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Nexus 9 to be unveiled tomorrow but launched in November

If the stars align tomorrow, we will finally get 1/3 of the Android puzzle filled in. An insider sources claims that Google has scheduled a formal announcement of what is now known as the Nexus 9 for October 15, which is just a few hours away. This, however, is just an appetizer as the tablet will only be available via pre-orders starting the 17th until its retail launch on November 3.



The reason being offered for this delay is that Google is said to be still wrapping up development on Android L, confirmed to be 5.0 but still without a final nickname, which means that the Nexus 9, and the Nexus 6 smartphone which may also be unveiled tomorrow, still aren't ready to be shipped. This is quite unusual for Google, whose hand may have been force by the fact that Apple is expected to unveil its next generation of iPad tablets on October 16. Google then just wants the world to know first that it has an interesting tablet available as well.


The Nexus 9 is interesting in more ways than one. It is interesting in hardware, leaked to sport the latest and fastest 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 chip, though with a slightly odd 8.9-inch 2048x1440 screen, It is said to have dual front-facing speakers and a brushed metal appearance. If those last two sounded familiar, then it is because of the second factor which makes the Nexus 9 interesting. It will be the first Android tablet that manufacturer HTC is making since since it's ill-fated HTC Flyer. It is also the return of the OEM to the ranks of Nexus device makers.


The Nexus 9 is said to come in two storage flavors, a 16 GB one that costs $399 and a 32 GB LTE model with a $499 price tag. Strangely, both are noted to have microSD card slots, which is definitely odd for a Nexus, considering how Google is quite averse to storage expansion. The tablet is also tipped to come with an "Origami" style cover accessory, something like what Amazon has for its latest Kindle Fire tablets. This might seem contrary to earlier leaks about a folio keyboard case, though it is certainly possible that Google will be offering both, or that the two are actually one and the same.


SOURCE: Forbes

VIA: SlashGear





Zeiss intros the VR One, ready to rival the Samsung Gear VR

Uh oh. Looks like the Samsung Gear VR has an upcoming rival. A new virtual reality handheld device called the Zeiss VR One has just been introduced. Samsung has not fully released the Gear VR and now it needs to prepare for another battle in the virtual reality world.



Carl Zeiss technology is more commonly found on cameras but now, the company is venturing into virtual reality even if it’s still in its early stages. It seems that consumers are also looking into this technology but there are not much options except for Samsung's. But now, the Zeiss VR One is here with an even affordable price tag of $99.


What’s good about the VR One is that it works with any smartphone of a specific size. As Zeiss is an expert in optics, the VR One is guaranteed to offer a better viewing experience. For app developers, the VR One uses an open source Unity3D SDK so you can develop more apps for the device. The SDK allows simpler programming of the apps that will be then used in the VR One. SDK is available for both Android and iOS. No word on a Windows Phone version yet.


You can watch videos and pictures with the ZEISS VR ONE media app. You can also enjoy YouTube to watch and stream 3D and 2D videos. Play around with StreetView to check out places you haven't visited in Google image’s database. The VR One actually displays two images side-by-side but the user sees them as only one image. You can view a slide show, change transition, zoom, and activate or deactivate repeat mode. To jump to the next video or photo, enable Side Tap by tapping on the right side of the device. Tapping on the left will show the previous image.


YouTube browsing is made more fun with the VR One. There’s also a search field that lets a user look for new videos but it’s not clear how one can type the keywords. As for the StreetView function, imagine looking at a 360-degree panoramic view of a place you haven’t been to. Tap on the front of glasses to “walk” forward.


Features of the Zeiss VR One include a leading-edge optical design and ZEISS precision lenses, an innovative slide to position the smartphone exactly, enough air ventilation openings to avoid fogging and ease airflow, stereo side-by-side format for 3D videos and photos, 100-degree field of view, 53-77mm interpupillary distance coverage, and an AR Cube.


Supported devices include those with display size between 4.7 and 5.2-inches only like the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One M8, Sony Xperia Z2, Huawei Ascend P7, Nokia Lumia 930, Xiaomi M13, and LG G2. Pre-order for the VR One has already started in the United States, Europe, and Asia but no information on exact availability yet. We’ll let you know soon.


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SOURCE: ZEISS VR ONE





Microsoft has Android Wear keyboard that draws on smartwatch

While smartwatches are definitely catching on, particularly for the early adapters of technology, the idea of having keyboards on the watchfaces are still pretty much a novelty. Given the small screen space, it does feel weird to have a full-fledged keyboard on your wearable. Microsoft has come up with a sort of alternative to that, with its newly-released keyboard that actually lets you draw the letters and characters on your smartwatch that runs on the Android Wear platform, particularly if it's square or the Moto 360.



The "analog keyboard" has been released as a prototype, and works with square-faced Android Wear smartwatches with a 320 x 320 resolution or the Moto 360. You can use the virtual keyboard to write out messages, for those times when it is too private to dictate to your wearable device. You can also use it for when you search for something on Google, particularly to write out things that you don't want others to know you're looking for (like how to boil an egg perhaps). Drawing on the smartwatch also helps for symbols that you can't distake like @ # and even numbers.




Other virtual keyboards have come up with a workaround to typing out things on your smartwatch's small surface. Minuum has a non-qwerty keyboard that takes advantage of the small screen to reprogram how you use it, even with round-face wearables. But Microsoft is probably the first one to have used the idea of drawing on it. While it is less awkward than using a keyboard on the device, it still takes some getting used to writing on it, particularly if you're writing a pretty long message.


You can download Microsoft's prototype keyboard from their website, but it is not yet available on the Google Play Store. You also need to follow the instructions (included in the zip file download) carefully, especially if you're a Moto 360 owner, since it normally requires a USB for the install process.


VIA: The Verge





New videos from ASUS showcase Padfone S 2-in-1 features

ASUS has released on its YouTube channel several new videos highlighting the advantages of having a 2-in-1 device with its Padfone S smartphone/tablet hybrid. The gadget line, which is one of a kind (so far) can be used as a smartphone which then converts into a tablet when docked, for the price of one device and one data plan as well. So this might be the device for those who want to have both but may have only budget for one.



The first video has a bit of a humorous (well, for some parts) take on what it means to have "a phone that's also a tablet that's also a phone". It's easy to switch from a communication device to a work station (although this having no keyboard in the dock may be a disadvantage) to a phone then to an entertainment system just by the mere actions of docking and undocking, giving new meaning to the word "seamless". It also means that you just get one bill from your data provider, which can be a huge breathing space for your wallet. The dock also serves as a charging station for the phone so even if you use it as a tablet, your phone is gaining energy as well.




The newer video is a bit more technical (and more serious as well) as it boasts of the technical beauty behind the Padfone S. The lead designer, Pete Lin, talks about how the idea that "intuition is instinctive" was the driving force for their design. The imagery (and the words) highlight both the beauty and ingenuity of the device. Things like its 13-megapixel camera, the dual front-facing speakers, the 5" Full HD display are shown off, as well as the under-the-hood features of the device that runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core 2.3GHz processor.




There is another, longer 7-minute video on the ASUS YouTube channel that gives more information on the various features of the Padfone S. The walk-through not just looks at the basic specifications, but goes into details about its design, productivity and multi-media features as well.





Card Dungeon is a virtual board game

At some point, I would wager that we have all played a board game of some sort. Board games often have little cardboard pieces that you punch out to use as avatars and enemies. A new game has hit Android called Card Dungeon and it has the look and feel of a board game.



Players will take control of the Crusader to free the land from Nethermist in the turn-based strategy game. Each turn the player only gets to do one thing. At the beginning of the game, players are dealt three cards that are used for attack, defense, health, magic, summoning, and more.


New cards can be won by the player by opening chests or killing monsters. Players can choose to take the new cards or keep the cards they already have. Each time players die, the game starts back at the beginning of the level.


One of the cool and unique things about the game is that there are no in-app purchases, no ads, and the internet isn't needed to play. There are thousands of cards to discover and use. The game is 50% off for launch and you can purchase it for $1.99.




SOURCE: Google Play


Gameboy Color games can run on Android Wear

We always knew more fun and geeky stuff would be available on any device running Android Wear but not this early. Well, the wearable device OS is easy to customize anyway so no wonder a Gameboy emulator has been transported to a Samsung Gear Live by Davenport. He’s the same guy who previously ran Windows 95 on Android Wear.



CorbinDavenport shows off some popular Gameboy Color games running on a Samsung Gear Live connected to a gamepad—a Moga pocket controller. The idea of playing games on a small screen with a gamepad is a bit bizarre but it only proves anything can be done on Android Wear.


I couldn’t think of one reasons why I’d do this if I have an Android Wear smartwatch but this could be a cool way to teach the kids of this generation the games of our past. Gameboy Color games are now considered old school. After this, I’m guessing developers would try to bring retro games like Pac Man and Space Invaders---or those old Atari games you used to play.


Corbin Davenport has posted a tutorial on how to do this. You are free to do so just make sure you understand what you’re doing.




I wonder what could be done to Android Wear next…..Bring it on, geeks!


VIA: Talk Android





The Sony Z3 Compact Is Android's Best Kept Secret

The Sony Z3 Compact Is Android's Best Kept Secret


Small and powerful smartphones are an endangered species, like the California Condor of the mobile world. If you want a top-tier phone that fits in a normal hand, the iPhone 6 is practically your only stateside option . But you know what? An exotic handset designed for Japan and Europe could have everything you've ever craved.


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