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Samsung to launch Galaxy S DUOS 3, gets KitKat upgrade

Just a little over 10 months after Samsung came out with the Galaxy S Duos 2 – primarily for the South Asian market – it is now coming out with the Galaxy S Duos 3, upgrading the model’s operating system to Android 4.4 KitKat. Unfortunately, nothing much else was upgraded in this model.



The new model comes with a 1.0Ghz dual core processor backstopped by 512MB of RAM. It will have 4GB of internal storage, dual SIM support (hence the “Duos” branding), a 5MP rear camera – all powered by a 1500mAh battery. The significant change is that it will be rocking Android KitKat out of the box.


Here’s a funny thing – we checked the specs for its predecessor, the Galaxy Duos 2, and this new phone feels more like a downgrade in specs than anything else. The Galaxy Duos 2 has a dual core 1.2Ghz Cortex-A9 processor, and although we’re not sweating the 200Mhz difference, the processor speed is still a step down. The RAM allocation for the predecessor is 768MB, while the new phone only has 512MB.


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We probably won’t know why Samsung chose to skimp on the hardware for a supposedly “upgraded” version of a model. Maybe they’re relying on the efficiency of Android KitKat. Still, knowing this would be a bit of a letdown for any consumer. The new phone hasn’t launched yet, but is expected to be priced at around USD$133 when it comes out.


VIA: AndroidOS.in





Month: The Calendar Widget puts pretty calendars on device

While the really good calendar apps have become invaluable to our lives, there are times when what you want to do is just have a quick glance at a digital calendar without the bells and whistles. That’s what calendar widgets are basically for. Month: The Calendar Widget allows you to do just that and makes it easy on the eyes as well.



Month has over 70 different and beautiful gadgets and themes to allow you to prettify and organise your device’s home screen. You have widgets to view your calendar’s events or if you want to just look at your friends’ birthdays, there is also a widget for that. If you just want a quick glance at your agenda for the day, including meetings, birthdays and tasks, you can use the agenda widget. If you need to look at a calendar for the entire year, there is also a theme for that. Month even supports the lunar calendar, if some of your business or lifestyle concerns revolve around that.


The UI for this app is very simple and intuitive and it does not weigh heavily on your device’s memory. The app is free in itself and you can have around twenty themes for free, including Material and Google Now themes. There are more than 50 other themes that are available for purchase and there’s one where you can have all the available themes for sale in just one purchase. However, most of the other themes seem to be more about colors and some look a bit the same, so you can browse through them first before deciding on paying for them.


You can download Month: The Calendar Widget for free from the Google Play Store. They are offering all the packages at 60% off for a limited time so better buy them now when they’re more reasonably priced.


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Remember Android One?

Remember Android One? It's Google's program to get manufacturers to develop high-quality, low-cost (less than $100) smartphones running stock versions of Android for developing countries. These devices, which will be regularly updated just like the Nexus line, now look like they're round the corner.


Read more...
















HTC Nexus tablet leaked to come with keyboard folio cover

We don't expect to hear much about Nexus products this IFA 2014 week, but that won't stop the rumors and leaks from coming in. This round is dedicated to a long-awaited Nexus tablet, believed to be made by HTC this time. As part of its launch, Google is believed to provide a new kind of accessory never before seen in any official Nexus add-on: a keyboard folio case.



As keyboard folios go, this one designed for the HTC Nexus tablet, currently codenamed either Flounder or Volantis, is a rather strange one. Whereas most cases use the keyboard-bearing side as the cover as well, this one uses the opposite side as the cover. That cover is also peculiar, as it bears the distinctive segmented design of Apple's Smart Covers for the iPad (do we smell a lawsuit coming?). The cover will also lock and unlock the tablet automatically, much like Apple's implementation.


Another "uniqueness", to put it kindly, of this cover is the hinge. One side of the hinge hides a micro USB port while the opposite side has an LED indicator. Both are utilized for charging the keyboard's 450 mAh battery. The keyboard will connect wireless via Bluetooth 4.0. The Nexus tablet can then be propped up either on the segmented cover rolled up to act as a stand or on a separate stand, as long as it is within Bluetooth distance.


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This keyboard folio is definitely a first for Google, which hints that it might have a more serious use case for the next Nexus tablet in mind. Based on the dimension of the case, the tablet may also sport a 4:3 aspect ratio. It's not exactly the same, but Microsoft is touting the Surface Pro 3's 3:2 ratio as something more "business friendly" and Google might be aiming for the same target market with this HTC tablet. If true, we can pretty much expect this to be part of Google's rumored entry to the enterprise to combat Apple's similar new direction.


VIA: Android Police





Sony Xperia Z3 Compact press photos show bright colors

We’re right at the edge before we fall into the abyss of total IFA 2014 madness, but we’re bringing you some leaked press photos of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact for now. This is the rumored miniaturized version of the Sony Xperia Z3 flagship device that should launch within a day or two in Berlin. We can decide right now that this device exists, not just a rumor anymore. And judging from these pics, we gather people are going to like this device.



The photos here show the patented design language that Sony has been keen to keep in its Xperia devices. It’s a compact device, so it would (should) be a bit smaller than the actual Xperia Z3. But if we know Sony, it will not be skimping on the internals – that is to say, the Xperia Z3 Compact would most likely still pack a punch that would put it in the minds of customers looking for mid-tier devices.


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The photos give no indication to the specs, so we’re stuck with the rumored spec list – a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor turning at 2.5Ghz backstopped probably by 2GB of RAM, more than enough to be a solid device. It will have a 4.5-inch HD (1280x720) display, and if we know Sony, it should have a pretty impressive camera as well.


We are part of those who have grown to love how Sony approaches the Android OS – in particular, this device will probably have Android 4.4 out of the box, and maybe a pathway to Android L when it launches. From the pics, the models sill come in black, red, white, and mint green. Are you excited for IFA 2014 yet?


VIA: AusDroid





Openmix turns you into a smartphone DJ

With the ability to carry hundreds or even thousands of songs or use streaming music apps on smartphones, many people use their smartphone as the source for music at parties or get togethers. If you like the idea of mixing your own music from two sources Openmix will allow you to do that. The sources can be two smartphones, a smartphone and an MP3 player, or any other devices that use standard 3.5mm headphone jacks.



Openmix is a miniature audio cross fader that can be used for mixing back and forth between two tracks. With the device plugged in, users can make smooth transitions from one song to another. Openmix will do more than cross fade between two devices; it also has a third input for audio.


That third input will allow you to connect another audio input device so you can add sound effects to the tracks from a tablet or other device running a DJ app. Audio is outputted to any speakers with a 3.5mm input directly from the Openmix device.


Openmix is on Kickstarter seeking $65,000 and has raised over $10,500 at the time of writing with 28 days to go before the project ends. Getting your own Openmix will set you back $39 or more. If you plunk down $59 you will get the Openmix Party Kit including speakers. Shipping is estimated to start in January 2015.


SOURCE: Kickstarter


Pocket Lock locks your phone automatically when you put it in a pocket

If you have ever dialed someone accidentally when you were trying to put your phone into your pocket, you know how embarrassing that can be. An app called Pocket Lock can help you be sure that you never butt dial anyone again. Pocket Lock is an intelligent lock and unlock application.



One of the things it can do is lock your phone automatically when you put it into your pocket. The app will keep your phone locked until you pull it out of your pocket when it can unlock your device automatically.


Pocket Lock has been updated recently and the update adds back in the ability to start the app on boot, which was accidentally removed in a previous update. Gravity and proximity sensors are used by the app for the automatic locking and unlocking action.


The app is disabled during phone calls and can be disabled when the screen is rotated. The app measures 317KB and has been installed 10,000-50,000 times according to Google Play. Pocket Lock is free with no ads and is on version 1.4.2, Android 4.0 or higher is required for the app to function.


SOURCE: Google Play


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