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Moto 360 firmware update improves performance of smartwatch

The first round-faced smartwatch running on Android Wear, the Moto 360, is pretty sweet already on its own, but of course, as with most 1st generation devices, there might still be some bugs in it. The round smartwatch owners received a prompt to download and install a new firmware update.This has reportedly bettered the performance of the wearable, even if there are no major feature-based improvements.



It's not exactly Android Wear 2.0, but more like 1.0.1.1448224 (previously 1.0.1.1387258) and build number KGW42R (previously KGW42N). As for what this has brought the Moto 360 owners, they've reported that the Google Now cards are more "fluid and responsive" on their smartwatch. But other than that obvious improvement, there are no major changes yet that can be seen after the update.


According to the official changelog from Motorola, the update will supposedly improve the Bluetooth connectivity between the smartwatch and the Android device it is rooted to, as some users have reported that there have been some "momentary disconnects" between the devices. Another minor improvement is that there is now a message that will confirm that your Moto 360 is charging, particularly when the smartwatch's battery is fully drained.


If you haven't received any firmware update yet, don't panic and wonder if your Moto 360 is broken. Motorola said they will be continually rolling out the update in phases in the next few days. And maybe you wouldn't even notice that it has been updated yet, so no need to rush or worry.


VIA: Droid Life





Motorola “Shamu”/Nexus 6 finally gets more detailed leaks

Android L, and its reference Nexus device or devices, is just a month or so away. So naturally, rumors surrounding those new Nexus smartphone and/or tablet are starting to settle down. The Motorola "Shamu", alternately referred to as the Nexus 6 and the Verizon Moto S, is also starting to take a more solid shape, a shape that closely resembles an overgrown and beefed up Moto X.



By overgrown, they mean a display size of 5.92 inches, practically 6 inches. And by beefed up, they mean that the screen will boast of a QHD resolution of 2560x1440 and will run on a 2.6 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 and have 3 GB of RAM. Storage size isn't fixed yet, but as far as Nexus smartphones go, we can't be blamed if we expect 16 and 32 GB configurations, without a microSD card to supplement. There will be a 13 megapixel camera on the back, capable of shooting 4K videos, and a 2 GB shooter on the front.


But that's just for the innards. Outside, the Shamu/Nexus 6 is expected to also look a lot like the new Moto X, only bigger. One difference that 9to5Google expects, though, at least based on their mockup above, is that lock and volume buttons will be located further down the right edge. Definitely a strange position not found in most smartphones, but one that is theoretically easier to reach, especially for a device this big. On the back side, everything is as they should be, even the dual LED flash on the camera, unlike the split style that was leaked for the Verizon DROID Turbo. One thing the mockup doesn't indicate well is branding, both the conventional Nexus name on the back as well as the hole that will be left by the absence of the large "M" that is present on the regular Moto X.


If these leaks and speculations do ring true, then Google would be truly entering the phablet world, which might eat into the Nexus 7 market. But then again, Google's rumored next Nexus tablet will be a 9-inch one from HTC, so the two roads will still not meet. We will just have to wait for mid-October or early November to see if any of these come to pass.


VIA: 9to5Google





Bendgate continues: iPhone 6, One M8, new Moto X, Lumia 1020

What's hotter than a new Apple iPhone? A new Apple iPhone that bends! Unbox Therapy returns with a larger set of smartphones across different manufacturers to test, even an older Nokia Lumia, just to prove that not everything bends to the forces of nature, or your hands, or your thighs, so easily as the iPhone 6 Plus.



It's only reasonable to put the smaller iPhone 6 to the same torture as its bigger sibling. And it is somewhat also reasonable to expect that it won't be so quick to yield, which is what this new test video proves. Though presumably made of the same materials and with the same meticulous care that Apple is so famous for, the iPhone 6 barely budged. The theory is that because it is smaller, it is more compact and therefore less susceptible to bending. But then again, the Galaxy Note 3 is actually larger than even the iPhone 6 Plus and yet it fared better than Apple's first phablet.


One device that immediately came to mind when #bendgate started was the HTC One M8, because of its similar aluminum material and unibody design. It's 5.0-inch screen also sits somewhere in between the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. That said, HTC's 2014 flagship would not budge. Well, not entirely. It was amusing to note that the screen bulged out a bit where the force was being applied but went back to normal afterwards.


The real winner of this batch, however, is the completely new Moto X. Though also with an aluminum frame, Motorola's latest masterpiece was noted to be impossible to bend with bare hands. No creak, no sound, no movement, no bulge. A solid piece of slab that attests to Motorola's attention to quality which will hopefully carry on even under Lenovo's flag.


For kicks, Unbox Therapy threw in a Nokia smartphone, particularly a Lumia 1020. Nokia's devices have long been the center of praise and jokes for being tough and rugged, though its Lumia line still has to be put to the test. The Lumia 1020, in particular, has a 41 megapixel PureView camera which might make your presume it has some very sensitive and fragile components inside. Lo and behold, aside from an initial movement of the screen, the Lumia 1020 proved that Nokia still has it. Or had it, rather. Let's see if Microsoft will be able to keep that tradition going.




Rumored Samsung Galaxy A series to have LTE connectivity

As we reported late last week, it's been leaked that Samsung will be launching three new phones in the Galaxy A series line, slightly lower-end, probably non-metal versions of the recently-launched Galaxy Alpha. Now, more details have reportedly surfaced, and if they are to be believed, all three smartphones will have LTE connectivity, a must-have now for devices, but also not something that lower-end phones usually tout.



Information about the three phones were supposedly leaked due to UAProf and entries in the TENAA that prove their existence. The names are tenatively referred to as Galaxy A3, A5 and A7. All three will reportedly have LTE, but the A7 is rumored to be released only in certain countries. But as to why this is, those who have been discussing the leaks still have no idea why. Speculation is that the A7 is too close to the premium Galaxy Alpha and might eat into their sales, so it will just be released in selected countries.


The three Galaxy A series smartphones might be launched sometime in the 3rd quarter of this year. The Galaxy A3 will be the lowest in terms of specs and price and might be targetted to the market segment that can't afford a Galaxy Alpha but would want to have something almost similar. The Galaxy A5, based on the TENAA speces will reportedly have a larger screen at 5-inches but also with 720p resolution. It will have a lower processor of 1.2 GHz quad-core but this might mean it can run Snapdragon 400. It has 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage but with a microSD slot to expand the space.


There are also some reported pricing details on the three Galaxy A line phones. The A3 will be somewhere in the $350-$400 range, the A5 will cost anywhere between $400-$$450 while the A7 will be at $450-$500.


VIA: SAM Mobile





HTC might be going after GoPro’s market

The earlier rumored October 8 date for an HTC Nexus 9 unveil has now been squashed. The Chinese OEM has just released a teaser video, as well as an invitation to take a peek at RECamera.com on that said date, suggesting that what it has in store might not be a smartphone or a tablet at all but might be a versatile and rugged digital camera instead.



If true, and we're confident that it is based on that website, then HTC is truly branching out even further from its core mobile device line. Last week, leaks suggested that the manufacturer might be looking into entering the medical field with a variety of smart devices for home users. And just a bit earlier than that, an invitation for an HTC press event called "Double Exposure" was sent out, and now we know why it was named as such. Curiously, HTC seems to be eying a camera market, particularly one that is practically dominated by GoPro.


GoPro is popular not for its professional photography and cameras but for HD personal cameras that can be used anywhere. And by anywhere, we mean on land, air, and water. GoPro cameras have been a particular favorite among the personal drone crowd as it allows them to take almost impossible shots, be they of locations or extreme sports stunts. Now, we're not sure if HTC's upcoming product can be used for drones too, but the video teaser below does at least suggest that the camera can be used anywhere as well, even underwater. Check around the 3 second marker to see what looks to be handheld device, possibly a small camera or simply a remote control for it.




Of course, there's no telling what form this "something remarkable" camera will take. Will it be a smartphone camera ala the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom? Or will it be a standalone camera that can attach to a smartphone like the Sony QX series? If this has in any way piqued your curiousity, keep on watching this space as we bring you the lowdown on HTC's press event on October 8.


Sol Republic Punk Wireless speaker is water resistant

There are times when you want to listen to some music on the go, but you don’t want to mess with headphones. For these times, a portable speaker is the perfect option. Sol Republic has announced a new portable wireless speaker called the Punk.



The Punk is designed to be very portable, rugged, and very loud so you can share music with an entire group. The speaker is water, shock, and dust resistant. Power comes from an internal battery good for up to eight hours of use per charge.


Sol Republic says that is 50% more runtime than other devices of its size. Wireless connectivity is via Bluetooth and the wireless range is 60-feet. The Punk does have a 3.5mm jack for connecting to a car or home stereo.


Sol Republic doesn't offer details on just how much power the speaker has, but it does claim the Punk is 75% more powerful than other speakers of its size. Punk will be offered in seven colors online and in retail outlets for $69.99.


SOURCE: Sol Republic


Karma Go hotspot brings 4G LTE support and long battery life

Having WiFi connectivity isn't a luxury for many folks who spend a lot of time on the road, it is a requirement to be able to get any work done. Two years ago a device called Karma launched offering WiFi hotspots for travelers that used WiMax to deliver 4G connectivity.



WiMax turned out to be a bad choice for connectivity since it never took off with most carriers in most areas. Karma is back with a new hotspot device called the Karma Go and this time the device connects to the Sprint LTE network. Along with support for LTE, the new Karma Go gets a new design as well.


The color changing single LED from the original Karma device is gone and three rings replace it to represent signal strength. The flap that covered the USB port on the original device has been removed from the Go to make access easier when charging.


Karma Go promises a standby time of up to 220 hours when not in use, and can be activated into normal mode with a button press. To get more run time the Go did have to grow slightly compared to the original device. The big thing with the Karma Go is the service and it has no monthly fees and no contracts. You buy the hardware and data allowance and the data is there until you use it all up. The Karma Go sells for $149, those who own an original Karma can pre-order for $75. The new device will ship in December.


SOURCE: Karma


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