Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat Update

While most of the attention right now is being lavished on the still unreleased Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update, there are likely to be some owners who are looking ahead, further into the future, about a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Here, we offer some early expectations for those that are looking beyond Android 4.3 at Android 4.4.

All the way back in August of last year, Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 2, its second-generation phablet and a device that was considered one of the best smartphones on the market until the Galaxy Note 3 replaced it in September. At the time it released, the Galaxy Note 2 was using Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, meaning it was one of the first devices to utilize the update out of the box.

December could bring the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update release in some regions, with Galaxy Note 3 features.

Many owners believed that they would then be getting the upgrade to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, an update that was announced just a few weeks after the Galaxy Note 2 arrived on shelves in the United States. Rumors suggested that it would be Android 4.2 Jelly Bean that would be coming in the summer. Unfortunately, the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update never came and Galaxy Note 2 owners are still waiting for their first major Android upgrade.

Last month, Samsung revealed that it indeed skipped Android 4.2 and headed straight to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update, it said, would be rolling out with a host of new features including Galaxy Gear support, Samsung KNOX, and more. Leaks suggest that it will be coming with some Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 software features as well.

Galaxy Note 2 users still have not seen a roll out though signs point to one touching down in the next few weeks. The software is expected to deploy to owners before the end of the year and thus, most Galaxy Note 2 owners are keeping an eye out for their brand new update.

Others though are likely looking deeper into the future thanks to the Android 4.4 KitKat update that Google announced back in October and released just a few days later on the Nexus 5. A Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update hasn’t been announced just yet but we wanted to take a close, early look at what we expect from the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update and its release date.

A GALAXY NOTE 2 ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT UPDATE
At this point, we haven’t seen Samsung confirm any Android 4.4 KitKat updates and we don’t expect it to any time soon. Why? Well, for one, it’s in the middle of its Android 4.3 Jelly Bean deployment. We haven’t seen the updates for the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 finish and so we don’t expect it to turn its attention, at least publicly, to Android 4.4 until after those updates are completed.

Samsung also isn’t known to announce its upgrade plans well advance. The Android 4.3 update was an exception due to it being a massive upgrade for all three devices. The Galaxy Gear is an integral part of Samsung’s lineup right now and it wanted to make sure that users knew that support was coming ahead of the holidays.

android_kitkat

So, we’re in the dark. However, we have seen one rumor suggest that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is coming. That’s a good sign. It’s also a good sign that the Android 4.3 update represents the first major update for the Galaxy Note 2. We sincerely doubt that Samsung will only offer one big update for a device as widely adopted as the Galaxy Note 2. That wouldn’t sit well with customers and in a market as competitive as the smartphone market, that’s never a good thing.

At this point, we expect there to be a Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update but we don’t think that it’s going to be touching down any time soon.

GALAXY NOTE 2 ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT UPDATE IN 2014
If the update does roll out, we expect it to debut sometime next year. For one, we’re getting close to the end of the year and we still haven’t seen the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update roll out. So unless Samsung is planning on releasing the software back-to-back, something that is highly unlikely, we should see the update pushed to 2014.

Galaxy-Note-2-Direct-dial-hidden-feature-558x575

We’ve also seen the issues that Samsung is having with the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. That update and the Galaxy S3′s are fairly similar, save for a few features, so it could be that the Galaxy Note 2 update has been delayed a bit so that Samsung can work on fixes. That’s not confirmed and purely speculative at this point.

Point here is this. Not only are there signs pointing to 2014 but Galaxy Note updates in general are slow so unless Samsung skips Android 4.3, we likely won’t see Android 4.4 until next year.

ROLL OUT AFTER GALAXY S5 RELEASE
Those who need more evidence need only look at Samsung’s release patterns. Typically, the carrier will introduce a new flagship with a new piece of software on board. For example, we saw the Galaxy S4 arrive with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean before any other device. We also saw the Galaxy Note 3 come with Android 4.3 before any other Samsung smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is rumored for February.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is rumored for February.

Whether it’s for marketing purposes or otherwise, this is a growing trend at Samsung. And at this point, there is little doubt that the Galaxy S5 will be coming with anything other than Google’s brand new Android 4.4 KitKat update.

With that in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Samsung hold off on updates for its older phones until after the Galaxy S5 is released next year. Rumors suggest that that could take place in February so if true, it may be that owners of older devices don’t have to wait long.

ROLL OUT AFTER GALAXY S3 RELEASE
We’ll go even further. We expect there to be a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. And if that’s the case, we expect the Galaxy Note 2 to get its update after the Galaxy S3. Why? Well, Samsung’s focus is typically on its more widely adopted devices and the Galaxy S3 is reportedly the most widely adopted smartphone in its arsenal. Even bigger than the Galaxy S4.

Samsung-Galaxy-S3-wireless-charger-Review-006-575x380

So, while the Galaxy S4 is newer, and should get Android 4.4 KitKat first, we fully expect the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to arrive before the Galaxy Note 2′s update. Keep in mind, this exact thing just happened with the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update roll out.

BIGGER GAP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND U.S.
Surprisingly, the U.S. has been and will be, much faster to the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates. Typically, we see the U.S. lag behind by a few weeks, sometimes even a few months. In the case of Android 4.3, it has been right up there with the other regions of the world. And while it could be that these carriers, and Samsung, have made strides, we think there are ulterior motives at work here.

GalaxyGear_002-575x383

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean brings support for the $299 Galaxy Gear smartwatch. This is a device that all five major U.S. carriers sell and it’s a device that figures to be promoted as a holiday gift during Black Friday and beyond. Without Android 4.3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners have no use for the accessory. So in our mind, that’s certainly a reason why we’re seeing these updates roll out.

That said, we doubt that Android 4.4 KitKat will offer the same kind of incentive to Samsung and its carriers. So, we expect U.S. carriers to revert to their old ways and release the Android 4.4 KitKat update much further away from the international roll outs. We do, however, have our fingers crossed.

FIVE MAJOR U.S. CARRIERS ON BOARD WITH ANDROID 4.4
If the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update does roll out, there is no chance that it will skip one of the major carriers in the United States. AT&T, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, T-Mobile and Verizon will either all roll it out or all skip it as they won’t want to offer their rivals any kind of advantage.

Expect an improved camera with supporting software.

Of course, users should expect staggered roll outs with some of these carriers releasing their software quick and others lagging behind. Sprint is typically the fastest to software updates so we expect it to lead the charge.

ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT UPDATE PROBLEMS
Finally, Galaxy Note 2 users should expect there to be Android 4.4 KitKat update issues. As we’ve pointed out many times over, software updates are never perfect and Galaxy Note 2 owners should not expect the KitKat update to be flawless.

Instead, we should see some issues on board and it will be up to users to find a good place for feedback and up to Samsung to release bug fix updates to fix any issues it overlooked. Hopefully, the situation isn’t as bad as the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 roll out, a roll out that has been marred by issues ever since the update arrived earlier this month.

Read More

Could the iPhone 6 have a screen made of SAPPHIRE?

Apple announces deal to open facility that develops super strong displays

Rumours are already hinting at the fact Apple’s next handset, dubbed iPhone 6, will have a full HD Retina Display and now new reports suggest this display could be made of sapphire glass.

These claims have been made because Apple recently announced plans to open a mineral plant in Arizona with sapphire glass experts GT Advanced Technologies.

The facility is expected to employ around 700 people to manufacture sapphire crystal and sapphire glass, and this technology could make its way onto the screens of the next iPhone.

Apple has announced plans to open a mineral plant in Arizona and with sapphire glass experts GT Advanced Technologies. The facility is expected to manufacture sapphire crystal and sapphire glass, and this technology could make its way onto the screens of the next iPhone, artists impression of the iPhone 6 pictured

Apple already uses sapphire crystal in the Touch ID fingerprint scanner of its latest iPhone 5S. Apple additionally protects the camera on the iPhone with a small piece of this super-strong material. 

The technology is traditionally used in watch displays because it is thin, hard-wearing and scratch resistant. 

As a result, sapphire glass could potentially replace Gorilla Glass currently used in most high-end smartphones.

Synthetic sapphire is a hard, transparent material made of crystallising aluminium oxide, produced at high temperatures.

As the material is heated, it forms disks that can be sliced using diamond-coated saws.These round disks are ground into shape, and polished, to become glass.

Reports Apple was experimenting with sapphire displays began last year, yet sources claimed at the time Apple found the technology ‘infeasible.

This was because sapphire glass is more expensive to produce than normal screens.

The plans to build the plant could equally be less about creating sapphire screens, and more about mass producing the firm's Touch ID technology.

It’s likely any future models of the iPhone and iPad will feature the biometric technology introduced on the iPhone 5S and Apple will need a plant to be able to produce a lot of the material, quickly.

In a statement about the announcement, GT Advanced Technologies said: ‘Although the agreement does not guarantee volumes, it does require GT to maintain a minimum level of capacity.’

While an Apple spokesman added: We are proud to expand our domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction.

‘This new plant will make com

Read More

iPhone 6 May Bring Faster, Samsung Style Releases

The iPhone 6 release could come faster and Apple could offer multiple iPhone launches in a single calendar year according to a note to investors shared after a meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer.

Apple released two iPhones in 2013, but did so on the same day with a clear distinction between the two. The iPhone 5s is Apple’s flagship iPhone while the iPhone 5c is a cheaper, mid-range option that offers last year’s tech in a new design.

According this new report from Katy Huberty, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, this set the stage for faster updates to the iPhone line, similar to the fast iPad 3 to iPad 4 release in 2012. Unlike most analyst notes which focus on the supply chain and other sources, Apple Insider reports that Huberty came to this conclusion after a meeting with Cook and Oppenheimer.

Huberty’s note states that Apple is ready for, “multiple refreshes per year,” of the iPhone line, but doesn’t quote either Apple leader on record with a specific plan for a fast iPhone 6 release or even faster iPhone 7.

According to a new report Apple may adopt a faster iPhone release cycle which could bring two iPhone 6 models or an iPhone 6 and a new iPhone to users in the same year.
According to a new report Apple may adopt a faster iPhone release cycle which could bring two iPhone 6 models or an iPhone 6 and a new iPhone to users in the same year.

Apple committed over half a billion dollars to a U.S. based company recently to develop Sapphire glass technology which could be a part of a new iPhone, possibly the iPhone 6 according to conjecture.

If Apple shifts to a multiple iPhone per year strategy the company would need to execute the releases in a manner that doesn’t leave consumers constantly waiting for the next iPhone or angry that Apple held a feature back for a newer device. This was a major issue for Android smartphones in the 2011, with Motorola as the worst offender. Motorola announced the Droid Bionic at CES in January 2011 and delayed it until September 2011 when many consumers quickly purchased the device. Less than two months later Motorola launched the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX, with better designs, features and support, leaving many customers angry at the fast release.

The dual release strategy is working for Samsung, thanks to a very focused approach which Apple may be planning to copy. Samsung launches the Galaxy S series in the first half of the year and the Note series in the later half. The to devices are different enough that consumers do not need to choose between the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 in the same way that harmed fast releases from Samsung in earlier years.

Analysts agree that Apple is working on a larger display for the iPhone 6, and a recent NPD DisplaySearch report points to two iPhone models in 2014. While it’s not clear if both of these are an iPhone 6, the report claims we will see a 4.7-inch iPhone with a 720P display and a larger 5.7-inch iPhone with a 1080P display.

Anecdotal reports from Gotta Be Mobile readers and conversations with consumers show demand for an iNote or Galaxy Note 3 sized iPhone 6. By offering multiple iPhone models with distinct sizes and target users Apple could pull off a multiple iPhone 6 release cycle and avoid a lawsuit like the one filed after the fast iPad 4 release.

Read More

iOS 7.1 Update Predictions (iPhone & iPad)

Whilst most of the fresh characteristics of which The search engines highlighted using Android 5. 5 KitKat tend to be under-the-hood advancements many may not comprehend will probably result in massive improvements, The search engines has brought the time for you to high light how a fresh dialer iphone app provides much more information as compared to the idea ever possesses previously.

This Android 5. 5 KitKat dialer features a fresh Unknown caller IDENTITY function of which taps in to Google+ files. This dialer joins using The search engines Sites item listings so that it is able to see business numbers and tell people as soon as getting a good newly arriving phone, looked after joins for you to The search engines Programs domains to show as soon as an individual from function cell phone calls.

By far the most intriguing part of the particular KitKat dialer can be it will become displaying page information for individuals future season. Starting in "early 2014, inches Google+ photos using page information will be as soon as receiving a call at a amount of a The search engines bank account. Android already sustains exhibiting page photos from buddies about Google+, but this specific function works even if a good newly arriving phone seriously isn't from an individual in the owner's Google+ sectors. And so in case a family alternate business charge cards about Saturday and do not turn into on the web buddies, the particular harasser IDENTITY will probably still display his / her identify and picture. Google+ people will probably have the option involving devoid of their information found.

The search engines has already applied the particular changes apart from the personal Google+ harasser IDENTITY function. In addition, it added a fresh look for function that creates obtaining numbers much easier. Consumers can look for involving business or maybe a corporation's index when the telephone can be associated with a The search engines Programs bank account. This dialer can be obtained at this point regarding Android 5. 5 KitKat units, which often thus far is restricted for the Nexus 5.

Read More

Android 4.4 KitKat dialer will add Google+ Caller ID and enhanced search options

While many of the new features that Google highlighted with Android 4.4 KitKat are under-the-hood enhancements that many may not realize will lead to big improvements, Google has taken the time to highlight how the new dialer app will provide more information than it ever has in the past.

The Android 4.4 KitKat dialer features a new Caller ID function that taps into Google+ data. The dialer connects with Google Places listings so it can see business numbers and notify users when receiving an incoming call, and it also connects to Google Apps domains to show when someone from work calls.

The most interesting aspect of the KitKat dialer is that it will start showing profile information for people next year. Beginning in "early 2014," Google+ photos with profile information will appear when receiving a phone call from a number associated with a Google account. Android already supports showcasing profile photos from friends on Google+, but this feature will work even if an incoming call is not from someone in a user's Google+ circles. So if two people exchange business cards on Wednesday and don't become online friends, the caller ID will still show his or her name and photo. Google+ users will have the option of not having their information shown.

Google has already implemented the changes other than the personal Google+ caller ID function. It also added a new search feature that makes finding numbers easier. Users can search of business or a company's directory if the phone is linked to a Google Apps account. The dialer is available now for Android 4.4 KitKat devices, which so far is limited to the Nexus 5.

Read More

User Review: T-Mobile

I am an only child, I am also a Student studying Computer Science. Thus, I am my family's tech guy. In 1999 my Dad got his first cellphone for work on Bellsouth. Throughout the years we have stuck with Bellsouth, Cingular, and finally AT&T. For more than half of my life we have been paying one company a large chuck of money each month for cell service. As I got older and became more techy I inevitably because the grand influencer to my Mom when it comes to our cell phone service. I always made sure we had the cheapest, most suitable plan for our family. As of two months ago we were all on a 700 Minute, Unlimited Text/Calls to Mobile family plan. I had unlimited data and both of my parents had 2GB. All together, after a 15% student discount and taxes, the bill was $197 a month.
In March, T-Mobile announced their Simple Choice plans and a whole new model for post-paid wireless in the United States. T-Mobile decoupled the cost of a phone from the cost of service and is creating a competitive market in phone pricing that hasn't really existed large-scale in the US before. While the idea is compelling to me, saving money is more so. My current phone is a Nexus 4 and my contract on AT&T has been up since last August; I was pretty annoyed about paying just as much without getting a subsidized phone realized that the new T-Mobile plans could save us a lot of money. However, my parents contracts don't end until December and its too expensive to have two different cell plans for one family.
This summer I spent two months in Ghana. I realized that this was the perfect time for me to cancel my line with AT&T. I have an unlocked phone so no way in hell was I going to pay AT&T's international roaming fees, and the 2 months savings from not having service would make up the difference of having my own line on T-Mobile until December. I decided I would switch to T-Mobile and test drive the network; If all went well my parents would join me on T-Mobile in December, if not I would go back to their plan on AT&T.

Switching was actually incredibly easy. About 10 days before I was leaving Ghana to return home I went to T-Mobile's website, opened an account (post-paid so I had to do a credit check), and chose a SIM card to be shipped to my house. When I arrived home, I popped out the MTN SIM card I was using in Ghana (by the way, if you ever travel to Africa and need a solid mobile data connection, MTN is the way to go) and slipped in my T-Mobile SIM card. The problem was that I couldn't get it to work. I checked the instructions to see how to activate my new SIM and didn't find anything, Google didn't even help. The I realized I was an idiot and I forgot to restart my phone (you must do this when you swap SIMs in Android). I restarted, the phone connected to T-Mobile's network and I was off!

With my new T-Mobile service I could make phone calls and use data. Really, that's what it did. I mean for the most part very little had changed. The first few days I ran a whole bunch of speed tests, in South Florida I got great results on HSPA+, in more remote locations I got results similar to AT&T. One thing that impressed my was coverage in my house. Depending where I was in my house I got anywhere from 4 to 2 bars and phone calls sounded fantastic. Before, with AT&T I got anywhere from 3 bars to No Service, in fact it was so bad we ended up getting a discounted Microcell from AT&T.

As I mentioned before, I have a Nexus 4. This phone doesn't have supported LTE but it can be enabled with some pretty minor hacks now-a-days. After about 3 days of good service on HSPA+ I decided to see what kind of LTE service I could receive on my Nexus 4. The answer, good - not, great. Driving around South Florida I get an LTE signal just about everywhere - I can't think of a place I don't. However, most of the time I get like 2-3 bars of LTE. In urban areas - Downtown Miami / Miami Beach - I got 4-5 bars, but many places I got 1. The real problem is when I walked inside of a building. Commonly I would get 1 bar or revert to HSPA+. T-Mobile's LTE offering is definitely present, definitely useful, but definitely not as ubiquitous as AT&T or Verizon's. I study at Florida State University and I can say my experience with LTE in Tallahassee is very similar to South Florida. On the upside, T-Mobile's LTE is plenty fast, usually faster than AT&T or Verizon and anywhere T-Mobile has LTE, they are going to have a very fast HSPA+ network to fall back on.

Here is where it gets more complicated. Both of my parents have iPhone 4Ses that they are happy with and they don't feel they need to upgrade yet. The problem is, they are AT&T models and only compatible with T-Mobile's HSPA+ network where it has been switched to 1900MHz. T-Mobile says this switch has taken place in its largest markets. Part of my family switching on T-Mobile depends if their phones will work well on the network or if they will need to buy new ones. So, I had AT&T unlock my Dad's iPhone and I switched phones with him for a day; Now, I had an iPhone 4S on T-Mobile and was seeing how well it worked. The answer is pretty much what T-Mobile said, it worked well in large markets and not-so-much everywhere else. Around South Florida the phone got HSPA+ everyhwere, it didn't fall back to EDGE once. However, I took a road trip up to Tampa and between South Florida and Tampa, the phone spent most of the time on EDGE. Phone calls continued to work great, but data was noticeably slower. Data worked okay for searching google and looking up directions but streaming music and browsing heavy websites were a no-go. For my parents, T-Mobile's 1900MHz network is enough, because it will cover them all around South Florida, but it will be a disappointment when going on road trips. However, since they can always make and receive calls I think they will be keeping their iPhone 4Ses for a while.
Billing and Customer Service

When my first bill arrived, I wasn't shocked. Nothing was out of the ordinary however, they charged me for a few extra days, from when my SIM card arrived at my house, not when I got back from Ghana and actually started using the service. I called customer service and explained why I believed T-Mobile charged me extra and the representative immediately looked at my usage, saw that I didn't use the SIM until a few days (4 to be exact) after it arrived and offered me a full week's worth of credit to my account. I have never had such service with AT&T. Usually with AT&T I am on hold for 15 minutes, the representative says they can't help me, I get placed on hold for 20 minutes in order to speak to the manager and after an argument the manager might offer assistance. With T-Mobile I was on hold for less than a minute and the representative understood my needs and addressed them immediately. In fact, after a week of using T-Mobile, a customer service agent called me and asked how I was liking T-Mobile, if I had any problems or questions, and explained how much my monthly bill would be including taxes and government fees. I feel that the revamped T-Mobile understands that they need good customer service in order to pull off their whole vision.

After over a month of trying T-Mobile with their new Simple Choice plans, I am very pleased. I think T-Mobile offers great service to people living in urban and suburban areas for a very fair price. If you live out in the middle of nowhere, T-Mobile isn't for you; If you don't, why would you pay extra for a network you aren't utilizing? I am not going to say everyone should switch. What I can say, is that for my family, T-Mobile seems like the obvious choice. All-in-all our monthly bill will be $100 a month for three lines after taxes compared to $197 now. If both of my parents get new iPhones our bill will still only be $142 a month. T-Mobile offers great service in our area and we can save $97 a month by switching. If T-Mobile can work for you needs and save you money, try it out, if not, then stay with your carrier now. I have already switched and it was a very easy process and honestly, I sometimes just forget I'm not on AT&T. At the end of the day my phone makes calls and data works just like it should, my new carrier is basically transparent to my phone. I wrote this review because I know T-Mobile has piqued a lot of interest in the tech world and I wanted to share my experience with others who are thinking about switching.

TL;DR I have been testing T-Mobile and it has been a great experience. My family is going to switch in December when their contract ends and we will save $97 a month in the process. If T-Mobile offers what you need for less money, you should give them a try.

Read More

Sony shrinks flagship Z1 smartphone to a more manageable size

Japanese carrier NTT Docomo has announced the Xperia Z1F, a new Sony smartphone based on this year's Xperia Z1. The Z1's standout feature was its 20-megapixel camera with a point-and-shoot-sized sensor, but where that model featured a 5-inch 1080p display, the Z1F's has been shrunk down to 4.3 inches at 720p. Docomo says that this is to achieve a more comfortable grip in the hand, and the resulting device is just a little bit bigger than an iPhone 5S.
At 140g and 9.7mm thick, the Z1F isn't the slimmest or lightest phone around, but its design is remarkably comfortable nonetheless. I had no problem at all using it one-handed, and found it easy to reach all areas of the screen with a single thumb. Android phone manufacturers have demonstrated little desire to cease one-upping each other with bigger and bigger devices over the past few years, and it's refreshing to see Sony produce something more usable.
Despite its relatively diminutive proportions, the Z1F is a high-end device from a spec standpoint; "mini" versions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, in contrast, have compromised on internals. Aside from the aforementioned 20-megapixel camera, the Z1F has a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2300mAh battery, and runs on Docomo's 150Mbps LTE network. It also maintains the Z1's high-quality, waterproofed glass and aluminum construction, and is available in black, white, lime, and pink.
Unfortunately, the Z1F appears to repeats most of the Z1's mistakes as well, including a less than top-tier display. Although it's sharp enough given the small size, and its color reproduction is vibrant when you look at it head-on, the Z1F shares the same poor viewing angles seen on just about every recent Sony smartphone.
Photos taken with the much-touted camera also exhibited similar processing issues such as artifacting and excessive noise reduction; lighting conditions at the announcement event were less than ideal, but the Z1F clearly struggled with white balance and exposure in places. Shots looked washed out next to that of the iPhone 5S, despite Sony having the superior lens and sensor on paper.
Image quality is still beyond that of most Android smartphones, however, and it almost seems churlish to complain about the display's viewing angles when its size is exactly what many have wanted paired to a top-end device. There's little indication of an international release, however. Docomo calls the Z1F an exclusive model, and the carrier has form when it comes to securing high-end Sony smartphones with small screens — last year'sexcellent Xperia SX never made it out of Japan.

Read More

Fitbit Force brings smartwatch features to a fitness tracker

Fitbit is making its latest device to quantify your activity, the wrist-worn Force fitness tracker, official today. The Force is an evolution of the Flex, Fitbit’s other wrist-worn tracker, and offers an OLED display and altimeter on top of the features included in the Flex. It's very similar to the company's One tracker, but with a wristband so you don't have to clip it to your pants. The Force is available in black or a handsome bluish-gray color (Fitbit calls it "slate") today for $129.95, slightly more than the $99 Flex, which is remaining in Fitbit’s lineup.
With the Force, Fitbit addressed many of the complaints we had with the Flex. The Force includes a new OLED display, which is far more informative than the Flex’s nebulous blinking lights, allowing you to check the time and your fitness stats without having to look at the app. That display can also show incoming call information (name or phone number) when the Force is paired to an iOS 7 device, giving the device slightly more function when it’s on your wrist. Unfortunately, the display is not always on and glanceable — you wake it with the single button on the side of the Force, and you can long-press that same button to start a basic stopwatch timer. It’s no replacement for a Pebble or other smartwatch, but it’s a step forward.

THE FORCE IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING AS THE ONE WITH THE WRISTBAND OF THE FLEX

Different from the Flex, Fitbit designed the Force as a single, contained unit. While the Flex required you to remove the actual tracking unit from the wristband to charge and sync with your computer, the Force has a proprietary charging port right on it, and it can sync with your computer wirelessly with the new USB dongle. It can also still sync with your Android or iOS device over Bluetooth 4.0, so there are fewer reasons than ever to actually take the thing off of your wrist. Fitbit claims that the Force has seven to ten days of battery life with regular use, and that the device is water resistant against sweat and splashes. It’s not designed to go swimming or in the shower with you, however.
The rubber wrist band on the Force is more or less the same as on the Flex; it’s soft touch and doesn’t snag too much on your skin. The two-pronged clasp is exactly the same, for better or worse, and the entire device is light enough to wear all day without becoming irritating. Like the Flex, the Force can be worn at night to monitor sleep habits, and the silent alarm function is calmer and less annoying than on the Flex — it just vibrates quietly at the time you set, and can be easily shut off with the button on the side of the device. That also means that it can be easily ignored since the Force doesn’t have a snooze function. If you forget to tell it that you are going to sleep, the Force will still track your activity and you can manually input the times you went to bed and woke up to see how well you slept in the app.
On top of the better design, the Force adds yet another piece of tracking data to your fitness profile: the new altimeter can measure how many flights of stairs you walked up and down during the day. The device is smart enough to tie this data directly to when you are actually taking steps up stairs — riding up and down in an elevator won’t throw it off, for instance.

THE FORCE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER FITNESS TRACKERS, BUT OFFERS MORE

Fitbit also recently revamped its apps for Android and iOS, offering a cleaner design that’s easier to use. The Force will sync wirelessly with the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S3, S4, Note II and Note 10.1. If you have another Android phone, you will have to sync the Force with your computer first before you can see the data in the mobile app. The Force does have NFC built-in, however, letting Samsung owners tap their phone to it to launch the Fitbit app.
At $129.95, the Force falls on the more expensive end of the fitness tracking spectrum, but its new features make it more functional than other devices that lack displays or wireless syncing. With the Force, Fitbit seems to be matching its already great services and apps with the features that its competitors such as Nike and Jawbone are offering, which is certainly not a bad thing. If the Force is able to live up to all of its promise, it could easily become the fitness tracker to get. Fitbit is offering it for sale today through its online store, and it will be in retail stores in the coming weeks.

Read More

Aereo to release an Android app on October 22nd

Aereo is coming to Android. The service — which allows viewers to stream broadcast TV online — will debut its first app ever just under two weeks from now, on October 22nd, inside of the Google Play store. The service is traditionally viewed through a web browser, and while it's made an iOS-specific mobile site, Android viewing hasn't been supported. Aereo says that the app will be in a "public beta" at first, and that it will require Android 4.2 or higher. The service has continued to aggressively expand as traditional broadcasterspush back against it in the courts, but Aereo's debut on Android is just another sign that it's moving quickly toward making its service widely and conveniently available — something broadcasters won't be happy about.

Read More

Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD has quad-core K3 processor, 1920 x 1200 display (hands-on pictures)

It was barely an afterthought in Huawei's MWC press conference, but the company is also getting ready to launch a seriously high-end tablet. The MediaPad 10 FHD has a 1920 x 1200 display, an 8-megapixel camera, and Huawei's new and impressive K3 processor — and it all fits in a body that's just 8.8mm thick. The device is still in its early stages (reps told us the model on display was hand-made for today's event), but even now it's already impressive. The pixel-rich 16:10 display looks fantastic, with great viewing angles and sharpness to spare. It's running Android 4.0, and we zipped around the browser and Gallery apps, plus a few games, without so much as a hiccup.
The tablet's due to be available in the second quarter of this year, though reps wouldn't say how much it would cost or where it will initially be on sale.

Read More

Aereo to bring live TV broadcasts to Android later this month

The only ways to watch TV on a Galaxy S 4 or HTC One is to download an app from the networks or a subscription service that offers limited on-demand options. Aereo will soon offer live TV broadcasts when it launches its Android app.
Aereo's name may be recognized as a company in a bitter battle with television networks because it broadcasts live over-the-air signals to the web and iOS devices. Courts have so far ruled that Aereo is legal and can continue to operate, but there are legal challenges in the handful of cities in which Aereo service is available. While the two sides fight it out, anyone with an Android 4.2 or later device will soon be able to watch TV on a mobile device.
The Aereo app will be free and compatible with the standard Aereo $8 per month subscription. Subscribers can choose to upgrade to a $12 per month plan that includes 60 hours of DVR storage rather than the standard 20 hours, and new customers will get their first month of service for free. Aereo is available only in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York City, and Salt Lake City at the moment. The service is "coming soon" to an additional 20 cities listed here.

Read More

Twitter Android app now supports tablets - Samsung tablets

Twitter today revealed that it has developed an app for Android tablets that will finally make tweets showcase content in a format better suited for the bigger screen of Android tablets. The problem is that most Android tablet owners are still unable to use the app at the moment because only Samsung devices can access it.
The Twitter for Android Tablets app launches today with compatibility enabled only for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - 2014 Edition. Samsung has paid to have an exclusive on the app for the Note 10 and other devices until it arrives on other devices "by the end of the year." For now, Google Nexus 7 owners and any other tablet not bearing the Samsung logo will be unable to see the following features:

- A landscape view that shows a stream of interesting tweets and Content on one panel and trending topics on the other when browsing the Discover section.
- Tap on a tweet loads content - photos, videos, or article snippets - on the right instead of on a new page
- A new widget that displays Twitter content and includes actions like marking items as favorites or retweets
- S-Pen friendly features to edit photos with drawing doddles and annotations over a photo from the gallery.

Read More

SEIDIO VITREO TEMPERED GLASS SCREEN GUARD FOR THE HTC ONE REVIEW

The Seidio VITREO is a tempered glass screen protector for your HTC One that, unlike most plastic screen guards, feels like there’s nothing there while giving your screen some impact and scratch protection. As a reminder, we’re still running a contest for five lucky winners to win a VITREO Screen Guard and a LEDGER flip case, and you still have time to enter.
Also unlike most plastic screen protectors, if you put the VITREO on incorrectly, you can still salvage the installation by pulling the screen guard off and re-positioning it. There are no bubbles on a standard installation as the guard can’t warp to allow them, and no random cat hairs mysteriously materialize to ruin the seal.
While there may be some air, it actually burps out with the included card with no issue. In the picture to the right, you can see the air under the bottom right corner, but roughly ten seconds later most of that was gone by itself.
Installation took about two minutes, mostly due to accidentally putting it too low on my first attempt. The second was successful and required no leaps to get it done. Considering how many plastic screen guards I’ve botched during installation, this was a breeze.
After it was installed, I decided to throw some damage at it and discovered that neither keys, knives, nor pointy screwdrivers made a scratch under normal circumstances. I would have loved to take a hammer to it, but it’s the wife’s HTC One, not mine, and I don’t think her insurance covers damage by mad bloggers.
On the LEDGER flip case it worked like a charm. I’ll have a review of the flip case later, but any open front case is going to work perfectly with the VITREO. The manufacturer page states it will work well with the ACTIVE and LEDGER cases.
Where you run into problems is when you’ve got a super-snug third party case, such as my wife’s snap-on hard skin Hello Kitty case. The case barely fits back on due to the slight additional space required of a tempered glass protector. At the point when the corners are pressed, air bubbles form. I believe the glass is actually being pinched in. Whatever the case, neither the HK case nor the VITREO want to work nicely together and I think that will probably be the case with most form-fitting snap-on cases.
In the pictures below (click to enlarge), you can see the case no longer closes properly, and in the corners of the One’s screen there are bubbles under the VITREO protector. They come out when you remove the Hello Kitty case, though. In short, if you get this protector, you’re going to be somewhat limited in cases you can use.
The VITREO is priced at about $40, which makes it the most expensive screen guard I’ve ever played with. Depending on how valuable the potential protection of your phone’s screen from shattering is, and what case options you’re willing to go with, will determine whether it’s worth it to you. I don’t put phones in with keys, nor do I tie them to strings and drag them behind a bus to get realistic battle damage ala Napoleon Dynamite.
For me, it’s not worth $40. Then again, I’m not a person who breaks and scratches screens. I have friends for whom, even in this price range, this would be a wise investment, as they’ve paid for the same phone over and over and over again.

Read More

ANDROID TIP: HOW TO GET BACK YOUR MISSING MICROPHONE ICON ON GOOGLE KEYBOARD

I recently performed a hard reset on my LG Nexus 4, and something strange happened: after everything restarted and I set my phone up, the microphone icon was gone on my Google Keyboard! I use this all the time to compose quick text messages on the go, or dictate other short snippets of text. It’s more convenient than changing my input method to voice typing, as it only requires a single button tap; additionally, when I’m done speaking, the keyboard pops right back up so I can quickly and easily correct any errors.
I’m not sure why it took my so long to figure this out, but it’s really easy to get back if it goes missing for any reason. Simply navigate to Settings > Language & input > Google Keyboard > Voice input key. Here you can select whether you want the microphone on the main keyboard or the symbols keyboard.
If you’re not running an AOSP ROM, or you’ve got a skinned device like the HTC EVO 4G LTE or the HTC One, you can still download Google Keyboard from the Play Store and access its settings from the app drawer. While this may seem like a simple solution to a minor problem, it took me way to long to figure out – so hopefully I’ll save at least one of you a few minutes.

Read More

HOW TO REPLACE YOUR SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 3′S S PEN TIP

As fantastic as the S Pen for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is, it’s not going to last forever. Eventually, that little plastic nub on the tip of the stylus will wear out, rendering the S Pen and all of its included functionality useless.
A sad day, indeed, but fret not: Samsung has prepared you for such an eventuality. Inside your Galaxy Note 3′s box should be a little bag, containing a metal ring and five cylindrical objects – these are your replacement tips. The metal ring is simply a removal tool, allowing you to grasp the tip of the S Pen and pull it out with little effort and no damage to your stylus.
To begin, take the S Pen out of its holding place in the Galaxy Note 3. Using the metal ring as tweezers (as they’re meant to be used), place the nub into the ring’s groove. Make sure to grasp firmly, but not too hard: if you mistakenly situate the nub into the wrong area and squeeze too hard, you could damage the tip.
Once you’re sure it’s in the correct groove, pull the tip out. It’ll slide out with hardly any effort. Put the old and useless tip somewhere else, find a new one, and insert your new tip using the tweezers. This ensures that you don’t break the tip by applying pressure where pressure shouldn’t be applied.
You won’t hear or feel any click that lets you know the stylus is in place, but as long as you can use the stylus on your Note 3, you’re done. Your S Pen is up and ready to go – you can now resume using your Note 3 to its fullest potential. If you’ve got any questions, let us know in the comments. Hopefully this guide will come in handy for any of you lucky Note 3 owners whose stylus needs a repair.

Read More