HTC lock screen app lands on Google Play

HTC has announced a new app that it has launched that brings the HTC lock screen seen on new devices like the HTC One M8 to other users. With the app available, the lock screen is now supported away from the HTC Sense Android skin.

The interesting thing about the HTC lock screen is that it has a method for deleting all the data off your smartphone if the password is entered wrong ten times in a row. The idea behind that feature is to keep hackers from being able to brute force their way into your device and steal personal data.

In operation that feature caused an issue for some users if the phone went into a pocket and movement caused incorrect passwords to be entered enough to wipe the smartphone data. To stop that from happening, HTC has tweaked the way the lock screen works.

That tweak involves requiring a pattern to be drawn on screen after the password is entered incorrectly five times. That should keep random presses in a pocket from being able to wipe your data. The HTC Lock Screen app is available on Google Play now.

SOURCE: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• HTC One M8 shows off red and pink colors


• HTC One M8's Duo Cam now allows others to refocus your photos


• Verizon HTC One M8 gets Android 4.4.3 update

Acer creates selfie hat for London Fashion Week

If you thought that those ubiquitous selfie sticks (monopods, to be exact) and the idea of selfies in general are highly annoying, then you better brace yourself for the latest marriage of gadgets and “haute couture”. Yes, it is real: there is now a hat that will help you take selfies. Meet the Acer Selfie-Hat (what else would it be called), their latest creation made especially for the London Fashion Week.

It’s not just any hat, mind you. It’s a huge, hot pink, sombrero-type creation that can spin 360 degrees and has a holder for the Acer Iconia A-1 840 tablet which you can use to post pictures and videos on Facebook, Instagram, Vine or whatever app of your choice . And the hat would look just at home on stage at a Lady Gaga concert. In fact, the designer of the selfie-hat, Christian Cowan-Sanluis created something similar that Lady Gaga wore in New York earlier this year, and it seems to have come from that bright pink ensemble. There is also a smaller version, or rather a case/sombrero for the Acer mini since the hat will not fit any human head (maybe a dog).

According to a press release from Acer, the selfie sombrero can help you find the best angle to take your picture, the best expression to make, as well as help you “understand lighting” so you can create “the perfect social media moment.” Much has already been said about how the popularity of selfies has given rise to even more narcissism online and offline, and this loud selfie hat can add “exhibitionism” to the list of sins they will perpetuate (or self-expression, if you want to look at it from another angle).

But don’t worry just yet. You won’t be witnessing an attack of pink sombrero wearing selfie-takers just yet, as you will only be able to purchase it through appointment starting September 12 at the designer’s fashion presentation during London Fashion Week. You can try it out and then get a consultation with Cowan-Sanluis. No price tag has been announced, so let’s just hope it is something not affordable to the average selfie-addicts.

VIA: Pocket Lint

Sony Xperia Z3 compact and Z3 hit pre-order

If you liked what you heard already about the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and Z3 smartphones, the time has come to pre-order the devices. The Z3 Compact smartphone can be pre-ordered at Clove in the UK right now and its pre-order price has been reduced.

You can now pre-order the Z3 Compact for £349 including VAT. That is a significant price cut from the original £432 price with VAT that the pre-order started at. If you pre-ordered the device with Clove at the higher original price, the new price will be applied to your order.

Clove expects the first batch of Z3 compact smartphones in red, white, and black to arrive at the end of this month. If you want the Xperia Z3, you can pre-order that device at Carphone Warehouse in the UK. Carphone Warehouse will sell the Xperia Z3 smartphone for £430.

That is quite a bit cheaper than you can get the smartphone from Sony Mobile Store or Amazon UK with their prices at £549 and £529.95 respectively. The Z3 will have a 5.2-inch screen, 20.7MP camera, and will run a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor.

SOURCE: Xperiablog

SOURCE: Clove

Story Timeline

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


• T-Mobile to bring Sony Xperia Z3 to US by end of 2014

Sup Android lets users view the world through a smartphone camera

A new app has landed for Android users to check out called Sup Android. The Sup app originally launched on the iOS platform, but is now available for Android users on Google Play. The idea behind Sup is to allow people to step into each other's world using the camera on their smartphone.

The company behind the app says that Supping someone is asking them to allow you to share their camera for ten seconds so you can jump into their eyes and see what they are seeing. The entire process is interactive and there are gesture controls to tell your friend to move left or right so you can see what's going on all around.

Sup allows you to ask the friend for a live selfie as well. The app saves none of the video that you see. Although the app has just launched for Android, it has already been updated to version 1.0.2 to fix a couple issues including an issue with login.

The app also checks for Google Play services. Users of the app can connect with people at SupHQ and an issue where commands would send multiple swipes has been fixed. The app is 15MB in size and requires Android 2.3.3 or higher to operate.

SOURCE: Medium

LG L Fino and L Bello smartphone rollout begins

During IFA 2014 earlier this month, LG unveiled a pair of new budget smartphones called the LG L Fino and LG L Bello. LG has now announced that the launch rollout for these two new devices has begun with customers in Brazil being able to get their hands on both smartphones this week. Rollout in other countries will commence in the coming weeks.

Other countries that will be getting the L series smartphones include Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Neither of these smartphones is slated to come to the US at this time. If you missed the smartphones when they were first announced, the Fino has a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and a 4.5-inch screen.

The Bello has a 1.3Ghz quad-core processor and a 5-inch screen. Power for the Fino comes from a 1900 mAh internal battery and power for the Bello comes from a 2540 mAh unit. Both smartphones have 8MP cameras and the LG Rear Key design.

The Fino has 1GB of RAM and 4GB of integrated storage with a microSD card for expansion. The Bello has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage with a microSD card for expansion. Both smartphones run Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Pricing will be announced for local markets when the devices launch.

SOURCE: LG

Ebay Update: beefed-up look, adds Giving Works option

Online selling giant Ebay has updated its Android app and it’s not just a minor upgrade. Version 2.7 brings with it a new look, better notifications, more delivery options and a more thorough search function. But more importantly, it adds a feature that would give freedom to sellers to help out their favourite charity from the proceeds of their sales.

Those strolling through Ebay looking for useful (and sometimes not so useful) things to spend their money on will now have an easier time browsing as the item images are now bigger. They’ve also refined the search function so it should be easier to find the things you need (and don’t need but want). As a seller, you will now be able to send payment reminders to those who’ve purchased items from you. You can also add in-store pick-up and same-day delivery options through the eBay Now program. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, you can also now stay on top of your items through in-app notifications.

But probably one of the most important things with this new update is that through the app, sellers can choose to redirect the money that they receive from their sales to specific charities. This is part of eBay’s Giving Works initiative that has already raised more than $500 million. They are currently supporting 30,000 charities and help them connect with over 145 million eBay community members.

Buyers will also be alerted with bonus and special offers from some eBuy sellers. If you don’t have the app yet, you can download eBay for free from the Google Play Store.

Birzzle Fever lets you pop birds in a non-disgusting way

If you have ever played Candy Crush, you will see some similarities with Birzzle Fever. Birzzle Fever is a game from Halfbrick Studios that has just launched on Google Play and is a free download. As you expect with most free games, it is supported with in-game purchases.

The game is described as a "lightning-paced bird popping extravaganza." The game has level ups that unlock new items like paint bombs, boosters, and mystery boxes. Completing challenging missions can open new powers like the dark powerbird and others.

Players are able to choose a superbird companion and level that bird up to get different powers. All superbirds can be collected and each grants a different power. The game also allows players to trade hearts with friends and compete on weekly leader boards.

The game launched on September 10 and is in version 1.0.5 right now. It requires Android 2.3 or higher to play and has only 1-5 installs right now according to Google Play.

SOURCE: Google Play