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Although BlackBerry posted a much narrower loss than analysts expected last quarter, this piece of good news was somewhat offset by the fact that the company's revenues missed expectations and dropped below $1 billion. That said, there is one bright spot for the company that's unblemished by any dark clouds for the moment: The success of BBM. On the company's earnings call on Friday, the company said that BBM now had 115 million registered users and 85 million monthly active users, which shows BBM is still growing from the quarter before when it had an estimated 80 million monthly active users. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Philips’ new Android-powered television is certainly one to gush over. It features an eye-popping Ultra HD display and the smart TV runs Android 4.2.2 right out of the box. The televisions join Philips’ 8000 series. While the 48-inch and 55-inch models have a 1080p resolution, the 8800 is the UHD model that has the 3840×2160 resolution. Expect the 8000 smart TV series to hit shelves later this year with a slew of applications thanks to Android being at its core. Source: Checktwice Via: AmongTech Come comment on this article: Philips announces a new UHD television powered by Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much …

AT&T has officially announced the specs of the Asus PadFone X that they plan on offering eventually. Unfortunately, they didn’t give us any details in the way of pricing or a release date, but at least we know AT&T hasn’t forgotten about the device with the launches of some other high end devices coming up. The PadFone X will feature a 5 inch, 1080p display, and the docking tablet will sport a 9 inch, 1920 x 1200 resolution screen. The internals of the device are very capable, with a Snapdragon 800 CPU on board, as well as 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory, an SD card slot, and Android 4.4 on board. If you’re chasing the latest and greatest, this phone w…

While the all new HTC One was announced on Tuesday, there was no mention of a small version of the device, and the fact that there was a mini version of the last HTC One doesn’t mean there will be one this time around. Despite this, a HTC One Mini has appeared on a Swedish carrier, Telia’s, site. The fact that such a device exists isn’t really surprising, and releasing a mini version of the device would be a no brainer for HTC considering the fact that not everyone wants a device the size of the One. Specifications of the device have yet to be released. Source: Swedroid Via: Phandroid Come comment on this article: HTC One M8 Mini appears on Swedish carrier sit…

With hectic schedules, it can be hard to keep track of everything in your news feed. That’s why we created the TalkAndroid Daily Dose. This is where we recap the day’s hottest stories so you can get yourself up to speed in quick fashion. Happy reading!! Reviews Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 and 10.1 review: A stunning display with a lot of power Apps [New Chromecast app] Colorcast brings Pictionary style drawing game to the big screen Nostalgic Timehop app finally arrives on Android HTC releases Dot View app to Google Play Runtastic 5.0 adds hydration feature and revamps app Microsoft opens Office Mobile for everyone, viewing and editing no longer re…

While HTC certainly does make some nice phones, Samsung‘s sales have always been higher than HTC’s. Because of the fact that both companies have new flagship devices launching at almost the same time, there is quite a bit of competition between them, which is perhaps why HTC president Jason Mackenzie wasn’t too reserved about his opinions on Samsung’s new flagship, the Galaxy S5. Mackenzie critiqued Samsung, saying that they don’t invest in customers, but instead invest in advertising. This is a common critique of the company. He then went on to say that Samsung’s device was made out of cheap plastic, and that HTC is aiming for customers who “want the best”. Source:…

LG failed to impress us with its flagship G2 last year, but the South Korean company is looking to try again with an even smaller model in 2014. LG announced on Thursday that the LG G2 mini would start shipping to select Russian territories in April, then expand to markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa in the following weeks. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Russian ministers have decided to swap iPads for Samsung tablets out of fear that the Apple devices may not be secure enough anymore to handle sensitive information. The changeover occurred “not so long ago,” minister Nikolai Nikiforov told AFP. While Nikiforov did not mention what kind of Samsung tablets the government is using now, he did say that they are “specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information.” Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

http://androidforum.us/data/MetaMirrorCache/1e49c388d74d56be111fcf83c3ff139c.jpeg A worker died at a Samsung factory in Seoul after carbon dioxide was mistakenly released, according to Korean news agency Yonhap News. The factory’s fire extinguishing system accidentally released carbon dioxide after it malfunctioned when it detected a fire, killing the 52-year-old worker. As Engadget notes, this is not the first factory accident has had: In the past couple years, Samsung has suffered from a series of factory incidents. In January 2013, 10 liters of hydroflouric acid leaked from one of main chip plants in Hwaseong, killing one worker and injuring four others. Samsung recei…

Most hip-hop artists strive to sell millions of records but legendary Wu-Tang Clan rapper and producer Rza wants to sell exactly one. In an interview with Forbes, Rza explains why he and the Wu have decided to release only one physical copy of their upcoming double album that will be called "The Wu – Once Upon A Time In Shaolin." Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Of course, Skynet cannot triumph over humanity until a corporation solves the problem of how to create sentient killer machines. We are now one step closer to the end game as a company called Cyberdyne has indeed become a publicly traded firm in Tokyo. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Thanks to a system dump leak, the new Samsung Galaxy S5 (international version) has been rooted well before its official release. Thanks to a well known developer on XDA by the name of Chainfire, you can use his CF-Auto-Root tool to root your S5 once you have it. Will you root your S5 once you get your hands on it? Hit up the source link for more information! source: XDA Come comment on this article: Well that was quick, Chainfire roots the Samsung Galaxy S 5 (SM-G900F) before its release Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more! News via TalkAndroid

The Lucid 3 (VS876) is not the only device LG has in the works for Verizon Wireless. The Optimus Exceed 2 is a prepaid option heading Big Red, we just do not know when. Courtesy of @evleaks, we have a very clear look at the device. Like LG’s other handsets, the Optimus Exceed 2 has very slim bezels. The main difference between this device and the previously leaked Lucid 3 seems to be the fact that since this is a prepaid Verizon handset, it only supports 3G and not 4G LTE. But both devices are officially announced, we will not know the actual internal specifications. LG Optimus Exceed 2 for Verizon prepaid. pic.twitter.com/AUMlw3gdVM — @evleaks (@evleaks) March 2…

With the movie about a week away from release, Gameloft released Captain America: The Winter Soldier game in the Google Play Store. The game is free initially to download and play, but after the first two levels you will be prompted via an in app purchase to continue playing the rest of the game for $2.99. The game is a 3rd person style format and you fight as Cap himself and battle villains while leading your S.H.I.E.L.D. team to save the world. You can find some images and a QR code below after the break! Play Store Download Link Come comment on this article: Gameloft releases Captain America: The Winter Soldier in the Google Play Store Visit Tal…

Amazon may soon be going toe-to-toe with Hulu and other video streaming services in a whole new way. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Amazon plans on offering an alternative to paying $99 per year for Amazon Prime that would allow video content to be streamed without any subscription. The service would be backed by advertisements. On the surface, this competes directly with Hulu, but there is much more under the surface. The actual content would include both television shows and music videos. The music video aspect would be incorporated to the Amazon shopping experience. Apparently a search for an artist’s CDs will also cue some of their music video…

You probably heard today that Microsoft launched their Office suite for Apple’s iPad, but that wasn’t all Microsoft did today. I will stop you in your tracks, though. Microsoft did not announce that their Office suite was being released for Android; however, that is something that will probably be coming in the future. Across all platforms, including Android, Microsoft is making Office Mobile a free application. Previously, an Office 365 subscription was required to unlock all features. Viewing and editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents can be done on-the-go at no cost. Hit the break for download links. Play Store Download Link Come comment on this…

Between a rumored set-top box and the evolving price of Prime, Amazon has been making headlines on a daily basis. Now The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Amazon will shake things up once again with an ad-supported media service which will stream TV shows and music videos for free. The new service apparently will not require a Prime subscription, but rather takes a page from Hulu, offering original and licensed programming free of charge. Considering the myriad projects Amazon has been rumored to be producing as of late, from a game console to a smartphone, a streaming service doesn't sound too far-fetched. As expected, Amazon was unwilling to comment on the report, …

Apple CEO Tim Cook may not be a charismatic visionary like legendary Apple cofounder Steve Jobs but he definitely seems to have a lot more social graces. Per 9to5Mac, Cook sent out a message on his Twitter account welcoming both Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the just-released Office for iPad to Apple's App Store. It's a little hard to imagine Steve Jobs offering a similar public welcome to a Microsoft product, although 9to5Mac points out that Jobs did frequently have nice things to say about Office on Macs. Even so, Jobs was known much more for his public ridicule of Microsoft products than his praise, as he once famously said the company had "no taste" and also compare…

If there's one mobile platform that needs a lifeline these days, it's BlackBerry 10. BlackBerry's hardware sales have been in free fall over the past year and most of the devices it has sold have been based on its legacy BlackBerry 7 platform. BlackBerry did announce some good news on Thursday, however, when it revealed that BlackBerry 10 had received the Full Operational Capability certification from the United States Department of Defense. BlackBerry 10 is the only mobile platform to receive FOC so far and the company says that the certification will allow "government employees to realize the full security, productivity, communication and collaboration benefits of the B…

A new family of Samsung tablets has been spotted at the FCC — the SM-T800 models, which may be a new line of high-end devices for the company that will joinexisting Note and Pro models, rather than the previously leaked Galaxy Tab 4 that is also expected to arrive this year. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

http://androidforum.us/data/MetaMirrorCache/ede95a86179403e64eac65b95253531e.png Nowadays, we spend nearly 6 hours each day staring at a display, whether it's a desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. After looking at screens all day, your eyes may start to feel a bit off, which means you may be suffering from a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. Symptoms of CVS include headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision and potentially long-term nearsightedness. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

In a very smart move, Google is mandating that Android manufacturers use “Powered by Android” branding on their devices. The HTC One (M8) and Samsung Galaxy S 5 are the first devices to do this. This “Powered by Android” branding will appear during the boot sequence in both phones, and we suspect all future Android phones. At least the ones that use Google Play Services. I’m surprised Google didn’t mandate this from the very beginning. If you think about it, with all the manufacturer custom UIs such as TouchWiz and Sense, mainstream consumers have no idea that their own phone is running Android. Most people probably think these manufacturers are using their own proprie…

Verizon is already offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on the new HTC One (M8) and on top of that, you can get up to a 30% discount on the price of the HTC One (M8) you’re paying for. Of course, this can be combined with the BOGO deal which Verizon is offering, but you’ll have to sign a 2 year contract. To get the 30% discount, you’ll have to enter the discount code VERIZON30 at checkout. This means that with the BOGO deal, you can get two HTC One (M8) handsets for just $139.99 on contract. If you’re thinking of buying the All New HTC One (M8), this is the time to do it because a deal like this might not happen again for a while. Source: Verizon Come commen…

HTC might have made the best phone of last year (and this year), but their results are from manufacturer of the year. When it comes to smartphones, Apple and Samsung clearly dominate. Companies like LG, HTC, Sony, and Motorola are just sitting at the bottom of the barrel hoping to catch fire. HTC’s 2013 smartphone market share wasn’t even 5 percent, but they have big plans for 2014. CEO Peter Chou has set a goal of reaching 8-10 percent of the market. It doesn’t seem like much, but that certainly won’t be any easy task. Furthermore, HTC chairwoman Cher Wang feels they will return to profitability by the 2nd quarter of this year. Better smartphones sales will help ac…

Sony began rolling out the KitKat update for several Xperia devices last week including the Xperia Z1, the Xperia Z1 Compact, and the Xperia Z Ultra. Several markets received the update but now the company is now seeding the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update to the Xperia Z1 worldwide. The software update carries the version number 14.3.A.0.681 and comes with a few new additions as well. These include an updated camera app which would enhance your shooting experience, an improved camera software that will enable you to take better pictures, and an enhanced email app which the company hasn’t yet provided any details on. If you’re eager to get the update, you can check for …