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New CM11S 30O update for OnePlus One rolls out

Owners of the highly-acclaimed OnePlus One smartphone can expect a new version of their CyanogenMod 11 Android OS to roll out starting today, as OnePlus has announced that the new update has rolled out via OTA. This latest update brings the Android 4.4.4 KitKat to the One, including tweaks, fixes and updated apps and features – including a new camera feature called “Clear Image”.

The new update, now tagged as CM11S-XNPH30O, brings a number of new features to the One Plus One, but it is also bringing a number of bug fixes as well – most prominent among these a fix for the proximity sensors to prevent activation of screen while in your pockets. That in itself was a huge battery drain, and so that fix was certainly needed. Check below for a comprehensive list of bug fixes.

- Upgraded to Android 4.4.4

- Updated to new versions of Google apps

- Added Clear Image

- Added new (colder) calibration for the screen

- Proximity sensor prevents activation of off-screen gestures while in your pocket

- Capacitive touch keys supported in the recovery mode

- Increased capacitive button illumination

- Improved overall stability

- Fixed issues with vibration being disabled during Quiet Hours

- Fixed lockscreen not updating the track information during music playback

- Fixed microphone volume for all formats in the Voice Recorder app

- Fixed “OK, Google” not triggering voice search in Google Now

- Fixed Viber calls not working

- Fixed battery percent not updating in custom lock screens

- Fixed PicasaSync

- Fixed Camera “O” gesture activating lockscreen instead of triggering camera

- Fixed wallpapers not applying in full screen, taking the wrong size when cropping, etc

OnePlus_cm11s

A new feature is also coming on to your OnePlus One – Clear Image, which is basically HDR mode on steroids. The mode interlaces 10 different photos of the same subject and radically improves clarity and detail on your images. Pretty nifty. Another new feature is the addition of a “colder” screen calibration for our device.

The update just rolled out today, so it might take a while for it to reach you – our way of saying that yes, even though you were one of the lucky ones to get a OnePlus One phone, you still have to wait for your update. One question of this is if CyanogenMod will be rolling out the same features to their CM11 nightlies. Seems unlikely at best, but we can sure hope.

SOURCE: One Plus

HTC finally brings Desire 816, 610 to US shores

After months of teasing, HTC is finally bringing its mainstream midrange handsets to the US – the HTC Desire 816 and the Desire 610. HTC had pointed out that it was the lack of options from them for the midrange market that caused a downturn in the company’s 2013 performance, and these phones are now here to address that need, which were previously available only for the European and Asian markets.

The Desire 816 is the glitzier of the pair, owing to a better spec sheet. The phone is almost at par with the company’s flagship line, sporting a 1.6GHz quadcore Snapdragon processor paired with 1.5GB of RAM. Those will push pixels to a 5.5-inch 1280x720 HD display, while having 8GB of internal storage. The Desire 816 is one of those phones which can accept a large quantity microSD card, expandable to 128GB. It also carries a 13MP main shooter, although it is devoid of the UltraPixel technology found in the HTC One M8.

The Desire 610 will target the mode budget-centric users out there, but it is by no means a pushover. It has a 4.7-inch 854 x 480 display, with a 1.2GHz quadcore Snapdragon processor and 1GB of memory in the background. It also has 8GB of storage, with an 8MP main camera that can record 1080p video.

Both phones are getting HTC’s patented BoomSound speakers, a feature to please those audio-oriented. Both will also carry the HTC Sense 6 UI with BlinkFeed over the Android 4.4 KitKat OS. It looks like Virgin Mobile users will be the first to get a crack at both phones, although we’re pretty sure other carriers will have them in their lineups sooner than later.

VIA: SlashGear

Moto G2 (or G+1) rumored to be available by September 10

The Moto G2 or G+1 (the official name is still unknown) is rumored to be available in the market by next month, according to one of the retailers who received the news from Motorola themselves. The 5-inch smartphone is being touted as the successor to the Moto G, called by some as the best Android phone for under $200.

According to the retailer, the Moto G2 can be officially purchased at retail stores by September 10. Some retailers will actually receive the units by end of this month, but may or may not be allowed to sell them before the official release date. There has been much anticipation for this new smartphone from Motorola and the continuous leaks have fuelled the excitement. What we know so far is that it will have a 720p display on its 5-inch screen and it will be running on a quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and Adreno 305 GPU with a Snapdragon 400 chipset.

The Moto G2 is rumored to have an 8 megapixel main camera that will allow 720p video recording and a 2 megapixel front-facing camera that will let you take selfies and video chat with your loved ones. It is expected to have 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (with possible microSD expansion), which is not much compared to the newest smartphone models, but for its price range, it should be good enough.

As for its price, in Britain it is expected to retail at around €250 (that’s around USD$340) so it is a bit more expensive than the Moto G which was priced at $179. If the September 10 shipping date is true, then the Moto G2 (or G+1) will probably be announced at the upcoming IFA in the first week of September.

VIA: GSM Arena

NVIDIA Tegra K1 gives Acer Chromebook 13 hours of uptime

The Acer Chromebook 13 is probably the first Chromebook out there sporting NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 chip, and it looks like it’s not too shabby at all. Both NVIDIA and Acer are harping on such qualities multi-tasking performance and the device’s mobile form factor. But at the top of the list is probably an industry first – 13 hours of battery time for the device.

You would expect great multi-tasking performance from the quad-core Tegra K1, which partnered with a visually light Android-based Chrome OS would truly give efficient work-and-play processes. And because it is NVIDIA, you would also expect decent GPU performance from the chip – probably not up to 3D gaming level, but it can take whatever visually-rich content the web can throw at it.

But the catch and the selling point here is really the Tegra K1’s power efficiency and the ability to work in a fanless (and therefore silent) form factor. This breakthrough is what gives NVIDIA the confidence to claim that the battery can run up to 13 hours on a single full charge on normal device usage.

The Acer Chromebook 13 has a 13-inch screen which is just about right for your mobile platform needs. It also incorporates a full-sized keyboard for times when you need to do real typing on the device. It has 16GB of internal storage and incorporates 2GB DDR3 RAM. This new Chromebook is now available for pre-order via Amazon or Best Buy for USD$279.99.

Blackphone reportedly rooted, makers to patch vulnerabilities

The Android community already had an answer for those who wanted a phone with extreme security and privacy in mind – that is the Blackphone. This device is designed to prevent usual security vulnerabilities that normal people wouldn’t mind, so when a hacker announces via Twitter that he has found a way to root the Blackphone, the makers had to stand up and take notice.

At 2:53AM yesterday, researcher @TeamAndIRC tweeted: “I think the BlackPhone just fell…”, alluding to the time where he claims he may have just rooted a Blackphone device. At 8:00AM, the same account tweeted a picture of a t-shirt print, announcing that yes, he had just rooted a Blackphone and all he got was a t-shirt for the effort.

blackphone_1

This was all happening while Defcon 2014, the hacking conference was going on in Las Vegas, just a few days after the Blackhat 2014 security conference took place. Naturally, Blackphone was present at Defcon and apparently went and had a chat with @TeamAndIRC. According to an official blogpost, Blackphone had asked the hacker to explain that the root needed direct user interaction – just securitese for saying that root access was very difficult to obtain to begin with.

blackphone_root

The official blog statement did confirm the other issues that @TeamAndIRC had exploited and assured users that they were already aware of the vulnerabilities, and had just begun patching them. As of the last official blogpost, Blackphone was still waiting for @TeamAndIRC to discuss the last vulnerability he took advantage of. Team Blackphone said they were pretty sure that they would be able to patch whatever that flaw would be as soon as possible.

SOURCE: @TeamAndIRC

High-end Meta M1 smartwatch now available for pre-order

Meta, the premium brand that spun off from watch retailers Fossil, is making a new high-end smartwatch that is described to be a “premium watch that just happens to be smart”. Of course, by smart, they mean that the Meta M1 watch can be interfaced with your smartphone. Let’s all take a look at the details of this glitzy new wearable.

First off, we need to say that no, it will not be going under the umbrella of Android Wear – instead Meta is putting out an app both for Android and iOS that will allow your handheld device to interface with the watch. That aside, the watch expectedly looks and feels expensive, as Meta CEO Bill Geiser says that the watch conveys the "beautiful design, quality materials, fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail" that the Meta brand wants to be known for.

But is it worth it for the company to dip its feet into smart computing and smart devices? Geiser certainly thinks so, saying that they need to become more “relevant” for users. The Meta M1 is actually a collection of watches that sport high-end stainless steel cases, stainless steel or ballistic nylon lugs, and a high quality straps. The watches also come in a wide range of colors.

meta_watches

For that matter, you can also use the app to change the look of your watch to match. The watches start at USD$249 all the way up to USD$449, and will be shipping by October. Meanwhile, you can visit the official website of the watch to pre-order and get more information about the collection.

VIA: SlashGear

Crazy Taxi fulfils your dream of crazy driving in the city

If you ever had a secret dream of becoming a cab driver or of driving crazily around the city without consequences (if it’s the latter, we’re worried about you), then you can fulfil it now, at least digitally. Crazy Taxi City Rush is the latest strategy time management game from the makers of the original Crazy Taxi game from SEGA that can possibly reduce productivity and add more calluses onto your fingers as you try to be the craziest cab driver in the city (again, virtually speaking).

The aim of the game is simple: deliver as many passengers as you can to their destinations during the specific time allotted for you. But unlike real like driving, there are no speed limits in this game. “Your taxi. Your rules” is the battle cry of this game and that means you can weave your way through traffic, go past slow-moving cars, cut corners and go through as many obstacles as you want, just to bring your (probably terrified) passengers to where they need to be. This is probably the only time you will be rewarded the crazier you drive, so take advantage of it.

And since this is a supposedly crazy game, even the way your taxi looks should be crazy enough. You can customize and build modern or classic cabs to your heart’s content and take it through a 3D city that continually expands and adds even more attractions and crazy characters as well . And what is driving without awesome music to accompany it? You can choose from your own music library to inspire and energize your crazy driving.

Crazy Taxi City Rush is available for free download at the Google Play Store. It also has in-app purchases so make sure that if a kid is using your phone or tablet to play with the game, you need to turn off the the in-app purchase settings if you don’t want any unauthorised purchases.