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Nokia XL updated with 4G LTE edition in China

Six months after the Nokia XL announcement, China Mobile and Nokia are launching the Nokia XL with 4G LTE connectivity in China. Sadly, the 4G LTE edition will not work elsewhere as it supports LTE Bands 38, 39 and 40 (TD-LTE or TD-SCDMA) only.



Other than added with 4G LTE supports, the Nokia XL is also updated with more RAM memory and a better processor. It now comes with 1GB RAM (768MB previously), and powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor instead of a 1Ghz dual core processor on the original Nokia XL. Interestingly while the Nokia XL 4G LTE edition measures in the same size, it is only weighted at 158 grams. The original Nokia XL is much heavier at 190 grams.


Other specifications remain the same, there is a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi b/g/n, 4GB internal storage and a microSD card slot.


Microsoft has recently announced that Nokia X series’ future products will be powered by Windows instead of a custom Android OS. The Nokia X2 introduced last month and Nokia XL 4G LTE edition are likely the last Android smartphones from Nokia.


VIA: GSMAreana





Root your LG G3 easily with PurpleDrake

If you have been using IOroot and TowelRoot to root your LG G3, check out the new PurpleDrake rooting tool on XDA forum. Created by IOMonster, jcase and autoprime, PurpleDrake supports most of the LG G3 variants on T-Mobile (D851), AT&T (D850), international model (D855) and more!



Available for Linux, OSX and Windows, the rooting process with the PurpleDrake is pretty straight forward. You would need to first enable the USB debugging option on your phone, download and run the appropriate tool for your OS. Note that if you got the LG G3 from Verizon Wireless (VS985), IOroot is the only tool you can rely on now.


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Not all LG G3 variants are tested yet, you can refer to this spread sheets on Google Drive for a detailed compatibility list.


Unfortunately, the rooting process will trigger LG’s built in root flag, which will affect your phone warranty when you need to send it to service center. This can be solved by restoring the root flag to its original status. Check out this post for the full instructions.


DOWNLOAD: PurpleDrake-lite (for all) / PurpleDrake-full (for T-Mobile G3)


Backup your smartphone photos with SyncMe Wireless

While the smartphone cameras are still not as good as a professional digital camera, it is the most convenient tool for us to take a quick snapshot anytime. If you have already synced your camera photos with cloud storage services, here’s what you should do to add another layer of local backup with SyncMe Wireless app.



What you need:


- SyncMe Wireless on Google Play Store (free with IAP)

- A shared folder from your desktop or NAS


We will be skipping the steps to create a shared folder. Depending on whether you are using a desktop or NAS, SyncMe Wireless works with Windows shared folders, Samba on Linux and CIFS (SMB) protocol. Once you have prepared the shared folder for the photo backup, you can start to add scheduled backup job with the app in your Android smartphone.


Adding a computer


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When you launch the SyncMe Wireless app for the first time, you need to first add a computer (or NAS) with the backup destination. You have to also make sure your phone is connected to the same network as the computer. Now choose “Add computer” and select “Computer Name”.


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The app will scan the network and give you a list of the connected computers on the network. Next choose the computer you want to send the backup to. If a user account is needed, key in the user name and password after the computer is selected. You are ready to create a backup job!


Adding a Sync Folder


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What we are going to do next is to add a scheduled backup job, running at 9pm every day. First, click on the computer name and select “Add sync folder”.


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There are a few settings you would need to set:


- Device folder: choose the folder in your phone where the camera saves all the photos

- Computer folder: choose the backup destination on the computer or NAS

- Schedule: to schedule a 9pm daily backup job, you just need to set the “Run at” to 21:00

- Copy to: choose “Copy to computer only”, this will backup your photos to the computer

- Overwrite same name files: disable this option to skip the photos that have already been backed up previously. This will make the backup job much faster.

- Track deletions: default option is “No”, photos that you deleted on your smartphone won’t be removed from the backup


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That’s it! You have now completed the setup and your photos will be backed up daily to your computer automatically! You can also run the backup job immediately with the “Run” option. Of course, this is just one of the example to use the SyncMe Wireless. The job scheduling options are good enough for all your other files to backup or sync with your home computer. Let us know if you have any questions!


Plants vs Zombies 2 update: new worlds, levels and zombies

If you’re one of the thousands, nay millions, of mobile users who are still determined to protect their virtual houses from zombies by using plants, the latest update to the seminal game will surely make you even happier. Plants vs Zombies 2 adds even more levels, plants and zombie characters, in Part 2 of a medieval confrontation between the brain-sucking villains and the photosynthetic heroes.



The most recent update before this one was just last month and the rollout of even more content continues with the latest one. It releases Part 2 of the Dark Ages world and has 10 new levels to conquer. New “characters” are also introduced, with the addition of 2 new kinds of plants, a wizard zombie (can’t we have a Harry Potter zombie soon?) and a king zombie (but not the actual king of zombies).


There’s also a "fired-up" Zomboss (we’re assuming he is the one to whom all the other zombies report to) so it must mean he's even hungrier for brains. There’s also an addition called Arthur’s Challenge (who knows there might be a plant Excalibur somewhere there) which will supposedly “test your mettle” in some way as you try to prevent the zombies from making a snack out of your brains.


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Plants vs Zombies 2 has gotten a lot of rave reviews since the environments and the new plants and zombies are much more “advanced” and varied than the original (which was already addictive enough). You can download it for free from the Google Play Store but be prepared to be tempted to splash out some cash (if you are weak when it comes to self-control) as there are some in-app purchases as well.







Google makes searching while traveling even easier

Ever since the advent of smartphones, apps, and admit it, Google, traveling to an unfamiliar place is not as scary as it once was. As long as you have Internet connection (and a lot of hotels and tourist destinations have WiFi, if you don’t want to risk roaming charges), even if you don’t have a physical guidebook or the people around you cannot speak your language, you can still get around. The newest Google Search function has even removed a few extra steps to make it much easier for you to explore an unfamiliar place while you’re still at your hotel.



All you need is for your hotel reservation to be saved into your Gmail account, for you to have a Google Search app on your Android device, and you’re all set. By just tapping the mic on the app, you can say “Show me the best restaurants around my hotel” or “How do I get to my hotel from here” and it will (hopefully) give you the answers you’re looking for. Now you can find the best places to visit nearby, also through the help of Google Maps of course.


Search and other products in the Google ecosystem has constantly been trying to improve their options and features to make travellers even more confident as they explore other places. When you search for a restaurant or place anywhere you are, you’ll get hundreds or maybe thousands of results and it can be overwhelming. Just a few months ago, they allow searchers to filter the results based on price, ratings, cuisine (if you’r searching for a place to eat) and others.


Google Now is another product that is making itself even more useful for when you travel. Aside from getting cards that suggest places to visit when you’re in a certain area, you can also use it to manage your flight information and hotel details, like getting directions, saving the codes for easier scanning at the airport, etc. It can even advise you what time you should be leaving your house to get to the airport with its “leave home by” feature. So just make sure your smartphone has connection and enough battery, and you’re all set wherever you’re going.


SOURCE: Google





T-Mobile adds Samsung Galaxy Avant to its budget line

It seems that some just can't get enough of Samsung's Android-toting Galaxy smartphones, and apparently neither can T-Mobile. The carrier has just announced that the Galaxy Avant, one of the Korean manufacturer's latest mid-tier devices, is now available from T-Mobile shelves in very Un-carrier ways.



The Galaxy Avant is honestly not that impressive but it is a solid budget device in a small package. The qHD resolution of 960x540 pixels might look a bit disappointing, but at 4.5 inches, it might not be that bad for very basic viewing. It runs on a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and, quite surprisingly, has a higher than normal 1.5 GB of RAM. Internal storage is capped at 16 GB but there is a micro SD slot for 64 GB more. There is a 5 megapixel rear camera and a front shooter of unknown size. You won't be missing out when it comes to connectivity, as the Galaxy Avant has all the bells and whistles, including WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS and GLASSON, WiFi Direct, and even NFC. And of course, it is compatible with T-Mobile's 4G LTE network.


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While it's not exactly high-end, the Galaxy Avant isn't lacking in features, starting with Android 4.4 right out of the box. On Samsung's side, you have Easy Mode for simplifying the use of TouchWiz, S Voice, Samsung rather underwhelming Siri counterpart, and the whole host of Samsung services, like ChatON. From Verizon, you get features (or bloatware if you insist) like T-Mobile TV and Visual Voicemail.


The Samsung Galaxy Avant is now available for purchase from T-Mobile's nationwide outlets as well as from its online store. Interested buyers have two options. One would be to buy the smartphone at full price for $216 or pay for it at $9 a month for 24 months with zero down. Either choice will grant you access to T-Mobile's slew of Un-carrier services, including its rather enticing and quite controversial listen-all-you-can Music Freedom offering.


SOURCE: T-Mobile


HTC One M8 gets 4.4.3 update with some 4.4.4 fixes

It might sound a bit weird, but the HTC One M8 is only now getting updated to Android 4.4.3. The rollout actually started in the US last week, at least for the unlocked versions, and is finally making its way to Europe. This massive update bumps the Android version to 4.4.3 but does include some changes coming from 4.4.4, which means that HTC won't need to release that latest version immediately.



Android 4.4.3 is pretty much a straightforward maintenance update but it does bring some new features, in particular the redesigned dialer app. But as with many OEM's, HTC took advantage of the update to include some of its own changes to its flagship. While there is no version bump involved for Sense 6.0 on the device, there are quite a few changes and fixes for HTC"s built-in apps. Apps like Camera, Gallery, and Settings have been updated to their latest versions, while features like Motion Launch, BoomSound and Extreme Power Saving Mode have also seen some optimizations.


Android 4.4.4 is an even lesser maintenance update whose primary purpose seems to be to address some OpenSSL security vulnerabilities disclosed early last June. The changes have been so minimal that some OEMs and even custom ROMs have integrated those fixes even before updating to version 4.4.4. HTC confirms that this is also the case with this One M8 update, which means that the manufacturer won't feel the need to rush out an update that would only be effectively changing version numbers.


The HTC One M8 Android 4.4.3 update comes at a sizable package of around 600 MB, less for the unlocked US version and more for the European model. In Europe, it is hitting Nordic versions of the device first and, as always will take time before it goes out to everyone, depending on the region and the carrier.


VIA: Android Central (1), (2)





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