Verizon HTC One M8 gets Android 4.4.3 update

Fresh from updating the HTC One M7 last week, Verizon is finally getting the HTC One M8 its own Android 4.4.3 update. The update is rolling out OTA (over-the-air) and notifications for updates should start hitting users soon. Verizon says that it plans to roll out the update to all HTC One M8 users by end of week.

As said before, the 4.4.3 bump is mostly made up of security updates for the Android OS – no major changes in the aesthetics and UI. Verizon has confirmed though that Extreme Power Saving Mode will come to the HTC One M8 via this update, so that can be something to get excited about.

Extra battery life is always nice, right? Be warned though that in Extreme Power Saving Mode, users will only get to make and receive calls, as well as send and receive SMS, and little much else. Still, if it means being reachable for a little longer until you have access to a power outlet then it is still a useful feature.

Once the notification reaches you, it should only be a matter of following and agreeing to the prompts for you to get this update. If you want to go ahead and update without the notification, check out the source link. Please note that if you’re running a custom ROM on your HTC One M8, you will not be getting the notification. If you notice anything new apart from Extreme Power Saving Mode on this update, please give us a comment below.

SOURCE: Verizon

Story Timeline

• HTC bumps One M8, One Max’s free Google Drive storage to 100GB


• Verizon to bring Android 4.4.3 update to HTC One (M7)


• Verizon accepting pre-orders for Moto 360 with metal bands

Sony declares ‘end-of-life’ for a number of Xperia devices

With all the new devices coming out of the recently concluded IFA 2014, it seems an inevitable counterpoint that some old devices that are part of these manufacturer’s catalogs will get the proverbial axe. In Sony’s case, it recently declared “end-of-life” status to four devices – the Xperia L, M, SP and C. What this technically means is that there will no longer be firmware updates for these devices.

All of these devices were announced in 2013, with the Xperia L being announced the earliest in March. For the Xperia L and M, this was a bit anticipated already. Hardware-wise, these two devices will probably not be able to run Android 4.4 KitKat that smoothly – sporting dual-core 1Ghz Snapdragon processors. Of course, that will not stop tweakers from installing custom ROMs that are based on KitKat, but officially – the last update for these devices was in March this year for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

The Xperia SP was a bit more powerful, sporting a 1.7Ghz dual-core Snapdragon processor, an Adreno 320 GPU and 1GB RAM. And yet it still got the axe, the last update for it rolled out February this year for Jelly Bean.

But if anyone has the right to feel aggrieved, it will probably be owners of the Xperia C. This device was launched in July 2013, running on a less expensive but 1.7Ghz quad-core MediaTek processor. The Xperia C has gotten very little attention from Sony, only getting 3 minor firmware updates in its lifetime – it stayed at Android 4.2 its whole life, at least officially. The only love this device will get now is through custom ROMs, which probably gets it at least to KitKat level. Do you own any of these devices? What are your plans for it now?

VIA: Xperia Blog (1), (2), (3)

Story Timeline

• Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact: PS4 Remote Play, 20MP, and more


• Sony Xperia Z3 rumored to be coming to Verizon


• Android 4.4.4 rolling out to Xperia Z devices

HTC defers launch of smartwatch to early 2015

We’re not sure if it’s a case of being cautious or they want to actually face-off against the Apple Watch, but it seems that HTC has decided to push back on the launch of its own smartwatch to early 2015. This is also the same time period that Apple would be officially launching its wearable, which was announced earlier this weak. There might be missed holiday sales for HTC, but it looks like there is a solid reasoning either way for the Taiwanese OEM to wait until next year to launch their smartwatch.

There isn’t much known about HTC’s supposed wearable, except that their CEO Cher Wang initially said they were looking at launching before the end of 2014. It is also expected that the smartwatch would be running on Android Wear, the Android-based platform of Google for smartwatches. But since the platform is still on its early days, with just the Samsung Live Gear, LG G Watch, Moto 360 and the soon-to-be-released ASUS Zenwatch, Sony Smartwatch 3 and LG G Watch R running on it, HTC might be waiting for stability and improvements from Android Wear just before going full blast on it.

There are also reports that HTC is keen on modifying or customizing Android Wear just like what it did with its HTC Sense back in the early days of Android for smartphones. But Android Wear hasn’t been tampered yet by the OEMs that have smartwatches running it. Google recently announced that they will be releasing a major update with a new custom watch face API that will let developers have the ability to change every pixel on the small display.

The rumored Android Wear 2.0 will supposedly arrive this October 15 and will also have offline music playback, Bluetooth headsets as well as GPS functionalities. Maybe HTC will be waiting for these improvements before going full-out on their wearable. Or maybe they are taking a gamble and just want to launch the same time as the Apple Watch. Either way, it would be good to have an additional smartwatch on Android Wear to open up the market (and the competitiveness) even more.

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• HTC "One Wear" smartwatch coming this fall, report says


• Android Wear crucial features, updates by end of the year


• Android Wear 2.0 rumored to arrive this October 15


• Android Wear announces upcoming features for wearables

First Android apps for Chrome OS are now available

Bringing its two "mobile" platforms closer together, Google has just revealed the pioneers of its "Android apps on Chrome OS" endeavor. Now you will be able to run Evernote, Duolingo, Vine, and Sight Words on any Chromebook, or any device that runs Google's Chrome OS for that matter.

At Google I/O 2014 last June, Google made a rather surprising yet almost expected announcement that future versions of Chrome will be able to run Android apps, or some of them at least, natively, without the use of emulators or whatnot. Surprising, because Google has consistently insisted that there will be no merging of this Chrome OS and Android platforms, though technically this is more of a bridge rather than a merge. Expected because it seems only sensible for Google to exploit the larger Android software ecosystem rather then expecting Chrome developers to duplicate their apps for both operating systems.

Running Android apps on Chrome OS has been made possible by a project Google calls "App Runtime for Chrome". In essence, this would be the same strategy that the likes of BlackBerry's OS 10 or Jolla's Sailfish would use to enable Android apps to run on their non-Android platforms without requiring a port or rewrite of the app. For Chrome OS, though, it would theoretically have all the advantages of a native Chrome app as well, including features like sandboxing. The runtime is still marked as Beta, so do expect some bumps along the way.

For now, that list of Android apps is pretty small, but Google promises more to come and is even opening that decision to public vote. While some of these apps may already have native Chrome OS versions, users might find the Android apps more familiar. The biggest benefit, of course, will be for the developers, who now no longer have to worry about having to write and maintain two (or more) versions of an app just to target Google's two platforms.

SOURCE: Google

Spider-Man Unlimited game crawls onto Android

Fans of Spider-Man have a new game to check out on compatible Android devices. The game is called Spider-Man Unlimited and it comes from Gameloft. This isn't your typical looking video game, it is designed to look like a hand-drawn comic book, and it looks very cool.

The game lets players run, swing, and fight bad guys through NYC in five different environments while fighting the Sinister Six. The Sinister Six have opened a dimensional portal into NYC to allow them to summon endless versions of themselves in the game.

The game is free to play, but supported with in-game purchases. New content is being offered in issues with Issue 1 The Green Goblin and Issue 2 The Vulture already available. Issue 3 will be coming soon. The game has runner aspects, but players will get to run up walls, fight enemies, and skydive off buildings.

The writer of each episode of the game has written actual Spider-man comics. Players will also get to summon, collect, and play the game with different Spider-Man cards from different Marvel comics giving access to Spider-Man Nior, Iron Spider, Cosmic Spider-man, Scarlet Spider, and the Bombastic Bag-Man.

SOURCE: Google

Remove Band Restrictions from Qualcomm devices with these steps

One of the more annoying things that smartphone hardware manufacturers do from time to time is to restrict devices from using certain wireless bands even though technically the hardware supports those bands. This is particularly common from companies like QUALCOMM where they restrict hardware from working on wireless frequencies abroad.

What that means for the user is that if you travel your phone may not work in certain countries even though the hardware is capable. A process for removing these software imposed restrictions on various Qualcomm devices has been published with the goal of letting your device connect to any wireless frequencies it is capable of.

There are some caveats to the process that anyone considering trying it out needs to know. One major caveat for those who like to keep devices stock is that you do need a rooted device. The other drawback is that the process of removing the limitations is a long one.

The entire process has 36 steps and as with anything that requires a rooted device and modification of system files, there is always the chance you will make a mistake that may render your smartphone useless. Those brave enough to try it out can get the required files here, and be sure to let us know how the process goes.

SOURCE: XDA Developers

Moto X (2014) Review: Still the Android Phone For Everyone

The original Moto X, which debuted last year, was a different breed of smartphone. Rather than trying to build a beast with the best screen and the most horsepower, Motorola focused on the user experience above all else. The result was a phone that was so intelligent and comfortable to use that it almost didn't matter that it was out-gunned in a lot of ways. Well, the 2014 model is here. Not only does it retain that same sublime user experience, it comes out guns blazing.

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