IFA 2014 expectation roundup: smartwatches galore

While IFA 2014 itself formally starts in a few days, many companies have scheduled their press events ahead to leave IFA open to actual device demos and showcases. But what do we expect from manufacturer's this time of year? As it turns out, quite a lot. Unsurprisingly, a lot of those also revolve around the tech industry's latest babies: smartwatches. Of course, it isn't just all about smartwatches, as we're expecting to see a few smartwatches and some tablets these coming days as well.

ASUS

ASUS has been harping about its smartwatch since January, but so far, like Motorola, it has been a no show in that market. But with official teasers already out in the wild, IFA 2014 could finally be ASUS' time to shine. That said, we still know very little about the ZenWatch, other than it will be running Android Wear and will have voice command support, which isn't exactly ground breaking. One thing that the company has been try to emphasize was how affordable their smartwatch will be. We curiously await if its budget price will come with budget specs.

Motorola

Former Google subsidiary Motorola will be making quite a big splash this IFA. Defying expectations of an August announcement, the company will be revealing not just the next Moto X smartphone, but also the next Moto G as well. As of the last listing, the Moto X+1 is expected to bear a 1080p 5.2-inch screen, run on a 2.2 or 2.5 GHz quad-core processor, have 2 GB of RAM, and a 13 megapixel rear camera. Not exactly the latest and highest specs, but Motorola has been known to pull a few rabbits out of its hat with run of the mill hardware. The Moto G2, on the other hand, is believed to be a larger cousin of the budget smartphone, sporting a 720p 5-inch screen, powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 and 1 GB of RAM, with an 8 megapixel camera on the back.

What everyone might be waiting for will be the Moto 360 smartwatch, something that was hyped a lot since I/O 2014. The smartwatch seemed to promise a lot, like a stylish round face design and wireless charging. Unfortunately, the company seems to have taken its sweet time and part of its thunder has been mostly stolen by LG's latest revelation.

LG

The Korean OEM has surprisingly laid out all its cards on the table way before IFA 2014 even starts. It has already announced all its key devices, ranging from monitors, curved TVs, smartphones, and yes, smartwatches, ahead of time, making is us wonder if LG has anything left to surprise us with this week. Not that the G Watch R isn't already surprising. A last minute leak gave us a glimpse of a round smartwatch from LG and, sure enough, the company did officially reveal the the device last week. The LG G Watch R is a bit of a step up from the plain G Watch, employing a round screen that, unlike the Moto 360, utilizes the whole surface. It also gets a higher 410 mAh battery and a heartrate sensor inside.

If LG doesn't have any announcements left, it will most likely just use its IFA time to formally introduce the devices to the public and later on let them fondle the new devices. Included in this new batch is the LG G3 Stylus, a pen-toting smartphone that was "accidentally" leaked in an LG ad but was later revealed to be a mid-tier device that just happened to have its own rubbery capacitive stylus in tow. Not quite what some might have wished to rival Samsung's upcoming star.

Samsung

With the premium Galaxy Alpha formally out of the way, Samsung is free to turn all the spotlight on the Galaxy Note 4. As seems to be Samsung's practice, this device will come with specs higher and bigger than that of its Galaxy S5 flagship. That includes a 5.7-inch QHD screen, a whopping 4 GB of RAM, the fastest Exynos and Snapdragon CPUs, a 16 megapixel camera, and what could be a new fingerprint scanner. But that's just the specs, of course. It remains to be seen whether Samsung also has anything left to push forward the S Pen again this year, or if the vision for the stylus has somewhat plateaued by now.

And like the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 4 will also come with its own companion smartwatch. Also announced already last week, the Gear S is Samsung's surprising yet expected new wearable. While not as visually distinct as the G Watch R, the Gear S boasts one thing that none of this new generation of smartwatches have: it's very own 3G connection. Unfortunately, but again not surprising, it runs Tizen instead of Android Wear, and we'll get to see this week if it will be able to stand up to the onslaught of new Android Wear smartwatches.

Sony

Sony's third smartwatch is a rather late surprise. Not that we didn't see the SmartWatch 3 coming but, according to last minute rumors, it will be running on Android Wear instead of Sony's custom software. That is definitely a bit of an unexpected turn of events considering how much Sony has invested in its own smartwatch ecosystem long before Android Wear or even Samsung's Galaxy Gear arrived on the scene. Still, it's definitely a welcome change, if true, as it gives Android users more devices to choose from.

That said, many Sony fans will most likely be waiting with bated breath for what the company's new smartphones and an unexpected tablet. From what we've gathered so far, the Xperia Z3 is likely to be look like another incremental upgrade from the Xperia Z2, bearing almost the same specs with a few upgrades here and there. The Xperia Z3 Compact, on the other hand, only has the Xperia Z1 Compact as the jumping board, since Sony has seemingly abandoned any plans for an Xperia Z2 Compact. Although we did expect a new Xperia tablet to join the crowd, little did we know that it will also be, well, little. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will be the company's first foray into a small-sized tablet, so fans of Sony's design and hardware will definitely want to keep an eye out for this.

Wrap-up

These are just some of the major highlights of IFA 2014 this week, but there's definitely more in store. Huawei's Ascend Mate7 will be making an appearance as well as Lenovo's Vibe X2. Meizu is also expected to reveal its latest MX4 this week. We will definitely have an Android packed week so be sure to keep tabs on our IFA 2014 tag portal so that you don't get lost in the sea of announcements and devices.

Sony to launch two new wearable devices at IFA 2014

To say that tech and gadget geeks are all excited about the upcoming IFA 2014 in Berlin has to be one of the understatements of the year. There are a lot of expected new devices to be launched this year and Japanese OEM Sony is no exception. Souces are saying they will be announcing not just one but two new wearables at their press event on September 4 and both of them will be powered by the Android Wear platform: the Smartwatch 3 and the Smartband Talk.

The third generation Smartwatch 3 is the first Sony device that will be running on Android Wear, although the previous Sony Smartwatch 2 did run on a heavily skinned Android platform. What we know so far about the new wearable is that it will have a 1.68-inch 320x320 display and it is rumoured that it will look like Samsung’s Neo Gear 2, at least design-wise. It will also be IP58 certified, meaning it is dust-resistant and will be able to survive in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Smartband Talk is the upgraded version of the previous Sony fitness tracker, the SmartBand (SWR10). The new device will now have Bluetooth connectivity and an e-ink curved display, as compared to the LED display of the previous SmartBand (SWR10). Again, there isn’t much known about the Smartband Talk as of now, but we only have to wait for a few more days to find out all the details.

Aside from the two wearables, Sony is also expected to announce on September 4 their three new smartphones, including the Sony Xperia Z3 and the rumoured waterproof tablet, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. They will of course be facing strict competition from most OEMs who will be launching their own devices as well, including Samsung and Apple.

VIA: 9 to 5 Google

Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

It's the end of summer and a holiday weekend, and apparently all the app makers are on vacation. As a result, we've only got a small haul of new apps this week. But maybe they're enough to help distract you from the annoying guests at your Labor Day cookout.

Read more...

This App Lets You Create Custom Shoes With Your Own Photos

Last Friday, Adidas introduced a new app called #miZXFLUX. A novel little iOS and Android app that lets you create custom shoes from your own photography. Finally, I can give all my friends the perfect pair of kicks with my beautiful face all over them.

Read more...

Get Your Tasks Organized on Android Wear with Agenda Wear

Having a checklist of things you need to do is something we all can find useful at times. Because of this, if one were to do a quick Play Store search for keywords such as ‘checklist,’ a plethora of apps dedicated to keeping your life organized can be found. Of course, this vast amount of apps can also be partly because of how long the Android OS has been around, with new apps being added to the store each day.

Android Wear on the other hand, had its inception mere five months ago, with only a handful of devices rocking the OS right now. So if you’ve been struggling to find an app for your wrist to keep your life in check, you may want to check out Agenda Wear.

Developed by XDA Senior Member quentin330, Agenda Wear is an app for your Android Wear device that lets you set and display reminders. As of now, up to 50 events can be set with the app, and they can’t be more than one month in advance to the current date. Your upcoming events are inserted through the app on your Android device, and are then synced with your Android Wear device every 15 minutes.

Currently in its beta phase, Agenda Wear is a simple yet practical app that does its job well. If you would like to give it a try or check out its development progress, head over to the Agenda Wear original thread for more information and download.

The post Get Your Tasks Organized on Android Wear with Agenda Wear appeared first on xda-developers.

Greenify app gets update, boosts usage on non-rooted devices

If you haven’t discovered the Greenify app yet, then you still might be suffering from envy of those phones which never seem to lag or slow down, something that you think can’t be done on your Android phone. This article is probably good news for you then, as an introduction to Greenify and the new updates that come with it.

Greenify works on a very simple premise – it identifies battery and memory hogging apps, those that cause your device to lag and slow down, especially the ones that run in the background that you don’t know of. The app then allows you to put these resource hogs into hibernation – which is simply, that they do not run AT ALL when you are not using them, no background services, no secret apps in the background, no nothing. But they will work perfectly fine when you tap on their icons to intentionally open these apps up. This frees up more memory for faster performance and longer battery life. Sounds cool, right?

For some time now, Greenify was only usable on rooted devices, which is probably why some of you might not have heard of it yet, given some people’s aversion to rooting. Also, given what the app does to your phone, it logically needs root access. This year, Greenify was made available for non-rooted devices -- a breakthrough. This recent update to Greenify now allows the auto hibernation feature in non-root mode, although the developers are cautious in saying that this is still being improved.

Still, full Greenify features on a non-rooted device sounds sweet. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it may be time for you to do so right now. The app is a free download via the source link. If you need more information about the app, check out the official XDA thread here.

SOURCE: Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• Battery life app Greenify now available to non-rooted users


• Samsung Galaxy S5 has best screen, battery life in testing


• Amazon Fire Phone has improved battery life in new update

IR 2.0 turns your phone into a universal TV remote

We feel for TV remote controllers, you know. Apart from being one of the most misplaced house implements, it is one of those that take so much beating. How many times have you dropped your TV remote on the concrete floor? “A lot,” was our answer. Because of those drops, malfunctioning and totally destroyed TV remotes abound, leaving you without the ability to change channels from your couch – such a stressful thought! Well, not anymore. Welcome, the “IR 2.0” app.

There is an immediate caveat that you have to know before you go downloading the app and blaming us for the frustration after – the app will ONLY work on tablets and smartphones that have an IR blaster, notably the HTC ONE M8 and M7, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5, the Galaxy Note 3 among others. For the younger generation, IR is “infra-red”, or the thing that makes your TV remote work remotely. Please be clear on that before downloading the app.

IR 2.0 is a free download via the Google Play Store, but we suggest that you pony up the few dollars for the whole shebang. What does the app do? Well, it lets you control your TV from the smartphone app. We’ll let you simmer on how wonderful that is for a while… nice, right? The app has a database of brands that you can choose from, and will even let you “save” remotes for convenient usage later.

Staying in a hotel room where the remote is non-functional? IR 2.0 will save your day. It will even control certain set-top devices, Blu-ray players, satellite TV recievers, and even airconditioning units. And you can be sure you won’t be careless about dropping this “remote”, because hey, it’s your phone as well. Grab it at the source link.

SOURCE: Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• mac.remote controls Mac media players from Android


• Chrome Remote Desktop now available for Android


• AnyMote turns Android smartphones into universal remotes

Clearer Lenovo Vibe X2 images leak, see gradient design up close

A few days back, we got our first good look at the Lenovo Vibe X2 – taking in that metal back plate and that unusual gradient design on the sides of the phone. We get to see that up close as clearer images leak for the phone that is due to be launched by Lenovo at IFA 2014 in Berlin.

The phone is purportedly coming out in 2 variants, and one with at least flagship-level specs – a MediaTek MT6596M octa-core processor (quad 2.0Ghz, quad 1.5Ghz), a 5-inch IPS 1080x1920 display, 2GB of RAM, and either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. The lower variant is supposedly coming out with a 2.2Ghz Intel SoC.

There are a couple of small details from these group of pics, especially the image of the back (as shown above). There are what looks like three contact points on the back, possibly for an accessory or for charging – all of these are assumptions as of now. Also, the gradient design looks interesting – it looks like slabs of metal one over the other to form the body of the device.

There will be a lot of gadgets coming out of Berlin in a few days’ time, and those first few days will be a certain measure if this new gadget from Lenovo catches the eye of those who will be there. Judging from all the new devices coming out of that trade show, it’s going to be a monster holiday season for gadgets.

VIA: G for Games

Story Timeline

• Lenovo K920 is the Vibe Z2 Pro we've been waiting for


• Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro gets official, QHD screen, 16MP camera


• Lenovo Vibe X2 has colorful body in layers and 5-inch Full HD display

Samsung partners with Nike for running app on Gear S

Coinciding with the unveiling of Samsung’s new Tizen wearable – the Samsung Gear S – is its partnership with global athletic apparel brand Nike for a collaborative version of the latter’s patented running app “Nike+ Running”. The two have come together to bring the app directly to the Gear S, a smart wearable device that can be worn untethered to a smartphone because of its own 3G connectivity.

This new Tizen version of the Nike+ Running app comes preloaded on the Gear S, with the app giving standalone run tracking and music playback to the user. Run tracking apps usually rely on the host device’s GPS capabalities, and that is not a problem as the Gear S has its own A-GPS receiver. Pretty nifty. Usually, the GPS is a battery hog, but Samsung was brave enough to include one in the Gear S.

Aside from tracking your runs, the app also allows you to share all the data you generate on social networks – again, thanks to the Gear S and its standalone 3G connection. Data will show up on the Gear S’ curved Super AMOLED screen – including distance, pace, heart rate, NikeFuel earned, and run time. The included music player is standard to running enthusiasts and needs no explanation.

The new Gear S wearable drops to the shelves in October, with Samsung yet to give any information about pricing. Another question is how mobile carriers will match data plans for the device's onboard 2G/3G modem. Watch this space.

SOURCE: Samsung Mobile

Story Timeline

• Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch gets rooted


• Samsung's newest Galaxy Gear said to be Tizen, not Android


• Samsung Gear S unveiled: a Tizen watch that can stand solo

ORA-1 is a potential Google Glass killer, runs on Android

As wearable technologies continue to find their time more and more in the spotlight, outfits like Optinvent find more and more reasons to be bullish about their products. This specific thingamabob is the ORA-1 wearable “smart glass” gadget, done in the tradition of what Google started with Google Glass – only, this one is more scalable as it runs mostly on Android OS.

Think of an Android tablet that you wear as eyeglasses – that’s how Optinvent wants us to think about the ORA-1 smart glass product. The ORA-1 is optimized for AR (that is, “augmented reality”) applications – allowing users a clear view while displaying a virtual image on the glass itself. In terms of physical specs, the gadget has its own dual-core processor that runs processes for the included the camera, microphone, inertial sensors, ambient light sensor, photochromic lenses, and a high capacity rechargeable battery. Not bad right?

As can be expected, the ORA-1 is fully configured for connectivity with WiFi, Blootooth, and GPS. The gadget runs Android 4.2.2 at the moment, but their Kickstarter page says that they are currently upgrading to Android 4.4 KitKat. Optinvent says that Android apps can run locally on the device – but in truth, it only makes sense to run AR-oriented applications on the gadget. That said, AR app developers can now have more freedom by scaling from Android than from any other proprietary platform.

While still far from their Kickstarter target funding, we can see the ORA-1 as being a very capable device for Android augmented reality apps. Optinvent claims that the device is the most robust smart glass platform available today. To their defense, we haven’t really seen anything to compete with Google Glass at this point, so they may have a point to prove. We’ll have to see how the platform matures and develops, but at this point in time, we can totally see the AR industry ready to boom.

SOURCE: Optinvent ORA-1 Kickstarter

Story Timeline

• Google Glass XE19.1 improves connectivity and interface


• Lenovo announces Google Glass rival, push for collaboration


• Google Glass firmware updated, new design patented

Samsung Galaxy Tab S goes to the street, compared with iPad Air

Samsung released a video yesterday that took its premier tablet – the Samsung Galaxy Tab S – to the streets of New York and asked seemingly random people to compare it with Apple’s current gen iPad Air. We say “seemingly” because, all things aside, it’s still a Samsung-produced video. Then again, we’ll give them half the benefit of doubt.

When the Samsung Galaxy Tab S launched, the South Korean gadget giant hyped a lot on the tablet’s fab looks – it’s sexy thin to ridiculous proportions. And it has a vibrant display, which it claimed was better than what most high-end tablets out in the market had. Now it was a matter of taking the Galaxy Tab S and have the people of New York compare it with Apple’s premium tablet.

It’s a marketing video, for all it worth. And of course, they showed the people who gave their tablet glowing reviews. But a couple of things are factual, though – the Galaxy Tab S is visible thinner than the iPad Air. More than that, it is comparably lighter, and this is a real-world variable that people consider from using tablet devices. Lastly, out in the New York sunshine, the Galaxy Tab S showed a better display – most likely by virtue of its higher pixel count.

Overheating rumors aside, we can grant that most people would probably choose the Galaxy Tab S if on looks and display alone. When seen beside the iPad Air, the Galaxy Tab S looks undeniably fab – razor thin and that much lighter. Actual usage would take into consideration apps, processor performance, operating system and all that – that is when you can really say which the better tablet is. But for now, let’s allow Samsung this – they made a good looking tablet, that’s for sure.

SOURCE: Samsung

Story Timeline

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and 10.5: thin, light, and vivid


• Galaxy Tab S first look video released by Samsung


• Samsung denies overheating claims on Galaxy Tab S

Alone Android game lets you run riot in space

If it’s your dream to travel through space and fly endlessly across the different galaxies, you are one step closer to checking that off your bucket list. Well, virtually at least if you have an Android gadget that is. The developer of that simple but difficult game PUK has come up with another doozy with ALONE..., where you get to pilot a space capsule at light speed in another endless runner game, but this time with a galactic twist.

Instead of controlling your spaceship by tapping, you slide your finger in the direction that you want it to go, whether it’s up or down, as you evade asteroids, space rocks, debris, etc. It will take some getting used to, especially as the game is very touch sensitive, and you might find yourself screaming because you didn’t actually want the ship to go that way. And did we mention that this game is played at lightning speed and that your space ship is super duper fast?

The graphics are not that complicated and all you need to know is that you have to avoid all those debris flying through space from destroying your ship, all while trying to manoeuvre one of the twitchiest game controls ever. Good thing is that there are only three unlockable difficulty levels and two bonus modes that will be unlocked when you reach certain milestones. And while you’re playing the game, you have a great soundtrack to back you up.

You can download ALONE... from the Google Play Store for only $2.47. The single player game does not have any in-app purchase and should work with mid-level and above Android smartphones and tablets.

IDC stats show smartphone shipments are increasing in 2014

IDC is always looking at the smartphone and other markets around the world to determine if the market is growing or shrinking. IDC has released the latest data for the smartphone market around the world in 2014. According to IDC, the market is growing and demand for smartphones remains strong despite slowing growth in mature markets.

IDC predicts that over 1.25 billon smartphones will be shipped around the world this year. That number is an increase of 23.8% compared to the previous year when 1.10 billion units shipped. IDC is predicting continued growth in the smartphone world with 1.8 billion units shipped in 2018.

While growth is slowing in mature markets, emerging markets have begun to account for over 50% of annual smartphone shipments. Mature markets have delivered double-digit growth year over year until 2014 when the growth rate in those markets is predicted to slow to 4.9%.

Emerging market smartphone volume is expected to reach 920.8 million units in 2014 making up 73.5% of all volume shipped. Android devices continue to account for the most volume in the smartphone market with 88.4% of shipments in 2014 expected to be Android units.

SOURCE: IDC

Galaxy Note 4 rendering leaks confirming previous leaks

Many smartphone users out there are looking forward to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 landing so they can get their hands on the latest Sammy phablet. Earlier this month we talked about some leaked images of the Galaxy Note 4 that showed a metal frame, rounded corners, and thin design. A new rendering of the smartphone has leaked this week.

This new rendering seems to confirm the leaked images from earlier this month. Exactly where the rendering came from is unknown and there is no way to confirm that this is a legitimate rendering of the device. Samsung is expected to unveil the Note 4 at IFA 2014 next month.

Along with the leaked rendering of the smartphone comes a leaked video of a disguised Galaxy Note 4 in use. The video shows the screen, believed to be 5.7-inches with 1440 x 2560 resolution packing 515ppi. Since we can't see the phone design, we certainly can't confirm that this is a Note 4 and not some hoax.

The video really shows nothing but a user repeatedly tapping the screen of a phone claimed to be the Note 4. You get to see nothing but a splash screen with what appears to be some sort writing on the screen.

SOURCE: Android Authority and PhoneArena

Moto G 4G CyanogenMod 11 nightly builds now available

If you are looking for a budget smartphone, the Moto G 4G is one of the devices you may want to put on your shortlist of options. If you like the hardware but prefer to use something other than the standard operating system, the other good thing about the Moto G is that it is typically unlocked and easy to mod.

With that in mind, Moto G 4G users can now get CyanogenMod 11 nightly builds for the smartphone. A CM installer is available for the smartphone making it easy to install. The ROM can be downloaded at this link, and is only for the Moto G with LTE.

A version of CyanogenMod 11 for the Moto G without LTE is available here. If you are unfamiliar with the Moto G handset, we have a full review on the non-LTE version of the Moto G for you to check out.

The smartphone has a 4.5-inch screen with 720p resolution, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, and 1GB of RAM. The rear camera has 5MP resolution and power comes from a 2070 mAh battery.

SOURCE: Android Police

Five Nights at Freddy’s: fun, scary game with a freaky bear

If you’ve always had a childhood trauma regarding bears and animatronic toys, you better not download this newest indie horror game. The Android version of the PC game Five Nights at Freddys is something that just might keep you up at night and possibly ruin your childhood memories of fun, stuffed toys (if you had any).

The basic premise of the game is that it’s your first week at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza joint and your main job as the main security guard is to make sure that the titular bear and his other animatronic robot friends don’t go out and wreak havoc when the place is closed at night. Sounds simple and fun and exciting right? But of course it’s not, unless you enjoy viewing “footage” in the dark while robots scare you to death, literally (well, at least digitally).

You have no ability to fight back against these robotic monsters. Instead you have to watch over them by switching through several cameras and then closing doors to make sure that they don’t escape. To make it more difficult, the lights are limited because they conserve power between 12MN and 6AM. And there is even one room where there is no video, just audio, which is even more terrifying. Each night just lasts around ten minutes which may seem short but by the 2nd or 3rd one, you’ll probably wish it was shorter.

This point-and-click survival horror game shows that you don’t need elaborate story lines or gameplay to create a terrifying game, just clever imagery and character design. Five Nights at Freddy’s is available at the Google Play Store for only $2.99, with no in-app purchases at all.

HERE for Android beta launches on Samsung Galaxy devices

Owners of Samsung Galaxy devices are now able to get exclusive access to the beta version of HERE for Android. Samsung and the team behind HERE have an agreement in place that will get Galaxy device owners free and exclusive access to HERE on devices like the S5 and others.

HERE is a mapping app that works without an internet connecting allowing location data to be found with GPS only. That means all navigation functions and searching features work without internet connectivity on the go. Maps are also stored on the device making them faster than with apps that don’t store map data locally. Traffic data and transit schedules are available along with walking and turn-by-turn driving directions.

On Galaxy smartphones HERE also includes Glympse integration. Glympse is a way that users can share their location with other users. Location sharing can be turned off at anytime. HERE for Gear has also launched for the Samsung line of Tizen devices.

The most notable of those devices is the Gear S smartwatch. The app was specifically developed for smartwatches and offers the same online and offline maps access the other apps offer. Using the smartwatch app, people can get their location right on the watch screen, get walking directions, and public transit directions without a smartphone or data connection.

SOURCE: HERE (1), (2), and (3)

NVIDIA SHIELD update brings tablet to v1.1

NVIDIA has released a new update for the SHIELD tablet that brings the device to version 1.1. Contained in the update are enhancements and bug fixes for the operating system that makes the tablet perform better and be more stable. WiFi stability is improved in the update in certain use scenarios.

A PRISM feature toggle has been added and stability improvements for SHIELD Hub and Gamestream have been added. Performance optimizations for ShadowPlay have been added along with improvements in localization.

New audio options are available with the update along with several miscellaneous stability improvements. Users can download the latest update of the tablet by going into the Settings > About SHIELD> System updates section.

If you are unfamiliar with the SHIELD tablet, check out the article we have on the five highlights of the slick gaming device. It packs in an NVIDIA Tegra K1 Chipset with 192 CUDA cores and Kepler graphics. One of the best aspects of the tablet for gamers is the wireless controller that makes gaming more like console gaming than mobile gaming.

SOURCE: NVIDIA

Acer Liquid Jade and Liquid Leap duo launching in Europe

Maybe we will finally get to really see and feel what Acer has been putting on hold for the wearable market. Its Liquid Jade "stylephone" and Liquid Leap smartband has been annouced to launch in Europe next month, but not before they stop by IFA 2014 in Berlin for everyone to see just what the company has to offer.

These two Liquid devices aren't exactly new. First confirmed in April and then formally announced at Computex in June, the devices, or at least one of them, represents the OEM's first foray into the wearable market. Though the gap in time between then and now might look like Acer has been dilly-dallying a bit. That said, it hasn't exactly revealed everything about these devices, leaving an air of mystery around it, and the possibility of not looking like yesterday's news.

The Liquid Jade is a smartphone that is being billed as something stylish, an "artwork in your pocket". Not much technical detail is known beyond its 5-inch HD (yes, not Full HD) Gorilla Glass 3 toting screen. Instead, Acer wants people to focus on the smartphone's design, particularly its 7.5 mm thickness and 110 g weight. Acer is also trying to sell its particularly curved shape (not the screen), UV high gloss rear, and other cosmetic touches that would try to mask the phone's probably mid-range specs.

More interesting perhaps is the Liquid Leap, its first smart band accessory. It isn't exactly a smartwatch and more like Samsung's Gear Fit, but the functionality is almost all there. The 1-inch touchscreen is embedded in a 17 mm hypoallergenic band that comes in color options of Moonstone White, Mineral Black, Aquamarine Green, Fragrant Pink, and Vivid Orange. Aside from the usual fitness-related functionality, the band is also capable of controlling your smartphone's media playback, get notifications for calls and messages, and get reminders for calendar appointments.

The Acer Liquid Jade "stylephone" and Liquid Leap wearable will be available in Europe starting September 7. The company, however, will be hosting a press event on September 3 right before IFA 2014 starts for a more formal launch of these new smart devices.

SOURCE: Acer

Story Timeline

• Acer Liquid Jade and Liquid Leap wearable now official


• Acer Liquid Leap smartband and Liquid Jade smartphone detailed

Xbox One SmartGlass gets more social, game recording added

Microsoft is letting out its September Xbox One update a little early. As part of that rollout, it has also updated its SmartGlass apps, including the Android version, with a few new features, focusing on some of the more social activities you might do outside of or while gaming.

Many of the updates this time around focuses on users' Activity feeds. From the SmartGlass app on your Android phone or tablet, you will be able to post status messages or other items without having to switch away from your current Xbox One game screen. Admittedly, it might be a tad more convenient to view your Activity feed from a separate mobile device while you keep on gaming. You can now also read your messages in a new conversations view.

Of course, there are also updates more directly related to gaming itself. Primary among them is the ability to now start recording game clips from SmartGlass. You will also be able to display release and feature notes right within the app itself. Suffice it to say, SmartGlass has been improved so that you will spend less time fiddling around the Xbox One apps itself for such features and activities and more time actually gaming.

The Xbox One SmartGlass update should be rolling out now to supported regions. Xbox owners might already be well aware of this, but it bears saying that this is a completely different app from the older and now slightly less updated Xbox 360 SmartGlass version. Users in some regions, specifically Brazil, Mexico, Austria, and Ireland, might be surprised to see some new functionality in their version, as Microsoft has added these countries to those that have access to TV and OneGuide features.

Download: Xbox One SmartGlass on Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• Xbox One SmartGlass app released ahead of Xbox One November 22 launch


• Xbox One SmartGlass improves remote control, social features


• Xbox One SmartGlass beta: TV streaming, game recording

Wipeout 2 Android game now has zombies,pirates, popstars

If you’re one of those who enjoys seeing people run, jump and dive, and of course be honest, fail at several physical challenges, then you must be a fan of the reality competition series Wipeout. The hugely popular show which has been on air for the past 6 years shows contestants competing in “the world’s largest obstacle course”. Now you get to compete once again in the show without even lifting your butt from your chair with the Android game Wipeout 2.

The first iteration of the game won various mobile game awards for its almost-as-exciting-as-the-show gameplay and so naturally, the developers would want a sequel. This time around, you have 135 more levels to tackle as you do your best not to, err, wipeout, at any of them (although admit it, the fun of watching the TV show is seeing people do just that). One fun thing about the Android game is that you get to be different zany characters and this time around, there are 10 new ones, including a pirate, a popstar and the inescapable zombie.

There are also 150 new kinds of obstacles plus if you want to unlock special rewards, you need to beat the Course of the Day. You can also indulge your competitive spirit by competing against your friends as your progress is shown on a social map and leaderboard. You can upgrade and customize your chosen character to give them more power through crazy costumes that will give them abilities like teleportation, speed boost, etc.

You can download Wipeout 2 for free from the Google Play Store. There are some in-app purchases so remember to fix your settings if you’re letting your kid play the game on your device, unless you want unauthorised charges on your credit card bill.

ESPN SportsCenter update: watch and listen to live streams

With the NFL season starting next week (that’s American football, not the other kind of football to you), sports fans for sure will be enthusiastically logging on to their various sports app to keep updated with their favourite teams. The ESPN SportsCenter app for Android will not be left out in the cold as the latest update now includes the ability to listen to the radio streaming and watch the latest videos from the sports channel.

It’s been proven that sports fans love to consume digital content as much as they love to watch their favourite teams duke it out on the field or court or pitch or wherever they play. One of the foremost updates in the ESPN SportsCenter app is bringing football fans better NFL and College Football mobile coverage. And if you choose which teams to follow in whatever sports you’re interested in, they are now grouped at the top of the SC scores panel.

But probably what would interest users more is the OnAir feature which gives them one-click access to the latest radio streaming of whatever sporting event is being covered and also access to WatchESPN videos. This will become crucial if you’re stuck at work or at a party while an important game is ongoing and you have no access to a TV. The alerts will also now take you directly to the stories and videos that you are interested in.

So to prep yourself for another season-long of excitement and/or heartbreak for your football team, go and install the newly updated ESPN SportsCenter app on your smartphone. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store.

Samsung Is Ditching Google Maps for Nokia's Here

However good Google Maps might be, Samsung has decided that it can do better. Teaming up with Nokia , a beta version of Here for Android is being made available exclusively for Samsung.

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