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Kindle for Android update: X-Ray, flashcard support

If you use Amazon's Kindle app on your Android device, you might have noticed some features on another platform that you don't have yet on your device for the past two years. Well, you need not be envious any longer as version 4.8 brings features like X-Ray and flashcard support, as well as several other enhancements to the ebook reading app. Better late than never right?



The X-Ray feature lets you get more information about specific characters, places or even words in the book or textbook that you're reading. And if you're reading or reviewing a book for school or for work, you'd need to remember these kind of information. That's where the flashcard feature will come in handy. It lets you create a bookmark that is outside of the book you're reading using the data from the X-Ray feature to create these flashcards.


Other new features with the latest update includes getting push notifications from the app, which you can manage in the settings. It also now has an improved library search to make it easier for you to look for the books in your collection, especially if you have hundreds of titles in your Kindle (as all self-respecting book nerds should). If you also read, or rather, listen to the audiobook version on your Kindle app, you can now control the playback with this latest update.


It might have taken years before Amazon finally brought these features to the Android app version, but fans of the app and the retail giant would of course welcome these new goodies to their devices. If you don't have Kindle yet on your smartphone or tablet, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store.


LG G Pen trademark filing sparks hope of a Galaxy Note rival

LG has just filed for a new trademark that has some people speculating and probably even hoping for the Korean OEM's next move. Simply called the LG G Pen, some have taken this to be signs of a stylus-enabled device from LG, similar to rival Samsung's Galaxy Note family. But the trademark is so generic and vague that it remains open to interpretation, and LG's latest stylus attempt doesn't exactly inspire confidence either.



LG's last attempt at a smartphone with a stylus was the LG G3 Stylus, pictured above, last August. Initially leaked, accidentally or otherwise, there was a short burst of interest around the device that was presumed, or hoped, to become a Galaxy Note rival. After all, it bore the "G3" name. That turned out to be a disappointment, however. Not only was the G3 Stylus an underwhelming mid-range phablet, its stylus was also simply a capacitive one. The only advantage it offered was the silo dedicated to that stylus.


And so it is with a bit of caution that we approach the LG G Pen, whose trademark filing doesn't really clue us in on what this device will be. The closest we can get is that it is a mobile device, particularly a smartphone. One that will be used for "for the wireless receipt, storage and/or transmission of data and messages;" Whether that actually involves a stylus is yet unknown, but the "Pen" in the name does hint at that possibility. We're just not sure how this will turn out to be.


Somewhat unrelated to the device itself, the trademark filing seems to also hint at future LG products, especially in the realm of wearables. Aside from smartwatches, of which LG already has two, the document also makes mention of "Necklaces of precious metal; Bracelets of Precious metal; Key rings for precious metal; Rings of Precious metal.", seemingly implying that the manufacturer is also looking towards other forms of wearable devices, which admittedly might be a bit more interesting if the LG G Pen turns out to be another dud.


VIA: SlashGear

SOURCE: USPTO


RPG Chain Chronicle from Sega now available for Android

If you're into role-playing games (RPGs) on mobile, then you may want to try this new game from Gumi. It's not really new because this game from Sega has been available in Japan since last year. Now, Gumi is bringing the popular RPG to the US, UK, Australia, and Canada on mobile platforms like Android and iOS. More countries will get the Chain Chronicle soon but we'll have to wait for announcements.



We know this game will be a bestseller because it has already reached 4 million downloads in Japan. That's a lot so imagine how many more millions of Android (and iOS) users from all over the world will go crazy over this game. Goal of the game is to prepare your tower defense, train a perfect army, and go into battle to protect Yggdra. A Black Army is the enemy, trying to invade your world.


The main player is a soldier who is required to gather a Volunteer Army of Knights, Soldiers, Archers, Clerics, and Wizards. You'll be in command and in-charge to unleash their full potential. You, as the soldier, and the other volunteers will work together to protect the world of Yggdra in a tactical, real-time strategy battles. The game has an epic story but you can change it if you want. As you journey through the game, you will meet more than 150 new allies armed with different skills and powers.


The game boasts of simple and intuitive controls so it's very easy-to-learn. To make this one more exciting, Sega featured different artworks by top artists in Japan--the best illustrators in manga, video game, and anima industries. Each portrait is specially drawn in card form by these great artists. And if artists' illustrations are not enough, high-profile anime voice actors were hired to make this game more epic. We're not Japanese but anime lovers would be glad to know voices of Akira Ishida, Ayane Sakura, Maaya Uchida, and Kotori Koiwai were used in the game. Now that makes the game more interesting to play.




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Download Chain Chronicle from the Google Play Store


VIA: Pocket Gamer





Screen Dimming to the Next Level – XDA Xposed Tuesday

screenfilter

Auto brightness on some devices is a joke. Even if you control your brightness manually, the dimmest setting is oftentimes still too bright. If you’re in a dark room or area too bright a screen can hurt your eye or be a distraction to others. Don’t be distracting!


In this episode of XDA Xposed Tuesday, XDA TV Producer TK reviews an Xposed Module that helps you take your screen dimming to the next level. XDA Forum Member tony78960 created the Screen Filter module. TK shows off the modules and gives his thoughts, so check out this Xposed Tuesday video.




Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos



The post Screen Dimming to the Next Level – XDA Xposed Tuesday appeared first on xda-developers.


Samsung’s Exynos reportedly developing a Cat.10 LTE modem

Exynos, Samsung’s in-house processor and chipset developers, are reportedly churning up a spanking new Cat.10 LTE modem, able to give you 450Mbits per second of download speed. When rumors come out of Exynos like this, the rumor mill really starts turning, especially since it is high time that Samsung starts developing the next flagship phone.



If you’ve been following Samsung long enough, you would know that most of its flagship models usually have two iterations – one with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and another with an Exynos one. The Snapdragon model is usually for the international market, since Qualcomm has gotten the compatibility with global standards down pat.


The Exynos model is usually for the local South Korean market, and Samsung usually gives out “bonus features” for the Korean devices that won’t be in the international models. So will this rumored Cat.10 LTE modem be part of the Exynos chipset for the Samsung Galaxy S6? People are certainly saying this might be so.


The move coincides with some South Korean mobile networks upping the juice of their infrastructure so that they can give out Cat.10 LTE speeds. Coincidence? Might be, but the timing looks right, with Samsung reportedly prepping for a launch during the Mobile World Congress 2015 in Berlin. Watch this space.


VIA: Phone Arena





Wireless charging the next frontier, mass production being explored

It’s not like the technology for wireless charging hasn’t been realized – it’s here. The issue is not so much inventing the technology as it is the means to actually mass produce products under a unified standard. We haven’t seen wireless charging technology roll out on a lot of products because of this. But an outfit called Freescale is trying to break that barrier.



Freescale is looking outside of the smartphone form factor towards tablets, laptops and the larger phablets – looking to put out a 15-watt charging pad that could be placed everywhere, like airline seats, coffee shop and restaurant tables, and even on your car’s console/dashboard.


“Today’s mobile products offer a broader range of features, functionality and form factors than ever before, requiring developers of wireless charging systems to accommodate larger batteries and enable faster recharge speeds. Freescale’s industry-first 15 W solution is engineered to address these evolving market requirements, while helping to streamline product development and unleash design creativity,” Denis Cabrol, director of global marketing and business development for Freescale’s MCU group, said.


As we have said, this is not new tech – it’s for real. It’s just up to Freescale to bring together the standards vying for leadership in this niche – which includes Qi, Wireless Power Consortium, and the Power Matters Alliance. And then come up with the charging pads for mass production. Soon, eh?


VIA: SlashGear

SOURCE: Freescale





Will LG soon discontinue their G Pro line of smartphones?

LG has been riding on a high the past months, as their flagship LG G3 has received critical acclaim and the OEM seems to be doing good in terms of sales (as compared to the other Korean brand and their fierce rival, Samsung). But this means also that they might need to focus on several product lines and let go of those that may be too "redundant."



Reports indicate that the one getting the axe might be the previously popular "Pro" line, previously known as the Optimus G Pro. It used to be the positioned as the more premium and bigger versions of the "G" line, but now that the non-Pro devices are gradually increasing in size as well, there is very little difference between the two lines of smartphones now. The G Pro 2 is 5.9 inches, while the LG G3 is already at 5.5 inches. Rumors are putting the upcoming LG G4 at 5.9 inches, so if it is indeed true, then the Pro series would indeed be irrelevant.


2015 is supposed to be the year of the LG G Pro 3 but it looks like the Korean OEM might be skipping launching that at the MWC in February. What they are focusing on now is to finalize the LG G4 in order to get that out in the market by the middle of next year. This is something that most are looking forward to, especially as the current flagship was a darling, particularly in the QHD display aspect.


While we might be saying goodbye to the Pro line soon, their other series will probably remain, as they seek other markets. The L series is for those looking for more low-end and cheaper smartphones while the F series is the middle ground between low and mid tier devices.


VIA: SlashGear


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