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ASUS Transformer Book V 3-in-1 can be used in five ways

ASUS really loves its hybrids and is now taking it to the extreme. With the new Transformer Book V, you get two operating systems, three devices, and five modes, all in one complete package.



It is like the best of the PadFone and Transformer line brought together, probably also combining the worst of Microsoft's and Google's nightmares. Technically you really only have 2 independent devices, a Windows 8.1 tablet and an Android 4.4 smartphone. Like a PadFone, the smartphone can dock inside the tablet. But like a Transformer, the tablet docks into a keyboard, giving you the third device: a laptop. The five modes then come from the different combinations of form factors and operating systems you can mix with this. First mode is the Windows laptop with the keyboard dock. Second is a standalone Windows tablet. Third is the solitary Android smarpthone. But put the smartphone inside the tablet and you get the fourth mode, an Android tablet. Bring back the keyboard and you've got an Android laptop, the fifth mode.


ASUS Transformer Book V_PR02


As interesting as this strange contraption may seem, the hardware running underneath the chassis may not exactly be so. The tablet part, which runs Windows, unsurprisingly runs on a Next Gen Intel Core processor whose exact model and speed are yet unknown. RAM is at 4 GB and storage can reach up to 1 TB, depending on the configuration. The tablet itself has an HD front camera and a 28 WH 2-cell battery. The smartphone side is just a tad unusual as far as Android smartphones go, but definitely in line with ASUS' Intel push. The device runs on an Intel chip as well, an Atom this time. ASUS notes that this smartphone is the first 5-inch LTE smartphone that is powered by an Intel Atom, though the exact performance of that chip in a smartphone is yet to be put to the test. RAM is at 2 GB and storage at 64 GB. There are two cameras on this one, an 8 megapixel at the back and a 2 megapixel at the front. Perhaps one discouraging spec of these two devices, is that while they come in different sizes, 5 inches for the phone and 12.5 for tablet, they both only reach HD resolutions.


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Availability and pricing has not yet been announced by ASUS. There is a slim chance this device might not even see the light of day in the market. Other devices that dual boot Windows and Android, like the ASUS Transformer Book Duet and the Samsung ATIV Q before it, vanished without a trace, rumored to have been due to Microsoft's or Google's influence. However, technically the Transformer Book V doesn't really dual boot the two OS, keeping Android and Windows in separate devices. This loophole is probably what allowed the Transformer Book Trio to emerge unscathed, and hopefully it will be the same story for the Transformer Book V.


SOURCE: ASUS (1), (2)





Android 4.4.3 images available for recent Nexus devices

The anticipated next Android update is now official, but Android 4.4.3 won't be the exciting next version that you might have been hoping for. Nonetheless, binaries and factory images bearing the new Android version are now up for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 10, and some versions of the Nexus 7.



There has been some speculation about what the next Android release will be. The version number 4.4.3 has been thrown around and seen here and there. With Google I/O so close, some have hoped that we will be seeing a major change. However, Android 4.4.3 is not that, as indicated by the very minor version number change. This release is made up mostly of bug fixes and performance tweaks, with very little in the way of new features or behaviors, which is as it should be. Nonetheless, it is still a very welcome maintenance update.


What is more notable in this release is actually what is not included. According to various early bird testers, the dreary picture painted by developer Chainfire regarding stricter permissions have not yet taken place. In particular, his latest analysis that a future Android version would prevent writing to the sacrosanct /system directory, even by rooted users and apps, has fortunately not come to pass. That said, his observations were based on code movement in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which does not always end up in the immediate Android release. Bottomline, it could still happen.


In the meantime, this new Android 4.4.3 version is now available as firmware images and binaries, mostly to be used for restoring Nexus devices to their pristine state. Nexus devices that now have those images include the Nexus 4 "occam", the Nexus 5 "hammerhead", the Nexus 10 "mantaray", the WiFi variant of the Nexus 7 2013 "razor", and the older Nexus 7 in both WiFi "nakasi" and 3G "nakasiq" models. Noticeably missing is support for the Nexus 7 2013 mobile version "razorq", though that could arrive soon as well. With the code changes slowly trickling down to AOSP, it will only be a matter of time before custom ROMs begin churning out Android 4.4.3 builds as well.


SOURCE: Google (1), (2)





BLU VIVO IV offers a luxurious facade at budget price

BLU Products might be more known for low-priced, low-powered smartphones, but its new VIVO IV is definitely an exception. This smartphone sports some high-end hardware, depending on your opinion of the processor, yet manages to keep the price below your usual flagships. It even tries to look and feel like a luxury smartphone to boot!



Part of what sets the BLU VIVO IV and its VIVO predecessors apart from the company's other devices is the AMOLED screen. Here you have a very handy 5.0-inch display that, quite surprisingly, sports a1920x1080 Full HD resolution. The choice of system-on-chip might be a bit debatable, but at least it is the highest that MediaTek has to offer, the 1.7 GHz octa-core MT6592. RAM is the same 2 GB that seems to be common among high-end smartphones these days. A 13 megapixel and 5 megapixel camera duo flank the back and front, respectively. There is only 16 GB of data storage though, and unfortunately there isn't any mention of a microSD card. The 2,300 mAh battery is sadly also not removable.


These are definitely not your garden variety BLU Products specs, but the surprises do not stop there. It seems that the company has pulled out all the stops in making this smartphone, employing the latest manufacturing technologies. The result is a single aluminum block for the body, which is then covered by Corning Gorilla Glass not just at the front but also at the back, making the smartphone, in BLU Products' words, made up of 98% glass and aluminum. But wait, there's more! The smartphone is also incredibly thin, standing at only 5.5 mm, beating VIVO's Xplay3S as the world's thinnest smartphone. With the aluminum body and glass protection, this thin smartphone might actually work.


BLU Products BLU VIVO IV


With all of these, it's a miracle that BLU managed to keep the price tag down to $299. The BLU VIVO IV comes in color options of White-Silver, Rose Gold, and Black, and, like all BLU devices, come unlocked. As with the recently released BLU Life 8, Android 4.2 runs on this smartphone out of the box, with an Android 4.4 update promised this June.


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Google rumored to be working on always-on eyes-free Search

If you've been jealous of the Moto X's always-on voice controls, there might be no reason to be in the near future. Google is now believed to be working on bringing that feature to the general Android population, but might also be tweaking it to be especially usable when driving.



This rumored feature is internally being called "KITT", after the iconic car from the Knight Rider franchise. This basically takes one of the Moto X's most popular feature to the next level. While the always-on feature on the Moto X already implements hands-free controls, it still requires users to look at the screen in order to determine the next voice command to make or action to take. With KITT, Google Search, or to be exact Google Now, will remove that requirement and let you use completely use the app, and therefor all its related functionality, without having to take a glance at the device.


The way this will work, at least in theory, is that Google Search will speak out results to the user. Most of this functionality is already actually available on Android devices, but it isn't completely there yet either. In particular, confirming some commands still need some manual intervention or there are just too many results for the system to speak out, like in the case of web search results. This scenario is definitely unacceptable and, in cases where there is driving involved, potentially life-threatening.


This KITT feature is still in the early stages of development and Google is said to be ironing out many issues, particularly in the way Google Search will relay results and act on its own. Google is investigating the best way for Search to handle multiple results like web links, including simply saving the results for later browsing. There will also a bit of artificial intelligence involved, which will let Google Search take some actions even without the user's confirmation. Of course, this will have to be fine tuned and rigorously tested to prevent the system from becoming too smart for its own good. The last thing you need while driving down the highway is Google Search sending a not so well-thought out and highly emotional reply without your explicit consent.


VIA: Android Police





From today, Spotify's Android and iOS apps allow you to make all your tracks--or at least, up to 3,3

From today, Spotify's Android and iOS apps allow you to make all your tracks—or at least, up to 3,333 of them—available offline with just a single button press.


Read more...
















OnePlus smartphone accessory lineup revealed

Shifting away from talk of invitations, OnePlus has recently shared some images of the accessories. We are seeing details on some cases and some chargers. Perhaps key here though, the OnePlus team has said this is just a sneak peek and they hope to "have more colors and much more stuff" to show soon.



One of the accessories pictured here is the US charger. Having mentioned this item -- there was a clarification about how "a charger will be included with every One purchased." It seems the OnePlus team just wanted everyone to see what the charger will look like. For reference, the charger is pictured in the image with the OnePlus Clear case.


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Other goodies here include the shiny yellow OnePlus Case, a OnePlus Flip Cover and the OnePlus Screen Protector. The yellow and orange cases look pretty nice in the images, but we suspect this is where some users are hoping OnePlus keeps the earlier promise about having more colors to show soon.


Overall there isn't anything over-the-top here. It seems OnePlus has taken a fairly safe route in terms of accessories (maybe not so much with the color options, but the cases themselves. Users will have the option to go bold with yellow, show off the handset with the clear case and also protect the back and front with the flip cover.


OnePlus has yet to reveal anything price related for the accessories.


SOURCE: OnePlus





Fitbit app update brings new dashboard design

The latest update for the Fitbit app has landed in the Play Store. There isn't a huge list of new features (or new device support) this time around, however this is an update that current users will notice immediately. Simply put -- Fitbit has rolled out a new design for the dashboard.



The folks at Fitbit are touting this as being an 'improved' dashboard design, and we are seeing a style that is likely to be welcomed. The layout is a bit cleaner, and the fonts seem to be a bit nicer on the eyes. Aside from the new look for the dashboard, there are a few other additions that arrived with this update.


Users are now able to upload a profile image. You'll have the option to take a new picture or select one that is already sitting in the gallery on your device. You can switch up your profile image by choosing the Settings option from the (three-dot) menu icon in the upper right corner. Once there tap Edit Photo and then follow the prompts.


This update also added support for the Italian language and fixed a few bugs. Users should now be able to enter a new water goal, and there has been "improved power efficiency" for MobileTrack on the HTC One (M8). The updated Fitbit app can be found using this Google Play Store link.





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