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E-Labels Act signed, no need to display regulator logos

Your future gadgets will no longer bear the regulatory text usually found at the back. This is according to a new E-Labels Act that said products like tablets and smartphone could provide the needed information within the software of the device. No need to include the text and symbols because companies have been asking to save some more design space.



Removing this standard procedure will benefit the tech companies because it will also save them time and resources. However in Europe, law has not been changed yet so brands are still required to include the “CE” mark. The new law was passed in the US so it doesn’t apply in the European region. This means devices released in Europe must bear the CE logo.


How important are these logos anyway? These symbols are used to inform consumers that a product is compliant with the standards set in different countries. Environmental benchmarks and safety tests are conducted and must be met first to gain those important marks. In some countries, forging the marks can result to imprisonment or fine. Usually, you’ll see the FCC and CE marks to show the gadget complies with the standards. But with the increasing demand for smaller and smarter devices, companies are having a hard time including them to the design of the product and the packing itself.


The E-Label Act reads:



As devices become smaller, compliance with physical label requirements can become more difficult and costly.


Many manufacturers and consumers of licensed devices in the United States would prefer to have the option to provide or receive important Commission labelling information digitally on the screen of the device.



The solution now is to simply include the information on the software. Physical label requirements don’t make sense now because they can become costly and digital information is the way to go.


President Barack Obama signed the E-Label Act himself. The act is aimed to alleviate the need to display logos required by US authorities. Other logos by regulators must still be displayed though.


VIA: BBC



Sony updates Walkman, Movie Creator apps

Sony has just updated two major apps for Android. The WALKMAN app finally brings support for the Android Wear platform while the Movie Creator brings the manual creation feature.



The updated WALKMAN app (build 8.5.A.0.6) now allows music playback and control right from an Android Wear device. This means you can now play, pause, or stop a song playing from your smartwatch or any other compatible device running Android Wear, specifically the Sony SmartWatch. Downloading playlist to your Android Wear gadget is now also possible with the app update.


You can download the Walkman app update from HERE. File size is 15MB.

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The Sony Movie Creator app also received some changes in the build. From 2.1.A.0.7 it’s now 2.2.A.0.8. Total file size is only 8.7Mb and this already includes manual creation of movies. Click on the “Create” button found in the “Coming soon” page on your Sony Xperia phones.


The Movie Creator app makes short 30-second films of photos and videos stored on the Xperia camera. It’s an automatic movie maker that simply uses your snapshots together. This way, you don’t have to sort or cut clips because the app itself can do the job for you.


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VIA: Xperia Blog (1), (2)



Have some Black Friday dessert for your Thanksgiving [DEALS]

If you've had your fill of that sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner, it's probably time to kick back and relax with your favorite digital partner. But even your smartphone or your tablet deserves a bit of thanks this season, and what better way to do that than by splurging on some accessories for your faithful companion. To help you pick them out, here are some appetizing Black Friday deals at highly discounted prices. And to send you off with a bang, Android Community is offering a 10 percent off coupon on top of it all!



Get your game on with the NES30 Bluetooth Controller



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Mobile gaming, especially the button mashing kind, is so much more fun when there are buttons to mash. But this wireless controller offers more than just what other wireless controllers have. It gives you a piece of history in your hands. As the name suggests, the NES30 is meticulously designed to bring back the NES controller down to the finest detail, save for some extra buttons and Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The buttons are crisp and responsive, two words that gamers love to hear on their controllers, and they're reprogrammable too! As a bonus, the NES30 Bluetooth Controller also works with the Nintendo Wii, in addition to Android, iOS, and Windows devices.


Get the NES30 Bluetooth Controller for only $29.99, a 25% discount from $40.


Capture memories from high above with the DJI Phantom FC40 drone



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If you'd rather get up on your feet than slouch on the couch, then some sports action footage might just be your thing. And no one knows that better than DJI and its Phantom drones. But if you've never gotten your hands wet with drones before, then the DJI Phantom FC40 might just be the perfect drone for you. Built to be "the drone for everyone", this flying robot features easy to use controls, auto-piloting and auto-hover, to keep you from fretting over your mini camera crew in the sky. And you won't have to worry about having to choose the right camera either, as the Phantom FC40 comes with its own built-in Smart Camera capable of shooting 720p videos at 30 fps. It can even livestream its camera view from up to 980 feet away.


The DJI Phantom FC40 sells for $499 instead of $649, a sweet 23% deal, free shipping included.


Go to the extreme with the Extreme Micro Drone 2.0 drone




DJI is hardly the only drone game in town and there are a couple of choices in the market. If you're one of the more high-octane extreme action types, the Micro Drone 2.0 might sing to you better. Throw it like a frisbee. Throw it upside down. Throw it right side up. Whatever the direction or angle, the drone's self-righting algorithms and sensors will have it back to normal in no time. And its durable enough to withstand such torment. Unlike the bigger toys, the Micro Drone is small enough to fly indoors as well. The package comes with a 640 pixel Micro Camera that can swivel to cover any angle you like.


Like this mini monster? Get the Micro Drone 2.0 for only at 46% off for only $74.99, down from $139. It also comes with free global shipping.


Music delivered wet and wild with waterproof MIGHTY Bluetooth Speaker




If music is what sings to your soul, then you still have a rugged companion to keep you singing or dancing wherever you are. Take the MIGHTY Speaker with you anywhere you go, from the next room, to mountains, or even to the sea. Don't worry, it can handle it. MIGHTY is mighty not just in name but also in deed, as it is both waterproof and, for those beaches, sandproof as well. And don't panic if you drop it in the pool, accidentally or otherwise. It can float, too! And if it does sink, it can at least survive for 30 minutes under 1 meter of liquid, but better not let it stay there too long, unless you can listen to music under water.


From a regular price of $80, the MIGHTY Speaker is offered 56% off, now at only $35.


Keep the party in your pocket with the Pocket Kick Speaker



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If you have less extreme ambitions but still want to keep your tunes blaring wherever you go, Soundfreaq might have the ultimate portable solution for you. Introducing Pocket Kick, small yet terrific in sound. With a pair of custom engineered audio drivers, a passive radiator smack right down in the middle, and open air grills for maximum air flow, the Pocket Kick delivers an audio experience in a tiny package. How tiny? At only 5.9” x 2.5” x 1.2”, this smooth speaker can slide smoothly in and out your pocket or bag for a quick impromptu rave. Pocket Kick works with any device featuring Bluetooth or a 3.5 mm audio jack.


The Pocket Kick Speaker can be yours for $74.99, a 24% savings from $99.


Experience hassle-free listening with Feather Buds



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In case you're the type that prefers to keep the music to yourself, then you might opt for some earphones instead. TOCC's Feather Buds wireless earbuds aims to deliver quality audio experience without burdening your ears or your neck with its lightweight and tangle-free design. And just because they're earbuds doesn't mean you have to accept background noise as a fact of life. The noise canceling outer shell ensures that unwanted sounds are kept out while your favorite tunes stay in. With a Bluetooth range of 30 meters, you can also keep on jamming while doing your chores, while your phone or tablet lies safe and dry elsewhere.


Get the Wireless Feather Buds for only $24.99 with the 58% discount from its $60 retail price.


Get your step into the beat with SPBEAT9 Active Wrap Headphones



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Combining the best of both worlds of an active lifestyle and a music-loving soul, this Active Wrap headphones deliver music without wires, without noise, and without ripping your ears off like some earphones or headsets do when caught in a snag. The headphone's lightweight design lets you do all sorts of exercises without having to worry about them falling off. And its noise canceling technology also ensures that you won't be bothered by the grunts of everyone else working out around you. The battery is promised to last 10 hours of talk time or 8 hours of playback, which is plenty even for the most extreme workout session.


From $40, the Active Wrap headphones can now be yours less 51% for only $24.


Keep your phone alive with Limefuel LP200X 20,000 mAh battery



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After all those fun-filled, and maybe even sand-filled, activities, your smartphone will undoubtedly be on the verge of asphyxiation. Though there are many battery packs out there, few offer the punch needed to keep your phone or tablet alive for another round before heading for that wall socket. With a capacity of 20,000 mAh, the Limefuel LP200X definitely gives that punch, no questions asked. The two USB ports also allow you to charge two devices at the same time. And with a digital display, you won't be caught unaware when the battery pack itself is close to giving up the ghost.


Get the Limefuel LP200X 20,000 mAh battery pack for only $34.99. That's a 58% saving from the usual $85.


Craft your own apps with Android Programming training course



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You have undoubtedly come across an app or a feature that you wished you had but couldn't find an app for it on Android that calls to you. Why not try to write it instead? With this eLearning course, you can Learn and Master the Fundamentals of Android App Programming in no time. Delivered over 105 lectures and 9.5 hours of videos, the course takes you from start to finish in creating your dream Android app or game. Once purchased, the course is yours forever. And no previous programming knowledge is required. All you need is a computer and a web browser to get started.


For this promo, the $99 price tag is slashed by 80%, giving you Fundamentals of Android Programming for only $19.


Keep safe with 3-year VPN Unlimited Premium Plan



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This day and age, everyone is susceptible to getting hacked. That is why stronger security and privacy measures are all the more needed to keep your data and your person safe. One of the most popular ways to do this is through Virtual Private Networks or VPNs. VPN Unlimited's service offers worry-free and anonymous access to the Internet. Now you can connect to any website, regardless of region restriction. You can also rest assured that your activities are safe from prying eyes. And with the premium service, you get unlimited bandwidth and connection speed, even when connecting via VPN.


Normally a $65 offer, VPN Unlimited will give a 3-year premium access. This 70% discount is good for up to 5 devices, not just smartphones, but any computer as well.


But wait, there's more!


As a special Black Friday offer, Android Community is offering a discount coupon to our readers. Simply enter HAPPYBF10 when you checkout your items, as illustrated below, and you will get 10% off on top of the existing promo. Do note that the discount code will only work starting November 28 midnight PST and expires at 11:59 PM PST.



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Remeber, that's



HAPPYBF10



What you see above is just an appetizer of what you'll find in the new Android Community Deals Store! We will be bringing you the latest and exclusive deals on gadgets, accessories, and software to keep you and your Android smartphone or tablet company. But don't worry if the store is too much to take in all at once. We will be highlighting some of the juiciest ones each week. But do feel free to shop around. Who knows what you might find lurking in a hidden corner. Just click on the DEALS section of the Android Community web page or click on this link for direct access. Be sure to check out our Black Friday deals as well while they're still fresh. And leave your comments below and on each deal to let us known the kinds of deals you like and your suggestions for improving this experience.


Android Community Deals is brought to you in cooperation with StackSocial. Generated revenue helps fund this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial and are not representative of the opinions of the Android Community staff.


Help a TV head escape the Twisty Planets

What is a cute TV-headed creature doing just going around planets in the galaxy? Well, no one really knows and it is not important to know Qub's back story. What is important is for you to figure out how to help him escape the Twisty Planets, an award-winning 3D moving platform puzzle game that is now available on Android.



The aforementioned Qub is a small TV-like creature that seems to need to escape all the moving planets it's jumping around in. You need to help it find portals to make its escape, but the moving and twisting planets are out to stop you or make you fall into the netherworld. There are over 100 twisty levels and 5 galaxies that you can explore.


The 3D graphics in Twisty Planets is pretty amazing. You can jump from one platform to another, twist and reconfigure the moving planets, and gather stars every level. And you need to do this while maintaining your balance to not fall off into space and then move on to the next galaxy. There are of course rewards, easter eggs and hidden objects to help you along the way.


The touch controls on your gadget are not that complicated and they are very intuitive. There are also leadeboards and social sharing, in case you feel like bragging about your high scores to the world. You can get Twisty Planets for free from the Google Play Store. But there are in-app purchases available so better be careful with your one-click pay settings.


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printWifi lets your device print wirelessly and securely

Have you ever had a situation where you needed desperately to print a document from either your smartphone or tablet but you are not able to send it to the connected computer or you don't have the printer driver available? A new Kickstarter project wants to solve that problem by giving you a device that will wirelessly and securely print from your gadget to the printer available.



printWifi and printUSB can act as a bridge between your mobile device and printer so you don't need to email documents to the computer attached to the printer or even search for printer drivers that will let you do so. You don't even need to have network access to be able to print legal documents, papers and projects for school, tickets of the concert you're watching, boarding pass for your travels, and a whole bunch of other things that need to be printed.


The process for printing is pretty easy and simple as well (well, at least based on what they're telling us). First, you need to connect your smartphone or tablet to the printWifi or printUSB device. If you can't use wifi connection, then you can connect the device through printUSB. Then you open the document on the printView app without having to send the document through email. And voila, now you can print.


With 50 days to go on their Kickstarter project, they have already reached their goal of $10,000, but you can still back them up if you feel like being one of the earliest owners of this device. Their estimated delivery date is by February 2015.


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SOURCE: Kickstarter


Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Chromecast – XDA TV

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There is no doubt that Amazon is a huge player in many markets, and they want to be a huge player in the mobile market as well. From the Kindle hardware and app to the new Amazon Fire TV, Amazon is big enough to play with Google in its own sandbox. But can it outlast Google in its own game?


In this episode of XDA TV, XDA TV Producer TK compares the new Amazon Fire Stick to Google’s Chromecast. Recently TK reviewed Amazon’s newest Fire TV device. How does this compare to the Chromecast? Check out this video to find out!




Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos



The post Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Chromecast – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


Moto 360 leather, metal bands now available individually

Smartwatches have become the accessory du jour for gadget fans the past few years or so. But one criticism (well, if you're the fashionable type at least) about the wearable is that the variant designs are limited and you get stuck with the same watch strap once you buy your smartwatch. Moto 360 is now offering separate watch bands that will give you a bit of limited variety for your smartwatch.



You can now buy two kinds of Moto 360 bands to interchange with your existing smartwatch, depending on your mood or your fashion style. For the more "hipster" or "rock star"-ish look, you can go for the leather bands which are made from hand-treated materials from Horween, a prestigious tannery. There are different shades available: black, stone, cognac. They come with a stainless steel buckle.


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For a more classic and formal look, you can get the metal bands for the Moto 360. They are made from solid stainless steel and come with a butterfly clasp for its contemporary tri-link design. It comes in black and silver variants. They are both of normal width so if you're looking for thin straps, you'll have to wait a little longer.


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While the variety of straps is very much welcome, you can't just change this yourself, like you would change the strap of your normal watch. Motorola suggests that you visit a local jeweler in order to assist you. The leather band is available for $29.99 while the metal bands can be bought for $79.99. Both are available on the Motorola online store.


SOURCE: Motorola