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Stream your Tivo-ed shows on mobile devices with new update

You've TiVo-ed the latest episode of Game of Thrones, but when you were supposed to watch it, you fell asleep because you were so tired from work. You wanted to watch it while commuting to work the next day but you can't very well bring your Tivo machine while on the subway or bus. The new update to the TiVo app for Android will solve that problem for you as it will let you stream shows you've recorded on your Tivo.



So yes, you can now watch the kingdom of Westeros fight over the Iron Throne or any of the shows you've recorded. The app can now stream these shows onto your tablet or smartphone so you can access it anywhere you are, whether commuting or sitting in a cafe or on your break at work (just make sure you're really on a break). Just browse through the list of your recorded shows and choose the one you want to view while sipping your coffee or even standing on the train. But not all content can be streamed though as it depends on the show's copyright protection or technical limitations


Aside from this streaming function on the new update, the app also has been serving as a second screen for when you're using Tivo at home. It can look at the channel guide without interrupting the show you're currently watching or recording. You can also use it as a research device as it will bring up information about the show and the cast while you're watching on your TV screens so you won't lose sleep trying to find the name of that guest star whose name eludes you.


The Tivo app update has already started rolling out starting September 30. You'll only be able to enjoy the streaming on the go feature if your device is running Android 4.1 and above. You can download Tivo app from the Google Play Store if you don't have it yet.


SOURCE: TiVo





Spotify now available in Canada

Canadians don't need to envy most of the world now, at least when it comes to enjoying one of the biggest music streaming services currently on the market. Spotify has now finally been made available in the North American country, although we still don't know why it's taken them this long and why other countries were chosen first over the US' nearest neighbour.



But nevertheless, Canada will now be able to see what the fuss is all about. Aside from the web service, they will also be able to have the app in their smartphones and tablets, with some smartwatches also able to stream from the mobile devices (although there's no official smartwatch app yet). They will be able to access over 20 million songs in the library, create their own playlists and libraries, share songs, artists and albums that they like on their social networks and to their Spotify community.


Spotify also says they have tailor-made this for Canadian listeners. They have added a comprehensive Canadian music catalogue, including a "comprehensive Quebecois library." The audio quality available for the songs in Spotify is pretty great at up to 320kbps. This means if you have good Internet connection, you'll be able to listen seamlessly to all the music that you want.


Spotify is free, but comes of course with ads from their local partners, like in Canada that would be Diet Coke, Honda Canada, Heineken, Subway and TD. But if you want to remove those ads and enjoy other features like even better audio quality and listening offline to songs that you download, you need to shell out $10 CAD every month.


SOURCE: Spotify

VIA: SlashGear





Browse a website without data connection with Cosmos

You're visiting a remote Italian village and you suddenly forgot the name of this quaint little cafe you were looking for, but you have no data or wifi connection to go to Neive.com.it to search for the name. You're shopping for a gift for your sister-in-law but you don't know what's her favorite color and you need to look at her blog to find out what it is, but again, no data or wifi. A new browser for your mobile devices Cosmos wants to solve those dilemmas by giving you access to a website even when you're not connected all through the power of text messaging.



Sounds magical right? Here's how it works. On the browser, type in a valid URL of a site you want to go to. Your device will then send the URL to a remote server. This server will then package the website into a zip file then will send that file to you through a text message. Cosmos intercepts the message, unpacks it for you and voila, you can now view the website you need, when you need it, even if you don't have any Internet.


But of course, do not expect that the website will look the same as when you're browsing through normal circumstances. The browser will of course only show the minimal and limited version that it can bring you, given that it is working without Internet. So no flash animation, no hi-res photos, maybe even no photos at all. But when you're in a bind that only the Internet can fix, then you can turn to Cosmos for help.


The browser is also still in its beta stage so expect several bugs and crashes. But if you want to give it a try, you can get the sourcecode for free from Github. For some reason, Cosmos mysteriously disappeared from the Google Play Store though, so just fork it from that link.


VIA: Droid Life


Sony Xperia Z3 underwater unboxing

We have seen plenty of unboxing videos around these parts, we know you have too. They are all about the same; you start with a smartphone or tablet packed away in the box from the factory, slowly pull out all the accessories, manuals, the device itself, and talk about them.



Those videos are all about the same, but Carphone Warehouse has something very different. Carphone Warehouse has put together an unboxing video for the Sony Xperia Z3. Rather than sitting at a desk and doing the normal unboxing, this one is done underwater.


One of the big features of the Xperia Z3 is its water resistance. If you have wondered if the smartphone will survive water as Sony promises, you will want to see this video. Not only does the diving mask wearing host of the video unbox the smartphone under the water, he also uses it.


You can see the video and still cameras in action under water and the results look very good. This is a seriously waterproof smartphone. Watch the video below and see the underwater unboxing for yourself.







TomTom MySports GPS Watch gets Android support

TomTom launched its running watch called the MySports GPS watch several months back and for a long time it lacked Android compatibility. That lack of compatibility came down to no Android version of the required app not being available.



That has changed this month with TomTom rolling out the required app for Android users. The TomTom MySports app is on Google Play right now and works with the TomTom Runner watch as well. TomTom tested the app and confirmed support for several popular Android phones.


Those devices include the Galaxy S3, S4, S5, Nexus 5, HTC One, and HTC One M8. Additional devices will be coming to the supported list in the future. The app connects to the watch using Bluetooth.


The app is 7.6MB in size and is currently in version 1.0.6. The version of Android required for the app varies with the device it runs on. The most recent version of the app has a few bug fixes and pairing has been improved.


SOURCE: ZDNet





Humble Flash Bundle offers Android games

The last time we talked about the Humble Bundle for Android, it was the mobile version of the game pack with a slew of mobile games for Android smartphones. This time out we are looking at the Humble Flash Bundle that is packed with some cool DRM-free games and can be purchased on Steam.



A few of the games that are available in the Flash Bundle can be played on your Android devices, but not all of them. The games offered in the new bundle include Anomaly: Warzone Earth, Anomaly: Warzone Earth Mobile Campaign, Sleepwalker's Journey, and Funky Smuggler. Only Anomaly Earth: Warzone Earth won’t play on Android devices.


Those first four games are offered no matter how much money you pay. If you plunk down $6 or more for the bundle, you also get Anomaly Korea, Anomaly 2, and Anomaly 2 Hell Hound bonus content. Only Anomaly 2 is Android compatible.


If you cough up $10 or more for the Humble Flash Bundle, you get Spacecom. The catch with that last game is that it isn’t Android compatible. The bundle also includes the soundtracks to several of those games. So far, 5709 of these bundles have been purchased and about two days are left to purchase the bundle of games as of writing.


SOURCE: Humble Bundle





Galaxy Ace Style LTE features 1.2GHz quad-core CPU

Samsung has tossed a new Galaxy smartphone on the market with little fanfare called the Galaxy Ace Style LTE. The smartphone has a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with 800 x 480 resolution. That isn't exactly a high-resolution screen by today's standards, but it gets the job done well enough on a lower cost device.



The smartphone uses a 1.2GHz quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. A microSD card slot allows storage expansion. Samsung equips the device with a 5MP rear camera that can shoot 720p HD video and the camera has LED flash.


Power for the smartphone comes from a 1900 mAh internal battery good for up to 11 hours of talk time on 3G networks. On LTE networks, that battery has enough power for about nine hours of surfing the web.


The Galaxy Ace Style LTE is a single-SIM phone that is fitted with NFC. Samsung is selling the smartphone in Germany now for €199 in black or white colors.


SOURCE: GSMarena





Project Ara modules to be hot swappable

We have talked about Project Ara several times and one of the coolest things we have learned so far is that the battery of the device will be hot swappable. That means you can swap a nearly dead battery for a full one without turning the device off or losing what you are working on. Another interesting detail about Project Ara has surfaced recently.



That detail is the fact that nearly all of the modules used in a Project Ara device will be hot swappable. Paul Eremenko, the director of Project Ara, has recently noted that users of Project Ara will be able to swap the phone modules around without losing what they are working with only two exceptions.


The monitor and CPU won’t be hot swappable in the middle of a call or text message. The idea with the hot swappable modules is that you could change modules out like the camera to better suit what you are doing right then.


You could for instance swap a wide-angle camera when you want to take a picture of a group of people or use a camera with more resolution for landscape shots. Another tidbit revealed is that Google will have an online store that sells different modules or Project Ara. We already know a few other tidbits about the device, including the fact that it will use Android L.




SOURCE: Engadget





Streamline Android Theme Customization with Graphic Porter

Graphic Porter

I don’t have a custom theme on my Android phone, and the reason for this is because I am too busy picky (and perhaps lazy) to go through the countless fantastic custom themes that have been created and made available here on XDA and in the Play Store. And I’m sure that many folks here are in the same situation. Because despite the vast selection of themes, we all find ourselves a little bit too picky about something specific –perhaps it’s the icons, the accent colors, or the switches. And this is where Graphic Porter comes in.


Developed by XDA Senior Member br.ruan, Graphic Porter is a tool which simplifies the process of modifying and porting existing custom themes. Running on PC, it enables you to change every aspect of the theme throughout the Android system, such as check boxes, background images, radio buttons, and IM emoticons. If there’s something you’re not happy with, just select the UI element you want to change, and the tool will automatically find and bring to you the specific files you have to change.


Graphic Porter’s porting feature is just as easy to use. The tool will automatically find the theme’s files and resize anything to suite your device’s screen resolution. Because of this method however, it should be noted that it might be a bad idea to port themes made for devices with lower dpi than your own.


Graphic Porter will definitely be a welcomed tool for anyone who likes to ensure that their Android device looks just the way they want it to look. If you would like to check this out, head over to the Graphic Porter thread for more information.


The post Streamline Android Theme Customization with Graphic Porter appeared first on xda-developers.


HP Slate 17 tablet rocks Intel Bay Trail quad-core CPU

HP has a number of tablets on the market today and normally when we are talking about a new one, we are looking at a smaller size tablet designed to be crammed into a bag and carried with you on the go. HP has a new tablet that is going to launch called the Slate 17 and there is really nothing portable about this tablet and its 17-inch screen.



The big tablet will have a full HD resolution screen and will use an Intel Bay Trail Celeron N2870 quad-core processor under the hood. The tablet is a monster and looks like an all-in-one PC sitting on the table, but it's a tablet. The machine has a battery inside that will allow it to run for several hours per charge.


The OS for the big tablet is Android 4.4 KitKat and it has 2GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, and HDMI output for connecting a second screen. HP also fits the tablet with a 720p webcam and a USB 2.0 port. One thing missing that would have been a nice addition is an HDMI input. No HDMI input means you can't use the Slate 17 as a monitor for a PC or display for other devices.


HP says the Slate 17 will tip the scales at 5.4 pounds and it has two kickstands. One of the stands props the tablet upright and the other allows the tablet to lay almost flat on a table or desk. HP will sell the Slate 17 for around $450.


SOURCE: Liliputing





Hearthstone game gets an unofficial Android port

Android developers are a rather arduous bunch. If a feature or app is available for only a certain model or OEM, it will eventually get ported for others or at least have equivalent apps. Vietnamese game developer Khanh Hoang Tran did something similar, but in a totally different scale. He made Blizzard's Hearthstone game, currently available only for PCs, Macs, and iPads, playable on Android devices.



Hearthstone is Blizzard's most recent attempt to capitalize on the popularity of its World of Warcraft franchise. It's a collectible card game or CCG (think Magic the Gathering) based on the same game universe, except it's totally digital. Of course, CCGs are a dime a dozen on Android, but Hearthstone carries the weight of the WoW name. Unfortunately, it isn't available on our favorite mobile platform.


Similarly peeved by the situation, Khanh Hoang Tran decided to scratch his own itch and try to bring the game to Android even without Blizzard's blessing, much less help. What he did was to basically make the PC version of the game available on Windows run on Android. He mentions using some software that allowed him to do so but isn't spilling the beans on that one, which might be a good idea should that tool be proven to be a rather controversial one. But even with the tool, he admits that it was no easy task, especially when it comes to getting around crashes and trying to make the game work on hardware it was never designed for.


hearthstone-android-2


While this is undoubtedly an unofficial port, Hoang says he is able to play on official Blizzard servers, using his official Battle.net account, of course. That said, this version of the game isn't available to the general public yet and so far works only on Hoang's Android device. He does plan on creating a guide that will let others follow in his footsteps and enjoy the bliss of playing the game on their smartphone or tablet. That is, at least until Blizzard gets wind of this and starts cracking down on unsanctioned ports of the game.


VIA: Games In Asia


Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is a ‘larger than life’ smartphone

Ever since Samsung announced the Galaxy Note Edge a few weeks ago, Android fans seem to be on the, well, edge of their seats. To get people more excited about this "stateof-the-art" smartphone, they've released more information about the upcoming device through an infographic highlighting the specs and five features that the Galaxy Edge can uniquely give you (if you're lucky enough to be one of the limited few).



We all know already that the edge screen of the smartphone is the major selling point of the Galaxy Edge, having the same display as the Galaxy Note 4, with its Quad HD (2560x1440) Super AMOLED display. But if you don't watch the hands-on video that Samsung released, then you wouldn't really understand what gives this smartphone the, ahem, edge. First of all, you don't need to unlock your phone and go to the Apps menu part. What you have now is your favorite apps showing on the edge of your device's screen. Even your notifications can just float and appear on your edge screen so that whether you're watching a video or playing a game, you won't be interrupted by that new facebook message or that text from your annoying offcemate.


If you're the artistic kind that gets easily bored by your smartphone's original casing, a feature on the Galaxy Edge will make you happy. You can personalize your edge screen by drawing or sketching your own design by using the S Pen or or adding images and text. Just like the ticker of news items that you see on TV (assuming you actually still open a TV), the Galaxy Edge has its own Ticker Board where you can view important items like stock trends, news items and even Twitter keywords. Important tools like your smartphone's flash, voice recorder, timer, stop watch and ruler can be accessed and used on the edge screen whenever you need it.


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(Click to view original image)


While the Galaxy Note Edge sounds like a pretty nifty gadget to own, Samsung recently said that it will be a limited edition gadget only. It will also probably cost an arm and a leg in keeping with its elite status so if you really, really want one, better start setting aside money for it now.


SOURCE: Samsung





I Ditched My iPhone and Spent the Summer With Android

I Ditched My iPhone and Spent the Summer With Android


For five straight years, I spent an inordinate amount of time staring at the screen of an iPhone. I'm not alone in that, but I am usually quick to buy new models and even quicker to download new operating system updates. Perhaps I'm a little too quick, because earlier this year, my enthusiasm got the best of me.


Read more...
















Galaxy Note 4 gets its own “gapgate scandal”

If Samsung fans think they have the last laugh in the rivalry against Apple, they might have to reassess the situation. Just days after the infamous "bendgate" iPhone 6 issue made rounds over the Internet, a new build quality issue has popped up, this time involving a Galaxy Note 4 and a business card.



In this case, it is a business card that fits between the very edge of the device and its screen, inside a gap that shouldn't even be there in the first place. while at first seemingly harmless (because how many would be actively fitting papers or cards into their smartphone edges), it does mean that small particles can potentially ingress into that gap and cause some harm. At the very least it will be a place for dirt and dust to accumulate.


There are various theories now being put forward to explain this problem. Of course, there would be those that will be too happy to simply blame it on shoddy Samsung craftmanship. There are also those that theorize that such QA lapses were due to trying to rush out the Galaxy Note 4 to counter the iPhone 6's launch. There is also a possibility that these, if truly more than one, are isolated cases that can be encountered in any product, whether they be by Samsung or Apple.


Whichever the cause may have been, Samsung may still have time to rectify the situation before it gets out of hand. It hasn't boasted of sales in the millions yet, at least compared to numbers for the "bending" iPhone 6 Plus. The availability of the Galaxy Note 4 has so far been quite limited, so there's a chance for the manufacturer to double check its production lines and ensure that the next batches will mind the gap.


VIA: IT Today


12 Voice Commands To Try On Your New Android Wear Watch

12 Voice Commands To Try On Your New Android Wear Watch


If you've splurged on one of the new Android Wear watches then you'll know it's very much a case of learning as you go. Since you probably won't immediately know what these devices are capable of, so here are 12 useful voice commands you can experiment with to get your watch to do your bidding.


Read more...




Waze update brings Places, Parking Pins

If you haven't had your fill yet of location-based services that will help you navigate your way through unfamiliar places, then if you haven't been using Waze yet, the newest update might just convince you to get the app. Version 3.9 introduces a whole slew of new features, with the greatest of them being the addition of Places, which will create a crowd-sourced wealth of information regarding both businesses and residential areas.



Just like Foursquare (now Swarm) and to some extent, Google Maps, Waze's Places allows users to add information like landmarks, pictures to help identify unfamiliar locations, and even best parking areas in or around the place. Users can also edit and update details about certain places, which is all and good for the really helpful users but some trolls may just cause confusion and blacken the name of a place, a risk you take when using crowd-sourced apps and programs like this. Waze has also redesigned the preview screen so that it will be easier for you to see the info added by other users on the place where you're going to.


What makes Waze different from other location-based services is that it focuses more on driver-friendly options and information, like the aforementioned feature regarding parking availability. Another very useful feature, particularly for those who are very forgetful about where they parked, is the ability to add automatic parking pins so you won't spend countless minutes trying to figure out where your vehicle is. If you're competitive over how helpful you can be to other drivers, adding information to any of the places will earn you points, and you'll be able to see your leaderboard ranking.


Since it has been acquired by Google, you can expect to see that some of Waze's features will eventually be incorporated into Google Maps and Navigation, so Places will most likely make its way there. For now, you can update your Waze app or download it from the Google Play Store.




SOURCE: Waze





Photoshop streams to Chromebooks via Creative Cloud

Naysayers about Chromebooks' usefulness for more "professional" work beyond cloud-based document editing now have one less argument to use. Google has just announced that the Chrome OS-toting laptops can now be used for photo editing and digital painting thanks to Adobe's Creative Cloud and Photoshop.



For those unfamiliar with Adobe's lineup, the Creative Cloud is its newest and somewhat highly controversial offering that will eventually displace the popular Creative Suite or CS. It is controversial because it is a cloud-based, subscription-based system where users who wish to be able to continue using software like Photoshop or Illustrator will be basically renting the software instead of owning them as in the previous CS system.


Photoshop Creative Cloud edition takes a different form when it comes to this new Chromebook incarnation. Whereas Creative Cloud desktop apps like it get installed directly on PCs, the Chromebook version will actually be streaming the app from a virtualized environment hosted on Adobe's servers. In short, Project Photoshop Streaming, as it is called by Adobe, will basically be a web app, which is a perfect fit for Google's Chromebook environment.


This kind of system has several advantages, at least from a Chrome OS and Chromebook standpoint. Given how underpowered most Chromebooks are, streaming Photoshop instead of running directly on the metal lowers the hardware requirement considerably, a minimum of an Intel Pentium 4 and 512 MB RAM to be exact. The partnership with Google also means that users won't have to worry about Photoshop PSD files taking up huge amounts of space on their hard drive as they can work on files stored on Google Drive directly.


While that may be a Chromebook user's dream come true, the offer comes with a price, figuratively and literally. First is that you need to have a Creative Cloud account, which starts at $13 per month at the lowest. But for this particular product, it will be initially available to US-based Adobe education customers only. Adobe's FAQ reveals that the project will run for six months only, something Google has not mentioned in its announcement. No other Adobe products will be available for streaming.


SOURCE: Google, Adobe


OneDrive app for Android updated, All Photos View now available

The OneDrive team recently rolled out a new update to the mobile app. The developers have been working hard to improved the app across all platforms and a newly improved version is now ready for Android.



OneDrive app is formerly known as SkyDrive. You can say it’s just another cloud storage program but it’s one of the most efficient apps today. The free online storage can save all your files—documents, videos, and photos or just about anything you want to store on your account. It can be integrated with SharePoint Server 2013 and Office 365 to use for work and share important business files.


With the OneDrive app for Android, you can manage and share personal and work files, open OneDrive files in other apps, quickly access recent documents, as well as, invite more people to use the same app for future file-sharing. With the Android 4.0+ version, OneDrive users can automatically upload photos and videos using the Camera backup feature, search/sort folders and files, and select multiple files to download. The OneDrive app for Android also boasts of improved support for working with Office Mobile for Android and OneNote.


With this OneDrive 2.8.1 app update, you can now easily share files to your contacts, move and rename business folders, and search for documents. Shared view for business accounts have been added, as well as, a new photos view (All Photos View) of photos currently stored in your OneDrive account.


Aside from the stability improvements and bug fixes for the Android version, the OneDrive team has been announcing other good news for users of OneDrive on other platforms. Recently, the free storage on the Microsoft vesion was increased to 30GB. The Android version was also increased from 7GB to 15GB for free users and up to 1TB for the paid subscribers. A few months ago too, the mobile app combined Personal and Business accounts on one app for easier access and more efficiency. The OneDrive Kindle Fire and Fire Phone version has rolled out as well. Looks like the OneDrive team isn’t going anywhere and it will only improve on the app and release many versions of it.


Download updated OneDrive from the Google Play Store


SOURCE: OneDrive





Brain Wars lets you challenge anyone to a brainy game

If you fancy yourself the brainy type, then this new game that popped up at the Google Play Store should be a favorite for you. The game is built on letting you challenge other people to play short brain games with each other, anywhere in the world – as long as they’re online, of course.



The game is super-quick and each session rarely goes beyond 4 or 5 minutes. The users log-in either with Facebook or just a nickname, and they can promptly hit the challenge button. The app then randomly matches you with someone else in the world (we hope). From there, it’s basically “Brain game on!”


brain_wars_1


The session will consist of three short brain tests that both players will have to complete. You play with your opponent and you can see their scores as you go along. Finish the three tests and then the game adds your scores up. Whoever’s on top of the scores wins. Easy, right?


brain_wars_2


The game is not just about winning though. The results page of each session measures you in terms of speed, judgement, calculation, accuracy, observation and memory. Once you try it, it will invariably be nothing short of addictive. Believe us, we’ve tried. Players can invite and challenge their Facebook friends and family, which adds to the fun. Check out the game via the source link.


SOURCE: Google Play Store





Samsung’s new ad “note” a dig at Apple, “note”-iceably funny

Just when we've despaired that Samsung would never come out with an ad that will not disparage its competitors (and when we say competitor, of course we mean Apple), the OEM surprises us with a hilarious, if a bit long, video. The almost 4 1/2 minute video is a refreshing ad for the Galaxy Note 4 that banks on sense of humor rather than just poking fun at Apple products and hopefully heralds the dawn of a new kind of campaign for its smartphones and tablets. Well, at least when it comes to advertising.



"Despite being Note-orious for its large display, the Galaxy Note 4 is so much more. It’s Note just a phone – it’s a conversation starter," thus reads the description of the video on its YouTube channel. Based on that and on the ad's title, "Note Pun intended," then you have an idea what the video is about. Two guys try to outdo each other by coming up with Note-related puns during conversations with each other, ordering in bars and coffee shops, and even picking up women. "Note in my house" "Pi"note" noir", "I'm note pregnote," are just some of the ways they inject the word in different situations, even involving the girlfriend/wife of one of the characters.


Aside from the non-bashing of any competitor, what also makes this ad stand out is that it doesn't even mention or highlight the features of the Galaxy Note 4. The different situations they are in show some functions of the phablet, but it doesn't hard sell them to viewers. It may even have a bigger impact than having to outline and stress what the newest gadget from Samsung can do, as it will entice the viewers to buy or consider buying the Note 4 when it is shown in actual real-life situations.


Samsung is known for having one of the biggest advertising budget among the OEMs. But it has been facing criticism lately for flagging a dead horse situation as their ads keep bashing Apple products like the new iPhone 6. People were getting tired (and annoyed) with this tactic, and this new fun and pun-filled ad will restore some faith in Samsung. Now let's see if Apple takes note (oh wait, isn't that how you do it?)







Samsung SM-A3000 leaks, another mid-range phone

It looks like Samsung is committed to pushing their “premium feel” phones further, as after the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, the recently outed Samsung Galaxy A5, and the leaks for the A500, another one from the “A Series” is on the pipeline – it’s name-coded as the SM-A3000, with pics leaking from China source TENAA.



As we can see from the pics – and as with the A500 – we can see the design of the phone harking back to the first iteration of this series, the Galaxy Alpha. We can’t be sure if it still carries the metal bindings of its higher-priced, better-specced predecessor but the design language definitely fits the bill.


Specs will be kind of incomplete as is usual from TENAA, but from what we can see, the new device will have a 4.5-inch quarter HD 540×960 display. It will be powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor (we don’t know of which make) and supported by 1GB RAM. The phone will have 8GB of internal storage, expandable to 64GB via microSD. The SM-A3000 will also have an 8MP/5MP camera combo.


A3000_1 A3000_2 A3000_3 A3000_4


For a mid-ranger, the fact that it will have LTE connectivity is a real selling point. It would be fair to expect this to sell at around USD$200 or thereabouts. As to what market Samsung is targeting, we have no information yet. But it shouldn’t take too long for them to officially announce this phone.


SOURCE: TENAA





XDA Xposed Tuesday: Modify the Look of Your Volume Control – XDA TV

statusbarvolume

How many screenshots have you seen with a volume status bar in the middle? How often do you wish that your volume statusbar didn’t pop up right in front of your YouTube Video? Well, with the power of the Xposed Module, you have the option of customizing your volume status bar.


In this episode of XDA Xposed Tuesday, XDA TV Producer TK reviews an Xposed Module that lets you customize the display of your volume statusbar. Xposed Developer niko001 created the StatusbarVolume module. TK shows off the modules and gives his thoughts, so check out this Xposed Tuesday video.




Be sure to check out other great XDA Developer TV Videos



The post XDA Xposed Tuesday: Modify the Look of Your Volume Control – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


Did Google confirm that Android L will be Lollipop?

If you believe that lollipops have business being on top of (or even in) cakes, then please disregard this piece of guesswork. People are buzzing (maybe with too much cake) because of Google's 16th anniversary birthday cake which they posted yesterday. But instead of candy flowers or cupcake toppings, they used lollipops, fueling speculation that the upcoming Android L will indeed be named after the round candy on a stick treat.



Lollipop has been a frontrunner for the Android upgrade coming out before the end of the year. But suddenly, another sweet treat became the number 1 suspect for Android L: Lemon Meringue Pie. While that is a somewhat long name for a usually one-word name for updates, several sources and documents showed Android L being referred to as "lmp", giving credence to the lemon meringue pie name. Google hasn't yet made an official announcement since the build isn't final yet. But yesterday's 16th birthday cake may indicate that it came back to the original plan of using lollipop.


While the launch of Android L is still a few months away, not much is known until now, except for the things that Google teased during the I/O earlier this year. Initial leaks say it will allow multiple-user accounts in smartphones and tablets. The new Material design is being rolled out not just with the upgrade but with all Google products and some apps have already capitalized on this by updating their look and design. Android L will also have ART runtime by default.


We still have to wait a few more weeks maybe to find out which of our sweet tooth cravings will be satisfied, digitally. We're still hoping out for Lime (Key) Pie, or maybe, based on Google's birthday cake, Layer cake is even a possibility.


SOURCE: +Google





The upcoming Google Nexus 6: What we know so far

We have been inundated with a lot of news about this new “whale” phone from Motorola, which is very much likely the Nexus 6. Details are becoming clearer now as news about specs keep flowing in d. The fact of the matter is, pretty soon we will be seeing the new phone that will bear Google and Android’s stamp of approval for the next year or so.



Firstly, there is good reason to believe that it’s going to be a very, very large phone – due mainly to its 5.9-inch screen. For comparison, it will be almost as large as Nokia’s gigantic Lumia 1520 phone (with its 6-inch screen). I’ve personally had a go at a Lumia 1520 and there is just no way of holding that monster in one hand comfortably. The screen on the Nexus 6 is purportedly Quad HD resolution, powered by an equally large 3,200mAh battery.


nexus_6_mock up


It is also reported that the phone will be rocking Android 5.0 – or as you know it, Android L – which has not launched yet, leading people to believe that the launch dates of both the Nexus 6 and Android L are somehow linked. The phone will also, according to sources, have a 13MP/2MP camera combo, and a mechanism for superfast charging. On the record, Motorola says that 15 minutes of charging through this process will give you 8 hours of battery life. Not bad at all.


The final question will be the obvious one – will there be a smaller version of this whale of a phone for those who don’t fancy holding and carrying a huge slab of phone? Sadly, the answer is that there are no logical indications that Motorola will be manufacturing a smaller Nexus 6. Either that OR they have totally kept the smaller Nexus 6 a secret, which is very highly unlikely. So bring on the launch event then.


VIA: Android Police





FM Radio app for Moto E and Moto G updated, now with Bluetooth support

Motorola Mobility has been updating a number of apps lately for some of its Moto handsets. The latest recipients of an app update are the Moto E and all generations of Moto G with the newly enhanced Motorola FM Radio. The app offers free FM radio streaming right on your Android smartphone. You can scan for stations, make a favorites list, and see live information about the song currently playing.



The Motorla FM Radio features a navigation that can be controlled with a simple swipe. However, you still need to have a wired headset as it will work as the FM antenna. With the recent app update, Motorola has improved on issue scanning frequencies in Colombia which have been experiencing some errors. Playing, seeking, or pausing/stopping a song from the lock screen is now possible too. Motorola also added seek up or down buttons to FM radio notification controls. No need to open the app to just change FM bands. And of course, the developer did some stability fixes for a better FM radio listening experience.


What’s new on the app is that it now features Bluetooth support. Listening via a paired Bluetooth headset, car head unit, or portable speaker has been enabled. This means you can listen to FM radio even without a wired headset. Simply put on a Bluetooth earpiece and connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth.


Note that Motorola released the update on the Google Play Store even if the FM Radio app is exclusive to Moto E and Moto G phones for owners to be immediately notified of the release. Even without a system upgrade, the FM Radio app can now be easily updated.


Moto E and Moto G device owners can download the updated Motorola FM Radio app from the Google Play Store





Motorola’s new DROID Turbo appears at GFX Bench

One of those things we love about smartphone manufacturers is when they need their egos stroked (or destroyed) in wanting to see how their new unlaunched, super-secret phones stack up against others – hence the need to use benchmarking software. It practically gives us a full look into the innards of their new phones, like this new Motorola DROID Turbo, which recently made an appearance at GFX Bench.



The DROID line is Motorola’s special agreement with Verizon – a full line of DROID devices exclusive to the carrier. There have been conflicting reports about the specs of the new phone that’s set to launch before the year ends, but this appearance will give us some clarity. First up, the DROID Turbo is benched here sporting a kickass, top of the line Snapdragon 805 quad-core 2.6Ghz processor – whereas it was rumored that it was going to be the slower, much older Snapdragon 800.


droid_turbo_gfx


We also get a confirmation of a 5.2-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440) screen being powered by an Adreno 420 graphics chip and 3GB of RAM. There might possibly be 32GB of internal storage and a 19MP main shooter capable of capturing 4K video. The unit is still running the latest version of Android Kitkat (4.4.4), but it remains to be seen if the model will launch with Android L.


Our question here is this – these are flagship level specs. Is Motorola endangering the existence of their flagship Moto X device by putting out a niche market smartphone that has slightly better specs? I for one questioned why the Moto X wasn’t running the Snapdragon 805 beast, but I guess that was a nod to make pricing a little more reachable. Let’s see if this new DROID Turbo turns up in Verizon’s catalogs soon.


SOURCE: GFX Bench





Prepare Your Nokia X2 for Battle with Nokia X2 Tools

NokiaX2Tools

Unveiled in June this year, the Nokia X2 is the Finnish company’s second crack at an Android-powered device. With a 4.3 inch IPS display, a dual core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a price tag under $200, the X2 is a device unique for its dual Windows-Android experience, with Nokia replacing any indication of Android OS with Nokia and Microsoft counterparts. Perhaps not for the wider mainstream market, the Nokia X2 is an interesting device that will definitely perk the interests of some folks. If you happen to be one of these people or have already bought one, you might want to check out Nokia X2 Tools.


Developed by XDA Forum Member Mplus, Nokia X2 Tools is a program which does two of the most important things you can do with your X2 – root it, and install the Google Play store and Google services. After you’ve connected your phone to your PC, run the program and you’ll be prompted with numerous options you can select including:



  • Install Nokia X2 drivers

  • Install/uninstall Google Play store and Google services

  • Root/unroot

  • Boot into recovery


If you would like to check this out yourself, head over to the Nokia X2 Tools thread for more information.


The post Prepare Your Nokia X2 for Battle with Nokia X2 Tools appeared first on xda-developers.


Moto 360 update brings drastic improvement on battery life

Just last week, we mention a Moto 360 firmware update rolling out and we’re quick to note how it improved battery life among owners of the smartwatch. Over at an Android Wear Reddit page, Moto 360 users are reporting drastic improvements on battery life.



One user said he wore the Mote 360 for 14 hours and it still had 70 percent when he was about to charge it. Another one reported watch still had 53 percent left after 30 hours. People are commenting how battery is “much more efficient” and how battery life is “insane”, thanks to the new Android Wear software update. Some lags have also been fixed according to some Reddit members.


This is good news for Moto 360 users who’ve been clamoring for longer battery life but unfortunately, there’s no mention whether the screen burn-in issue has been fixed. Motorola and Google could still be working on it. Once the issue is screen issue is fixed, we’re guessing more people will consider buying the Android Wear-powered smartwatch.


As we earlier mentioned, the update is expected to also improve on Bluetooth connectivity between the Android device and the smartwatch. Hopefully, those momentary disconnects will be lessened, if not completely eliminated. A message to confirm that the smartwatch is charging will also be added.


I think we can all agree that the round smartwatch is beautiful and elegant. It looks like any ordinary wrist watch but Android Wear makes it hi-tech. Smartwatch was first shown off last June but it was only officially released last month. It's been getting good reviews from early adapters except some are seeing burn-ins on their screens and Bluetooth connectivity getting disconnected at times.


SOURCE: Reddit





Increase the Speaker Volume of Your Samsung Gear 2 with Tool and Tutorial

Samsung Gear2

I think it’s pretty safe to say that any sound coming out of a wristwatch isn’t exactly going to be audiophile-grade. But then again, smartwatches aren’t meant to serve as standalone music players (for now at least), with their speakers acting as the outlet for notifications you may receive on your watch. However, if you own a Samsung Gear 2 and find yourself needing a bit of musical accompaniment from your watch as you quietly working at the table, you may want to boost its sound with XDA Forum Member tonydav’s tool.


The tool is a .bat file, which when executed on your PC, will automatically boost the sound volume of your Gear 2 within an indicated minimum and maximum range. XDA Senior Member gav83collins has also written a more detailed tutorial teaching you how to use the tool with accompanying screenshots to help you out. Additionally, the tool has an extra function of installing and deleting ringtones on and off your Gear 2. It should be noted that for this to work, your Gear 2 must be rooted.


If you would like to give this a whirl, check out the Sound Boost tool thread for more information.


The post Increase the Speaker Volume of Your Samsung Gear 2 with Tool and Tutorial appeared first on xda-developers.


First working Project Ara prototype in December with Android L

You remember Phonebloks, right? Of course you do. Most of you tech savvy people will have heard of the move towards modular elements for a smartphone. Google has retained lead on the project when Motorola was sold to Lenovo. Paul Emerenko announced some news regarding the modular project speaking at Linaro Connect USA 2014 in California, mainly that there should be a working prototype soon.



That time frame is in December, in the second Ara Developer Conference. Emerenko spoke of the project’s progress, saying that it is moving in a good pace with help from project partners’ Quanta, Toshiba, Rockchip, and Foxconn among others.


Emerenko also revealed that the prototype – and probably all of the unites coming out of Project Ara in the near future – will use a modified version of Android L, Google’s yet unreleased, unlaunched, shiny new version of the mobile operating system developed hand-in-hand with Linaro. The version will allow for hot swapping of elements except the CPU module and the display module.


The modules are set to be sold via an online retail platform much like the Google Play Store. The project is gaining momentum, it seems – starting from a viral video to a full blast project headed by one of, if not the biggest, tech company in the world. Exciting times for Project Ara.


VIA: Phonebloks





Developer offers Jams Music Player app for free, now an open source

Music player apps for Android are a dime a dozen. There are lot of paid ones too but one app called Jams is about be offered for free. Apparently, it’s developer, Psaravan on Github.com, is now making the app available for free. To formerly paid app on Google Play Store, it is also now an open source because the developer can no longer provide support for the paid users. He doesn’t want the app to just go offline so he’s releasing the app for free and open sourced it.



Other developers are free to use Jams Music Player app now for their own purposes and release it again to other users. Now that it’s open source, anyone can make their own version or even improve on it. The developer still promised to update the app occasionally if he has free time but will only be beta level.


The developer is encouraging other developers to work on the app and use the current codebase of Jams as long as he is notified. He’s even willing to feature the updated version on his GitHub page. The app has been available for almost a year. It has been getting good feedbacks from the users but the developer still needs to fix a lot of issues. He doesn’t have much time now because of his other personal projects but he’s willing to let Jams Music Player live in the hands of other developers like him.


VIA: Reddit





Galaxy Note 4’s battery benchmarked, good results

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 already launched in its home market in Korea, so they are able to play around with the unit earlier than us. There are evidences that the new model will start hitting American shores by mid-October, so until then, we will have to be satisfied with benchmarks from Korea. This particular one is a battery test done with a Korean Galaxy Note 4 running an Exynos chipset.



Specifically this would be the Exynos 5433 octa-core chip, with a big.LITTLE architecture set of four 1.8Ghz Cortex A15 processors and four 1.4Ghz Cortex A7 processors. The battery tests had three iterations – first was a WiFi test with the phone’s stock browser being refreshed every 5 seconds. The second was a video playback test done by looping a 1080p .mkv on the Note 4’s default player. The last test was a graphics rendering test looping GLBenchmark 2.5’s Egypt HD C24Z16 test.


note4_batt_test_video note4_batt_test_wifi note4_batt_test_graphics


With all these tests, we could say that those planning to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with its monster 3,220mAh battery should be relatively pleased. The Note 4 lasted almost 12 hours on the video test at 100% brightness, a bit more when brightness was lowered to standard viewing settings. This places the new model in the top 5 devices with longest battery life in this test. The Note 4 also lasted 7 hours on the WiFi test at max brightness, and a full 1.5 hours longer on standard brightness – again placing the device in the top tier of devices that last longer on this test. On the graphics render loop, the Note 4 lasted 3 and a half hours – this drops the Note 4 to the middle of the pack or better, still a relatively good place for it to be.


We have to remember that the Note 4 has a gigantic screen, and with that it still performed really well. The Note 4 also has a higher max brightness level than the Note 3. The only other question would be if the quad-core Snapdragon 805 would perform just as great as the Exynos chipset seems to have done.


VIA: Reddit





Portal is a startup project device that’s flexible, waterproof

Had enough of #bendgate already? We’re pretty sure you are. So here’s a new one – a smartphone-slash-wearable device that is actually meant to bend and still be awesome (sorry Apple) called Portal. The device is in startup mode right now, crowdsourcing its capital – but the premise is kinda awesome. The device is targeted at athletes, sports pros, or on-the-go business and corporate people who want their technology bleeding edge and easily accessible through wireless.



Portal is actually designed to be strapped on, and you take it on a run like a smartwatch, only bigger and better – or on a swim, or commuting from your home to the office. The developers – an outfit called Arubixs – is saying that the device will come with 2GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, running on a modified version of Android. There is no mention of a specific chipset for the device yet, although there is a promise that the device will be at par with other top level devices at the time of launch.


portal5


What makes the Portal flexible? Well, it’s a combination of a 6-inch flexible OLED screen and a proprietary flexible battery. It’s not flexible all throughout – there are rigid elements, but the device is flexible where it matters. If a smartwatch like the Moto 360 just has too little screen real estate for you, then this might just be the alternative – a fitness tracker and smartphone rolled (literally) into one device.


portal1 portal2 portal3 portal4


The Portal is Kevlar-protected, and is designed to have 4 cameras to utterly document your active lifestyle. The company is looking for USD$300,000 in capital and if you cough up USD$349 or more, you can be sure to have one by this time next year. At the moment, they are nearing the USD$20,000 mark. There have been rumblings of flexible OLED projects all around, but Portal looks to be a very strong proposition. What do you guys think?


portal6




SOURCE: IndieGoGo





More Oppo N3 images leaked

Nothing much to say here but we all know that Oppo is working on a new “N” phone series. The Oppo N3 has been leaked for some time and we’ve seen photos of it with a strange-looking camera. A couple more photos are going around, showing us how the N3 concept could look like.



The next Oppo N3 will also feature a 5.9-inch 1080p display just like the old Oppo smartphones. Chinese website Zaeke.com published the photos, which actually look more like renders information on the specs have also been posted.


Text is written in Chinese but we know the smartphone will feature 3GB RAM, Snapdragon 805 processor, 13 megapixel rotating camera, and 1920x1080p resolution. The rotating camera may be strange but it makes the phone more interesting.


opp n3 rotating camera


The first Oppo N3 phone we featured earlier this month looks like a flip phone. Actually, it reminds me a lot of an old Nokia flip phone but the upcoming Oppo could bethinner despite the thick cylinder on top. But the new leaked images show a different design. It looks like any ordinary slab but the second photo shows the top part of the phone, where the camera is located, to be rotating. Flip the earpiece part to reveal the camera.


We’ll see what Oppo has in store at the “One More Step” event this coming October.


oppo-oct-2014


VIA: Gizmobic





Two models of the Sony Xperia Z3 get root access

Sony Xperia fans have been relatively excited about the Xperia Z3 since it was launched by the Japanese electronics company at IFA 2014 in Berlin earlier this month. And looking at the model’s stunning visuals, sleek UI, and classy and premium design language – really, what’s not to like? If you’re already an owner of an Xperia Z3, you might say that all this unit needs now is root access. Well, you might not have to wait long for it.



XDA forum member “monx” has delivered root access specifically for the D6653 and D6603 models of the Sony Xperia Z3, and it probably won’t be long until root access is gained for the other models. If you have to ask “why root it in the first place?”, then maybe this process is not for you. For those of you who fancy a tweak or two, rejoice.


The first requirement is an unlocked bootloader for the D6653 and D6603 models. If that is unlocked, then you only need to boot into fastboot mode, flash the recovery image provided in the official thread here, reboot into recovery and flash SuperSU. The recovery used was a modded version of the TWRP recovery.


Specific warnings for this is that the method can be used ONLY in the D6653 and D6603 models. If you try this on any other model, you run the risk of bricking your phone. Also, even if you have the correct models, we always warn you that any process you do tweaking with any phone’s kernel will have the risk of bricking your phone, so we do not recommend it for the faint of hearts and those who have no capability of revering from a catastrophic firmware breakdown.


SOURCE: XDA





Customizing the OnePlus One, XDA 2015 Forum Redesign Live! – XDA TV

Jordan0929

You can now customize your OnePlus One’s boot logo! That and much more news is covered by Jordan when he reviews all the important stories from this weekend. Included in this weekend’s news is the announcement of XDA 2015 forum redesign going live and be sure the check out the article showing you how to compile your own Ubuntu kernel! That’s not all that’s covered in today’s video!


Jordan talks about the other videos released this weekend on XDA TV. XDA TV Producer droidmodd3rx released a video reviewing Paranoid Android. Then rirozizo showed you how to be a good user. And if you missed it be sure to check out Jordan’s Review of the Nvidia SHIELD Tablet. Pull up a chair and check out this video.



Links to stories mentioned:



Check out Jordan’s YouTube Channel and Jordan’s Gaming YouTube Channel


The post Customizing the OnePlus One, XDA 2015 Forum Redesign Live! – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


Consumer Reports look into #bendgate, Galaxy Note 3 is strong

We all know about the trending issue about Apple’s new iPhones – at least we assume most of us know, those who have not lived under a rock these past few days. The short version of it is that some owners of the new iPhones have made very public statements about the strength of the frame of the phones, claiming that the devices could easily be bent under strong but usually normal pressure.



This is where Consumer Reports – the good guys who look after the concern of consumers – steps in and investigates the whole deal, especially after a video went viral of a person who easily bent an iPhone 6 Plus with his bare hands. Going the scientific testing path, Consumer Reports tested multiple phone models with what it called a “three-point flexular test” – where all phone models were tested with the same machine.




The phones tested were the new iPhones, an iPhone 5, an HTC One M8, an LG G3, and a Samsung Galaxy Note 3. They were subjected to flexular pressure more than the 55 pounds that Apple used to test its units with, seeing at what point the units broke. For references, 55 pounds is comparable to the force needed to break three pencils.


The results were conclusive enough – at least for the new iPhones – that you wouldn’t normally be able to just bend a unit with normal daily use as claimed by most of the negative viral content. Surprisingly, it was the HTC One M8 which capitulated with the least force applied (90 pounds), with the iPhone 6 next at 100 pounds of force. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3, together with the iPhone 5, seemed to be the ones structurally strongest, only giving in after being subjected to 150 pounds of flex force.


bendtest


bendgate1 bendgate2 bendgate3 bendgate4


There are two sides to this story, but the first one should be that the scientific test proves you won’t be able to bend these phones – yes, including the new iPhones – without subjecting them to abnormal amounts of flex force. That being said, and point number 2, these viral videos have come at a very awkward point in time for Apple, right after the phones’ launch. Cupertino will have to weave its magic better to survive and get up from this obvious setback.


SOURCE: Consumer Reports





Cell Phones : [ Galaxy Universal Vehicle Navigation Mount ] Galaxy Universal Vehicle Navigation Mount

**Compatible with Samsung smartphones with screen sizes between 4.0 and 6.3 in. **







The Samsung Universal Vehicle Navigation Mount lets you take the brilliance of your Samsung smartphone along for the ride! The custom fitted cradle holds the handset securely during long rides. Attach it to a windshield or dashboard and adjust the multi-angle neck for perfect viewing. GPS capabilities are optimized with navigation applications but that’s just the beginning with the endless Android® apps available. With your hands safely on the steering wheel, experience the convenience of powerful, voice-activated Android applications like S Voice. Your Samsung smartphone and Vehicle Navigation Mount duo is truly brilliance on the go. (Fits handsets with 4.0" - 6.3" screens)

Google shows possible 3rd party app UI for Android Auto

Along with hyping the newfangled Android L operating system, the mothership had made noises during Google I/O that it was expanding Android OS to other platforms that could be improved by connectivity – such as home appliances and cars. For the latter, Google has now put out a developer document for Android Auto (as in “automobile”) that shows how 3rd party apps would look like in the OS.



Android Auto apps will not really be apps in the universal and normal way that we know them. Most of them will be sort of Android Auto-specific “extensions” of their original apps – kind of like Android Wear apps work not as a separate app for the platform, but specific content that shows when installed on a wearable.


android_auto_1


Google has apparently made a strict layout for Android Auto that developers can’t touch – they simply have to tweak their content to fit Google’s frame. The only actions they can do is fill Google’s layout with content, change colors (according to what Google has), and provide text for that interface. They can’t move buttons around, dictate size and placement of elements, or even add additional screens.


android_auto_2


Why is Google so strict in this? It probably is because there are a lot of safety issues Google has to consider when making an interface for a car-borne OS. Google has been consulting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to fine tune the final design for Android Auto so that it's not distracting for the driver. Fair enough. Let’s see how third party devs work around these specifics. Catch the whole developer document at the Android Developers portal here.


android_auto_3


VIA: Ars Technica





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

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


Nothing like a lazy Sunday afternoon to play around with your smartphone. Reward that glowing pocket rectangle for its selfless dedication with some fresh new apps!


Read more...
















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