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Workaround allows DRM functions on unlocked Sony Xperia devices

There are a lot of good reasons for you to unlock the bootloader of your Sony Xperia device, as there are a lot of cool aftermarket software and stuff out there that will make your cool Xperia dievice even cooler. But the downside to an unlocked bootloader is when you lose the imaging features that require DRM authentication – including the X-Reality image enhancement engine, the audio noise cancelling feature, and the BIONZ image enhancement engine among others.



Well, XDA member “jimRnor” and his team have something to say about that. They have successfully brought back these DRM features to the Sony Xperia smartphone series via a flashable mod. Take note that this is only for Xperia devices which have unlocked bootloaders.


Another caveat is that the developers have made it clear that this mod does not return the DRM keys that were wiped during the unlocking of the bootloader. This mod just reactivates the functions that are inherent in stock Xperia devices.


If you’re curious about this mod, check out the official XDA thread at the source link. We would still warn you that since this involves flashing modified content into your devices, it would be very wise to have a working backup of your phone data and system handy.


SOURCE: XDA





NovaKey wants to change the way you type

The premise of NovaKey – a new keyboard app – is that normal touchscreen keyboards still require you to look at the screen to make accurate taps on specific letters. By radically changing the orientation of the keyboard, NovaKey creates specific and unique “gestures” for each character – allowing for what they say is a more natural and fluid touchscreen typing process.



The keyboard map is now made up of circles of characters that you can swipe to from the central area of the keyboard so that each character is a unique swipe motion. The same is true with punctuation marks and special characters.


NovaKeyscreenshot


Being that you don’t know where the characters are the first time you use it, you will always have a hard time with NovaKey when you start to use it. But people who have started to regularly use it attest to the uniqueness and fluidity of their new typing process, giving it a more enjoyable feel. Watch the tutorial vid below.




What we want to know is if it is more efficient than the regular keyboard orientation. You can download this new app at the Google Play Store (check the source link), it’s a free download as of now. Then you can tell us about your experiences with it.


DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store





Samsung beats Apple in smartphone consumer satisfaction survey

Samsung just went past Apple when it comes to customer satisfaction at least by two points. This is according to the recent American Consumer Satisfaction Index which surveyed 70,000 consumers before 2014 ends. The results are in and show that Samsung beat Apple with a score of 81. That's also a huge increase from the South Korean giant's score of 76 last year. Meanwhile, Apple's score went down more than two points from last year.



Beating Apple in the customer satisfaction area is always a good thing for Samsung. We can expect it'd make a big deal out of this and perhaps even use the information on future promos. Two points may not exactly be a big lead but it says a lot. Why did Apple's score fall down and Samsung's score went up? Is it because of the bigger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus? Which of Samsung's mobile devices greatly satisfied the consumers?


The ACSI survey is usually a good indicator of what's happening in the mobile industry. Apple seems to be in a lull while Samsung is very busy innovating devices left and right. We may note that Apple lead J.D. Power's satisfaction survey as the leading smartphone brand this year for all major carriers but Samsung was closely trailing behind.


We don't care much about Apple but Samsung seems to be doing really good when it comes to product innovations. For one, the Galaxy S5's water-resistant case was a good feature. Of course, its cameras are still impressive. Let's see if Samsung will still continue to satisfy customers in the coming year.


VIA: Engadget





Snail Games to release Obox gaming console at CES 2015

You’ve seen it before, and you’re likely to see it again – whatever the big manufacturers can do, China can do as well. Snail Games, an online gaming outfit based in China is planning to take on Sony and Microsoft by putting out an Android gaming console called Obox Online, scheduled to be launched at CES 2015 in Las Vegas just a few weeks from now.



If you’re thinking “Chinese manufacturing = weak specs”, you might be surprised at this gaming box. The console will be sporting a top of the line SoC in the NVIDIA Tegra K1 – an ARM Cortex A15 quadcore proc capable of turning at 2.2Ghz partnered with a Kepler GPU. This system-on-chip has proved its game-worthiness with the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet, and has done that with flying colors.


obox1


The proc is backstopped by 4GB of RAM – where we hope it will be usable by a 64-bit capable system. Options for storage will reach 4TB, via 3.5-inch HDD. And connectivity options will include LAN, WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. Display options will include three HDMI outputs (wow!), plus a bunch of USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports.


obox2


The wireless controller will feature a 9-axis sensor with gyro and magnetometer, with the controller itself can be used as an air mouse. The system will be running on Android 4.4 Kitkat, which is more than capable of running high performance games.


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For all intents and purposes, this will not be a cheap device, looking at the specs. No official pricing has been announced, but look for this in the USD$400 to 500 range.


VIA: CNX Software





SteelConnect M adapter works for the Moto 360

The Moto 360 is one of the very few goodlooking smartwatches in the market today. It's my choice of smartwatch when it comes to the looks department but I hope it allows more customization. Good thing there's the SteelConnect M adapter that brings a different twist to the smartwatch. With the adapter, you can now change the strap to give it a new look.



The SteelConnect M adapter for Moto 360 makes the Motorola smartwatch a fashion accessory now more than as a useful gadget. The smartwatch industry may still be in its early stage but it certainly has potential to be bigger. A lot of companies are revealing their smartwatches left and right so it's up to them how to make theirs stand out among the competition.


Goal of the developer was to raise £10,000 before it brings the SteelConnect M to production but he was able to raise more at £14,633. The project was funded completely last November 27 with about 583 backers giving in their pledges. EXpected delivery of the SteelConnect M is February 2015.


The Moto 360 already looks sophisticated but the SteelConnect M adapter will make it more stylish. This isn't an official Motorola product but I think the company will agree with the customization thing having started the Moto Maker. Because you see, there is beauty in using your own creative style.




SteelConnect Silicon Protective Jacket Moto 360 STEELCONNECT Kickstarter SteelConnect M SteelConnect M Silver mesh metal strap DIY Strap for Moto 360


SOURCE: Kickstarter





Manage Partitions with UAPM

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To flash an image like a kernel or recovery, you usually need to have access to your PC and properly configured fastboot drivers. This isn’t too convenient, especially when you’re traveling and there is a new version of your kernel to try out. Advanced actions on partitions can now be performed directly from your device with a tool written by XDA Forum Member ferreirawax. This tool lets you backup your current partitions without going into recovery. The application can also flash images directly from your device. To use the application, you need to find a correct number of your partition block. There are a few commands that can be executed to get the correct block number. For some devices it’s: adb shell ls -al /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name This really depends of your device, and you can learn more about these commands by reading these short guides. You can also look for device trees of your current phones to check the correct Fstab. Be warned that wrong flash can hard brick your device . It’s a wise choice to backup your partition first and compare it with a backup made by ClockworkMod or TWRP. If sizes match, there is a fair chance that everything is in order. This application requires root access to work properly. You can learn more about this project by visiting the Universal Android Partition Manager application thread.


The post Manage Partitions with UAPM appeared first on xda-developers.


Install Google Play on your Amazon Fire Phone

The Amazon Fire Phone is a neat little device, with its robust specs and proprietary but efficient Fire OS. The “proprietary” part – which means the device is locked to Amazon’s App ecosystem – also means that the phone does not have full access to the Google Play Store, until now, that is.



Our friends from the XDA forums have given Fire Phone users another boon, which is the capability to install the Google Play Store without rooting your Amazon Fire Phone. The method is unofficial, of course, so be ready to own up to responsibility if with this process you break something.


amazon-fire-phone-header


A caveat – there always is one – is that this way seems to work most with devices running Fire OS version 3.6.8. The method is explained in the video below.




The downloads that you will need are linked at the official thread found in the source link below. Enjoy!


SOURCE: XDA


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