Samsung to unveil Galaxy Note 4 on September 3 before IFA

Those who are eagerly awaiting the official announcement of the new smartphones from Samsung would have to wait just a few more weeks as the OEM is expected to reveal them in Berlin this coming September 3, two days before the start of IFA 2014. The rumoured devices that will be launched are the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, the upgraded version of the current Galaxy Note 3, and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (name not yet confirmed).

The Galaxy Note 4 seems most likely to be revealed here. After all, Berlin was the site of the launch of the original Samsung Galaxy Note. Early rumours about the Note 4 says that outwardly, it will probably look like the Galaxy S5, with plastic outsides and faux stitching, and maybe even the perforated design, but with an S Pen that will be updated from the Galaxy Note 3. Earlier this year, there were also some leaks saying that it might come out with curved glass and maybe a 2560x1440 QHD display.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha may also be the same as the Metal Galaxy Note that was rumoured to be a smaller version of the Note, but this time in, well, obviously from the name, metal instead of plastic. The specs are said to be an upgrade of the Galaxy S5, except with a 4.7-inch screen and a 1280x720 display. It is rumoured that it will run on a Samsung Exynos octa-core processor with 2GB RAM. For its camera, the main one will reportedly be 12MP while the front-facing camera will just be at 2.1MP.

All will be revealed in just a few weeks. Let’s see what Samsung has in store for us and hope that they will wow consumers again this time, especially since other OEMs have been unveiling pretty impressive smartphones the past few months.

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• Samsung Galaxy Note 4 confirmed to have 5.7-inch QHD screen


• Galaxy Note 4 Exynos proc faster vs. Snapdragon variant


• Samsung Galaxy Note 4 may include retinal scanner


• Samsung Galaxy Alpha product page accidentally tells all

LG G3 revisited: the US version is here

We’ve already fallen for the G3, which we noted in our review of the device. Now that we’ve got our hands on the domestic version, is it still the device we spoke so highly of? Have things changed, or did we just get one that was meant for this market? We go hands-on — again — to find out.

From the start, some hardware tweaks are present, but the differences are purely regional. Phones in Asian markets sometimes have pull-out antennae, and the Korean version of the G3 was no different. That’s clearly gone, but the rest checks out as we left it. Same battery, same weight, same — well, everything.

The software is untouched, save for the added apps being switched up. With Verizon, you get a slew of apps (which can be removed!) slapped in, which is average fare for any carrier device. Slacker Radio, Clash of Clans, and hotels.com are new additions, but not unwelcome ones.

The G3 runs Android 4.4.2 when you unleash it, and has a Snapdragon 801 processor. The 32GB storage is not expandable, and 3GB RAM will keep you going strong. The 13mp rear camera is fantastic, and the 3,000mAh battery is a welcome sight.

About that battery — is the life as good as we remembered? Almost. We can’t say we’re getting the same battery life that had us so excited last time, but in our testing we could get through a full day — and into the next — with a single charge, and “normal” use. While ”normal” can be tough to pin down, ours was messaging, light web surfing, email, some social browsing, and media.

At the end of the day, it’s still tough to find fault with the G3. It’s big, beautiful, and can last the day. The screen is fantastic, and the build is solid. LG’s skin is still one we like, and the rear power/volume buttons are growing on us. It’s the same device we liked in our review, so we can once again suggest you give it a strong consideration when you’re ready for a new Android handset.

Story Timeline

• Our LG G3 battery life test gives impressive early results


• LG G3 review: the phone every Android OEM should make


• LG G3 with Verizon lets you remove carrier "bloatware"

Netronix ereader combines e-ink display with Wacom pen

If you've ever wanted a truly digital notebook without much of the excess baggage of full blown tablets, then you better start crossing your fingers that Netronix makes its latest wonder device a commercial reality. Its unnamed 6.8-inch slab boasts of an e-ink screen that you can read on as well as a pressure sensitive Wacom stylus to write with.

Netronix is most likely an unfamiliar name to even those who closely follow the mobile device world. That's probably because the Taiwanese company mostly designs or produces devices that other companies would then buy from them to customize and rebrand. One of its more popular designs, however, is probably more known to the world as the Kobo eReader.

The combination of eink and wacom digitizer is a rather unusual mix, but this Netronix device is pretty much unconventional all over. Inside, it runs on a Freescale i.MX6SL (Solo Lite), a single core Cortex-A9 processor capable of running up to 1 GHz only. The 6.8-inch display size is rather odd too, but perhaps not so much for an ereader. The resolution is also a strange and almost square 1440x1080, that's Full HD that won't be of much use for videos but should afford crisp text and images. It is said to be running Android 4.1, definitely an old version but that shouldn't be much of an issue considering what the device is designed for.

And that purpose is to really give a unique ebook reading experience, especially for obsessive note-takers. Use cases include not just jotting down notes in margins or highlighting important lines but also scribbling down comments or making illustrations for, say, a business meeting. Right now, however, the functionality isn't all there yet, as the demo ebook reader doesn't allow for annotations yet. But since it is running Android, that shouldn't also be a problem in the long run. The screen is also supposedly touch-enabled but has been disabled for that demo device. This is definitely an interesting device for e-ink lovers to root and wait for, and hopefully Netronix finds a willing customer to put this on the production line.

VIA: Liliputing

Attopedia is an encyclopedia for your Android Wear

Smartwatches are very useful for telling time, checking the weather, letting you know of your notifications, researching about history, etc. Wait, what? How can you possibly research about something on a watch? Well if you have a Samsung Live Gear or an LG G3 running on the Android Wear platform, then all you need is an app called Attopedia.

Basically, the app will make your smartwatch a walking (wearing?) encyclopaedia by bringing Wikipedia to Android Wear. So since the 3-centimeter screen limits what you can properly view, the app uses a 2-dimensional grid-based interface, removing all the bells and whistles and keeping it simple enough to look at and scroll through on your wearable device. You can now have access to all the information (although of course, whether it is accurate is another matter) found on Wikipedia, just by looking at your wrist and pushing a few small buttons.

Of course, it may seem a bit weird to be scrolling through an encyclopaedia of sorts on your smartwatch, but remember that when Internet browsing started on mobile devices, people were having difficult adjusting to it after switching from a desktop or laptop. But eventually, developers and designers were able to adjust web pages to fit into the smaller screens. This is the reasoning behind Attopedia’s developer, and this is the first step towards a future when we will be browsing more on wearables.

So if you feel the need to be a fountain of information with just a flick of the wrist, then you better get Attopedia on your Android Wear stat. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store.

VIA: Dheera

Story Timeline

• File Manager now tweaked for Android Wear platform


• New app lets Android Wear control your Tesla Model S


• Swipify simplifies switching between apps on Android Wear

Verizon responds to FCC concerns regarding LTE data throttling

The FCC accosted Verizon recently amid the news that it was planning to slow down data speeds of those on unlimited LTE data plans during times of network congestion. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had voiced out his concern about the seemingly unfair nature of Verizon’s plan and asked the network to provide more information about their plan.

In a written response, Verizon said, “Rather than an effort to ‘enhance our revenue streams,’ our practice is a measured and fair step to ensure that this small group of customers do not disadvantage all others in the sharing of network resources during times of high demand.” Wheeler had earlier insinuated that Verizon was disadvantaging a segment of their users, quite maybe unfairly.

Verizon also pointed to links saying that AT&T and T-Mobile (here and here) were doing the exact same thing to their customers, and that the focus on them was if not entirely unfair. “I don’t think the FCC really understood what we were doing,” said Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Daniel S. Mead. The FCC have already confirmed that they have received Verizon’s reply to their inquiry and that they are “carefully reviewing” it.

We don’t know about you but there’s just something a bit wrong with Verizon’s reasoning. Why should a segment of its consumers – no matter how small – suffer from the ‘network management’ practices of Verizon, when in fact it is their infrastructure that is not able to handle the traffic? Shouldn’t the solution be to upgrade the infrastructure so that none are disadvantaged? The consumers paid for unlimited bandwith on LTE speeds, so isn’t it just right that they get exactly that? And who’s the wise guy who said that if the others are doing something inherently wrong, then anybody can do it?

VIA: Recode

Story Timeline

• Verizon set to throttle LTE speeds on unlimited data users


• LG G Vista arrives with Verizon Wireless


• Verizon Galaxy S5 update could break root access

US government might disallow in-flight calls after all

Airplane passengers in the US who would rather not know of the details of their seatmate's relationships or business transactions might soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief. The Department of Tourism is expected to weigh in on the issue of allowing cellphone calls while in flight, and the agency has hinted that it will be opposing the idea with a more formal and definitive policy.

Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) allowed the use of electronic and mobile devices during all phases of flight, but required mobile phones and tablets to remain in Flight Mode, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), however, proposed to revise that decades old rule, calling it antiquated and unnecessary. Mobile and network technology has developed to a point that the technical and safety concerns that gave birth to those rules no longer apply. The FCC, however, is leaving the final word to government agencies and ultimately to airlines whether to allow text messaging and cellular calls during flight.

It is that latter the DoT, as well as many frequent fliers, are opposing. While text messaging is hardly a nuisance, provided the phone is on silent mode, based on experience, voice calls can be more disruptive and could inconvenience other passengers. The agency will try to once more use the "safe and adequate service" doctrine of transportation laws, which it has wielded successfully in the past, in order to enforce a ban on in-flight calls, should the policy be finalized. Interestingly, FCC chair Tom Wheeler himself revealed that he is no fan of in-flight calls, trying to appease the masses who have stormed the FCC's communication channels in opposition of its earlier proposal.

Although airlines aren't exactly lining up to offer their passengers this service, they do not want the DoT to set its foot down on the matter at all. They believe that they should be allowed the final say in the matter just as the FCC did. This would give them the opportunity to offer the use of cellular services in more restricted ways, like phone booths or segregated and sound proof sections. A DoT spokesperson said that the agency is indeed working on a notice for proposed rulemaking to be published by December but hasn't yet made up its mind about the matter.

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• FAA approves mobile device use for "all phases of flight"


• FCC proposes to allow cellphone calls during flight


• FCC chair isn't a fan of in-flight phone calls after all


• In-flight calls gets FCC approval but needs to pass by DOT as well

Talon for Twitter: new themes and notifications,GIF posting

Just a few months ago, popular Twitter client Talon had a major update, with a new UI tweak, support for multiple languages and allowing multiple image uploads. Just four months later, version 2.6.2 now brings even more changes that just might convince Twitter users to abandon the native client and switch on over to a client like Talon, since you can do so much more here than when using the native app.

Have you ever replied to someone on Twitter, but somehow in the middle of composing your message, you suddenly forgot what was originally said. Well your option before was to close the window and look at the original tweet and start over again, but Talon now makes it easier by letting you view the one you’re replying to while you’re in the compose window. The update also brings better notifications for mentions, direct messages, and favorites, as well as allowing GIF images to be posted.

In terms of the look and design, the update brings two add-on themes: Talon-L Light and Talon-L Dark. You can download the apk and then install it on your smartphone, then open Talon and choose it from the themes section. The fonts of the app have also been updated and the developer even added an Android “L” Roboto font. The looks of the compose window and several icons have also been changed with this latest update.

You can download the updated Talon for Twitter from the Google Play Store, if you haven’t yet. You just have to shell out $1.99 to be able to enjoy all these features.

SOURCE: Talon

Story Timeline

• Talon for Twitter reaches major 1.3.0 milestone


• Talon for Twitter 2.0 boasts a long list of new features


• Talon update adds multiple image support