Google releases updated build of Android L Developer Preview

Six weeks ago today, a day after Google detailed the arrival of Android L at its Google I/O keynote, the company released the first Android L Developer Preview images. Downloads were available for both the 2013 Nexus 7 and the Nexus 5, and we quickly took advantage of these resources to bring you a hands-on look at the updated platform. In the time that’s followed, Google’s been hard at work on finalizing Android L with its eye on a public release this fall, and today we check out the next step on the path towards that goal, as a couple new Android L Dev Preview releases arrive for those two Nexus devices.

What’s new? According to Google, there’s only one big change to expect: Google Fit support. Google Fit was another one of the company’s Google I/O announcements, a standardized API for wearables and phone-based sensors for gathering data to be used by fitness apps.

Along with these new Android L images, Google’s also making the Fit SDK available to devs as of today. The full system isn’t yet in place – Google says that the cloud backend is still coming soon – but taken together these new tools will give devs what they need to start crafting Google Fit apps all ready for release when Android L updates start hitting existing phones this fall.

Source: Google 1,2

Beats by Dre gets some dedicated love on Apple’s online store

Now that the US government has approved the deal between Apple and Beats, it’s time to start seeing what this acquisition was for. Some speculate that the deal is to bring some more culture into Apple’s approach to music, and others assume this is to improve the quality of Apple’s mobile accessories. Whatever the case may be, we’re not seeing any of that yet, as all we find lately is better product placement for Beats on Apple’s website.

In addition to Apple launching a webpage with all the information of Beats by Dre, today we see that Apple has given its online store a minor update with a Beats by Dre section. The section works both on your browser and on the Apple Store mobile app, and it simply filters everything there is to buy from Beats by Dre, but on the Apple Store.

We do know that Apple’s initial plans are to have both companies work separately, but it’s hard to assume that a company would spend $3 billion on Beats just to feature them on its store. Let’s see how things evolve as Apple launches its products this fall.

Source: Apple Store
Via: 9to5Mac

iPhone 6 with Beats chip, WiFi 802.11ac, NFC, 2.0 GHz A8, and better Touch ID?

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the rumored event where Apple might launch its next-generation iPhone 6. We’ve seen leaks of its design, and we’ve also seen leaks of some of its technical specifications. Today we get another round at the enhancements we should expect.

Rumors point to the iPhone 6 sporting some interesting new hardware. We had heard of the device bringing WiFi 802.11ac to the table, along with NFC, and even new enhancements to Touch ID. Today’s rumors agree to these previous claims, but we get some additional details on some extra enhancements. One of these changes is that the A8 chip that’s rumored to power this device will be clocked at 2.0 GHz, a first for iPhones, as Apple is never really clear on how it clocks its processors. The source also claims that the device will include a special Beats by Dre chip that will allow the iPhone 6 to determine if there are Beats headphones connected, and enhance audio appropriately for them. We do remember rumors of HD audio through the lightning cable in some previous rumors, so this could be part of the plan.

Apple’s iPhone 6 event is expected to happen on September 9. It’s still hard to predict how many o these rumors will be true, but the level of anticipation for this bigger iPhone is unprecedented.

Source: Venture Beat
Via: iClarified

Nokia Lumia 730 windows' selfie phone in photo.

This summer, we’ve been keeping up on rumors attempting to detail what’s next for Microsoft’s new purchase Nokia when it comes to Windows Phone models, and rumors have identified quite a few distinct handsets that appear to be in the works. One we’ve been talking about for quite some time is this phone codenamed Superman, initially described as “selfie” phone thanks to its relatively high-res 5MP front-facing camera. The device was otherwise described as a mid-ranger, and later rumors suggested it could come to Verizon as soon as this quarter. Along the way we picked up a possible launch name for the phone, tipped to arrive as the Lumia 730 (a model we’ve been expecting for a long while). Now we get what could be our first look at the hardware in the flesh.

Regarding the actual hardware, there’s not a lot to see here, at least not yet. Then again, it’s not like we’d expect an extra-prominent front-facing lens just because this is a “selfie” phone; really, the build doesn’t do a lot to stand out from existing Nokia handsets.

The software’s a bit more interesting, seeming to reveal the post-Cyan Lumia firmware release as Debian Red. We wouldn’t necessarily bet on that being the final name – remember Cherry Blossom Pink, or Bittersweet Shimmer – but it’s a start. And if Nokia’s habit of “simplifying” the name prior to release is any indication, could we end up with something like… what’s a one-word “D” color… denim?

Source: WPCentral

Samsung’s crazy wrap-around Note 4 display may have entered production

One of the most persistent rumors to follow discussion of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 has been the idea that Samsung could be trying something very unusual with the phablet’s display, possibly using its flexible-substrate OLED technology to have the screen flow beyond the confines of the phone’s face, and out over to the edges. At least, we’ve seen Samsung prototype designs that have gone down that road, and with talk about how the Note 4 could introduce new form factors to Samsung’s lineup, the idea seemed like a good fit. We still may get a “regular” Note 4 alongside this wrap-around display version, but rumors continue to insist that the latter is still happening to one extent or another, and the latest claims to arrive suggest that mass production of these innovative displays has just begun.

At least, that’s what the South Korean media seems to be reporting (the translation is a mess). That might not sound like it gives Samsung much timebefore its IFA 2014 Unpacked event, where the debut of the Note 4 is all but a certainty, but it’s not like Samsung just threw together this idea last week. And even if takes some time to assemble stock for the start of retail sales, keep in mind that an early September Note 4 launch doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see the phablet immediately hit stores; with the Note 3 last year, we still had three weeks to wait post-IFA before sales began.

Presuming for a moment that Samsung really does deliver two versions of the Note 4, would you be more inclined to go with a traditional flat-screen layout, or do you think this wrap-around concept has what it takes to be more than just a gimmick?

Source: ZDNet Korea (Google Translate)
Via: GSM Arena

Blackphone unboxing: setting up the secret smartphone (Video) by pocketnow.com

It captured our imagination at MWC 2014: a smartphone built specifically to provide secure communications in an era of ever-increasing surveillance. Blackphone may not be the most distinctive or highest-end handheld on the market, but it’s certainly chosen the right time to break out onto the scene.

We’re taking a close look at the device, a joint initiative of Silent Circle and Geeksphone, in the week ahead – and we’re also planning a special Blackphone chapter of Pocketnow’s Summer of Giveaways in the not-too-distant future, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, we’re kicking off the review process as we always do, with a rushed examination of the phone’s box contents. After that comes a bonus of sorts: we show you what it’s like to power on the Blackphone for the first time, which resembles a cross between some kind of alternate-future stock Android boot and a lot of words like “encryption,” “cracking,” and “authentication” scrolling past. It’s all a littleWarGames-y, which of course makes it that much cooler.

Our review device comes to us on loan from the good people at GSM Nation, a global smartphone retailer which offers two regional variants of Blackphone for preorder at this page. If you’re jonesing for additional smartphone security right stat now and you can’t bear to wait for our full review, pay them a visit – and tell ‘em Pocketnow sent you.

Otherwise, drop a comment down below letting us know what questions you want answered, and swing by the Pocketnow Weekly podcast on Friday, August 8 at 2pm Eastern time, where we’ll answer your questions about the Blackphone live on the air!

Blackphone Unboxing and Initial Setup

Moto G root tips.

[ROOT] [4.4.2] [xt1033] INDIAN MOTO G DUAL SIM !

---

Hello Moto G Users 

i recently rooted my indian moto g dual sim [4.4.2] after 4 hours of hard work..actually it was easy..but i got very confused with different types of threads and methods..like modaco...i was unable to choose which method to use ?..should i downgrade to 4.3 bootloader or not ?

So i thought to make a new thread..And i tried to make it simple for new users.....so here it is

How to Root Moto G dual sim [indian version] which is updated to 4.4.2 ?

There are are three simple steps only

1. UNLOCK BOOTLOADER

2. FLASH CUSTOM RECOVERY [I USED CWM]

3. FLASH SUPERSU

DONE 

Yeah ...you don't need to downgrade your bootloader which is very risky 

Procedure

1. UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER :- i thinks its already explained well at different sites and motorola's site also [ i used this guide Moto-g-unlock-bootloader-and-rootonly for unlocking]

2. FLASHING RECOVERY-

You need 3 things
(a) motorola usb drivers [download from here ]
(b) adb drivers (download from here ]
(c) Custom recovery (download from here ] i used cwm without touch

Real procedure:-

1. install motorola usb drivers
2. extract adb drivers anywhere in your computer
3. copy recovery.img [i renamed it to only recovery] into adb tools folder
4. boot your phone into fastboot mode by pressing volume down key and pressing power key simultaneously , and then releasing power key .
5. connect your moto g to your computer through data cable
6. go into adb tools folder => while pressing shift key => right click => and click open cmd here !
7. type [fastboot flash recovery recovery.img] and press enter

DONE  just press volume down and then volume up to boot into cwm

3. FLASHING SUPER SU

1. DOWNLOAD THIS FILE FROM HERE
2. PUT IT IN INTERNAL MEMORY

PROCEDURE => IN CWM =>INSTALL FROM SD CARD => CHOOSE SUPER SU => RESTART

DONE ! 

EDIT: THINGS TO IGNORE

1. 'Mismatched partition size' AFTER FLASHING RECOVERY
2. It will ask 'root is broken' WHEN REBOOTING FROM CWM. CHOOSE YES


I recommend these apps you should install first after rooting

1. Greenify (getting awesome battery backup )
2. xposed installer
3. gravitybox
4. tinted status bar (i love this module..make your android like ios7)

How to root you're LG G3.

The LG G3 was showcased on May 28 and until now there is no word from the company as to when the new phone will be available to users. The release status of the LG G3 on official LG and carriers’ website still shows “coming soon” manner. Well, it’s only possible in Android that even an officially unreleasedsmartphone gets treated by talented developers!

Yes, one of the biggest sensations of the Android world, the LG G3 has been rooted despite the fact that it’s still not available in the market. We know the rooting tutorial we are going to share will not be useful for you right now but if you an aspiring buyer of this phone, keep this page bookmarked for future.

Today, we have two root toolkits that make rooting the LG G3 very easy.

• IOroot
• RootTool

Preparations

Before you proceed to root you all new LG G3, here are a few preparations you need to make.

• Download and install the latest LG USB drivers on your computer.
• Enable USB Debugging on your LG G3. If you don’t know how to do it, read this.

Method 1: Root LG G3 Using IOroot

IOroot, first of these tools, does not require any introduction to LG users as it is very popular and works on a range of LG Devices including the LG Optimus G, G2, G Pro, G Pro 2, G Flex, G Pad and many others. IOroot is comaptible with Windows, Mac and Linux. The tool has just been updated and now it can root most LG G3 variants including—

• Korean G3 F400K/L/S
• International G3 D855
• AT&T G3 (D850)
• T-Mobile G3 (D851)
• Canadian G3 (LG-D852)
• Sprint G3 (LS990)
• Verizon G3 (VS985)

If you own any of the above listed LG G3 variants, you can use the IOroot tool byAutoprime and obtain root access in a matter of seconds. Now here’s are the steps:

1. Download the latest version of IOroot and extract the zip file: ioroot.zip
2. Make sure you have installed LG USB drivers on your computer and enabled USB Debugging on your phone.
3. Set screen-off time of your phone to 10 minutes. You can do this in Display settings.
4. Turn on Airplane mode on your device. In case you own the Verizon LG G3, use Ethernet mode instead.
5. Now open the ioroot folder and double click the root.bat file.
6. When the above cmd window is launched, just press a key on your keyboard.
7. Wait till IOroot runs the root script and your phone reboots.

Method 2: Root LG G3 Using TowelRoot

There is another one-click, or rather one-tap root method available for the LG G3 which is not only easy but also safe to use.

All you need is to install the Towelroot Apk file on your LG G3, open the app and tap themake it ra1n button. You can find the wholemethod in detail here.

Method 3: Root LG G3 Using RootTool

Thanks to jarari2 from XDA for making the one-click root tool for the G3 and hoangnovafor sharing it. You can easily root LG G3 using one-click root tool within seconds. Please note that the root tool used for obtaining root on the G3 is not new. It also works on devices like the LG G Pro and the LG G Pro 2 running Android 4.4.2.

The root tool has been tested on the Korean model of the G3 (F400K) but we have no doubt that it’ll also work on the International LG G3 (D855) without any problem. If your LG G3 has a locked bootloader, we strongly recommend not to try this tool.Now here’re the steps:

1. Download the one-click root tool kit:roottool.zip
2. Unzip the roottool.zip file on your desktop and open the extracted folder.
3. Connect your LG G3 to computer using USB cable.
4. Now double-click the Run.bat file.
5. When the command window pops up, press a key on your keyboard.
6. Your G3 will reboot into stock recovery mode.
7. When you see the recovery screen on your phone scroll to apply update from ADBoption using the Volume Down key and press the poer button to select it.
8. Then press any key on the command window. The root.zip file provided with the rooting package will be pushed to your device.
9. Now return to the main recovery menu and select reboot system now option.

When your phone boots up, open Play Store app on your phone and install Chainfire’s latest SuperSU app:

SuperSU

Price: Free 

Your LG G3 now has root access! Now you can try some cool apps that require root and enhance your mobile experience in terms of performance and customization:

Best Apps for Rooted Android Devices

LG launches yet another G3 variant, the 5.2-inch G3 A

August 7, 2014 10:25 am

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if that’s indeed the case, smartphone manufacturers are some pretty big flatterers. But when we throw around accusations of copying in this market, we’re usually talking about design: whose phone looks too much like someone else’s? We’ve got imitation on the mind this morning, only this time not in regards to a phone’s design, but to a company’s release strategy. For while we’re used to Samsung dropping a flagship Android, only to later surround the phone by half a dozen family members with similar names, now it looks like we’re starting to see LG pick up the same routine, and today we witness the company announce the latest in a growing line of G3 devices, with the launch of the G3 A.

Remember, we’ve already got the 5.5-inch G3 itself, and last month we saw the manufacturer announce the 5.0-inch G3 Beat. There’s also that G3 Stylus that hasn’t been formally unveiled just yet, but its presence in an official LG video leaves little doubt as to its existence. So where does the G3 A fit in?

Well, with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 800 SoC, it’s a bit of a step down from the G3, but not nearly as big of one as the G3 Beat takes. It keeps the flagship’s 13MP camera and laser-assisted auto-focus, while dropping its battery to a 2,610mAh component. In a sense, it almost feels like a G2 version of the G3.

On the software side, it picks up some new gesture controls, but we wouldn’t expect any huge changes. Right now, the G3 A is only targeted at South Korea, where the phone should sell for the equivalent of about $680.

Source: LG (Google Translate)
Via: phoneArena

HTC Gallery update lets One M8 owners easily share Duo Camera photos

 August 7, 2014 9:46 AM

2 Comments

One of the benefits of taking apps that otherwise would only be available stock on a device, and bringing them into the Play Store, is that updates can be provided in a quick and easy manner, and that’s exactly what HTC has demonstrated with its latest HTC Gallery update.

The update is actually quite substantial, as it lets One M8 owners share their Duo Camera-captured images on the internet. People who view images shared through this method will be able to not only view, but interact with UFocus, Dimension Plus, and Foregrounder images through a browser window — it works similarly to how Lytro has done it with its cameras.

These new features join HTC’s Image Match, Timeline View, and POI Location, which have existed in the app for a while now, along with other improvements the app has received through Play Store updates thus far.

The update is now live on the Play Store for One M8-toting individuals, though it may be rolling out in stages. If you don’t see it now, check back later and it’s likely you’ll be able to download it and try out the new features. Once you do, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Download link: HTC Gallery

Sony's IFA event sheds light on its new product lineup.

Late last month, word got out about Sony’s schedule for its IFA announcements, revealing plans for a press conference on September 3. But while sometimes an invitation will take the opportunity to give us a little tease of what news to expect, all we knew about Sony’s shindig was the time and date. Would we be left to speculate on our own about what might new products might be taking the spotlight? Maybe not, as now an image of a Sony IFA press invite has surfaced, and it seems to confirm some of our expectations.

Now, we’re not sure we’re already seeing any newproducts, or anything like that – the phone in the image above, for example, sure appears to be the already-released Xperia Z2. But maybe we can read something into the product families that are being highlighted.

Namely, Sony could have news of upcoming smartphones, as well as new QX lens-style cameras; both are product types we already talked about being announced at IFA, and this only adds fuel to those rumors. Specifically, we’re wondering if Sony will take the lid off that Xperia Z3 it seems to have been cooking up (and maybe a Z3 Compact, too), as well as maybe that QX30 camera accessory with the 30x optical zoom. And how should we be interpreting the apparent absence of any tablethere? We’ll be on the ground in Berlin next month, all ready to find out and bring you the news.

Source: Sony
Via: Xperia Blog

Multi-user finally coming to Android phones with release of Android L?

When it arrived in the fall of 2012, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean delivered a feature users had long asked for:support for multiple user profiles on a single device. Problem was, that mode was only accessible on tablets. Rumors speculated a lot about why that was, initially placing the blame on existing software patents that covered such a mode for phones, but then last summer we finally got an official response,describing it largely as a user interface and technical problem: when you’ve got multiple users, to whom should things like text messages and incoming voice calls be directed? Now with the public release of Android L just around the corner, it sounds like Google has finally undertaken the effort to figure this all out, and could deliver a multi-user mode that works on phones as well as tablets.

An issue report submitted to Google’s tracker earlier today made the latest demand for multi-user on phones, and this time Google responded, with a dev marking the issue closed and noting, “the development team has implemented this feature and it will be available as a part of the next public build.”

Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the multi-user support will be identical to what we’ve seen with tablets, nor that it will address all the possible fine-grained account restrictions some Android users are asking for, but this still sounds like a big change in the right direction, and we’re itching for the chance to see just how this will be implemented.

Source: Android Developer Preview issue tracker
Via: Android Police

New Sony Xperia tablet coming ?

Sony has won a lot of praise for its recent smartphone offerings. Our reviews of devices like the Xperia Z2 make it clear that the company is doing a great job in making Xperia smartphones very competitive. Xperia tablets haven’t gained that same level of fame, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t good, and rumors have it that there is more to come.

Listings are now showing a model number SGP621 being traded around through Indonesia. If you all remember, the code for the Xperia Tablet Z2 was SGP521, and the code for the Xperia Tablet Z was SGP321. This clearly hints to the company working on bringing us another tablet, and even though there aren’t any specifics on what to expect, we do know that it will sport LTE.

We’re expecting Sony to make some major announcements at IFA 2014. The company has historically used this trade show to show us its latest and greatest products for the fall, and with the rumors of an Xperia Z3 in the works, a tablet just has to make the cut as well.

Source: Postel
Via: Xperia Blog

Microsoft surface pro 3 coming to 20+ countries

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 has definitely been one of the most well-received products Microsoft has made in the last couple years, so we’re sure many of you are eager to have one in your hands. The problem is, availability has been limited so far, so it’s definitely exciting to hear that Surface Pro 3 availability is expanding to 25 additional markets on August 28.

These are the countries in question:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• China
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Italy
• Korea
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Portugal
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• The United Kingdom

This massive addition of markets brings the total number to 28, the other countries on the list being the United States, Canada, and Japan. Customers in these regions can pick up the i3, i5, and i7 models, and most of those people can also pre-order their model of choice, though there are some exceptions (click through the source link to read about them).

It’ll likely be another exciting month for Surface fans, as the August 28 launch of the Surface Pro 3 in these countries will be joined by the August 15 debut of the Surface Pro 3 Docking Station — and who’s to say what else Microsoft may have in store for us? We’ll have to wait and see.

Source: Surface Blog

Google picks up messaging/virtual assistant app Emu

Google’s got big plans for Hangouts. We’ve already seen recent improvements to how it handles text messaging, and word is that major integration with Google Voice is just over the horizon. But what then? How will we see Hangouts mature into an even more well-rounded messaging tool? A new Google acquisition may clue us in to where things are headed next, as it snatches up Tinker Square, developer of messaging app Emu.

Emu works like a cross between something like Google Now and a traditional text messaging app. It analyzes your conversation and pops-up relevant content, like your calendar when you’re talking about making plans, or showtimes for a movie you mention.

While there was an earlier Android beta, this acquisition is all the more interesting because the currently available Emu app is iOS-only. Now that Google’s buying the company, though, even that iOS version is going away later this month.

And while nothing’s certain for what becomes of Emu next, chances seem good we’ll see at least some of this functionality come to Google Hangouts. When that might happen remains to be seen, but we’ll be keeping Emu in mind as we check out Hangouts updates down the road, especially as we get into 2015.

Source: Tinker Square
Via: Mobile Syrup

Google buries prank in latest Android YouTube update

A new release of YouTube for Android is out today, and this being a Wednesday, right in the middle of the week when Google likes to release app updates, that on its own isn’t very surprising. The update itself doesn’t contain a ton of new features, mainly just enhancing existing playlist functionality by making it easier to interact with lists, as well as review ones you’ve already created (above). But that’s not all that’s here: expecting that the media would go poking around the APK, looking for signs of any more upcoming changes, this time Google decided to have a little fun, and hid a bit of a practical joke in the code.

Just like they always do, Android Police put the release under the microscope, and it wasn’t long before they spotted a string labeled “music_pass_onboarding_tutorial_uri” and pointing to a YouTube link. That sounds all sorts of intriguing, bringing up old rumors about a YouTube Music Pass premium subscription service. Understandably, Android Police eagerly accessed the URL, expecting to find some unpublished Music Pass intro video. Instead, they got Rickrolled.

Google even reached out to AP editor Artem Russakovskii to acknowledge the gag on his Google+ page, suggesting this all unfolded exactly as the company was expecting. Pretty cheeky, Google.

Source: Android Police

Apple and Samsung end patent battles outside the US

We’ve spent the last couple of years seeing two of the biggest technology companies battling each other over patent disputes. What’s even more interesting about this drama is that both companies are also partners in various ways as Samsung is a big supplier of Apple’s silicone on iOS and Mac products. We’ve kept you on the loop on how these companies have fought each other inside US courts, but the story is broader outside the country, or so it was.

It seems that both Apple and Samsung have decided to end all their patent disputes outside the US. We’ve already seen how a jury granted Apple $930 million for one patent trial, and $119 million for the second one, while Samsung barely made $158,400 on a minor dispute that it won. We don’t know which party decided to convince the other to stop the fight, but given the level of stress between each company in their existing partnerships, it’s clear that Samsung was losing a lot of money.

Hopefully this is an end of an era that most of us don’t like to remember. Patent disputes hinder innovation for consumers more than they actually help. Still, we can’t predict if this is not just an open door for a new roll of disputes in the future with some of Samsung’s rumored products. This could mean that both companies are reaching a licensing deal, but time will tell.

Source: Bloomberg
Via: Phone Arena

LG G3 stylus looks to be boring.

Yesterday LG brought us a bit of a surprise. Whether that was intentional or not remains to be seen, but for whatever reason, the manufacturer was caught promoting the unannounced LG G3 Stylus in the outro for a G3 Beat video. We saw what sure looked like a G3, but with the notable addition of an integrate (capacitive) stylus. Still, there were early signs that this wouldn’t be as straightforward as taking the G3 as we know it today and giving it a stylus; things like the single LED flash on the phone’s back hinted at possible downgrades compared to the flagship model. Today we hear some new details that are very much in the same vein, painting the G3 Stylus as a lower-end version of the G3.

Here’s what we’ve got: the G3 Stylus will supposedly have a display around 5.5 inches (so the handset may not be an exact match to the G3′s dimensions), but with a “different” screen resolution. With little place to move up from quad HD, that almost certainly means a lower-resolution panel. We’re also told that the battery capacity will change, and with the stylus taking up precious space, that probably means a smaller battery, too. And while we don’t get a breakdown of precisely what hardware to expect, the overall theme is supposed to be one of components that are “slightly downgraded compared to the G3.”

That’s not ideal for LG fans looking for a top-tier flagship, but like we mentioned, this direction for the Stylus wasn’t entirely unexpected after what we saw yesterday. LG is supposed to launch the G3 Stylus sometime this quarter (maybe at IFA?), so we should have a more complete understanding of its capabilities soon.

Source: The Korea Times
Via: phoneArena

Apple to ship the final 4.7-inch iPhone 6 with a bigger battery?

One of the biggest issues with any of the iPhones that we’ve tested, is that it “just works,” until it doesn’t. Battery life is a big problem with iPhones, where we’ve seen Apple only grow the size of the battery a few mAh in its seven year existence. Samsung and other companies are even mocking iPhone customers for their need to be plugged to the wall, and it seems that Apple might want to do something about it.

New reports claim that Apple is planning to launch the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 with a 2,100 mAh battery. Previous rumors mentioned that the iPhone 6 was only getting an 1,810 mAh battery, which is just a minor upgrade compared to the existing 1,560 mAh battery on the iPhone 5s. The source claims that Apple was only testing this 1,810 mAh battery, but that the final product will see the substantial upgrade we saw earlier. Match that with the probable power efficiency that we might see on Apple’s A8 chip, and this could be code for an improved experience.

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is rumored to be ready for an announcement on September 9th. The company is never specific on battery specifications at events, but hopefully this will be a major issue it will address on a slide.

Source: Weibo
Via: Cult of Mac

Moto 360 charger reveled.

Ever since Motorola first announced its Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch, we’ve known the wearable would get its power in a bit of a non-traditional manner. Back in June, when the 360 swung by the FCC, we started getting our answers about just what Motorola was planning, as the published certification paperwork confirmed support for the Qi wireless charging standard. But then recent rumors started getting us worried that this feature might come at a price, and wondering if the watch’s steel construction might be a casualty of the choice to bring it wireless power. Fret not, for the latest 360 leak not only confirms the continued presence of a metal back, but shows us the 360′s custom charger for the first time.

Etched right into that metal backplate we see many of the 360′s selling points spelled-out: a stainless steel build, wireless charging, water resistance, and even a heart rate sensor.

The wireless charger itself is quite compact and features a bit of an unusual (at least for wireless chargers) upright design. While it looks quite handsome, operational photos reveal a casualty of the screen’s not-quite-fully-circular geometry: a progress indicator bar gets unceremoniously clipped, obscuring the readout somewhere in the 70-80 percent range.

Finally, we get some comparison shots up against the LG G Watch, and while the 360 continues to look a little chunky on its own, from what we can see here it shouldn’t be considerably thicker than the rest of its Android Wear brethren; it may be a bit bigger that the LG model, sure, but it’s not a night-and-day difference.

Source: Mister Gadget
Via: Android Central

Timex Ironman One GPS+ smartwatch packs its own cellular radio

The current pack of smartwatches sure is feeling a lot more refined than what the options looked like just a year ago, introducing things like a common wearable platform in the form of Android Wear. But for all the advancements, certain things have fallen by the wayside, and one we’re not seeing on any of the models from major manufacturers is native cellular connectivity; all the most popular smartwatches still require tethering to a smartphone. Despite rumors about products like the Samsung Gear Solo, we’ve yet to see high-profile stand-alone smartwatches launch – or at least, not from the companies that make phones. But that’s not stopping other players from filling this gap in the market, and today watchmaker Timex announces its own no-phone-required smartwatch, the Ironman One GPS+.

The Ironman One may not be as full-featured as something like an Android Wear smartwatch, but it still manages to hit all the major notes: activity sensors, music playback, GPS reception, and basic messaging capabilities. That last trick it pulls off with the help of its own dedicated cellular connection. Full details on how that operates, including band support, aren’t yet available, but we know that the watch will ship with a free year of data service from AT&T for US and Canadian users.

One other notable aspect of the watch is its display, which is a full-color, low-power interferometric component, the same kind we saw debut on the Qualcomm Toq. Despite that move, battery life sounds pretty iffy, no doubt due to the influence of the cellular radio. With GPS and the cellular connection on, you’ll only get about eight hours of usage, while playing music brings that down to just four.

Pricing starts at about $400, or $450 with a chest-based heart rate monitor. There’s no word on when the watch might ship, but pre-orders are open now.

Source: Timex

Second-gen Moto G could be growing to a five-incher

Motorola rumors as of late seem to have focused on two devices: the Moto 360, formally launched but not yet available for sale, and the Moto X+1, expected to arrive shortly as the manufacturer’s follow-up to last year’s Moto X. But what of the other spaces in the company’s lineup? Will we see successors to some of its other 2013 models? Well, there’s been some talk of new Droids for Verizon, but today we’re looking at what might be the next Moto G, upon the discovery of a benchmark listing for Motorola’s model XT1063.

Unlike the Moto G with its 4.5-inch 720p display, the XT1063 bumps that up to a 5-inch 720p panel. The SoC looks like it’s remaining as a Snapdragon 400, and the presence of 1GB of RAM and just 8GB of storage further reinforce those lower-mid-range specs. That said, there are a few other improvements here, like the apparent move to an 8MP camera form the G’s 5MP (as well as a smaller bump up to 2MP for the front-facer).

But is this the new Moto G, or something else? That’s hard to say – the Moto G was represented by models like the XT1032, XT1033, and XT1035, while this XT1063 is joined by its own variants like the XT1068 and XT1069. And when this new model showed its head in a Brazilian regulatory filing last month, it was using the Moto G’s original battery.

Whether the phone takes the Moto G name or introduces some other letter to Motorola’s alphabet of devices, it still very much looks like this model is happening.

Source: GFXBench
Via: phoneArena