and apparently thriving. Coming pre-installed on a few Android devices, and still the heart and soul of Amazon's Kindle lineup, we doubt the Appstore is going anywhere anytime soon. To celebrate the third birthday of the Appstore, Amazon is listing a few apps as free, but they are apparently focusing on "coin-back" in-app purchases. Think of these purchases like a cash-back card - you purchase an IAP in an app, but Amazon will refund you 50% of the purchase in the form of Amazon Coins, which can then be used inside of their own store. In essence, all of your money is still going to Amazon and developers, but at least your initial IAP is discounted.

As an added bonus, for a limited time, customers who buy in-app items within select titles including Asphalt 8, Animal Voyage, Kingdoms of Camelot, The Hobbit, Sonic Dash, World at Arms and Despicable Me: Minion Rush will receive 50% back on the purchase price in the form of Amazon Coins.

To get your hands on a few of these deals, even though that means you have to open the Amazon Appstore, follow the link below.

Via: Amazon

Top 5 Muzei Live Wallpaper Extensions: March 2014

Rithvik — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 10:20:27 +0000

Here at DL, we have become fans of Roman Nurik's latest creation, the Muzei live wallpaper. It lets us forget all of those hours of heated internal debate on deciding which wallpaper looks the hottest, and has essentially claimed its rightful place on most of our home screens. Yet still, Nurik has only partially solved the whole problem with his newest app, because even now, we have to decide between hordes of different third party Muzei extensions, a problem I think we don't mind having. The app displays wallpapers in such a beautiful way and there are so many good extensions already, that it's quite fun seeing each outdo each other. Which are the best five for the month of March? Let's check them out.

1. MultiMuze

MultiMuze has easily become my favorite Muzei extension, because of the fact that it really isn't fundamentally one. What MultiMuze does is allow for the use of multiple extensions, in case you're like me and can't simply choose one source of wallpapers. It comes with customization settings allowing you to choose the intervals for which your source changes, and also which of your sources to use when shuffling them. I haven't personally experienced any issues while using MultiMuze, so this guy right here is my absolute favorite extension for Muzei at the moment. And it's even free. Play Link

2. Muzei Music Extension

With the launch of Android 4.4 "Kit Kat," we saw the introduction of lock screen album artwork. Basically, when you are playing music on a Kit Kat device, it will replace your lock screen wallpaper with your current album's cover picture. This has actually become very handy for many of us, and it's certainly one of the features I miss when I switch to my Xperia Z1, which is still stuck on Jelly Bean. Muzei Music looks to bring the same feature to your home screen, but with a few cool enhancements as well. First of all, you can select an image for Muzei to use as your wallpaper when you aren't playing music, so you aren't forced to stare at a black screen when not playing music. Second, you can automatically download artwork for songs you don't have images for from Last.fm, and tweak settings for this so as to change the resolution of downloaded artwork and set it to not download over a mobile data connection. Be sure to know that this is probably not the best extension to use with MultiMuze in case you were looking into that, as that will cause this extension to only come up sporadically. Also, some music players require notification access and a specific version of Android to function correctly, but this shouldn't be too much of a worry -- in case it doesn't work with your music player of choice, it was free anyway. Play Link

3. Cast for Muzei

Chromecast owners, you know those pretty backgrounds your device shuffles through when you're not using it? It turns out there's a legitimate source for those pictures, and developers can even tap into them to add them for viewing on Muzei. There are no settings to be tweaked here whatsoever -- your wallpaper background will behave just as Chromecast's, and should even update at the same time. Check this free extension out. Play Link

4. Taskei - Tasker for Muzei

For those of you who can't live without an insane amount of customization, Tasker has had your back for the longest time. Now, here it is, available on Muzei to seriously refine when, where, and why certain sources should trigger. Now, I'm not going to pretend to be a Tasker maestro here, but it shouldn't be too difficult to set situations up where certain sources only trigger when your phone is on WiFi, has headphones connected, or it is a certain time of day. I wouldn't recommend this one to everyday users, but for those of you who can't live without really digging in and customizing the heck out of everything, give this one a peek. Play Link

5. Muzei - Reddit

For those of you who spend all eternity on Reddit (shoutout to r/Android!), for the sexy wallpapers or otherwise, it may please you to know that you can now get all of those new subreddit pictures as wallpapers on your device. You basically either choose from a list of subreddits or add your own, as many as you'd like, and the extension will cycle through them. I recommend using r/earthporn, r/spaceporn, r/apodstream, r/wallpapers, and r/exposureporn for an optimum hot wallpaper effect. This one is also available as a free download. Play Link

Honorable Mentions

Muzei Hash
Flickr for muzei
Kovdev Icon Packs
Cryten - ($0.99)
APOD Muzei
500px for Muzei

So, that's all we have got for this month. Be sure to ping us if you see any Muzei extensions you would like to see in our next roundup!

Sprint Expands 4G LTE Network to 20 New Markets, Spark to 20 Cities

Kyle — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:54:35 +0000

Sprint's 4G LTE network keeps on growing. Today, the wireless carrier announced that it's bringing LTE to 20 new markets. Also, Sprint said it plans to expand Spark and HD Voice to Provo, Utah, and Trenton, N.J., later this year. The expansion should help Sprint reach its LTE coverage goal of 250 million people by mid-year, and the wider availability of Sprint Spark - 20 cities after today's additions - will certainly make its revamped prepaid plans with Spark access more appealing. Here's the list of newly-covered cities:

Bakersfield, Calif.
Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk, Conn.
El Centro, Calif.
Hot Springs, Ark.
Kenosha, Wis.
Lancaster, Pa.
Mason City, Iowa
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Nogales, Ariz.
Ocean City, N.J.
Omaha, Neb.
Peoria, Ill.
Prov/Orem, Utah
Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Shawnee, Okla.
Trenton/Ewing, N.J.
Visalia/Porterille, Calif.
Willimantic, Conn.
Zanesville, Ohio

Via: Sprint

Deal: Best Buy Selling Nexus 7 (2013) With LTE for $299

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:24:24 +0000

Best Buy is currently selling the Nexus 7 (2013) with LTE for $299, $50 off its retail price. This is the same tablet that Verizon now sells for $349 or $49 on-contact. This is also the same Nexus 7 (2013) with LTE that can be purchased on Google Play and will work with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Big Red's LTE networks. For $299, and with LTE connectivity on those three carriers, you can't really beat the value. Best Buy Link

Cheers Scott and Stephen!

Google Hangouts is Currently Down. (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:19:20 +0000

Again, it's not you, it's Google. Hangouts is currently down, though the apps status dashboard doesn't reflect the situation. Update 9:36AM: Google has updated their dashboard to show that there is a service interruption. They are "investigating reports of an issue with Google+ Hangouts" and "will provide more information shortly."

Update 9:49AM: The Google Voice site is also completely down, returning a 502 error.

Update 10:03AM: Google Drive is struggling as well.

Update 10:38AM: Hangouts, Voice, and Drive are coming back up for some. Hangouts is still out for us in our Google Apps account. Google says they will have more info to share at 11:15AM. Update 11:11AM: All back on our end. How are things for you? Update 11:23AM: Scratch that, we are still having issues with Hangouts. Update 11:29AM: Google had this to say on the situation - "Google+ Hangouts service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change." Update 12:27PM: Things seem to be good around here. Finally all good for you? Updating...

Video: HTC Sense 6.0 Tour Shows New Gestures, Other Goodies

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 08:58:12 +0000

A video of what appears to be HTC's new Sense 6.0 surfaced over the weekend, giving is an idea as to what HTC has in store for the "All New HTC One" or One (2014). The video was uploaded briefly before being deleted, but since this is the internet, several copies of the clip have been re-uploaded, one of which we included for your viewing pleasure below. I don't actually believe that this is Sense 6.0 running on the new HTC One, but rather a ROM built off of Sense 6.0 that is being ported to another HTC device. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are messages during the video of the owner having issues with the camera, something that almost always plagues ROMs in their initial state. We have already seen sounds and wallpapers leak from the One, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Sense 6.0 ROMs pop up before the launch of the One. With that said, there is still plenty of good stuff to talk about here. While the overall look of Sense certainly hasn't changed, you can see how HTC is trying to innovate on the software front, since well, we know that the One (2014) will be much like the One (2013) in terms of hardware design.

The coolest feature shown is a "Motion Launch gestures" section under "Display, gestures, and buttons." The gestures allow you to jump straight into BlinkFeed, open up a widget panel, unlock the phone, or open the camera without ever pressing the lock/wake button. With the screen off, you simply pick up the phone, and swipe in the direction of the action you want to complete. Swipe left to get into widgets, right to get into BlinkFeed, up to unlock, or double-tap to wake. If you put the phone in landscape, you can press the volume button to launch the camera. These gestures remind me of Motorola's take on software enhancements. Rather than giving you a bunch of 1-time use features like we saw during last year's Galaxy S4 launch, HTC is trying to give you ways to interact with your phone without much fuss. Like Active Display, I can see these new gestures really coming in handy. We are also seeing a button to turn off BoomSound, a restyled gallery, purple accents throughout, a new darkened dialer, and a couple of new HTC apps. Check out the video below, and let us know what you think.

[responsive_vid]

Google Play Games Get "Gifts," New Multiplayer Tools

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 07:45:19 +0000

With GDC (Game Developers Conference) kicking off this week, Google has gone ahead and made a handful of Google Play Games announcements that should enhance the Play Games experience for both users and developers. For users like you and I, Google is adding in "Game Gifts," a service that lets players send virtual in-game objects to anyone in their circles or through player search. This new addition is on top of the recently announced multiplayer invite system, plus 18 new and more specific gaming categories. Google is also pumping up multiplayer support for iOS, adding turn-based and real-time multiplayer to both Android and iOS, and introducing the Play Games C++ SDK to help bring achievements and leaderboards across platforms. And last, for developers, there are new AdMob tools, so that you can make even more money. Google has already said that they paid out four times the money in 2013 than they did in 2012.

We're making Google Analytics available directly in the AdMob interface, so you can gain deeper insights into how users are interacting with your app. Turning those insights into effective action is vital, so we're excited by the opportunities that in-app purchase ads will offer — enabling you to target users with specific promotions to buy items in your game.

All of these new features will launch over the coming weeks.

Via: Android Developers

Contest: Enter the Droid Life Bracket Challenge 2014, Win a Nexus 5 32GB and More

Kellen — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 07:23:57 +0000

My favorite time of the year - in terms of sports - is here. The 2014 NCAA men's basketball tournament kicks off this week, so that can only mean one thing - the DL Bracket Challenge with fabulous prizes. We have done this challenge for years, with the number of entries growing dramatically. And rightfully so, filling out an NCAA bracket can be done by anyone, whether they know basketball or not. So this year's challenge is just like last year's. We are using ESPN's Tourney Challenge to manage the whole contest. In fact, if you were in our group last year, you can simply rejoin the group by signing into the ESPN Tourney Challenge page. If you are new, well, we have all of the details for you below. Our prize package this year, once again in a winner-takes-all-capacity, is a Nexus 5 32GB (winner's choice of color) and $100 in Google Play gift cards. The tourney is just days away, be sure to join!

Contest

This Will Help With Your St. Patrick's Day Prep Work

Tim — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:00:55 +0000

On Wednesday night, the crew united as they always do (sans Tato), to bring the world Episode 52 of The Droid Life Show. In this episode, the topics covered include all of the crazy leaks we have seen surrounding the HTC One (2014), the rumors and specs posted for the LG-made Nexus smartwatch from Google, AT&T's lighting up of LTE-A here in the US, and the possibility of Google bringing its own set-top box to the living room. It was quite the eventful show indeed. To help with your St. Patrick's Day prep, go ahead and take a drink every time we say the word "Android." You might end up being black out drunk by 20 minutes in, but please drink responsibly, people.

This Week in the Life of DROID: 3/14/14

Rithvik — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:30:44 +0000

Another week has come to a close. We are right in that time period when Android season is about to pick up again in full force, with the HTC One (2014) less than two weeks out at this point. Leaks have been springing at a ridiculous pace - we have seen two hands-on videos, multiple pictures, a sales guide, and one Verizon model has even reportedly been sold on eBay. The crew also pumped out episode 52 of The Droid Life Show, with the All New One stealing the show there as well. All that, plus more, is down below in case you missed any of the action this week.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 52 [Subscribe]
Review: Qualcomm Toq smartwatch
HTC One leaks: Flip Cases and GPE | Wallpapers | Video | Sales Guide | Verizon Unit Sold
Google's releasing an SDK for wearables. Bring on that smart jacket.
AT&T getting aggressive with pricing in response to T-Mo.
US Cellular can't be left out of the price-change fun, and neither can Verizon.
Yo, Moto X, the Nexus 5 can do Touchless Control too.
Poll: Would you buy a Verizon Nexus 5 if it came out just now?
Nexus 8 may drop Qualcomm, give Intel a chance instead.
Google buys Green Throttle games, set-top box rumored.
It looks like Flappy Bird may be on its way back.
Threes! now on Google Play, this guy right here's hooked.
YouTube threw us a bone with an accidentally released Android app build.
T-Mo getting serious with network upgrades.
Google/LG smartwatch on the way?
LG G3 leaks for the first and second time.
AT&T's Aio subsidiary now known as Cricket.
Sorry guys, looks like there's no premium Galaxy S5 on the way.

That wraps this week up. Be sure to enjoy your weekend!

Qualcomm Toq Review

Kellen — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:25:35 +0000

With a stack of smartwatches having sat on the corner of my desk for the last three or four months, it's finally time that we start running through reviews of them all. The stack is only going to grow over the coming year, so it's probably best that we give you something to compare the new stuff to. These will be "quick" reviews that cover the basics and also offer my opinions on what I like and don't like. First up, is without a doubt my favorite of the moment - the Qualcomm Toq. I know what you are probably thinking, and yes, it's overpriced, oversized, and was originally supposed to be just an outlet for Qualcomm to show off their Mirasol display. But I'm actually loving it. Let's talk about why.

What I Like

Battery Life A smartwatch shouldn't need to be charged every day or even every third day. My regular watch doesn't need to be. Sure, my phone, tablet, and laptop do, but I don't want to add another item to that list. With the Toq, you are looking at days and days (anywhere from 3-6 depending on use) without needing to use its awkward charger. The Mirasol display sips power, even though it displays in full color.

Display Speaking of display, Qualcomm used its Mirasol display tech that we hope more companies adopt for wearables. It displays full color, is easy on battery life, and actually gets more visible in sunlight. Mirasol uses light around it to make it more visible, so it's actually easier to see in the brightest hour of the day than it is at night. Thankfully, there is a light that can be triggered during those dark hours. The 1.55-inch display is also touch sensitive, but more importantly, is on all of the time. In other words, you don't have to flick your wrist or tap a button to see what time it is - the Toq is always on, yet still lasts for days on a single charge. App If you have ever used the Galaxy Gear or Pebble (pre 2.0) apps, then you'll know how terrible they are. The Toq app, on the other hand, is fantastic. The UI is simple, but still has all sorts of settings that can be tweaked. You can select which apps you'd like to see notifications from, setup multiple weather/world times, decide on music apps, pick clock and icon styles, choose calendars, and even tweak things like light duration. It's a solid watch companion app that is also used to push through updates.

Design I actually really like the look of the Toq outside of its size. Appearance is something that can be debated for days, but the combination of metal, rubber, and plastic make for a premium feeling watch. It certainly feels a lot nicer than both Pebbles and the Sony Smartwatch 2. Even though it is quite large, the watch head isn't as thick as some other smartwatches. The white coloring of mine allows the watch to go with almost anything you are wearing, plus it all contours quite nicely around your arm. There are no off-putting buttons, just a big face and a couple of cutouts at the wrist strap. It reminds me a bit of a Diesel watch. It does require that you cut the band to size, something that makes it yours for keeps and is quite the confusing move. Notification Handling Unlike the Samsung Gear watches, the Toq works with every Android device (Android 4.0.3+) and also lets you tell it which notifications from which apps you'd like to receive. As notifications arrive, they show in mini-previews that give you just enough info. You can't really act upon any of them, so like with other smartwatches, you have to head over to your phone to do the real work. But the fact that the Toq lets you pick and choose from all of your apps, and then shows you real info in your notifications (like Pebble) does, makes this a "like."

Clock Styles As I write this post, Qualcomm has included 19 watch or clock styles that can easily be changed on your Toq. They actually did a great job designing most, as well, with styles ranging from a simple clock with a colorful background to those that have date, location, weather, or calendar appointments. You can easily flip between them using the black touch-bar on the bottom of the display.

What I Don't Like

Size The Toq is huge. It's bigger than every other major smartwatch on the planet, including the Sony Smartwatch 2, Galaxy Gear, and of course, Pebble. I can get down with it, but I often find that I take it off throughout the day to give my arm a rest. It's so big, that doing a little shimmy with your wrist and long-sleeved shirt some times doesn't even unveil the whole watch for time or notification checking.

Navigating the UI The navigation of and around the Toq takes some time to figure out. There is a touch sensitive area on the wristband just under the display that brings you into your apps. It's hit or miss whether or not this will work each time you tap it. Once in your apps section, you can swipe right to get into your favorite apps or scroll up or down through a list of the rest. From within an app, a swipe right takes you back one screen, but you can also swipe along the black bar at the bottom of the display, though it is completely inconsistent in what it wants to do. Some times a swipe left will get you into previous notifications, while at other times it does nothing. I'm telling you, I've had the watch for a couple of months, and it still doesn't make sense to me. I stick to my favorite apps, dismissing notifications, and switch clock faces from time to time. That's it. Cutting the Watch Band Qualcomm couldn't figure out an adjustable watch strap, so they ask that you size it yourself, and then cut off excess in order to wear the Toq. I'm serious. They actually ask you to cut your watch strap with a pair of scissors within the first few minutes of owning their few hundred dollar watch. If you cut it too short, well, good luck! I got mine right the first time, but you can imagine how many people could get this wrong. Woof. Price The Toq originally debuted for $350, which as you can imagine, is way too steep of a price. It is now available for a much more reasonable $250 in both black and white. At $250, I'd argue that the watch is worth it, though not everyone can justify a cost like that, especially for a watch that was really made to showcase a display tech. I'll just say this - if Pebble can sell their new Steel for $250, then the Toq is well worth it since it is a much better watch (in my opinion) in terms of features and build quality. Other

White version discoloration: I own the white Toq and have already started to see some discoloration in the watch band after only a month or two of use. The band is made of white rubber, but if it's happening this soon, I can't imagine how bad it might look in a year from now. You may want to consider the black version.
No camera: While I do not care that the watch doesn't have a camera built-in, many others today do. If you want a camera on your smartwatch for creepshots, the Toq is not for you.
Battery enclosure: I'm pretty sure that the battery is housed in the enclosure of the the watch strap of the Toq. That's unfortunate, because it adds bulk to the underside of your wrist and can be uncomfortable at times.

Video Overview

[responsive_vid]

Gallery

Specs

Smartwatch Weight: 3.2oz
Wrist Band Size Range: 6 inches to 8.7 inches
Display Size: 1.55in
Display DPI/PPI: 222ppi
Display Technology: Qualcomm Mirasol: I.M.O.D.
Touch Screen: Yes - Capacitive
Smart Phone Software Compatibility: Requires Android™ version 4.0.3; Jelly Bean and above preferred.
Battery Life: Multiple days between charges
Charging Technology: Qualcomm® WiPower™ LE - Magnetic Resonance Charging
Battery Capacity: 240mAh
Bluetooth: BT 3.0
AllJoyn™ Enabled: Yes
Vibration: Yes
Airplane Mode: Yes

Final Thoughts

The Toq, as of today, is my favorite smartwatch because of a combination of its design, the fact that it has a touch-colorscreen that is on all of the time, shows notifications from whatever apps I choose, works on almost all Android devices, and doesn't need to be charged but once a week. The price doesn't make it the cheapest watch around, but the premium build quality and experience have made it worth it to me. Links: Qualcomm Toq deals on eBay | Amazon

Reported Specs Leaked for Upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:56:06 +0000

If last year was any indication as to how Samsung handles its device portfolio, we can expect 2014 to be filled with countless Android-powered devices from the manufacturer. The newest to get hyped is the Galaxy S5 Zoom, a sequel to last year's Galaxy S4 Zoom, which is a hybrid between the main Galaxy S flagship device, and a Galaxy Camera. Since Samsung showed off the all new Galaxy Camera 2 at CES in January, and has the Galaxy S5 coming in April, the Galaxy S5 Zoom should be a perfect marriage of the two. With specs apparently posted on GFXBench, we can see that the GS5 Zoom is no slouch. The device should come powered with the all-new Exynos 5 Hexa processor, 2GB of RAM, feature a massive 19MP shooter on its backside, a 2MP front-facing camera, and come with a 4.8" HD touchscreen display. It won't stand head and shoulders above last year's model, but with the minor bump seen in the Galaxy S5 over the Galaxy S4, this is to be expected. There is no word on when the Galaxy S5 Zoom could hit the market, but we assume it will take place sometime after the April launch of the flagship GS5.

Specs

Android 4.4.2
4.8" HD display (1280 x 720)
Exynos 5 Hexa SoC
ARM Mali-T624 GPU
2GB of RAM
2MP front-facing camera
19MP rear-facing camera
Bluetooth 4.0
NFC

Via: SamMobile | GFXBench

Friday App Sales: Draw a Stickman: EPIC, Rayman Jungle Run, GO Locker VIP, and More

Rithvik — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:02:30 +0000

What time is it? Oh, time for another rendition of Friday App Sales! This week's list is fairly modest compared to gargantuan lists of the past, but that doesn't mean there aren't quality apps and games up for grabs. Right off of the bat, we have Rayman Jungle Run and Draw a Stickman: EPIC for show. And don't forget, you can grab Crazy Taxi for completely free. Take a peak at the full list right below.

Friday app sales

GO Locker VIP - ($9.99)
Small World 2 - ($4.99)
Trivia Crack (Ad free) - ($0.99)
Road of Kings - ($0.99)
Anomaly 2 - ($1.99)
EasyBand Studio - ($3.99)
Colin McRae Rally - ($2.99)
ReLoop Loop DAW - ($0.99)
Division Cell - ($0.99)
The Great Fusion - ($0.99)
Pocket Informant 3 - ($6.99)
CWMoney EX Expense Track - ($1.99)
Electrum Drum Machine/Sampler - ($0.99)
Draw a Stickman: EPIC - ($0.99)
Blue Sleep Therapy - ($0.99)
Rayman Jungle Run - ($0.99)
Violett - ($0.99)
Handy Note Pro - ($0.99)
Venture Towns - ($1.20)

The devs are hungry. It's up to you to feed them.

Wikipad Gaming Tablet Price Dropped to $199, Features New Controller Mapping Feature

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:40:04 +0000

The Wikipad, a 7" gaming tablet that fits comfortably into a controller dock, now has a lower price for consumers. Previously on sale for $249, the device has been lowered to $199, coming with new software to help gamers play even more titles. New Wikipad units will come shipped with a controller mapper, allowing users to select exactly which control setup they would like. If you don't want your reload button to be "X," and instead want it be to be "Y," you can do so. This functionality has been brought to other devices of this nature, most notably the NVIDIA SHIELD. The Wikipad is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor (ouch), 1GB of RAM (double ouch), features a 7" HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 (triple ouch), 16GB of internal storage, and comes running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (quadruple ouch). As for the specs, and the $199 price tag, it might be hard to get excited about this product. To get your hands on a Wikipad, Best Buy is currently selling them for the marked-down price of $199. You can check them out online by following this link.

WIKIPAD GAME MAPPER AND NEW PRICE POINT

$199 Price Point Provides Gamers the Ultimate Android Tablet Optimized for Games
Wikipad, Inc. (www.wikipad.com) today announced a new price for the Wikipad 7” gaming tablet. Now priced at $199, Wikipad 7” is the only tablet to possess both the unique combination of a console quality gaming experience with the functionality and portability of a high end tablet thanks to its award-winning and patented detachable dual-analog controller. The Wikipad 7” also announced that touch games can now be mapped to a controller eliminating one of the limitations of mobile games in that games often have control schemes not suited for touch screen play. Aptly named Wikipad Controller Assistant, users can now transform ordinary touchscreen controls of virtually any Android game into extraordinary gaming experiences using Wikipad’s gamepad mapper and patented gamepad controller. Content is king and Wikipad 7” offers a complete ransom of software riches such as Madfinger Games’ Dead Trigger 2 and titles from amazing partners such as Google Play from Google Mobile Services, PlayStation®Mobile games from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., and TegraZone – NVIDIA's free app that highlights the best games optimized for the Tegra processor. When the gamepad controller is detached, Wikipad’s sleek design and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system provide gamers with power, speed and functionality necessary for surﬁng the web, watching the latest YouTube sensation, tweeting, checking Facebook status, Netflix and enjoying all the latest ﬁlms, books, magazines and music. Fans can even use dongles such as Google Chromecast to stream content direct from Wikipad 7” to their TV. Wikipad 7” comes standard with 16 GB memory and possess an additional micro SD slot to support a further 32 GB of storage together with micro USB, GPS, accelerometer and gyroscope. The tablets ultra-light, super thin chassis stands optimized for cloud gaming with a 12 core Nvidia GPU. With an aspect ratio of 16:10, a 2-mega-pixel front facing camera the Wikipad 7” gaming tablet offers true widescreen HD display and HDMI out.

Reported Screenshots From the LG G3 Leaked, Confirms QHD Display

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:09:27 +0000

Even if Samsung apparently gave consumers the shaft with no QHD display on the Galaxy S5, and the company's CEO denies any type of premium line of the device that features one, LG is wasting no time in making one of its own. In new reported screenshots leaked from the possibly upcoming LG G3, a QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 is all but confirmed. Besides the size of the shots, not much else can be seen. It appears obvious that the device will come running Android 4.4+ Kit Kat, and of course, come running LG's custom skin atop it. The below screenshots have been resized to fit your screen. To view their full size, click on them normally, then right click the screenshot and open it in a new tab on your browser. As you will see, it's pretty ridiculous to think that this screenshot came from a phone that might only have about a 5" display. We know there are many among us that are waiting patiently for news on the G3 - is this getting you excited?

Via: lgg3kopen

iSupr8 Vintage Video Camera App Hits Google Play, Brings That Old School Vibe to Your Videos

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:14:21 +0000

Like every other day, a new camera app has hit Google Play for your Android device. This one, intended for the filmmakers among us, brings a retro Super 8 feel to your videos. The app is called iSuper8 Vintage Video Camera, and as the name suggests, the app's main purpose is to make your modern videos look a bit more retro. For the price of $0.99, users can process as much video as they want with the Super 8 filter, with no time cutoff like you see on IG and Vine. You may not be able to upload your long videos, but the app isn't necessarily targeted at those service's users. Instead, this is for someone looking to produce a short film and needs the Super 8-type filter. Edits can be made to the filter, like film burn as well as different framing options. Of course, there are IAPs in the app which allows users to get more filters for producing different looks. To get an idea of what the app is actually capable of, go ahead and check out the short film below. It's quite nice, considering it was produced using this actual software. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Google Wallet Tap & Pay Will No Longer Work After April 14 for Non Kit Kat Devices

Kellen — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:11:38 +0000

Just a quick heads-up to those of you still using Google Wallet, but own a device that doesn't have Kit Kat (Android 4.4+). Google is going to kill off Tap & Pay functionality come April 14 for anything below Android 4.4. In other words, you will only be able to store loyalty cards and offers, send money to friends, view orders, and use the physical Google Wallet card to make purchases. OK, that's most functionality, just not the Tap & Pay portion. They began sending emails out last night to notify users who meet the 4.3 and below criteria and have also updated their Wallet support pages. Google mentions in the email that Kit Kat "works with different technology for an improved experience" that non-Kit Kat devices don't have. I'd imagine they are talking about Host Card Emulation (HCE). With HCE, devices can make secure-NFC purchases without needing a Secure Element. This feature was indeed introduced with Android 4.4.

The move is a bit of a downer, as Kit Kat (Android 4.4.+) currently only makes up 2.5% of the entire Android ecosystem. There are very few devices outside of Google's own Nexus line, the HTC One, Motorola's newest, and a handful of Galaxy devices that are currently running Android 4.4. That should change shortly with more and more Galaxy devices receiving the update, but until they have Kit Kat, Tap & Pay is out. Here is the email our reader received:

Dear Milton, We wanted to let you know about an update to Google Wallet that might change the way you use the app. Right now it looks like you’re using tap and pay with a device running an Android version older than 4.4 KitKat. On the newest version of Android, tap and pay works with different technology for an improved experience. As a result, starting on April 14, 2014, tap and pay will no longer work for devices with older Android versions. Tap and pay will be available for most devices running Android 4.4 KitKat. If you are able to upgrade to KitKat now, you can check if your device supports tap and pay. Supported devices will display a tile in your "My Wallet" screen that tells you to set up tap and pay. For devices that are not eligible for Android 4.4 KitKat or don’t support tap and pay, you can still use the Google Wallet app to store all of your loyalty cards and offers, send money to your friends, view your orders, and use the Google Wallet Card to make purchases. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for continuing to be a loyal Wallet user. If you have any questions, please visit our Help Center. Sincerely, The Google Wallet Team

Cheers Milton!

Samsung Preps Revamped S Band for Launch, Cheaper Alternative to Gear Fit

Kyle — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:50:08 +0000

Remember Samsung's S Band, that ill-fated accessory intended for the Galaxy S4 that never made it to market? Well, Samsung seems to think the fitness device had some potential. Leaked sales slides obtained by SamMobile suggest the company is preparing a revamped model for sale sometime this year. Samsung will probably position the S Band as a lower-cost alternative to the Gear 2 and Gear Fit smartwatches. It lacks a display, acting purely as a sensor, relaying activity data to a paired smartphone, specifically one with version 3.0 of Samsung's S Health app installed. Like comparable devices (see: the Jawbone Up and Fitbit Force), the S Band will include features like sleep monitoring and vibrating notifications. The S Band will apparently be customizable to an extent; colored wristbands, presumably ones compatible with the Gear 2 and Gear Fit, will be available for purchase when the device debuts. No word on when that might be or what price point Samsung is aiming for, though details are sure to trickle out as we approach the Galaxy S5's release date.

Via: SamMobile

Download: Google Play v4.6.16 - Batch Installs, Menu Tweaks, Require Password, and More

Kellen — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:15:56 +0000

A new version of Google Play is rolling out like molasses this week as v4.6.16 (staged rollouts, so fun!). The update isn't major by any means, not like when we first exclusively showed you version 4.0, but does include a bunch of tweaks that will satisfy the geekiest of Android elitists. We're talking the little things that annoy you as you use the Play store. We also have it available for download below, so feel free to sideload away. We don't have an official changelog just yet, but so far this is what we are looking at:

Settings and Help menus have moved into the side navigation menu.
There is a new option in Settings that you can set to require passwords for all purchases.
The "Auto-add widgets" option has FINALLY been changed to "Add icon to Home screen."
You can force check for updates of Google Play by going into Settings and tapping on the build version.
Batch multi-select installs from the "All" page in My Apps.
If you remove an app from the "All" list, it no longer jumps to the top.
The rest is all incredibly minor stuff.

Download Link

Via: Android Police

Sprint Intros Revamped Prepaid Offerings, New $60 2.5GB Plan

Kyle — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:35:44 +0000

The affordability of prepaid plans has attracted a growing number of consumers recently, with nearly one-third of all smartphones sold in the US last year as prepaid. It’s no surprise, then, that major wireless carriers are looking to cash in on the trend with rebranded and relaunched services. Verizon unveiled its ALLSET program earlier this month, while AT&T and T-Mobile have both acquired prepaid carriers. That left Sprint the odd one out, but today the company’s aiming to compete with revamped offerings under the Sprint Prepaid moniker. Sprint Prepaid consists of two plans: a $40 a month option that includes unlimited talk and text but no data, and a higher-end $60 a month plan that includes unlimited talk and text messages and 2.5GB of 3G and Spark data. The data comes with a catch, though: Sprint reserves the right to throttle 3G for video streaming. On the device front, customers have a limited choice of mid-range phones, including the Spark-compatible Galaxy S4 Mini, the Galaxy S3, and the Moto G. The iPhone 4S is also an option, but requires the $60 plan. For folks looking to make the jump to prepaid, do Sprint's new plans appeal to you?

Via: Sprint

SEGA's Crazy Taxi Now Free for Limited Time, Crazy Taxi: City Rush Coming This Year

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:29:21 +0000

This morning, SEGA announced a new game for Android and iOS users, Crazy Taxi: City Rush. The game is set to be released "later this year," but to celebrate the announcement, SEGA has made the original Crazy Taxi free for a limited time for both mobile platforms. Crazy Taxi: City Rush is a game developed entirely for mobile devices, so SEGA is putting emphasis on controls, graphics, and the overall gameplay. Chris Olson, Senior VP of SEGA Networks had the following to say about creating a new Crazy Taxi game.

Creating a new game for our Crazy Taxi fans is extremely rewarding. City Rush embodies the spirit of Crazy Taxi with its signature frantic arcade action and crazy stunts and also delivers a new mobile experience with easy one touch controls and social features.

SEGA didn't give an actual release date, and for now, all we have is "later this year." Boo. Either way, go pick up Crazy Taxi for free on Google Play! Play Link

Samsung Boss Denies "Premium" Galaxy S5 is in the Works

Kellen — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:10:15 +0000

What's that? You were still ignoring next month's Galaxy S5 because months of rumors claimed there would be an ultra-premium model on the way with a QHD display and metal body? Samsung Mobile boss JK Shin told Korean media that there is no such device and that reports of its existence are "wrong." That's disappointing, but are you surprised at his denial? No. I'm not saying that I fully believe that premium version of the Galaxy S5 is on the way (also known as the Galaxy F, according to rumors), but there is no way Shin is going to admit to this phone being a reality when he's trying to sell millions upon millions of Galaxy S5 phones in a matter of weeks. Can you think of a better way to kill sales of your new phone than by admitting you have a better phone coming shortly after it? I can't. Shin did mention that we should expect a new Galaxy Note model in the fall, which is exactly when the last Note was released. Galaxy Note 4 hypebeast, go?

Via: G for Games | KBench | IMAGE

Amazon Also Making Android-powered Set-top Box for Gamers, Controller Pictures Leaked

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:58:16 +0000

This morning, a new report is out concerning Amazon, as the online retailer might have plans for its very own living room set-top box for gamers. A couple of pictures for the reported console's wireless controller have been leaked, showing a pretty square-ish design, as well as buttons that look very similar to those found on Android. As we can see on the controller itself in the photos, there is a Home, Back, and Settings button, much like you would see on an Android device, which leads most to believe the console will be running a type of forked Android, just like the Kindle line of tablets. The console will more than likely be used as a store front for Amazon, as the device will allow gamers/users to access Amazon's content right from the comfort of their couch. Amazon also has its own Cloud gaming service, for saving game data, accessing game achievements, and much more. There is no word on when we can see this console hit the market, but with controllers now popping up, it may be soon. I was giving ASUS a hard time for coming out with a set-top, and I won't spare Amazon either. The only difference is that Amazon has an entire ecosystem to support the box with, while ASUS doesn't have squat in terms of its own content for the device. Maybe we're completely out of touch and set-top boxes are the way of the future. Your thoughts?

Via: The Verge

AT&T's Aio Wireless Will Turn Into Cricket Wireless

Kellen — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:12:23 +0000

In a first move following their completed acquisition of Leap Wireless, AT&T will now merge Aio Wireless into Leap's Cricket prepaid brand. Reports of this happening surfaced months ago, which we mentioned in our best prepaid plans post, so it shouldn't exactly come as a shocker. The good news is that not much is changing, at least for now. If you are an Aio Wireless customer, the only change you'll see in the coming months is a new logo. You still get access to the same network, same plans, and your same phone number. You also don't need to change phones or update billing info. At some point down the road, when the Cricket and Aio brands are fully merged, you'll be able to find retail Cricket stores and do shopping or ask questions. Until that happens (we'll give you a heads up when it does), you will receive support the same way you do now by dialing 611. If you are a current Cricket customer, things will likely change significantly over time. For now, you don't have to worry about it, but there will come a time when Cricket will invite you into a new store to pick-up a new phone and plan. More info about it all can be found at the source link below.

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Via: Aio Wireless

Check Out Stamen Muzei, a Nifty Plugin for the Muzei Live Wallpaper (Updated)

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:26:34 +0000

There is a new plugin for the Muzei live wallpaper app, one which brings a more personal feel to your homescreen. The plugin is called Stamen Muzei, and how it works is quite neat. Based on your actual location, the plugin will display a map of where you are, but it's not an ordinary boring map. The maps used are taken from Stamen, a site which produces speciality maps. There are watercolor maps, fire maps, terrain maps, and many other types. As you can see in the screenshots posted, the map used for my area is watercolor. The maps selected to be shown are also based on time of day and weather. If it's dark and gloomy outside, a darker tone of map will be used. If it's bright and sunny, it will be a light-colored map. The plugin is completely free, so go check it out. A few users reported that it's not working for their region, so it may be limited to the US only. In addition, it took a few seconds for the service to load on my device, but be patient. Update: According to the developer, the popularity of the app was putting a strain on the Stamen servers, so until they can fix the issue, he had to remove the app. Play Link

Straight Talk Now Offers Nano SIM Cards, Days of Cutting Come to an End

Kellen — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:04:10 +0000

Popular GSM-powered MVNO, Straight Talk, announced today that they now carry nano SIM cards for both T-Mobile and AT&T plans. While their plans aren't changing, future customers won't have to buy a micro SIM and cut it down to size to fit into new phones like the Moto X, "All New HTC One," and iPhone 5s. You already know how to cut one down, thanks to our tutorial, but we'd rather you not have to spend the time. The SIM cards still cost $6.99, same as the micro. We wrote up our list of best prepaid wireless plans back during the Nexus 5 launch. Assuming many of you went with Straight Talk, I'd love to hear how your experience has been. Thoughts?

Via: @MyStraightTalk

Verizon Offering the 2013 Nexus 7 for $49.99, With a New 2-Year Contract

Eric — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:10:11 +0000

Part of the benefit of Google offering Nexus devices from the Play Store is their low cost and the ease of no contract. Today's offer from Verizon introduces you to an even lower price on the Nexus 7 (2013), but at the cost of signing up on a new 2-year contract. Verizon has the latest Nexus 7 for what looks like a low price at $49.99. However, that is only the price if you also ink up a new 2-year deal. Of course this gives you the ability to use the LTE data whenever you want, but considering that you can pick-up this same tablet for $349.99 off-contract from all sorts of places, grabbing the device on contract may not make the most sense if you have the cash. If the deal sounds too good to pass up, hit the link below for Verizon's website. If you don't want the contract attached, feel free to hit up Google Play instead. Verizon Link | Play Link

Users No Longer Need Plex Pass to Use Chromecast With Plex

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:33:26 +0000

Previously, when users wished to use Plex with the Chromecast HDMI dongle connected to their HDTVs, they would need to download a separate app called PlexPass and be a member. Starting today, the official Plex app is completely supported with Chromecast, no extra software needed. After beta testing with thousands of users, the service has launched to all of its users, as "promised" by the company. Not only is it now available to all, but the service has received a few enhancements as well, which includes 1080p content to stream without transcoding. To top it all off, the app and the streaming method underwent a few bug fixes as well, so everything should be very smooth. Plex users, go grab it. Play Link

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Via: forums.plex.tv

Better Late Than Never: Republic Wireless Announces Moto G Available in April and KitKat Rolling Out to Moto X Soon

Eric — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:16:05 +0000

Remember Republic Wireless? The no-contract MVNO that features 'Hybrid Calling' technology that uses a mix-up of WiFi and cell signal designed to keep your minutes and bill low. Last November, the carrier announced that the Moto X would be coming to their network and today the Moto G joins it as well. Starting April 14, the Moto G will join the Republic Wireless lineup of devices for only $149. Republic's no-contract plans start as low as $5 per month, so if you are looking for the cheapest device and service out there, this might be right up your alley. When the Moto G launches it will be running the latest version of Android, KitKat 4.4.2. In another announcement today, Republic let everyone know that the Moto X has not been left out in the cold. Since the Moto G will launch with 4.4.2, Republic announced that the Moto X would soon be receiving the update to that version as well. Republic didn't offer a specific date for when users can expect the upgrade, but they are working on it.

Via: Republic Wireless

Verizon Introduced a New $75 Single Line 2GB Plan, Secret 2GB $60 "SAVE" Plan Too

Kellen — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:06:40 +0000

Verizon quietly introduced a new $75 single line plan today that gives customers 2GB of monthly data, along with unlimited talk and text. According to sources of ours, this new plan is a "limited time promotion," though we have no word on when it will end. If that plan doesn't sound like the deal for you, know that Verizon also has a semi-secret option called the "SAVE" plan that is $60 for 2GB of data, plus unlimited talk and text. You need to qualify for it, but it's worth knowing about should you be in the market for discounted service and a new phone. The $75 plan works like this - sign-up for service (appears to be no-contract) and receive 2GB of data with unlimited talk and text for $75. If you want to lower the monthly price by $10, you can also sign-up for Verizon EDGE, which is Big Red's device payment plan that spreads the cost of a full retail phone out over 24 months.

The "SAVE" plan - should you qualify - is probably your best value. From our understanding, this is a plan you'll have to specifically ask about, as Verizon may not offer it up front. The plan looks like this - for $60, you get 2GB of data and unlimited talk and text. You do have to sign a 1-year contract, so this is not a month-to-month plan. In order to qualify, you have to be within 12 months of a contract end date or already out of contract. We should point out that with the "SAVE" plan you cannot share data, use mobile hotspot (unless you pay extra for it), or receive the $10 EDGE discount.

If you are within a contract end date and don't mind signing a 1-year contract, think about asking for the "SAVE" plan.

Minuum Keyboard 2.0 Hits Google Play, Try it Now for Free

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:54:05 +0000

Minuum, a third party keyboard among hundreds of others for Android, was funded through Indiegogo and released for Android last year. A new version hit Google Play this morning, version 2.0, and is free for all to try for a 30 day trial. Minuum is essentially a full keyboard, although it is condensed into a single row of keys. It might look quite different from your usual keyboard, but as you can see in the video we posted below, users can find themselves typing text messages much faster after getting used to the process. The new 2.0 version is free to try out for 30 days, so if you haven't given it try yet, go check it out. Play Link

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Google Cuts the Price of Drive Cloud Storage, Starting at 15GB for Free

Eric — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:05:41 +0000

Still in shock from the price increase of Amazon Prime this morning? Google has your back. Today the company announced that it is decreasing the price of having your cloud storage through its service. You can now get 100GB of Google Drive storage for only $1.99 a month. All Google accounts get 15GB of free space when they use Drive, but all of the other tiers have been lowered in price. 1TB of cloud storage will only run you $9.99 per month, and if you need a ridiculous amount of space, 100TB and up starts at $99.99. Just for a bit of reference on how much 1TB of storage is, Google explains it as "enough storage for you to take a selfie twice a day for the next 200 years and still have room left over for… shall we say… less important things." Current Drive users who already have a storage plan will be "automatically" moved to these new prices. If you haven't signed up yet, hit the link below to get more storage space in your life. Sign Up

Via: Google

Zombie Gunship Zero Released to Google Play, For Those Who Don't Feel Like Paying a Dollar

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:45:15 +0000

A new game hit Google Play this morning, well it's kind of new, as it's actually just a free version of a game that was already available since last year. The difference between Zombie Gunship and the new title Zombie Gunship Zero, is that Zero is an ad-supported version of the same game that usually costs a dollar on Google Play. All of the same zombie killin' action is there, but now users can play it for absolutely free. And don't worry, all of the original's IAPs are also included in the free version. In the game, you take the gunner seat of an AC-130, equipped with heavy artillery in an attempt to save civilians and a military base from brain-eating zombies. Hordes upon hordes descend upon the poor military base, and it's a game that you essentially never will win. You just do a little better each time. If you never gave the first game a chance because of the price, here is your chance. Play Link

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Official Nexus 5 Bumper Case Now has Fatter Buttons, No Longer Impossible to Use

Kellen — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:25:42 +0000

Back in November, we took a look at the official Bumper case for the Nexus 5 in a quick review. For the most part, we wanted to love every ounce of the case as it is of the highest quality, came in a variety of colors, and also fit tremendously well on the device. Unfortunately, Google didn't test the case before selling it. With the device in-case, you quickly realized that it was nearly impossible to press either the volume or power/lock buttons. The buttons were either too skinny or placed poorly - maybe even both. It took some serious pressure to change the volume on your device or do something as simple as wake it to unlock it. The button issue was an instant deal-breaker, especially with the case carrying a steep $35 price tag. Well, guess what? Google has fixed the case without saying a thing.

Over the weekend, a reader of ours sent over pictures of two cases that he and his wife had received for their Nexus 5s. Her case came in grey, while his came in red. He noticed that she hadn't ever really complained about the button situation with hers, while his was driving him nuts, for the same reason we mentioned in our review. So he took a closer look and noticed that the buttons on her's were much wider than on his case. This news prompted us to order all of them again from Google Play to see for ourselves. Sure enough, Google has indeed tweaked the case design by adding wider buttons. In the picture above you can see the wider power button on the red, grey, and black cases. The original skinny button is still there on the yellow case we ordered, though. Below, you can see the volume rockers.

And here is a closer side-by-side comparison of the change.

After using one of the new cases over the last 10 or so hours, I'll tell you that the case is now usable. So yes, the best feeling Nexus 5 case I've come across is now ready for your consideration. With that said, I did order all four colors and the yellow case still sported the older, skinnier buttons. But my red case showed up with newer buttons, while our reader ordered one in February that still had the skinnies. I'd imagine you'll be safe ordering either black or grey, but the red and yellow could be a toss-up. Then again, maybe at $35, you still want no part of this official case. Either way, wanted to share. Play Link

Cheers Cade!

Specs Leak for Google's Upcoming LG-made Smartwatch

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:08:36 +0000

It's an exciting year for wearables, as Google will finally release its vision for smartwatches. It was reported last month that Google would release a smartwatch SDK here in March, and even Google's own Sundar Pichai confirmed the company's plans, stating that the SDK would be coming in the next two weeks. Today, specs have reportedly leaked for an upcoming LG-made smartwatch from Google, with specs that won't blow you away, but should be just fine for Google's first rendition of smartwatch. According to evleaks, the watch will feature a 1.65" IPS LCD display, with a resolution 280 x 280. The watch will have 512MB of RAM, come with 4GB of internal storage, and that the device's processor is still to be determined by Google and LG. It's mid-March now, which means we might only have a couple of months left until we see what Google has been working on, as the initial report suggested that the release of the device would happen at Google I/O in June. Excited yet?

Via: @evleaks

LG G3 (D850) Tipped to Have QHD 1440 x 2560 Display (Updated)

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 09:20:56 +0000

As tipped by @evleaks, it looks as though LG might attempt to steal Samsung's hypebeast thunder, as new data points to the G3 featuring a QHD display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560. We relate this to Samsung's case, since it was reported for months that Samsung's next flagship device, the Galaxy S5, would feature a QHD display as well, but instead all we got was a Full HD display. The photo with the data leaked doesn't give us a display size unfortunately, and besides the resolution, it doesn't give us all that much. We can now assume that the G3 will have the model number D850, spotted in the data, and any info that is released concerning that number can be attributed to LG's upcoming flagship. The G2 was announced last year in August, so we still could have a ways to go until we start seeing anymore info regarding this device. It's possible LG will attempt to keep up with Samsung's device timeline, which has been pushed up a couple of months with its Galaxy S line. Regardless of when we do see it, I think I speak for everyone when I say that we all want to be absolutely blown away by what LG offers us. Update: Changed title to reflect the resolution, being QHD and not UHD. Thanks for the comments!

Via: @evleaks

T-Mobile Celebrates First Anniversary of 4G LTE Rollout, Announces Major Network Upgrade Program

Tim — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 09:00:58 +0000

Less than a single year ago, T-Mobile launched its 4G LTE network in just a handful of markets across the US. Today, the Magenta Monster covers 210 million people in 273 metro areas nationwide with its LTE network. To celebrate this joyous occasion, T-Mobile announced a "major network upgrade plan," one which will turn most of its 2G/EDGE service areas into an oasis of LTE coverage. T-Mobile hopes to complete the bulk of this revamping by mid of this year, with the work set to be complete by the end of next year. For customers who currently only see 2G/EDGE service in their areas, they can expect to see 4G LTE. For those with access already to T-Mo's LTE, they can now rest assured in knowing they are covered by fast data in even more places. In addition to pumping up its own network, T-Mobile is striking against Verizon, which is actually quite the change from its usual attacks on AT&T. Now, T-Mobile has taken legal action demanding that Verizon cease and desist the carrier's network map advertising. The claim is that Verizon has "cherry-picked" a single network technology to base their map advertising on, rather than using an accurate reflection of the many network technologies in use today. T-Mo kicked off a new marketing campaign to go along with its battle with Big Red, and we have placed the video below. If you are a T-Mo customer, things are starting to get even better.

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Via: T-Mobile

Wirefly Abruptly Closes Up Shop, Shady Penny Phone Deals and All

Kellen — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 08:45:11 +0000

Wirefly (and their parent company Simplexity) appears to have closed up shop within the last 24 hours. We received word last night from a reader who had recently purchased a DROID MAXX, yet had not received his device and could also not check the status on it. He took to their Facebook page, since their entire website had been taken down, and found comments from affiliates and other customers who were showing concern as well. A couple of replies from Wirefly to his inquiry about his order mention that the company has filed for bankruptcy and will be issuing a refund. For those new to Wirefly, just know that they were a large online retailer of wireless phones that often sold them for rock bottom prices. I can't say that we would ever recommend buying from them, but they ~~are~~ were what they ~~are~~ were. If you needed a cheap phone, were willing to read the fine print on their website, and adhere to their strict ~~shady~~ set of rules, then they were an option. Here is the quick conversation our reader had with them:

Their website is offline, as I mentioned above. All of their individual site pages are returning 404s and their contact phone numbers only say that they are currently closed when called. Of course, it's now almost noon on a Thursday on the east coast, so you would think that a company who likely fills thousands of orders a day would be open.

A quick search of "Simplexity" on Twitter and Google+ returns results from recruiters and employees who are all apparently in mourning today. Mentions of the company closing down are there, even though nothing official has been announced. It sounds as if this came as a shock to all involved. One employee had this to say:

Good morning, Simplexity Friends. Yesterday we suffered a shock and - let's be clear - an injustice. Today we have to make our way in the world where that happened. So let's talk about how we will do that. ... Everybody says we need to treat job-hunting like a job. But what does that mean? Put hours per day into it, sure, but how? Everybody who's ever worked knows that it's possible to put hours per day into something productively, and hours per day into something unproductively.

If you recently placed an order, I wish you luck in receiving a refund. It could be a rocky road. Hopefully, you only paid a penny. We have reached out to Simplexity for comment. Who knows if we'll hear back.

Via: Facebook [2] | Google+ | Twitter

Cheers Matt!

Amazon Prime Jumping to $99

Kellen — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 07:38:30 +0000

If you are a member of Amazon's Prime service, then you likely received the email we have included below. It's about your yearly membership fee, and yes, it's rising. Normally $79 per year, Amazon Prime will cost $99 per year on your next renewal. There were rumors suggesting that the price could go up by as much as $40 to over $100, but Amazon has kept it just below instead. For those not familiar, Amazon Prime gives you access to free Two-Day Shipping, Prime Instant Video, and the Kindle Owner's Lending Library. This is a service I cannot see myself giving up any time soon, even with a $20 per year price hike and I don't even use the video services, since Amazon continues to neglect Android. It's the shipping savings that have me hooked, probably for life. Still keeping your Prime membership?

We are writing to provide you advance notice that the price of your Prime membership will be increasing. The annual rate will be $99 when your membership renews on June 3, 2014. Even as fuel and transportation costs have increased, the price of Prime has remained the same for nine years. Since 2005, the number of items eligible for unlimited free Two-Day Shipping has grown from one million to over 20 million. We also added unlimited access to over 40,000 movies and TV episodes with Prime Instant Video and a selection of over 500,000 books to borrow from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. For more information about your Prime membership, visit our Prime membership page. Sincerely, The Amazon Prime Team

The Droid Life Show: Episode 52

Kellen — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 00:11:52 +0000

The DL Show returns tonight with episode 52. In case you were wondering, the "All New HTC One" will be talked about heavily, since well, it has been everywhere over the last two weeks. We also have a boatload of new games and apps to run through, want to talk about the next Nexus phone, discuss some of this carrier back-and-forth, and then potentially wrap-up with a listener Q&A. We’ll be live at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). Join us live through the embeds below! If you can't catch us live, be sure to subscribe through one of the various outlets listed.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

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Deal: HTC Drops Unlocked One to $499

Kellen — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 20:06:59 +0000

With the "All New HTC One" arriving March 25, HTC has dropped the price of the unlocked original One to $499 (full retail) for those interested. This is the phone I purchased to use as my every day phone back in April because it had a number of things going for it. First, it came SIM unlocked, so it could be used on either T-Mobile or AT&T. Second, it had an unlockable bootloader, so it was certainly dev-friendly. And third, since HTC was in control of it, it was poised to receive updates in a timely manner. I wrote an entire post about it, which you can view here. It lived up to everything I needed it to, including the update situation. In case you weren't keeping track, the unlocked and developer edition models of the HTC One both received Kit Kat back in November, a full two months before the carrier models got in on the fun. Again, the new HTC One (2014) is coming in two weeks, but if you think the original still has all you need, maybe $499 is the right price.

Via: HTC

Cheers Pops!

Add-On Apps Come to Google Docs and Sheets

Kyle — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 19:29:37 +0000

As a student, I think one of Microsoft Office's greatest assets is its ecosystem of third-party plugins. When I'm writing a research paper, integrated encyclopedia look-up and custom dictionaries are a godsend. Google apparently recognizes their utility, too; today, the company announced the launch of add-ons for Docs and Sheets. Add-ons work exactly as you'd expect: they can help expedite specialized tasks from within the Google Docs interface. Ever want to import names and addresses from a Sheet to a Doc? Avery Label Merge can help with that. Forget MLA or APA or Chicago style? EasyBib Bibliography Creator will set you on the right track. These and about 30 other extensions are available now, and Google say more are on the way. Using add-ons is pretty straightforward. From within a Google doc or spreadsheet, click on the "Add-on" menu, and then click "Get add-ons" for a list of installable add-ons. Any Google Docs users out there exited for this feature? [responsive_vid]

Via: Google Drive Blog

ASUS Game Box Controller Leaked, Pairs With Possible Android-powered Game Console

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:22:17 +0000

Because there aren't already enough failing Android-powered game consoles, it appears as if ASUS is ready to throw their hat into the ring with the Game Box. Recently going through Bluetooth certification, a wireless controller for the alleged set-top box is pictured, showing a decent design with the looks of a hybrid Xbox/Playstation style. On the controller, we can clearly see two thumbsticks, command buttons (X,Y, B, A), directional buttons, two bumpers, a start button, and a select button. It looks like a very straightforward controller, so here's hoping Asus can surprise us with a decent-looking box design. Specs for the system have been rumored, featuring numbers that won't shock you. Powering the unit is reportedly an NVIDIA Tegra 4 chip with 2GB of RAM, which also features 8GB of storage, and comes running Android 4.3. It definitely won't be powering anything you see on the Xbox One, but these are just Android games after all. Forgive my harsh tone, but in a world where OUYA can release an "updated" console that still features the same ol' tired Tegra 3 processor, I see little hope for this category of device. Who knows, maybe ASUS will wow us. For once, that'd be a nice change.

Via: Liliputing | Bluetooth

Google Update Bonanza: Maps, Translate, YouTube, Chromecast, Search, and Chrome Beta

Rithvik — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:15:51 +0000

Google is still going strong with their trademark "Update Wednesdays," and this week is absolutely no exception. We already saw the Wallet update and the possibly erroneous YouTube update, but now have a plethora of other fresh meat, most being relatively minor. Regardless, it's definitely a good thing to see Google paying attention and squashing those bugs, adding nifty new features along the way. All the updated apps are listed down below. We'll be updating this post as we learn more.

Maps (7.7)

Google's Maps update isn't too impressive, but we do have more than just bug fixes available to us. There's only one real feature that's been added, and it's the ability to see upcoming events at public places. If you were to find Portland's Moda Center, for example, you'd find the date and time of the Blazers' next loss--er, game. There are no other changes that users will be able to appreciate, but it's nice to see the Upcoming Events feature regardless. Below we have an APK download for those of you who don't want to wait on Google Play's staged rollout to get to you. Play Link | Download

Translate (3.0.5)

Translate's update adds handwriting support for 13 more languages, allowing foreign users of the app to write something to translate rather than type it. The new languages are Arabic, Bosnian, Cebuano, Gujarati, Hmong, Kannada, Maltese, Mongolian, Persian, Punjabi, Somali, Tamil, and Telugu. I personally speak one of those languages, so this one's a welcome update as well. Just as with Maps, you can grab the APK down below. Play Link | Download

Chromecast (1.5.3)

Settings are now found in the hamburger menu of the latest Chromecast build, which is pretty much the only change given the fairly useless nature of the app. The sideloaders among you will be pleased to find the APK down below. Play Link | Download

Search (3.3.1064617)

YouTube's not the only app Google's having trouble with today. If you dive into Voice settings in Search, you'll find a bunch of debug settings presumably mistakenly left in by the Mountain View folks. According to Android Police, the update brings with it a new logo for cricket teams, an expanded view for stocks with a greater amount of detail, and improvements when viewing a searched image. Also included is a separate section for Hotword Detection in settings, which will allow you to turn it on or off, plus disable always-on listening for the Google Now Launcher. The Search APK is also linked. Play Link | Download

Chrome Beta (34.0.1847.62)

Bug fixes and stability improvements. 'Nuff said. We have the APK for this one as well, in case you don't want to wait for it to show up on Play for you. Play Link | Download

Wallet (2.0-R155-v14-RELEASE)

We already wrote Wallet up, but we now have an APK available in case you haven't got it. Play Link | Download

YouTube (5.5.26 / 5.5.27)

We previously reported that Google may have accidentally sent out an internal build of the YouTube app, but it looks like they quickly fixed this up by releasing version 5.5.27. The changes in this one include the ability to reply to comments on videos (finally!), and flag videos in full screen mode. Also added are some refinements to the hamburger menu. We have the 5.5.26 and 5.5.27 APK files available for download. Play Link | Download (5.5.26) | Download (5.5.27)

Update: More information on the YouTube update. Update 5:16PM: More information about the Google Search update. Update 5:28PM: YouTube 5.5.27 APK added.

Cheers, djdsf, Severo Rivera, Chris, crazed_z06, and Ben Lee!

Did Google Just Send Us All a YouTube 5.5.26 Update Meant to be Internally Dogfooded?

Kellen — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:45:25 +0000

Sooooo, YouTube just updated on all sorts of devices, which often times prompts us to write it up. Thing is, today's update is different than most as it appears to have been an update targeted to employees of Google. Once updated, you'll see that the YouTube icon has changed to an icon with a bone inside, which means it is part of their "dogfooding" program. Dogfooding, meaning internal testing. The update brings us to v5.5.26, with the previous public release being v5.3.32. We're still digging for changes, but wanted to make sure you all tried to update to get in on the goods. This probably won't happen very often. If you don't have the update, the .apk can be downloaded here.

Web2Cast Lets You Send Any Webpage to Chromecast From an Android Device

Rithvik — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:08:45 +0000

Chromecast has been booming in popularity lately, given the recent release of its SDK. We have seen everything from Android mirroring to Cards Against Humanity pop up on the platform, so it's safe to say that the apps will just keep flowing in. The latest to join the party is Web2Cast, a utility app letting Android users beam pretty much anything displayable in the browser to the big screen in your living room. You can add a webpage using the app's interface and give it a name to recognize it by, and then tap on it to send it over to your Chromecast. HTML files and many types of images are supported, so you won't have trouble finding content to place on your TV. Also supported is the ability to Cast files stored on a local server, given that your Chromecast is on the server's WiFi network. The developer recommends uploading files to a service such as Dropbox or Google Drive, though, to easily access these kinds of files without being tethered to that particular WiFi network. Web2Cast is now available for $1.99 over on Google Play. Chromecast aficionados, are we jumping on this one? Play Link ($1.99)

The Tato Classics: Five Games You Can't Go Wrong With

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 14:53:54 +0000

There might be a few among you who care to know which games I instantly download, no matter what device I'm rocking. Okay, so maybe there are only two of you that actually wonder about this, but regardless, here's my typical Android gaming routine. Usually, when a new game comes out and I have to write about it, I will install the apk, then give it a whirl for a bit. If I don't really like it, I will uninstall the game at the end of the day. For games that I do like, I find myself playing them nonstop throughout the day, and then when I get a new device (which is sometimes quite often), the games I enjoy will be one of the first things I download from Google Play. So, the question is, which games do I find myself installing on different devices repeatedly? Unsurprisingly for myself, this list is hard to keep down to just five, as I usually have about 7 or 8 games that I like to have with me at all times, depending on my gaming mood. For the sake of keeping this semi-short, here are the five games I can't live without, complete with honorable mentions below.

1. Dumb Ways to Die

For being a game filled with adorable little characters, watching the little critters get hit by trains and shocked by toasters is a real thrill. In Dumb Ways to Die, you the player are met with various challenges, all of which you are being timed on. You are given three lives, and if you can't complete a puzzle in the short amount of time, your fuzzy critters will die. Puzzles range in difficulty, and sometimes pose quite the challenge, depending on which device you are using. For example, there is one puzzle that forces you to blow into your microphone to keep an aircraft aloft. If you can't find your microphone in time, that poor little guy piloting the plane is going to make quite the little fireball on the ground. It's a very easy looking game, but after some time with it, it's anything but easy.

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2. QuizUp

Oh, how QuizUp has consumed my life over the past month. The game is very straightforward - two players go up against each other in real time, featuring questions from a topic of your choosing. Whoever answers the most questions correct in the shortest amount of time wins. The game features over 300 different topics to master, which includes Movies, Logos, Android, Music, Food, and oh so much more. When you reach certain levels in a topic, you are given titles, which lets other players know you are not to be messed with in that given topic. For example, after reaching level 30 in Android, I was given the "Googler" title. Do I actually know as much about Android as a Googler would? Definitely not, but do my opponents know that? Of course not. For all they know, I'm Larry Page himself and I know everything there is to know about the topic. It makes for very good intimidation. In terms of addictiveness, I enjoy the re-playability of this game much more than Flappy Bird or games of that nature. What makes QuizUp special is that it forces you to use your mind, which a lot of other popular titles do not. The best thing is that it's completely free to play with zero ads. Good on you, developers.

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3. The Room & The Room 2

Usually I get frustrated and bored with puzzlers, then end up throwing them off of my device as soon as possible. With The Room and The Room 2, not only do the developers mix a huge variety of difficult puzzles and challenges with great 3D graphics, but the story is also something I can get into - it's rather dark, bordering demonic, and that's why I like it. In the story (from how I interpret it), a scientist/adventurer creates a machine which travels through time and space, not without first leaving you clues and puzzles to help you unlock the secrets of the machine itself. There is never a true antagonist, besides the puzzles you must complete. In the first game, it's hard get sidetracked on any given puzzle, as there is nowhere for your character to go. However, in the second game, a player can multitask and move about rooms, which makes solving puzzles much harder. Each game costs a few dollars, but if you need more brain exercise, then I highly recommend giving them a try.

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4. Dead Trigger & Dead Trigger 2

No Android game collection is complete without a form of zombie game. My choice is an FPS game called Dead Trigger. When the first one was released, I was hooked to the weapons and endless hordes to slay, but when the second rendition came out called Dead Trigger 2, it was my favorite Android game ever released at that point. The graphics are perfect for what they are, the weapons are bad ass, and the gameplay is never ending. My main issue is the wait system that the developers added in when upgrading weapons, since they'd rather you spend a couple bucks to have instant gratification. Instead of paying money, I just wait out the upgrading process, which also helps me from getting to burnt out on the title. Whether you hate IAPs or not, Dead Trigger and Dead Trigger 2 are the perfect zombie FPS games on Android.

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5. Need for Speed: Most Wanted

When I am in the mood for driving, I lean towards unrealistic titles, instead of realistic simulators. I would much rather drift a corner at 200MPH with my NOS full blast instead of having to break and downshift to 3rd to handle a turn in a video game. The NOS sounds so much more exciting. The Need for Speed franchise has been a front runner in this category, and I have been playing their titles for years. Most Wanted is easily my favorite driving game on Android, given it's attention to details on my favorite dream cars, sweet tracks, good soundtrack of music, and the fact that I can ram cop cars who are trying to bust me. Not today, coppers! If you like fast-paced racing games that not only border unrealistic, but are at most times completely absurd driving situations, give it a look see.

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Honorable Mentions

Assassin's Creed: Pirates
Words With Friends
Candy Crush Saga
Out There
Sonic the Hedgehog
Smash Hit
Zynga Poker

If you think my list is rubbish, let's hear your top five games down below. Feel free to throw in a few honorable mentions, too.

Threes! Lands on Google Play, an Addicting Puzzler That'll Keep You Playing

Rithvik — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:48:46 +0000

While you wait for Flappy Bird to make a return, it may be worth looking elsewhere for an addictive substitute. Threes! is the latest contender for your gaming hours. It seems the winning formula for making a game these days is a simple goal, but difficult gameplay. No, there aren't any levels here or graphics that will blow you away, but that's the beauty of it. The object of the game is simple: add ones and twos to make threes, and from then on add two of a kind to make an even larger number. Take for example matching two threes -- you'll end up with one six, and if you have another six that you can move this six to, you can make 12. Your ultimate goal is to beat your friends' scores, so you won't find an intricate level-up system or bosses to face in this game. After every time you make a move, an additional number is added to the board, so you have to carefully make your moves so your board doesn't get filled before you hit a high score. Some users have mentioned that they've had trouble getting Threes! to work with ART, so keep in mind that you may have to switch back to the default Dalvik runtime to be able to play the game.

Features

Endless challenge from one simple game mode
An endearing cast of characters
A heart-warming soundtrack
No IAP - Threes is a complete experience the moment you download it

We've been jealous of this game's iOS time, so it's safe to say we're ready to give in and try this Android implementation out. Threes! is now available on Google Play, and for $1.99 (a 33% discount from the usual price), a new addiction may be worth it. Play Link ($1.99)

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"All New HTC One" for Verizon Sold on eBay for Just $500, Packaging Outs Specs

Kellen — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:04:50 +0000

What's that, you thought the "All New HTC One" leak situation couldn't get any worse (for HTC) or more ridiculous? Silly, you should know better. Today, it got substantially more entertaining, if anything, as an apparent Verizon model was listed and sold on eBay for $499. We aren't sure if the seller didn't realize what they had or if they were trying to play it extra sneaky. But for full retail on an unreleased flagship phone that we can't stop talking about, $500 seems like the steal of the century. The phone will more than likely be listed at $600 when it's released. If that wasn't enough, the packaging has been outed as well, along with a spec list that had avoided us until now. According to the back of the Verizon box, we are looking at a device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 32GB of on-board storage, microSD slot with expansion up to 128GB, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 5-inch FHD (1920x1080) display, HTC BoomSound, rear Duo Camera with UltraPixel, 5MP front camera, 4G LTE, nanoSIM slot, and Android with HTC Sense. Sounds like a 2014 flagship to me. The cameras specs in particular are listed as Duo Camera with UltraPixel on the back, BSI sensor, pixel size of 2.0um, F2.0 / 28mm lens, HTC ImageChip 2 with HDR video. The front camera is a 5MP BSI sensor, wide angle lens with HDR, 1080p video recording, and HTC Zoe.

Who wants one?

Via: eBay | GSMarena

Google Wallet Update Brings "Orders," an Easy Way to Track Your Online Purchases

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 12:07:43 +0000

An update for Google Wallet was announced by Google today, which brings a new feature called Orders. With Orders, users of Google Wallet who make online purchases will have an easier time tracking their purchases. Not only the purchasing aspect, but the actual shipping and delivering of your purchase as well. The "how it works" is very straightforward, and the service basically works with almost any receipt that is sent to your Gmail account. Orders placed from many online retailers, as well as Google Play, can be tracked through most of the major US package carriers (FedEx, UPS).

Once you activate Orders in Google Wallet, you’ll be able to see any receipts sent to your Gmail right in the Google Wallet app. We’ve also worked with primary package carriers in the US so that when your order status is updated, you’ll get notified of the update through Wallet. So whether your order is shipped, out for delivery, or delayed, you’ll never wonder about the status of your order.

Even if you have not been managing your online shopping shipments via Google Now, Google Wallet is now another line of offense for you to do so. Go grab the update. Play Link

Via: Google Commerce

Samsung Posts Video Touting Power of ISOCELL CMOS Image Sensors Found in Galaxy S5

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:34:07 +0000

In a new video posted by Samsung, the company who currently holds 20% of the world's image sensors market, touts the power of its new ISOCELL CMOS image sensors. Without taking too much power away from the video itself, we will explain it briefly. The new sensors found in Samsung's flagship device, the Galaxy S5, feature a new pixel architecture which helps produce amazing photos, even in low light surroundings. Thanks to "minute" barriers built around neighboring pixels, each pixel has increased light sensitivity, higher color fidelity, and a 30% decrease in crosstalk (which reduces image noise). The video is quite technical, but when you have big words being spouted off about the technology in your cellphone's camera, it's easy to get excited for the upcoming release of the Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 is set to hit retail stores globally on April 11.

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Moto X Feature Request: Dear Motorola, Please Copy AcDisplay's Handling of Multiple Notifications

Kellen — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:14:10 +0000

Yes, a new feature request is ready! A couple of weeks back, we ran our first feature request that begged for a third action button to be added to Gmail notifications. Today, we're asking Motorola to take a serious look at how AcDisplay has taken the power of their Active Display feature from the Moto X and then improved upon it by allowing users to fully manage notifications. A little background - AcDisplay started out as an incredibly minimal Active Display clone that brought pieces of the Moto X to all other Kit Kat devices. It initially didn't do much, and was really just a way for you to get your screen to light up and inform you like a Moto X that something had arrived. Thanks to a recent update, it is now my current favorite app of the year, when I'm not using my Moto X, of course. The update introduced management of multiple notifications. Moto X owners will know that if you have multiple notifications waiting for you, Active Display will only let you act upon the recent or most important. The rest, sit in a tray at the bottom that can only be accessed once you fully unlock your device.

With the latest update to AcDisplay, you start off with the most recent notification as the actionable middle button. With a swipe upward, you can jump right into that specific notification, just like on the Moto X. Should you decide that you can ignore that notification for now, a simple swipe to the left or right will dismiss it and then bring up your next notification. With the Moto X, a swipe to the left or right turns your phone back off and is somewhat of a wasted gesture. To take it up another notch, AcDisplay also dismisses notifications from your notification pulldown as they are dismissed from the AcDisplay screen. So rather than swiping them away and then finding them still sitting in your notification bar, you can clean up your entire notification load without ever entering the notification bar or unlocking your phone. It's brilliant. So, Motorola, we are assuming that you are considering new features for Active Display. If you need inspiration, look no further than AcDisplay. Here is a link to app.

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If you have other general Android or device specific feature requests that you would like to see us write up, be sure to hit us up.

Fiverr Lands on Google Play, Helping People Get Jobs Done for Cheap

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:27:48 +0000

The website where you can find thousands upon thousands of people selling their services for as little as $5, Fiverr, now has an official Android app. On Fiverr, you can find someone willing to do pretty much anything you might need, as long as they can do it from the safety of their computer. For example, you can find someone willing to give you a quick guitar lesson. Just $5. Need help with a recipe that you need for dinner tonight? Just $5. Need a hypebeast blog writer to create an article for your website? You can probably find one for $5. The Android app features a very well laid out interface, making it easy to find the service you need. In addition, a messaging service has been implemented inside of the app, which means you can keep in contact with the people you paid your Abraham Lincoln to. You might be surprised at what people will do for $5, so go give it a quick look. Who knows, you might even see something you like. Play Link

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Google Buys Game Developer Green Throttle Games

Kyle — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 09:40:09 +0000

It seems that the pieces for Google’s rumored set-top box are beginning to fall into place. According to a report from Pando Daily, the search giant has purchased Santa Clara-based game developer Green Throttle Games for an undisclosed sum. An acquisition was speculated last November when Green Throttle Games unexpectedly pulled its game store app, Android Arena, from the Play Store, but Google didn’t confirm until today that it had acquired the company’s talent and assets. Launched in 2012 by two Palm employees and gaming industry veteran Charles Huang of Guitar Hero fame, Green Throttle Games’ focus was primarily on peripherals. The company sold a custom controller, the Atlas, which connected to an Android game store app via Bluetooth. One of the technology’s differentiating features was the ability to connect up to four controllers to one device; Android’s Bluetooth implementation normally only allows one device of each type to connect. If Google intends to launch a set-top box, it has its work cut out for it. Amazon, which is allegedly preparing to release a console of its own, purchased software developer Double Helix in February. Apple is also rumored to release a refreshed Apple TV with Time Warner Cable integration as soon as this April. Could a Nexus TV be in our future? We’ll probably have to wait until Google I/O on June 25 to find out.

Via: Pando Daily

HTC One (2014) for Verizon Now on Sale Through eBay, But It's a Dummy Unit

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 09:08:58 +0000

March 25 is the date set in which HTC plans on unveiling the next rendition of the One. Thanks to the Internet, folks who can't wait that long to see just how the device will feel in their hands can place bids for a Verizon dummy unit. Dummy units are devices shipped to carriers and other retailers for display purposes only, featuring zero working internals and fake displays. The only point of them is to give customers an idea of how the phone feels while in hand, as the weight and dimensions should be identical to a working unit. The bidding appears to end right on March 25, and the price is still pretty solid at around $65. Whoever posted the device took some very nice pictures of the unit, and if this is exactly what we should expect from the Big Red model, we're impressed with the logo subtlety. Ready to get your hands on this dummy device? Bidding is currently taking place over on eBay, so head on down. Gotta say, this phone's design is really starting to grow on us.

Gallery

Via: eBay | NoWhereElse.fr

OnePlus One to Feature Voice Activated Wake Up Command

Tim — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 08:49:12 +0000

Using Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors, OnePlus claims they have created a customized voice recognition/command feature, much like the one found on the Moto X and newer DROID devices from Motorola. The company has taken to its forum yet again, the last time to tease the dimensions of its upcoming One device, to speak briefly on their growing relationship with the team of developers at Cyanogen Inc. who are helping to create the phone's OS. In true OnePlus form, they are asking community members to choose which command will be programmed into the feature to wake devices from sleep mode. So far, there are three options - "Ok, OnePlus!," "Wake up, OnePlus!" and "Alakazam!"

We've developed a new voice recognition/command feature based on Qualcomm's technology which the Cyanogen team has implemented into our customized version of CyanogenMod OS. Now, you can train your OnePlus One to recognize your voice and perform different tasks even when the phone is locked!

To take part in the poll, head on over to the OnePlus forums.

Via: OnePlus Forums

Casts Against Civility is Like Cards Against Humanity for Your Chromecast

Kellen — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 08:29:08 +0000

Cards Against Humanity (CAH) is one of the brilliant card games of our time. Sure, groups of nerds, Google+ users, and whackjobs probably obsess over it too much, but with a couple of adult beverages and a group of friends that have darker sides you want to get to know better (or at least laugh at), it can be a ton of fun. Casts Against Civility is a Chromecast clone of the game that aims to get you and your friends using your Chromecast for something other than YouTube and a pirated collection of...stuff. For those not familiar with the concept, CAH starts out like a typical card game. Someone in the group begins as the dealer and chooses a black community card that has an odd, gross, hilarious, or questionable sentence, word, or phrase on it. The rest of the group then takes to the stack of white cards that were dealt and decides which card fits with the black card or may at least be creative or hilarious enough to get the dealer to choose it. The fun comes from the content of the cards. They are vulgar. They are dirty. They are classless. They are hilarious. In Casts Against Civility, the game (though not affiliated at all with CAH) plays in a similar manner. Users all download the game and connect via phones to a Chromecast. They can name themselves, are dealt white cards automatically, and can simply tap to choose a white card to play against the automated black card that has displayed on the screen. The black card attaches to dealers throughout the group as it should and winners are kept track of on-screen. This may only be a "beta" release, but it seems to work quite well. Having a party this weekend? You could give this a shot. Play Link

Three New Games Added to Humble Bundle 4 - OLO, Color Sheep, and Gunslugs

Kellen — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 23:56:16 +0000

As expected, the folks behind the Humble Bundle 4 added three new titles to their pay-what-you-want package of games that already included Badland, Breach & Clear, Catan, Riptide GP2, Vector, and Zombie Gunship. As long as you pay over the average price, which at the time of this posting sits at $3.75, you get all of the previously mentioned games plus OLO, Color Sheep, and Gunslugs. OLO is a multiplayer game that reminds of a mixture of Pong, shuffleboard, and air hockey, but with colors. Color Sheep is an arcade style game that involves...colored sheep, laser blasts, magical items, and big bad wolves. Gunslugs is a side-scrolling arcade game that will remind you of an early Nintendo shoot 'em up bossfest. Again, the deal is at least $3.75 and you walk away with 9 games. Do it.

Via: Humble Bundle

My Verizon Update Brings Auto-Refresh Back to the Data Widget

Kellen — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:02:15 +0000

Over the coming weeks, Verizon will push out an update to its "My Verizon" app for Android devices. The update doesn't change the UI or offer a new experience, but it does bring back automatic refreshing to the app's data widget. For those not familiar, Verizon broke the auto-refresh functionality of the widget shortly after the company introduced shared data plans in 2012. Users had to tap the widget in order to refresh their current data usage status. While not the most inconvenient change of all time, no one will argue with automatic. Here we are almost two years later and the functionality has returned. Good job, dev team. The new build is v10.0.615. Play Link

Cheers Rashad and John!

AT&T Moto X Soak Test Invites Go Out, Gotta be 4.4.2

Kellen — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:29:28 +0000

The AT&T Moto X - also known as the last of the bunch to get Android 4.4.2 - has a soak test for a new software update on the horizon. While nothing is confirmed until the update starts, we would be surprised if this doesn't turn out to be 4.4.2. There isn't much else it could be. To see the changelog from the Verizon 4.4.2, hit up this post.

Cheers A!

OnePlus One to Feature 5.5-inch Display in a 5-inch Phone's Body

Kellen — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:10:47 +0000

OnePlus, a new phone manufacturer led by a former Oppo exec, has decided that the best way to unveil their CyanogenMod-powered phone is to slowly announce specs as we close in on a launch. I'm not sure if this is better or HTC's approach, which is to let everyone in the world leak your phone for you. Either way, the new company is going to try to bring a phone with incredibly high-end specs at a reasonable price, with CM on board. Oh yeah, it's called the One, if you didn't know yet. OnePlus One, get it? The first tease included mention of the multiple LTE bands that the phone will support. The second confirmed that the phone will run a Snapdragon 800 processor. The third, which came last week, outed the phone's "specially optimized" 3,100mAh battery. The fourth, and probably the most notable to date, talks of the phone's 5.5-inch 1080p display that somehow fits into a body that you have seen house smaller displays. The example OnePlus gives us can be seen below. According to today's tease, the OnePlus One is lying underneath the Xperia Z1 you are seeing pictured, which as you know has a 5-inch display. So OnePlus apparently has put a 5.5-inch display in a phone body the same size as the Xperia Z1. Not bad. The display sits somewhere around 400ppi and is 1080p because "QHD is overkill," according to OnePlus. As far as I know, this other One is still coming in Q2. Interested?

Via: OnePlus Forums [2]

Stop the Presses: Flappy Bird May Make a Return to Google Play

Tim — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:04:45 +0000

A little more than a month ago, the world weeped as Flappy Bird made an exit for both Android and iOS devices. Spawning countless clones, it almost feels as if the game never left, but none of the copies could ever match the world's most ~~beloved~~ hated game. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Dong Nguyen, the game's creator, says he may be bringing it back. One of the initial issues Dong had with his creation is that it was simply, "too addictive." While I myself would argue that the game is the exact opposite of addictive, there are probably millions of people who would disagree. If Dong does in fact decide to bring the game back, he mentions that there will be a new warning for users, stating that breaks should be taken while playing the title. To make things simple to understand, he doesn't want people going crazy over playing a simple, yet very aggravating game. If you don't believe people were actually losing their sh*t while playing Flappy Bird, Dong has been very open about the death threats that he received while the game was still live for people to download. It may seem like a very trivial game, but people take that flapping avian creature very seriously. In the event that the game comes back, will you fall victim once again to its mesmerizing spell?

Via: The Verge | Rolling Stone

All New HTC One Sales Guide Leaks, Specs and New Features Begin to Surface

Eric — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:48:51 +0000

At this point, the upcoming all new HTC One has sprung more leaks than the Titanic. Multiple videos, pictures and looks at the device have come to our attention, and today we add another to that list. A list of "complete specs" and what appears to be a sales guide for the new One's features are out for us to comb through. Even though we have seen a lot of the new One - what it looks like and what features HTC has put in - we haven't gotten any real hints towards the actual specs of the device. GSMArena has a list of specs from sources that are said to be going into this new phone. The 5-inch 1080p screen will make the device measure in at 146.36 x 70.6 x 9.35 and weigh 160 grams. The 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 is nothing to scoff at either. Finally, the battery is listed at 2,600mAh, and yes, there is a microSD card slot built in for those who just can't ditch the removable storage. A new sales guide has also leaked, telling stores how to really explain to customers how to use the new features of the One. Boomsound, HTC Zoe, BlinkFeed and of course the "HTC Duo" cameras are all listed. As for the dual cameras, this guide gives us a better view of what they might be used for. It says the HTC Duo cameras can be used to adjust the focus of a photo after it has been taken, which sounds similar to the Lytro camera and the new Galaxy S5. It's also interesting to note that the front-facing camera is 5 megapixel, while HTC is making such a push for their Ultrapixel technology. Any chance HTC goes 4MP ("UltraPixel") on the back, but 5MP on the front? Talk about odd. The section under "Easy Control" talks about how this new One will react to your touch even when it's asleep, something the Moto X has mastered. You can "swipe the screen" of the One to access apps or BlinkFeed, but also double-tap to wake your phone. These are definitely the buzzwords that we will be hearing leading up to and during the official announcement of the new HTC One, but none of this has been officially confirmed by HTC so take it with a grain of salt. Interested in the all new HTC One after all these leaks? Or is it getting to be too much?

Via: GSMArena

Twitter is Down.

Kellen — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:15:51 +0000

It's not just you. Update: And it's back! Maybe. Update 11:20AM: Definitely not all the way back. Update 11:21AM: OK, try now. Update 11:35AM: And back down for maintenance. Weee! Update 11:43AM: I'm done updating. Twitter is clearly struggling today. It's hard out here for a Tweet.

Google May Tap Intel's Moorefield 64-bit Processor For Nexus 8

Kyle — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:00:19 +0000

In an unusual move, Google may eschew ARM for a 64-bit Intel Moorefield SoC in the long-rumored Nexus 8. That's according to a report from AndroidPit, which points out that the device's alleged release month - July - would both conveniently coincide with Intel's chip shipment schedule, and come after the potential introduction of a 64-bit compatible version of Android. Moorefield is no slouch. Unveiled at MWC 2014 last month, the Atom processor has four cores clocked up to 2.3GHz, supports LTE-Advanced wireless, and features "an enhanced GPU and support for faster memory." Speaking of the GPU, Moorefield may come paired with a PowerVR G6430, which some reports suggest is up to 20 times faster and five times more efficient than its Series 5 predecessor. Of course, x86-based processors have their drawbacks, software incompatibility foremost. Intel last claimed that its processors could run 95% of Android apps, but applications like 3D games have been historically problematic. The debut of a Nexus tablet with Intel hardware could very well spur developers to release compatible versions of their apps, though. We should learn more at Google I/O 2014, which is scheduled to take place in June.

Via: BGR

Instagram Getting Big Update, Brings Sleeker UI and Performance Boost (Updated: With Download)

Tim — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:25:31 +0000

An update is hitting Google Play this morning for Instagram, version 5.1. Inside the update, users will be met with a refreshed user interface, one which is much more flat, taking cues from the iOS version of the app. By simplifying the app's design, the developers have been able to cut the app's size significantly, increasing the app's speed all over the place. You won't see any new filters or other editing tools in the update, but with a nice facelift, it's as if Instagram has been given new life. If you haven't noticed, it doesn't appear that advertisements on the app have been all too crazy, so maybe Facebook's purchase of IG wasn't the worst thing to happen. Or it could be that they're too busy writing checks for WhatsApp. Go grab the download off of Google Play. Play Link Update: If you want the new Instagram update, here is your .apk. [Download]

Via: Instagram

HTC US President Talks One (2014) Leaks, Broader Device Portfolio in 2014

Tim — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:15:31 +0000

It must be hard working at HTC, having to build hype around an upcoming device that has been leaked more times than one can keep track of. Thanks to last year's One, the Taiwan-based company is beginning to build a recognizable brand that should help the cause, with the HTC America President Jason Mackenzie leading the charge here in the US. Recently interviewed by CNBC, Jason touches on a few crucial points for the company - excessive leaks, building a broader device portfolio that includes mid-range and pre-paid devices, and a focus on building the best flagship they possibly can. In the interview , when Jason brings up that the One was voted Best Smartphone of the Year at MWC in February, he points out that this is a case of "the best getting better" on March 25 - that being the date which is set for the company to unveil the All New One. Funny enough, the CNBC reporter then asks if all of the leaks of the new One have "stolen their thunder." Seeming somewhat flattered by the amount of leaks, Jason replies that he is happy there is so much excitement over the next One flagship, but denies to comment any further. The next question asked, which is an area of hurt for HTC, was the matter of smartphone marketshare. HTC's numbers have been falling fast over the years, thanks to Samsung's monstrous marketing efforts. Jason relates his company's releases to that of a Rolex going up against a Timex. Sure, Timex may sell more, but is the quality and passion of craftsmanship to be found in the devices? He continues that HTC has strong carrier/partner support, and that brand recognition for the One is on the uprise. All in all, he's content that if HTC continues to deliver the better product, the "marketshare will take care of itself." To wrap it up, Jason touches quickly on the fact that HTC must pay more attention to two additional sectors in the smartphone arena - pre-paid devices and mid-range devices. They did so last year with the HTC One Mini, so it's probably a safe bet that we can expect the same device scheme with the All New One in 2014. How exactly HTC wants to attack the pre-paid market here in America, to combat Motorola's insanely-popular Moto G, remains to be seen.

Jawbone Up App for Android Receives Update, Now Features UP24 Wireless Syncing

Kyle — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 09:30:34 +0000

Jawbone UP24 owners, rejoice! Jawbone announced today that the companion app for the company’s UP line of fitness bands has been updated to support wireless syncing via Bluetooth 4.0, a feature that was previously exclusive to iOS devices. The UP app is packed to the brim with wellness tools like a physical activity tracker, workouts log, and nutritional info notebook. The new Bluetooth 4.0 wireless syncing feature aims to make everything a little more convenient; UP24 users don’t have to worry entering most information manually, as the band will use low-power wireless to continuously populate the app with updates. In addition, the UP app can be used to schedule a vibrating alarm on the UP24 to wake or alert you. The UP24 retails for $149.99, and the updated app is available for download from Google Play. Play Link

Via: Jawbone

Stream the New Skrillex Album "Recess" Through a Space Shooter Game for Android

Tim — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 09:00:31 +0000

Dubstep fans who enjoy having their faces melted by insane bass drops, you should know that Skrillex has a new full-length album coming. If you need yourself early access to the album, titled Recess, you can stream it via a new game for Android, Alien Ride. The game is pretty simple, and should remind you of an old school space shooter. Health packs and upgrades float down from the screen, and the better you do, the more features/songs you unlock. Once you do pretty good, you will see your score (lit in green) say "Access Granted." Quickly tap on that, then you will be taken to a new screen where you can stream the tunes off of Recess. While this may sound sweet, user beware. After getting far through the game, and then seeing the "Access Granted" at the top of the screen, I get nothing but force closes. After seeing reviews on Google Play, it appears I'm not the only one who has had troubles actually streaming the album. But if you love Skrillex, then you can try for yourself. Play Link

Via: Stereogum

Leaked "All New HTC One" Ad Confirms 5-inch FHD Display, "Duo Camera," and Sense 6.0 Features

Kellen — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 08:00:30 +0000

A supposed leaked ad or brochure from mobile carrier Telstra has given us some insight into the "All New HTC One" or HTC One (2014) that has avoided us up until now, even through the countless leaks. The ad talks a few specs, how that dual camera setup works, Sense 6.0, and of course, BoomSound. From a specs front, the ad seems to confirm that the display on this year's One has been upgraded to a full 5-inches, while remaining Full HD (1920x1080). The ad also mentions that it is "scratch resistant." BoomSound front facing speakers have returned (but we already knew it would) and Sense 6.0 will make its debut. Sense 6.0 - if this ad is to be believed - will feature an LG-like knock or tap gesture to turn on your phone. It mentions that a quick swipe will get you into favorite apps, news, and media feeds as well. That could be mostly BlinkFeed related, but maybe there is a new swiping gesture that will also get you into your most used or favorite apps. And last, the dual camera setup on the "All New HTC One" will officially be called Duo Camera. According to this ad, the Duo Camera allows you to "create vivid images even in low light and professionally edit memories after you've taken the shot." You can "choose where to focus, highlight what you love, soften backgrounds, and add 3D effects." Sound, neat? You can view the rest of the ad below. Oh, and I would ignore the price since Telstra is out of Australia.

Via: GSMArena

US Cellular Will Tweak Data Plans March 13, Adding More Data at Current Price Points

Kellen — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:17:16 +0000

According to sources, US Cellular is jumping on the "better bang for your current buck" trend that almost all of the major U.S. wireless carriers have fallen under over the last couple of weeks. It's a competitive world out there, so carriers are now offering you more data for the same price. Verizon did it with MORE Everything, AT&T did it with family and individual plans (Aio Wireless too), and so did T-Mobile (sort of). Come March 13, US Cellular will make their new shared data plans official and permanent. Their $40 plan with 300MB of data will now be 1GB, the $50 plan jumps from 1GB to 2GB, and the $60 plan rises from 2GB to 3GB. There will also be a new $15/300MB plan and a $60 single line plan with 1GB of data. If you are a current US Cellular customer, your account will automatically upgrade to the new data amount.

Smart Alarm Clock is a Feature-packed Tool to Awake You From Slumber

Rithvik — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:02:03 +0000

If you were looking for a more feature-packed competitor to the renowned Timely alarm clock, and don't quite dig the idea of using your phone's screen to wake you up silently, you may want to give Smart Alarm Clock a shot. It monitors the sounds in your bedroom, and also keeps track of your sleep cycles. This means it'll know exactly when to wake you up so you don't feel like Grumpy Cat in the morning. The app uses sensors in common Android phones (you don't quite need Project Tango to use this) to keep tabs on your movements throughout the night and deduce which stage of sleep you currently are in. It will also record any sounds prolonged longer than 5 seconds, so the snorers out there should be able to hear a recording of themselves after the fact. You are also presented with over 100 "relaxation sounds" to fall asleep to, so there definitely is a use-case for people who have trouble falling asleep. Shown to you after you end your sleep are detailed statistics about your sleep cycles and stages, meaning you'll get to see your habits and tendencies in terms of phases of sleep. Most importantly, the app will wake you up when you're sleeping the lightest, but presumably it'll jump the gun and play the alarm prematurely if your alarm time is fast approaching.

Features

Determines the best time to wake you up
Provides detailed statistics of your sleep cycles and stages
Weather forecast: detailed weather stats from anywhere in the world
Records your bedroom sounds if they are longer than 5 seconds
Includes 100+ specially designed chill-out and wake-up music

Available for $1.99 on Google Play, Smart Alarm Clock may be worth a try for anyone who tends to wake up on the wrong side of the bed a lot. Play Link ($1.99)

PuzzleBits Released to Google Play, a Deceptively Challenging Puzzle Game

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:40:03 +0000

While downloading PuzzleBits, a new game on Google Play, I'll admit I was expecting a somewhat childish puzzle game from the look of the screenshots. Once I got to the Octopus round (the second round), however, I could feel the frustration building up inside of me. Why I couldn't easily figure out this silly animal puzzle, I will never know. Regardless of my inabilities, PuzzleBits is a light-hearted, yet challenging game from Noodlecake Studios, the same developers that gave us Mikey Shorts, Punch Quest, and League of Evil. In the game, you are given an outline of a thing - usually an animal or recognizable person - then are given a lot of pieces to fill the puzzle in with. It's your typical, match this piece where it fits type of game. But as I soon realized, it's not always easy to find where to fit your pieces. The game is completely free, and if you have more patience than I, go give it a shot. Play Link

Monday Poll: If the Nexus 5 Came to Verizon Now, Would You Buy It?

Kellen — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:13:03 +0000

Outside of the ultra-late arrival for the Nexus 7 (2013) on Verizon, Big Red customers have been without a Nexus device since the disaster that was the launch of the Galaxy Nexus in late 2011. OK, so the launch wasn't the only disaster there, but you get what I'm saying. The last two phones from Google have not made their way to Verizon's airwaves, even though the latest (Nexus 5) does just fine on all other carriers, including the CDMA-reliant Sprint. But what if that changed? What if Verizon launched the Nexus 5 late, just like they did the Nexus 7? What if you could buy the Nexus 5 in the coming weeks - would you? With the Galaxy S5 and "All New HTC One" on the horizon, is Google's 2013 flagship still worth having, just because it's a "Nexus" device? If you need help responding to that question, feel free to read our Nexus 5 review. Then hit up the poll and comments to share your thoughts.

[poll id="291"]

Google Offering Up 60 Days of All Access for Free to Chromebook Owners, Plus Others

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:19:08 +0000

Happy day, folks - Google is giving away 60 days of Google Play Music All Access to certain users, as well as all current owners of a Chromebook. If you have yet to sign up for All Access, the music service that allows users to access millions of on-demand tracks for $9.99 a month, you may see an invite hit your email inbox offering you 60 days of the service for free. Before this deal, users were only given 30 days of the service before having to pay the monthly fee, but Google has been generous and doubled the trial amount. Could this be in response to Samsung's Milk Music? Beats Music? Who knows, but we'll take it.

If you are already on a Chromebook, and are reading this, you can redeem the offer by following this link.

Via: +Google Play

Tegra-exclusive Mount & Blade Now Available on Google Play, a Game of Epic Battles and Epic Groaning

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 13:08:00 +0000

A new game hit Google Play this afternoon, titled Mount & Blade. If you are into epic desktop RPG titles, then you might have heard of this game, as it is actually quite popular among those who wish they lived in medieval times. This is a full desktop port, and is currently exclusive to just Tegra 4-powered devices, such as the NVIDIA SHIELD. The game will put you into the boots of many types of characters. You can choose to live your life as a king, knight, commander of armies, or other choices. The world you play in is an open world, free to roam as you so choose. The point is just pwn noobs and take over as much land as possible, using your superior armies and battle strategies. Players can enter multiplayer battles with up to 64 players, featuring different gametypes - Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Siege, and many more.

Features

Highly advanced and intuitive sword-fighting systems.
Groundbreaking mounted and foot combat.
Use throwing weapons in close combat.
You can be anything from a lonesome adventurer to a commander of armies.
Sophisticated AI will challenge you in combat and in your strategic plans.
Freedom to interact with hundreds of characters.
Multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle, and Siege.

Check out the trailer below, complete with 60 seconds of "Grrahhaghh" and "Aaarggghahgh." Anyone rocking a Tegra 4 device can go grab it on Google Play now for the "discounted" price of just $6.99. Once the release discount is over, the game will go back to its usual price of $9.99. Play Link ($6.99)

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Verizon CFO Talks Continued Subsidies, Not Buying Customers, and Upgrading 50 Million to 4G LTE

Kellen — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:31:43 +0000

Verizon CFO, Fran "ShamWow" Shammo, sat down for the opening keynote of the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet and Telecom Conference and weighed in on all sorts of topics. Since we know how many of you are still Big Red customers, even with T-Mobile and AT&T shifting up strategies in order to grab your business, we thought you'd be interested in hearing what he had to say. Shammo is always worth a few good quotes during his interviews. I don't want to call him the new Sanjay Jha, because well, that would be a massive insult, but he sure knows how to grab a headline while talking to investors and analysts. In his sit down today, he walked through everything from how Verizon wants "high creditworthy" customers for EDGE and how they don't plan to leave the subsidy model any time soon, to how many millions of customers they still want to upgrade to 4G LTE and why his company likes having four major players in the wireless industry. On launching Verizon EDGE, but also keeping subsidies around, because they have "done wonders" for the industry:

And I think that if you look at this, it is another option for our customers. We are not going to force our customers into anything. It is really their decision. We believe that the subsidy model is an extremely good model. It has done wonders for us in this industry. So I think to abandon that I think is a mistake. But I do think that there are customers out there that want that installment sale. And obviously with our More Everything, what we did was when we really sat down and looked at it and studied it, we said, okay, we are going to have our subsidy model here we will overlay our Edge program here

On installment sales (EDGE), what happens when customers leave for another carrier, and having options:

And then probably if you look at history between the early termination fee and installment sale, and we know when customers leave your network for dissatisfaction the likelihood of them paying you your early termination fee is probably next to nil. So when a customer leaves for dissatisfaction on the installment sale, they're not going to come back and give their phone back so they are probably not going to end up paying you. So there is a lot of risk with the installment sale that has to be monitored. So I think as a carrier for us, we are approaching it, we're giving our customers all the options. But we do require very high creditworthy customers to go on to our Edge program.

On how many customers still aren't on 4G or smartphones (over half of their 100 million):

Well, it is pretty much. Because when you think about it almost a little over 50% of our customers there is about 25 million of our customer base out of 100 that are still on basic phones. There is another 26 million customers who still have a 3G device and haven't converted to 4G. So you are talking about 50 million customers. So there is still a lot of base that we can convert to that 4G network that then they will experience the benefits of the 4G network. And we already see that.

On why they won't buy customers from other carriers (like T-Mobile and AT&T are trying to do):

So I think that where we stand is we are not going to buy customers. I think that you have to earn loyalty and loyalty is earned through providing a value package to your customers, making sure they get what they pay for. The network still is the number one reason why people leave you. It is not because of price. I mean there is price sensitivity in the marketplace that you have to respond to. But the number one reason a customer leaves you is because of network quality. And I think that we just showed through Root and J.D. Powers again that we obviously have the best network. And that is what we built our brand on and we will continue to respond to our customers' needs.

On Sprint and T-Mobile merging:

Yes. I think Lowell put it best, we are really happy with four competitors. Look, I mean, people will do what they do. I think the one thing I would say is that obviously spectrum would become a big play if there was a consolidation in the industry

To read the full transcript, hit up the source link below.

Via: Verizon

Proof of Concept: Nexus 5 Can Easily Handle a Touchless Control-like Feature

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:02:10 +0000

We know you can only find Touchless Control on the Moto X, but the always-listening feature isn't a Motorola exclusive. As a proof-of-concept, the developer behind Focal (the ex-CM camera app), showed off the Nexus 5 with an always-listening feature running in the background. Thanks to the Qualcomm processor powering the Nexus 5, the always-listening feature is completely doable on the Snapdragon 800 chipset, although the developer states that it is unstable and currently unreleasable for various reasons. In order for this feature to be achieved, a few tweaks were made to Qualcomm's audio chain found in the processor, but unfortunately, these changes are unpublishable due to licensing redistribution issues. Until Qualcomm is happy with third party developers tweaking their goodies, you won't see this released to the public. Guillaume Lesniak, the developer behind the concept, explains in his post on Google+ that the feature is indeed powered by the dedicated audio processing chip found on the Snapdragon 800.

This is indeed using the dedicated audio processing chip of the S800 - that's the whole point of this PoC. The CPU is indeed turned off and isn't used at all for the audio processing.

While it is only a proof of concept, it would be nice to see this functionality move to many more devices than just the Moto X. After all, it's one of the reasons we love the Moto X so much.

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Via: +Guillaume Lesniak

Sony Reveals Xperia Theme Details, UI Customization for Xperia Phones

Kyle — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:28:47 +0000

The ease of personalization has long been one of the Android platform’s most attractive features. In particular, theming – re-skinning portions of Android’s UI – has been popular practically since the dawn of Eclair. Unfortunately, though, the process isn’t necessarily straightforward, and relatively few devices from major manufacturers have supported such customization out of the box. Challenging convention, Sony’s embracing Android’s openness with the release of Xperia Themes. According to the Sony Mobile blog, the new app will ship with the 4.3 Jelly Bean upgrade for eligible Xperia devices. Individual themes will be made available for download from Google Play and Sony Select, and have the potential to modify almost all of your Xperia's software aesthetics. Up to 280 assets can be re-skinned, including the navigation bar, icons, folders, checkboxes, switches, sliders and buttons. Even finer-grain controls are apparently in the pipeline. Some overseas users have already received the update with Xperia Themes, but hopefully the US upgrades aren't too far behind.

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Via: Sony Mobile

"All New HTC One" for T-Mobile Makes a New Video Appearance, Compared to One Max Too

Kellen — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:43:09 +0000

Samsung managed to keep the Galaxy S5 out of public view until the press got a hold of the 2014 flagship and mistakenly outed it less than 24 hours before its official unveiling. HTC on the other hand, still hasn't officially announced the "All New HTC One" (One 2014), yet we have seen the device in a 12-minute video and more images than we even know what to do with at this point. HTC sucks at controlling leaks. In today's set of leaks, we not only get a new video of the phone in action, but also in a series of photos that shows off its exterior trimmings and how it compares in size to the HTC One Max. The video is quick, but we do get to see both the SIM and microSD slots. The leaker also takes us into Settings where we can see the phone's codename of "M8" and a mention of Sense 6.0. And last, this is a T-Mobile model with plenty of bloat. If there are already carrier versions floating around in what appear to be random rep's hands, that has us wondering if HTC will launch this phone immediately after announcing it? In the photos (below the video), you can see the size comparison of the new One to the One Max. There isn't much to take from the photos other than size, well, except for the fact that the USB port on the bottom isn't centered like we were all hoping. It's off-centered, right next to the headphone jack. OCD readers, have fun with that

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Via: Nowhereelse.fr

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Official Companion App - Watch Additional Videos and View More Photography

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:10:46 +0000

If you happened to tune in last night for the series premier of Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey, then hopefully you are feeling a bit more like a kid again today. The show was fantastic, and if you can't get enough, then it's time to grab the official app from Google Play. In this companion app, which is free to download, users are met with "breathtaking" photography and unique videos that won't be seen on TV. In addition, an interactive Cosmic Calendar is inside, which visualizes the 13.8 billion year history of the universe into a single human calendar year. There is also full episode streaming, but that takes place through another app, Fox Now. Download both to make sure you don't miss a second of Cosmos. Play Links: Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey | Fox Now

AT&T Reduces Individual Plan Prices by $15, Now Start at $65 for a Single Line

Kyle — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:25:16 +0000

Competition is a good thing, especially when it comes to smartphone plans. Almost certainly in response to T-Mobile’s doubling of data for entry-level price tier customers last Friday, AT&T announced a price cut for no-contract plans with two or fewer lines. Single-line Mobile Share Value plans now start at $65, a $15 savings, while two-line accounts are $90. That price will net you 2GB of data, unlimited talk and text, unlimited international messaging in 190 countries and 50GB of AT&T Locker cloud storage. In addition, AT&T is offering a $100 bill credit for activating a new line of postpaid service. AT&T’s most recent effort is only the latest in a series of price cuts and plan changes that have seen the carrier become more competitive in the mobile service industry. In February, AT&T reduced the price of its family plans, and in January, the carrier infamously offered $450 for T-Mobile customers to switch to its service. Here's the press release:

Last month, AT&T announced its best-ever pricing plans for families and small businesses and great international offers. Beginning Sunday, AT&T will extend savings to customers with one and two lines with the introduction of a new lower priced 2GB Mobile Share Value plan starting at $65 a month, which is $15off the current 2GB plan for one smartphone with no annual service contract. New and existing AT&T consumer and business customers will see great value in this plan, which includes domestic unlimited talk and text, as well as unlimited international messaging from the U.S. to select countries. AT&T customers with a compatible device may also sign up for 50GB of cloud storage at no additional charge. Need more than 2 lines? Our Mobile Share Value Plans for families and businesses start at $145 for10GB of data and 3 smartphone lines with no annual service contracts. Additionally, AT&T recently added unlimited international messaging (text,picture and video) to all Mobile Share Value plans for no additional cost.Unlimited international messaging includes messages sent from the U.S.,Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands to more than 190 countries for textmessages and 120 countries for picture & video messages. With Mobile Share Value plans, eligible customers can choose to purchase aphone with an AT&T NextSM installment agreement with no annual servicecontract and no down payment. And with AT&T NextSM, qualified customerscan get a new smartphone every year. Visit a store or att.com/next for plandetails and conditions. Mobile Share Value plan customers can additionallybring their own device or purchase a phone at full retail price. Customersmay also choose from a larger amount of data if needed. "We're continuing the trend of offering more value to our new and existingcustomers. Not only are families and small businesses able to save more ontheir monthly data plans, we're now delivering that same great value toindividual customers on the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network," saidDavid Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility. "We'redelivering more savings for customers across the board - backed byaward-winning customer service - with AT&T the value keeps getting better." With 50GB of cloud storage from AT&T Locker, customers can keep more than30,000 pictures safe and secure in the network and access them acrossmultiple connected devices. With AT&T Locker's cloud storage, customers canstore photos, videos, music and documents. And, for a limited time, all new and existing AT&T customers receive a $100 bill credit for each new qualified line of postpaid wireless service added - whether a smartphone, tablet, feature phone, mobile hotspot or AT&T Wireless Home Phone.

QuizUp Updated Through Google Play, Now Compatible with ART

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:10:36 +0000

While in the beta for QuizUp, many of the testers were surprised that when attempting to use QuizUp with Android Runtime (ART), the app would immediately crash. The developers stated there was an incompatibility with the two, and that they would work hard to bring ART support to the app as soon as possible. While ART is still an experimental feature, found in the Developer options under the settings menu on Kit Kat devices, QuizUp received an update this week on Google Play to support the experimental runtime for everyone who currently uses it. Now, when users open the application while running ART, they should experience normal performance with no crashing or freezing. Hooray. On top of the ART support, the developers have added in gameplay and general stability improvements, as well as layout improvements. Go grab the update on Google Play. If you haven't downloaded this game yet, then get on it. Play Link

HTC One (2014) Wallpapers Leaked Online Via System Dump

Tim — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 08:22:03 +0000

Over the weekend, a system dump of the HTC One (2014) was performed by a member on XDA. As we have seen with previous system dumps, the world now has access to all of the wallpapers that HTC has preloaded with the device. Thankfully, they are actually pretty good papers. From poking in the zip file, we can see there are lots of pretty photos taken of plants and waterscapes, as well as lots of geometric shape wallpapers. All of the colors will probably work nicely with the white icons and translucent bars on Kit Kat. To use for yourself, download the zip file from MediaFire, extract (either on your desktop or your smartphone), then apply them as you would any other wallpaper. Below we have placed a few of the wallpapers to give you an idea as to what to expect. Download

Gallery

Via: XDA

T-Mobile Galaxy S4 is Now Receiving Its Kit Kat Update

Kellen — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 08:08:48 +0000

T-Mobile has approved the Android 4.4.2 "Kit Kat" update for its variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4, with rollout expected to start today. The new build number is M919UVUFNB4. In order to update over-the-air (OTA) or through Kies, you'll need to be on build M919UVUEMK2. The update is a pretty solid jump from the phone's 4.3 days, bringing with it improved stability, a camera shortcut on the lock screen, and an improved keyboard, at least according to T-Mobile. As you all know, the update is much bigger than that. If we look to Sprint's Galaxy S4 update, we get a better picture of what is likely included. Here is the changelog from Sprint's variant:

OS upgrade to Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
- New Lock Screen Access
  - Media Controls – full-screen album art and media controls when listening to music
  - Camera Shortcut – access the Camera application right from the lock screen
- SMS App Chooser – select a default application for sending and receiving SMS text messages
- Restyled Status and Navigation Bars – status and navigation bars are translucent and can sit on top of apps, along with simplified status bar icons
- Consolidated Location Settings – location services are integrated and more detailed by new Location menu
- Expanded Emoji Icons
- Wireless Printing – supports printing over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Anyone see the update yet?

Via: T-Mobile

UltraPixels are Back in the "All New HTC One" According to Latest Teaser

Kellen — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:41:35 +0000

This afternoon, HTC continued their translation of technical details for features from last year's HTC One while also teasing the "All New HTC One" for a third time. The spot is as painful to watch as the previous two, but this time focuses on the UltraPixel camera from the original One. After diving through its ability to take shots in low-light situations, the on-screen duo goes into how the "All New HTC One" "has added" a...Well, we don't know because everything is blurred out after that part. What we do know is that something has been added to the "All New HTC One" to make it seemingly better than last year's model. In other words, the UltraPixel is back, but with a new addition. We're pretty sure that's the secondary camera sensor that has been on display numerous times through leaks. Again, the spot blocks out all of those juicy details because it wants us to be surprised come March 25 when the phone is unveiled. I'll just say this - if HTC puts their glorified 4MP camera in another phone, this second sensor better help it take the best mobile photos the world has ever seen. I'm not saying I need a 16MP camera in a smartphone, but at 4MP, we're talking photos that still can't be cropped or zoomed on without looking sh*tty. That's just too small of a resolution for 2014. Hell, it was too small for 2013, 2012, and 2011.

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Sundar Pichai: Wearable SDK for Android Coming in Two Weeks

Kellen — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:13:59 +0000

A few weeks back, a report surfaced suggesting that Google would unveil a wearables platform some time in the month of March, with a device potentially arriving a couple of months later at Google I/O. That report is now at least half correct, as Android head Sundar Pichai announced today during an interview at SXSW that in two weeks time, his team would launch a new wearable SDK for Android. The SDK will help developers harness the power of new sensors and also create a new arm for Android to extend beyond smartphones and tablets. Pichai and Google certainly won't limit the SDK to just watches or smartbands. Pichai didn't necessarily say that a product was coming with the launch of the SDK, but did say that Google would provide its "vision" of how it sees the wearable market developing. He said that it could be quite some time before any specific products become available, as they'll take the opportunity to collect feedback with the SDK in the open. I guess that LG-made watch won't be here for a while.

Via: Engadget

HTC One (2014) Hole-filled Flip Cases Show Up, Google Play Edition Hinted At

Kellen — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:28:07 +0000

Thanks to @evleaks and his never-ending pursuit to leak all things "All New HTC One" or HTC One (2014), we are getting our first taste of the accessory line for the "M8." He also mentioned the possibility of a new Google Play Edition of this 2014 HTC flagship. In two images posted to his account yesterday, we are seeing a new flip-style case that comes in four colors: black, red, green, and blue. The case stands out - or at least comes off as being unique - because of its hole-filled front sides. As you can see from the images, the holes are being used to show important information (like time and weather) with the case closed. We aren't sure if the display will constantly show this information or if you'll need to press the power button to see it. I'm not sure I see the point if the power button is required, though maybe this case can save battery life by only showing a minimal amount of display. It's an interesting idea, I guess. On a semi-related note, Evan also mentioned that we should expect a Google Play Edition of the "All New HTC One." Since the original HTC One was one of the first GPE devices to help launch the GPE program (still available for $599), it would only make sense that HTC join the program again, assuming Google wants to keep it going. For those not familiar, that means the new One would be available running mostly stock Android (without HTC's Sense skin) and should receive OS updates quickly, similarly to a Nexus device. Any new thoughts on the One (2014)? Like the case idea? Interested in a GPE version?

Via: @evleaks [2]

Samsung Posts Extensive Galaxy S5, Gear Fit, and Gear 2 Hands-on Videos

Kellen — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:09:23 +0000

We are still about a month away from the initial launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5, so Samsung is taking every opportunity to provide you with more detail about not only their new flagship, but its wearable friends too, the Gear Fit and Gear 2. Through two new videos posted to their YouTube channel this weekend, Samsung has given us 15 minutes of combined "official" hands-on time with each. The videos aren't as detailed as we'll get with our full reviews, but they do offer you a solid overview of some of the new features of each. While watching the GS5 video, you will see the new Galaxy S5 camera features (HDR video, selective focus, etc.), how the fingerprint scanner works, what kinds of speeds you'll get with Download Booster, and how using Ultimate power saving mode (yes, that's the official name) will turn your phone to grey-screen to extend life. In the Gear videos, you'll get an overview of the differences between the Gear 2 and Gear Fit. The focus is clearly on how they can help you reach fitness goals, since each has heart rate monitors built-in, but Samsung also takes you through their use cases as companion devices for your smartphone. Both are worth a watch if you are at all considering the new Galaxy S5 or its Gear pals. Don't forget, we also spent some time with the Galaxy S5 as well a couple of weeks back. We have hardware and software tours, video of the heart rate monitor and fingerprint scanner in action, and comparison videos of the GS5 to all sorts of other phones.

Galaxy S5

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Gear Fit and Gear 2

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This Week in the Life of DROID: 3/7/2014

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:00:34 +0000

This week flew by, with news coming at us from all angles. The big news, to HTC's dismay, is that thanks to more leaks than the Titanic had after hitting the iceberg, we pretty much know exactly what to expect from the HTC One (2014). While the young man handling the camera and the device probably had little idea that a team of lawyers were on their way to his house after he hit "publish," he gave the world its first true look at what HTC will more-than-likely unveil on March 25. Wherever you are, kid, we hope you hear our appreciation. Besides all of the hype regarding the upcoming flagship from HTC, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is still in the headlines, as it just went through the FCC on its way to Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Not only did the FCC give us juicy details, but Samsung themselves also posted up a highly detailed feature video earlier in the week. To top off the madness, the big juicy rumor floating around is that Google has selected LG to make a "Nexus 6" smartphone, as well as the upcoming Nexus smartwatch. How's that for a hypebeast? To catch yourself up on all of the hotness, check below.

Enjoy your weekend, folks!

Video: A Tour of Samsung's Milk Music

Kellen — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 17:04:52 +0000

Earlier today, Samsung announced a new streaming music service called Milk Music. All lactation jokes aside, the service turned out to be something all Galaxy owners should probably take a look at. It's free. There is no registration or setup. And you can be listening to its over 200 genres (stations) and 13 million songs in a matter of seconds upon first launch. Of course, you have to have a Galaxy device to access it legitimately, but that shouldn't be a problem since there are millions upon millions of you out there. The service features a dual-radio dial setup that allows you to quickly change genres or go station by station to find music for your current mood. You can customize the dial to show only select types of genres (up to 9) and even customize radio stations by artist or song to be added to the dial. You can manage stations, add multiple artists to a station, view a history of your played music, and adjust stations to play songs depending on how new or old they are, how popular or indie they are, and if they are your favorites. It's bare bones, yet fully featured. And again, it's free. Plus, the app is built quite nicely. Milk Music, even with its silly name, is completely worth a look if you have a Galaxy device.

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T-Mobile "Doubles Down" on Simple Choice Plans, Giving Customers More 4G LTE Data at No Cost

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:27:53 +0000

T-Mobile announced big news for current Simple Choice customers on the $50 plan, throwing in 100% more 4G LTE data at no extra cost, bringing the total amount of data to 1GB. To access the new amount of LTE data, customers don't have to do anything, as the change takes place automatically on your data plan. Customers on T-Mo can still add second lines for $30 a month, with up to three additional lines for $10 a month. Another new change is how much data you get if you opt to buy additional data for your plan. Previously, when purchasing data, you would be charged $10 a month for 2.5GB. After these changes, you will get 3GB of data for the same price. To sum it up in very simple terms, T-Mobile is giving you more data for the price you were already paying. Pretty nice of them, yeah?

Simple Choice customers still start with one line at $50 per month for unlimited data, talk and text on our nationwide network - but will now get a full 1GB of 4G LTE data and tethering - double the previous amounts. Customers can still add a second line for $30 per month and up to three additional lines for $10 per month. Those additional lines also get the extra 4G LTE data with these changes. As before, Simple Choice customers can always add more 4G LTE data to each of their lines. They can opt for 3GB of 4G LTE data, including tethering, for an additional $10 a month per line (vs. 2.5 GB previously), or 5GB for an extra $20 a month per line. There is a new unlimited 4G LTE option, which now comes with a full 5 GB of tethering, double the previous amount, for an extra $30 per month (vs. an extra $20 previously).

In addition to more data, T-Mobile is also expanding their service of unlimited data and texting while traveling to new areas. The total of markets supported by this feature has now hit 122 countries/destinations, which is pretty impressive compared to how traveling with your smartphone used to be.

T-Mobile is adding seven additional countries and destinations where postpaid Simple Choice customers enjoy unlimited data and texting while traveling - and low, flat-rate calls for just 20 cents a minute, bringing the total to 122 countries and destinations.

New benefits for credit and postpaid accounts will begin on March 23, with pre-paid accounts getting access on April 26. For any additional info, hit up the via to see T-Mobile's full press release.

Via: T-Mobile

Deadlings is Death's Attempt at Making FaceTome Friends, Lead Zombies Through Mazes to Help Him

Rithvik — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:06:24 +0000

If you were on the hunt for a nice new game to entertain you this weekend, Deadlings is definitely a good candidate. The plot is quite simple, with the main character (Death) going online, only to realize that he has no friends on his FaceTome account. He then has a realization -- why not make himself feel better by putting zombies in a factory to work for him? The story is quite pathetic, but the gameplay sure isn't. You shuffle through a maze in the game and avoid deathly traps, the point being to get as far as you can get without running out of minions to use for doing this. It sounds fairly simple, but I've found that some levels have made me rage at the game due to their progressively harder difficulty. There are many characters available to play with, each with their own special set of skills, so choose wisely based on the level you're playing. You'll end up being able to use all of the characters at some point, as there are over 100 levels to be completed before "Project Deadlings" is finished. Deadlings is on Google Play for the low asking price of free, so you may as well take it for a test drive this weekend and report back to us letting us know what you think of it. Keep in mind that there is a $1.99 in-app purchase to get the best experience from the game, but it isn't as in-your-face as IAPs are in some other games.

Features

Side-scrolling, arcade gameplay
Four different types of cute zombies
Over 100+ challenging levels
Two gameplay modes: strategy and arcade
4 different worlds!
Atmospheric music and sounds
Cartoonish, hand-drawn artwork
Four Phases to unlock and complete
Funny storyline starring the Not So Grim Reaper
Intuitive one touch controls

Play Link

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Nyko Launches Three NVIDIA SHIELD Accessories - a Power Kit, SHIELD Link, and Hardshell Case

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 15:38:56 +0000

Nyko, an accessories maker geared towards mobile gaming, announced three new accessories for the SHIELD mobile gaming console from NVIDIA. The accessories include a new Shell Case, perfect for absolute protection of your SHIELD. While NVIDIA sells their own cases, a few folks might call them overpriced at $39.99, but Nyko's are just $12.99. Next up is a Power Kit, which is sort of like a backup set of cords and adapters to make sure your SHIELD never goes without a charge while at home, while traveling, or even in the car on a road trip. The kit includes one AC adapter, one car adapter and one extra-long Micro USB cable with Velcro strap. The Power Kit is on sale for just $19.99. Lastly, there is the SHIELD Link, which plugs into the mini-HDMI port, then allows you to mirror the screen onto any HDMI enabled TV or Monitor in full 1080p resolution. According to Nyko, the HDMI interface also allows for full surround sound support. Price for the SHIELD Link is set at only $9.99. To check out the new accessories for your NVIDIA SHIELD, head to Nyko's site .

Nyko® releases line of NVIDIA® SHIELD™ accessories exclusively on Nyko.com Visitors will be able to purchase accessories to protect, charge and more
Los Angeles - March 6, 2014 - Nyko Technologies®, the premier gaming peripherals manufacturer, is proud to announce the release of their officially licensed products for use with the ultimate gaming and entertainment portable, NVIDIA® SHIELD™. Releasing today exclusively on Nyko.com: The Shell Case is a high-impact hard case that fully encapsulates SHIELD, providing total protection. The case is custom fitted to the exact specifications of the device and features a rubberized interior for added protection against bumps and scrapes. A detachable accessory bag is included to store the AC adapter and any necessary cables while traveling. An included carabineer allows the case to be conveniently attached to a laptop bag or backpack. The Shell case is available now at Nyko.com for $12.99 The Power Kit provides all the necessary adapters and cables to recharge SHIELD at home, while traveling, or in the car. The kit includes one AC adapter, one car adapter and one extra-long Micro USB cable with Velcro strap. The included car adaptor charges up to 2 amps, providing the faster charging of the SHIELD while traveling. The Power Kit is an ideal replacement or secondary bundle for those looking to recharge SHIELD and is available now at Nyko.com for $19.99. The SHIELD Link brings all your favorite Android or Steaming PC games to your living room. The SHIELD Link plugs in to the Mini HDMI port of the NVIDIA SHIELD and allows you to mirror the screen onto any HDMI enabled TV or Monitor in full 1080p resolution. The HDMI interface allows for full surround sound support, while the 6 foot length allows for easy gaming while plugged into your TV. Use the SHIELD Link with Nyko's PlayPad for a console-like experience with your SHIELD. The SHIELD Link is available now at Nyko.com for $9.99 All products are available now exclusively at Nyko.com To celebrate the launch, Nyko will be holding a two week contest with the grand prize of 1 of 2 NVIDIA SHIELD units. Connect with Nyko's Twitter and Facebook pages for your chance to win.

Friday App Sales: Rayman Jungle Run, Deus Ex: The Fall, Final Fantasy V, and More

Rithvik — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 14:27:07 +0000

It's that time of the week again, when we scrape together the best deals on Google Play for you all to enjoy. This week we have a wealth of quality apps with price chops, including Deus Ex: The Fall and Square Enix's Final Fantasy V. We also have two great apps, Rayman Jungle Run and InstaWeather Pro, available to us for a discount. And for you parents out there, plenty of Dr. Seuss apps have been made 99¢ to commemorate the franchise's birthday. Check the full list out down below.

Friday app sales

Mahjong Artifacts® (Full) - ($0.99)
Worms 2: Armageddon - ($0.99)
Waking Mars - ($0.99)
HIIT - interval workout PRO - ($0.99)
Abs workout PRO - ($0.99)
The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss - ($0.99)
Shuttle+ Music Player - ($0.99)
MeteoEarth - ($0.99)
Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss - ($0.99)
What Was I Scared Of? - ($0.99)
One Fish Two Fish - Dr. Seuss - ($0.99)
Dr. Seuss's ABC - ($0.99)
Oh, the Places You'll Go! - ($0.99)
Draw a Stickman: EPIC - ($0.99)
Blue Sleep Therapy - ($0.99)
Rayman Jungle Run - ($0.99)
GA 1: An Assassin in Orlandes - ($0.99)
Deus Ex: The Fall - ($0.99)
FINAL FANTASY V - ($7.99)
Violett - ($0.99)
Handy Note Pro - ($0.99)
Venture Towns - ($1.20)
Quadro Icon Theme Apex Go Nova - ($1.35)
Hourly chime PRO - ($0.99)
Abs II workout PRO - ($0.99)
InstaWeather Pro - ($0.99)

That's all we have for you this week, folks. Go give those devs some cash!

Deal of the Day: Refurbished Jawbone Jambox for Just $57.99 With Free Shipping

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:50:29 +0000

Usually priced at around $150 on Amazon and other e-retailers, the Jawbone Jambox is today's deal of the day. Priced at just $57.99 on 1sale.com, this is a pretty good deal, even if it's factory refurbished. Both Kellen and myself rock Jambox speakers in the house, as they are quite the little package from Jawbone. Even with its small stature, they do get quite loud. With Bluetooth connectivity, pretty much any device you have can run through them, but they also feature an input jack if Bluetooth isn't your thing. 1sale.com has them in four different colors, so if you are interested, you should be able to find one that suites your taste. To take advantage of the deal, follow the via link below.

Via: 1sale.com

Galaxy S5 for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Pass Through FCC

Kellen — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:27:53 +0000

On schedule for an April arrival, all sorts of Samsung Galaxy S5 variants have cruised through the FCC this week. The Verizon (SM-G900V), AT&T (SM-G900A), and T-Mobile (SM-G900T) models are confirmed, however, the FCC shows that numerous others stopped by as well. The Verizon variant is showing compatibility with LTE bands of 4 and 13 - both of which are indeed part of Big Red's network - along with the ability to roam globally on GSM 850 and 1900. The T-Mobile and AT&T models are each showing compatibility with LTE bands 2, 4, 5, and 17. Their GSM bands do not match up exactly, but you should still be able to them between each carrier with some success after unlocking. The rest we know since the phone has been officially announced by Samsung. The Sprint model may not have made its way through the FCC yet, unless we have the model number wrong. We were under the impression it would be SM-G900P. We are seeing model numbers of SM-G900S, SM-G900H, and SM-G900F. And that puts us one step closer to April 11.

Via: FCC [2] [3] [4]

Toast Wood Covers Now Available for Moto G, We Have a Couple to Give Away (Update: Winners Picked)

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:30:29 +0000

The Toast wood cover company in Portland, OR is hard at work, trying to make more cases available for a variety of different devices. The newest case to be made is available is for the Moto G, which is actually Motorola's most successful device of all time according to the Illinois-based manufacturer. Toast wood covers are 100% made in the United States, with a very small portion of materials (Ebony and Bamboo wood) coming from overseas. The cases start out at just $25, with four different wood options to choose from - Walnut, Ash, Bamboo, and Ebony. Front wood covers are also sold separately for an additional $10. Buyers can choose to have custom text added to their design, priced at $5. We have done a hands-on video with the Toast wood cover for the Nexus 5, and in all seriousness, we really love these darn covers. The wood grain feel that is added to the device, with little-added girth from the wood itself, brings a new feel to any phone. The quality of the covers is quite good, and after having the cover on my Nexus 5 for a bit, I can say that it holds up very well. If you would like to buy a cover for the Moto G or a number of different Android phones, including the Moto X, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, and others, head to Toast's website. Feeling lucky, though? We have two Moto G wood covers to give away, so look below for the Rafflecopter entry widget.

Gallery

Giveaway

We have a Walnut option and Ebony option for readers to win. Both come with front covers as well, so try your hand at winning one of these wood covers for free. Follow the instructions on the widget to enter. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 19 Answers

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:12:33 +0000

On Monday, we asked for readers to send in their questions for Volume 19 of the DL Q&A Sessions. We have gathered our favorites, then let our team have at them. Questions seems to be quite focused on Motorola and the general state of the hardware/software game for Android. If you were curious for our honest opinions on the Lenovorola deal or which spirit animal our Android device's would be, then read on. Thank you for your fantastic questions, everyone. Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tim, R is Ron, and E is Eric.

If every phone manufacturer was running stock vanilla android, what hardware would you choose?

K: Motorola. I know we talk about our love for the Moto X all of the time, but it is the hardware I would still choose (thankfully it already runs stock Android). It may not carry the premium look of the all-metal HTC one, but it feels so fabulous in hand. I really hope that Motorola doesn't change the size of the new Moto X, but maybe just upgrades the display and camera. No phone feels better in hand to me than this after all this time. And I've gone back and forth between the One, G2, and Nexus 5. T: I would choose whichever one had the best camera. If each hardware maker had their typical sensors in there, then I would have to stay away from almost every one of them besides Samsung and HTC. If you were to tell me that each had the same camera, and I had to judge solely on the quality of hardware, then I would lean towards Motorola or HTC. Maybe if HTC lowered the weight on the One, I wouldn't be so snobby towards it. Metal is heavy, HTC. R: I think HTC makes some of the best hardware still, but Sony would be up there as well. It would probably depend on whoever had the best camera. E: Probably HTC. The aluminum body of the One just feels too substantial to pass up. It isn't a perfect design (the big black HTC bar on the bottom, capacitive buttons), but if the software was equal across all the other devices, that would be my choice. If only it were real!

Which OEM are you rooting for this year?

K: Last year I said Motorola, this year I'm probably going to go with HTC. HTC has one hell of an uphill climb if they want to survive. I don't know if it can be done, but I hope so. They are truly trying to make the most premium smartphones of our time, they just don't have a marketing budget to let everyone know about them. Hopefully, something changes this year, because I'd hate to see one less Android OEM. T: I'm rooting hard for HTC and Motorola. Both of these companies need to hit a couple of homeruns this year, so here's hoping they come through for consumers. We pretty much know what HTC has in store for us thanks to a ton of leaks, and I've gotta say, it's not looking too good for them. Motorola on the other hand has found some success with the Moto X and Moto G (especially), so let's see if they can keep it up. R: I'm hoping HTC can stay afloat, that Sony will enter the US, and that Motorola will surprise us with a phone that can take pictures. E: Everyone! Why wouldn't you root for an OEM? HTC and Motorola need all the love they can get at this point. Samsung looks like they have disappointed a few people with the S5 so we have to give them some backing too. LG has their constant little brother syndrome and Sony still doesn't seem to understand how to roll out a phone across the globe. No one benefits from not rooting for all Android OEMs, spread the love man.

What is your phone's spirit animal?

K: A koala. T: Kevin Bacon or a big ol' bald eagle. 'Murica! R: Jony Ive. E: Grumpy Cat.

How do you honestly feel about Lenovo's acquisition of Motorola?

K: Not great. They soon won't be an American company, they'll no longer have the freedom that they had when being owned by Google, and their future is a giant question mark. They already lost their CEO. Who knows how many others from their current executive group will leave in the next few months. The Texas MotoMaker plant is almost guaranteed to go away. It all kind of sucks, actually. Moto did some really cool stuff last year, and will likely again this year until the acquisition is official, but after that, who knows what we'll see. T: Another great American company, now owned by a Chinese company. All of the hard work and uphill battles they fought last year might as well have been for nothing, as Lenovo announced they plan on introducing Motorola to emerging markets. Will they focus still on the US? Probably, but not as much as we would like. We probably have a few devices in Motorola's pipeline to look forward to, but in terms of overall feeling towards the deal, I'm bummed about it. R: I don't know what to think yet. I really like Lenovo's Yoga Pro 2, but their smartphone software has been sub par so far. I think Lenovo has pretty good design chops, so for me the big thing will be to see if they can continue Motorola's new-found love of close-to-stock Android with useful, not gimmicky, software enhancements. And a camera that can take pictures. E: I think we all shared our feelings on a Droid Life show a couple weeks ago, but to sum it up: I'm disappointed. It seemed that we were just getting a new Motorola who was on the right track to do some really cool things and now we can't be sure of that now. I know Lenovo has the manufacturing prowess to boost Motorola, but it takes more than that. You have to have an idea and vision, and I think we fell in love with the vision that Moto had under Google. I highly doubt that it will be the same under new management.

Do you think Nokia has a chance in the Android market?

K: Go away, Nokia. Go away. T: It's Nokia. I don't really care quite yet. When I see an awesome flagship with crazy specs and a good camera, I might turn my head to re-acknowledge their existence. R: I don't think that question makes sense. Nokia is using Android to push Microsoft services on the low end, but the experience is far worse than a low-end Windows Phone, so I don't see Nokia's line of Android phones taking off any time soon. If Nokia went all in with Android and made something akin to the Lumia 1020 then I think they might have a shot, but that ship has long sailed for Nokia. Microsoft will undoubtedly shut down any Android-related projects once the acquisition is complete. E: If they keep scraping the bottom barrel of the market, probably not.

Why do you guys prefer stock Android so much?

K: I think partly because I know it so well and am so used to it because we pushed so hard for it to be the standard over skins. I can get down with TouchWiz and Sense, but they just seem to carry this extra layer or three of fluff that I don't need. Stock Android is simple, but lets me add what I want to it. There isn't extra garbage. Plus, it has really matured over the last two years to become a beautiful OS that has all of the stuff you need to survive. T: I enjoy stock Android because Google is my overlord, and if this is how they intended me to enjoy their mobile OS, then this is how I will keep it. On a more serious note, I think the problem with skins is that they add in too much. They go past the point of useful and just add in gigs worth of crap I will never touch. When you buy a phone with 16GB of storage, then only 8GB are useable thanks to a skin and crapware, then we have a problem. That's some scam/false advertisement right there. Motorola is on the right track - stock Android, but with hints of proprietary goodness. Good on you, Moto. R: I personally prefer stock Android because I like consistency. I want all of my apps and the OS to look like they match each other. Stock Android tends to be able to meet that aesthetic much better than the skins. That said, most stock Android icons are garbage. E: For people just coming into the Android scene, it may seem a little weird to have this obsession with stock Android. You have to look at it from where we have been. Android skins like TouchWiz and Motoblur used to be god-awful. Absolutely killed your phone. Putting some kind of stock ROM on it or having a Nexus device was almost like night and day. OEMs have done a lot to make skins a lot less intrusive and a lot more functional, but some of that preference for stock still comes from that. Another big group of thinking is that stock Android makes it easy to ROM, root and hack their device. Something that other mobile OS's don't offer so easily. And then personally, I like minimal. Stock Android is slim, sleek and runs fast. Why wouldn't I love it?

What are you expecting from a new Moto X device?

K: More of the same, at least that's what Motorola told us in an interview. I'd imagine they'll continue to add features to Active Display and Touchless Control. They'll then upgrade to a 1080p display, find ways to extend battery life further, and hopefully keep MotoMaker on some level. I'm sure there will be some sort of new surprise to help sell the phone, I just have no idea what that'll be. I really just wish they'd put the best possible camera sensor for mobile on Earth in that thing. PLEASE, Moto. T: "Better" specs and a MUCH better camera sensor. Good lord, Moto, did you even open the camera app before releasing the Moto X? If you tell me you did, I'm going to call you a big fat liar! Regardless, I have high hopes for a 2014 Moto X. Last year's had the perfect mix of stock Android and helpful software/hardware features like Touchless Control and Active Display. Don't over do it, Moto. R: I would love to have a Moto X with a fantastic camera, but I am absolutely not expecting that from Motorola. I'm expecting a slightly spec bumped Moto X with a very similar chassis, a disappointing camera, decent battery life, and a low price. E: Better camera, better processor, more MotoMaker options and a few other snazzy improvements along the line of Touchless Control and Active Display.

If you had to live with one for the rest of your life, would it be HTC's Sense UI or Samsung's TouchWiz UI?

K: TouchWiz. While I like the overall look of Sense, I really hate the way HTC changes basic actions in Android. Samsung may skin the hell out of everything, but general Android concepts are there. For example, to share photos from your gallery in Sense, you have to tap the "share" button first, then select which app, and then select the photos. On every other Android device on the planet, you select the photos first, and then tap share. Or how about their dock/app/folder situation in the Sense launcher? Or their terrible management of contacts? Or the insanely long process they have implemented for changing a wallpaper? Ugh. Things like that drive me nuts. T: So blowing my brains out isn't an option? I would go with the new TouchWiz that we saw on the Galaxy S5. It's actually not that bad. Is it just me, or does Kit Kat make everything better? The unification of colors on the notification bar (and the translucency) has been one of my favorite changes to Android since I have been using this OS. I think it's extremely hot. So, to answer the question, TouchWiz! R: HTC Sense would absolutely be my choice. Samsung has always been bad at software design (look at the old Omnia line of Windows Mobile phones versus HTC's Windows Mobile phones with TouchFlo), whereas HTC has usually been able to design things that look nice. It's not always my favorite design aesthetic (I'm not in love with the latest versions of Sense), but it looks nice. E: Both of these skins have a pretty bad history, but I think they've both come a long way. I have a slight preference for Sense though. I don't need birds chirping at me for the rest of my life whenever I get a text message.

Designer Gábor Balogh Asks, "Why do Smartwatches Have to Look Futuristic?"

Eric — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 11:15:11 +0000

There is no denying that Android and the mobile world are in the midst of a wearable technology craze, with every OEM trying to figure out what makes a smartwatch look and function well. Samsung's Gear watches or Razer's Nabu project are taking it into the futuristic realm, but why not try and keep it closer to the timepieces that we already wear on our wrists? Gábor Balogh thinks it is possible. In a post on his Bēhance page that features a concept for a much more classically designed smartwatch, Balogh asks why are we throwing out the years and years of watch design for smartwatches? His design certainly reflects the typical look of an upper-class watch, but would function just as well as any smartwatch that has been announced to date. By keeping the watch's dials that set time and date, Balogh found a way to control your apps and screen without smudging it. The bezel also responds to touch for even more interaction.

However, the face of the watch is not actually a traditional watch face. It would feature a screen that could easily swap between different apps like weather, music and health related information. The design looks great and there are surely people out there who would jump at this over something like a Gear 2 or Gear Neo. If you are more interested in the design, check out the source link below for Balogh's full description. How much would you pay for a smartwatch like this?

Via: Gábor Balogh

Cheers Justin!

Rovio Posts Teaser Video for Next Angry Birds Game, Suits of Armor Definitely Included

Eric — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:45:08 +0000

The gaming juggernaut that Rovio created is coming back for another round. A teaser video for a new Angry Birds game went live on their YouTube channel today, but it doesn't explain much. What we do know is that there will most certainly be birds and they are definitely still angry. The short video features a few glamor shots of medieval suits of armor before we have one Angry Bird launch itself at us through the helmet. After that, the video goes on to explain that the launch of this new game will start in Canada and Australia, then move to the rest of the world after that. This is what Rovio is calling "the most epic soft launch ever." Why is Rovio doing a soft launch of their newest game? What is the name of the new game? So many unanswered questions.

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Pebble 2.0 With Watch Appstore Finally Released on Android

Kellen — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:03:17 +0000

Pebble finally released version 2.0 of their app to Android this morning, bringing with it the watchapp directory, a listing of prior notifications to your device, a watchapp locker, and a completely revamped app interface. This is the big update we have been waiting for that developers have been testing in beta for some time. You'll find apps for Foursquare, Yelp, eBay, Plex, Runtastic Pro, and more. The new watch store shows you categories for essential apps to have , brings you the top watchfaces, and makes it all 1-click installable. Keep in mind that when you find apps from the directory, clicking "Add" only puts them in your locker. To move them to your device, you'll need to jump to your My Pebble page, tap on the specific app, and then select "Load."

What's New

New Features in 2.0.12 (requires Android 4.0 or newer):
- Pebble watchapp directory: browse, find and install the latest watchapps for Pebble.
- List of prior notifications now stored on your Pebble.
- Watchapp locker: keep track of your favorite apps and manage the apps on your Pebble.
- Completely revamped and improved user interface design.

Play Link

Cheers Justin and Grayson!

Samsung's Own Radio Service "Milk Music" Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 09:46:05 +0000

A new streaming radio service from Samsung was launched onto Google Play this morning, Milk Music. Do we know what the name refers to? Not one bit. The service is completely ad-free, and also free of any cost, but for a limited time. Milk Music focuses heavily on customizable stations, with users able to fine-tune stations based on popularity, novelty, and favorite tracks from artists. Powered by Slacker Radio, Milk Music has zero registration or set-up. Open up the app and go. Once you set the dialer to a genre or station you like, music will instantly play. You can also select from over 200 stations, which are curated from a library of over 13 million tracks. The service is limited to just Galaxy devices from Samsung, so if you were hoping to get in on the musical fun on any other OEM's device, you are out of luck. With so many services available, we will get some time with Milk Music, and then report back on how good we think it is. To check it out for yourself, follow the link below.

Features

Stumble across new hits and old favorites with a turn of the dial.
Music plays instantly, as you scan through stations.
No registration or set-up required.
Customize the dial to show only genres and stations you like.
“My Stations” collects all the stations you love and those you create into a single station that’s easily accessible on the dial.
Fine-tune stations based on popularity, novelty and song favorites.
Listen to over 200 genre stations, curated from a music library of over 13 million songs.
“Spotlight” offers a curated selection handpicked by music tastemakers and influencers.

Play Link

Tom Hanks Classic "Big" Now Free for Limited Time on Google Play

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 09:18:33 +0000

For a limited time, fans of Tom Hanks and classic movies can pick up Big for completely free on Google Play. Google doesn't exactly mention why Big is free, it's not an anniversary of the flick or anything, but we'll take it. In Big, Tom Hanks is a kid who wishes to be a grown up. His wish comes true one night, and if you could only imagine, he gets into a whole bunch of awkward fun when he lands a job at a toy company. And wouldn't you know, he even gets a crush on one of his co-workers. We love it when Google spoils us with free gifts, especially after snubbing us with their 2nd birthday deals on Google Play. Those were terribad. Play Link

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MTV Artists Released to Google Play - Watch Countless Videos, Download Music, and Even Identify Music

Tim — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 08:25:50 +0000

A new app from MTV (previously known as Music Television, but it's nowhere near that now), released onto Google Play this week, titled MTV Artists. The idea of the app is to allow fans a better way to engage with any given artist they like. It won't offer you backstage passes to their next show, but it will identify songs for you (like Shazam or Google's Sound Search), entertain you with "thousands" of music videos, and let you view tons of concert photos from your favorite artists. On top of all of those goodies, there are also a lot of free MP3 tracks that users can download, plus there is a Top 10 countdown which you can check out that lasts just 90 seconds. It's definitely a "hip" app, so if you still believe that MTV is doing something good for this world, go check it out.

Features

A huge catalog of phones showcasing bands and artists in concert.
Thousands of free music videos.
Free streaming MP3 tracks.
Get a quick taste of artists with top 10 songs in 90 seconds.
Fun and informative infographics and artist bios make you an expert in seconds.

Play Link

Opera 20 Android Update Brings WebRTC Features, Updated Chromium Core, and More

Rithvik — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 08:06:50 +0000

We've all grown accustomed to Google's Chrome browser here at DL, but that doesn't mean there aren't any decent competitors out there. One of the more major options is Opera, a fairly underdog browser with a pretty hardcore following. Today, we have an update to the app that brings it up to version 20 and features WebRTC support, a base Chromium update to version 33, and design improvements. The main push of the update is WebRTC, which brings the mobile browser one step closer to desktop class implementations. This allows users to start video chats with other people using WebRTC compatible browsers (appear.in is the recommended service for those of you who want to try the feature out). This is actually pretty great news -- you can now use your camera and microphone right in your web browser to chat in real time with other users. Good on you, Opera. There are also a couple enhancements to the overall design, including customizability in the navigation bars, but there's nothing too major.

Features

A fresh look for the Speed Dial reflects a flat design.
Users of Opera for Android can now choose how to set up the browser navigation bars to suit their mobile phone or tablet.
The Chromium core got a kick up to version 33, and multiple bugs in text-wrap and text selection are squashed.
Improvements to search sees the combined search and address bar upgraded, allowing easier search by maintaining the words you search for in the bar.

Opera 20 is available now on Google Play for free -- all you Chrome users should try it out and give us your thoughts. Play Link

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Via: Opera

Moto X "College Collection" Now Available, 9 New Colors Added to MotoMaker

Kellen — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 07:26:57 +0000

Just in time for March Madness, Motorola has introduced the "College Collection" of colors and cases to its 2013 flagship, Moto X. Through MotoMaker, and using 9 new color options, Motorola hopes that you can create the phone for the ultimate fan in you. If not, they put together a gallery of pre-set color schemes for over 40 major schools, including Georgetown, Kentucky, Kansas, and Stanford, that should make the process painless. They even have clear cases for many of the schools that only feature a school logo. If you are a student, faculty member or alum, Motorola will give you a special discount by registering at motorola.com/college with a valid .edu address. The discount will land you an off-contract Moto X for the discounted price of $339. The nine new colors are purple, hunter green, blue, dark teal, orange, golden yellow, red, smoke, and slate. There are also three new accents of metallic orange, purple, and green. The College Collection can be found here; new MotoMaker colors here. Here is a GIF of some of the design ideas with cases:

Via: Motorola

Google Text-to-Speech Receives Massive 3.0 Update - Hasta la Vista, Robot Voice

Rithvik — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:30:31 +0000

If you have ever used Google Maps or any other service relying on the on-board text-to-speech software, you have probably encountered the famous Google robot voice. Even Apple's Siri has more natural-sounding voices of both the male and female variety, so it's about time we get some new vocals from the Mountain View boys and girls. This is where Text-to-Speech 3.0 comes in - packing an improved UI, cleaner voices, and support for more languages, this update is pretty substantial. The most important feature of the update is probably the availability of high-quality voices for users. This is a godsend for those of you who have your device read books to you, for example, as now you'll be able to actually concentrate on the content rather than curse the speaker. We now have improved voices for a variety of languages, but be careful when downloading these - some of these weigh in at over 200+MB. The difference between old and new isn't too impressive, but this is a welcome change nonetheless. I have been having issues getting the new voices to work in some applications, like Google Now, but hopefully they will begin to kick in as time goes on. Another major part of this update is the improved user interface. Still featuring holo blue, the app's screen for management of voices has been redone to be more simple. You now see how large a language pack is before initiating the download, for one. Other than that, there's not much to this enhancement other than the fact that everything looks a bit simpler now. Rounding out the update is the inclusion of two new languages, for you foreign readers out there. We have Portugese (Brazil), and Spanish (United States) to listen to. The TTS update is rolling out via Google Play over the next few days, but we do have an APK file for sideloading on your device. Be sure to enable "Unknown Sources" in the Security menu of Settings on your device, and then install this APK just as you would any other. Play Link | Download (version 3.0.10.1047791)

Thursday Poll: What Android Launcher are You Currently Using?

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:01:27 +0000

What Android launcher are you currently running on your phone? In March of 2013, we asked you this very question, with 45% of the vote going to Nova Launcher. Well, it's been a year, so it's time we ask you again. Over the past year, Google's own Google Now Launcher, previously known as the Experience Launcher, has become quite the little launcher. With built-in Google Now accessibility by sliding to the right on your screen, we have found that a lot of people have fallen in love with Google's stock launcher. We know not everyone has access to this launcher, since it's a Kit Kat exclusive launcher, so if you are still running the "stock" launcher, then just answer Stock Launcher down below. Nova Launcher's developer is still working on features for the application, so it would be hard to imagine that many people have left Nova for something else. But hey, you never know. [poll id="290"]

AT&T Lights Up LTE-Advanced Network in Several Markets, Galaxy S5 to be First to Utilize It

Kellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 15:19:51 +0000

According to a report out of GigaOm, AT&T has gone live with LTE-Advanced in several markets, making them the first major U.S. carrier to offer what could be an incredible 4G wireless experience. AT&T isn't ready yet to make this news into a marketing campaign, though, since no current devices can even take advantage of the network technology outside a hotspot unit. That will likely change once the Samsung Galaxy S5 arrives in April. AT&T has at least fired up the new LTE-A service in Chicago, but wouldn't yet confirm where else they have gone live. GigaOm surmises that the other markets could include Baltimore, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and D.C., all of which are undergoing 2G/3G to LTE transformations. To create an LTE-A network, they are using a technique called "carrier aggregation" that brings together two 4G networks (bands 700MHz and 2100MHz in their case) to allow customers to experience massive download speeds. We're talking theoretical speeds of 110Mbps. You may see better performance or speeds from Verizon and T-Mobile's LTE-A networks (whenever those go live too), but I can't imagine AT&T customers will complain. The Galaxy S5 can support carrier aggregation, so once it launches in April, owners of the device may be the first to take advantage of AT&T's new network. In other words, if you live in one of those previously named markets, and buy the GS5, you'll have bragging rights for months, sort of like many of us did when Verizon rolled out LTE to the country. Ready for next-gen LTE?

Via: GigaOm

Cheers Santos!

Tegra-exclusive Rochard Now Live on Google Play, Priced at $6.99

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:34:59 +0000

A new title hit Google Play this afternoon, Rochard from Recoil Games. The game is an interesting platformer, following a character that must solve puzzles and shoot baddies through five "long" chapters. The feel of the game is quite cartoonish, but the graphics are good. Different weapons and tools will help you get through various stages, which means not only are you entertained, but you will need to use your brain power every now and then. Unfortunately, as cool as it looks, the game is only playable on Tegra 4 devices, which includes the SHIELD portable console and a handful of tablets. This move is quite disconcerting, so here's hoping the developers release it to additional devices soon. Features

5 long Chapters crammed with fast-paced platforming action and mind-bending puzzles based on gravity
A beautifully crafted cartoonish visual style, rich with humor and personality
Incredible items able to influence gravity and grab, swing and throw objects to solve puzzles or get rid of enemies
A groovy soundtrack composed by Markus “Captain” Kaarlonen from Poets of the Fal
The legendary performance of Jon St. John as the voice of protagonist John Rochard
The most advanced use of the Unity engine in a video game

Curious how to make a game not fun for most Android users? Make it a Tegra exclusive title. Play Link ($6.99)

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Ustream Android App Receives Update, Users on Big Red to Get Their Own Verizon-branded Channels

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:00:35 +0000

Folks who love streaming on Ustream can go pick up the latest update to the official Android application, which brings special features just for Verizon customers. After the update, users on Big Red can enjoy their very own Verizon-branded Ustream channel, which will feature a "personal" mode that will act like a "link-only" sharing option. As an example, only folks who have the exact link will be able to watch your streams. In addition, videos streamed in personal mode will have the option of being ad-free, as long as there are seven or fewer viewers. To top it off, supported devices can now stream in 720p through the service. Take a peek below at the full changelog, have a look below.

What's New

Personal-casting: Those who want more privacy will have access to a "personal" mode. Broadcasts made in personal mode can only be viewed with exact link you shared and cannot be viewed from external sites or by searching on Ustream.tv
Ad-free: broadcasts streamed in personal mode will allow up to seven viewers watching without ads
HD broadcasting: Users can now broadcast in HD 720p broadcasting on enabled devices
Easy sharing: New sharing screens allows users to notify friendsof new streams via SMS or email

Play Link

Holy Sh*t, Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 is $750 on Contract at Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 13:25:04 +0000

Verizon started selling both the Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 and LG G Pad 8.3 today. One of them is priced quite reasonably, while the other - well, I'll let you decide after we tell you the price. The LG G Pad 8.3, a tablet many think is an excellent combination of size and high-end internals, can be picked up for $99 on 2-year contract or $299 without one. Not bad, right? The Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2, on the other hand, retails for $849 without a contract. While not exactly a steal of a deal, it is an oversized tablet with high-end specs that can probably justify a steeper-than-usual price. But the part that has us feverishly scratching our heads to a bloody scabness, is the on-contract price. If you want to buy Samsung's new 12.2-inch tablet, and lock yourself in with Verizon for two years, you are looking at paying $749. Woof. For that price, you could buy two 2013 Nexus 7s with LTE or two G Pad 8.3s and not be locked into a contract. You wouldn't have the 12.2-inches of glory, but man, do you really need to walk around with a touchable TV? Verizon Links: Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 | G Pad 8.3

Two New Wireless Carrier Reports on Quality and Experience Put Verizon at the Top, T-Mobile at the Bottom

Kellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 12:51:05 +0000

Both Rootmetrics and JD Power released separate reports this week that focus on the consumer experience and network quality from U.S. wireless carriers. The reports peg Verizon as the clear winner in both situations, while Sprint and T-Mobile struggled to even remain in the conversation. AT&T faired well, but still remains in the distance from Verizon in overall rankings, especially in the reliability category. You may remember AT&T's "we are the most reliable network now" campaign? According to these reports, that campaign should end now if it hasn't already. The Rootmetrics report creates a score that reflects overall coverage and consumer experience. Verizon's overall score ended up at 89.7 with AT&T closely behind at 86.2. Sprint and T-Mobile managed to pull in scores of 68.2 and 64.3, respectively. Quite the distance, right? As you can imagine, T-Mobile execs, including CEO John Legere, have already criticized the report, stating that these tests were done before they made all their end-of-year improvements. Here are the individual scores for reliability, speed, data, calls, and texts from Rootmetrics:

Reliability Index rankings: 1 – Verizon (Reliability Score: 89.8) 2 – AT&T (Reliability Score: 84.9) 3 – Sprint (Reliability Score: 65.2) 4 – T-Mobile (Reliability Score: 57.1) Speed Index rankings: 1 – AT&T (Speed Score: 88.7) 2 – Verizon (Speed Score: 88.5) 3 – T-Mobile (Speed Score: 74.3) 4 – Sprint (Speed Score: 65.8) Data RootScore rankings: 1 – Verizon (RootScore: 87.3) 2 – AT&T (RootScore: 83.9) 3 – Sprint (RootScore: 51.2) 4 – T-Mobile (RootScore: 48.7) Call RootScore rankings: 1 – Verizon (RootScore: 91.1) 2 – AT&T (RootScore: 86.6) 3 – Sprint (RootScore: 79.6) 4 – T-Mobile (RootScore: 74.1) Text RootScore rankings: 1 – Verizon (RootScore: 94.7) 2 – AT&T (RootScore: 94.3) 3 – Sprint (RootScore: 92.8) 4 – T-Mobile (RootScore: 90.1)

In the JD Power report, scores were given by region, with Verizon topping the charts in all six regions (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, North Central, Southwest and West). These tests focus on network quality as reported by over 25,000 wireless customers. These customers reported on things like slow download speeds, dropped calls, audio issues, web connection errors, and lost calls, to name a few. The data for this report was collected from July 2013 to December 2013, so you can imagine how T-Mobile feels about this as well.

Again, Verizon topped each region by what appears to be a wide margin. AT&T came in second in each, while Sprint and T-Mobile flip-flopped for third and fourth place in many.

We had a reader suggest that reports like these may be the reason that Verizon can still charge its high prices on data and other services. I'll just say that's it not only these reports, but the continued increase in new wireless customers that are reported in each of their quarterly earnings calls. Big Red isn't slowing down, so they don't need to result to the drastic changes that T-Mobile and AT&T have made over the last year.

Links: Rootmetrics report [interactive map] | JD Power report

NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual-core and Quad-core Chips Put Through Benchmarks, Rips Apart the Competition

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 12:04:48 +0000

While we continue waiting ever-so-patiently for the Tegra K1 from NVIDIA to show up in hardware we can actually buy, we shall proceed to drool over its benchmark scores. The 64-bit quad-core and dual-core models of the Tegra K1 were announced back in January at CES, featuring a somewhat unheard of 192-core GPU, based on the Kepler architecture which is found in NVIDIA's GeForce line of PC graphics cards. To sum up the hype in simple terms, this mobile SoC features desktop grade performance, which will be essential for next-gen mobile game developers to take advantage of. Apparently, there had yet to be a known official clock speed of the CPU in the Tegra K1. Thanks to recent benchmarks from mydrivers.com, we now know that the 64-bit dual-core variant of the Tegra K1 tops at a clock speed of 3.0GHz with 2GB of RAM.

As for the competition, which includes the Snapdragon 805, Snapdragon 801, Exynos processors from Samsung, and LG's Odin octa-core chip, the Tegra K1 is merciless in overall performance. With the dual-core and quad-core variants both scoring in the 43K range, the closest competitor number is 37K, belonging to the Snapdragon 805. Most flagships at this point are running 2013's Snapdragon 800, which scores in the 34K range.

While it is cool to see the Tegra K1 perform so well on benchmarks, these obviously can't compare to having a device in your hands that features the silicon. Rumor has it that NVIDIA will have a couple products launching with the Tegra K1 sometime in the first half of 2014, but we shall remain patient for official word.

Via: MyDrivers | Neowin

Samsung Galaxy S5 Pre-registration Sign-ups Hit 300K+ on T-Mobile

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:18:50 +0000

Word from T-Mobile is that the company has reached 300,000+ pre-registration sign-ups for the Galaxy S5 from Samsung. Sign-ups began the day the phone was announced, which was only a week and a half ago. While signups won't exactly translate to exact sales, it's still an impressive number of people who are interested in the Galaxy S5. We have heard our readers, and apparently, the phone hasn't lived up to all of the hype. Do they ever? It's easy to be disappointed when for months, rumors of QHD displays and crazy retina scanning software were supposed to be on-board. In that same note, there is still a murmuring of a "higher-end" Galaxy S5 in the works. We will just have to keep the faith that Samsung has another trick up their sleeves. Who is for sure picking up a Galaxy S5? Is it the phone of your dreams?

Via: @askdes

Madfinger Games Teases Dead Trigger 2 Arena Update, Coming Soon

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:25:59 +0000

An update is soon to come to Dead Trigger 2 from Madfinger Games, bringing the much-hyped Arena feature. In Arena, your character is thrown into a closed environment, while hordes upon hordes of the undead come at you. Your goal? Kill 'em all, of course. No exact word on when the update is set to go live on Google Play, but it should be soon if Madfinger is already hyping it. Check the Google Play link below, and keep your eyes peeled for the update. Play Link

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Mediocre's Smash Hit Released to Google Play, a Game All About Balls

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:59:23 +0000

Mediocre, the creators of Sprinkle and Granny Smith, launched a new game to Google Play this morning, Smash Hit. In Smash Hit, you continue down a pathway, with objects coming towards you, with the main objective being that you must throw balls at the objects. When you hit an object, you get points. Hit enough objects and you get special powers. The game's music and changing of scenery align stunningly well, while the graphics are fantastic. The sound of your balls smacking glass objects is well done, with it also being quite the addictive title. All in all, it's pretty brainless, so anyone can get a few minutes of entertainment out of the game. The game is completely free to download, so go grab it. Play Link

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Google Play 2nd Birthday Deals Now Live in the U.S.

Kellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:34:29 +0000

Earlier this week, users around the world began seeing a celebratory second birthday set of deals go live on Google Play. For whatever reason, those deals were not made immediately available to the U.S. market. That has now changed. If you hit up the link below, you'll be able to join in on the celebration. In the set of deals, you'll find everything from free apps to in-app purchase deals and exclusives. There are free songs, cheap albums, cheap books, discounted movies, and more. It doesn't exactly feel like the 10-cent or 49-cent deals from the past, but they still may be worth a look. Play Link

QuizUp Now Live on Google Play for Android Devices

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:44:22 +0000

One of the games that has completely taken over my 2014 is QuizUp. Previously only available for iOS, the developers have been hard at work for the past four months on an Android version, with it now finally being available on Google Play for all to enjoy. QuizUp pits one person against another in a battle of the brains. Players choose topics to play, with each topic containing thousands of different questions. Each round you play consists of six questions, with one double-point bonus question. The more you win in any given topic, the higher ranked you are. If you reach milestone ranks, you earn titles and badges, which you can then show off to your opponents in an attempt to intimidate them. The game is completely free to download, and the only IAPs currently available are for XP boosters. And no, they're not necessary at all. Note: The game does not work with ART, Google's Android runtime. To be clear, this is not the app's fault (according to developers), and it's an issue with ART, which they hope to have figured out in an update to the runtime. Until then, you will need to be using the Dalvik runtime. Download the game and go stretch that big, beautiful mind of yours! Play Link

This LG G Flex Commercial is on a New Level of Awesome.

Kellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:35:38 +0000

I'm mostly speechless after watching this new ad for the LG G Flex, but in a fantastic way. It is so completely, 100%, can't-be-argued, brilliant on a number of levels. Talking bearded hands that can be fed cheesecake while attacking you with a crab claw? That awkward moment where you take your sexual conversation over garlic too far, resulting in a kitchen counter hump session? "Wolverine, like a BAAWSS." Yes to all of it. Do more of this LG, do more. Yah-ka-ka-kai!

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Pebble Steel in Black Matte: Unboxing, Initial Thoughts and Comparison

Kellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:13:36 +0000

Our Pebble Steel (in black matte) is finally in house. And yes, we unboxed it. Announced during press day at CES in January, the Steel is Pebble's premium finished smartwatch, targeted at those looking for something a bit classier than the original plastic unit that took the smartwatch world by storm. The functionality here is identical to the original, so the focus then becomes on the materials used, appearance, and whether or not it's worth the extra $100. I'll likely put together a quick review in the coming weeks, but as you can imagine since the functionality is the same as the original, my thoughts about this new all-metal Pebble likely aren't going to differ. I've had it on my wrist for a few hours now, and really, it's just like the other Pebble only it's made of metal. We are most definitely not talking Rolex nice (probably not even Michael Kors or Diesel or Burberry or insert-mid-range-watch-brand nice), but the metal band and squarer body are certainly welcomed changes. I may get some heat for this, but this is not even close to being the most premium feeling metal watch I've ever worn. It's not terrible, but it's not great either. The edges of the wrist-strap are far too sharp and the metal sounds cheap. Watch people will know what I mean by the sound. When you pick up an above average watch, and dangle the wrist-strap, they give off this soft, weighted jingle. It's a beautiful noise that the Steel doesn't reproduce. You'll see in the video, but the packaging is top notch and there are both leather and metal bands. I wouldn't call the watch oversized, however, it's also not tiny. Compared to something like the Qualcomm Toq, though, you could probably call it "tiny." So far, I think the story is about the design and materials used because the functionality matches the original to a T. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed by what Pebble has released here, but it's not making me jump for joy just yet. Let me spend some time with it and that may change. More thoughts, plus a comparison to other smartwatches in the video below.

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Koush Updates Mirror Beta App With Android Mirroring to Chromecast, Only Rooted Nexus 5 Supported

Rithvik — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:44:34 +0000

It seems like Chromecast is finally getting kicked off in terms of development, with developers using the SDK left and right to update their apps to support the HDMI dongle. What we've all been waiting for, though, is native Android mirroring to Chromecast similar to Apple's AirPlay feature for iOS. It looks like we're now one step closer, with famed developer Koushik Dutta having updated his Mirror app to support the streaming stick in a very beta way. To use the new mirroring feature, you have to meet a very specific set of requirements. You must have the app installed on a rooted Nexus 5 running Android 4.4.2, as that's the only device that the app works with due to the Nexus 5's hardware VP8 encoder. Even then, streaming to Chromecast isn't anywhere as smooth as it is to the Apple TV, which is demonstrated in the video below -- currently, lag and latency are issues being ironed out by Koush. The developer hopes to have a formal release of the Mirror app onto the Play Store at some point soon for as many non-rooted devices as possible, but at the moment you have to jump through some hoops and have root to take advantage of the app. Mirror can be installed when you use the links below to join the ClockworkMod beta community, sign up for the beta, and then find the app on Google Play. If you have a Nexus 5 meeting the requirements and a Chromecast, give this app a spin and let us know how it works out for you. Play Link | Google+ Community | Beta Link

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Via: +Koushik Dutta

Aviate Launcher Now Supports Custom Icon Packs

Rithvik — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 18:36:05 +0000

Icon packs are one of the reasons we continue to love Android, so it was a bit disheartening when the contextual Aviate launcher released without support for them. Now all of that has been remedied, with Aviate bringing to the table support for existing icon packs for popular launchers in the latest update. To enable a custom icon pack, all you have to do is swipe into the Spaces menu through Aviate, and then jump into Settings. There you will find a "Set Icon Pack" button which will allow you to choose your favorite icon pack (we're currently digging Lumos, Cryten, Influx, and these) to customize your home screen. It's mentioned in the Aviate blog post that existing icon packs for ADW, Apex, and Nova Launcher are supported, so the icon packs mentioned above should work just fine.

This is a pretty major enhancement for the launcher, but the lack of icon pack support from earlier can be forgiven considering the app is still in beta. Needless to say, go give version 1.0.75 a shot. Play Link

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Via: Aviate

Touchless Control Updated, Let's You Ask Your Phone "What's Up?"

Kellen — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:53:38 +0000

Motorola updated their Touchless Control app this evening to include a feature that allows you to ask your phone "What's up?" in order to hear what your current notification situation is like. By asking "Ok, Google Now, what's up?" your phone will read the time followed by notifications back to you, letting you decide if any are important enough to act upon. You can see the new feature in action through the video below. The update also enhanced end-of-speech detection to improve accuracy and fixed bugs. The update is live right now on Google Play, so if you own a Moto X, DROID ULTRA, MAXX, or Mini, be sure to download it.

What's New

- Enhanced end-of-speech detection for improved accuracy and faster responses

- New "What's Up" / "Read Notifications" voice command that reads out new notifications so you never miss a thing

- "What's Up" / "Read Notifications" fully launched for U.S. English, Spanish, and Italian and in beta for other languages / regions.

- Compatible only with Android 4.4 KitKat

- Bug fixes

Play Link

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Cheers Tim and Jovi!

Adobe Revel Comes to Android, A Private Photo Sharing Service With Cloud Sync

Rithvik — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:30:05 +0000

One of the best features of iOS is Photo Stream, an iCloud connected service that allows users to upload pictures to be shared in an album only select friends and family members can view. Android, though it now has Google+ backup of photos, still doesn't feature an easy medium for friends and family members to upload pictures into one album. Adobe Revel, which has been on iOS for three years now, looks to fix this by coming over to Android with a nifty suite of features.

The main purpose of the app is to back photos up privately and only allow certain people to access them, much like Photo Stream. A practical use case would be at a family gathering, where everyone with a smartphone can take their own pictures and upload them to be privately seen by each other.

Another feature is the ability to edit pictures after they've been uploaded using the service, which can be handy if you want someone else to edit your pictures for you using the service. You can manage who has which permissions in one of these Group Libraries, though, so your friends don't go crazy deleting and editing photos.

Features

Invite friends and family to join a Group Library, where you and your inner circle can create a huge collection of everyone’s photos and videos. You control who can view, add, organize, and edit the memories in a Group Library.
Create albums to keep your photos and videos organized.
Share albums with loved ones in private web galleries.
Share photos and videos on your favorite social networks.
Edit your photos to make your memories look their best.

Adobe Revel is available for free on Google Play, so go give it a whirl and let us know what you think.

Play Link

Via: Adobe

Out There, a Journey Through Deep Space in an Attempt to Make it Home

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:07:43 +0000

If you couldn't get enough of Sandra Bullock being completely helpless while in space, then check out a semi-new game on Google Play titled, Out There. In the game, you play as a human who has been sent to the outer reaches of our solar system in an attempt to find materials for the continued existence on Earth. When you awake from your hibernation, you find that you are no longer in Earth's solar system, but are actually now lost in space, very far from home. Using materials in your ships cargo hold, you must explore the galaxy, praying you find enough materials for your ship to make it back to Earth alive. There are three basic things you need to live longer in this game - oxygen, hull materials for when your ship takes damage, and fuel. Once one of those things is completely depleted, and the world's you mine bear no gifts, you are lost in space forever and must start all over. Out There is extremely frustrating the first few times you play it, as the game is quite stingy when awarding supplies and chance discoveries of alien space stations that equip your ship with fuel and oxygen. Sometimes you get lucky, and other times, you do not. Besides collecting materials, there are plenty of other things to do. Your character can attempt to find alien life and communicate with it, explore black holes, and build new technologies using scraped together parts which will help you during your journey. It's quite the game, and for anyone who loves a more-complicated title, this game was made for you. The one piece of advice I will offer is that I highly recommend going through the tutorial before you get started, though. The price of Out There is $3.99, but I would say it's worth every penny. Go check it out and let us know what you think. Play Link ($3.99)

Gallery

Trailer

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Motorola Migrate Receives Version 1.3 Update, Android-to-Android Migration Made Easier

Rithvik — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:05:14 +0000

One of the worst parts of buying a new phone is moving all of your data from your old phone to your new phone. There are solutions out there to accomplish this task, but not all are great. Motorola tried to fix that with their 2013 flagships by unveiling the Motorola Migrate app, which allows users to bring content from their old devices onto their shiny new phone. Now we have a new update to the app, allowing you to selectively pick content to transfer, automatically import SIM card contacts to a Google account, and more. One of the more major parts of the update is the ability to have more precise control of what gets moved to your new phone. In case, you know, you don't want those old text messages anymore. For those of you upgrading from a phone where all your contacts are stored on your SIM card, you'll be able to back those up straight to a selected Google account for easy access and less hassle. Also present are "improved interactions" when your new phone has less available space than your old one, which presumably means it'll throw an error message at you and prompt you to choose some things to not be transferred.

What's New

Choose what content to transfer
Automatically import SIM contacts to your preferred Google account
Improved interaction for situations where old phone’s content is larger than new phone’s available space
Minor bug fixes

The update is now live on Google Play as version 1.3, but keep in mind that you'll have to have the updated version on both of the devices involved in the data transfer to use the new features. Play Link

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Grab Deus Ex: The Fall for Just $0.99 on Google Play Thanks to Flash Sale

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:30:54 +0000

If you still haven't gotten around to downloading Deus Ex: The Fall, maybe because it's usually $6.99, then now is your chance to grab it for just $0.99. Thanks to a fire sale from the developer, this action-packed FPS title with hours of gameplay can be enjoyed by all Android users who are afraid of investing more than a couple of bucks into a mobile game. We have written this game up before, as it is quite the well-made shooter. It features rich 3D graphics, awesome futuristic weapons, evil baddies plotting to destroy the world, and everything else that makes for a good FPS title. It's easily in my list of Top 10 favorite games on Android. Go grab it now. Play Link ($0.99)

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Google Play Games Updated to V1.5 - Can Now See Who's Playing, Invitations, and More

Kellen — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:03:10 +0000

Google Play Games received a sizable update to version 1.5.08 this afternoon, bringing with it the ability to see who's playing in other games. You can also see invitations for multiplayer games or quickly search for "something fun" to play in Find Games. And that's about it for now. We have the .apk file for you below if you'd like to sideload it before the staged rollout hits your device. Play Link | Download Link

Deal of the Day: Sony QX10 Detachable Smartphone Lens on Sale for $184.99

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:00:40 +0000

We know that not every phone released has an awesome camera, as not every company has the resources to throw in huge sensors to bump the price of their products. Sony's answer to the problem is to let everyone take advantage of their camera technology via the QX-line of detachable smartphone lenses. Last year, they released the QX-100 and QX-10 lens, which are attachable to almost any smartphone that is currently available for purchase. Via WiFi and NFC, the smartphone and the lens communicate to each other, with the smartphone acting as the lens' viewfinder. The device features a 18.9MP sensor, 10x optical zoom, OIS, Sony's BIONZ image processor, and weighs in at just 3.17 ounces. Today, for a limited time on 1sale.com, you can pick up Sony's QX-10 model for just $184.99, 27% lower than the list price of $249.99 on Amazon. While the QX-10 doesn't have as many features as its big brother the QX-100 (retailing for nearly $500), it's still a good way to beef up your phone's photography output. Better yet, the units are brand new from factory, and also come with a 1 year warranty. No refurbished janky nonsense to be seen here. Follow the via link below to check out the deal.

Via: 1sale.com

Frontline Commando 2 Hits Google Play, Might Remind You of Call of Duty Ghosts

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:40:26 +0000

A new warfare game is now available on Google Play, Frontline Commando 2, the sequel to the first Frontline Commando from Glu. For anyone who plays any FPS games on a console or desktop, the lead character in this new mobile game may remind you of another character, Simon "Ghost" Riley from the Call of Duty series, but we're sure that's just a coincidence. The game takes you to the combat environments of a near-future world that is in the middle of war. Much like CoD Ghosts, this title is heavily centered around character personalization, as there are up to 65 different squad members to choose from. Weapons lovers will be happy to see a large arsenal of different guns and explosives to use in missions, including assault rifles, SMGs, sniper rifles, and much more. The game is free to download on Google Play, but don't be shocked to see a few chances to pick up IAPs while playing to boost your gameplay. Play Link

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Moto X Reportedly Seeing Battery Drain on Android 4.4.2

Kellen — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:17:28 +0000

Since receiving the update to Android 4.4.2, a handful of readers who own the Moto X (Verizon variant in particular) reached out to ask if we had heard of others experiencing battery drain that wasn't there with 4.4. After poking around your regular Google product support forums, Android forums, and Google+, I think it's safe to say that many are indeed experiencing a decline in battery life after making the move to Android 4.4.2. The question is, what's the culprit and is there a fix? Unfortunately, we do not know answers to either of those. I've spent a couple of hours this morning trying to find any sort of common solution and have come up empty. Most users are now seeing "Android OS" gobble up a majority of their battery life, an issue that first started with the Nexus 5 receiving 4.4.2 and has yet to be addressed by Google. In fact, almost any phone running 4.4.2 has a thread in a forum related to "Android OS now draining my battery." I personally am also seeing the latest Chrome Beta attack my battery as it has never done before. Not sure if that's related or not. But I also noticed my battery begging for juice by 11PM last night after having only been off the charger from the early afternoon on. I have seen some users blame location services and recommend turning bits and pieces of them off, while others suggest that a standard factory reset may do the trick. Or does it have something to do with the latest Active Display update? We have even been told that simple phone reboot in the morning after unplugging your phone will help. Again, it really seems like these issues were started with 4.4.2 and are now hitting other devices so we are seeing more reporting it. I'd just ask this - if you are experiencing battery issues now with 4.4.2, let us know. Also, let us know if you have found anything that has increased battery life or if there was something in particular that was causing your drain. I don't know that we can all fix this issue together, but it's worth a try.

Wednesday Poll: Which OEM Would You Want to Make the Next Nexus Smartphone?

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:14:50 +0000

With the Nexus rumors for 2014 already warming up quite nicely, it's time to see which OEM our readers would want to make the next Nexus smartphone from Google. We know plenty of folks would love for the new Motorola create a Nexus device, and if rumors are anything, that could very well happen. Unfortunately for Moto fans, the same "rumors" are now pointing to LG making the next Nexus phone. Alas, that is the beauty of rumors, and nothing is ever confirmed until an official announcement is made. With the Nexus 5 being released back in October, we still have quite some time before we see what Google actually has in store for this year. We have seen Google take quite a stance with the launch of Google Play Edition devices over the past year, with a total of five different devices becoming available, all from different OEMs. Is GPE the future of the Nexus program? Potentially, but that's a story for another day. Let us know below which OEM has your vote for the 2014 Nexus smartphone. [poll id="289"]

Rumor: Google Picks LG to Create Nexus 6 and Nexus Smartwatch

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 10:24:15 +0000

According to business sources of Gizmodo Germany, who spoke at MWC last week, Google has selected LG for the third year in a row to create the next Nexus smartphone. Previous rumors indicated that the Nexus program was actually coming to a close in 2015, and that Lenovo, the new owners of Motorola, would be the last company to create a Nexus phone for Google. Reportedly called the Nexus 6, the device will be molded after the LG G3, which is to supposedly launch in either May or June of this year. No other details are currently known. Not only was LG chosen to create a smartphone, but Gizmodo also reports that the Korean manufacturer is set to make a Nexus smartwatch. Last month, another report indicated that Google was to announce a smartwatch platform in March of this year, with the actual hardware to be unveiled at this year's Google I/O in June. Given that it's already early March, we are only months away from seeing what Google has in store for us in 2014. If it's true, and Google has chosen LG once again to create a Nexus smartphone, would you be disappointed? Happy? The past two Nexus releases from LG have been two of our favorite Android phones ever made, so we are leaning towards the "happy" side of things. There's nothing like a good hypebeast.

Via: Gizmodo.de

Evernote for Android Gets Handwriting, Faster Camera in Update

Kellen — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:55:39 +0000

Evernote for Android received its first major update in some time this morning, one that includes handwriting. As Evernote puts it, "Sometimes there’s no better way to capture an idea than to write it down or sketch it out," so that's what we've got now. As you can see in the screenshots below and the embedded video, this is more than a separate handwriting add-on. Evernote wanted you to be able to go "from writing to typing to taking photos and back all within a single note." So if you are recording a lecture, you can still type out notes and then switch to handwriting to draw examples, charts, or boredom-laden smiley faces. Oh, the handwriting has also been made searchable, assuming your handwriting is clear enough. Pretty neat, right?

Handwriting isn't everything, though. Evernote also enhanced the note editor, sped up the camera to reduce lag, and fixes all sorts of bugs. The update is live now, so go grab it. Play Link

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Via: Evernote

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 Launches March 9 for $649.99, Comes With Over $800 of Galaxy Perks

Tim — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:06:28 +0000

Samsung first introduced its new over-sized 12.2" tablet, the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, at CES back in January. The company announced this morning through a press email that the device goes on sale through major US retailers beginning March 9, for the price of $649.99 at 32GB. Retailers for the device include Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Tiger Direct, PC Richard and Sons, Fry’s, and Newegg. If you have purchased a Galaxy-branded device in the past year or so, then you will know that Samsung is quite generous with its Galaxy Perks. These deals are usually paid services that Samsung gifts to you for free for a limited period of time. For example, the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 will come with $25 worth of Google Play credit, 1 year of Gogo Inflight WiFi (makes the purchase worth it right there), 3 months of Hulu Plus, 3 months of SiriusXM radio, 50GB of Dropbox online storage, and even more. The total gift package totals over $800. Look below for the list of Galaxy Perks coming with this device, and if you fancy purchasing a tablet with a 12.2" display, then now you know where to go on March 9.

Perks

Via: Samsung

T-Mobile's Galaxy Note 3 Getting Kit Kat (Android 4.4.2) Update Today (Updated: Changelog Added)

Kellen — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:28:34 +0000

Owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on T-Mobile, your Android 4.4.2 (Kit Kat) update is ready today. You can pull it over-the-air or via Kies, but understand that the file is roughly 500MB in size. It's a big one. The build once finished is N900TUVUCNB4 and Android 4.4.2, so you will be running the newest version of Android available. Unfortunately, T-Mobile hasn't listed a changelog other than "user improvements." Once we have the list from Samsung (which could be here today), we'll be sure to update this post. Until then, get to updating! To grab the update, head into Settings>More>About device>Software update. UPDATE: Here is the changelog from Samsung -

OS upgrade to Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)

New Lock Screen Access

Media Controls - full-screen album art and media controls when listening to music

Camera Shortcut - access the Camera application right from the lock screen

SMS App Chooser - select a default application for sending and receiving SMS text messages

Restyled Status and Navigation Bars - status and navigation bars are translucent and can sit on top of apps, along with simplified status bar icons

Consolidated Location Settings - location services are integrated and more detailed by new Location menu

Expanded Emoji Icons

Wireless Printing – supports printing over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Via: T-Mobile

Cheers @bmt626, @ThePhillipBee, @xHyDDRo, @ilostchild, Thomas and Laurel!

Another Set of HTC One (2014) Pictures Surface, Benchmark Included

Kellen — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:13:21 +0000

The 12-minute "All New HTC One" leak from Sunday was good and all, but it still failed to tell us much that we didn't already know about the phone. I actually find it fascinating that after all the leaks of the HTC One (2014), we still don't really know the official spec list or anything about how HTC really plans to use that dual-camera setup. And you know what, today's latest leak is much the same, although we do get a look at a benchmark. Thanks to a new series of photos uncovered by Nowhereelse.fr, we get another set of looks at the dual-camera setup, the all-metal body that is now much more rounded, and like I just mentioned, a benchmark. In the benchmark, you can see that the new One beats out all competitors, including the recently released Galaxy Note 3. Benchmarks mean little to us at this point, but hey, that's great! Good job, "All New HTC One!"

Again, we still do not know the full set of specs, though this photo is accompanied by a list that claims to be the real deal. We're talking a Snapdragon 801 processor (same as the Xperia Z2 and Galaxy S5), 2GB RAM, 5MP front camera, 16GB internal storage, a microSD slot, and that dual-camera thingy. Only a couple of weeks and we'll know it all.

Via: Nowhereelse.fr

Mikey Shorts is the Best Mario Clone Available on Android, Hands Down

Rithvik — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:48:29 +0000

If you've been looking around for a fun, Mario-styled game for your enjoyment, your search is now over. Mikey Shorts is an addicting side-scroller that screams Mario, with the main purpose in the game being to rescue people (a la Princess Peach) and collect coins throughout the game's 84 levels. Collecting coins allows you to purchase new disguises for your main character, but you'll face a long wait before you have them all -- the game currently features more than 170 of them. Other basic features of this genre are also present, like a end-of-level star system that rewards you for your completion time in the level. Some neat add-ins, though, include the ability to race your best time ghosts (Mario Kart, anyone?), earn achievements even if you're offline, and customize your controls to the optimal position. Here's the full list of features:

84 different levels across 2 game modes
6 unique environments
Choose from over 170 disguises to wear
Finish a level fast to earn up to 3 stars
Golden Shorts are hidden in all Story levels
Race against a ghost of your best score
Split times at gates show +/- your best score
Earn achievements both online and offline
Quick retry button for restarting a level
Ability to customize controls
Adjust transparency of the control buttons
View various game stats

Mikey Shorts is available on Google Play for $0.99, but this one's easy for me to recommend -- it even made the list of our top 5 games in February, so don't hesitate if you want to try this one out. Play Link ($0.99)

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Miss Motorola's Press Event at MWC? Don't Worry, You Can Watch the Replay Now

Tim — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:20:37 +0000

Last week, Motorola held a 30 minute event in Barcelona at MWC, where three Moto executives sat down and answered questions about the company's future, success, and acquisition by Lenovo. The event was not streamed for the masses, so we know there are plenty of people who have no idea what exactly the execs talked about. Motorola has been kind enough to throw together the below video, in which you can sit down and watch the full event unfold. As mentioned, it's sort of long and doesn't really provide too much insider info that wasn't already written up last week. For example, they announced that a new Moto X is coming, the company has plans for wearables, and MotoMaker was launched internationally. Have a watch below.

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Straight Talk APN Settings for Android Phones [Beginners' Guide]

Kellen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:59:32 +0000

Apologies on the two APN posts in one afternoon, but we wanted to get them out of the way and into the Beginners' Guide. If you aren't on Aio Wireless and instead went with Straight Talk, we also have APN settings for you as well. Below, you'll find the official settings pulled from Straight Talk's site for both AT&T and T-Mobile service, though if you venture into a variety of forums across this wonderful internet, you are bound to find tweaked settings that one user or another claim bring even better performance. I would suggest that you start with these, and should you run into issues, start tweaking or looking elsewhere. But again, these are the official settings.

Instructions

1. APN settings are accessed on phones in somewhat different locations depending on the phone manufacturer.

Samsung phone: Settings>…More networks>Mobile networks>Access Point Names>+ HTC phone: Settings>Mobile data>Access point names>Menu>New APN. Motorola phone: Settings>More…>Mobile networks>Access Point Names>Menu>New APN. Nexus phone: Settings>More…>Mobile networks>Access Point Names>Menu>New APN. LG phone: Settings>Tethering & networks>Mobile networks>Access point names.

2a. Enter the following APN info if you are using Straight Talk AT&T service:

Name: straight talk APN: tfdata Proxy: Not Set Port: Not Set Username: Not Set Password: Not Set Server: Not Set MMSC: http://mms-tf.net MMS Proxy: mms3.tracfone.com MMS Port: 80 Some have tweaked the following as well: MCC: 310 MNC:410 Auth Type: PAP APN type: default,supl,mms,hipri IPv4 IPv4 Bearer:uspecified MVNO type: None

2b. Enter the following APN info if you are using Straight Talk T-Mobile service:

Name: straight talk APN: wap.tracfone Proxy: Leave blank Port: 8080 Username: Not Set Password: Not Set Server: Not Set MMSC: http://mms.tracfone.com MMS Proxy: Leave blank MMS Port: Leave blank

3. Save your new APN. 4. Reboot your phone by powering it off and then back on. 5. Enjoy your service on Straight Talk.

Aio Wireless APN Settings for Android Phones [Beginners' Guide]

Kellen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:58:45 +0000

If you joined the world of prepaid wireless (our list of the best prepaid plans), there is a good chance that you have also encountered "APN settings." Without going into dirty details on what APN settings are, just understand that they are your gateway to have service with your prepaid carrier of choice. In this case, it would be Aio Wireless. By inputting the specific APN settings for Aio into your Android phone, you are giving it the power to connect to their network, send text messages, and utilize data. Thankfully, Aio provides the exact APN settings for use on their network through their website. We have included them below, along with instructions on how to get into the APN settings of most of the major phone types for Android. This may not be typical news, but we thought readers with Aio service may want to bookmark this in case they switch devices at some point.

Instructions

1. APN settings are accessed on phones in somewhat different locations depending on the phone manufacturer.

Samsung phone: Settings>...More networks>Mobile networks>Access Point Names>+ HTC phone: Settings>Mobile data>Access point names>Menu>New APN. Motorola phone: Settings>More...>Mobile networks>Access Point Names>Menu>New APN. Nexus phone: Settings>More...>Mobile networks>Access Point Names>Menu>New APN. LG phone: Settings>Tethering & networks>Mobile networks>Access point names.

2. Enter the following APN info:

Name: Internet APN: ndo Proxy: Not Set Port: Not Set Username: Not Set Password: Not Set Server: Not Set MMSC: MMS Proxy: proxy.aiowireless.net MMS Port: 80 MCC: 310 MNC: 150 Authentication type: Not Set APN type: default,mms,fota,hipri,supl

3. Save your new APN. 4. Reboot your phone by powering it off and then back on. 5. Enjoy your service on Aio Wireless.

Humble Bundle 4 Released - Pay What You Want for Riptide GP2, Zombie Gunship, and More

Tim — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:00:38 +0000

The Humble Bundle is a collection of games where you can pay any price you would like, and then dictate where the money goes. You can choose to give money to the developers, or if you are a humanitarian of sorts, you can choose for the money to go to charity. It's been a big part of the app ecosystem on Android, so whenever there is a new bundle to hype up, we love doing so. In Humble Bundle 4, there are four great games up for grabs, plus two additional games if you pay over the average of just $3.36. The first four games are Riptide GP2, Zombie Gunship (a Tato classic), Vector, and Catan. Each game usually goes for a couple bucks or more on Google Play, so grabbing them for just a few dollars combined is an insane deal. The two games you get if paying more than the average are Badlands Premium and Breach & Clear. Again, two great games that usually sell for a few bucks when purchased separately. Do yourself, the charity, and the developers all a favor by giving a few dollars for the Humble Bundle.

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Via: Humble Bundle

Updated Motorola Spotlight Player Out Now, Includes Buggy Night for Moto X

Tim — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 13:26:08 +0000

Near the end of last month, Motorola teased an upcoming interactive film for Moto X owners titled, Buggy Night. It is the followup video to Windy Day, a cutesy little video that surprised Moto X owners as it randomly appeared on their homescreens, then took them on an adventure through cartoon wood environments. The app that holds these videos, Spotlight Player, has been updated on Google Play with Buggy Night included inside. If you or your kids have been waiting for this new interactive flick to come out, then follow the link below and grab it. Play Link

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Cheers everyone who sent this in!

QuizUp Taking Signups for Private Android Beta, Public Launch Hopefully Within a Week

Tim — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 12:37:30 +0000

Fond of a good quiz against a fellow human to test your brain power? Find yourself strangely knowledgable about a certain topic like Tech or Aquatic Animals? If so, then you may have heard about an application currently available on iOS called QuizUp. I have talked about the app before on The Droid Life Show, as it has been my favorite app to play since Tiny Wings (also on iOS) and Granny Smith. On QuizUp, there are over 300 topics to choose from with over 150,000 questions to stump you. When you do well on a quiz, you gain points which adds to your rank. When you start ranking up a lot in a certain topic, you gain titles which lets people know you are a true smarty pants in that topic. There are a few ways to play - you can play in real time against a random opponent or you can invite friends and challenge them to any topic you would like. If they aren't available for a quiz at that very moment, you can play the game, and they can catch up to you when they are available. It's a fantastic game, and we have been tracking its progress to Android since December of last year. QuizUp took to its Facebook page a few days ago to deliver the following message.

the GOOD NEWS is that today we're working on our last rounds of intensive in-house testing and bug-fixing for the Android app so you'll be able to get it AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK!

To gain access, go ahead and hit up this link to the private beta on Google+, then simply click the button to invite yourself. You will need to wait for your invite to be accepted, but lately they have been accepting people left and right, so it shouldn't take too long to gain access. If you get the app, and fancy yourself a fan of Logos or Family Guy, feel free to find and challenge me.

Via: +QuizUp | QuizUp Facebook

Sprint Moto X Android 4.4.2 Update Approved and Ready to Rollout as Build 161.44.32

Kellen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 12:16:12 +0000

Sprint's variant of the Moto X is next in line to receive the update to Android 4.4.2, according to Motorola support pages. The update is build 161.44.32 and includes the same upgrades as the 4.4.2 updates for T-Mobile and Verizon models. You are looking at improved battery life, cloud printing support, and an email sync fix. The update likely isn't all that big, so should it pop up, it may only take 10 minutes to install. To check for the update, head into Settings>About phone>System updates.

Via: Motorola Support

Google Play Celebrates Second Birthday, Hosts Sales Event on Apps, Movies, Music, and More

Eric — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:35:37 +0000

It seems like it has been much longer than two years ago when the Android Market ceased to exist and we were introduced to Google Play (and weren't very happy about it). The world didn't end though, and Google Play has gotten a lot better over the past few years, expanding to offer Google Play Music: All Access, television shows and magazines. During the birthday celebration, Google is giving us sweet deals for the next 24 hours on select music, movies, apps, and magazines. All of which are going to be discounted for our purchasing pleasure. The sales don't appear to be live quite yet here in America (it is live in other parts of the world), but hit the link below start refreshing for when the deals go up. Once it's up, we will update the post with the full list of what's on sale. Play Link

Android Distribution Numbers Released for March - Kit Kat and Jelly Bean Slowly on the Rise

Kellen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:21:07 +0000

The Android team updated their platform distribution numbers for the month of March this morning, showing slight growth for both Jelly Bean (Android 4.1-4.3) and Kit Kat (Android 4.4+). Jelly Bean has now reached a flat 62.0% (from 60.7%), while Kit Kat is up to 2.5% (from 1.8%). Ice Cream Sandwich dropped to 15.2% (from 16.1%), Honeycomb remains on the list with 0.1%, Gingerbread still commands a fifth of Android at 19.0% (from 20.0%), and Froyo still actually exists at 1.2% (from 1.3%). February's distribution numbers can be found here. Not a lot of changes, but that's the news.

Via: Android Developers

Flag in Chrome Beta 34 for Android Brings Chromecast Support

Eric — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:12:30 +0000

Google is all about service integration. First, we saw Google+ being integrated into everything that they owned. Next up was Google Now, something that Google is still working on integrating into not only phones, but desktops and Chromebooks. In an unsurprising move, it seems now that Google is giving Chromecast the same love, and trying to work Cast into every device that they can touch. The latest Chrome Beta build for Android is the latest to have been visited by the streaming media fairy. After a bit of digging through Chrome Beta 34 flags by reddit user WhyYouPaul, he found that embedded videos on mobile are now being supported by Chromecast. Once the experimental feature is turned on, HTML5 videos show the Chromecast toggle that allows you to throw it to your big screen - YouTube, Vimeo, TED, and a few other video sites work with a couple of bugs that need working out, but it is a brand new feature. We expect to see Google get this running smoothly before letting the masses get their hands on it, but its good to see Google continuing to find new ways to use Chromecast. To toggle on Chromecast support, head into chrome://flags in the latest build of Chrome Beta. Scroll down to the option for "Enable experimental Chromecast support," tap "Enable," re-launch Chrome, and then find a video to test on. Play Link

Via: reddit

Solid Explorer Uses Chromecast SDK to Add Local Media Streaming

Eric — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:45:17 +0000

Once Google released the SDK for Chromecast, developers everywhere were able to get their hands on the code, and figure out a way to integrate their apps with the streaming dongle. We definitely expected larger applications to bring this service to their users like VUDU is working on, but any developer (large or small) can do so, as shown by the developers behind Solid Explorer. One of the biggest complaints about Chromecast since its release, is the inability to play local media files that you have stored on your device. With a new update, and the help of a plugin, Solid Explorer is going to take care of that for you. Solid Explorer already has a long list of features, including independent panels for easy dragging and dropping, plus every cloud storage option you can think of. The new Chromecast plugin works alongside Solid Explorer. Once installed, users will click on a type of media that they want to play, select the "Cast" button, and the app will do the rest. There seems to be a few bugs that still need to be worked out, but with the plugin being new, that is to be expected. If you are looking to Chromecast a few of your pet's videos onto your big screen, check out the Play links below. Play Links: Solid Explorer | Chromecast Plugin

Yes, the New HTC One Will be Referred to as "The All New HTC One"

Kellen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:20:23 +0000

The name for HTC's 2014 flagship is 100% confirmed at this point if you ask us. Tech media have been referring to it as "the All New HTC One" for a couple of weeks now thanks to leaks. And even in those painful HTC teaser videos, the company is calling the phone "the new One." But just in case that hadn't hit home yet, HTC's UK Twitter account Tweeted the above image yesterday, which clearly shows the words "The All New HTC One" at the top, along with "Feel it." The Tweet makes note of March 25, where "something is happening." Since that's the date for the unveiling of the device, I think you all know what is happening. Oh, we'll probably continue to call it the HTC One (2014), though, because that's a hell of a lot easier to keep track of, especially if we get another One next year. All clear?

Via: @HTC_UK

Verizon Makes the LG G Pad 8.3 With 4G LTE Official, Launches March 6 for $99 on Contract

Tim — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:00:16 +0000

This morning, Verizon made official that the G Pad 8.3 from LG is set to hit its network on March 6. To celebrate the launch, the tablet will be priced at $99 on a new two year agreement, and then move up to $199 on contract starting March 10. The tablet is also purchasable off-contract for $299.99. Availability of this device on Verizon's 4G LTE shouldn't be too much of a shocker, as we first reported its upcoming arrival back in mid-February thanks to a press render leak from evleaks. The G Pad 8.3 on Verizon features an 8.3" IPS Full HD display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a suite of proprietary applications and software from LG for added value, 5MP rear-facing camera, and 16GB of onboard storage. If you are the type of consumer that needs to have data attached to their tablet at all times, it's a great choice.

Via: Verizon

HTC Teases the Triumph of Two on Twitter, Dual Cameras All But Confirmed

Eric — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:28:02 +0000

If we had not seen everything there is to see about the "All New HTC One" already at this point, HTC's latest tweet might be a little more intriguing. Since some of the earliest leaked images of the New One, we have seen a dual camera set-up on the back and it seems that HTC believes these will help to make life "twice as beautiful." The short tweet reads, "On March 25, life will become twice as beautiful" and then features the image above. Nothing mentioned of a camera, but the photography in the background heavily hints towards the new camera set up that HTC is trying out. If the New One produced the pictures used in this teaser image, we will be a little bit more excited, but there is no way to be sure. For now we will have to sit and wait to see if HTC can pull together a good sequel to the One.

Via: Twitter

Samsung Takes Us on a Feature Tour of the Galaxy S5 in 4-Minute Video

Kellen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 07:53:26 +0000

If our hands-on software and hardware tours, feature highlights, and comparisons weren't enough to satisfy your appetite for all things Galaxy S5, then check out the latest video from Samsung. Sammy takes us on a 4-minute walk-through of all the key features for their new flagship, from a list of specs to new camera functionality to going grey-scale to extend battery life. This is your step-by-step guide to knowing which features will help your life become "powered" by a GS5. Yes, that's the tagline here. In fact, Samsung reminds you at the beginning of the clip that innovation isn't just about the technology and specs, it's about how the entire package can improve your everyday life. Good ol' marketing speak. Still not sold on Samsung's new phone?

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Shazam Receives Major UI Overhaul in Latest Update, Many Other Improvements Present As Well

Rithvik — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:20:42 +0000

If you've ever had the urge to identify which song or TV show you're watching, you've probably come across Shazam. The popular media recognition service has received a major update for both iOS and Android, bringing a refreshed user interface and many other extras. The most prominent thing about the update is easily the cleaner look. We'll be seeing easier and cleaner access to results, allowing you to preview, buy, and share songs or TV shows in an easy manner. Additional improvements include being shown lyrics and related videos as soon as a song is matched, many kinds of information related to TV shows, and an overall more engaging experience.

Features

Quick access to lyrics with a preview as soon as a track is matched, and with direct access to the music video and additional videos related to a song
Recommendations unique to Shazam
Lightning fast access to the most important information about any show broadcast on over 160 TV channels in the US: music in the show, cast and crew, and more
More engaging biographies and discographies, making it easy to go from discovering a great track to learning about and experiencing more from the band.

The update has already rolled out to iOS users of both the regular and Encore versions of Shazam, and Android will be seeing the improvements as well in the coming weeks. If you can't wait to receive the update though, the Android test group is seeing a sneak peek of the new look.

Play Link

Via: Shazam

"All New HTC One" on Its Way to Verizon Stops by FCC, Model HTC6525LVW

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:40:33 +0000

An FCC listing for the "All New HTC One" or HTC One (2014) on AT&T showed up ever-so-briefly last week before being pulled. That listing has now returned, along with a somewhat similar listing that also shows AT&T LTE bands (could be unlocked or T-Mo variant) and another for Verizon. You may recall last year when HTC failed to launch their flagship on Verizon, leaving it as the only major carrier in the U.S. without it for months. I don't think we'll see the same misstep this time around. The listing doesn't give us anything new in terms of specs or features that we don't already know, but at least confirms LTE bands 4 and 13, plus global roaming. The battery and chipset information haven't been made public just yet, nor do we have the massive photo screw-up that accompanied the Nexus 5 launch. We'll keep digging for more, though. If there is one takeaway that you should keep an eye on, it's the model number. Verizon and HTC have given the One 2014 on big red a model number of HTC6525LVW. In case you were wondering, the original One from last year dropped as model number HTC6500LVW. Going for 6500 to 6525 seems like a natural progression, right?

Via: FCC [2]

Glimmer is a Great New Alarm Clock, Minus the Alarm Part

Rithvik — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:31:07 +0000

Alarms are probably one of the more under-appreciated functions of our modern devices, given that they let most of us wake up and get to work on time. We have come to love the now Google-owned Timely, which is packed with many great features along with a $0 price tag. Its latest competitor is Glimmer, an alarm clock that seeks to wake you up completely silently. The way Glimmer tries to pull you from slumber is by turning your device's screen on and slowly brightening it over the course of 30 minutes. If you sleep with a spouse or sibling and don't want to annoy them when you get up, you can simply angle your device's screen away from them and let Glimmer do its thing in the morning. For those of you skeptical about whether your phone or tablet's screen could possibly end your hibernation, the app begins playing a bird's sound toward the middle of the screen-on alarm. And if even that is not enough, it'll bring out the big guns and hit you with a loud noise. Rounding out the list of features is the ability to put your device in a "night mode" while you're sleeping, which will cut down your brightness, turn off your sounds, and disconnect from the Internet. As daytime draws closer, night mode will intelligently turn off and let your phone synchronize your notifications to be viewed in the morning. If you sleep in a dark cave like some of us DL staffers, this is quite literally the perfect alarm for you. And for free, there's no reason for you not to check it out (other than if you'll lose your job for not waking up). Play Link

Gallery

5 Icon Packs to Check Out: Vibe, Flatee, Peek, Rounded Up, and Lyra

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:55:59 +0000

Typically, it takes us weeks to put together posts that highlight short lists of the best icon packs to see a recent release. But something happened since the beginning of the year, as numerous icon designers gave us icon packs that we have been juggling with on the daily because they are so damn good. We talked last year about designers stepping things up a notch, however, 2014 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for the icon and wallpaper game if this is the type of work we have to look forward to. We already featured instant classics like Influx, Cryten, and Lumos this year, but if you need something even newer than those, we have five more for you today, none of which feature a long shadow. Let me say that again - no long shadows can be found here. And not that we aren't fans of the long shadow, but we support change. So, check 'em out, let us know if you find others that are this good.

Vibe

If you were looking for an icon pack with dimension, some incredibly vibrant colors, and a squared-off frame, Vibe is all you. With over 1,350 icons, 10 of the best wallpapers I've seen in a while, and weekly updates from the developer, I'd say that this is an icon pack that could last you through a season or two. Vibe works with all of the big launchers like Nova, Apex, Action, Next, Go, and more. It also comes with a handy dashboard app for quick applying or wallpaper downloading. Play Link ($0.99)

Flatee

I don't know if it's the simplicity of Flatee, but it is the current icon pack holding down my home screen. The 800+ icons are round, flat (of course), and somehow modern, yet vibrant in colors and design. There is no long shadow, but you do get a subtle dimensional aspect to the bottom of each icon that gives it a bit of depth. There are 9 wallpapers included with the pack, a simple dashboard app for applying the icons, and support on Nova and Apex launchers. Play Link ($1.49)

Peek

Peek may not have the 1,000+ icons that some of the others on here can lay claim to, but what a great start this little 100 icon pack is off to. The icons are about as simple as it gets, yet show a light transparency with imagery from each app in the background. You have to look close to see the detail, but once you do, I think you'll appreciate it. Talk about a cool effect, right? Since it only sits about 100 icons right now, you aren't going to find every single icon you'll need. My suggestion would be to give it a shot, and then just sit back and wait for the full thing to be released, assuming that happens. Oh, it's also free. Play Link

Rounded Up

Want an icon pack similar to what we'll see on the new Galaxy S5? Rounded Up aims to be just that. As a free pack with 800+ rounded icons that are all flat and colorful, you should have no trouble finding icons to replace all of your current set. There are also 150+ alternative icons, to really give you options. Play Link

Lyra

If you want to move as far away from the rounded, shadowed icon trend of the moment, look no further than Lyra. We're talking "subtle gradient," elegance, dimension, and a set of 600 icons that are quickly applied to your favorite launcher through a well-made dashboard application. You'll also find 8 wallpapers made by "noted" Android artists, an icon request tool, and the approval of countless icon designers. I can't tell you how many have given Lyra the stamp of approval. Play Link ($0.99)

Think the Galaxy S5's Heart Rate Monitor is Sweet? Your Phone can do it too!

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:41:58 +0000

Last week in Barcelona and New York City, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S5, the world's first smartphone to feature a dedicated heart rate monitor built into the device. While few people were claiming this to be the best thing since sliced bread, we had a few people take to our comments section, claiming they've had this on their phones since the Gingerbread days. At first we were skeptical, but once I made my way over to Google Play, I was blown away by just how many heart rate monitor apps there actually are. The app we downloaded and used for this post is called Instant Heart Rate. The app is pretty basic - it lights up the LED flash on the backside of your phone, then you place your finger over the camera's sensor. The sensor counts the changes in the tip of your finger (the blood flowing in and then out of the tip), then calculates your overall beats per minute. It usually counts for about 15-30 seconds, then does the simple multiplication for you. Apparently, apps have been doing this for years, way before Samsung announced the Galaxy S5. Should you use this app's results in your personal medical evaluations? Heck no. Should you trust the Galaxy S5's more so just because it's built-in? Heck no. These features in general, whether built-in or not, won't give you a 100% accurate reading. If you need the best results without the use of a smartphone, it's actually quite easy to take your own pulse through your wrist or neck. Simply count the beats for 30 seconds, multiply by two, and you're done. Below you can watch a video which gives you a general idea as to how the app functions. Again, there are a ton of other heart rate apps on Google Play, so give it a search if this once doesn't work for you. Play Link

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VUDU to get Chromecast Support Soon, More Movie and TV Streaming Goodness

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:20:31 +0000

VUDU, a service that offers newly-released movies and TV shows through its website, is about to get Chromecast streaming support. If you don't know about VUDU, the company currently offers the largest selection of movies in 1080p the day they are released on DVD. If you know Netflix and other streaming services, then you'll know that it sometimes takes quite a while to see those new titles pop up on their servers. The company announced on its blog today that Chromecast users should expect to see the service go live "soon." Once support is live, "you can use your device as a remote control or even a second screen, which means multi-tasking folks can continue doing other things that they usually do while watching TV." Want to be a beta tester of VUDU on Chromecast? Click here. Once support goes live, we will make sure to let you all know.

Via: VUDU

Cheers Robert!

Well-used Google URL Shortener Android App Released, Totally Free of Charge

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:00:13 +0000

Folks can head on over to Google Play and pick up the widely-used Goo.gl URL Shortener for their Android devices, perfect for turning that way-too-long link into something more consumable for Twitter and other social networks. Let's face it, your long links are annoying and people dislike you for it. This app has been available as an extension for various web browsers on desktop computers for some time, but it's finally available for mobile phones. The app allows you to shorten links and share them right from the app, plus you can track how many clicks each link gets as well. For those who are fans of referrals, this should help you keep a track of your numbers. If you use URL shorteners as much as we do, which you might not, then go grab it off of Google Play. Play Link

Verizon Announces New ALLSET Prepaid Plan Starting at $45, Still No LTE Included

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 12:08:39 +0000

Verizon announced a new prepaid wireless plan this morning called ALLSET. The plan includes unlimited talk and text plus 500MB of data per month for $45, along with the option to add on "Bridge Data," that can extend that data allotment by an extra 500MB, 1GB, or 3GB. Also, if added on Bridge Data goes unused, it can be pushed to the next month, sort of like rollover data. The ALLSET plan also includes unlimited text to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. If you sign-up for it before 6/30/2014, Verizon will also add in 1,000 minutes to Canada and Mexico. And last, for a limited time, those who sign-up for Autopay will receive an extra 500MB of data, bringing their total to 1GB for $45. Oh, these plans still do not include access to Verizon's 4G LTE network. Back when the Nexus 5 launched, we ran through our list of the best prepaid networks. Feel free to check it out if you have realized that contracts or some of the big carriers aren't satisfying your wireless needs.

Via: Verizon

LG G2 on T-Mobile Receiving Kit Kat (Android 4.4.2) Update Today

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 11:43:38 +0000

The Android 4.4.2 (Kit Kat) update for the LG G2 on T-Mobile has been approved and is ready for rollout as early as today. The update showed up for manual flashing at the end of last week, but today marks the begin of the over-the-air (OTA) update. To check for the update, head into Settings>General>About phone>Update center>System updates>Check now. T-Mobile didn't exactly provide a changelog through their support document, but we know from the AT&T Kit Kat update that KnockOn has been improved, the phone will run applications 17% faster than before, and battery life should be better than ever. Let us know if you get it!

Via: T-Mobile

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 19

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 11:06:23 +0000

The Galaxy S5 was unveiled last week, and the HTC One (2014) is coming up on the 25th of March. With that said, we know that a lot of you might have questions about what to do, so Volume 19 of the DL Q&A Sessions is the perfect time to ask the staff what you need to know. If you aren't in the market for a new flagship, you can ask us anything else that might be on your mind that is Android related or even non-Android related. Want to know our thoughts on the Oscars? Curious about which Android accessories we just can't live without? Shoot your questions down below and on Friday we will wrangle up a few of our favorites and let the team tackle them. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Microsoft Looks to Build New Platform to Bring Xbox Live to Android

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 10:40:12 +0000

According to a recent job listing by Microsoft, and sources close to the project, the company hopes to release an Xbox Live-like gaming platform for Android and iOS. As of right now, Xbox Live handles in-game achievements, finding friends who game, matchmaking, and so much more on Xbox consoles and Windows Phone devices. The job listing is somewhat vague, but does mention a "modern framework that is open-source, lightweight, extensible and scalable across various platforms including Windows Store, Windows Phone, iOS, and Android." Google has Google Play Services for game achievements and cloud saves, and Apple has Game Center, but for anyone runs an Xbox and wants all of their game info on a single server, then this would be a viable 3rd party option. Since it appears they are still looking for a team to build this platform, it may be quite some time before we see it hitting Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. If and when it launches, would you use it?

Via: The Verge | Microsoft Careers

Glitchr Launches for Android, a Retrofied Way to Edit Your Photos

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 10:15:45 +0000

A new photo editing application called Glitchr is out on Google Play, made for those of you who love the old school look of NES and Gameboy titles. On top of adding just a retro look to your photos, you can also add a 3D effect, plus other interesting effects such as VHS and ASCII. Remember VHS? Once you have selected a filter you like, Glitchr makes it extremely easy to either save the photo to your gallery or share right to any social site you like.

Effects

Original Gameboy Effect
Gameboy Camera Effect
NES Effect
ASCII Art Effect
3D Anaglyph Effect
VHS Effect
Glitch Art Effect
ZX Spectrum Effect

The one thing I do wish is that Glitchr had more effects, since I feel that most of these will never be used on my account. Since the app is completely free, and there are no IAPs or advertisements, you should definitely add it to your collection of photo filter apps. Play Link

Cheers Jason!

Buy a Galaxy S5 and Get $500 in App Subscriptions for Free

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 09:51:55 +0000

Outside of buying (and winning) the Oscars and putting their new flagship in your face across all forms of media over the coming weeks, Samsung is also going to try and lure in potential Galaxy S5 owners with all sorts of freebies. According to a landing page on Samsung's website titled "Galaxy Gifts," buyers of the Galaxy S5 could potentially walk away with over $500 in free app subscriptions as "thank you" for their purchase. Things like a 6-month full access pass to the Wall Street Journal ($160), 1-year subscription to Businessweek ($30), 1-year premium Run Keeper service ($20), 50GB of Box storage for six months ($60), and a free LinkedIn premium account for three months ($75) headline the list of freebies. You'll also find deals from Evernote, Cut the Rope 2, Map My Fitness, and others. We know that many have been lukewarm thus far on the Galaxy S5 - will freebies like this draw you in?

Via: Samsung | Engadget

Deal: Brand New Nexus 10 32GB for $329 With Free Shipping From eBay

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 09:26:23 +0000

The Nexus 10, probably the tablet I have used the most over the last couple of years out of any Android tablet, can be picked up today through one of eBay's Daily Deals for $329.99. This is the 32GB version that originally retailed for $499 at launch over a year ago and has been out of stock on Google Play for months. Other retailers are selling this model for $399 now, so at $329.99, you are still seeing a significant discount, though it's not exactly the $170 off that the deal would lead you to believe. Either way, with its 10-inch high-res display (2560 x 1600), 2GB RAM, soft-touch finish, front-facing speakers, and newest version of Android (Kit Kat), it's a great tablet, especially at that price. Oh, this is also a brand new unit, not refurbished or recertified or re-something'd. Free shipping is included as well. eBay Link

Cheers Scott!

Press Renders Leak of Samsung Chromebook 2, Features Leatherette Backside

Tim — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:52:38 +0000

Samsung must absolutely love themselves a little leatherette backside, as it appears they are bringing the design from the Galaxy Note 3, to an upcoming Chromebook 2 device. Thanks to evleaks, who posted two pictures of the device over the weekend, fans of the Chrome OS can keep their eyes open for a brand new laptop device from Samsung. We don't get to see too much besides the backside, featuring that leatherette texture, but we can see it features at least one USB port and a headphone jack. As for release info and pricing, we got nada. Once Google and Samsung make this Chromebook official, we will be sure to let you know. Are you feeling the faux leather? You know you want it.

Via: @evleaks [2]

Samsung Wins the Oscars, Note 3 Takes Photo in Most Retweeted Tweet Ever

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:23:26 +0000

If you watched the Oscars last night and are at all interested in technology, then you know who the real winner was. Samsung. Not only did Samsung pay for four well-placed commercials during breaks, but their phones were everywhere throughout the show. Host Ellen Degeneres pulled out Samsung devices a handful of times on and off stage, but the most memorable involved the Galaxy Note 3 and a "selfie" that is now the most retweeted Tweet of all time. Early in the show, Ellen dropped down into the audience, gathered up some of the biggest names in Hollywood (including Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, Kevin Spacey, and Lupita Nyong'o), and had Cooper hold out a Note 3 to take a picture (seen above) of the entire crew that would be Tweeted. It's actually a pretty cool picture, but during the entire clip, the Note 3 is front-and-center and couldn't be more well-placed. And yes, the Tweet featuring the photo taken has now been retweeted well over 2.5million times. There is marketing, and then there is what Samsung does. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are on some run here in terms of creating a brand. If you thought 2014 was the year that Samsung slowed, you may want to turn off your TV, not go to movie theaters, stop reading anything involving a celebrity, avoid sporting events, and bypass electronics stores. Here is a clip of the selfie taking place:

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And here are all of the ads that played during the event:

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HTC Teases "All New HTC One" and Its "Sleeker" Body

Kellen — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 07:49:46 +0000

Poor, HTC. They created this entire series of teaser videos to introduce some hype into their unveiling of the "All New HTC One" aka HTC One (2014) on March 25, and yet we have already seen the phone in a full 12-minute clip thanks to some young kid in Illinois. We still don't know all there is to know, though, because well, that 12-minute clip was extremely painful to watch and light on details. So HTC is going to continue to plug away as if that video leak during the Oscars never happened. In this latest clip, we get the guys in the lab again, talking about the all-metal design of the original One. That, of course, leads into the pixelated teasing of the All New One, which is said to be "sleeker" than ever. The rest is voiced-out. The previous spot teased BoomSound.

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"All New HTC One" 12-Minute Video Review Appears Weeks Before Official Unveiling

Kellen — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:28:06 +0000

The other night, on DL Show episode 51, I joked that we'd know everything about the "All New HTC One" (or HTC One 2014) long before its official arrival because there would be at least two or three unofficial reviews of the phone. In other words, HTC is terrible at keeping their devices a secret. Sure enough, we aren't but four days removed from that statement and a 12-minute video review or overview of the AT&T model from some kid in Schaumburg, IL has appeared on YouTube (if you can call this a review). That's right, we have an entire 12-minute session with HTC's new flagship a full three and a half weeks ahead of their planned unveiling event in NYC. So what can we see? Well, outside of this kid failing to hide his identity over and over again, we're still digging through it all since it is such an exhaustingly long video. But so far we have been shown an SD card slot, listened to Soulja Boy (wtf?), seen a body that matches up exactly to the render leaks, slight tweaks to Sense in whatever new version this is (leaker says "6.6" but it's probably Sense 6.0), all sorts of views of the new camera UI (which is super buggy because it's a dev unit), and a pure look at those on-screen buttons. Update: We tossed in a massive gallery below the video, but you'll see that there are most definitely dual rear cameras, the power has moved to the top right side, headphone jack to the bottom, and Sense mostly looks the same. The camera has been really simplified to a shutter button and an options button that will let you choose between six modes: Camera, Video, Selfie, Zoe, 360 Panorama, and Dual Capture. The overall color scheme, or at least the accents around the UI, seem tweaked slightly to green, and BlinkFeed looks more flattened or modern. Update 2: Annnnnd video pulled. The leaker is now back-tracking on Twitter, saying that it's not a real phone after the world (and HTC reps) told him how much trouble he would be in. Something seems off. I guess we'll know before long. Update 3: The video is live again. Who knows for how long. Update 4: Private again. I give up. Head to the comments if you want to watch. I'd say HTC will have some extra tricks up their sleeves, but this gives us a bit of a primer before we get to March 25. We'll update this post as we have more, but for now, watch along with us. Also, feel free to suggest job openings to this kid's parents, who he likely just cost a job.

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Gallery

Cheers Ron!

This Episode Won't Make You Swipe a Finger to Watch it

Tim — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 01:00:14 +0000

The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town. Insert catchy guitar riff here. This Wednesday night, the DL crew sat down for episode 51 (aka the Galaxy S5 Show) of The Droid Life Show, to discuss all of the GS5 madness that took place on Monday in Barcelona and New York City. After months of hypebeasting, all of the rumors have been put to rest, and we finally got our hands Samsung's 2014 flagship. Besides going over all of the Galaxy S5 news, we discussed the new press renders we have seen of the All New One from HTC, touched on the Gear 2 and Gear Fit devices, drooled over the possibility of a new Moto X from Motorola, and we discovered that I have "loved HTC long time."

This Week in the Life of DROID: 2/28/14

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 18:00:45 +0000

Galaxy S5 unveiling week has officially come to a close. Yes, we were there. Yes, we got our hands all over it. And yes, there is more video and Galaxy S5 news below than one can possibly consume. You should try to, though, as this is once again going to be the device to beat throughout the rest of the year. After you are done there, be sure to check out the DL Show episode 51 if you missed it live. We talked about...the Galaxy S5. And then, be sure to catch up on the rest of the Android news from the past week. Project Ara was everywhere, Motorola confirmed a new Moto X for this summer (plus a smartwatch), the HTC One kept showing up, we put out our top apps and games of the month, and warned you about a sneak Verizon-related phishing scam going on. It's all below, don't miss any of it.

Watch: The Droid Life Show Episode 51 [Subscribe]
Galaxy S5 announced.
Galaxy S5: Hardware and software tour | Specs battle | vs. Galaxy S4 and Note 3.
More Galaxy S5: Fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor demo | Running a Snapdragon 801
Galaxy S5 confirmed for all major U.S. carriers in April.
Poll: Are you buying the Galaxy S5?
Samsung Gear Fit demo and tour.
Project Ara everywhere: Live hands-on demo | Developer Conference | History.
"All New HTC One" spotted in the wild | Official teaser video.
Motorola confirmed that a new Moto X is coming this summer, smartwatch this year.
Top 5 Android games of February.
Top 5 Android apps of February.
You can now quickly find restaurant menus through Google Search.
Check out all these new Hangouts features on iOS.
Android will soon continuously monitor sideloaded apps.
Google+ on Android saw a big update with a full-blown photo editor.
Google released the Google Now Launcher to Google Play.
Google smartwatch could come in June at I/O.
Be careful, there is a nasty Verizon phishing scam going on right now.

If you had a Galaxy S5, you could test your heart rate after getting hyped on all of that/

Verizon's HTC One (2014) Press Render Leaked, Logos Surprisingly Subtle

Tim — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:18:33 +0000

Earlier this morning, a press render of the HTC One (2014) showed up for AT&T, and after worrying HTC was planning some type of carrier-exclusive device, we no longer have to think about that. Leaker extraordinaire, evleaks, just posted up this press render of the all new One with Verizon branding. The running joke on DL is that Verizon tends to go a bit excessive when branding devices, but it appears they have toned it down, only applying a couple of logos on the backside of the device. And here we were, thinking that big black bar on the front was going to be perfect for a Verizon logo. We still have a full month before HTC makes this device official on March 25.

Via: @evleaks

Video: Project Ara Shown Off, Fondled, Detailed at LAUNCH Conference

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:35:44 +0000

The day has been filled with Project Ara talk, we hope you don't mind, but this stuff is getting more fascinating by the day. So earlier in the week, Jason Calacanis was hosting his LAUNCH conference, which just so happened to have a major Project Ara demo moments after Google gave the modular phone concept an MDK developer conference and official website. I watched the demo live (and told you to via Twitter), but was waiting for it to become available for sharing in case anyone else missed it. The video is now available for all to see; you should watch this. It's about 30-minutes in length, but you'll see and hear all sorts of headline grabbing info from it through Project Ara head Paul Eremenko. For one, the conversation starts at the bottom line cost, which would be $50 for an Ara phone with a display, WiFi module, battery and low-end processor. It then moves into the magnets in each module, customizing them, thinking about companies like Beats by Dre making a speaker module, buying approved modules from a market, sideloading other modules like you would an app, and how it could eventually disrupt the entire mobile industry. They also talk about there being three different skeletons, a medium sized phone, the one shown on video, and a phablet style. If anything, you can at least watch Calacanis play with the modules and put together a phone. The prototypes are non-working, but there are some sightings of real modules. Very cool stuff. Oh, and for Mark Cuban fans, feel free to watch after the Ara stuff for his take on all sorts of technology topics.

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(Starts at the 5-minute mark)

Via: @ProjectAra

Friday App Sales: The Room, Umbra, Gangstar Vegas, Sine Mora, and More

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:07:59 +0000

Another Friday, another dose of app sales. It's been another good week on Google Play, as we have plenty of sales to go around for the weekend. A few highlights of this week's list are Ryan Kelly's Umbra icon pack, the mystery-puzzler The Room, and Gameloft's Gangstar Vegas. We also have InstaWeather Pro, TowerMadness, Wipeout, and Sine Mora in case you thought that those first three were the only good ones on here. The full list is placed down below for your wallet-saving pleasure.

Friday app sales

Double Dragon Trilogy - ($0.99)
R-TYPE - ($0.99)
Another World - ($0.99)
Raiden Legacy - ($0.99)
The Last Express - ($0.99)
InstaWeather Pro - ($0.99)
Reactable mobile - ($4.79)
MeteoEarth - ($0.99)
Mobile Doc Scanner MDScan - ($0.99)
Bridge Constructor - ($0.99)
Tales of Illyria EP1 (RPG) - ($1.99)
SCR Screen Recorder Pro Root - ($3.16)
GoneMAD Music Player Unlocker - ($0.99)
MathStudio - ($4.99)
FIST OF AWESOME - ($0.99)
Docs To Go Premium Key - ($9.95)
Umbra - Icon Pack - ($0.99)
The Room - ($0.99)
Dictionary.com Premium - ($1.99)
VA High Speed Downloader Pro - ($0.99)
Shuttle+ Music Player - ($0.99)
Small Call PRO - ($0.99)
The Nautilus - ($0.99)
Paris winter - ($0.99)
Pixel Fleet - ($0.99)
Yesterday. - ($0.99)
Adventure Bar Story - ($1.37)
TowerMadness - ($0.99)
Sine Mora - ($2.99)
Gangstar Vegas - ($0.99)
Worms 2: Armageddon - ($0.99)
Max Axe - ($0.99)
Wipeout - ($0.99)

Go support those devs!

Top 5 Android Games: February 2014

Rithvik — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 14:30:53 +0000

Despite the fact that Tiny Wings (to Tim's dismay) hasn't made it over to Android, we still have no shortage of quality games for some downtime. We come across way too many to feature them all, but some of them bait us and keep us playing -- think Flappy Bird. The games below are on this list for a variety of reasons, ranging from sweet graphics to addictive storylines, but all are definitely worth a look. Here are the best Android games of February 2014 in the eyes of DL. 1. The Room Two ($2.99) The 3D Puzzler known as The Room was one of our favorite games of 2013, with a great storyline and crisp graphics. Its followup, The Room Two, has managed to one-up that game, and that's something we're happy about. The air of mystery and eerie soundtrack completes this game, where you follow evidence and solve puzzles left behind by a mystery scientist under the name of AS as you explore the stunning world. Cloud saves are also one of the features, for those of you who switch between devices a lot -- that's a win in our book. All I can say other than that is to go check it out. You'll be cursing us for getting you addicted afterward.

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2. Traal (Free) This one's by no means a new game, but we've just recently found it and it's been great. The purpose behind Traal is very simple -- it brings old school back with retro graphics and seemingly easy gameplay. All you really do is shuffle through a dungeon with a flashlight, trying to avoid creatures that may kill you if the flashlight beam falls on them. Controls in this game aren't the best for the level of precision required at certain points, but are definitely pretty top-notch for something on a touchscreen. Traal is free on Google Play, but requires the free Adobe Air app to function properly. If you need an addictive pastime, look no further.

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3. Mikey Shorts ($0.99) Mikey Shorts looks to be best described as a Mario-looking game with a similar purpose. As the app description states, you run, jump, and slide your way through the world for 84 levels on a mission to rescue folks. And just like Mario, you can pick up coins along the way that will let you purchase cool new disguises -- there are over 170 total. You can customize controls to have them best suited for your gaming position, and race against your best time ghosts among various other features. Also included is a star system -- the faster you finish a level, the more stars you can get for it. Mikey Shorts is available on Google Play for $0.99, and certainly does look like a fun game without a demand for your concentration.

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4. Worm Run ($0.99) Worm Run is an endless runner, just like Temple Run, but it has some side-scrolling action and an extra dose of fun. You navigate your way through tunnels while gathering power-ups, and of course there's a giant ole' demented worm pursuing you. This is seemingly an easy game to play, and you're probably thinking that you can be a pro at it, but trust me -- it's not.

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5. Swordigo (Free) The best part about Swordigo, first of all, is the price. It's absolutely free for the time being with no in-app purchases or ads, which makes it hard to not go check out. In the game, you embark on an adventure where you look for some cronies to take on in battle for XP, and crystal chests to upgrade your character. All you have in your favor is a flaming sword and some fireballs to get you through the game as your battles become harder and harder to win. Swordigo's graphics are also top-notch, so definitely go try this one out before Touch Foo starts charging for it.

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BroApp Will Text Your Girlfriend When You're Too Busy Hanging With Your Boys

Tim — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 14:00:52 +0000

While I don't agree with the ethics of BroApp or anyone that would pay for such a thing, if you happen to find yourself constantly bothered by the idea of personally texting your girlfriend or wife to say nice things, this app will do it for you for the price of $1.99. The app learns which times you are not with your girl, such as at the gym or at work, and will text her sweet little messages to keep her busy and thinking of you. For those worried about their girl uncovering this secret bro app, the creators went to great lengths to make sure she won't stumble upon its existence.

Girlfriend Wifi Detector: BroApp won't send messages when you are at your girlfriend's place.
Girlfriend Intrusion Detector: BroApp will prevent inquisitive girlfriends from uncovering the BroApp secret.
Recent Contact Detector: BroApp won't send messages if you have recently communicated with your girlfriend.

Yeah, this seems pretty low, but that's just my opinion. Grab it off of Google Play by following the link below. Play Link ($1.99)

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Tip: Use Google Search on Mobile to Quickly Find Restaurant Menus as Search Cards

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:22:45 +0000

How often do you use Google to help you find a restaurant's website so that you can hopefully checkout the spot's menu? I do it at least a couple of times per week it seems like, especially when trying to decide where to meet friends at. The process, at least until today, has been extremely tedious. You had to search for a restaurant, visit their website, scroll around looking for the "Menu" link, and then either seeing the menu directly on the site or downloading it as a PDF file, which would then take another tap. Google has fixed this painful process (at least in the U.S.), by adding all sorts of restaurant's menus to search results that can be viewed on mobile and the web via card that pops up at the top of all listings. All you need to do is tap the voice search button, and say, "show me the menu for...," and finish it off with a restaurant name. As you can see below, I had great success with Portland restaurants, though it did miss one local brewery that I visit often. The card does an "At a Glance" tab, followed by separate tabs for appetizers or salads or main entrees, depending on the restaurant. They even included pricing and arrows to help you get around without ever having to enter the restaurant's website. It's glorious. Give it a shot!

Via: +Google

Chrome for Android Update Fixes Continuous Sign-in Bug

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:07:42 +0000

Chrome for Android is receiving an update today that rids the app of an incredibly obnoxious bug that would ask users to sign-in over and over again. The bug did not affect everyone or every device, but I was one of those who it constantly tortured while testing out the Xperia Z1 Compact. As you can imagine, I went from thinking it was a Google sign-in issue to blaming the device, since no other devices were experiencing the problem. I now know that it wasn't any of that. And this is me doing a little dance. I may be singing too.

Via: Chrome Releases

Think Tank: What is HTC Doing With the Dual Camera Setup on the All New One?

Tim — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 12:11:54 +0000

Press renders for the all new One from HTC are making the rounds quite heavily, and if you haven't been paying attention, there is apparently two cameras along the backside of the device. While a few may joke about HTC raising the EVO 3D from the grave, I personally find any speculation about 3D camera support hard to believe, as new creations shown off at MWC this past week are now making headlines. A partnership between an Israeli-based startup called Corephotonic and Qualcomm introduced a dual-sensor setup at MWC, with one lens being telephoto and the other being wide angle. The idea is to give smartphones the ability to not only take great pictures, but then to allow users to zoom in on these pictures much better. Let's face it, zooming in on photos taken on smartphones isn't great on most phones, so improvements on this key feature would be quite welcomed. Since current smartphone camera setups are a single clunkier lens, the cameras have actual moving parts for when users zoom in on a subject. By adding in a telephoto lens for the sole purpose of taking shots where distance and clarity is the goal, HTC could be looking to make big advancements in the mobile photography game. Below in the video, CNET went hands-on with the dual-lens hardware. As you can see, there is an insane difference between photos taken with the dual-lens versus the single lens setup. When photos taken with the dual-lens are zoomed in, the image remains vibrant and crystal clear, while the single-lens starts blurring and details are lost. Be sure to watch the video. With the Snapdragon 800 chip from Qualcomm powering this project, and a Snapdragon chip rumored to power the One (2014), this may not be too hard to imagine. We certainly hope HTC is planning on more than just a 3D picture mode. Have any others ideas as to what HTC could do with a dual-camera setup on the backside of the new One? Shoot your ideas down below.

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Via: Engadget

Question of the Day: What Modules Would You Include in Your Project Ara Phone?

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:52:11 +0000

Project Ara, the modular phone project now run by Google, is probably one of the most interesting smartphone developments for tech enthusiasts to pay attention to in years. The idea is simple - you have a bare-bones skeleton phone that can be customized through modules that are created by third party outfits. Things like battery size, camera sensor, CPU, RAM, radio connectivity, and display could (in theory) all be chosen and then swapped depending on the user, time of place, or budget. Think about a phone that could start at $50 because it only has display and WiFi modules, but could then reach a variety of price points from there through camera additions, 4G LTE radios, a higher-resolution display, an awesome speaker, or a 2-day battery? And then think about next year, when a new camera module is out or a display can be upgraded from 1080p to 2K or Qualcomm releases a new Snapdragon? Wouldn't that be the life?

Google is leaving module development (for the most part) up to third parties, so that could mean you have an AMOLED display module from Samsung, speaker module from someone like Sonos, a camera sensor from Sony, and a battery from Motorola (plus a back-up module), all made for Ara. Those are random examples of well-known companies who may not participate at all, but you sort of get the point here. So I'm curious, how would you build a smartphone with modules? Where would your focuses be? If you could build a Project Ara smartphone, what would you include? Let us know in the comments.

Amazon Offers Up Good List of Apps for Free Through Appstore, Save Yourself $19

Tim — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:02:40 +0000

Android folks who love a good deal, yes that's all of us, can head on over to the Amazon Appstore this morning to pick up a few free apps. Surprisingly, all of the apps aren't completely worthless, and there are a few great titles, such as Wheel of Fortune, Ski Safari, and Gravity Guy. They may not be super popular these days, but if you missed these apps while they were in their prime, you can definitely enjoy them now for free instead of a combined $19. Of course, you will need to have the Amazon Appstore installed on your device, but don't worry, the app is a lot better than it used to be. You shouldn't see any excessive battery drain coming from it like we did back in the Android 4.1 days. Good times! Check out the full list below and follow those links.

Free apps on Amazon

Wheel of Fortune
Wreck-it Ralph Kindle Edition
Gravity Guy
Sonic Jump
Ski Safari
Buddy & Me
QuizClash Premium
Lumi
The Nut Job

Via: Amazon

Phonebloks Posts Brief Video of Project Ara's History

Kyle — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:40:54 +0000

Project Ara may be getting a lot of buzz, but what is it, exactly? To help answer that question, Phonebloks, the Kickstarter project that teamed up with Google's Advanced Technology and Projects group (ATAP) to develop Ara (was formerly with Motorola), released a YouTube video that covers a brief history of project's development, interviews some of its key players, and dives into what we can expect in the near future. The video’s a bit cheesy, but worth a watch if only for the awesome-looking Ara prototypes. If the Alpha Module shown at the Ara Development Conference looks as good as some of the mock-ups shown and the base price is $50, April will be one exciting month.

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"All New HTC One" for AT&T Makes First Press Render Appearance

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:47:42 +0000

And here we have the "All New HTC One" aka HTC One (2014) in silver with AT&T branding, courtesy of @evleaks. Nothing else has changed. It looks just like the previously leaked HTC One (2014) press render in silver. No official specs are out. No release date has been announced. We are still waiting for HTC's March 25 event for all of that. How long before press renders of other carrier variants arrive? Tough to say, especially since only the AT&T model has stopped by the FCC thus far. You better not include the words "exclusive" and "carrier" in any part of this launch, HTC. But you wouldn't do that, would you?

Via: @evleaks

Deal: TYLT ENERGI+ Battery Backpack for $149 ($50 off) with Coupon Code

Kyle — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:28:14 +0000

For those on the go, the biggest barrier to carrying around multiple electronics is battery life. Or, as the ski instructor from South Park would say, if your tablet or smartphone dies and you don’t have access to a power outlet, you’re gonna have a bad time. One possible solution is lugging around a battery. The other is buying a specialized backpack like TYLT’s ENEGERI+. The ENERGI+ isn’t anything fancy, but simplicity was the goal. It’s a poly material backpack with an inbuilt, 10,400mAh rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, 13 pockets, a trolley slot, a headphone carrying compartment, and a full-length zipper pocket. It accommodates any device with MicroUSB, and TYLT says it can provide up to 4 full smartphone charges or 1 full tablet charge. The backpack normally retails for $199, but you can obtain for $149 using the code ENERGI50OFF through March 7.

Via: TYLT

Kit Kat Update D80120A Available for Flashing on T-Mobile LG G2

Tim — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:08:40 +0000

LG G2 owners on T-Mobile who can't bear to wait for the Kit Kat OTA update any longer are in luck, as it is now available for download and flashing via LG's PC Utility. Users are also able to download the update (D80120A.kdz) from a direct download on LG's servers, and then manually flash via the LG Mobile Support Tool. After flashing, users are reporting a more responsive device, full white icons in the notification bar, and the Knock Knock feature being even faster than before. If you have LG's PC Utility installed on your computer, download the file (about 1.5GB), and then update your device. Again, you can also download the update via the direct download link below. Let us know how it goes and how much you are loving Kit Kat. Download: D80120A_00.kdz

Via: XDA

Amazon in Talks With Music Labels to Launch Streaming Music Service?

Kellen — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:33:40 +0000

According to sources who spoke with Recode, Amazon is in talks with record labels to potentially launch its own streaming music service, because well, the world doesn't have enough of them. While the talks are reportedly "serious," they may or may not be close to landing deals, so don't hold your breath on this one just yet. Should Amazon reach agreements and launch a streaming service, there is a good chance it will be coupled in with their Prime membership program that currently offers free 2-day shipping on items, along with a subscription to Amazon's Prime video streaming service. And that's about all we know. Keep in mind that Android users still cannot use Amazon's Prime video service, as there is no stand-alone app (at least an official one). Kindle owners and iOS devices have access to the service. Who knows if an Amazon streaming music service would see the same limitations, though it wouldn't surprise me. We're now years and years deep into Android as the king of mobile, yet Amazon refuses to give us an option. Should something else develop, we'll be sure to pass along the info. For now, let's all list out reasons for needing another streaming music service... [audio

Via: Recode

Hangouts App Sees UI Makeover Plus 10-second Videos, Animated Stickers, Favorites, Swiping Actions...on iOS

Kellen — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:19:37 +0000

I don't know that we always look to iOS to see what's next in Android app development, but when it comes to apps like Hangouts and Gmail from Google, we certainly have more than once (calls in Hangouts, anyone?). Take for example today's Hangouts overhaul that just went live through iTunes. The update introduces a brand new UI to the app that makes it "optimized for iOS 7." I can't exactly say that I'm a fan of the 4-category paginated approach, but some of the new features would be more-than-welcomed on Android. In version 2.0 of Hangouts on iOS, users can send animated stickers, favorite conversations so that you aren't always looking at an endless list of them, send 10-second video clips, and swipe across conversations to get actionable items like Favorite, Video, Mute, and Archive. There are deeper controls over specific contacts as well. Tough to tell if or when we'll see any of these new features on Android, but I'd be surprised if 10-second video clips, animated stickers, and favorites don't make their way over at some point. The UI setup can stay on iOS, though.

Via: +Frank Petterson

Swordigo Now on Google Play, a 3D Action Game That's Free for the Time Being

Tim — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:34:12 +0000

Another iOS app which made its way to Android through a Humble Bundle is now available on Google Play, for the price of free. The game is called Swordigo, and while the free tag reportedly won't last forever, the game also features no IAPs - fans of swords and battle-hardened characters with blue hair better hurry up and download the game ASAP. In Swordigo, you control a character who sets off an adventure through a dangerous world. All you have is your sword and fire/ice balls to protect you, as you search levels for chests of crystals and baddies to destroy for more XP. As you progress, baddies get harder, so it's up to you to upgrade your character so he can handle himself in these battles. The game features pretty good controls, plus easy-on-the-eye 3D graphics. It's a must-try game in my book. Go grab it for free on Google Play. Play Link

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Worm Run Hits Google Play, an Endless Runner That Isn't so Endless

Tim — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:39:04 +0000

For just a dollar on Google Play, you can go download the newest hit title, Worm Run. Previously exclusive to iOS, this game takes you deep underground, flighting for survival as you navigate a maze of tunnels, while you attempt to escape with your cartoony life. But what has you on the run? A giant frickin' worm with teeth, of course! Think of this game like Tremors, but without the greatest actor of all time in it, Kevin Bacon. You collect power-ups to help you navigate tunnels, as well as weapons to slow the worm down. If you have the same luck I did, the worm will get you in no time, though. Controls are all handled by swiping your fingers, so you may think the game is easy at first, but just you wait until you're met with countless obstacles while gathering underground coins. Come to think of it, this game is really hectic. Pick it up on Google Play for $0.99. Play Link

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Motorola's Active Display and Assist See Minor Updates

Kellen — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:15:26 +0000

Because Motorola separated out the best features from the Moto X and new DROID line as stand-alone apps, they continue to update them regularly through Google Play. Today, we're seeing updates for both Assist and Active Display. Neither of the updates is huge, but they do fix bugs and introduce subtle features that will only help add polish to the experience. With Active Display, users can now control whether or not the phone vibrates when tapping on a notification. It should also honor whatever the system vibration settings have been set at. With Assist, troubleshooting of drive mode audio issues when connected to Bluetooth becomes a reality, along with better handling of "available" status and the triggering of meeting mode. Both updates are live on Google Play now. What's new in Active Display:

- Honors the system vibration settings. Turn vibration on/off by going to Settings -> Sound -> Vibrate on touch. - More bug fixes

What's new in Assist:

- Added support to troubleshoot drive mode audio issues when connected to Bluetooth - Meetings where you’re marked as “Available” will no longer trigger meeting mode - Bug fixes!

Play Links: Active Display | Assist

Moov Wants to be Your Personal Fitness Coach, Make You Better at Fitness

Kellen — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:39:01 +0000

Fitness bands and trackers are everywhere these days. Some have AMOLED screens, others still use layers of LED lights to give you basic info, and a handful lack interfaces altogether, instead relying on companion apps to do the dirty work. For the most part, none of that really differentiates one from the other because all pretty much do the same thing - they log hours of fitness info and expect you to figure the rest out on your own. What if a smart band or fitness tracker could not only log your workouts, but also instruct you on how to get better at them? What if you could improve your running form or swimming stroke or golf swing by wearing a tracker on your leg, arm, or body? A new product called Moov aims to do exactly that. Moov, created by an Apple engineer and two sensor research guys from Microsoft, is a fitness tracker filled with sensors that aren't uncommon to other wearables, but Moov is trying to do so much more. Using 3D motion sensing and a voice assistant, Moov will track something like your cadence and then tell you how to adjust so that you can run longer. Or it could track impact, to help you run softer and avoid injury.

Running isn't everything, though, so Moov will do swim, cycling, and regular workout tracking as well. Later on down the road, it aims to add on golf swing and yoga coaching. Yes, Moov wants to teach you how to play golf better. Moov is a sensor attached to a band that can be warn on your wrist, arm, leg, or even mounted to things like your bike pedal. It pairs with smartphone apps to track your progress in real-time, while also providing feedback. For now, it's an iOS deal, but within the first four months after launch, its creators hope to have it on Android as well. The company has launched a crowd-funded campaign of sorts through a stand-alone website. Their goal is to reach about $40,000 in funding with an initial launch of summer 2014. If you get in on the early campaign pre-order, you can grab a Moov for $59.95. That's half off of the expected retail price of $120. Pre-order from Moov. [FAQ]

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Google to Update "Verify Apps" Feature, Will Bring Continuous Monitoring Even After App Installation

Tim — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:28:28 +0000

Introduced in Android 4.2, then rolled back to later versions of Android down to Android 2.3, the built-in Verify Apps feature works to detect shady applications that users sideload onto devices. As of right now, the program checks newly installed applications, then basically goes to sleep until a new app is sideloaded. According to a Googler who spoke with Computer World, a universal update is on its way, bringing continuous monitoring for an even more secure Android experience. Once a new app is installed after the update, Verify Apps will continue working to make sure nothing shady is going on in the background. The system works with Google's servers to cross check a list of threats Google is aware of. Once the system verifies that there is no threat, it's back to sleep mode until a new app arrives. Android Lead Security Engineer Adrian Ludwig spoke with CW, and stated the following.

We're constantly updating what we're aware of, so being able to detect those things where we've improved our coverage is valuable. We want to make sure that if that were to happen, a user would be made aware of it after the fact. At this point, there really is a collection of services that we're starting to think about as the Google security services for Android. We want to make sure there is no single point of failure within our platform so users can be protected.

CW reports that the update should hit all devices through a Google Play Services update, meaning it won't be held back by OEMs or carriers. Be on the lookout over the next couple of weeks, and let us know if you spot the update on your device. Good on you, Google.

Via: Computer World

Giveaway: Win 1 of 8 Assorted Real Wood Covers From Toast and DL (Update: Winners Picked)

Tim — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:33:54 +0000

Ever since we posted our Toast factory tour and hands-on with the Nexus 5 cover made of real Walnut, we kept getting hounded for a giveaway. Well, here it is! These covers are made right here in the US of A, in the wet and wild area of Portland, Oregon. Toast covers are essentially a "sticker" made of real wood on the outside, with extremely sticky 3M adhesive on the inside. Once applied to your device, the cover isn't going anywhere. Unlike the wood backs you would get on Moto X, the wood on these covers is less treated, meaning you will be feeling your wood grain for days after applying, and they age great. If you watch any American Pickers, you'd know it's all about the patina. The wood itself is harvested on the East coast, with the exception of the Bamboo and Ebony options, which are brought from overseas. If you seriously haven't seen our factory tour yet or hands-on video, then we highly recommend you go do so. We have 8 covers to give away - two for the Moto X, four for the Nexus 5, and two for the HTC One. Down below you can see the cases we have, so if you have been wanting to get your hands on one of these beauties, this is your chance to score one for free. Follow the very simply rules below to enter, and good luck!

Update: We have selected and emailed our winners. Thank you!

Giveaway

Prizes: Eight winners will win 1 of 8 Toast wood covers. Covers available - (2x) Moto X in Bamboo and Walnut, (4x) Nexus 5 in Walnut and Ebony, and (2x) HTC One in Walnut and Ebony. How to enter: Since we have assorted covers and we need to make sure you get the right cover for your specific device, all you have to do is a leave comment down below with which phone you have. We have covers for the Nexus 5, Moto X, and HTC One. Be sure to leave a comment that is tied to a valid email address, as we will send a message to winners. Winners: Tomorrow morning at 10am PST we will select our eight winners from the comments below. Good luck!

Big thanks to Toast for sending along the cases for us to give away!

Top 5 Android Apps: February 2014

Rithvik — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 10:45:50 +0000

Because of the exponential growth of Android over its first few years, apps have been flowing in at a non-stop rate that makes finding the best of them near-impossible at times. Thankfully, our jobs are to find the best for you and share them as they are released. Over the last month, we have covered dozens of apps, but only a few make our list of must-installs. So here are the five best apps from the month of February.

1. Influx: (Play Link [Demo], $1.99) Alex Miller's Influx icon pack has pretty much secured itself a berth in the icon pack hall of fame. You'll find more than 600 semi- rounded icons with a toned down color palette and long-shadow, plus wallpapers that are no joke as well. You get the icon pack itself, wallpapers, a few Zooper skins to go with it all, and even a Widgetlocker theme. And they all look great, so you can deck your entire device out with just one purchase. This one you should definitely check out.

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2. AcDisplay: (Play Link, free) We've been big fans of the Moto X's Active Display feature for a while now, which allows you to check on the time and your notifications without having to even turn your phone's screen on. AcDisplay looks to emulate that on any Android 4.4 "Kit Kat" device, and does it surprisingly well. AcDisplay is simple to configure and is fairly bare-bones, but that's not to say it won't save you time and provide for a great amount of convenience. And for free, there's no reason for you not to check this out.

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3. Type Machine: (Play Link, $1.99) Type Machine has become one of my personal favorite apps, and I think I'll definitely be installing this on all my Android devices going forward. Countless times I've accidentally deleted something, or had an app crash on me while using a lower-specced device. Those problems are all solved now, with Type Machine automatically backing up everything I type in the background to an easy-to-use interface where I can look back at my history. I explained in my initial write-up how this app also is privacy-conscious, so this $1.99 app will be perfectly fine for you paranoid bunch.

4. Meet Me Halfway: (Play Link, free) The goal behind Meet Me Halfway is quite simple -- if you enter in two addresses, it will give you a nice middle ground that's close in distance from each one, but also offer locations that could be great for a meet-up. For those of you who meet clients or friends often (or as Tim suggests, do dirty deals through Craigslist) and want to make the trip convenient for all parties, this can be a godsend for coordinating exchanges. The app in its current beta form is free on Google Play, so there's no reason to not check it out. Oh, and we have some Immersive Mode action going on here -- that we can appreciate.

5. Muzei Live Wallpaper: (Play Link, free) Roman Nurik just can't stop impressing us no matter how hard he tries. On his popular DashClock widget's birthday, he unveiled his latest creation, the Muzei live wallpaper. At first glance I was one of the few who thought I would try it and never use it again, but I've been proven very wrong. The app pulls in images from a variety of sources to be used as wallpapers, while allowing you to decide how often they are changed. They display on your home screen as a soft-blurred image that with a quick double-tap, can be revealed for a few seconds. Paired with the Reddit, MultiMuze, 500px, and National Geographic extensions, Muzei has been put to full time live wallpaper duty on both my phone and tablet. You can configure Muzei to show pretty much any pictures you choose from any source, and if you can't find a certain extension, you can make one. Brilliant, right?

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Mugen Power Reveals 2800mAh Battery Case for the Moto X

Kyle — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 09:35:56 +0000

Middling or average battery life has been a complaint of Moto X owners since the device's release. Despite hardware that doesn't draw nearly the power of higher-end devices, the 2200mAh battery capacity often isn't enough to get through a full day without charging. The folks at Mugen Power recognize this; yesterday, the company revealed a 2800mAh battery case designed specifically for the Moto X. For $89.50, it'll bump the combined capacity to 5000mAh (2800mAh case + 2200mAh internal phone battery), which should translate to 20+ hours of usage before needing a charge. Of course, the extended battery life also translates to added bulk through the case. The case is $89.50, and is now available for pre-order. It'll ship on March 14. Any takers?

Via: Mugen Power

Cheers Jbartcaps!

Buggy Night is a Followup to the Windy Day Interactive Film for Moto X Owners

Tim — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 09:20:20 +0000

We recall a few months ago when Motorola pushed an interactive film called Windy Day to Moto X owners, and being the privacy-centric folks that Android device owners are, weren't too happy Moto was sneaking around and installing apps without permission. Once people realized it was a simple cartoon, that was actually quite nice, they decided to lighten up to the idea. Now, Motorola has taken to YouTube this week to upload a trailer for the next film coming to Moto X devices titled, Buggy Night. We don't get to see too much of what the plot may be in the trailer, but it is definitely the same type of interactive cartoonish animation. And just like Windy Day, you can expect there to be an adorable story to go along with it. The trailer is listed as "Coming Soon," so Moto X owners should start keeping an eye on their home screens, looking for another little icon to pop up out of nowhere. If it shows up on your device soon, let us know.

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HTC One (2014) Silver Variant Spotted in the Wild

Kyle — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 08:08:45 +0000

HTC is terrible at keeping secrets. Information about the company's HTC One follow-up has leaked ad infinitum: press renderings and benchmarks have come at a constant clip, ruining whatever surprise HTC had in store for March 25. Today, the leaks continue with purported images of an HTC One (2014) in the wild. It appears to be the silver variant of the device, revealed unofficially last week. The uploader of the photos, a member of HardForums, said that the device was an evaluation model from HTC. He reports that the front-facing camera is 4 MP, and that the handset feels "thinner than the 2013 ONE [sic] and taller." Take all that with a hefty grain of salt, of course. Should the rumors prove accurate, the HTC One (2014) should feature a 5-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 800 or 801 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and a dual-camera array capable of capturing quality photos low-light conditions. March 25 can't come soon enough!

Via: HardForums

Android 4.4.2 Update for Verizon's Moto X Rolling Out to All

Kellen — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 07:04:41 +0000

At the end of last week, just as the soak test for a new software update was beginning on Verizon's variant of the Moto X, Big Red fully approved the Android 4.4.2 update by publishing a changelog. Here we are not even a full week later and the update is rolling out to the masses. The update was waiting for me as I awoke this morning, along with a couple of dozen emails from readers who had received the same love. The update is by no means a big one, but it does bring you up to the newest version of Android, something very few Android phone owners can lay claim to. You'll see improved connectivity while roaming, an improved dialer, battery life enhancements, the new version of Isis Mobile Wallet, and more. The full changelog can be found here. To check for the update, head into Settings>About phone>System updates.

Cheers D, A, P, D, N, W, D, D, G, S, J, K, R, M, R, S, K, J, R, and everyone else!

The Droid Life Show: Episode 51

Kellen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 23:30:43 +0000

Ready to talk Samsung Galaxy S5? We have the Droid Life Show episode 51 planned for tonight, and unsurprisingly, the GS5 is the main topic. I don't know that we'll spend the entire show on Samsung's new flagship, but it will undoubtedly take up a major portion of it. And why wouldn't it? This is the first major phone of 2014. If we get through all that is the Galaxy S5, we have the next Moto X to talk about, along with Project Ara news, new Sony Xperia Z2 devices, and our favorite apps and games of the past week. It should be a packed show. We'll be live at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). Join us live through the embeds below!

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

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Chrome for Android Scores Update to Version 33, Performance and UI Improvements To Be Had

Rithvik — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:56:49 +0000

Yup, it most definitely is an app day over at Mountain View. We now have seen Google+ updated along with the introduction of the Google Now Launcher, but Google hasn't stopped yet -- behold, Chrome 33. The improvements are relatively minor for this update, but are nevertheless good to see. The changelog is relatively small, but we do see some bugs, such as black screens, addressed on certain devices. Apart from that, we have a refreshed interface for help and feedback, support for download progress notifications for certain file downloads, and recognition of the "" tag. Here's the full changelog:

Download progress notification for file downloads using the Chrome network stack
Updated help and feedback UI
Support for tag

Chrome 33 will be rolling out via Google Play in the next few days, but we'll let you know if we stumble upon an APK you can use to get access to it faster. Play Link Update: If you want to sideload the app rather than wait for it to arrive on Google Play, grab it here.

Via: Chrome Releases Blog

Google+ for Android Updated to Version 4.3, New Photo Features in Tow

Rithvik — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:30:00 +0000

Another Wednesday is here, which means that it's time for lots of Google app love. We first saw the release of the Google Now Launcher earlier today for Nexus and Google Play Edition devices, and now are seeing a substantial update for the Google+ app. The update includes a few new enhancements for you photographers out there among a couple basic bug fixes. It's easy to see that this update is entirely centered around photos, with every single one of the enhancements designed to make the lives of picture aficionados a tad bit simpler. The additions include the ability to begin editing a picture on one device, and then carry on or start over on another, new filters and tools (a la Snapseed), and enhancements for viewing and finding your photos. The full list of additions is below:

Non-destructive photo editing across devices Starting today you can start your edits on one device, and continue (or start over) on another. This means you can backup full-resolution photos from your desktop, edit them in seconds on your phone, then add some finishing touches from your tablet. (And you can revert to your originals at any time!) The technical term for this experience is non-destructive editing in the cloud, and we think you'll really enjoy it.

Brand new filters and creative tools Now when you edit your photos, you’ll have a powerful set of tools (like crop and rotate), 1-touch filters, and Snapseed-inspired enhancements (like Drama, Retrolux, and HDR Scape). Mix and match to make your photos look their absolute best.

A single view of all your photos The new ‘All’ view displays your entire photo library — whether it’s on your current device, or backed up in the cloud. If your library is really large (> 10s of thousands of photos), the app won’t show all your photos initially. But stay tuned, because we’re supporting larger and larger libraries over the next few weeks.

An easy way to browse your photos by date In addition to search, there’s now another way to find your photos fast. Just swipe through your photos in the ‘All’ view, and look for the scroll bar on the right. Dragging the scroll bar up or down will quickly move you forwards or backwards in time.

The update is now available for free on Google Play as version 4.3, but sit tight as this staged rollout may take a while to show up for you. Play Link Update: If you want to sideload the v4.3.0.62152090 apk, download it here.

Via: +Vic Gundotra

Google Announces First Project Ara Developers Conference, Taking Place in April (Updated)

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:29:49 +0000

Google announced the first of three conferences for developers interested in Project Ara this afternoon, with two other conferences to follow down the road in 2014. Project Ara, a modular phone project currently a part of Google's Android department, is essentially a smartphone built from various building blocks which the public can give input on. The first conference will take place online, April 15 to 16. There will be a full livestream with interactive Q&A capability. Google also announced that a limited number of people will be able to join the conference live down in Mountain View at the Computer History Museum.

The first of these will focus on the alpha release of the Ara Module Developers’ Kit (MDK). The MDK, which we expect to release online in early April, is a free and open platform specification and reference implementation that contains everything you need to develop an Ara module. The Developers’ Conference will consist of a detailed walk-through of existing and planned features of the Ara platform, a briefing and community feedback sessions on the alpha MDK, and an announcement of a series of prize challenges for module developers.

Google is set to release more details through the all-new Project Ara website, so keep your eyes posted there for specific conference time information. It appears as though Project Ara is really starting to take shape now. Update: The head of Project Ara, Paul Eremenko, will be live shortly here.

Via: +Google ATAP | Project Ara

Vote for Your American Idol Right Through Google on the Desktop, Tablet, and Smartphone

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:17:20 +0000

If you still watch American Idol, you will be happy to hear that the show is moving into the 21st century, thanks to Google. During the show, you can use Google on your desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone to cast your vote once the temporary voting window for your favorite singers opens up. When the time comes, open up Google on Chrome or any other browser, and then search "American Idol." You will then be able to cast up to 50 votes for either one or multiple performers. It's a pretty sweet process, especially for those who thinks texting to vote is so 2002. The finalist performances begin tonight on Fox, so be sure to try it out.

Via: Inside Search

Download: Google Now Launcher Version 1.0.9

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:12:47 +0000

Google recently released the Google Now Launcher to Google Play, but it is limited to just Nexus and Google Play Experience devices running stock Android. Thankfully, this is Android, and sideloading applications is extremely easy. For anyone running a device that isn't a Nexus or GPE, you can attempt to sideload the application by downloading it from the link below, and then installing it. We tested it on the Moto X and it worked like a charm. However, we weren't so lucky with the Galaxy S4 and G Flex. Although, your results may vary. Go give it a shot and let us know down below if it worked for you and which device you are running. Download: com.google.android.launcher

ASUS Releases Two Official Nexus 7 Docks, Priced at $50 and $90

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:43:10 +0000

Sure, the Nexus 7 has been on the market for months, but it's never too late to finally release a few new official docking stations, right? ASUS announced the availability of two different docks for the Nexus 7 (2013) today, one which you plug the tablet into, and another which features wireless charging capabilities. Both docks appear to be built well, and can be purchased right through Amazon. Each dock allows the tablet to work in either landscape or portrait mode. The non-wireless dock also has HDMI-out. We might have to pick them up and check them out, just so we can let you guys and girls know if they're worth the investment - especially the $90 wireless charger. When it comes to accessories for Nexus devices, life is rough for Android fans. Buy: FH Dock ($49.99) | PW100 Wireless Charger ($89.99)

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Via: ASUS

AT&T Announces 12 New LTE Markets

Kellen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:15:53 +0000

Late last night, AT&T turned on 4G LTE in 12 new markets across this great country. As you can imagine at this point in their LTE rollout, we are no longer turning on major cities, so that means the little guys are finally seeing some love. Folks in Bismark, SD and Anderson, IN, and Deridder, LA are all seeing the love. The full list can be seen below.

Bellefontaine, Ohio
Bismarck, North Dakota
Claremont, New Hampshire
Defiance, Ohio
Deridder, Louisiana
Lebanon, Missouri
Greenwood, South Carolina
Lumberton, North Carolina
Seneca, South Carolina
Gainesville, Texas
Anderson, Indiana
Midland, Michigan

Via: PRNewswire

Developer Attempts to Make the LG G2 Camera Even More Boss, Exclusive to Stock ROM Users

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:50:37 +0000

If you are the owner of a rooted LG G2 device, running a stock Android ROM (there are plenty out there), then you will want to check out a modification currently available through XDA. The developer's goal is to bring more functionality and performance to the camera, which we all know it is capable of. LG's stock camera software is already quite good on the G2, but there is always room for improvement. For example, the developer added in the ability for 4K UHD video recording at 120fps, an HDR video mode, extra manual ISO options, faster focusing times, increased general photo quality, and a whole lot more. Down below you can view the full list of features the mod attempts to bring to the device.

Features

4K UHD and 120fps video
Added EIS on top of existing OIS (which I think is all the upcoming GPro2 is doing)
Extra manual ISO selections
HDR video mode
60fps 720p recording mode
Faster focus times and better responsiveness in low-light
Increased framerate in low-light
Bypassed some of the denoising/processing that some pro reviews hadcomplained about
Increased photo quality

As stated, this is only for rooted G2 phones, running a stock Android ROM. If you are looking to root and ROM your G2 to check this mod out, go hit up those forums.

Via: XDA

Cheers Mr. Pants!

Google Now Launcher Arrives on Google Play for Nexus and GPE Devices

Kellen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:35:00 +0000

Remember when the launcher on the Nexus 5 turned into the Google Now Launcher? We told you at the time that its appearance on the Play store as an app for everyone was likely imminent as it included a way to import settings from your old launcher. Guess what? It arrived today, though it's not yet for everyone just yet. The app is indeed just like the launcher that exclusively launched with the Nexus 5 in that it makes Google Now only a swipe away. If turned on, a simple swipe from the left will bring over Google Now, so that you can keep track of your life. At this time, the listing claims that it is only available for Nexus or Google Play Edition devices running Android 4.4. So yes, the Nexus 10 and 7 can now officially enjoy this new beautiful launcher. Play Link

Cheers Paul!

HTC Posts All New One Teaser Video, Hypes Up BoomSound and Beatboxing

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:35:46 +0000

With an unveiling date of March 25 set for the All New One, the only thing HTC needs to focus on is hyping up the phone until everyone can't wait to line up and buy it. If this first "teaser" video for the device is how they plan on doing it, then we wish them luck. Featured in the video are two male characters; one who acts as if he is a Big Bang Theory extra, and the other who is supposed to be our typical, young male consumer. The two start going on about HTC's BoomSound and how awesome the sound quality is (which it is) from the two front-facing speakers. According to the nerdy guy, the new One is even better because - then a trumpet starts playing over his voice and the video pixelates what is supposed to be the new One in his hand. It's definitely lighthearted, and maybe I'm more of a guy who likes in-your-face marketing, but we will see if HTC starts taking the marketing of the new One seriously. After all, they said they would. Watch the teaser down below.

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Samsung Announces the Exynos 5 Octa (5422) and the Exynos 5 Hexa Processors

Tim — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:01:50 +0000

Having an already busy day on Monday with the unveiling of the Galaxy S5, Samsung is keeping the ball rolling this week, announcing two new mobile processors for smartphones and tablets, the Exynos 5 Octa (5422) and Exynos 5 Hexa. The Octa 5422 is a somewhat mild update to the already existing Exynos 5 Octa (5420) processor (seen in the European Galaxy Note 3), with both clusters of chips receiving a bump in max clock speed to 1.5GHz and 2.1GHz. Other than speed bump, it features the same GPU as the previous Octa, but does come with updated software. Samsung states that the revised Octa is better suited for devices with higher resolution displays, such as WQHD (2560 x 1440) and WQXGA (2560 x 1600). The Exynos 5 Hexa is a six-core big.LITTLE HMP SoC, powered by two 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 cores and four 1.3GHz ARM Cortex-A7 cores. Samsung claims that the Hexa will be able to pump out serious power, while also saving devices from excessive battery drain.

Along with Exynos 5 Octa products, it adopts big.LITTLE HMP to provide the right mixture of cores for various tasks, resulting in up to 42 percent improved performance when compared with the previous Exynos 5 Dual products.

Unfortunately, there is no timeframe given from Samsung as to when we might see either of these chips hit the market, but our guess would be first half of 2014. Once MWC settles down, you can expect to hear more about all of the announcements made from Samsung and other companies.

Via: Samsung

Deal: New 128GB SanDisk MicroSD UHS-I Card for $120

Kellen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 08:14:03 +0000

Earlier this week at MWC, SanDisk unveiled their newest UHS-I Ultra microSD card for mobile devices with 128GB of storage. Yes, they doubled the 64GB cards most of your Samsung's devices can support, but still brought the same Class 10 speeds. We are looking at 30MB/s, water/magnet/shock/temperature proof, and in a package that comes with a regular sized SD adapter. The new cards originally retailed for $199, but thanks to Amazon, that price was short-lived. These brand new 128GB microSD cards from SanDisk can be had for $119.99. No coupon needed - just a straight up discount. SanDisk claims that you can store up to 16 hours of Full HD video, 7,500 songs, 3,200 photos and more than 125 apps. That's a lot of goodies stored on your phone or tablet, assuming your phone or tablet has an SD card slot or supports USB OTG. We are also waiting for word back from SanDisk on an officially supported list, but if your device supports SDXC, you could be OK. Amazon Link

Via: Slickdeals

Deal: Get 50% Off TYLT Accessories With This Coupon Code (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 07:49:40 +0000

Update: TYLT reached out to us to say that they are NOT currently running a 50% off promo. In other words, the code we originally posted shouldn't be working. And don't bug their customer service trying to get it to. On Cyber Monday, we tipped you to a deal through accessory manufacturer TYLT that would save you 50% off of purchases of their high-end accessories. We basically crashed their site, which caused some of you to not be able to take advantage of the deal. Thankfully today, TYLT is running another 50% off promo by using coupon code "50TYLT-T4102711" during checkout. It appears to be 50% off of your entire order as well, so feel free to gobble up brightly colored accessories. Not familiar with TYLT? They are mostly known for the TYLT VU wireless charger, but I've also used their portable battery packs and USB cables. All of it comes off very well-made, in a variety of bright colors, and is a solution for anything from car charging to audio splitting to case protection. TYLT Link

Via: Slickdeals

Cheers Scott!

AT&T Galaxy S4 Receiving Update to Kit Kat Tomorrow

Kellen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 18:31:15 +0000

This afternoon, AT&T announced through their official Galaxy S4 support page that the device would begin receiving an update to Android 4.4 "Kit Kat" tomorrow. As of right now, the Sprint variant is the only other U.S. carrier-tied Galaxy S4 to receive Kit Kat, so this puts AT&T users in rare company. The update includes Galaxy Gear compatibility (really?), restyled navigation and notification areas, new lock screen features, more emoji, wireless printing, and all sorts of other goodies. The AT&T changelog doesn't give much, but we have a changelog from Sprint that goes into a bit more detail. You can find that here. Last week, Samsung gave us the official list of devices that will receive Kit Kat once carriers can get updates approved. Be sure to check out the list if you haven't. Also, our Kit Kat update list is constantly getting updates.

Via: AT&T

Microsoft Details a Bit of Windows Phone 8.1, Will Run on Existing Snapdragon-powered Android Hardware

Tim — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:00:09 +0000

While we may not be the biggest fans of Windows Phone at DL, this news affects many folks who like to enjoy a taste of everything from different companies. This week at MWC, Microsoft listed out a few details for the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 release, stating that the OS could be flashed to any existing Android hardware, as long as it was powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, 400, or 400 LTE chipset. While the idea is great for consumers, Microsoft wanted to make sure users were aware that dual-booting the two would be unsupported, though. And for those looking to pull some ROM flashing trickery through developer forums, Microsoft also said that would not be possible. In addition to just running on Android hardware, Windows Phone 8.1 would bring support for moving applications to an SD card, which is important for budget devices with less onboard storage. Microsoft also announced that 8.1 would remove the requirement for hardware to feature capacitive buttons and a dedicated physical camera button, meaning that Windows Phone will now support onscreen buttons. If you ask us Android-lovin' folk, that's a step in the right direction. Windows Phone 8.1 is scheduled for launch sometime this Spring, with Microsoft's Build conference happening on April 2.

Via: PC Mag

Scam Alert: Verizon "Technical Support" Number Tricking Users Into Verizon54 Scam Site

Kellen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:34:24 +0000

Over the last couple of weeks, I personally have received a handful of potentially dangerous calls from a number that is showing up as "Technical Support" on my phones, likely because I have Verizon Wireless service. The phone number associated to that "Technical Support" is (800) 922-0204 and just so happens to be an official Verizon customer service number (seen here), hence the reason it is showing up as if it were already a contact of mine. So what's wrong with the number? A scam company seems to be masking calls to users with the number, asking that they head over to a third party scam site that probes for their login info and who knows what else. As you can imagine, it's likely tricking many if it's showing up as official looking as "Technical Support." The calls I'm receiving tell me that I have received a special reward of $54, and that to receive the payment, I need to login to www.verizon54.com. They even toss in a, "because at Verizon, we care about you," line to help seal the deal. As you can see at the top of this post, Google has already flagged the site as a phishing site and warns you not to enter should you try. If you do, and actually provide your login info, the scammers could use that info to do all sorts of damage, starting with accessing your Verizon account. We aren't sure how long this scam will continue, but it has been filling up 1-800 call tracking sites for a couple of weeks now. It is most definitely a scam. Please be careful should you receive a call from "Technical Support." Here is audio of the voicemails they leave: [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/136746311" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /]

Third Party Standalone Google Play Music All Access App Released for Mac

Tim — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:08:12 +0000

What's that sound? Is that the sound of Mac owner's dreams finally coming true? I think it is. Released independently from Google, and open source on GitHub, a standalone application for Google Play Music All Access is now available for Mac computers. The app can connect to your entire library of cloud-saved music, access radio playlists, show desktop notifications for tracks, and most importantly, can be controlled by your built-in media controls on the Mac. #winning. Previously, desktop users needed to access their music through a webpage that is built by Google, but this new app will allow folks to keep their browsers closed while enjoying high voltage tunage. If you rock a Mac, go download it via the link below and let us know what you think. Download

Via: kbhomes | GitHub

Cheers Dave Kover!

MLB.com At Bat Gets Updated for The 2014 Season, Starts Training for Opening Day

Eric — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 13:22:40 +0000

Only 34 more days until the MLB's Opening Day comes. Although if you are an owner of the MLB.com Android application, you probably knew that. Either way, you will be excited to hear that the MLB.com app recieved an update today with even more upgrades and changes promised to come in the near future. Today's changelog may not be that long, but the two additions are certainly a steal. The first allows users to select more than one favorite team. While this might sound blasphemous to some baseball fans, it is a welcome change for others. The other addition is push notifications to your device for every scoring play of whichever team you choose, and it can be more than one. These are the changes to the application that are going live today, but there is a list of 10 more additions that MLB.com hopes to add before Opening Day comes around. If you are a MLB.TV Premium subscriber this app comes free of charge, but if you haven't paid yet you can sign up for the whole 2014 season for just $19.99. Not a bad deal if you plan on using this app to watch your favorite team throughout the season. The update is rolling out to users now, so check Google Play to see if you can pull it down. Play Link

PushBullet Integrates Tasker for Crazy Intuitive Notifications

Eric — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:47:48 +0000

Fans of the two apps PushBullet and Tasker are the ones who like to get things done quickly and efficiently. Today's announcement will be a welcome one from both sides as PushBullet announced new Tasker integration into their notification app. Now you can get all the contextual awareness of Tasker and tie it into notifications for your devices. The PushBullet team said that this marriage of apps had been requested for a long time, so as of today there is a new Tasker plugin for PushBullet rolling out. This lets users program their own Tasker commands, but then link them to a PushBullet notification. For example, when you receive a text message or phone call, send a copy of the message or caller as a notification to your tablet, or sending a synchronized notification to all of your Pushbullet devices when your phone’s battery drops below 10%. The only limit is what you can come up with in Tasker to be exported into your notification drawer. To add this new functionality, just update your existing PushBullet application through Google Play. What can you think of using this new Tasker support for? Play Link

Via: PushBullet

Motorola Confirms New Moto X Coming Late Summer, Smartwatch This Year Too

Kellen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:12:17 +0000

During a Q&A with a panel of Motorola executives at Mobile World Congress, Motorola executives confirmed that a new Moto X will arrive "late" summer 2014 and that they are working on a new smartwatch that will arrive this year. The panel features Rich Osterloh, Steve Horowitz, and Mark Randall, and was scheduled to be nothing more than a quick update on the state of Motorola following news that Lenovo would attempt to acquire them. Turns out, they were ready to share plans. The Moto X was thought very highly of around these parts because of its focus on adding meaningful features to stock Android. If they can continue that idea with a new Moto X, but bump-up a couple of the specs to 2014 standards, it could once again be the phone we can't stop talking about. Motorola's previous smartwatch attempt, on the hand, was not exactly a success. Known as the MotoActv, the watch wanted to be the ultimate fitness tracker, but unfortunately never caught on or received support once Google bought Motorola. We aren't sure how they'll attack the smartwatch industry again, but I'd imagine it'll be much like how they approached the Moto X. In today's Q&A session, Rick Osterloh said specifically, "We are working on a watch that will be available this year. We aim to address consumer issues like style & battery life." Those are the only details we know about each product at this time, but it's exactly the type of news that Motorola fans want to hear. Also, during the interview, Motorola confirmed that MotoMaker will launch in the UK, Germany and Mexico in Q2. Excited?

Via: @Motorola [2]

Qualcomm Announces the Snapdragon 615, First Octa-core Chipset with LTE and 64 Bit Capabilities

Eric — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:10:12 +0000

Qualcomm made headlines yesterday with the Snapdragon 805 making an appearance in the new Galaxy S5. Today, Qualcomm announced another chipset aimed at mid range devices across the world. The Snapdragon 610 and 615 are both octa-core chipset devices that feature a spectrum of LTE bands so OEMs can use them in devices in different markets. The best part about this set of chips is the different LTE bands that it offers. This allows one chip to work across 5 different LTE bands that you can find in different countries, all while working with HSPA+ and CDMA. To give this set of processors a little extra power, Qualcomm is bringing in the Adreno 405 GPU. The Adreno 400 GPUs are the same one from the higher end Snapdragon 800 line that we see in the Xperia Z2 and Galaxy S5, so the graphics will be no slouch. Qualcomm bringing a lot of technology to the table for these processors. Mid range devices around the world should benefit once these are picked up by OEMs.

Via: Qualcomm

AT&T Offering Free Unlimited International Messaging for Existing MobileShare Plans Starting February 28 (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 11:43:38 +0000

Attempting to gain back a bit of momentum that T-Mobile continues to steal away, AT&T announced from MWC this week that the company will now offer unlimited messaging to land and mobile lines free of charge starting at the end of this week. Previously, AT&T charged customers $10 a month for international messaging. AT&T also announced that they are reducing the price of international calls to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean to 1-cent-a-minute in a plan that costs $5 a month. T-Mobile also announced very similar plans for their customers, all the way back in October. Although, AT&T claims their plans are better, since customers can call landlines as well, not just mobile. AT&T's very own Ralph De La Vega spoke on the announcement.

We are always looking for ways to keep our customers happy. The offer we have is better than T-Mobile’s, because on ours it isn’t just landlines, it includes mobile as well.

We feel as if Ralph should be a bit more transparent, since it's not only wireless customers they are trying to please. According to Bloomberg, AT&T stock have fallen 9% over the past year, while T-Mobile's has grown a whopping 62% thanks to a switch to no-contract plans, quicker phone upgrades, and payment financing. Over the past three quarters, T-Mobile has signed up a new 2.1 million monthly customers, while AT&T announced that in Q4 of 2013, they signed up 566K, which is quite the slow down when compared to the previous year's 780K of new subs. For the consumer, it's great when you have two giants going after one another. Prices go down, customer services goes up, and we the consumer benefits. Hooray. Update: T-Mobile reached out to make sure folks know of their newest announcement, the ability to call landlines and mobile lines, just like AT&T.

For example, until now, customers have had to know whether they were dialing a landline or a mobile number when calling from the US. I know this has caused some frustration over some unexpected fees. That’s not good. That’s not Un-carrier. To fix that, I’m proud to officially announce that we’re expanding Stateside International Talk & Text, so customers can simply dial family, friends and colleagues in over 30 countries – and be completely confident that there will be NO extra charges when using this feature.

Good on you, T-Mo.

Via: Bloomberg | AT&T

HTC Announces Mid-Range Desire 816 and Desire 610, Plus Philanthropic Power To Give Initiative

Kyle — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 11:10:41 +0000

HTC may have skipped this year's Mobile World Congress, but that doesn't mean the company has completely forgone announcements. Yesterday, in addition to teasing a much more exciting smartphone, HTC detailed two mid-range devices bound for overseas markets, the Desire 816 and Desire 610. The company also unveiled a philanthropic initiative that aims to leverage the unused computing power of smartphones for scientific uses. Both the Desire 816 and Desire 610 feature BlinkFeed and stereo BoomSound, but that's where the commonality ends. The Desire 816, which will launch in China next month and other countries in April, sports polycarbonate casing and a 5.5-inch 720p display. It's powered by a 1.6GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC and contains 1.5 GB of RAM, a 2600mAh battery, 8GB of flash storage, and a microSD slot. The rear-facing camera is respectable at 13MP, as is the front shooter at 5MP.

The Desire 610 is a decidedly lower-specced handset. The display size is smaller at 4.7 inches and the processor slower at 1.2GHz, and the device contains only 1GB of RAM and a 2040mAh battery. The cameras' megapixel counts take a hit, too, with only an 8MP shooter on the back and 1.3MP on the front. Clearly a budget smartphone, the Desire 610 will launch in Europe in May.

Arguably more intriguing than the smartphones is HTC's Power To Give program. Using an app, any smartphone user can donate computational power to the medicinal, scientific, or environmental researchers. Those concerned about battery drain needn't worry; the application will only start when your device is charging and connected to WiFi. Right now, the app is compatible with the HTC One series, Butterfly, and Butterfly s, but HTC plans to broaden compatibility in the coming weeks. Power To Give is available from the Google Play Store. Play Link

Samsung and PayPal Team Up to Make Use of the Galaxy S5's Fingerprint Scanner

Eric — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 10:50:44 +0000

Yesterday's announcement of the Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner was exciting, but PayPal had something else in store. Samsung introduced fingerprint authentication for mobile payments and PayPal is jumping on board. PayPal is one of the most trusted names in online buying and selling and them announcing their support of Samsung's new venture is a big one. Adding in this fingerprint technology will allow PayPal users to log into their account without remembering any passwords. This new addition will work for in-store and mobile transactions, so wherever you buy you can be sure that you are safe. For those worried about their fingerprint being sent to PayPal, they explained the system "a unique encrypted key that allows PayPal to verify the identity of the customer without having to store any biometric information on PayPal’s servers." PayPal says that this new feature will be going live in April and at the start will be accessible in 26 markets worldwide including the US, UK and Australia to name a few. With PayPal's global reach you can expect that number to grow quickly.

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Via: PayPal

T-Mobile Q4 Earnings Results: 1.6 Million Subscribers, but $20 Million Loss

Kyle — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 09:51:31 +0000

T-Mobile released its 2013 Q4 earnings today, and they’re a bit mixed. Although the "UnCarrier" managed to add 1.6 million wireless subscribers, it posted a $20 million loss on earnings of $6.83 billion. That’s a 40 percent year-over-year increase in revenue, but a tad short of what investors expected ($6.95 billion). The loss was mostly attributable to the T-Mobile's marketing and many "UnCarrier" moves. It's hard to believe the company introduced its contract-free plans, Jump! upgrade program, international data plan, and Early Termination Fee (ETA) reimbursal deal all in one year, but with a CEO as passionate and aggressive as John Legere, perhaps rapid-fire changes shouldn't come as a surprise. Despite the loss, T-Mobile managed to add an impressive 4.4 million subscribers by the end of fiscal 2013. That’s a record for the carrier, and a figure John Legere was clearly excited about. He said in a prepared statement, "Our performance in the fourth quarter and the full year is clearly proving that we have our strategy right and that we are executing it well. Customers are fed up with the old ways and are voting in favor of choice, innovation and doing business with a company that cares about them and is willing to earn their business." Here's the press release:

T-Mobile US Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Results and Third Consecutive Quarter of Over One Million Net Customer Additions

Fourth Quarter 2013 Highlights:

Total net customer additions of more than 1.6 million

981,000 total branded net customer additions with 869,000 branded postpaid net additions, representing the best branded postpaid performance since the fourth quarter of 2005

Improving branded postpaid phone net additions of 800,000 and 69,000 mobile broadband net additions

Accelerating branded prepaid customer growth with 112,000 net customer additions

Continued low branded postpaid churn of 1.7%, flat quarter-over-quarter and down 80 basis points year-over-year, resulting in the best quarter of year-over-year churn reduction in 2013

Delivered third consecutive quarter of sequential service revenue growth

Strong Adjusted EBITDA of $1.239 billion and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 24% combined with significant customer growth

Successful modernization program delivers nationwide 4G LTE network coverage to 209 million people in 273 metro areas

Full Year 2013 Highlights:

Total net customer additions of more than 4.4 million on a pro forma combined basis

2.4 million total branded net customer additions including 2 million branded postpaid and 359,000 branded prepaid customers on a pro forma combined basis

Branded postpaid churn of 1.7%, down 70 basis points year-over-year

Adjusted EBITDA of $5.317 billion and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 26% on a pro forma combined basis

Successful introduction and execution of major Un-carrier initiatives

Rapid progress with the integration of MetroPCS by expanding the brand into 30 additional markets

Currently 3.5 million MetroPCS customers on the T-Mobile network

Met or exceeded all company guidance targets for 2013

Full earnings report.

Specs: Galaxy S5 vs. Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Notes

Kellen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 09:17:43 +0000

Specs comparisons are always fun, especially when they involve new phones like Samsung's recently announced Galaxy S5. While they only tell a portion of the story, putting specs for devices on paper gives you an idea as to how big or little the changes are from one device to the next. From reading your responses to yesterday's unveiling, we get the feeling that most don't consider the GS5 to be much of a boost over the GS4. So we've taken the Galaxy S5 and put it up against the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 2. This is as simple of a comparison as it gets, but it also shows what has changed and what hasn't. I think it's clear that Samsung gave us much of the same, but tried to show they can innovate in new areas, like with sensors, rather than with a QHD display. Let us know your thoughts.

Intel Details 64-bit Atom "Moorefield" Processor Line for Android Devices, Launches H2 of 2014

Tim — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 09:03:42 +0000

Over in Barcelona at MWC, companies are staying mighty busy this week. Intel, staying relevant in the mobile processor game, detailed the upcoming quad-core 64-bit Atom Moorefield line of chips, made specifically to power Android devices. According to Intel, the Moorefield line should launch in the second half of 2014, and OEM partners include Lenovo and ASUS. Moorefield, based on the new Merrifield processor feature set, brings two additional architecture cores for up to 2.3GHz of computing performance, an enhanced GPU, and support for faster memory read and write. In a statement, an Intel rep spoke on Intel's move to mobile 64-bit computing.

64 bit computing is moving from the desktop to the mobile device. Intel knows 64-bit computing, and we’re the only company shipping 64-bit processors for mobile devices today capable of supporting both Android and Microsoft Windows.

We have only seen a handful of Android devices launch with Intel chips, none of them quite noteworthy, but Intel has a strong heritage in computing, so we shall remain hopeful that Moorefield is a beast.

Via: TheNextWeb

Samsung to Update Galaxy Gear to Tizen OS as Seen on Gear 2 and Gear Neo

Tim — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 08:19:58 +0000

Tizen has been making headlines this week, shipping on the new line of wearable devices from Samsung, which includes the Gear 2 and Gear Neo smartwatches. For buyers of the original Galaxy Gear, it appears as though Samsung has not yet forgot about you, and is reportedly confirmed to update the OG Gear smartwatch to the new Tizen OS, wiping it of any Android ties. According to TechRadar, a Samsung rep has confirmed the company's plans to bring Tizen to the device. No other information was provided, like when or how the update will come, but this is a pretty big move for the company. As for what Galaxy Gear owners should expect once the device is updated to Tizen, it's hard to imagine that too much will change. A long list of developers are already working on the Tizen platform (thanks to Sammy), and all of the device's functionality will likely remain the same. It is speculated that thanks to a less processor intensive OS, that the Gear's battery life might even improve. Galaxy Gear owners, how do you feel about Samsung updating your device to a completely different OS?

Via: TechRadar

Cheers wm.!

Tuesday Poll: Are You Buying the Galaxy S5?

Kellen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 07:00:33 +0000

Because we have asked this question for every other major flagship phone over the last couple of years, it's time once again that we ask if you are going to buy Samsung's new beast on the block. The Galaxy S5 seems like it has every thing one could ask for in a current high-end phone (great camera, big beautiful display, revamped UX and next-gen processor), though maybe there wasn't enough change from year-to-year to create the same kind of buzz we had last year. Or maybe because Radio City Music Hall and Times Square weren't involved, this year's launch seems almost somewhat tame. Either way, let's find out - are you buying the Galaxy S5? [poll id="288"]

FYI: Galaxy S5 is Running the New Snapdragon 801

Kellen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 06:47:05 +0000

Yesterday, during Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy S5, representatives were very careful in answering questions concerning the device's processor. All they would say when asked for specifics was, "2.5GHz quad-core" with no mention of a manufacturer. Benchmarks showed a Snapdragon 800 on-board, but something seemed off with that, especially knowing that Sony announced the Xperia Z2 with a Snapdragon 801 earlier in the day. Why would Samsung not use the newest Qualcomm chipset available in their 2014 flagship? As it turns out, they are using the latest and greatest. The Galaxy S5 does indeed also run the new Snapdragon 801, according to a statement released this morning by Qualcomm. There will also be an Exynos octa-core variant of the phone as well, but the chances of that arriving in the U.S. are basically slim to none. The Qualcomm 801 isn't a giant step forward over the 800, but it does help with support for larger, faster camera sensors and also improve image post-processing. It offers connectivity with LTE Advanced and has boosted performance across the board. Here are the benefits of the Snapdragon 801 according to Qualcomm:

Superior mobile graphics and multimedia: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor helps enable higher quality imaging with support for larger, faster camera sensors and improved image post-processing, immersive mobile graphics and gaming with enhanced Adreno 330 GPU performance, as well as higher speed SD card memory.
Fast and seamless connectivity virtually anytime, anywhere: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor offers fully integrated connectivity with 4G LTE Advanced carrier aggregation for download speeds of up to 150Mbps, as well as dedicated hardware for dual-SIM/dual active (DSDA) service in China.
Leading overall system performance and power efficiency: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor features Qualcomm Technologies’ custom quad core Krait™ 400 CPU at up to 2.5GHz per core, its custom Adreno™ 330 GPU for premium mobile graphics, and its custom Hexagon™ QDSP6 for ultra-low power applications. In the Snapdragon 801 processor, Qualcomm Technologies has boosted the performance of these key processing engines, and continues to achieve superior processing performance through the unique and efficient integration of all of its custom-designed processing engines, including Qualcomm Technologies' heterogeneous computing architecture.

Via: Qualcomm

Video: Galaxy S5 Fingerprint Scanner and Heart Rate Monitor Demo

Tim — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:25:03 +0000

The newly-unveiled Galaxy S5 smartphone from Samsung is the world's first to feature a full blown heart rate monitor, but definitely not the first with a fingerprint scanner. We were live at Samsung's NYC Unpacked satellite event today, and were able to score hands-on time with the device. Since the heart rate monitor and fingerprint scanner are two big focal points for the device, we figured we would give them a quick whirl for all of you to see. Since the fingerprint scanner on the demo device was set up to someone else's fingerprint, we weren't really able to show off how accurate the scanner is. From viewing others use it, it seems as if the scanner should work fine with no real hiccups. We will have to wait until we get extended time with the device to try it out for ourselves, though. As for the heart rate monitor, we did two test runs and each time the reading was very different. The fist read about 160bps and the second was only 75bps. Quite the difference. It could be because these devices are pre-production (according to Samsung's PR), but we shall see. Check out the full hands-on demo video down below.

Video

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Samsung Gear Fit Quick Look and Video Tour

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:16:04 +0000

Outside of the Galaxy S5, our Samsung event was filled with people buzzing about the Gear Fit, Samsung's new fitness tracker that has a curved AMOLED display. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around its design, but if anything, it has my attention. The Gear Fit can check your heart rate, allow you to answer or ignore calls, shows notifications as they come in, tracks steps taken and other fitness goals, is IP67 dust and water resistant, can control media, and even has changeable wallpapers. For a fitness band, it really is feature packed. The battery life seems questionable at 3-4 days, but that's at least better than the original Galaxy Gear could say. Below, you'll see Samsung take us on a quick tour of the device.

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Video: Galaxy S5 vs. Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy Note 3 vs. Moto X vs. Nexus 5

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:54:15 +0000

Whenever a new flagship device from Samsung or HTC or Motorola or any other major manufacturer comes out, we like to compare it to the current competition. So since the Galaxy S5 was unveiled today, and Tim and I got our paws all over it, we decided to put it up against the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 in one video to show some of the differences. After that, we brought in the Moto X and Nexus 5 since we know how many of you have at least one of those two devices. We'll have more thoughts on the Galaxy S5 in general, but for now, prepare for video overload as we continue our coverage this evening.

vs. Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3

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vs. Moto X and Nexus 5

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Hardware and Software Video Tour

Tim — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:46:37 +0000

Two members of the DL crew were live from Samsung's satellite Unpacked event today, where the company unveiled the Galaxy S5 smartphone. The device looks quite similar to the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3, and we would say that the Galaxy S5 is a pretty good marriage of the two devices. It features a 5.1" Super AMOLED Full HD display (1080p), a quad-core processor (still unconfirmed as to which one), 2GB of RAM, a fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, a 16MP rear-facing camera, and comes running Android 4.4.2. Below we take you on a video tour of the GS5's hardware and software in two separate videos for your viewing pleasure.

Device Gallery

Hardware Tour

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Software Tour

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Galaxy S5 Confirmed for AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, MetroPCS, and Verizon - Launches This April in US

Tim — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:30:02 +0000

The wait is over - the Galaxy S5 from Samsung is finally official. With its 5.1" Full HD Display and 16MP camera, the question on everyone's mind is, "when can I get one?" American carriers have been quick to announce availability for 2014's most-hyped device, with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and US Cellular all stating that the device will be available on their networks starting in April. We are still waiting to hear Verizon officially announce availability, but they were included in Samsung's global press release, so you can rest assured knowing that the Galaxy S5 will hit their network. Big Red tweeted out a sign up page that simply said "Coming Soon." Samsung announced that global availability of the device will begin on April 11, so we expect the US launch to be around that date. No carrier has stated pricing, but it might be safe to assume we are looking towards a price of either $199 or $249 on contract. Show of hands - who here is buying one?

Via: Sprint | AT&T | T-Mobile | MetroPCS

HTC Says Galaxy S5 Owners Will Have Buyer's Remorse on March 25, Which Makes No Sense

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:22:36 +0000

Leave it to HTC to take the first shot following Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy S5. Through their official Twitter account, HTC made the bold claim that Galaxy S5 owners will soon experience buyer's remorse come March 25, when the new One is announced. While we love the competitive nature and fighting spirit of HTC, they should at least get all of the facts straight before going after the competition. The Galaxy S5 doesn't go on sale until April, so no one will own the device by March 25. In other words, they can't possibly have buyer's remorse. Silly. Update: Apparently, HTC sent their Tweet before Samsung announced a release date, not following the announcement as I suggested. Either way, the Tweet is wrong and and looks semi-ridiculous. See you on March 25, HTC!

Via: @HTC

Samsung Announces Gear Fit Fitness Wearable With Curved AMOLED Display

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:58:25 +0000

Alongside Samsung's announcement of the Galaxy S5 today, the company also introduced a new fitness band called the Gear Fit. The Gear Fit comes in two colors, sports a curved AMOLED display, shows you notifications, and tracks things like steps, your heart rate, sleep, and more. The device resembles a fitness band, but almost creates its own category by tossing in that big curved AMOLED display. This will be a product to keep an eye on for sure. Do we need fitness and smartbands to do more than just show numbers or do they need full displays like this? The device will arrive in April with the GS5 and the new Gear 2 watches.

Gallery

Press Release

Samsung Expands Industry-Leading Wearable Line with Samsung Gear Fit
February 25, 2014
New device blends style, fitness and convenience to provide ultimate connectivity for the active mobile consumer
Barcelona, Spain - February 24, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced the Samsung Gear Fit, the industry’s first curved, Super AMOLED wearable device for the active consumer. The Gear Fit offers the unmatched convenience of Samsung Gear technology with the most comprehensive fitness tools available, empowering consumers stay physically active without sacrificing personal style or mobile connectivity. “Samsung understands that the next generation of wearable mobile solutions must directly reflect of the diverse interests and needs of consumers,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics. “In response, our Gear product portfolio continues to expand with unique devices for a wide range of lifestyles, including the new Gear Fit designed to help those consumers striving to live more fit and active lives without sacrificing their own personal style or their ability to stay connected on the go.” Whether used as a standalone or companion device, the Samsung Gear Fit puts people in charge of their personal and active lives while staying connected so they never miss a moment. The ultimate modern fitness solution The Samsung Gear Fit was designed to comfortably contour to consumers’ wrists while offering a vivid Super AMOLED display. It provides much more than an everyday fitness band, keeping consumers up to date instant notifications from Galaxy smartphones such as incoming calls, emails, SMS, alarm, S-planner, 3rd party apps while consumers are on the move so they can stay connected. Changeable straps in Black, Orange and Mocha Grey will let users express their individual style, changing the look of the Gear Fit to match their outfit or mood for any type of activity. The sleek new Samsung Gear Fit provides the superior connectivity benefits of Samsung wearable technology with a custom, real time fitness coaching to provide unique, personalized advice and workout recommendations. Specs and Features:

Display: 1.84” Curved Super AMOLED (432x128)

Pedometer, Exercise, Heart Rate, Sleep, Stopwatch, Timer

Notifications (SNS, Call, E-mail, Apps)

Schedule, Smart Relay, Media Controller

Changeable Strap

IP67 Dust and Water Resistant,

Connectivity: Bluetooth® v4.0 LE

Sensor: Accelerometer, Gyro, Heart Rate

Dimension: 23.4 x 57.4 x 11.95 mm, 27g

Battery: Standard Battery 210mAh, Typical Usage 3~4 days, Low Usage up to 5 days

Samsung Galaxy S5 Specs

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:29:40 +0000

Looking for the full spec list of the new Samsung Galaxy S5? Here you go. We are looking at a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 5.1-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, 2GB RAM, 16MP camera, 2800mAh battery, LTE, Android 4.4.2, and both fingerprint and heart rate sensors. Pretty cool stuff.

Network : LTE Cat.4 (150/50Mbps)
Display: 5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
AP: 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (quad-core)
OS: Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)
Camera: 16MP (rear), 2.1MP (front)
Video: UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization
Video Codec : H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8
Video Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM
Audio Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLA
Audio Format: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA
Camera: HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot&More
IP67 Dust and water Resistant
Ultra Power Saving Mode
Download Booster
S Health 3.0
Quick Connect
Private Mode
Kids Mode
Google Mobile Services: Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube
Connectivity: WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2x2)
Bluetooth®: 4.0 BLE / ANT+
USB: USB 3.0
NFC
IR Remote
Sensor: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture(IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor
RAM: 2GB
Internal Memory: 16/32GB , microSD slot up to 128GB
Dimension: 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g
Battery: 2800mAh, Standby time: 390 hrs / Talk time: 21 hrs

Samsung Announces the Galaxy S5, Coming This April

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:10:36 +0000

The livestream of Samsung's Unpacked event is about to kick off and the company just made the announcement of the Galaxy S5. Yep, it's official. The device is coming as early as April to all the carriers you would have hoped for: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and MetroPCS. You are looking at a device in 4 colors (blue, black, white, and gold) with a 5.1-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16MP camera, Android 4.4.2, and both fingerprint and heart rate sensors. Full specs here. We are still looking through all of the goodness, but the full press release can be found below for now.

Gallery

Press Release

Samsung Brings Next Generation Galaxy S Smartphone

and New Gear Wearables to U.S. in April

Galaxy S 5 Enhances Everyday Experiences Through New, Meaningful Innovations
DALLAS, February 24, 2014 – Expanding on its best-selling smartphone line, Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) is introducing the Galaxy S^® 5 with new experiences, industry leading technology and meaningful innovations that consumers care about most. Samsung has also refined its wearables line with three new Gear designs that will change the way consumers connect while making it more personalized than ever before. The Galaxy S 5, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit will be available to U.S. consumers this spring across various channels. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS and U.S. Cellular will carry the Galaxy S 5. Samsung Experience Shops in Best Buy, as well as Amazon, Costco, RadioShack, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart will also carry the Galaxy S 5. Gear 2, Gear Neo 2 and Gear Fit will be available through carrier and retail channels, including the Samsung Experience Shops in Best Buy. The Galaxy S 5 delivers unrivaled experiences on a brilliant 5.1-inch display, powered by technology that enables amazing new camera experiences, lightning fast data connections, and health and wellness monitoring. Building on the innovation of Galaxy Gear, Samsung’s first wearable device, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo each bring new and refined features based on consumer feedback. Gear Fit was designed with health and wellness in mind, so users can stay connected while maintaining their active lifestyle^†. “Samsung continues to lead and define the direction of mobile technology with unmatched innovation,” said Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Telecommunications America and Samsung Electronics North America Headquarters. “We listened to consumers and the Galaxy S 5 and new Gears bring enhancements that give consumers meaningful and inspiring experiences they can use every day.” The Galaxy S 5 Makes Everyday Better The Galaxy S 5 introduces new features, designed with the consumer in mind, to deliver experiences that improve everyday life. The Galaxy S 5 delivers a viewing experience with an adaptive Full HD Super AMOLED^® display with rich colors, darker blacks and faster response times for clearer high speed content. Wide viewing angles and crisp HD video on the bright bold display that adapts to bright outdoor sunlight or indoor ambient lighting means the best seat in the house anytime, anywhere. The new camera features and simplified controls, paired with the 16 megapixel rear facing camera elevate the photo-taking experience. New Galaxy S 5 camera features are intuitive and responsive for high-quality photos:

·         Phase Detection Auto Focus: Advanced auto focus speeds for capturing a shot quickly - first smartphone with phase detection auto focus, a feature usually found in DSLR cameras

·         Real-Time HDR: High Dynamic Range (HDR) preview mode makes it easier to choose when to use HDR – like trying to photograph a beautiful sunset. It also enables users to capture HDR photos or videos with no shutter lag or post-processing.

·         Selective Focus Mode: Blur images near or far for a creative, one-of-a-kind shot

·         Shot and More Mode: The camera chooses and recommends  Drama Shot, Best Photo, Best Face or Eraser shot after the picture is taken to create the best photo

·         Studio: Add effects to photos and edit movies with a complete suite of editing tools within the Gallery

With S Health™ consumers can access health info, track and map workouts and make and track healthier eating choices right on the Galaxy S 5.The Galaxy S 5 has the world’s first built-in heart rate monitor (HRM) which provides real time data before and after exercise by placing a finger on a sensor by the rear-facing camera. Key platform components of S Health include:

·         Nutrition: Meal tracking and planning with nutritional information·         Fitness: HRM, exercise log, mapped runs and location tracking

The Galaxy S 5 is packed with leading technology enhancements, including Quick Connect,which locates the nearest devices to share content, files, or your screen through Bluetooth^®, Wi-Fi^® or Wi-Fi Direct™. A built-in fingerprint sensor unlocks and locks the Galaxy S 5 and provides secure password protection to use PayPal for secure payments. The Galaxy S 5 also supports the latest mobile wallets, including Isis (a consortium among various carrier partners) and Google Wallet™. The Galaxy S 5 uses the latest technology for the fastest browsing, streaming, and downloads, whether you’re at home or on the go. •         4G LTE Bands: Extensive support of U.S. carrier LTE bands and optimized to take advantage of the latest 4G LTE technology on all carrier networks, which means faster data download speeds and better coverage than ever before •         Faster Wi-Fi:  First smartphone with 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO support provides up to twice the download speeds for faster browsing and streaming More Connected, Less Distracted The second generation of Gear offers a refined look and customizable experience with a trio of options to suit a range of consumer preferences: Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. With an extended S Health experience, the new Gear devices can serve as a personal trainer functioning as a pedometer, HRM and calories burned tracker. Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo The Galaxy Gear design has been refreshed with the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo featuring interchangeable straps, compatible with standard 22mm pin watch bands to personalize. The Gear 2 is the premium wearable with a 2 megapixel camera which has been moved from the strap to the face for a more sleek design, complementing the brushed metal finish. The Gear 2 Neo has a polycarbonate finish. The home key on the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo is positioned on the front of the face for convenient access. New Gear offerings allow consumers to access and customize their experience, quickly receiving and responding to a call, text, e-mail or app notification right from your wrist. New shortcuts and additional app support make the device experience easier to navigate and take action. Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo have 1.63 inch Super AMOLED displays and even allow voice calls and text messaging, right from your wrist. Music is truly on the go with the music app on Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo – transfer, store and shuffle through songs even when away from your phone. Pair the devices with Bluetooth headphones to enjoy favorite songs while on the go. Gear Fit With a 1.84 inch curved Super AMOLED display and interchangeable band, Gear Fit has an athletic design that’s functional whether active or asleep. The Gear Fit tracks your steps, monitors your heart rate on the go, and provides notifications of incoming calls, texts and emails. The Galaxy S 5 will be available in Charcoal Black and Shimmery White. Galaxy S 5 accessories will include a Wallet Case, S View Flip Cover, and Wireless Charging Covers and Wireless Charging S View Flip Covers in an array of colors. The Gear 2 comes in the following color combinations: Titan Silver face with Black strap, Titan Silver face with a Wild Orange strap and a Gold Brown face with Brown strap. The Gear 2 Neo comes in Black, Wild Orange and Mocha Gray. Gear Fit comes with a Black band with additional Wild Orange and Mocha Gray band color options. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobileuspress.com. To register for more information about the Galaxy S 5, please visit www.samsung.com/us/gs5. ^†This device, S Health, and related software is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained. About Samsung Telecommunications America Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

New Gmail Feature Makes Unsubscribing from E-Mail Lists Easier

Kyle — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:10:08 +0000

Ever been frustrated in your attempts to unsubscribe from a mailing list? Links that allow you to change communication preferences may be mandated by law, but they aren't always easy to find. Sure, you could use CTRL+F, but Google's rolling out a simpler way to Gmail users. Announced at the Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group conference last week, the new feature places e-mail unsubscribe links in the header. Google believes more visible links will, in alleviating a major grievance of Gmail users, reduce the amount of legitimate marketing e-mails reported as spam. Sounds like a win-win. The new feature will roll out gradually beginning next week. Update: Here's a preview of the new functionality:

Via: CNET

Sprint Expands Spark and HD Voice to Salt Lake City and Jacksonville Customers

Kyle — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:35:54 +0000

Sprint's 4G LTE network may be notoriously slow, but the carrier is making inroads to improve the situation with its continued rollout of Spark. Today, Sprint announced that Spark connectivity is now available in Salt Lake City and Jacksonville, Florida, and that HD Voice would accompany the deployment. The expansion broadens Sprint's LTE reach to 382 markets, and is a sign the carrier is well on its way to achieving its coverage goal of 250 million people by mid-year. Spark is a tri-band LTE solution that leverages several different wireless spectra to improve speeds; Sprint says the technology can help capable devices reach a peak of 60Mbps. HD Voice is an unrelated but equally welcome improvement that enhances the quality of phone calls. In order to take advantage of both Sprint Spark and HD Voice, you'll need a compatible handset. Here's a list:

Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
Samsung Galaxy Mega
LG G2
LG G Flex
HTC One max
Nexus 5

Via: Sprint

AT&T Brings LTE Roaming to 13 Additional Countries Outside US

Tim — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:07:50 +0000

Still the only carrier offering such a service, AT&T announced from MWC today that they have expanded their 4G LTE roaming service to 13 new countries outside of the United States, bringing the total to 15 markets. AT&T currently holds agreements to allow for LTE roaming in over 200 different countries, but deploying such a service is easier said than done. The service for travelers certainly costs a pretty penny, and AT&T has yet to announce official pricing for the new markets. As reference, for travelers to the UK who wish to have access to 4G LTE, the plans are $30/mo for 120MB, $60/mo for 300MB, and $120/mo for 800MB. If you already pay for a data plan in the US, then you can imagine how easy it would be for your data plan to start costing you an insane amount. Take a look at the full list of new markets below.

New 4G LTE Roaming Markets

Spain
France
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Hong Kong
Switzerland
Malaysia
Russia
Singapore
Guam
Antigua & Barbuda

Via: AT&T

Nokia Announces Three Android Powered Phones You Won't Care About

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:40:20 +0000

Rumored for months and hypebeasted for no apparent reason, the Nokia X and its brothers, the X+ and XL, are now official. Yes, they run Android. No, you shouldn't care about them as an Android fan. All of the devices sport the "Nokia X Software Platform," which means they forked Android, include no Google apps, and are trying their hardest to still get you using Windows Phone, even though these aren't Windows Phone devices. All three phones were created for emerging markets, feature insanely low-end specs for a 2014 phone, and are filled with Microsoft services. Since they run Android, you can sideload almost any Android application, but the Google Play store is not included. You have to download items elsewhere or from Nokia's store, where I can't imagine there being many great choices. In terms of specs, the displays range in size from 4-inch to 5-inch, the cameras are anywhere from 5MP to 3MP, and the RAM never comes close to 1GB on any of them. Again, we're talking emerging markets here, and phones that aren't going to be for tech enthusiasts that need the latest and greatest in specs.

Via: Nokia

Qualcomm Announces the Snapdragon 801 Quad-core Processor, a "Smooth Step Up" From the 800

Tim — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:20:27 +0000

This morning from MWC, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 801 processor, a bump up in the lineup from the very popular Snapdragon 800 silicon. It's not as big of a jump like the Snapdragon 805, which was showcased at CES in January, but Qualcomm states they added performance boosts to all aspects of the processor. Qualcomm does just fine at detailing the changes in the 801 compared to the 800, so take a peek below at an excerpt from their blog.

Like the Snapdragon 800 processor, the Snapdragon 801 processor includes integrated 4G LTE CAT4 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi for smooth connectivity, a quad core Krait 400 CPU with speeds of up to 2.5 GHz per core for best-in-class processing performance, and an Adreno 330 GPU for premium graphics, all while maintaining industry-leading battery performance. In the Snapdragon 801 processor, Qualcomm Technologies has boosted the performance of these key processing engines, including the CPU, GPU, DSP, camera sensor and memory components.

According to Qualcomm, the 801 will be commercially available this quarter, which means it's quite possible this chip could be in the Galaxy S5, and it is already confirmed to be in the new Sony Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 tablet.

Via: Qualcomm

Report: Google Smartwatch to Launch at Google I/O in June, LG to Handle Manufacturing

Tim — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 07:25:34 +0000

Rumors and reports of a Google smartwatch, previously codenamed Gem, have been in the news for months. This weekend, more details have appeared through CNET, with sources of theirs claiming the smartwatch will in fact launch at Google IO in June. Google plans to announce the smartwatch platform this March through a blog post (typical Google), and then have the final unveiling at IO in San Francisco. The device, manufactured by LG, is reported to run much like Google Glass; allowing Google Now's voice controls to handle the general operations. If you still aren't using Google Now every day, then you should opt-in to the service. Unfortunately, no more details on how the watch will look or operate have been reported at this time, but you know we will update you with any new information that becomes available.

Via: CNET

Live: Samsung Galaxy S5 Unveiling

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 07:01:11 +0000

We are well aware that the Samsung Galaxy S5 has leaked ahead of today's big unveiling event, but we're still going to cover all that happens just like we normally would. And if we're keeping it regular, that means we're doing a live blog or more like, live chat. Since the event is being live streamed, this will mostly serve as an opportunity for us to comment as the phone becomes official. We'll post some pictures here and there, share thoughts as each feature is talked about in more detail, and react to the phone that should be the biggest deal in mobile for 2014. It should be a good time as usual. The event kicks off at 11AM Pacific (2PM Eastern). The livestream has been embedded below.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Leaks Just Hours Before Official Unveiling

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 06:47:06 +0000

Well, folks, there is your Samsung Galaxy S5. Samsung managed to keep this device hidden for months, but with only hours to go before they officially unveil this 2014 flagship phone, it has been outed. While we do not have all of the details just yet, we can grab quite a bit of info from all of these images. We're looking at a similar form factor to the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, with a size landing somewhere in between each. The back features a textured/dotted pattern, and the Menu button has been swapped out for a multi-tasking button. The display looks closer to 1080p rather than QHD, though we'll wait for official word on that. The camera is said to be 16MP (with some special sensors next to the flash?), there is a fingerprint scanner (likely in the home button), and the bottom USB plug has a cover, which means we should have a waterproof phone on our hands. In terms of software, the UI seems to have been updated quite a bit. The camera experience looks somewhat simplified, there is an option for a "Download Booster" for dual LTE and WiFi downloads on 30MB or larger files, the lock screen is updated, and you can say "OK, Google" from home to launch into Search. Check out the images below and let us know what else you are seeing. We'll have live and official coverage at 2PM Eastern.

Via: HardwareZone | @SaudiAndroid

Sony Announces New Flagships for 2014 - Xperia Z2 and Z2 Tablet

Kellen — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 06:18:07 +0000

Mobile World Congress is now in full swing, which means the press releases and product announcements have flooded in over night. First up, as we close in on Samsung's big event this afternoon, we have Sony's two new flagship products for 2014, the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet. Both products will look quite familiar, as they carry Sony's style and design throughout, but with upgraded specs in all of the right places, these should be their best mobile products yet. Let's talk about each.

Xperia Z2

The Xperia Z2 is an absolute beast in terms of specs and features, let's just hope that Sony can deliver it all as a premium package. On paper, it certainly looks like they shouldn't have a problem doing that. In terms of major specs, you are looking at a 5.2-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS display (1080p), 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, 20.7 MP “Exmor RS for mobile” CMOS image sensor, 16GB of storage, microSD slot for more, 4G LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20), and a 3,200mAh battery. The display is supposed to be their brightest and most vivid yet, the camera shoots in 4K (plus a bunch of other new modes), is dust and waterproof at IP55 & IP58, has stereo speakers with digital noise canceling tech, and a battery that should last you through at least a full day or two. The device will launch globally in March. Press release | Specs

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Xperia Z2 Tablet

If you thought the Xperia Z2 sounded impressive, then the Z2 Tablet won't disappoint either. You are looking at a 10.1-inch display (1920 x 1200), 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, 8.1MP camera, 16GB internal storage, microSD slot for more, is waterproof and dust resistant at IPX5/IPX8, has digital noise canceling, and somehow sports a 6.4mm thin body. The Xperia Z2 Tablet launches globally in March. Press release | Specs

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Samsung Galaxy S5 in Three Colors Allegedly Photographed and Filmed Behind New Gear 2

Tim — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:06:53 +0000

We are one day away from the official announcement and unveiling of the Galaxy S5 from Samsung, and of course, someone has already been able to snap a few pictures of the unreleased device. While someone close to Samsung was shooting a video of the Gear 2 smartwatch, it's plain to see a new Samsung smartphone in three different colors sitting right behind the watch - is it the Galaxy S5? More than likely. From the video, it appears as though there are three colorways - Gold, Black, and White. All we can see in the video is the top of the backside of the phone, and from just that, it appears that Samsung moved the LED flash to below the cameras, and the device is a bit more squareish. Not much else to hype, as the device will be completely official tomorrow. Kellen and I will be live in NYC from Samsung's event, so be sure to catch our liveblog tomorrow at 2pm EST.

[responsive_vid]

Via: SamMobile | @Mucci82

Kit Kat Update Now Available for AT&T HTC One and LG G2

Kellen — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:04:22 +0000

AT&T announced today that their variants of both the HTC One and LG G2 are ready to receive updates to Android 4.4 "Kit Kat." The HTC One update was sort of expected, but I'd be lying if I said I was expecting the G2 to see the same joys this early. To check for the update on your HTC One, head into Settings>About phone>System updates. On the LG G2, head into Settings>General>About phone>Software update. G2 update highlights:

Improved user interface with Android 4.4 KitKat: The latest version of Android includes enhancements such as restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen mode, improved closed captioning support, and stronger security.
Improved battery efficiency: the phone plays music more efficiently and supports the battery-saving location mode, extending battery life.

Faster processing speed: The latest version of Android provides a noticeable speed boost that runs applications 17 percent faster than before and web-browsing speed is mproved with the Chromium engine.
Printing in the Cloud: Google Cloud Printer makes it simple to print documents via Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth connection.
Enhanced “Knock On” feature: The responsiveness of LG’s Knock On feature has been improved.

HTC One update highlights:

Improved user interface with Android 4.4 KitKat: The latest version of Android includes enhancements such as restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen immersive mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security, and smarter power use.
Phone dialer app: The phone app now includes the ability to look up contacts directly from the dial pad, see and tap frequent contacts, and search corporate directories easily.
Caller ID: Whenever a call is received from a phone number not in saved in contacts, the phone will look for matches from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps.
HTC BlinkFeed™ app: The new menu gives quicker access to switch content sources and search for custom topics and includes more news sources.

Via: AT&T [2]

Samsung Announces the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, Both Run Tizen Instead of Android

Kellen — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 18:55:58 +0000

Samsung won't announce the Galaxy S5 until Monday, but they took time out of their Saturday night to unveil their newest wearables, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. Notice anything missing? That would be the "Galaxy" tag that was included in the original Gear. I guess you could say "it's confirmed," the Gear 2 and Gear 2 are separate from Samsung's flagship line of phones, which also means they don't run Android. Say "Hello!" to the "first wearable powered by Tizen based wearable platform." And that's all we know about their relationship to Tizen for now, so let's talk specs and features. Samsung is being pretty light on info for both products at this time, but they are giving us a specs list. You are looking at 1.63" Super AMOLED displays, 1.0GHz dual-core processors, 2MP camera in the Gear 2 (N/A in the Neo), heart rate sensors, pedometers, music players, Bluetooth, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, IP67 Certified Dust and Water Resistant, and a 300mAh battery (2-3 day life). The camera has been moved from the strap and into the main body on the Gear 2, so no, you will no longer have a nipple on your wrist. Each device also has an IR blaster, so that you can control your TV through WatchON. Both come with changeable straps, but the Gear 2's color choices are Charcoal Black, Gold Brown, and Wild Orange, while the Gear 2 Neo will be available in Charcoal Black, Mocha Grey, and Wild Orange. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo connect to a "wide variety of Samsung devices." In other words, don't get your hopes up on compatibility outside of their Galaxy line. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be available "around the world" starting in April.

Images

Gear 2

Gear 2 Neo

Specs

Display: 1.63” Super AMOLED (320 x 320)
AP: 1.0 GHz Dual Core Processor
OS: Tizen based wearable platform
Camera: Gear 2 : 2.0 Megapixel Auto Focus (1920x1080, 1080x1080, 1280x960)
Camera: Gear 2 Neo : N/A
Video: Codec: H.264, H.263; Format: 3GP, MP4; HD(720p, @30fps) Playback & Recording
Audio: Codec: MP3/AAC/AMR/Vorbis; Format: MP3, M4A, AAC, OGG
Camera Features: Auto Focus Camera, Sound & Shot, Location Tags, Signature
Fitness Features: 1.Heart Rate sensor, 2.Pedometer, 3.Exercise, 4.Sleep & Stress (Downloadable)
- Standalone Modes: Running, Walking
- Companion Modes: Cycling, Hiking
Music Player with Bluetooth® Headset and Speaker
WatchON Remote: Remote Controller via IrLED Sensor
Basic Features: Bluetooth Call, Camera, Notification(SMS, E-mail, Apps), Media Controller, Schedule, Smart Relay, S Voice, Stopwatch, Timer, Weather
More Features(Downloadable): Calculator, ChatON, Flashlight, Quick Settings, Voice Memo
Changeable Strap - Color Options:
- Gear 2 : Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange
- Gear 2 Neo : Charcoal Black, Mocha Grey and Wild Orange
IP67 Certified Dust and Water Resistant, Noise Cancellation, Samsung Services
Samsung Apps
Connectivity: Bluetooth® v4.0 LE, IrLED
Sensor: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Heart Rate
Memory: RAM: 512MB
Storage: 4GB Internal Memory
Dimension: Gear 2 : 36.9 x 58.4x 10.0 mm, 68g; Gear 2 Neo : 37.9 x 58.8 x 10.0mm, 55g
Battery: Standard Battery, Li-ion 300mAh; Typical Usage 2~3 days, Low Usage up to 6 days

Press Release

Samsung Offers Unmatched Freedom and Style with the Next Generation of Gear devices
February 23, 2014
The stylish Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo offer consumers increased connectivity, customization, and control
Barcelona, Spain – February 23, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo designed to take the freedom, convenience and style of wearable technology to the next level. The Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo offer consumers enhanced connectivity and a completely integrated approach for the most personal wearable experience. “Samsung continues to lead innovation in the wearable market by creating devices that are completely integrated into the lives of consumers through extended connectivity features, stylish customization options and a robust application ecosystem,” Said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics. “With the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, we have enhanced everything consumers love about the Gear to offer unparalleled smart freedom in their everyday life.” The next generation of mobile freedom Samsung achieved a significant improvement as a leading smart wearable provider with Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. Both devices offer a lightweight design with premium finishes that reflect modern trends. A Camera is equipped to a main body instead to strap, making the Samsung Gear 2 a sleek and sharp smart companion. Consumers are now available to express their mood or coordinate with their outfit with modern and sophisticated strap color options including Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange for Gear2 and Charcoal Black, Mocha Grey and Wild Orange for Gear2 Neo. The home screen background, clock face and font are also customizable to reflect their personal taste. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are essential companion devices, allow users to accept or ignore incoming calls and messages, and providing instant notification options based on a user’s activity and habits. Both devices act as an extension of a consumer’s daily life, offering users more control of their lives with standalone features, such as controlling electronic products such as TV, settop box through WatchON Remote application in their own home with an embedded IrLED sensor. The addition of a standalone music player with Bluetooth headset means people can leave their smartphone at home and still enjoy their music on the go. Both devices also offer personal fitness coaching in real time, allowing users to develop a customizable fitness routine and monitor their heart rate in order to improve their overall well-being. Finally, the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo let users connect to a wide variety of Samsung devices and access an enriched application ecosystem as the first wearable powered by Tizen based wearable platform. Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are compatible with more than dozens of Samsung Galaxy smartphones at launch. Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be available around the world starting from April. Full details and product images are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com or m.samsungmobilepress.com.

New Samsung Galaxy Gear Models Make Debut Leaked Render Appearances

Kellen — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 10:54:38 +0000

Courtesy of @evleaks (as usual), we are getting what are believed to be the first two looks at Samsung's next smartwatch(es), though the name(s) may now be up in the air. The pictures certainly represent two smartwatches that look very similar to last year's Galaxy Gear, and are accompanied by the names Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. But @evleaks notes that these may not be Galaxy branded in the end, meaning they could be a separate product category for Samsung. Rumors earlier this week suggested that the new Gear smartwatch from Samsung would run Tizen instead of Android, so potentially by leaving the Galaxy branding behind, that could end up happening. That's just speculation on my part, of course. It's tough to tell exactly what the non-Galaxy branding could mean, but maybe Samsung is seeing an opportunity to create a stand-alone brand of wearables. As far as the watches themselves go, we've got two models - the Gear 2 and the Gear 2 Neo. I'd imagine one is the higher end model (Gear 2), while the other would be the entry level choice (Neo). The hardware has changed somewhat from the original Gear, with both watches now showing a physical home button at the bottom and what appear to be two different types of cameras or IR blasters at the top of each. I'm wondering if one is supposed to be the everyday, class-it-up smartwatch (Gear 2), while the other could be focused on fitness. The device on the left seems to have more metal and a slightly bulkier and high-end design, while the watch on the right may have more rubber. Thoughts?

Via: @evleaks [2]

We Lost to Canada, but Settle for Chance at Bronze Medal

Tim — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:00:59 +0000

What a road it has been for the US hockey teams during the Sochi Olympics. Canada won't cut us a break! Anyways, the DL crew got together this past Wednesday night for the monumental fiftieth episode of the Droid Life Show, and of course, Google Hangouts was having a few troubles. We were cut off right in the middle and had to start over with a second video, but we got through it, and had a fun time in the process. During the show, we talked about the upcoming launch of the Galaxy S5 from Samsung next week, plus the "official" renders that were leaked of the All New One from HTC. Other topics discussed include Facebook's $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, the announcement of set dates for Google I/O 2014, Google's plans to launch Google Fiber in new cities, and so much more. If you missed us live this week, you can catch us each Wednesday night at 6PM Pacific (9PM Eastern). If Wednesday nights are never going to work, don’t worry, you can subscribe to us in a number of ways.

Android 4.4.2 Update for T-Mobile HTC One Now Rolling Out

Kellen — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:30:10 +0000

HTC told us earlier in the day that they had received "technical approval" on the Android 4.4.2 "Kit Kat" update for both the T-Mobile and AT&T variants of their 2013 flagship, One. Within the last hour, the T-Mobile variant began receiving that update. If you own the HTC One on T-Mobile, head into Settings>System updates to try and pull it. The build number appears to be 4.19.531.10 and is 563MB in size, according to the screenshot above.

Cheers ba11sy and @BigBlueBrock!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 2/21/14

Kellen — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:00:44 +0000

In three days, Samsung will steal every single tech headline from here to Barcelona. It's Galaxy S5 time, which means that nothing else will matter for a brief period of time, just like when Apple does their song and dance for a new iPhone or iPad. We'll be there to cover it, get our hands on it, react to it, and whatever else the moment calls for. It could be plastic or metal or there could be two models - we don't know. But we do know that it will be worth talking about over and over again. Outside of that happening, you should probably catch up on all that went down in the last week, including rumors surrounding the Galaxy S5. Lots of HTC One stuff went down this week as well, though, so you have that, non-Samsung fans. We also whipped up the DL Show episode 50, dropped jaws at Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp, and marked Google I/O 2014 on our calendars. All of the hottest topics in Android are listed for you below.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 50 [Subscribe]
Galaxy S5 Rumors: New Camera | Fingerprint sensor | Larger display.
Here are all of the Samsung phones guaranteed to get Kit Kat.
Here is the "All New HTC One" - in gold, and silver and grey. | GIF'd.
HTC will unveil the new One on March 25 in NYC. We'll be there.
Not a joke: Facebook bought WhatsApp for $16 billion.
Samsung is teasing the Galaxy S5 event with this video.
Samsung's new commercials are also pretty damn good.
Facebook will now montage your life after you die.
Nike is hiring all sorts of Android engineers to build an Android SDk. Yessir.
Kit Kat updates for the HTC One on AT&T and T-Mobile are now ready.
Fitbit recalled and stopped selling the Force because it caused skin irritation.
Google is doing some really cool 3D mapping with Project Tango.
Google I/O 2014 will go down June 25 and 26.
Google is looking to quickly move Fiber into all sorts of new markets.

Boom.

LG Posts Up Side-by-side Comparison Video of the G2 Running Kit Kat and Jelly Bean

Tim — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:22:56 +0000

We know there are a lot of patient G2 owners out there, waiting on LG to green light an update to Android 4.4 for the device. Today, LG is teasing all G2 owners by showing off the device running Kit Kat alongside the currently available G2 running Jelly Bean. The device is put through a few speed tests, such as web browsing and gallery performance done in slow-mo, which should only leave G2 owners craving more. Don't worry, G2 owners - there is light at the end of the tunnel. As stated in the video's description on YouTube, it appears that the update to Android 4.4+ will soon be available in mid-March for folks in the UK. And when updates go live in UK, it doesn't take too long for it to make its way over to the US. If you watch the video, you can clearly see that Kit Kat will bring a bit of new life to the device, with faster task performance and camera app opening and focusing speed. Hang in there, folks. The wait will surely be worth it.

[responsive_vid]

Cheers Chris!

Fitbit Force Sales Stopped and Recall Issued Because 1.7% of Users Reported Skin Irritation

Kellen — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:51:52 +0000

Back in January, reports of the Fitbit Force activity tracker causing nasty skin irritation began to surface, causing the company to issue an apology and start an investigation into a potentially harmful threat. That investigation is now complete, and Fitbit has decided it will stop selling the product and issue a voluntary recall. Their investigation showed that only 1.7% of Force users reported any sort of skin irritation while wearing the product, but since they "care about every one of" their customers, they felt the need to take further action. Independent labs and medical experts who performed the investigation came to the conclusion that there were no issues with the battery or electrical systems. The results show that people may actually be experiencing "allergic contact dermatitis," which could be a reaction to the nickel present from the surgical grade stainless steel used. If you decide to participate in the voluntary recall, Fitbit will offer you a full a refund. In the blog post by CEO James Park below, you will find a link with instructions on how to go about getting your refund. Tough call there for Fitbit, but we're sure they'll work it out in the end. I just hope this doesn't become a disaster to their sales goals, as we are fans of their products here at Droid Life. Our own Eric reviewed the Force last month and generally enjoys everything about it.

TO THE FITBIT FORCE COMMUNITY, I co-founded Fitbit in 2007 to help people lead healthier, more active lives. We have been thrilled by your response to our products, and are committed to customer satisfaction. Late last year, we began selling Fitbit Force, our most advanced activity tracker. Recently, some Force users have reported skin irritation. While only 1.7% of Force users have reported any type of skin irritation, we care about every one of our customers. On behalf of the entire Fitbit team, I want to apologize to anyone affected. From the beginning, we have taken this matter very seriously. We hired independent labs and medical experts to conduct a thorough investigation. Here’s what we know:

Independent test results have not found any issues with the battery or electrical systems.

Test results show that users are likely experiencing allergic contact dermatitis.

All Force materials are commonly used in consumer products. However, some users may be reacting to the nickel present in the surgical grade stainless steel used in the device. Other users are likely experiencing an allergic reaction to the materials used in the strap or the adhesives used to assemble the product.

We have now learned enough to take further action. We have stopped selling Force and have decided to conduct a voluntary recall. We are offering a refund directly to consumers for full retail price. For additional information related to the recall, we have set up a dedicated page on our website and a call center at 888-656-6381. To our Force community, rest assured we’re working on our next-generation tracker and will announce news about it soon. Thank you for your continued loyalty and support. Sincerely, James Park CEO & Co-Founder

Via: Fitbit

Facebook Changes Stance on What to do With Profile After You Die

Tim — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:27:42 +0000

If it wasn't obvious, when a person dies, many things are left behind. These things could usually consist of family, friends, and sometimes, a Facebook account. The way Facebook has handled the death of a member is to restrict visibility to the deceased member's profile to only those that were already friends of the person. This way, only the people that truly mattered would be able to relive the person's status updates and pictures they uploaded. Starting today, Facebook has changed this policy, and will now keep the profile's privacy settings to however the user had them before they passed away. If the profile was completely public and all could view, then that's the way it will stay. It if was heavily locked down, then it will stay that way. Not only are there changes to how Facebook will handle deaths, but they have also created a special Look Back video feature, which combines pictures that were uploaded to Facebook into a special memorial video for friends to watch.

Starting today, we will maintain the visibility of a person's content as-is. This will allow people to see memorialized profiles in a manner consistent with the deceased person's expectations of privacy. We are respecting the choices a person made in life while giving their extended community of family and friends ongoing visibility to the same content they could always see. Today, we're also glad to begin offering a way for anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one to see that person's “Look Back” video. In recognition of our ten-year anniversary, a group of our engineers created personal movies for people using some of the posts and photos they had shared over the years. To make a Look Back video request through Facebook, you can do so here.

Cherish the ones you love - always.

Via: Facebook

Check Out This Video of Google's Project Tango 3D Mapping Experiement in Action

Tim — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 13:38:45 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, Google unveiled Project Tango, the newest mobile device experiment to come out of Mountain View. Tango is a mobile device (running Android), equipped with enough sensors and cameras to make over a quarter of a million 3D measurements every second, which allows users to create full 3D environments wherever the device is in use almost instantaneously. To help visualize what Project Tango is capable of, a 3D environment is made right before our eyes in the below video, and then the results can be seen once filming is complete. As we see in the video, a man hovers the phone around in all corners of the room, making sure not to miss any spots. Once scanning is complete, we can view the results, which is almost a perfect virtual 3D replica of the room which was scanned. Pretty sweet, right? Unfortunately for us common consumer folk, we won't be able to get our hands on Project Tango anytime soon, as the experiment is pretty closed off to only software developers who can help Tango grow into a more helpful and serious platform. Hopefully one day we will all be able to achieve such results with our smartphones.

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Via: TechCrunch

Android 4.4 and Sense 5.5 Update Approved for HTC One on AT&T and T-Mobile, OTAs Rolling Out Shortly

Tim — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 12:43:46 +0000

HTC might have missed the 90 day mark they set for themselves back in October of 2013, but the One update to Kit Kat and Sense 5.5 has received technical approval from both AT&T and T-Mobile. According to HTC, the OTA updates should begin rolling out shortly to all users, so be on the lookout. Much like the update that took place for the Verizon variant of the One, this is indeed Android 4.4.2, the newest version of Android currently available. Included with Android 4.4.2 is the newest version of Sense (5.5), new BlinkFeed, a redesigned gallery application, improved Highlights management, simplified lock screen widget setup, do not disturb mode, and camera low light enhancements. It's a nice little update, so all of you One owners better be happy today.

Via: @Moversi [2]

Accidentally Deleted an Important Piece of Text? Type Machine's Got You Covered

Rithvik — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 12:00:03 +0000

Have you ever started composing a long email or instant message, only to have the fruits of your typing labor deleted when the app crashes? In many apps, there's no way to recover this lost text. That's where Type Machine comes in -- it caches everything you type in any app you would like it to, providing you with a simple way to look back at what you may have lost. Though it may sound like the perfect app to be a keylogger sending off all your passwords to a happy developer somewhere, it has a few measures in place to assert that privacy is present. Password fields are not recorded, and you can set blacklists for certain apps such as those used for banking or text messaging. Also, the app (in its current form) does not have the ability to access the Internet, so you can rest knowing that all the information gathered by it will stay on your device. And finally, you can add a PIN lock, so you don't have unwanted people snooping around your typing history. You can configure Type Machine to automatically delete additions that are a certain amount of days old as well, so you won't have to worry about typing too much and wasting space on your device. The full list of features is below:

Completely automatic and seamless. Logs everything from every native Android app.
Stays out of the way until you need it. Simple to use when you do. Brings global undo to Android.
Safe and private. No unnecessary permissions. Allows you to set a PIN lock on the history list. Automatic deletion of old entries.
Configurable blacklist for apps. Type Machine won't collect what you don't want it to.
Tablet-friendly user interface.

Keep in mind that some accessibility services on your device could negatively affect this app's functions. Also, on some Samsung devices, text-to-speech may get enabled on the home screen and within some applications -- the developer does not have a fix for these annoyances. Type Machine can be found on Google Play for $1.99, and after using it for a while I'd say it's one of those essentials to just keep around. Play Link

Sony Xperia YouTube Account Posts Video Promising "Something Extraordinary" On The Way

Eric — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 11:45:17 +0000

This year's gathering at Mobile World Congress is coming up fast and Sony is teasing us with something new. The Sony Xperia YouTube account has uploaded a video today, hinting that they have something up their sleeve, but doesn't give us much other than that. Could we be seeing the update to last year's Xperia Z1? The short video is only 15 seconds long and full of artistic depictions of flowing materials and lots of the color red. The tagline of the video is Sony telling us "Something Extraordinary is Coming" and then that's about it. Fortunately for us, Sony used the same tagline last year before the launch of the Z1, so we can make a few assumptions. Pile that onto the fact that images and videos of a reported Z2 were leaked last week and we might be seeing a new device or two from Sony very soon.

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Friday App Sales: ROM Toolbox Pro, Wipeout, The Room, Documents To Go, and More

Rithvik — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 10:44:32 +0000

It's almost the weekend, which means it's time for another Friday App Sales post. This week we have another lengthy catalog of apps for you to soak in, with great apps like JRummy's ROM Toolbox Pro down to $2.99, The Room (a Tato favorite) discounted to just $0.99, and Crazy Taxi also at the same price. Some other big-namers on sale include the newly-redesigned Documents To Go's premium key, and TuneIn Radio Pro. Go hit that clearance rack.

Friday app sales

Tenex Nova/Apex/ADW/GO Theme - ($0.99)
OfficeSuite Pro 7 (PDF& Fonts) - ($0.99)
Docs To Go Premium Key - ($9.95)
City Maps 2Go Pro Offline Maps - ($1.29)
Podkicker Pro - ($0.99)
Season Zen HD - ($0.99)
Haunted House HD - ($0.99)
Shuttle+ Music Player - ($0.99)
Christmas HD - ($0.99)
ROM Toolbox Pro - ($2.99)
My Beach HD - ($0.99)
Ocean HD - ($0.99)
My Date HD - ($0.99)
Celtic Garden HD - ($0.99)
TuneIn Radio Pro - ($3.99)
Joe Dever's Lone Wolf - ($0.99)
FIST OF AWESOME - ($0.99)
TowerMadness - ($0.99)
Wipeout - ($0.99)
Yesterday - ($0.99)
Crazy Taxi - ($0.99)
Virtua Tennis™ Challenge - ($0.99)
The Room - ($0.99)
House of the Dead Overkill: LR - ($0.99)
Worms 2: Armageddon - ($0.99)
Bag It! - ($0.99)
Strategy & Tactics: WW II - ($1.99)
MathStudio - ($4.99)
DroidEdit Pro (code editor) - ($0.99)
Ultimate Backup Pro - ($1.50)
PS3 Trophies PRO - ($0.99)
Paris winter - ($0.99)
Couple Tracker - Phone monitor - ($3.49)

Go support those hard-working developers.

Behang is an Elegant Way to Get Your Wallpaper Fix

Rithvik — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 10:15:20 +0000

There is no shortage of wallpapers out there for those of us who can't get enough of theming our devices, but there comes a time when we need some form of consolidation for the torrent of options. One example is a personal favorite, Roman Nurik's Muzei live wallpaper. The latest, Behang, comes from wallpaper wizard knokfirst, whose work you may have seen featured in icon packs such as Lumos, among other places. Behang looks to place all of the developer's wallpapers into one app for easy access, and does so quite elegantly. Images are stored online so as to not increase the application size with unwanted pictures, which allows Behang to stay under a ridiculously small 1MB. The wallpapers cover a variety of themes. You'll see pastels with soft-focus, splashy abstract pieces, options to support your favorite custom ROM, and even a few sports team papers. It's all over the place, but that's kind of a good thing here. You really shouldn't have an issue finding a wallpaper that will look great on your device.

The app even features Android 4.4's Immersive Mode, something that can definitely be appreciated considering how underused that feature is. Rounding out the features is compatibility for every Android version 2.1 or higher -- we generally don't see developers go out of their way to support even Android 2.2, Froyo, so Eclair support is nice for those of you unfortunate enough to be stuck there. Behang will run you $1.99 on the Play Store, which may seem like a steep price with little justification, but the cost includes many high quality wallpapers as well. For those of you who'd prefer to just have the wallpapers and not the app, the developer has made them available for free on his website. Go check it out. Play Link ($1.99)

Cast Extension for Chrome Gets a Public Beta, Test Out New Features Before Their Stable Release

Kyle — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 10:00:30 +0000

While Chromecast is great for casting YouTube and Netflix to your television, some forget it’s also a very capable mirroring device; any PC user running the Cast extension for Chrome can beam their screen to the streaming stick. Unfortunately for a few folks, that functionality hasn’t quite been up to par. Thankfully, that might soon change with Google’s announcement of a public Cast beta. Intended to help the Google team test new features before updating the stable channel, the Cast beta is available for download here. The new features in this first release are pretty focused on developers, and it’s more consumer-oriented enhancements, such as performance enhancements for mirroring, will see a beta release later.

Via: +Shawn Shen

$130 Billion Verizon Deal With Vodafone Complete, 100% Ownership Finalized

Tim — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:41:43 +0000

Back in September of 2013, Verizon agreed to a deal with Vodafone to buy the European company's 45% indirect interest in the US wireless carrier, valued at $130 billion. In December, the deal was approved by the FCC, with final closing of the deal being announced this morning. With the closing, Verizon now owns 100% of itself, which provides the company with "greater financial flexibility, enhanced operational efficiency and innovations that will benefit customers." Lowell McAdam, Verizon's chairman and CEO, gave the following statement in a press release.

This is a great day for Verizon. The new Verizon now has full ownership of the U.S. wireless industry leader in network performance, profitability and cash flow. Acquiring Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless provides us with opportunities for greater financial flexibility, enhanced operational efficiency and innovations that will benefit customers. We are confident it will fuel further growth in our business.

As we have stated in the past, Big Red customers won't see this transaction affect their wireless bills anytime soon. If anything, it's good to see an American company have complete control of itself in the US. It almost seems like a novelty idea this day and age. The full press release can be read below.

Verizon Now Owns 100 Percent of the Industry-Leading U.S. Wireless Carrier
NEW YORK - Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Vodafone Group Plc's (London, Nasdaq: VOD) 45 percent indirect interest in Verizon Wireless in a transaction valued at approximately $130 billion. As previously announced, the transaction is immediately accretive to Verizon's earnings per share by approximately 10 percent, excluding any non-operational adjustments. "This is a great day for Verizon," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO. "The new Verizon now has full ownership of the U.S. wireless industry leader in network performance, profitability and cash flow. Acquiring Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless provides us with opportunities for greater financial flexibility, enhanced operational efficiency and innovations that will benefit customers. We are confident it will fuel further growth in our business." McAdam continued: "Over the past 14 years, Verizon Wireless has become the largest and most profitable wireless company in the U.S., and this could not have been achieved without the successful partnership between Verizon and Vodafone. We look forward to continuing to provide superior solutions and services to meet our customers' evolving demands and delivering significant value to our shareholders." As previously announced, pursuant to the stock purchase agreement, Verizon issued 1,274,764,121 common shares to shareholders of Vodafone as the stock portion of the consideration for Vodafone's 45 percent indirect interest in Verizon Wireless. Verizon used proceeds from capital markets transactions occurring in September 2013 and February 2014, as well as $6.6 billion borrowed on Feb. 21, 2014 under its Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated Oct.1, 2013, for the payment of the cash portion of the consideration to Vodafone and related fees and expenses. Guggenheim Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co.LLC and Paul J. Taubman served as lead financial advisers to Verizon. Barclays and BofA Merrill Lynch served as financial advisers to Verizon. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Macfarlanes LLP served as transaction counsel to Verizon, and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP advised Verizon on its debt financings. Founded in 2000 as a joint venture of Verizon and Vodafone, Verizon Wireless reported $81.0 billion in operating revenues in 2013. Operating income margin was 32.1 percent in 2013. *Investor Webcast Scheduled for Monday* McAdam will provide further comment during an investor presentation onMonday, Feb. 24, the first full day of trading for the new Verizon. FranShammo, Verizon executive vice president and CFO, will also participate in the webcast, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Website access instructions, a news release and presentation slides will be available prior to the presentation on Verizon's Investor Website at www.verizon.com/investor.

Thanks to New Bug, YouTube Playlists Tab Has Disappeared on iOS and Android App (Updated)

Kyle — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 08:41:14 +0000

Sometimes, new functionality brings new issues. Such seems to be the case with saved playlists in the YouTube app for iOS and Android, which have disappeared for a number of users. The problem, which we at Droid Life can independently confirm, is that the playlist shortcut in the sliding menu of the YouTube app has been removed; playlists haven’t actually disappeared, but are no longer easily accessible on mobile. It’s probable that the bug is related to the desktop design refresh Google announced yesterday, but we will have to wait for a comment from the Google or YouTube team before we are certain that’s the case. Google hasn’t yet acknowledged the bug, but they’ll probably deploy a fix sooner rather than later. For now, you can access your playlists by navigating to the web version of YouTube and starting them from there. Update: An employee participating in the Google Product Forum thread posted this:

Thanks for reporting this, everyone. Be sure to note if you're experiencing this on your Apple or Android device (or desktop) when reporting. We're looking into a fix!

Temporarily you can go to m.youtube.com/my_playlists on your mobile device to access your playlists.

Update 2: Playlists appear to be visible again.

Cheers Joffe!

Android 4.4.2 Update Approved for Verizon Moto X as 164.55.2, Here is the Changelog

Kellen — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 08:40:19 +0000

Yesterday, we saw soak test invites go out for Verizon Moto X users - today, the update has been approved by the carrier. That doesn't necessarily mean that mass rollout is upon us, and we'll still likely see a soak test over the coming days, but clearly Verizon feels comfortable enough with the build to give it the green light. The update is Android 4.4.2 as expected, build 164.55.2. You are looking at an improved phone dialer, enhanced on-device security, improved connectivity when roaming, enhancements to Isis Mobile Wallet, battery life bonuses, and the latest in VZW bloatware (Navigator and Tones). Be sure to let us know when the update hits your device.

Via: Verizon

Huawei Smartwatch Reportedly Pictured, Looks Unquestionably Dated

Kyle — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 08:09:21 +0000

When analysts claimed 2014 would be the year of wearable technology, they weren’t kidding. The evident consumer demand for smartwatches and fitness bands has attracted an increasing number of companies hoping to cash in on the craze. Many, like Pebble and arguably Samsung (Galaxy Gear), have managed to craft stylish, functional, and desirable products. If the picture above is any indication, though, others haven't been quite so successful. A Huawei executive posted these snapshots on the the Chinese social network Weibo yesterday. Assuming the watch is of a product and not a prototype, the company might want to go back to the drawing board; the protruding display ensconced by the massively thick band evokes something from the 1980s, or maybe Dick Tracey’s communicator. It may be unfair to judge products before they’re fully detailed, but the image does little to enthuse.

Reports claim that we could hear more about Huawei's watch at Mobile World Congress, so stay tuned.

Via: Weibo | Engadget

Samsung Takes Everything to the Fifth Power in Galaxy S5 Teaser

Kellen — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 07:57:48 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S5 will arrive on Monday, February 24 at an Unpacked event taking place in Barcelona, Spain, and this is is Samsung's teaser. Since this is the fifth version of their flagship Galaxy S line, they are taking everything to the fifth power in this 36-second spot. Words flash across the screen like Together, Explorer, Curiosity, Dad, Peace, Wet, Free, Family, Victory, Connect, Party, Create, Alive, Standout, Social, Outdoor, Moment, Brothers, Courage, Play, Concert, Hangout, Ride, Selfie, Flip, Talent, Dream, Speed, Fit, Fun, Humor, Style, You, and Life. In other words, this is the phone for everything you do in life, from participating in water sports to riding a bike to partying like a rockstar to being a dad. Ready for Monday?

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NVIDIA Announces the Tegra Note 7 LTE, Launches Q2 Priced at $299

Tim — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:00:47 +0000

This morning, NVIDIA unveiled a new family member in the Tegra family tree, the Tegra Note 7 LTE. The device is the same as the Tegra Note tablet they released last year, manufactured by EVGA, but comes with 4G LTE and HSPA+ connectivity. Support for LTE is through AT&T and T-Mobile, as it appears that Verizon or Sprint are not listed as supported bands. The Tegra Note 7 LTE is powered by a Tegra 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, features a 7" HD IPS LCD display, has a 5MP rear-facing camera, 16GB of onboard storage, a microSD slot for up to 32GB of storage, a Micro HDMI port, a specially-designed stylus for fantastic note taking, and will come running Android 4.4.2. The device will launch sometime in the second quarter of this year, priced at just $299.99. When it's released, we will let you know.

Via: NVIDIA

Nike Job Listing Outs Upcoming Nike+ Android SDK for Use in "Any" App That Integrates Nike+

Kellen — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 01:11:31 +0000

We haven't been shy voicing our frustrations over the lack of Android support from Nike when it comes to products like their FuelBand. Even though we have mostly praise for the product, the fact that the fitness giant continues to ignore the biggest mobile platform around is a bit confusing. Granted, the Android ecosystem doesn't have anyone on Nike's board, and Bluetooth LE is just now finally receiving support in Kit Kat, but come on, other smaller fitness outlets have had no trouble with this platform. How much longer can Nike ignore this side of the mobile world? Maybe not much longer. According to a handful of job listings (9 to be exact) on Nike's corporate job board, Android appears to be a major focus for the upcoming year. One listing in particular even mentions a job that will work on the Nike+ API team to build an Android SDK "for use in any Android application that integrates with Nike+." The job will also help build the "future of activity measurement for internal and external clients." Now, that doesn't exactly say, "Hey, come build an app for the Nike FuelBand," but it does show some sort of sign that Nike has big plans for Android in the near future. We're talking about building an SDK that could potentially be used by 3rd party developers to integrate Nike+ into their own apps. We are also talking about working with "external clients," which could mean phone manufacturers or other fitness product makers to bring out the best in Nike+. Remember how Nike built a special Move app for the iPhone 5s? Could we see something similar in an Android phone? Keep in mind that Nike already has a handful of Nike apps on Android, including the Nike+ Running app, but this is a listing for a job that is expected to build an Android SDK. It doesn't say, "use the current SDK," it says build a new one. We'll be following this story as closely as possible over the coming year.

ANDROID ENGINEER – NIKE+ API TEAM – DIGITAL SPORT – CONSUMER DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Job Location: Portland, OR Do you want to help design and build the next generation of the most advanced activity measurement platform on earth? The Nike+ API team is looking for a talented and energetic Android engineer to join us in building the future of activity measurement for internal and external clients. You will be responsible for building an Android SDK for use in any Android application that integrates with Nike+. This is both a hands-on (design and development) and developer facing (collaborative) role. As the primary Android Engineer for the Nike+ API team, you will: § Collaborate with app developers to identify SDK needs § Work with the Product Manager to identify and define SDK features § Design and build the Android SDK for Nike+ § Effectively present technical details to both technical and nontechnical audiences § Become an expert in the Nike+ API and platform capabilities Qualifications Desired Skills and Experience: § Bachelors' degree in Computer Science or a related field § Minimum 3 years professional experience building android applications § Experience with RESTful APIs § Passionate about emerging technologies and working with other developers § Experience with OAuth § Ability to pass a 7 year background investigation