Google+ for Android updated with new photo enhancements, improved location sharing

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

New Google+ app

Official Google+ app hits version 4.0 with Snapseed photo tools and more

Following on from the 41 new Google+ features announced at Google I/O last week, Google has unveiled one more to bring the count up to 42 — a new Google+ app for Android. The new Google+ version 4.0 incorporates many of the photo management and enhancement features of the latest update to G+ on the web. Specifically, Google+ will automatically show you "highlights" of each photo gallery, saving you from digging through large galleries of imperfect shots. It'll also allow you to preview or undo automatic photo enhancements. "Auto-awesome," the tool that lets you create animations or panoramas from still shots, is included as well.

But the biggest news for Google+ photo sharing might be the addition of Snapseed photo enhancements directly within the app. A selection of filters including Drama and Retrolux can be accessed from with in the app, alongside bread-and-butter tweaks like cropping, rotating and exposure changes.

Location sharing is also a bit smarter in Google+ 4.0, allowing you to see friends who are sharing their location directly on a map, in a new "locations" section. Automatic hashtags, added to Google+ on the web last week, makes its way to Android in this latest update too.

The update doesn't seem to have landed on Google Play just yet, but we imagine it'll also retire the stand-alone Google+ messenger app in favor of the integrated Hangouts app released last week.

We'll update this post when the new version starts rolling out, so stay tuned.

Source: Google+ blog

    


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Sony brings AOSP open-source Android to Xperia Tablet Z

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Vanilla, open-source Android available for 10-inch tablet on Sony GitHub

Like the Xperia Z before it, Sony has announced that it's bringing the Xperia Tablet Z into its version of the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP). The project brings the latest vanilla Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean to the tablet, with the caveat that it's not "certified or intended for daily use," and many of the features from the shipping ROM will be missing.

You'll also need to do a bit of legwork yourself if you want to get AOSP up and running on your Xperia Tablet Z. The code is available on the Sony GitHub, just as it is for the Xperia Z, but you'll need to download and compile it yourself. So this is by no means a quick, easy fix to turn the Tablet Z into a Nexus-style device, but active development from Sony — not to mention community developers — could eventually make this a tablet of choice for Android hackers.

You'll find more technical details over on the official Sony blog, linked below. The Xperia Tablet Z is already available in some countries around the world. The Sony U.S. store is currently taking pre-orders, with an estimated ship date of May 24.

Source: Sony Blog

    


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Google H840 could replace the abandoned Nexus Q

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

nexus-q

The Nexus Q was a short lived project, revealed at Google I/O, it was abandoned a year later due to poor sales. Questions were raised on the price of the media streamer and what the user would get for their money.

It appears Google has dropped the name and is going for a new media streamer, codenamed the H840, which just arrived at the FCC a few days ago.

Google decided to keep everything closed in the FCC filing, apart from the fact it is capable of streaming media. The filing did not contain an image, so we cannot even tell if it is going to be a huge redesign.

We did not see any hardware at Google I/O, with Google sticking to developers, software and services. We may see this new streaming device and the missing phones and tablets at another conference in a few months.

Source: Android Community

The Droid Guy

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HTC One may get the 4.2.2 Jellybean update in the next 2-3 weeks

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

We have some good news for all HTC One owners. An unofficial tweet from a known HTC Developer says that the android jellybean update for HTC One will roll out in the next 2-3 weeks.

htc one

Back when the device was announced in March, we were quite disappointed to hear that HTC One was coming with android 4.1 Jellybean on board. Android 4.1 Jellybean is a pretty old OS (was released back in July) and even the latest OS 4.2.2 Jellybean is almost 6 months old. So, users obviously expect the company to release the 4.2.2 update as soon as possible. This news would finally cheer them up.

A user tweeted to the HTC developer saying,

@LlabTooFeR I’ll be getting my new HTC One later today. I’m moving for the first time from iPhone 4. When will 4.2.2 be available :(

And luckily LlabTooFer replied,

@GidiyorsunPro 2-3 weeks I think

Although it’s not the official source, LlabTooFeR is known to reveal correct information about the company so we can hope that the update will be available at least by June 1st week.

The 4.2.2 update would bring in some cool features to the device like lock screen widgets, quick settings, gesture enhanced keyboard etc. Although this might not be a huge upgrade like the 4.1 Jellybean, we are sure users would be waiting impatiently to get their hands on the latest android version.

Source: [1], [2]

 

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini sample image and benchmark scores leaked

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

For the past few days, we have received lot of new information on the Galaxy S4 Mini and today, we have some more information on the device.

The benchmark results and a sample image taken from the device have leaked online.

Below shown is the sample image taken from the device and although the image is not as clear as we would have wanted, the model number on the EXIF Data image clearly show that the device is the Galaxy S4 Mini, with the model number GT-I9195.

s4 mini image leak

Along with the sample image, we also have the benchmark scores of the device.

s4 mini benchmark

Unfortunately, if this benchmark scores are right, then we won’t be seeing the rumored Exynos 5210 dual core chipset. Instead the device would run on the Qualcomm’s 1.7GHz dual core Krait processor with Adreno 305 GPU. The results further show that it would sport a resolution of 960×540 and would also support plenty of connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.0, dual band WiFi, A GPS etc.

There seems to be plenty of rumors surrounding the devices in the S4 lineup and we can’t actually prove that these benchmark results are right. Earlier we were almost sure that the S4 Mini would sport the Exynos chipset but this news clearly states the opposite. Well, the only explanation that we can give for the different processors is that Samsung may release two versions of the device as they always do with the Galaxy S devices. But at the moment it’s best to wait for more leaks on the device.

Although Samsung was able to keep the Galaxy S4 under wraps, this is not the case with its other devices. We have seen a lot of information crop up online on the Galaxy S4 Zoom, Galaxy S4 active etc and we are sure that we would see more leaks in the near future.

Samsung has not yet confirmed any of these devices; but most of the rumors state June to be the expected launch period. 

Source: [1], [2]

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Tumblr CEO feels the $1.1 billion offer from Yahoo is too low

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Tumblr

Tumblr CEO David Karp has said that he thinks the amount that Yahoo wants to lay down for the acquisition of the blogging service, the amount that the Yahoo board have officially agreed upon that they are willing to spend on acquiring the company is $ 1.1 billion. Not too shabby for the company, if they accept the offer they will have beaten Instagram for the highest acquisition fee paid out in silicon valley in the past year.

How much is Tumblr Actually Worth

Tumblr has been valued by an independent source at around $ 800 million, this has lead some commentators to question Yahoo’s action in laying down a huge amount of money just for the demographic of 18 to 14 year olds. The Instagram acquisition had many possible buyers such as Twitter, where as this offer by Yahoo is the only offer on the table at this present time. The offer of a little over one billion won’t go higher and if Tumblr rejects it I doubt they’ll get another like it.

The blogging service has been surviving off of it’s $ 125 million is funding for a tad too long with out finding a sustainable channel for revenue or try to get more rounds of funding. When Yahoo’s window of opportunity runs out Facebook and Microsoft are two potential companies to make an offer but probably not as much as Yahoo’s stab in the dark offer.

No to Acquisition, Yes to Advertising 

Tumblr could go it alone by adding some form of advertising to their service, but Karp has said that advertising “really turns our stomachs” which is a fundamental problem with there business model of just living of off funding. Tumblr attracts a mind boggling amount of traffic and this it is just nonsensical not to capitalize on the traffic they regularly bring in, just so the company didn’t have to rely on outside investment to keep the lights on.

To illustrate the amount of traffic Tumblr gets it is the ninth most visited site in the U.S, and it has a whopping 217 million unique visitors world wide every month and 74 million psts are made each day. The site has a lot of room for growth even though it is massively popular already.

There are rumours that Tumblr will bite the bullet and introduce a pay-per view system later this year; the system will work by paying to get others to view, so like a recommendation bar or something to that affect.

Source — VentureBeat

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Xbox 360 dominates console sales for 28th consecutive month

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Xbox 360 sales April 2013
The Xbox 360 topped the charts again in April, marking the 28th consecutive month Microsoft’s gaming console has outsold Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii consoles. According to research from NPD Group, the Xbox 360 accounted for 42% of current-generation sales with 130,000 units sold last month. It wasn’t all good news, however, as sales plummeted 50% from 261,000 units in March. As a whole, the industry continued to struggle in April with total gaming sales down 25% year-over-year from $ 657.5 million to $ 495.2 million. Microsoft and Sony’s next-generation consoles are expected to help sales pick up when they launch ahead of the holidays this year.
BGR

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Acer’s 8.1 inch Windows 8 Tablet Iconia W3 Is Now Official

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Early this month there was already a rumor that Acer was working on an 8.1 inch Windows 8 tablet. This was further strengthened when the device briefly appeared over at Amazon but was immediately taken down. It then resurfaced a few days later after Denis Kutnikov, general director of Acer’s Russian office, said that it will be introduced this coming June 4.

iconia w3

The Acer Iconia W3 is now listed in the company’s Finnish site making it official. The tablet sports an 8.1 inch WXGA display, an Intel Atom Z2760 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB internal storage depending on the model. There’s also a 2 MP webcam included. The device will be pre-installed with Windows 8 Professional and it’s also likely that Windows Word will also be available right out of the box.

Acer describes the device as “The Iconia W3 with Windows 8 is a true multi-user tablet with easy access to personal apps and settings via live tiles, plus access to the Windows Store for even more. It syncs across all your Windows 8 devices, so what you need is always there. Plus, Windows 8 provides you with built-in security and parental controls.”

The device is said to have enough battery life to last up to 8 hours while watching 720p movies. This makes it a great entertainment device for travelers.

In the website the device is shown with a keyboard dock. We’re not sure if this will be included in the package or if it will be sold separately as an accessory. Having a keyboard accessory will definitely make it easier for people to work on their productivity software.

There’s still no exact date as to when this device will be released or how much it is going to cost. It will be featured in the Computex event next month where it’s likely that more information will become available.

While this device does not have the premium features of the Microsoft Surface Pro it will make a great introductory device for those looking for a Windows 8 tablet.

Acer Iconia W3 Technical Specifications

  • Windows 8 Pro
  • Intel Atom Z2760
  • 8″ WXGA Multi-Touch LCD
  • 2 GB Memory
  • eMMC32GB
  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3650
  • 802.11 b/g/n & BT
  • 2M FHD STD
  • BT4.0
  • Micro HDMI
  • Micro-USB 2.0 port
  • 8 hours
  • Silver

via acer

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HTC says One production will double to meet ‘strong demand’

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

HTC One Sales
Of all the problems to have when launching a new flagship smartphone, trouble keeping up with demand is hardly the worst. Of course, things change a bit when a company has to pump units into channels as quickly as possible before the top-selling smartphone vendor in the world launches the Galaxy S4. HTC undoubtedly lost some sales thanks to its production woes with the One, but a new report suggests its manufacturing issues are behind it. According to Focus Taiwan, HTC North Asia president Jack Tong said that production capacity for the HTC One will double in May and increase further in June. ”Our capacity is expected to rise significantly starting from mid-May,” Tong reportedly said Friday at a press conference. “We are optimistic about our high-end sales during April and June.”
BGR

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Pocket Casts updated with improvements and fixes galore

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Pocket Casts

Continuous playback over notifications and more bug fixes than you can shake a stick at

Since making the move to a completely new design with Pocket Casts 4, a few lingering bugs have been piling up. Those are getting squashed today, along with a few new feature adds, with a big update to the app today. First up, the update brings the option to have playback not be interrupted by notifications, which is still set to be off by default. The sharing menu for podcasts has also received a tweak that gives you three simple options — email, other apps, copy link — to cut down on the interface clutter. You can now mark every episode from a certain podcast as "unplayed", and long-pressing on the "next" button will skip to the next item in a playlist.

Some of the big user-facing bugs, such as duplicate episode downloads and action bar bugs that showed extra action buttons have been notably fixed. When episode downloads fail, they now properly show up in the "not downloaded" filter once again. There are also many more back-end issues that have been fixed as well. If you haven't had a chance to see Pocket Casts in action, now may be the time — grab a download from the Play Store link above.

    


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Google Play Services gives control of Android back to Google

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Google Play Services

With API services outside of the core operating system, Google is taking back control of Android

We didn't get a new version of Android this year at Google I/O. You can read all the lamenting and gnashing of teeth over this across the web, so I'll spare you the play by play of how it was supposed to happen (a proverbial lock), but didn't.

Instead, I'll tell you a little bit about what we did get — a huge updated version of Google's service APIs, which turns out is much better.

Wait. Better? How can an app I never wanted that got magically pushed to my phone be better than a newer, higher number in my about phone screen? That's crazy talk, right?.

Turns out, that little app is a powerful beast. Read on.

read more

    


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Verizon Increases Data Allowance On Prepaid Plans

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Verizon has recently made changes to its prepaid plan offering that will take effect immediately to its existing customers. The company currently has two plans which cost $ 60 and $ 70 a month. Both prepaid plans offer unlimited minutes and text messaging as well as 500 MB and 2 GB of data respectively. The new change bumps up this data allowance to 2 GB for the $ 60 plan and 4 GB for the $ 70 plan. New customers will have to wait until June 6 for this to take effect on their account.

verizon

Verizon’s prepaid plan is only limited to 3G service with no information yet if they will make LTE available. While 3G is not as fast as LTE it is still a good connection speed for you to check on your emails or update your social networks using your smartphone.

Verizon recently launched its prepaid plan options to target a previously untapped segment of the market comprising of people who do not want to be tied down to an annual contract. Potential customers don’t even need to buy a new phone since they can use their extra phone lying around and have it activated to use the service.

Listed below are the two prepaid plans of Verizon

$ 70 Smartphone (Best Value)

  • $ 70 a month
  • Unlimited Anytime Minutes
  • Unlimited mobile to mobile calling with Verizon customers
  • Unlimited text messaging
  • 4 GB data

$ 60 Smartphone

  • $ 60 a month
  • Unlimited Anytime Minutes
  • Unlimited mobile to mobile calling with Verizon customers
  • Unlimited text messaging
  • 2 GB data

For those unfamiliar with the concept of a prepaid plan here’s how it works. You just have to pay upfront the monthly charge to enjoy unlimited talk, messaging and data of your choice. You can renew your prepaid plan for an additional 30 days by paying the monthly charge prior to the monthly renewal date.

For customers who regularly go online on their smartphones there’s a possibility that they will consume the data cap before the due date. In this case there is an option to purchase an additional 1 GB of data for $ 20 when your data allowance reaches 100 MB.

The great thing about having a prepaid plan is that you are not tied down to a contract. This allows have the flexibility to choose whether to renew your prepaid plan or not on a monthly basis.

via verizon 

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