Galaxy S4 And HTC One Google Play Edition Receive Android 4.4.2 Update:

Google rolled out the Android 4.4.2 update recently shortly after it had rolled out Android 4.4.1 for Nexus devices. Updates such as these are first rolled out for Nexus devices before they gradually make their way to devices manufactured by other OEMs. The benefit of owning a Google Play Edition device is that you’re much higher up the list, meaning that updates are rolled out for these variants soon after the Nexus devices have received their fix. The first two GPE smartphones released earlier this year, the Galaxy S4 and HTC One, have both received the latest release of KitKat, Android 4.4.2. These incremental updates don’t bring any major features, however they do fix various bugs, including device specific bugs. Furthermore, a SMS related security exploit that was discovered recently has also been patched in Android 4.4.2. The updates have started rolling out over-the-air for both Google Play Edition smartphones, alternatively, users can download the firmware files from Google and flash their devices manually. Just recently a couple of new GPE devices were released, including the first ever GPE LG G Pad 8.3 tablet and a similar edition of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. Both of these devices, the smartphone and the tablet, come with Android 4.4 KitKat preinstalled.

read more

Read more »

Sprint Wants To Buy T-Mobile [Rumor]

Right now there are four major mobile carriers in the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. When AT&T’s bid to acquire T-Mobile ultimately fell through, nobody thought that another major carrier would immediately move to pick up the fourth largest U.S. carrier. Given that considerable time has passed since that failed attempt, a new report by The Wall Street Journal claims that Sprint is gearing up to bid for T-Mobile U.S. If it goes through, rather if regulators let it go through, the U.S. market will effectively be left with three major carriers. It is reported that Sprint is likely to make an offer in the first half of 2014, the offer is likely to be to the tune of $20 billion. Sprint’s bid is almost half of what AT&T offered back in 2011, around $39 billion. There’s an obvious advantage here for Sprint to consider this bid. Bringing T-Mobile’s subscriber base and infrastructure on board will enable Sprint to launch much more effective competition against behemoths like Verizon and AT&T. Both Sprint and T-Mobile’s subscriber bases account for less than what AT&T holds, roughly 109 million. The question remains though, is Sprint going to face regulatory hurdles that might make it impossible to pursue this any further? That remains to be seen. There has been no official comment from either Sprint or T-Mobile confirming if talks are under way. So before a bid is officially made, we must hold on to those grains of salt


read more

Read more »

iPhone Air And iPhone 6C Concept Videos Spotted

Let’s see – there is a MacBook Air, the iPad Air, so why not have the iPhone follow in the very same footsteps some time down the road? Who knows, Apple might just do that, but right now, we do have a couple of videos to share with you – one above as well as another right after, that will depict the possibility of what the iPhone Air as well as iPhone 6C would look like if they happened to be in existence. The iPhone Air video hails from Set Solution, where it boasts of some rather pretty renderings that might just leave some folks pinching themselves so that they know what they are seeing is not real, and it might never even come out in the first place. After all, who can argue with a smartphone that measures all of 1.5mm thin at the top, with a 3mm thickness located at the bottom, tipping the scales at 70 grams, while boasting an edge-to-edge glass display? As for the conceptual iPhone 6C, it will share the theme of having many different colors just like the iPhone 5c, except that there is a pronounced curve located on the display that is not too different from that of the LG G Flex, although the back would remain flat.

read more

Read more »

Google Could Venture Into Designing Own Server Chips

What happens when you have a whole lot of money and influence? Well, it is a whole lot easier to make things happen, of course, and that seems to be the case with Google. Bloomberg has reported that Google could be looking into designing their very own server chips as part of an effort in order to build a better way for its hardware and software to interact with one another. Does this mean that Intel should watch out for this potential development? I would suppose so, especially when you consider how Google is not any two bit company, and the latter is touted to rely on technology from ARM Holdings Plc. Right now, Google is said to be the fifth largest customer of Intel, and should Google actually make its move into the world of server chips, it would definitely affect Intel’s bottomline at the end of the day – by up to 4.3%, if you were to take the percentage of Intel’s revenue contributed by the folks over at Google. Having said that, designing their own server chips also makes sense for Google in the long run, when you consider how they have already begun to design their own data centers with servers worldwide. With ARM’s chips being the top dog in the world of smartphones and tablets, it ain’t such a bad idea after all to team up with them. This is still a rumor, though, as Google has yet to step forward to confirm or deny such claims

read more

Read more »

LG Optimus G Android 4.4 KitKat Begins Rolling Out For Some Users

Just a few months ago, LG France accidentally confirmed its LG Optimus G would be receiving Android 4.4 KitKat some time in October, although if you’re an owner of the 1-year-old Android smartphone, you’re probably well aware KitKat has yet to come your way. In fact, November came and went and still no Android 4.4 KitKat, but December looks like it’s the sweet month as the latest version of Android has started to roll out for the LG Optimus G. As usual, there’s a catch. You see – Android 4.4 KitKat has been rolling out to the Optimus G in the lovely country of Estonia. In fact, the news comes from LG Estonia’s Facebook page, which at the time of this writing, has yet to retract their message, which when translated, reads: “Good news for LG Optimus G smartphone users – the Android 4.4 KitKat update is now available.” We’re sure this leaves many of you LG Optimus G owners in other parts of the world wondering when you’ll be getting in on the Android 4.4 KitKat fun. Well – hopefully its rollout in Estonia is an indication that the software is ready to go primetime on the Optimus G, so let’s all hope it doesn’t take too long. [Update: We received an email from LG Estonia that confirm the Optimus G received an update this week that allows users to access 4G connections for local carrier Elisa. At this time, LG Estonia doesn't know when Android 4.4 KitKat will be released on the Optimus G.]


read more

Read more »

Motorola Touchless Control App Update Unlocks Your Phone With But A Spoken Word

They say that a spoken word can be extremely powerful, although it is also understood that a curse which has no place will not fall on anyone. Some people follow the school of thought of speaking things into reality, but why not let technology ensure that this happens every time, all the time? Motorola has recently introduced a new update to its Touchless Control app over on Google Play, which would ensure that your smartphone will be more versatile even when it is in a locked state, as extra Google Now commands should now be able to jive with your smartphone when it is idle and locked. You will be able to unlock your PIN simply by speaking it out, and Touchless Control will do all the rest. A new tone is also introduced when you say “OK Google Now.” Apparently, this particular update does seem to be made available only to devices that have Android 4.4 KitKat as the operating system of choice, which pretty much rules out the recent DROID family, at least until Motorola and Verizon do something to remedy that situation soon. Speaking out your PIN is fine and dandy by me, but it seems to be a function that is worth using only in private, coming in most handy when you drive and need to concentrate on the road.


read more-ubergizmo.com

Read more »

Skype For Android 4.5 Rolls Out

Just the other day, we read about how Microsoft rolled out a Skype for Windows Phone 8 update to the masses, and this time around, we have a little bit of something for Android device owners who cannot help but sneak in some Skype goodness into their everyday routine. We are looking at Skype for Android version 4.5 now, where there will be a couple of totally new features which will cater for Android tablet owners, in addition to general improvements across the board. Skype happens to be the first Android application that will be able to deliver a picture in picture window, letting you check out your video call never mind the fact that you have already switched away to other applications. I guess some might say that this is an experience which would not be too different from Windows 8′s Snap View, albeit it comes with a touch of Android this time around, letting you multitask even when you are attending to a Skype video call. While this feature is available only on tablets, those using Skype 4.5 on your Android smartphone will still be able to catch out a message that performs a permission request to draw on top of other apps. Other bug fixes and quality improvements in Skype 4.5 would include better Video Instant Messaging functionality, compatibility for the Hudl tablet, crash issues on the Nexus 5 would be no more, as well as persistent drop down filter selections on the people tab.


source-ubergizmo.com

Read more »

Windows 8.2 Concept Sees Modern UI On The Desktop

Earlier in the week, we did report that Windows 8 Threshold might see the return of the proper Start menu experience, but that remains a rumor even until now. Of course, until something official comes out, we are stuck with the pseudo-Start button in Windows 8.1, but this has not stopped other more enterprising and imaginative folks from working on what could possibly be down the road. 20 year old designer Jay Machalani has thought up of what Windows 8.2 could look like, where it comes with the well loved Start menu, not to mention a seeming success in the integration of both Desktop and Start screen interfaces. Machalani, a self-proclaimed “UX/UI & Branding Architect”, has spent a few months working on a future Windows design, touting that he loves Windows 8 personally, thinking that it is “the best OS for productivity and awesomeness” despite being “filled with massive flaws.” The conceptual Windows 8.2 interface comes with a Modern look and feel, where Machalani shared, “You can make it bigger or smaller, pin your apps and live tiles, resize them, get a quick access to the Classic apps Jumplist (loved that feature from Windows 7), access the notification center, settings, power options and search. It makes sense.” Do you hope that Microsoft would go in this direction?

source-ubergizmo.com

Read more »

Nexus 10 Gets Manual Android 4.4.1 KitKat Update

We have seen how just a few days ago, the Android 4.4.1 KitKat manual update for both the Nexus 4 as well as Nexus 7 were made available to the masses. Well, since all good things always come to those who wait, those who happen to own the Nexus 10 will be pleased to hear that the Android 4.4.1 KitKat manual update is finally available for download and subsequently, installation. It does seem as though majority of the fixes and features introduced with this latest Android update would cater for the Nexus 5, so it can be pretty difficult to guess the exact nature of how the Nexus 10 will change this time around. One thing that can be confirmed, at the very least, would be the fact that the default app for managing your images from the camera app would be the Google+ Photos app, being used in favor of the stock Android Gallery app. Needless to say, for those who want to download and install this manual update, just make sure that your Nexus 10 happens to be running on stock Android 4.4 build KRT16S before you proceed. It would also be an amazing – nay, common sense move to perform a backup of all your data beforehand since you can never quite tell just when will Murphy strike.


source-ubergizmo.com/

Read more »

Get 50GB Free Amazon Cloud Drive Storage With Purchase Of Select Android Phones

There are a lot of ways to purchase a smartphone. Third-party retailers are well stocked, carrier retail stores have them, in most cases the manufacturers have their own stores and then there’s always the easy option of purchasing online. Amazon wants you to purchase your next Android smartphone through it, which is why it is offering 50GB of free Amazon Cloud Drive storage with purchase of select Android smartphones. These “select” smartphones include over 100 carrier branded devices. The list of devices easily includes almost all of the popular recent Android smartphones that have been released over the past few months. It is very easy to avail this offer. Simply purchase the smartphone of your choice from Amazon, and wait for the free storage to appear, Amazon says it should appear within ten days of purchase. The free 50GB of cloud storage will be added on top of the 5GB that’s already provided for free with purchase of every smartphone. That’s a catch though. The free 50GB storage is only valid for one year. Amazon won’t delete your data immediately once the 12 months are over, however if you want to retain the storage, you will have to pay up or else you will have to make alternate arrangements for your data



source-ubergizmo

Read more »