Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Some Samsung Galaxy Nexus owners get treated to Android 4.2 early

Some Samsung Galaxy Nexus owners get treated to Android 4.2 early
Still Jelly Bean, new flavour

The official Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update could be on its way to Samsung Galaxy Nexus handsets as some owners report an over the air update.

According to Engadget, some Galaxy Nexus owners have received the official upgrade from Google but it seems locked to GSM handsets for the time being.

There's no official word from Google or Samsung on when Android 4.2 will roll out fully to various regions, but it should hopefully be in the next few weeks if these reports are to be believed.

Work around

If you're more technically minded and really can't wait for Android 4.2 then the folks over XDA-Developers have taken the update and made it available for all versions of the handset.

Of course there are the usual warnings about hacking your device, and if you choose this option it's at your own risk – we'd recommend holding on for the real deal.

Or, if you want a handset running Android 4.2 straight out the box then check out the Google Nexus 4, which went on sale today, but you'll need to be quick as stock is selling out fast.

We've contacted Google and Samsung to try and glean more information on the Android 4.2 update and we'll update this article once we hear back.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/some-samsung-galaxy-nexus-owners-get-treated-to-android-4-2-early-1112155

Sky+ app update gives iPhone remote control

Sky+ app update gives iPhone remote control
Remote control tech - cutting edge stuff

A handy new update to the Sky+ app now lets you use your iPhone or iPod touch as a remote control.

You'll need to have your Sky+ box and iPhone or iPod connected to the same Wi-Fi network to change channels, pause, play and rewind TV and set up or delete recordings on the box.

The iPad was already capable of controlling Sky+ in real time but the other iOS devices were languishing in administrative control only.

So while you could arrange recordings from afar on the Apple handset, you were stuck using the old-fashioned remote control to actually change channels. Nightmare.

Popularity

The Sky+ app has proven popular with the broadcaster's customers; it has been downloaded over 5 million times since it launched in 2009, with around 1.2 million people using it each month.

This doesn't surprise us all that much, given that Sky is a premium broadcasting service and Apple's iDevices are premium mobile devices.

No word yet on when the Android equivalents will get the same remote control functionality, although Sky tells us that it hopes to bring the features to Android handsets "in the coming months".


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/sky-app-update-gives-iphone-remote-control-1112138

HTC One X+ and One VX up for pre-order with AT&T today, ready for November 16 debut

HTC One X+

AT&T has announced the HTC One X+ and the HTC One VX are both available to pre-order today, ready for release on November 16. The One VX is a competitively priced Android phone, while the One X+ has several key improvements that make it an exciting improvement over the original One X.

The latest smartphones from HTC have been made available for pre-order with AT&T. The network has announced that as of today, you’ll be able to stake your claim on a new One X+ or One VX Android phone, ready for their official release on November 16.

HTC’s One X+ is an evolution of the One X, and has several key improvements over the original. The headline new feature concerns the processor, as the quad-core Tegra 3 now has a clock speed of 1.7GHz, while the internal memory has been raised to 64GB. It also comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as standard, has 4G LTE connectivity and AT&T has bagged an exclusive Carbon Black color scheme.

The screen remains the same size, 4.7-inches with a 720p resolution, as does the camera at 8-megapixels, but the battery has been swapped for a 2100mAh cell. To become the proud owner of a One X+, you’ll need $200 in your pocket and the ability to sign a two-year contract with the network.

Also up for pre-order is the HTC One VX, a mid-range phone available at a low price. It has a 4.5-inch touchscreen with a 960 x 540 pixel resolution, a dual-core Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. AT&T do say an update to 4.1 Jelly Bean will be coming in the future to both the One VX and the original One X.

Other One VX features include Beats Audio, NFC, 1080p video recording and a microSD card slot which supports cards up to 32GB in size. The One VX has been priced at $50, although once again, you’ll need to sign a two-year network agreement.

You can read our hands-on report with the One X+ here, and with the One VX here, then pop down to your nearest AT&T store and order one later today.


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/htc-one-x-and-one-vx-up-for-pre-order-with-att-today/

Google Nexus 4 sells out in less than an hour

Google Nexus 4 sells out in less than an hour

The Google Nexus 4 has sold out in the UK in less than an hour after going on sale via the Google Play website.

More to follow…


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-nexus-4-sells-out-in-less-than-an-hour-1112108

Android 4.2 update now rolling out for the GSM Galaxy Nexus

Right on the day of the Nexus 4 launch, Google has started rolling out the Android 4.2 update for the Galaxy Nexus.



Currently, only a few users have reported receiving the update, and none of them are using the Sprint or Verizon versions. If you have the GSM variant, preferably the "takju" variant you are most likely to receive the update.

Post update you will be treated to all the new 4.2 features, including Photo Sphere mode, Gesture Typing, multi-user mode, notification settings, Daydream, Miracast sharing, improved Google now and other performance and stability updates.

Eventually we believe the update will be rolled out to all the users but if you're impatient, you can download the update by following this link to Android Police. Just make sure you read the instructions carefully.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/android_42_update_now_rolling_out_for_the_gsm_galaxy_nexus-news-5074.php

Monday, November 12, 2012

Steven Sinofsky, head of Windows division, leaves Microsoft

In a rather surprising move, Steven Sinofsky, head of the Windows division at Microsoft, has decided to leave the company. This move comes shortly after Microsoft's biggest launch in years and a product Sinofsky directly worked on. He will be replaced by former Coporate Vice President of Windows Client - Julie Larson-Green - effective immediately.



Sinofsky joined Microsoft back in 1989 and along with working on various versions of Windows also oversaw the development of Microsoft Office. He also worked as a technical adviser for Bill Gates back in the day.

Upon leaving the company, Sinofsky had nothing but kind words for the company and the people whom he worked with. In a letter he releases, he says:

"It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company."

Even Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, had nice things to say about Sinofsky in his letter to his employees.

However, it seems all was not peachy within the company when it came to Sinofsky. According to the sources at The Verge, Sinofsky was dubbed as abrasive and hard to work with and not a good team player, putting the interests of his own department over anything else. It seems he wasn't exactly fired, but a lot of people within the company would be happy to see him go. This sounds very similar to the recent departure of Scott Forstall from Apple, who also exhibited similar characteristics.

Sinofsky didn't clarify on what he will be doing next, other than saying he will leave the company to "seek new opportunities that build on [his] experiences". We imagine he and Forstall must be on a beach somewhere sipping piña colada, along with Jon Rubinstein.

Source 1Source 2


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/steven_sinofsky_head_of_windows_division_leaves_microsoft-news-5073.php

HTC One X+ and One VX will hit AT&T on November 16

Right after it spilled the beans on the Samsung Galaxy Camera, AT&T announced pricing and retail availability of the HTC One X+ and One VX. The duo of LTE smartphones will be available on November 16, priced at $199.99 for the HTC One X+, and $49.99 for its entry-level sibling.



The HTC One X+ surely has its work cut out – the device will enter the most competitive segment in the US smartphone market. With quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, 64GB of built-in memory, and Sense-d Android 4.1 Jelly Bean though, the One X+ makes for an attractive smartphone proposition.

The HTC One VX on the other hand, looks like a solid offering as an entry-level device – it features a 4.5” display and dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset, tucked into a solidly built body.

In a typical AT&T fashion, the pricing and availability announcement came accompanied by a promo video. See it below.

You can check out our initial impressions from both devices over here.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_x_and_one_vx_will_hit_at_t_on_november_16-news-5072.php