Archos launching new ‘Platinum’ entry level phones

First things first, you don’t usually name an entry level anything “Platinum”, but apparently there’s no rule against that – so here is ARCHOS, known purveyor of Android devices for the masses, with two new phones aimed at people who might be buying and using smartphones for the first time. The ARCHOS 45c Platinum and the 50b platinum are the newest devices out of the French electronics device company. Let’s see what they’re like.

The ARCHOS 45c Platinum has a 4.5-inch 854x480 display while the 50b Platinum has a 5-inch qHD (960x540) screen. This might be the main difference of the two phones, as they both sport the same MediaTek 1.3Ghz quad-core processor, supported by 512MB of RAM and a Mali 400MP2 graphics unit. Both will have a meager 4GB of internal storage, both expandable via the microSD slot. The bonus for buyers of the 50b will be an 8GB microSD that comes extra out of the box. (45c gallery below)

The 50b also curiously has a plastic protector case that comes with it out of the box – where this is usually relegated to an accessory that the user buys separately. As you can see, these two phones are not going to win any awards for bleeding edge hardware, but they are targeted squarely at a very specific portion of the entry level market. You see, these two phones offer Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, which may not be the case for other entry level phones. We’ve seen Samsung upgrade their entry level gadgets to KitKat as well. (50b gallery below)

At a retail price of USD$100 and USD$120 respectively, we can be pretty sure that you will get what you paid for in terms of features and hardware. Both units have dual SIM capability, and even have a tolerable 8MP/5MP main shooters and a 2MP front-facing camera. Togeher with the large screens and Android KitKat out of the box, these devices will fight toe-to-toe with all the other entry level devices out there, and it might just win a few battles or so.

SOURCE: Archos (1), (2)

Story Timeline

• Archos steps into the home automation market with Smart Home


• Archos 80 Helium 4G tablet aims at the entry level market


• Archos Platinum smartphones and Oxygen tablet revealed

What iOS Still Needs To Learn From Android

Now that iOS 8 is finally in the hands of millions, it's worth taking a step back to look at just how far Apple has pushed your iPhone's capabilities—and how much farther it still has to go. Especially compared to what Android lets you get away with.

Read more...

LG VC100 smartwatch crosses the FCC, heads to Verizon

A new LG smartwatch has crossed the FCC to get the certifications it needs to come to market. This version of the G Watch is called the LG-VC100 and is destined for Verizon. Interestingly, this smartwatch will have its own SIM card.

That indicates it will be capable of making calls without needing a smartphone. The FCC says that the device is a smartwatch with CDMA network support. This is an ellipse shaped smartwatch, which can be divined from the measurements of the watch excluding the strap offered by the FCC.

We know the watch itself measures 57.5mm long and 35.5mm wide. It will operate on CDMA2000 (BC0 and BC1) networks. This device might fit into the existing G Watch line or it may be a new device altogether, only time will tell since the FCC doesn't call out an official name for the product. So far, LG has already launched the G Watch in square form factor, as well as announced the G Watch R in round shape.

LG G Watch R

There are some outstanding details that we just don’t have at this time, like when the watch will launch, what hardware it will use, and what it will cost. The only thing we can do is wait, sometimes after crossing the FCC products take months to come to market and other times they land shortly after the FCC stamps them as good. I'm sure LG would like the product to be on the market in time for holiday shopping.

SOURCE: MyLGPhones

Story Timeline

• Samsung Gear S unveiled: a Tizen watch that can stand solo


• LG details round-face G Watch R smartwatch


• WearFaces makes Apple watch face for Android smartwatches

NVIDIA Shield Portable updated, fix for auto-rotate glitch

To be fair, NVIDIA has been very vigilant about the user experience on its premium SHIELD devices – the SHIELD Tablet and the SHIELD Portable. This is why the devices, especially the portable, have been diligently updated with bug fixes – and this new update is no different. This hefty new update is set to fix the auto-rotate glitch that has been bugging users every so often.

The new update for the NVIDIA Shield Portable is a heavy download at almost 481MB, but it fixes a number of issues with the gadget. Primarily, there were complaints of a bad issue that caused the screen to not auto-rotate with the gyro sensor – the update fixes that. The update also improves GameStream quality, and there is also a fix for a bug that made the Twitch icon disappear for short periods of time.

You might remember – if you own said device – that the gadget was updated recently in early August for GameStream bugs, Ethernet issues, and the addition of wireless controller support. The new update should be available already as of today, and it will just be one single download – a heavy one in terms of update size, but small enough to not be cut into update rollout stages.

Full change log:

- Fixes intermittent streaming issues for some users in GameStream

- Fixes a bug on the home screen that occasionally replaces the Twitch icon with an Android icon that does not work

- Fixes auto-rotate screen feature; enable option from Settings → Display → (select) Auto-rotate screen

- Fixes auto turning issue on select racing games that may require gyro-sensor support

To get the update, just power up your device and there should a notification for you. Have you been enjoying your SHIELD Portable so far? Do you have any outstanding issues with the device? What the best game you play on it? Give us some love in the comments section.

SOURCE: NVIDIA

Story Timeline

• NVIDIA SHIELD-shaped 'P2570' game controller appears in FCC filing


• NVIDIA SHIELD Portable gets Wireless Controller support


• NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet gets a 32 GB LTE upgrade

Ingress AR game adding ‘Missions’ as side-quests for players

Ingress is a very different type of mobile game in that it doesn’t have angry or flappy birds, bad piggies, or even your novel retro 8-bit graphics – and yet it has managed to capture a modest but staunchly loyal fan and player base. Ingress is an augmented reality (AR) game where doing things in the real world – like travelling to places – gains you points and experience in the mobile game.

For a while there, Ingress was all the rage – coming out of closed beta and making the game available for all. The game hinges around the players’ control over an element called XM (Exotic Matter), and the game overlays itself on real-world maps. The goal is to put up “portals” around these XM – usually located in major landmarks and public locations. Two factions fight over these territories – players get to choose one – and portals increase your controlled territory.

The Android app – apart from showing the map overlay – lets players communicate with each other. As the developers have recently announced, a new element for Ingress will roll out soon, and it is called “Missions”. This new addition will feature like “side quests” which will be familiar to most RPG gamers. Players are asked to visit a series of places and complete game actions to gain in-game advantages. For this feature, Ingress is using the dataset from a hugely popular location-based app called “Field Trip” – so players will need to expect trips to locations which are connected to history, art, architecture, outdoor activities, shopping, dining, and the like.

Will this continue to boost Ingress’s playability and keep its players from being bored? Most likely. Gamers usually take to side-quests with a lot of zeal and bravado, so you can expect this feature to be nice and popular. Will it make you want to play the game though, if you have not been playing it? That really depends if you are convinced that this is your idea of fun. But if its, then this is all good, right?

SOURCE: Ingress

Story Timeline

• Ingress exiting open beta tomorrow, will be available to everyone


• Ingress gets two new gameplay features


• Ingress ups level cap, lets loose Ultra Strike weapons

Learn How to Build an APK Installer for Your Tizen Smartwatch Widget

As of right now, if you want to install a widget into your smartwatch running Tizen OS such as the Samsung Gear 2, you’ll have to sideload the wgt file onto the device using SBD tool. I’m sure that for many Android users who also happen to own a Tizen wearable, installing widgets onto that device isn’t as straightforward as what one may have gotten used to when using Android. With this said, there’s now a way which you can install Tizen widgets as an APK courtesy of XDA Recognized Developer Skin1980.

Skin1980 has written a tutorial teaching you how to build an APK installer for your Tizen widget enabling you to install the widget as a simple APK rather than sideloading it using SBD tool. The process requires you to download and unpack the provided APK source, import it into Eclipse, make a few edits and export the result as an Android app. And with the exported APK file, all you have to do is install it as you would like any other Android app.

If you have a wgt file that you want to install onto your Tizen smart watch, or a developer of Tizen widgets looking to make installation for your users much simpler, Skin1980’s tutorial is something you’ll want to check out. So if you would like to get started, head over to the Tizen widget APK tutorial thread for more information.

The post Learn How to Build an APK Installer for Your Tizen Smartwatch Widget appeared first on xda-developers.

Customize Your OnePlus One’s Boot Logo

In an era when customizing the user interface of your Android device has become an absolute breeze, customizing the boot logo probably one of the less effortless ways of customizing your device. Rather than having a comfortable app on your phone from which you can change every little detail of the UI, customizing a boot logo often requires a bit more motor skills and creativity. If you own a OnePlus One and are thinking of switching up the boot logo, XDA Forum Member chillstep1998 has written a tutorial to help you get started.

The tutorial teaches you how to create your very own boot logo for the OnePlus One. The process requires you to download the provided files and tool that chillstep1998 has created, and editing images which will eventually become the actual boot logo with an image editor such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or the legendary MS Paint. Furthermore, chillstep1998 plans to integrate flashable ZIP packages into the tutorial in the future so ROM and kernel developers can include their custom boot logos.

If you are an owner of the OnePlus One, chillstep1998’s tutorial is something you’ll want to check out if you are planning on creating your own boot logo for your device. To find out more, head over to the OnePlus One boot logo tutorial thread.

The post Customize Your OnePlus One’s Boot Logo appeared first on xda-developers.