Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE Android 4.3 Update Confirmed For February

HTC’s Jason Mackenzie confirmed on Twitter that carrier testing of the update will start in mid-January with the consumer release scheduled for mid-February.
The Android 4.3 update for the Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE will include all the usual features from Google plus a major facelift for the UI as the phone will be getting HTC Sense 5. It’s still unclear if the HTC EVO 4G LTE will eventually be upgraded to KitKat (Android 4.4). The phone is essentially a re-branded version of the HTC One X, but even that phone hasn’t officially been blessed as an Android 4.4 update candidate.
Since HTC is being transparent about the end-to-end update process for its deviceshere in the US, let’s hope they can sort things out and let consumers know if they should be expecting the latest version of Android on HTC’s 2012 flagship phones.

Source: HTCSource

Verizon Moto G Leaked, Rumored At $100 Off Contract

13 - 1

Shared by Google+ user “Josue Joseph“, the above image shows the Moto G in Verizon retail packaging. The blister packaging reveals that the device will be sold with no annual contract and also touts that users will get unlimited talk and text and a choice of one of Verizon’s data plans.

There’s no word on when the device will be released to the public from Verizon. Josue notes in the comments of his post that it “looks like” the device will be sold for just $100 off-contract. That is an amazing value for a phone that was already seen as a value at $179.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Google Sues Rockstar, Threatens Android And Nexus


Apple led company Rockstar is a group of tech companies seeking to protect a portfolio of patents that it jointly purchased last year from defunct Canadian tech giant Nortel. On Tuesday, Google announced that it is taking Rockstar to court in an attempt to stop litigation which it says has "placed a cloud on Google’s Android platform," in particular, on Google's Nexus range of devices.

Google is trying to save many companies that use the open source Android OS, such as Asus, HTC, Huawei, Pantech, Samsung, LG and ZTE, from having to waste precious financial resources and time, defending themselves in courtrooms. The companies that make up Rockstar include Android rivals such as Apple, BlackBerry and Microsoft. In 2012, Rockstar spent $4.5 billion ($2.5 billion came from Apple) to buy a number of patents owned by Nortel.

Rockstar has no operations and employs Canadian engineers whose sole job is to scour the operations of other companies, looking for something that might infringe on its IP portfolio. Google's filing claims that the patent troll has focused on 100 companies and Rockstar's CEO claims that Facebook, LinkedIn and almost every major tech company is infringing on the patents that it has purchased from Nortel.

Google does not relish the idea of having to spend time and money defending itself and its customers. It is asking the court to rule that the " Nexus 5, Nexus 7, or Nexus 10 devices sold by Google, directly or indirectly " do not infringe on the seven patents owned by Rockstar and MobileStar. The latter is a shell company that apparently was created to help Rockstar win in court.

The patents owned by Rockstar deal with basic smartphone functions such as "mobile hotspot functionality," and "Messaging and Notification." Still, Rockstar has not been successful trying to license the patents it purchased and now the consortium faces the prospects of losing the $4.5 billion investment made by its members.

Early this year, a court ruled that Cisco could not sue to prevent its router customers from litigation. Google could find the courts unwilling to allow it to protect its customers from the patent troll.

Rockstar is getting desperate. Apple isn't happy with having to write off a multi-billion dollar investment. It is this desperation that has Google concerned about the depths that its rivals will go to in order to see some sort of return on the purchase of the Nortel patents. 



Source: Scribd
About Rockstar

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Canonical Shows Off Dual Boot Ubuntu For Android

Ubuntu dual boot


Canonical today unveiled their latest work on their Ubuntu mobile operating system. Today, the company has announced the availability of a developer preview of a new dual boot feature allowing supported Nexus devices to switch quickly between an Android based OS and Ubuntu. Ubuntu dual boot on AndroidTo switch between operating systems, users have to launch an app on whichever side of the dual boot setup they are currently using to execute the OS change. In the past, command line interfaces and various key combinations were needed, making the process not exactly the most efficient or user-friendly.
Keep in mind that this is a developer preview, and as such will be unstable compared to a regular Ubuntu or Android installation. You can find instructions to get the dual boot setup on a Nexus 4 here. To go through the setup, it seems basic knowledge of the command line and a Ubuntu computer are required. You will need an unlocked bootloader, familiarity with adb commands, and the ability to follow a step-by-step guide.

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod Limited Edition Now Available


The Oppo N1 CM Limited Edition has the same hardware that you'd expect from the Oppo N1, with a 5.9-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 600, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and the signature swiveling 13MP camera. The key there is that you no longer have to choose between taking a selfie with a lower quality front camera or with the higher quality back camera but shooting blind. Now, you just swivel it around and get the shot you want with the same camera. The one downside for the device is that it doesn't have LTE. 



The Oppo N1 CM is $599, It will come with a CyanogenMod sticker pack and blue CM cover, but shipping will be delayed because of the holidays. The source code for the device has also been released, but the ROM to flash a normal Oppo N1 hasn't been released yet. 


Source: Oppo

SoftBank Gets Closer To Buying T-Mobile


SoftBank is said to be in the final stage of talks with Deutsche Telekom to purchase its T-Mobile shares. 

SoftBank was considering using some of the shares of Sprint that it owns, to purchase the T-Mobile shares it wants to buy. But Deutsche Telekom is said to be holding out for cash instead of stock, and that has led SoftBank to visit 5 major banks, seeking to borrow the $19 billion that it needs to complete a deal for T-Mobile.

A Sprint-T-Mobile combination would provide a much tougher challenge for the top two U.S.carriers, Verizon and AT&T.


Source: Reuters

Friday, December 20, 2013

Pushbullet, View Notifications From Your Android Device To Computer Desktop


Before you start using Pushbullet, you have to do a little setting up first. The process is pretty straightforward and will take just a couple of minutes. A requirement you have to be aware of is that the service needs a computer running the Chrome internet browser. If you're using Google Chrome follow the instructions outlined below.

  1. Download the Pushbullet app from the Play Store.
  2. Once you open the app, you'll be asked to log in using your Google account.
  3. After that, you'll be asked whether you want your phone or tablet's notifications to be displayed on your computer. Go ahead and enable the Notification Mirroring Service on the following page. 
  4. The next step is to download the Pushbullet Chrome extension


Your phone or tablet's notifications should soon start appearing on your desktop. If the service doesn't start working immediately, give it a few minutes... Some users have reported the app taking a few minutes before kicking in. You should have noticed that Pushbullet can do a lot more than just forward your notifications. 

There's an option to send links and files directly from your browser to your mobile device, an option to shoot messages to your fellow friends who also use the app is available as well. Give Pushbullet a try, let us know what your thoughts are in the comment section below.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Sprint And Dish To Trial LTE 4G Broadband To Homes


Sprint today announced that it is partnering with Dish Networks to offer LTE 4G-based broadband in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dish will be responsible for installing the satellite dish and in-home networking gear, and Sprint will deliver TDD-LTE via its 2.5GHz spectrum. Sprint expects the trial to be up and running by the middle of 2014. The companies will consider expanding the service to other markets depending on the success of the trial. Clearwire, which Sprint now owns, offered similar in-home broadband service over its WiMax network.


Monday, December 16, 2013

Sprint LG G Flex Shown Off In @evleak Image

Sprint LG G Flex LS995 leak

LG officially introduced us to the G Flex and its curved 6-inch display in late October, and since then the unique device has gone on sale at the three major carriers in Korea. There haven't been any announcements regarding a launch here in the U.S., but the rumor mill has suggested that the curvy handset is indeed planning to make its way to a few different operators in the States. Today another piece of evidence of the G Flex's stateside travel plans has surfaced.
@evleaks took to Google+ today to share an image of what's said to be the LG G Flex for Sprint. The render shows the face of the G Flex, complete with Sprint's Spark LTE spinner icon in its status bar and a "Sprint" network indicator near the bottom of the display. In addition to sharing the image itself, @evleaks claims that the Sprint G Flex's identifies the Sprint G Flex as having the model number "LS995."
The feature of the G Flex is its 6-inch 1280x720 OLED display that curves from the top of the phone to the bottom, a feature that LG says makes the device more ergonomic and offers an improved video-watching experience when compared to traditional displays. The G Flex also features a "self-healing" back that enables the removal of light scratches. When it comes to more traditional specs, the G Flex is packing a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 32GB storage, microSD card slot, 13-megapixel rear shooter and 3500mAh battery.

Source: @evleaks


Nokia Camera Beta App Now Available

The Nokia Camera application debuted earlier this year as a combination of two of Nokia's previous apps, Pro Cam and Smart Cam, giving Windows Phone users access to more imaging modes and video features than the standard Windows Phone camera app offers. However, the app has only been available to Nokia devices with PureView-branded cameras since its debut. That's changing today, as a new Nokia Camera beta app has been announced for other Lumia models.
The new Nokia Camera beta app is being offered as part of the Nokia Beta Labs program. The app is meant to be available to all Lumia models running Windows Phone 8 and features the same look and feature set as the standard Nokia Camera app. That'll change over time, though, as Nokia intends on adding new features to the app to test them out before they're pushed to the stable version of the Nokia Camera app that's available through the Windows Phone store.

Motorola Teases Wood Back For Moto X

Screen Shot 2013-12-15 at 4.58.04 PM

Motorola is yet again teasing the wood backing for the Moto X. Advising followers to “Put this DIY project on hold. Trust us” with an image of wood back, we can only hope Motorola has plans to push this out in the coming days.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition 4.4.2 Update Rolling Out

Samsung has finalized an update to Android 4.4.2 (KOT49H) for Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition owners. The OTA file I9505GUEUCML4 is the latest version of Android, and includes a device-specific bug fix.
The update fixes a network status indicator issue present since the first Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition KitKat firmware. Instead of mislabeling HSPA/HSPA+ connections as “3G”, as was previously the behavior, they’re now correctly displayed as “H”. 
In addition, Android 4.4.2 brings a number of welcome enhancements and improvements, including an updated camera app and subtle UI tweaks.

HTC One Android 4.3 Update For Verizon Approved By HTC


The HTC One on Verizon is ready to receive its Android 4.3 update this week. HTC’s executive director of product management has approved the update , Verizon has now posted the support documents, making everything official and giving us all of the details surrounding this update, which as been finalized as build 2.10.605.1.

HTC Posts Android 4.4.2 Kernel Source And Framework Files For HTC One Google Play Edition


HTC has posted the kernel source and framework support files for the HTC One Google Play Edition’s Android 4.4.2 update, and according to sources the update is rolling out as well.
If you own an HTC One Google Play Edition and have seen 4.4.2 pushed to your device hit us up in the comment section and let up know.
htc one gpe 4.4.2


Source: HTCdev


Friday, December 13, 2013

Sprint Preparing To Bid On T-Mobile USA


Sprint is working toward a possible bid for rival T-Mobile US people familiar with the matter said, setting the stage for a giant telecom merger that if permitted by regulators would leave the U.S. wireless market dominated by three big companies.

Sprint is studying regulatory concerns and could launch a bid in the first half of next year, the people said. A deal could be worth more than $20 billion, depending on the size of any stake in T-Mobile that Sprint tries to buy.