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Xperia Transfer Mobile app updated for more speed

Sony wants to make it easy for fans of Xperia smartphones to transfer their data from other devices running Android or iOS to a new Sony device. To facilitate the easy transfer, Sony has updated its Xperia Transfer Mobile app to get your data from your old phone to the new phone quickly.



The app was updated this month and the update brought with it some very important changes. The most important of those changes is that data transfer is up to 20x faster from Android devices and up to 2x faster from iOS devices when using the Xperia Transfer Cable.


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The updated app now supports iOS 8 transfers when using a cable; WiFi isn’t supported for Apple's latest OS. The user interface of the app was also reworked to make it easier to use. Sony's app is 11MB in size and has up to 500,000 installs. The Android app requires Android 4.0 or higher.


Sony Xperia Mobile Transfer is able to transfer just about any data you have stored on your old iPhone. It can transfer your contacts, calendar, texts, MMS, bookmarks, notes, photos, music, video, documents, and apps form an iPhone. Check out the video to learn more about the app.




SOURCE: Google Play


Evernote to add Work Chat feature for better collaboration

If you didn't love Evernote enough before, a new upcoming feature for the note-taking and productivity app might make you fall in love with it even more. That is, if you're the sort who likes to (needs to) collaborate with other people on work or school projects. The Work Chat feature lets you stay on Evernote even while discussing changes and tasks with other members of your team.



The Evernote team doesn't want you to leave the Evernote workspace ever. So why chat on Hangouts or Messenger or email other schoolmates or officemates when you can just chat with them on this upcoming new feature? There is no limit as to how many people you can add or collaborate with. Of course you will also be able to share notebooks and notes while doing so. The notes that you're talking about will also be included in the Work Chat. They have also allowed all users the ability to share and read/write single notes and entire notebooks.


In shared notebooks and notes, the faces (well, the picture icons) of those who are collaborating on it will show up. And even when you're on the list view, you will still be able to see who are working on or viewing the notes that you've shared. This is your cue to start chatting with them on Work Chat so that everyone is up to date on what has changed or what needs to be done.


The Work Chat feature will be arriving soon on all Evernote platforms: web, desktop, smartphone and tablets. They also teased that they will be revealing a major update this November, which will all the more improve the collaboration and social aspects of Evernote. If you've been living under a digital rock and still haven't gotten Evernote on your mobile devices, you can get it for free from the Google Play Store.


SOURCE: Evernote





Hudle2 tablet boasts 8.2-inch screen and Intel CPU

About a year ago, super market chain Tesco in the UK rolled out its own branded tablet called the Hudl. That tablet sold over 750,000 units since it launched. Tesco is back with a new version of that tablet called the Hudl2 and it has grown a bit and gained some other features.



The Hudl2 tablet looks a lot like the original tablet with a similar design, but Hudl2 is larger than the original. The new tablet has an 8.3-inch full HD resolution screen and a thinner chassis. Tesco is making the new tablet in eight colors including black, blue, purple, red, aqua, pink, orange, and white.


Tesco is selling the Hudl2 for £129 and customers who shop Tesco frequently can get the device for less than that amount using some Clubcard points, with enough points you can get the new tablet for £65. Despite going official with the Hudl2 tablet today, it won't be available to purchase in stores until October 9.


Under the hood, the Hudl2 boasts a 1.83GHz Intel Atom quad-core promising three times the performance of the original Hudl. That Intel CPU is paired with 2GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat is the OS. Cameras include a 5MP rear-facing unit and a 1.2MP front unit. WiFi, Dolby optimized audio, and 16GB of storage round out the specs.




SOURCE: Engadget


MultiROM now on the HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S4

We have already shown you what MultiROM can do – it is a great piece of Android software developed by XDA developer “Tassadar” that allows devices to boot into different ROMs each time it boots up. To date, a number of Motorola devices have gotten MultiROM ports, as well as the LG G2, the Sony Xperia Z and the OnePlus One. Looks like a few more popular devices will get multi-boot capability now – the HTC One M8 and the Samsung Galaxy S4.



The HTC One M8 is HTC’s current flagship phone, and it’s hugely popular. Now it is getting a capability to boot into different ROMs, making it that much more cooler and strengthening its geek cred. The port was created by XDA member “boringalex”, and is at the moment considered as in beta phase. This means there will be a few bugs here and there, but is nonetheless usable. Check the original thread for this port here.


Another phone getting some multiboot goodness is the Samsung Galaxy S4, whose MultiROM port was made by XDA senior member “AntaresOne”. This hasn’t been featured yet by the XDA blog, so you can go directly to the original XDA forum thread for complete information on the port and any clarifications you might want to ask the developer.


We don’t need to remind you that putting MultiROM on a device that was not designed to handle multiple ROMs means that at some point something might go wrong. If you do not have the capability to recover from a situation where you might have bricked your phone, then this might not be for you. If you are comfortable doing this, we still say: keep good backups, always.


SOURCE: XDA





Unlocked Xperia Z3 Bootloader affects camera quality

Sony is one of the few Android OEMs that officially advertise support for unlocking their devices' bootloaders, with the usual warnings, of course. It is, however, to be expected that there would be some kinks here and there. The latest issue is reported to affect the Xperia Z3, which loses its impressive camera quality, as well as access to some pre-loaded content, when users decide to unlock the smartphone's bootloader.



At the heart of the matter is DRM or Digital Rights (some say Restrictions) Management, in particular, DRM security keys that authenticate the device as something unaltered and safe. These DRM keys are apparently used just not to allow viewing of copyrighted media content, which are their most common use case, but also for camera functionality, like proprietary noise reduction algorithms. In effect, this means that quality in low-light situations will be adversely affected. In addition, Sony warns that since the secure user data partition will no longer be accessible, official software updates will no longer be received. Here is Sony's official statement from the updated bootloader unlocking page:



"Certain pre-loaded content on your device may also be inaccessible due to the removal of DRM security keys. For high-end devices running recent software versions, for instance Xperia Z3, the removal of DRM security keys may affect advanced camera functionality. For example, noise reduction algorithms might be removed, and performance when taking photos in low-light conditions might be affected. The secure user data partition may also become inaccessible, and you will not be able to get any more official software upgrades if you unlock the boot loader."



The XDA Forums have a list of confirmed features that won't work after unlocking the bootloader, including the BRAVIA Engine and S-Force Front Surround sound. Reported, but not confirmed, to be also affected are Miracast and MirrorLink features as well as Sony's Entertainment Media apps and content.


This camera issue isn't exactly new to Sony. The Xperia Z1 also suffered quality loss when its bootloader was unlocked and it took almost three months for it to be fixed. Since DRM and highly proprietary technology is involved, it isn't surprising that unlocking the Xperia Z3's bootloader would indeed affect the user's experience. Hopefully, though, Sony will be working on a solution that will satisfy everyone involved and hopefully soon.


SOURCE: Sony

VIA: +Magnus Sandin, XDA





New HTC One (M8) Eye passes through China’s TENAA

Well, the HTC One (M8) Eye has finally surfaced – though unofficially. This new device that has appeared in the files of China’s TENAA is codenamed the HTC M8Ew, with the “w” a nod to China’s WCDMA networks. This was leaked a few weeks before and we picked on that, although the initial leak lacked anything in the manner of images. Now we have it.



The HTC One (M8) Eye takes considerably after its predecessor. No major changes here in the design language, but not that HTC fans are demanding any. It’s probably good that HTC chose to make this upgrade follow the form factor of the already popular HTC One M8. The main upgrade is the 13MP main camera, which we expect to be utilizing the dual camera setup that HTC has used in its flagship devices.


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The camera is a significant upgrade away from the measly 4MP main shooter that the relatively older flagship model carries. There is no information yet on the other specs within this new HTC phone – as such, we really don’t know yet if this phone will be competing at the very top of the smartphone market.


The HTC One Eye is expected to launch next week in a press event by HTC. Until then, or until an enterprising person leaks the info out, we will have to wait for the full spec line of this new phone. There is a big possibility that it will have flagship level specs and should fight for more of the market with the older HTC One models.


VIA: GSM Arena





Google adds Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact to Chromecast Screen Casting

The list of supported devices for Chromecast's screen casting capabilities has slowly been expanding. The latest addition is Sony's Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact which means the devices' users can now cast the content of their smartphones' screens, not just music and video, onto larger screens through the dongle.



When Google pushed the screen casting functionality to Chromecast earlier this year, those who wanted to show off their vacation pictures or their curated most hilarious tweets on a larger screen gave a sigh of relief. The entire screen of your smartphone or tablet can now be streamed through the HDMI dongle and not just the "cast-ready" apps or content of your devices. But this capability was just limited to several Android devices, like Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10, Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3 and Note 10, HTC One M7, LG G2 and G3 and now, the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact.


Using the functionality is pretty easy. Make sure your device is running on Android 4.4.2 or higher, and connect it to the same WiFi as your Chromecast dongle. From the Chromecast app on your device, you need to select the Cast Screen option and then select your Chromecast device's name. There are limits over what can be streamed though, although Google has not said what kind of content is not allowed though.


The Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact are the first and only (so far) products from Sony that have Chromecast screen casting support. But hopefully, Google will be adding more devices to this list, although we cannot expect that older devices will be included. Also, the functionality is still in Beta mode so expect that things will not go as smoothly as of now.


SOURCE: Google

VIA: Android World





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