BlackBerry To Explore Selling Off The Company

BlackBerry is looking to try something new. The company on Monday announced that it’s forming a committee to explore “strategic alternatives” that “could include, among others, possible joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances, a sale of the company or other possible transactions.” BlackBerry is emphasizing that “there can be no assurance that this exploration process will result in any transaction” and that it “does not currently intend to disclose further developments with respect to this process, unless and until its Board of Directors approves a specific transaction or otherwise concludes the review of strategic alternatives.” Given that we’ve heard reports about BlackBerry going private over the past few days, it’s not surprising that the company trying to explore as many new strategies as it can to keep itself afloat. BlackBerry shares were up more than 6% on the news.

Apple Reportedly Unveiling The Next iPhone On Sept. 10th

Apple will debut its latest iPhone lineup during a special event on September 10th, just a month from today. The report doesn’t specify as to which models will be announced at the event, but if rumors are to be believed, we may see the highly anticipated iPhone 5S as well as a new, low-cost iPhone 5C.

There’s been much speculation as to when exactly Apple will unveil its latest lineup as the company has been unusually quiet about new products over the last year. Many are also wondering whether or not Apple will break its traditional iPhone lineup (introducing a new iPhone and shuffling older models down to lower price points) or if it will in fact produce a cheaper, plastic iPhone to cater to demands for Apple to enter new, lower-cost markets.

We’re excited to see what the company has in store for this event as well as what they've been planning for new product categories. While the report doesn't postulate the appearance of an entirely new product category, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has expressed a deep interest in both wearable technologies, given credibility to the rumored iWatch, as well as the television.

Nexus 7 2013 Factory Images And Binaries Now Live

The factory images for the new Nexus 7 2013 “razor” are now live. The binaries too. We’re looking at Android 4.3, build JSS15J.

Be sure to download the factory images and store them in a safe place, you never know when you might need to flash your device back to stock.

Source: Factory Image, Binaries

Google Reportedly Chooses ASUS To Make Next Generation Nexus 10

According to a new report, Google will be dropping Samsung and picking ASUS to manufacture the next-gen Nexus 10. The site has correctly reported on a few product releases in the past, but today’s report goes against what we heard earlier straight from Google’s own Sundar Pichai. 

Following the launch of the new Nexus 7, Google’s head of Chrome and Android told The Wall Street Journal’s Amir Efrati that a new 10 inch Nexus 10 tablet would be arriving in the near future. He also told Efrati that the device would indeed be once again be manufactured by Samsung. It’s possible he was misquoted, and multiple companies often submit designs for upcoming Nexus devices before Google ultimately decides on a manufacturer.

While Samsung made the original Nexus 10, it might make sense for Google to stick with ASUS the maker of the new Nexus 7 if the next generation Nexus 10 is to follow the design aesthetics of the new Nexus 7.

Android Device Manager Is Now Live

Have you ever lost your phone in between the couch cushions or forgot it in a restaurant? Or maybe searching for your phone before you rush out the door is part of your morning routine? Let the new Android Device Manager help you out! It's one of a few simple features you can use to keep your device and the data you store inside safe and secure.

Locate and ring your misplaced device 
If you ended up dropping your phone between those couch cushions, Android Device Manager lets you quickly ring your phone at maximum volume so you can find it, even if it's been silenced. And in the event that your phone or tablet is out of earshot (say, at that restaurant you left it at last night), you can locate it on a map in real time.

Protecting your personal information and data
While losing your phone can be stressful, Android Device Manager can help you keep your data from ending up in the wrong hands. If your phone can’t be recovered, or has been stolen, you can quickly and securely erase all of the data on your device.

Availability and getting started 
This service is now available on devices running Android 2.2 or above; to use it, you also will need to be signed into your Google Account. There will also be an Android app to allow you to easily find and manage your devices. To activate Android device Manager simply go to menu>settings>security>device administrators> and check the box behind Android Device Manager to activate.

Google has also announced as of today the availability of Android Device Manager website you can access it at www.android.com/devicemanager.

LG G2 Officially Announced

LG says that the G2 is designed for humans and that LG put long research into developing it so that it would be best for humans. That was part of what went into the design choices that they made such as the rear power button and volume rocker. They also found that a 5.2-inch display size was the largest size that an average human could comfortably hold. That’s also enhanced with the ultra-thin bezels that LG has incorporated. The G2 is also optimized for next-gen LTE-Advanced networks by using the Snapdragon 800.

The G2 boasts some of the most powerful specs that we've seen to date. It also has some interesting little features and tweaks around it. Let’s take a look at the specs list:

• 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display with dedicated graphic RAM
• 16GB/32GB storage
• 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization
• 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera
• 3,000mAh battery
• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
• 24 bit/192kHz Hi-Fi playback
• 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9mm
• Black and white color options

LG has also included some new features in its UI:

• Answer Me — Automatically answers the call after lowering the ringtone when the phone is raised to one’s ear.
• Plug & Pop — Recommends options or related features to choose from when the earphone or USB cable is detected.
• Text Link — Allows information embedded in text messages to be selected and easily saved in a memo or calendar and searched on a map or the internet.
• QuickRemote — Not only can LG G2 be used to remotely control popular home entertainment devices, it can also learn from conventional remotes and be customized to operate multiple devices with flexible layouts and keys.
• Slide Aside — Enables easier multitasking by simply “sliding” open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe.
• Guest Mode — Protects owner’s privacy by displaying only pre-selected apps when guests access the phone with a secondary unlock pattern.

Meet the HTC Fetch, A Bluetooth-Enabled Tag

The HTC Fetch, a little Bluetooth-enabled tag that just went up for preorder on the site of UK-based retailer Clove.

So, how does this gizmo work? The gizmo, which looks just like a key fob that you can put it your wallet, or attach to your bag or keys, connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Whenever the tag, along with the item to which it’s attached, goes beyond 15 meters from your phone, the tag emits a loud alert, that should, in theory, tell you that you were about to lose your stuff.

If you happen to be in a loud environment or if you don’t hear the alarm for some other reason, you can consult the last GPS location of the Fetch on Google Maps. The gizmo takes these coordinates from the smartphone, meaning that it doesn't contain a GPS module itself, and that you have to use the GPS on your phone for this function to work.

If you simply misplaced your keys around the house, you can use a smartphone app to activate the alarm manually, which sounds like a brilliant functionality that many people would love.

The Fetch also features a button with which you can activate the camera shutter on your phone, turning it into a simple remote control. For power, the small device uses a CR2032 battery, that is said to be enough for six months of operation.

The HTC Fetch BL A100 device can be pre-ordered now from Clove for the rather reasonable price of £30 ($38). Not all details are known yet, but we’ll sure bring them to you as soon as we have them.

Moto X With T-Mobile Compatibility Hits FCC

Despite the fact that the Moto X hasn't even been officially announced (unless you count Eric Schmidt's Idaho flaunt-fest or Dennis Woodside's D11 talk as "official"), there's a lot we already know about the device. What we haven't heard for certain yet are which carriers in the US will offer the new handset, though FCC docs and other leaks have revealed AT&T, Verizon and Sprint as likely candidates so far. 

Whether or not the UnCarrier will really pick it up, a variant of the Motorola X known as the XT1053 has made its way through the FCC approval process with all the bands you've grown to love and use on other T-Mobile devices, such as AWS HSPA+ and LTE (along with bands 2 and 17, making this theoretically compatible with AT&T as well). This is a pretty clear indicator that worst-case customers will be able to purchase an unlocked version of the device with the right frequencies in tow. 

Additionally, we noticed evidence that 802.11ac will also make an appearance. Have a look at the docs for yourself below, if you so desire.

Google Officially Unveiled The New Nexus 7

Google officially unveiled the new Nexus 7, the device runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and offers improved specs all around.

Google said it’s still focusing on portability and performance. The device is 50 grams lighter and narrower than the original model, which it says makes it more comfortable to hold. The device offers a soft-touch feel and has a black body with a few glossy finishes. The screen offers a full HD 1920 x 1200-pixel display, which Google says is the world’s highest resolution 7-inch tablet with 323 pixels per inch (ppi). The screen also supports a 30-percent wider range of colors.

The new Nexus 7 also has stereo speakers and virtual surround sound tech provided by Fraunhofer. There’s a 1.2-megapixel camera for Hangouts and a  5-megapixel camera for 1080p video and photos. Under the hood the device has a quad-core 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor which offers an 80 percent faster speed and 4x the graphics performance. The system memory has been upgraded from 1GB to 2GB, too. Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 are supported, as is 4G LTE support for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon networks all from the same device. HDMI, NFC and Qi wireless charging is also included.

The 16GB model costs $229, the 32GB model costs $269 and the 4G LTE model will cost $349. It lands July 30 from Google Play and will be in more retailer stores than ever before including Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, Amazon, HSN, RadioShack, J&R and B&H.

Google Announces Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Google today announced a minor bump in its Android platform to version 4.3 Jelly Bean. The core new features of Android 4.3 include the addition of restricted profiles to the multi-user tool, which lets users control what apps/services can be accessed by the other users. Android 4.3 adds support for Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, also called Bluetooth Smart. This will let Android 4.3 devices interact with new Bluetooth accessories, such as heart rate monitors. 

Android 4.3 also adds support for OpenGL ES 3.0 for improved graphics in games. The updated operating system offers new digital rights management APIs, which will eventually lead to the availability of more full HD 1080p video from third-party providers such as Netflix. Android 4.3 also adds a wide range of tools for developers, such as optimized location and sensor capabilities, improved access to notifications, more languages, user interface automation, and improved enterprise security tools, such as WPA-2 Wi-Fi networks. The Google Nexus 7, a new tablet from Google, will be the first device to ship with Android 4.3, but Google will deliver Android 4.3 to the Nexus 4, Galaxy Nexus, and first-generation Nexus 7 devices.


Source: Google