Archives

Facebook’s purchase of WhatsApp does a good job of showing just how much the wireless carriers failed to capitalize on messaging. It was their game to lose, with SMS built in as the default messaging client on just about every phone. If they had drastically lowered their prices, they could be where WhatsApp is today. Instead, a new report from Ovum Ltd. shows just how much carriers are losing each year to alternative messaging clients. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

It’s always fun when we get to see a leaked image of a highly anticipated device before its release. Chinese certification agency TENAA, the equivalent of our FCC, has recently certified the Oppo Find 7. The documentation includes live photos of the device, one of which you can see above. The photos confirm the phablet’s design that had already been leaked. As a reminder, the Oppo Find 7 will come in two versions – one with a 5.5″ 1080p display and another with a 5.5″ QHD (2560 x 1600) screen. According to leaked benchmark scores, both will be powered by the Snapdragon 800 chipset (four 2.3GHz Krait 400 cores, Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB RAM), pack 16GB storage and offer…

Huawei released a teaser video the other day for their MWC 2014 presence. The video indicates a couple new tablets will be revealed along with a new smartphone. Until now, many people seemed to think the possibilities for the smartphone included the Ascend P7 or the Ascend D3. A new possibility has emerged thanks to a new leak from Twitter tipster @evleaks who posted a new image of the Ascend G6 suggesting a reveal coming up this weekend. The image shows the device, a low to mid-tier version of the Ascend P6, in five different colors including black, white, pink, blue and gold. The Ascend G6 will reportedly be 7.5mm think which is similar to an iPhone 5S. The screen wi…

Just yesterday we reported that invites had started to go out to Moto X owners on the Verizon network inviting them to participate in a soak test presumably for the Android 4.2.2 update. Another step was taken by the carrier today indicating the update could be only days away from release as a support document for the KitKat update has been posted to the Verizon web site. The document indicates the update includes some security and stability enhancements, including better synchronization of some services; better roaming connectivity; improvements to battery life and Isis Mobile Wallet; and some Verizon app updates. For those not participating in the soak test, your pat…

Google has unveiled Project Tango, a 3D sensing smartphone, which can make computer vision and perceptual computing solutions like software that maps and creates 3D reconstructions of indoor spaces. Matterport, the company behind Project Tango’s software (and now working with Google), will be present at Mobile World Congress next week, so we’ll be hearing a lot from them in the next few days. The software is brilliant, and as you’ll see in the video, pretty accurate as well as it maps an actual room using a Project Tango prototype. There is certainly some room (no pun intended) to grow for this project, but it’s an enormous start. The possibilities are nearly limitl…

International models of the LG G2 are set to receive the Android 4.4.2 update before the U.S. models, but it won’t be long before the phones finally get to have a taste of KitKat. As we already know, KitKat brings a series of some really nice updates to the Android operating system, and improved performance on devices. In fact, according to recent testing from LG, the update from Jelly Bean to KitKat on the G2 provides a 17 percent increase in performance when applications are running. These tests are obviously preliminary and aren’t confirmed by any third parties yet, but if the numbers are anywhere near true, it will be a great time for G2 owners come mid-March. …

One thing we've heard and will continue to hear over the next several months is that the proposed Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger will be an awesome deal for consumers because it will give the newly formed cable giant the ability to really invest in aggressive network upgrades. Writing at Bloomberg Businessweek, Brendan Greeley gives us some good reasons to treat this argument with a great deal of skepticism because we've largely let ISPs consolidate to their hearts' content and it's done us very little good. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

We see a lot of gadgets here at BGR. Some of them look very nice and some of them don't. But it's been a while since we've seen a cut-off-its-head-with-a-silver-blade-and-stuff-its-mouth-with-garlic level of ugly on par with the smartwatch the Huawei has designed. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Apple's vision of multitasking is a little less refined than many users would have hoped, something Samsung has harped on in its latest attack ad. Bill Labus has a simple solution: combine the multitasking view with the newly implemented Control Center. This iOS 8 concept design would eliminate the need for double tapping the Home button to quickly navigate to or close active applications. Mission Control, as Labus calls it, "allows the multitasking app views to be tied directly to the gesture," simplifying the process and avoiding unnecessary passive animations. It would also pare down the abundance of features in the Control Center, many of which Labus rarely finds hims…

Samsung's first smartwatch was a dud. Even when Samsung was pitching the device to the media during briefings, representatives couldn't always keep a straight face while selling the Galaxy Gear's features. It was rushed to market in an effort to head off Apple's iWatch — which doesn't exist even today — and it was a bad product. In 2014, however, Samsung will look to make amends and since Apple's iWatch still doesn't exist, Samsung can easily take an early lead in the wearable war with the right product. Interestingly, however, Samsung might not only be battling Apple with its next-generation wearables, it might square off with longtime partner Google as well. Continue…

Even though iOS 7 is likely very close to being released, Apple on Friday released iOS 7.0.6 to fix problems with SSL connection verification. The latest release comes just under a month after the release of iOS 7.0.5, which contained several bug fixes for iPhones released in China. Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

With Apple offering a gold version of the iPhone, as well as the upcoming All New One, it’s no surprise the Galaxy S 5 will as well. A Screenshot of Vodafone’s inventory system confirms it. Unfortunately we don’t know if this will be a limited edition for certain areas or if it will be a wide release. Let’s not forget that Samsung also offered a couple of gold Galaxy S 4 variants, but not for many months after the initial launch. This time, it should be available right away. So is gold the new black? source: GSMArena Come comment on this article: Surprise Surprise, there will be a Galaxy S 5 gold edition Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, a…

Back when Motorola started pushing the Android 4.4 update to the Moto X, Verizon was the first carrier to get it. That was amazing in itself, but it was not duplicated with the 4.4.2 update. However, it doesn’t appear Verizon will be the last since soak test invites are going out now to Motorola forum members. This means the actual update could start rolling out as soon as next week, or the week after at the latest. We will keep you posted. Cheers Steve and Greg Come comment on this article: Verizon Moto X to receive Android 4.4.2 update soon Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more! News via TalkAndroid

Samsung’s second attempt at the Galaxy Camera will be arriving here in the United States in mid-March with a $449.99 price tag. The actual camera specifications is only half of what the Galaxy Camera 2 offers. Aside from its 16MP camera with 21x zoom, the device internals include a quad-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz with 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage (with a microSD card slot of course), and a 2000mAh battery. In terms of software, Android 4.3 Jell Bean is packaged; however, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue as this is a camera after all. Be sure to check back with us to see when an exact release date is announced. Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy…

Just yesterday, Sprint rolled out the KitKat update to its Galaxy Note 3 and US Cellular will soon follow the lead. US Cellular will start releasing the KitKat update to Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 by today. To be eligible for an upgrade, you must upgrade your device to the current latest Android version. The OTA, which will be available anytime by today, will update your device to the latest Android 4.4.2 version. The baseband version for the Android 4.4.2 KitKat build for the Galaxy Note 3 is R970TYUFNAE and N900R4TYUCNAB for the Galaxy S4. The update brings a few changes to your device, such as the ability to choose the default texting app, improved location…

Yesterday, the Galaxy Camera 2 was up for sale in South Korea and Samsung has now officially announced that the Galaxy Camera 2 will be available globally starting from March 10. The device will be priced at $450 and is available for pre-order on Amazon US. It includes a 16.3 MP sensor with a 21x zoom capable lens and a 4.8 inch display. It sports a 1.6GHz quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, micro-SD card slot for up to 64 GB of additional storage, and runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. In addition, it includes Bluetooth, NFC, GPS and WiFi connectivity. It seems that the Galaxy Camera 2 will have a WiFi connectivity only, unlike its predecessor, which h…

Microsoft wants its soon-to-be-released Cortana to help you... but only as much as you want it to. The Verge's Tom Warren has a nice scoop that details how Microsoft plans to make Cortana the privacy-friendly personal assistant that will specifically ask you what type of information that you want to share before storing it in its virtual notebook. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

With just a few days to go until Samsung unveils its next big thing at MWC 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, more Galaxy S5 rumors and reports offer more and more details about the handset. GSM Arena has learned that the phone may be available in gold right from launch, after getting a hold of a supposedly leaked Vodafone’s inventory system which lists a “Samsung Galaxy S5 Gold contract handset.” Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Microsoft may soon be the focus of an investigation by South Korean regulators into allegations that the software giant is fixing prices in the region. According to a report from ZDNet Korea, senior officials that represent an alliance of Internet cafes in South Korea called the "Internet PC Culture Association" will ask South Korea's Fair Trade Commission to investigate the Redmond, Washington-based company. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Apple is getting ready to launch a major refresh of its Apple TV set-top box in April but it looks like Amazon is going to steal some of Apple's thunder with a set-top box of its own. Re/code reports that Amazon will unveil its own homemade set-top box in March that will be powered by a forked version of Google's Android operating system that's similar to the one used for Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets. Re/code says that most of the details it's heard about the set-top box are widely expected and that it hasn't been able to confirm whether the box will also double as a gaming hub. Amazon has also been rumored to be creating an Android-based gaming console although that seem…

Google’s latest attempt at giving you free WiFi is coming in the form of Starbucks’ WiFi hotspots. Starbucks currently uses AT&T’s wireless service to give customers internet access, but Google is internally considering moving to put their own high-speed access into the 7000 Starbucks stores across the US. Google also wants to shorten up the tedious process of finding a hotspot, opening a browser, and accepting terms and conditions before finally being able to actually use the internet. To accomplish this, Google is testing out an app that cuts that process down. The app would handle all of the encryption and authentication of a Google hotspot, so just by having…

A couple days ago Samsung announced the devices in their portfolio for which they will provide an update to Android 4.4.2 KitKat in the U.S. However, Samsung did not say anything at the time about international devices. New information was released today indicating the list of international devices will largely mirror the U.S. list. The notable exception is the Samsung Galaxy S III, which did not make the cut. Sources indicate the reason is that international versions of the Galaxy S III only have 1 GB of RAM making it unsuitable for the upgrade. This seems to be a suspect explanation though as the Samsung Galaxy Grand is on the list and it only has 1 GB of RAM as well…

The Mobile World Conference doesn’t begin until later this month, but Archos has already begun revealing some products that they will be introducing at the event. There’s the the 80 Helium 4G, an 8-inch, £230 tablet that has a Cortex-A7 quad-core processor, 4G/LTE and Android 4.3. Also, Archos is going to have a 5-inch, dual-SIM smartphone called the 50c Oxygen, which features a 720p IPS display, MediaTek octa-core CPU, Jelly Bean, and a 6.77-mm thick body. The devices won’t launch until later this year, but the company will show them off in Barcelona. Source: Archos Via: Engadget Come comment on this article: Archos reveals 8-inch Helium 4G tablet, octa-core …

Waze just got a lot better. In an update issued earlier today, Waze will now sync with your device’s calendar to directly access the navigation app. Anything added to your calendar with a location will be added to Waze. When a calendar notification appears, tapping it will open up Waze and supply users with the best possible route to take. So if you have no idea where you are heading, Waze will automatically have the directions ready for when you leave. Hit the break for download links. Play Store Download Link Come comment on this article: Waze receives update that will guide you through uncertainty by syncing with your calendar Visit TalkAndroid f…

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!! Guides How to use Chromecast ‘Ready to Cast’ wallpapers on your phone, tablet, or desktop Apps Waze receives update that will guide you through uncertainty by syncing with your calendar Cameras Galaxy Camera 2 available for sale in South Korea Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 will reach the U.S. next month for $449 Carriers Sprint Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update now available Verizon Moto X to receive An…