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Amazon Fire press event now available on YouTube

If you weren't around to personally see Amazon finally unveil its first ever Amazon Fire smartphone, do not feel left out anymore. The retailer has put up its hour long press event to give those at home, or in the office, a taste of what it felt like to be there, at least from the view point of a camera lens.



After years of rumors, Amazon finally revealed to the world the smartphone everyone has been speculating on, and the reception is quite mixed. While there were already telltale signs of some sort of 3D display and multiple front-facing cameras, the exact implementation and purpose wasn't exactly understood until Jeff Bezos introduced it as Dynamic Perspective. That said, some were quite disappointed with the "faux 3D" of the implementation and considered it rather gimmicky and not a big deal.


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What isn't a gimmick is Firefly, which ties intimately to Amazon's core retail business. It works just as how rumors and leaks have envisioned it. You snap up pics of objects in real life and it will identify the object and comb through Amazon's listing for the exact entry, in case you want to buy it for later. Another feature that again ties into Amazon's empire is X-Ray, which lets you send a video, bought from Amazon of course, from your Fire phone to your Fire TV. It even lets your Fire phone act as a second screen like in current gen gaming consoles.




It seems that the Amazon Fire smartphone hasn't exactly met the expectations of the hype it generated over the course of the months. And Amazon cannot be blamed at all as it did not lift a finger to tease, confirm, or deny such conjecture. Ultimately, the Amazon Fire, like its distant Kindle cousins, isn't really designed to be a standalone product but as a cog in the greater Amazon machine. The question now is whether the market will see it that way or will it be judged like smartphones from other Android device makers.





DroidPack offers 500 stock wallpapers to decorate your device

For people who spend an extraordinary amount of waking time looking at our mobile devices, it stands that we’d want our phones or tablets to be pleasant-looking, not just externally but more so when you look at your home screen. The DroidPack app offers Android users the chance to use over 500 different wallpapers to give your phone the feel of being brand new, even everyday if you want to.



Droidpack has gathered stock wallpaper images from different Android devices and ROM’s like Honeycomb, Jellybean and KitKat in just one monster app to give users all these different options of sprucing up their home screen. The wallpapers are arranged per category and per ROM, and even per flagship handset, like the Galaxy S5, One M8 or the Xperia Z2. Even the Paranoid Android designs and some of the older ROMs are included in this super pack. And if you want to look for a specific kind of wallpaper, you can also search for certain keywords like “trees”, “sea”, or “flowers.”




What is even more interesting is that not only are the wallpaper images from different Android versions, but even those stock images from the different OSes, particularly iOS7 and iOS8. Now hardcore Android users might scoff at including these, but there are some pretty nifty wallpaper designs from the moment that Apple finally allowed iOS users to set home screens back in 2010.


So if you’re looking to have a random new look for your phone everyday, head on over to the Google Play Store to download the DroidPack for free.


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Google Email app lands on Play Store, Google apps updated

It's Update Wednesday again and this time, Google is adding something new to the usual pack. Aside from pushing out updates to Chrome Beta, Hangouts, Drive, and My Tracks, the Android maker has also published its e-mail app on Google Play Store.



Before you react, this is not Gmail, but it definitely looks like it. The icon would resemble the one used in AOSP, and hence custom ROMs, but the interface design resembles Gmail more closely than the AOSP email app. This is the email app that Google ships with its Nexus devices as well as certain Google Play Edition smartphone. One huge difference between this and Gmail is that this email app supports other email accounts and services, as long as they use IMAP, POP3 or even Exchange. So if you've wanted to use something like Gmail's interface for your non-Gmail accounts, now you have an option.


However, that option is actually quite limited. To be specific, it will be compatible only with the devices above, except for the Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One (M7) GPE versions, for some strange reason. That said, we have an APK mirrored for you so that you can try out your luck. The app seems to be working fine at least on an LG G Pro and a Galaxy Note 3. The Google Play Store version has also been updated to version 6.3, bringing along better security for Gmail accounts and easier account setup.


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As for the other Google apps, the updates this week have been rather minimal, focusing more on fine tuning and bug fixing, like in Hangouts and Chrome Beta. Drive has gotten some new animations and a floating circle for creating new documents. My Tracks now exports its data to Google Maps Engine but removes the ability to export to Google Maps directly and to Google Fusion Tables. These updates should be hitting users shortly, though, as always, market and region differences will apply.


Download: Email (Google Play Store), (APK)


Android Wear video shows Google’s design vision

Google has just uploaded a new video that gives a brief introduction to Android Wear. While this clip is intended primarily for developers, it does give some insight on Google's rationale for the wearables and what users can expect when Google unveils the first Android Wear smartwatches next week.



The whole point of Android Wear, much like Google Glass, is to detach users from their mobile devices, without actually disconnecting them. Unlike Google Glass, however, Android Wear, at least in its smartwatch incarnation will still require users to divert their gaze temporarily to look at a screen. But Google claims that such short bursts of distraction are exponentially smaller than having to take out your smartphone or tablet, fiddle with lock screens, notifications, and whatnot, before being able to actually look at the content. In short, the goal, or dream, is for people to bury their faces less in their smartphones and keep their heads up and enjoy the view and the people around them.


But to make that possible on a smartwatch, it won't be enough to replicate conventions and designs we've grown accustomed to in smartphones. In fact, they won't work there at all because of size and hardware constraints. Instead, Google is introducing a somewhat new interaction paradigm for Android Wear with "action" and "context". Action is how you talk to the device, from voice commands to taps, while Context is how the device will talk back to your, again either through voice, buttons, or simply just notifications. For the most part, majority of our interaction with the smartwatch will be through notifications coming from a smartphone. The great news for developers is that, to get their app's notifications on Android Wear, there is "No Work Required". Except probably for a line or two in the program.


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But Android Wear is more than just a glorified notification viewer (read: pager). It can do, or show, a lot more, and for that, developers will have to put in a bit of work. But the capabilities that will be made available will make it worth the effort. Developers will not only be able to show notifications or information in various forms, they can also direct data from a smartphone to the smartwatch, send sensor data in real time, and even register an app for a voice action like "OK, Google, call Mom." These features are, however, still not available to developers, but the SDK will soon be in their hands, probably when Google makes the big splash this coming Google I/O 2014.







Samsung Galaxy S III, Note II, and Tab 3 8.0 seeing Android 4.4 rollouts

Samsung hasn't forgotten about its 2012 and 2013 devices just yet. Rolling out across the US and Canada are Android 4.4 updates to the company's 2012 flagship, the Galaxy S III, as well as the Canadian version of the Galaxy Note II. Meanwhile, across the pond in France, last year's affordable 8.0-inch Galaxy Tab 3 is also getting its KitKat treat.



The Galaxy S III has actually already enjoyed an Android 4.4.2 upgrade late last month, but that has been limited to to those coming from carrier US Cellular. Now the model that is being covered is the AT&T version, specifically the SGH-i747. However, the update is also available for those under Canadian carrier Bell, Rogers, and TELUS, under the SGH-i747M model number. This, more or less coincides with the schedule for the Galaxy S III leaked earlier, though a bit late by a few weeks. It should be noted, though, that the international version of the device, specifically the GT-I9300, still has no Android KitKat update available.


Also a bit behind schedule, the Canadian models of the Galaxy Note II are also reported to be receiving Android 4.4.2 today as well. In the US, the device only got the update last week, at least for those under Verizon's network. According to the same leaked schedule, the 2012 S Pen phablet was meant to get the update around April, but you know what they say about the best laid plans.


Going a bit forward in time, the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0-inch edition, which was released last year, is also getting an update. The 7.0-inch model already had its Android 4.4.2 update a few days ago, but that was for the US. This time, it is France that is getting dibs on the KitKat update, though other regions are likely to follow suit soon.


SOURCE: Samsung

VIA: SamMobile (1), (2)





T-Mobile Music Freedom streaming ignores 4G data cap

Once again, T-Mobile is trying to upset the carrier market with its Un-carrier ways, now on version 6.0. This time, it is training its crosshairs on one of the fastest growing pastimes on mobile devices, aside from YouTube and cat photos. With its new music streaming and Internet radio offering, T-Mobile is setting your music free, not just from network limits but even from price.



Music Freedom is how T-Mobile aptly calls it. Offered to its Simple Choice customers, it is a music streaming service that is totally what its name says: free. It will cost nothing but, unlike other free offerings from other sources, it will have no limits either. For one, you will not be limited by your 4G LTE data plan, as music streaming won't be counted towards your data consumption. In short, even if you have already hit your cap for the month, you will still be able to listen to your favorite tunes any time. And if that weren't good enough, you are also free to choose the music service or app of your preference. You won't be tied down to any single blessed product and can switch between Pandora, Rhapsody, iTunes Radio, Slacker, Spotify, and all the rest. This is truly music freedom at its finest.


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But T-Mobile is also partnering with Rhapsody to bring its customers unRadio, the Un-carrier Internet Radio. Unlike Music Freedom, you will be limited to using Rhapsody's service. But in exchange, you will be given features that might make the limitation quite worth it. There will definitely be no ads to ruin your mood, and you can skip around as many times as you like. Discovered a song you like? Mark it for on-demand listening later or even download it for your convenience. Create your own playlists or enjoy the ones that have been programmed for you. And go beyond your hometown, state, or even country as you listen to thousands of stations across the country and the globe. And all these for practically no price at all.


Both Music Freedom and unRadio are offered to T-Mobile Simple Choice subscribers at no cost. However, other T-Mobile customers can also avail of unRadio for $4 a month. T-Mobile also made an announcement that would probably make Android fans' hearts bleed. The new 7 Night Stand Test Drive program will let customers try out the carrier's network for 7 days absolutely free, pretty much like what Motorola did with the Moto X did for a brief period. Unfortunately, this offer is limited to the iPhone 5s only.


SOURCE: T-Mobile (1), (2)





Atari going retro on Android

Atari is going mobile. But before you go jumping up and down in excitement, do take heed first. The former game giant won't be bringing its latest catalog to Android and iOS devices. Though that may happen too, it will start by traveling back through time to bring its oldest titles to smartphones and tablets.



That new old era will start with Asteroids, the 1979 game that catapulted Atari to popularity. No gaming history treatment will be complete or even credible without the mention of this title. As expected, Atari will first be bringing it to iPhones and iPads and even iPod Touch devices sometime "later this year". But fret not fellow lovers of the little green robot, for Android tablets and smartphones have also been mentioned, though sadly no clue as to when.


Atari, who has seen its name slowly drop out of consciousness the past years, has been emboldened by its relatively successful run with Minimum on Steam Early Access. Perhaps seeing keen interest in retro-style gaming, retro-style artwork, and even retro games itself, the company has decided to make what it calls a "Corporate Comeback" by appealing to this gaming renaissance on mobile. Though perhaps they should have called it a Corporate Throwback, but we're not really going to complain. It's Asteroids, after all.


Perhaps a certain troubled gaming company (Nintendo) should also take a cue and look to mobile for salvation. Or if they're pride can't take it, just a boost. Of course, the context of the two companies can't be more different, but if Atari's epiphany is any indication, mobile gaming is a phenomenon, not to mention a possibly lucrative market, that gaming companies just cannot afford to ignore anymore.


VIA: SlashGear


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