Monday, December 9, 2013

Google starts rolling out Android 4.4.2 to Nexus devices

Shortly after the 4.4.1 update, Google has now started rolling out the 4.4.2 update for the Nexus devices. Whereas the previous update focused on improving the camera performance on the Nexus 5, the latest one merely includes bug fixes.



There is no official change log from Google but according to Sprint, the following changes have been made:

  • Fix for clearing the VM Indicator
  • Fix for delivery of the VM Indicator
  • Various additional software fixes
  • Security enhancements

The update is rolling out to the Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2013 and 2013 model) and the Nexus 10. If you didn't get the 4.4.1 update it's fine as you can directly install the 4.4.2 update as soon as it is available for you.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/google_starts_rolling_out_android_442_to_nexus_devices-news-7338.php

Qualcomm announces 64-bit, entry-level Snapdragon 410

Qualcomm announced its first 64-bit mobile chipset – the Snapdragon 410. Curiously, the SoC is not a high-end powerhouse, but one designed for devices with sub-$150 price tag.

Alongside its 64-bit capability, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 will also bring 4G LTE connectivity to the masses. Manufactured using a 28nm process, the chipset will come with Adreno 306 GPU, as well as support for 1080p video playback and up to 13MP camera units.

Furthermore, the new silicon by Qualcomm will support Dual and Triple SIM configurations. In addition to LTE, connectivity options will include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and FM radio. GPS, GLONASS, and China’s new BeiDou standard will cover location services.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 will support all major mobile operating systems including Android, Windows Phone and Firefox OS. Sampling of the SoC will begin by device manufacturers in the first half of 2014. The first commercially available devices are expected in the second half of the same year.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_announces_64bit_entrylevel_snapdragon_410_chipset-news-7337.php

64-bit chip is no gimmick for Qualcomm as it introduces the Snapdragon 410

64-bit chip is no gimmick for Qualcomm as it introduces the Snapdragon 410
A new dragon joins the Qualcomm force

We thought it be in for a CES 2014 unveiling, but Qualcomm has up and announced its own 64-bit mobile processor.

The Snapdragon 410 may lead to a few puzzled looks as its number is lower than Qualcomm's top-notch chips (Snapdragon 600, 800, 805, etc.), but the 28nm silicon is actually aimed at an entirely different handset tier.

The chipset, which features integrated 4G LTE World Mode, is destined for phones in emerging markets, namely the burgeoning Chinese scene.

It's an interesting angle on the 64-bit space, especially since Apple's A7 mobile processor lives in a much higher handset stratosphere. But it's likely a very shrew move, too.

Snapdragon 410 specs and targets

Crammed with an Adreno 306 GPU, the 410 will support 1080p video playback and up to a 13MP camera.

Qualcomm noted the chip integrates 4G LTE and 3G cellular connectivity for all major modes and frequency bands, essentially bringing 4G LTE capabilities to every corner of the globe.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and NFC are all supported by the Snapdragon 410, and it will also bolster GPS, GLONASS and China's BeiDou.

As part of today's announcement, Qualcomm revealed its plan to make 4G LTE available in all Snapdragon families, therefore giving emerging regions a shot at being better prepared for the global growth of the technology.

Workable on all major operating systems, including Android, Windows Phone and Firefox, the chip is expected to launch in commercial devices in the second half of 2014 in phones that cost $150 or less.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/64-bit-chip-is-no-gimmick-for-qualcomm-as-it-introduces-the-snapdragon-410-1206378

Alleged Galaxy S5 benchmarked again, comes in third

Alleged Galaxy S5 benchmarked again, comes in third
Samsung has more than just the Galaxy S5 on the horizon

An unknown Samsung phone that may be the Galaxy S5 has popped up in another benchmark test after doing the same just last week.

It comes with a slightly different model number; last week it was the SM-G900S, while this time it's the SM-G900F.

Those could well be two different versions of the same phone on separate carriers, so don't discount this rumor on account of a single letter's variation.

Interestingly, though, the Galaxy S5, which should be Samsung's most epic flagship yet if and when it launches next year, lost to the iPhone 5S and the Galaxy Note 3 in Rightware's Browsermark test.

Second place is first loser

The Browsermark test flexes various aspects of a device's web-browsing capabilities and assigns it a score and ranking based on its prowess.

The Samsung SM-G900F, which may or may not be a version of the Galaxy S5, scored a 3303.88, lower than the Note 3's 3353.07 and the 5S's 3669.91.

rightware browsermark

But another version of the Note 3 with a slightly different model number came in just below the Samsung device, and Sony's Xperia Z1 was under that.

But Rightware, the administrators of the Browsermark benchmark, noted that the Samsung device in question was running a slightly outdated version of the Chrome browser at the time the test was conducted, and that may have affected the results.

Galaxy S5 specs

When a similarly-numbered Samsung device appeared in a different benchmark test last week it had some interesting specs.

Those included a a 2560 x 1440 display, a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, an Adreno 330 GPU, and Android 4.4 KitKat.

There was also speculation that given the resolution the phone could have a 5.25-inch screen with pixel density at 560ppi, as rumors last month said of the Galaxy S5.

If it's not the Galaxy S5 we're looking at in these tests, it could actually be any number of handsets - Samsung has a total of four or five new phones planned for early 2014 already.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/alleged-galaxy-s5-benchmarked-again-comes-in-third-1206373

Nokia's new BH-121 is a Bluetooth stereo headset that looks like an iPod shuffle

Nokia's new BH-121 is a Bluetooth stereo headset that looks like an iPod shuffle
NFC-enabled BH-121 goes on sale at the end of the month

Nokia's heavily rumoured 'iPod rival' has officially landed, in the form of a NFC-enabled, Bluetooth stereo headset dubbed the BH-121.

Following months of speculation and leaks, the BH-121 (formerly known as 'Guru') arrives packing a pair of noise-blocking headphones, an iPod shuffle-like clip-on body and a reasonable 39 Euros price tag.

Launching at the end of this month, the headset promises easy tap-to-pair functionality for NFC handsets, but will also hook up via the Bluetooth settings on other smartphones.

It comes in four colours - and will enable users to control their music and phonecalls with the help of the built-in Play button and track and volume controls. It can also be charged via the microUSB port.

Live Tile support

The BH-121 also features a 3.5mm jack so users will be able to deploy whichever headphones they wish when using the diminutive device.

When using the device with Nokia Lumia phones, the headset will also be treated to its very own Live Tile in Windows Phone, allowing users to check the battery and connectivity status, the company announced on the Nokia Conversations blog.

Will you be splashing out on a BH-121 to augment your mobile music experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-s-new-bh-121-is-a-bluetooth-stereo-headset-that-looks-like-an-ipod-shuffle-1206305

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active gets a Snapdragon 800 version

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active version with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset joined the “regular” SHV-E330S Galaxy S4 in SK-Telecom’s smartphone lineup in Korea. As expected, the smartphone comes with support for LTE-A networks (up to 150 Mbps).

Alongside the updated SoC with 2.3GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 330 GPU, the newcomer sports an updated, 13MP camera (up from 8MP on the regular Samsung Galaxy S4 Active) and a new color scheme. The LTE-A equipped device has also shed a few grams compared to the I9295 (147g compared to 151g). It will also be offered in a new, white color scheme.

The rest of the SK-Telecom’s Samsung Galaxy S4 Active specs are the same as those of the Snapdragon 600 version. Highlights include a 5” 1080p display, 2,600mAh battery, and IP67 certification.

There’s no word on international availability of the updated Samsung Galaxy S4 Active.

Source (in Russian)


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4_active_gets_a_qualcomm_snapdragon_800_version-news-7336.php

ZTE scores 2.5 million pre-orders for Nubia Z5S and Z5S mini

ZTE recently announced its latest flagship smartphone, the Nubia Z5S along with the Nubia Z5S mini. The company now claims to have recorded whopping 2.5 million pre-orders for the Z5S and Z5S mini smartphones through its JD.com retailing partner.

The sales of ZTE Nubia Z5S and Z5S mini have also managed to surpass a record that was previously held by Xiaomi, according to the Chinese manufacturer. The capable hardware combined with advanced imaging that also includes Optical Image Stabilization is what drives the sales of the ZTE smartphones according to the company.

To remind you, the ZTE Nubia Z5S comes with a 5-inch 1080p LCD display and features a 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor along with 2GB of RAM, 13 megapixel rear camera, 5 megapixel front shooter, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and a 2,300mAh battery.

On the other hand, the Z5S mini sports a compact 4.7-inch 720p IGZO display and is powered by a 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 600 processor. It offers a 13 megapixel rear shooter, 5 megapixel front facing camera, microSD card slot and a 2,000mAh battery.

ZTE Nubia Z5S is priced at RMB1,999 (about $330) and the Nubia Z5S mini costs you RMB1,499 (about $250). If you are planning to get your hands on one of these devices, then head on to the source link below to place your order.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_records_25_million_preorders_for_nubia_z5s_and_z5s_mini_-news-7335.php

2K smartphone Vivo Xplay 3S to cost $740

Vivo is about to unveil the first smartphone in the world with a 2K display. The first of its kind device from Vivo is dubbed Xplay 3S and it has already been listed by China Mobile. This comes a bit early, three days before the actual official announcement of the smartphone.

Vivo Xplay 3S is rumored to sport a 2K display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. Under the hood, the smartphone will pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 3 GB of RAM. The Xplay 3S will also support LTE and a wide range of latest connectivity options.

According to the listing from China Mobile, the Vivo Xplay 3S with 32 GB of memory will cost CNY4,498 (about $740) and the 64 GB variant should come to you with a price tag of CNY4,999 (about $823). Of course, the first 2K display smartphone will also be available on a lower price with a contract from the Chinese carrier.

If the rumors are to be trusted, the Xplay 3S will go on sale in China by the end of this month. However, there is no official word at the moment.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/vivos_first_2k_display_smartphone_to_cost_740-news-7334.php

China Mobile will open iPhone pre-orders in three days

China Mobile is opening iPhone pre-orders this Thursday (that's three days from now) ahead of launching its LTE network on December 18. The information comes straight off a carrier representative, who spoke to the Wall Street Journal.

Customers will be able to pre-order Apple's devices along with LTE-capable Samsung and Sony smartphones from China Mobile's Shanghai website.



The deal was struck between Apple and China Mobile just days ago and we are seeing it go to fruition quite rapidly.

On its part China Mobile has been teasing its upcoming 4G network since October.

The biggest carrier in the world is also preparing a special pricing plan for new iPhones and a new brand for its 4G services. The latter will be unveiled at a Guangzhou-based global partner conference on December 18.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/china_mobile_will_open_iphone_preorders_in_three_days-news-7333.php

Walmart now sells Nokia Lumia 521 for just $79.95

Nokia Lumia 520 is the best-selling Windows Phone smartphone out there due to its decent specs and affordable price tag. T-Mobile's Lumia 521 is absolutely identical with the international Lumia 520, save for the T-Mobile branding over its front and rear sides.

Walmart is now selling the T-Mobile's Lumia 521 cheaper than ever - just $79.95. No contract is required with the purchase, you just get a pre-paid card but it's up to you if you are going to use it or not.

It's unclear if the offered Nokia Lumia 521 is SIM-locked to T-Mobile or not, so if you aren't a T-Mobile subscriber, you may want do double check on that.

Nokia Lumia 521, just like Lumia 520, is currently running on Windows Phone 8 with Lumia Amber package, but Lumia Black with WP8 GDR3 update is on the way. Microsoft has promised to bring Windows Phone 8.1 to all existing WP8-running smartphones as well.

Christmas is coming in just two weeks, so we guess Lumia 521 might do as a great present.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/walmart_now_sells_nokia_lumia_521_for_just_7995-news-7332.php

'We want Quip to feel like two people writing on the same piece of paper'

'We want Quip to feel like two people writing on the same piece of paper'
Quip on this

Quip, a mobile document editing app looking to tap into the collective conscious of busy productive types on the move, has arrived with some impressive credentials in tow.

Founded by ex-Facebook CTO Bret Taylor and Google App Engine founder, Kevin Gibbs, some of its features - such as automatic synching and checklists - will be familiar to Evernote users, while others - such as @mentions used for collaboration - are borrowed from social media. It also offers third-party keyboard compatibility (Swiftkey and Swype are supported), a responsive ability to adapt to any device's screen size and a heady dose of multi-authoring collaboration.

First launched on iOS back in August before being ported to Android in December, Quip's creators position the app closer to a fully-fledged word processor, capable of "doing for smartphones and tablets what Microsoft office did for PCs". We spoke to Bret Taylor to find out more.

TechRadar Pro: You claim that Quip has re-invented word processing for mobile devices - that's quite some claim. Can you tell us more?

Bret Taylor: Since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, phones and tablets have transformed the way we interact with technology and each other. Smartphone sales have already overtaken PC sales, and tablet sales are predicted to pass PCs this year.

To call this shift disruptive is understating its impact on our industry and the world. Companies built on the PC ecosystem are desperately trying to find an identity in this new world, and many of them won't succeed. Most people in the developing world will access the Internet for the first time through a mobile, touch-screen device without ever touching a PC.

Despite the magnitude of this shift, the software that we use to get work done has not evolved over the past thirty years. With the exception of some additional color and and a stack of toolbars at the top of the screen, it doesn't look different from MacWrite, which was released with the original Macintosh in 1984.

Quip is our perspective on how modern, mobile documents should work. Building for the new mobile era is not about adapting old desktop software; it is about rebuilding from the ground up assuming multiple platforms, multiple screen sizes, intermittent network connectivity. In Quip, we've re-thought everything — from the user interface to the underlying technology — to create the product that is simple and easy to use regardless of platform or screen size, and that we enjoy using to get work done every day.

TRP: Why should consumers check out Quip over similar competing products? Particularly Evernote, which has similar note-taking and collaborative online and offline functionality for businesses.

BT: Quip approaches the problem pretty differently from other word processors or note taking applications. We have lots of features that other word processors don't have, like @mentions, integrated messaging, and diffs. All of these features are in the service of our four core design goals. They are:

Collaboration - We want using Quip to feel like two people sitting next to each other at the same table, writing on the same piece of paper. Writing a document with someone should be simple, easy, immediate, and delightful. Most of the other services we've used don't achieve that feeling in their collaboration.

Mobility - Quip works well on the desktop, but it really shines on phones and tablets. We built it from the ground up assuming that you would use multiple screen sizes, spotty internet connections, and multiple platforms. For other products, offline access is a feature — something you have to turn on or pay for, that may only work in some situations. For Quip, working offline is the fundamental core of our product.

Interactivity - Most documents are now read on touch-screens rather than printed out. Because of that, Quip documents aren't just fixed words on a page — they're interactive. On Quip, you can also turn a bulleted list into a checklist, transforming your meeting notes into an interactive, shared task list. You can @mention other documents to link between them. You can create a table of sales data, and your entire team can edit and type data into the table at the same time.

Simplicity - Back in the early days of GUI development, there was a popular saying: "Easy is hard." When designing a user interface, it's much harder to remove something than to add in something new. We've worked hard to simplify the Quip interface, to leave you with a minimal, elegant design that helps you focus on writing — not ribbons.

TRP: What were the technical challenges of making Quip multi-platform?

BT: Android fragmentation itself is a very challenging problem to overcome. Every OEM and device on Android seems to be a little different, and there are far more devices than anyone realizes. There are even three different, equally used keyboards on Android, so the number of variations that you encounter and have to handle is somewhat mind-blowing.

But for us, beyond fragmentation, the real challenge is ensuring that your documents are always available on whichever device you choose to use and that they're always up-to-date. Sync is particularly challenging when you combine it with collaboration. Most services just choose not to handle the collaborative case (like Dropbox or Evernote) and just create multiple versions of the document and let you manage the conflicts.

With Quip, we want to ensure that you never end up with conflicts, even when you're editing collaboratively or when you're editing offline. That is an incredibly hard technical challenge and has been very fun to solve.

TRP: If Android is the most widely used platform, how come Quip was developed for iOS first?

BT: This was influenced by the tremendous growth of tablet use, both for consumers and enterprise. When it comes to tablets, iOS has close to 80% of the tablets in use in the world. Also, iOS has been favored by companies, accounting for around 70% of enterprise activations.

That said, we know that 'bring your own device' doesn't really just mean the device - it means the platform too. Android represents a huge audience and is growing quickly in offices too. We recognise this so wanted to get a version of Quip built specifically for Android out as quickly as possible. It's also been one of our most requested products since launch. Overcoming Android fragmentation is not an easy feat, but we're so happy to say that Quip is now available on 76% of the world's smartphones and tablets.

TRP: How has your background with Facebook and Google Maps influenced or shaped how you approached and developed Quip?

BT: My background has certainly given me an international mindset. People work more and more as global teams, and are looking for their technology to make that easier. The software that many of us are using was born in the 80s, when a lot of the problems we currently have in collaborating across borders and devices couldn't even have been imagined. Throw mobile into the mix as a defining global trend and it was clear to me what needed to be built to help.

The importance of different regions, languages and countries cannot be overlooked in Facebook and Google's success — that's why international expansion in very high on our list of priorities. Quip is currently available in 11 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, simplified Chinese, Russian, Turkish, Brazilian Portuguese, and our newest language to launch, Korean.

And that's why we're particularly excited about this Android launch — Android accounts for about 50% of the smartphones in the US, but it accounts for 81% of the smartphones shipped in the world.

TRP: Can you give us some tips for making the most out of Quip (businesses and consumers?)

BT: People love to tell us how they use Quip so we have tons of examples. We hear of people using Quip for joint grocery lists, writing their applications to university, and planning family vacations.

At work, we get feedback all the time from companies and teams using it to communicate across continents and get work done. People are so forthcoming with their stories, and we take all the feedback on board. In fact,a lot of the most asked-for features were included in version 1.5 of the iOS app.

We've found that it's easiest for folks to get started when they do two things: 1) have a specific project or document in mind — a house renovation, a collaborative to-do list, a product launch, a customer pitch, etc. Ideally the project is collaborative — people have told us that collaboration is where Quip really shines. 2) Use Quip both on desktop and on your iPhone/iPad or Android phone/tablet. Quip works great on desktop but it really shines on phones and tablets, and one of the magic moments is having access to your documents across all your devices, wherever you are.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/-we-want-quip-to-feel-like-two-people-writing-on-the-same-piece-of-paper--1205814

Asus PadFone Mini 4.3 to encounter Chinese competition?

Asus PadFone Mini 4.3 to encounter Chinese competition?
Is this the PadFone Mini? (credit: evleaks)

The Asus PadFone Mini 4.3 is likely pop its head up sooner than CES 2014, with press images leaking before an expected December 11 announcement.

Today's leak comes courtesy of the rather reliable evleaks, showing not only the 4.3-inch phone, but the tablet dock as well.

It seems the Mini name isn't just reserved for the phone though, as the dock appears to have shrunk too, coming with a smaller 7-inch frame, rather than the 10-inch frame that has come with the likes of the Asus PadFone 2.

No shots below the belt

Asus may have to ready its gloves though, as it might be soon getting competition after Chinese firm Huawei trademarked the name PhoPad in the US.

Asus PadFone Mini 4.3 getting more official, may already have competition
Is the PhoPad pho real? (credit: Phandroid)

The only hint to what the device could be is its listing under "mobile phones; tablets computers, protective cases for mobile phones; protective cases for tablet computers".

This has lead to speculation that the PhoPad could well be a PadFone rival, or a rebranding of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 challenging Huawei Ascend Mate series.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/asus-padfone-mini-4-3-to-encounter-chinese-competition--1205939

Affordable Nokia RM-977 with 4.5" screen now testing

Zauba – an organization handling the import of tech into India – has listed 43 units of the Nokia RM-977 as being brought in from Finland for "intercompany use for testing and evaluation purposes only".

The details on the device are scarce, but the screen size is known – 4.5". That's the same size as the Lumia 92x handsets, and a bit smaller than the 4.7" Lumia 625.



The price of the device is listed as INR 8,000 ($130). That's the same price as a Lumia 520, but much cheaper than the INR 15,000 ($245) price for the Lumia 625. So, what is it? The info on the site says it's a single-SIM device, so that rules out a dual-SIM Asha (those are under INR 5,000 anyway).

Is it a Lumia 520's equivalent of the 625 – same specs, bigger screen? We won't know until it's official or at least until someone leaks it.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_rm977_with_45_screen_getting_tested_in_india-news-7331.php

Metal-clad Samsung Galaxy J goes official in Taiwan

The Samsung Galaxy J, a Galaxy S4 LTE-A version with a metal body, has launched in Japan and following a number of leaks it is now official for Taiwan. Here's the first promo video from Samsung Taiwan:

The phone, which presumably is here to test the waters for a metal Galaxy S5, costs TWD 21,900 unlocked ($740) and will be available next week in Red and White. The Samsung Galaxy J will also be available on contract with the four major Taiwan carriers starting at TWD7,990 ($300) with TWD 1300 ($45) monthly tax.



The Galaxy J packs a 5" 1080p Super AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 800 chipset (quad-core Krait 400 @ 2.3GHz, Adreno 330), 3GB RAM (rather than 2GB on the regular S4 LTE-A) and a 13MP camera.

Thanks to Rohit for sending this in!

Source (in Chinese) | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_j_goes_official_in_taiwan-news-7329.php