Android

Sprint recently announced that it would carry a special edition of the HTC One M8 that would feature sound enhancing software from Harman Kardon. While we’re happy for the carrier and its legions of customers, we couldn’t help but feel sorry for M8 owners outside of Sprint’s service. If you happen to be a part of this group, turn that frown upside down! We’ve got some good news for you today! This crafty individuals over at The Unlockr how found a workaround that brings Harman Kardon’s Clari-fi tech to just about any version of HTC’s new flagship phone.

“Flounder” could be the codename for Google’s next Nexus device

Mark Hearn May 8 2014 - 12:38 pm PT

Historically, Google has been known to use quirky codenames when working on internal projects and Nexus devices are no exception. In the past the company’s homegrown Android products have carried in-house names patterned after aquatic animals when being under development. For example: Maguro was used for the GSM Galaxy Nexus, Mako represented the Nexus 4, Hammerhead covered the Nexus 5 and Mantaray was the moniker for the Nexus 10. When it comes to Nexus devices, Google has a thing for sea creatures.

Samsung’s Swarovski Galaxy S5, Galaxy Gear collection launches today

Jonathan Kizer May 8 2014 - 11:12 am PT

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTLBCACEX2k]

Samsung’s “Crystal Collection” Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Gear line are available on the company’s online store starting today, though only in Korea. The devices are also available for pre-order for the Chinese market.

The sparkly device will eventually be make its way to Samsung’s UK retail stores in the UK in the coming weeks. If you’re in the United States and hoping to get your hands on this handset, start looking into importing it. Chances are, Samsung will never officially release the device in the North American, as no plans have been shared thus far.

The “Swarovski for Samsung” collaboration comes on the heels of a successful accessory partnership between the two brands during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York this past season. The collection marks the first time in more than 100 years that Swarovski has participated in a collaboration of this scale, where it fully integrates its branding into the collection.

With technology and fashion so deeply intertwined, Samsung is more dedicated than ever to supporting self-expression through technological innovation and meaningful partnerships,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung. “Collaborating with Swarovski on this stunning collection of device accessories reflects our commitment to providing people with user-experiences that express their distinct personalities and taste.

Here’s another LG G3 leak, this time in gold

Mark Hearn May 8 2014 - 9:34 am PT

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a pretty good look at LG’s upcoming G3 and while the phone is differentiating itself from its predecessor, the latest purported photos of the device suggests that it’s taking its cues from its competition. Pictured above is a front to back view of a gold G3, yes, gold like the iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One. It’s like gold is the new white. Remember a few years back when everyone wanted a white phone because of the iPhone? Sadly, Apple releasing the iPhone 5s in gold appears to be having the same effect on smartphone manufacturer’s today.

Yahoo launches its News Digest app on Android, adds international & Canadian editions

Jordan Kahn May 8 2014 - 7:12 am PT

Following confirmation during an interview with Marissa Mayer at the TechCrunch Disrupt event this week, a version of Yahoo’s popular News Digest app is now available to Android users. Yahoo made the announcement on its blog today where it also noted that new international and Canadian editions of the app have arrived.

Mayer noted in the interview this week that News Digest was one of the company’s mobile apps that its most proud of. The app, which offers users a daily dose of news in a concise format, has been experiencing impressive engagement among users on iOS since launching last year.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll get where in terms of the new editions in each country:
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Samsung’s head of mobile design resigns, VP Lee Min-hyouk to replace

Mike Beasley May 7 2014 - 10:33 pm PT

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Chang Dong-hoon, Samsung’s head of mobile design, has stepped down from his position due to criticism of the Galaxy S5, according to Reuters. Chang will be replaced by the company’s current vice president of mobile design, Lee Min-hyouk. Lee joined Samsung’s executive team in 2010 after helping design the company’s Galaxy lineup.

Samsung is the largest manufacturer of Android devices in the world, and recently wrapped up a software patent lawsuit brought by Apple in which the Korean company was ordered to pay out just under $120 million for in which several Galaxy devices were found to infringe on Apple’s intellectual property.

LG announces 5.5″ 2560×1440 display, coming soon to a G3 near you

Jonathan Kizer May 7 2014 - 7:26 pm PT

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LG tonight announced its latest mobile display, which will bring about a QHD (also known as 2K, or 2560×1440 pixels) panel in a 5.5″ form factor. That brings a whopping 538 pixels per inch. As chance would have it, LG is also about to release its latest flagship device, the G3, which also just happens to be rumored to ship with a 5.5″ 2560×1440 display. Coincidence? I think not.
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Motorola website listing adds fuel to the X+1 smartphone rumors

Mike Beasley May 7 2014 - 5:56 pm PT

A store listing on Motorola’s website (via Droid Life) has given us an early look at the currently-unannounced Moto X+1, which will be available on AT&T whenever it’s finally made public. The phone looks very similar to the current Moto X, so most of the big changes to the device will presumably be under-the-hood.

There is at least one change being made to the outside of the phone. The X+1 recently showed up on the MotoMaker tool that allows users to build customized versions of the Moto X. According to the options on that website, the phone will be available with 25 different backplates to choose from.

Google Play Music promo offering up to five bestselling albums for $1.99 each

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 4:06 pm PT

Google is currently sending out emails for a Play Music promo that offers up to five bestselling albums for $1.99 a pop. Invitations appear to be hitting random Gmail users, as some of our staff has received the offer and others have not. The offer’s disclosure says it’s only available to new Google Play Music users, however it appears to be rolling out to casual customers as well.

As for the music being offered, there are fairly new full albums from artists like Drake, Blake Shelton, Childish Gambino, Arcade Fire, Rihanna and dozens more. If you’re lucky enough to score an invite to the deal, you’ll have until 11:59pm PST to take advantage of this offer.

Amazon for Android updated with new icon, Single Sign On feature, bug fixes

Chance Miller May 7 2014 - 2:55 pm PT

Amazon this afternoon has rolled out an update to its official Android app that includes several minor new features and bug fixes. Most notably, the update adds the Single Sign On feature to Amazon’s entire suite of app. This means that if you log into your account through the Amazon app, you’ll automatically be signed in to the company’s other apps, such as Kindle, Amazon Appstore, and Amazon MP3.

Android

Google Play Services 4.4 lets devs detect running & walking, embed StreetView, more

Jordan Kahn May 7 2014 - 1:59 pm PT

Google announced today that it’s rolling out Google Play Services 4.4, the latest release of its suite of tools for Android developers. The update adds a number of notable new features that devs can integrate into their apps including Street View and “new features in Location, Games Services, Mobile Ads, and Wallet API.”

For location, Google is now letting developers detect when users are running or walking. Previously developers could only detect if users were in a vehicle, on a bike, or on foot. The big announcement, however, is the ability to embed Street View imagery from Maps:
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Google Wallet update for Android and iOS introduces multiple accounts and performance fixes

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 1:24 pm PT

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Not stopping at its Camera app, Google has also rolled out an update for its Android and iOS Wallet apps. While both versions aren’t identical, the biggest standout of today’s software releases is the ability to use multiple Google accounts from within Wallet’s Android app. To accommodate this new addition, Mountain View has made a few adjustments to the payment software’s UI. User accounts are accessible via a pull-down panel on the upper left-hand corner of the app, along with a slide-out section for your list of cards and bank accounts. Rounding things out is the ability to receive package shipment updates on purchases made with Wallet.

iOS users rocking Google’s mobile payment system are being treated to unidentified enhancements to the app’s loyalty programs and orders features, along with some token performance fixes. If you haven’t updated Wallet yet, you can pull down this new software from your mobile platform’s respective source link below.

(via Google Play, iTunes)

Google Camera app update brings back photo capture while recording video

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 12:27 pm PT

Last month Google released a new Camera app for Android and while we enjoy most of its new bells and whistles, the price of progress came at the expense of a beloved feature. Absent from Mountain View’s new photo taking software was the ability to snap a picture while recording a video. Today, however, the search giant has made amends in the form of an update for its camera app that brings back this highly requested feature.

An update with today’s date is listed in Google Play, but its changelog has yet to be added. The folks at Android Police have already dissected the app and the returning photo feature is all they’ve found so far, but there could possibly be a few minor performance tweaks lurking in this new release.

Bring your Samsung Galaxy S5 to work with Knox 2.0

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 9:02 am PT

Samsung’s Galaxy S5 might be dust and water resistant, but the company’s flagship smartphone is now ready to take on the roughest of terrains — the office. Today, the South Korean electronics manufacturer announced a new version of its Knox security software that lets GS5 owners use their phone at their job. Rebranded as Knox Workspace, this updated platform features two new cloud-based services Knox EMM and Knox Marketplace. The former gives your employer’s IT department remote access to your device, while the latter is the software’s dedicated app store.

Meet the Ascend P7, Huawei’s new ultra-thin flagship smartphone

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 8:24 am PT

Today during a press event in Paris, Chinese phone maker Huawei announced its newest smartphone, the Ascend P7. At a glance, this slim 6.5mm device bears a small resemblance to an iPhone, but there’s definitely some noticeable differences going on here. The Ascend P7 features a 5-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 13-megapixel rear-facing shooter accompanied by an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and a HiSilicon quad-core 1.8GHz processor.

D-Link’s new Wi-Fi Smart Plug offers full Android control over electronics w/ energy monitoring & thermal safety features

Justin Kahn May 7 2014 - 8:12 am PT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX8FE8q-Bjw

D-Link has just launched its new Wi-Fi Smart Plug designed to offer users full control over their electrical outlets via the free mobile apps. The small adapters communicate with any existing WiFi network and plug into any electrical outlet. The user can then control power to any of the devices plugged into the adapter.

They come with a few handy features along with basic on/off control. You can create custom schedules for particular outlets and monitor your energy use on connected devices.

You can set device schedules so that you walk into a brightly-lit home every day after work with your favorite song playing and the AC exactly where you want it.

The system also includes a thermal protection system that allows you to manually shut down power on an outlet and includes a thermal sensor that will automatically turn off over heating appliances.

The D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug comes in at a slightly lower price tag than the popular $60 WeMo options from Belkin. D-Link is launching its smart plug at $49.99 right now (temporarily out of stock on Amazon) and the mydlink Smart Plug apps for Android and iOS can both be downloaded for free via Google Play and the App Store .

Samsung Galaxy S5 mini might be called Galaxy S5 Dx

Mark Hearn May 7 2014 - 7:03 am PT

The Galaxy S5 mini could be branded as the as the Galaxy S5 Dx, according to a purported screenshot from Samsung’s UK website. This slight name change would follow suit with the company’s recent rebranding of its camera-centric phone line, now known as the Galaxy K Zoom. If you look closely, the photo’s url reveals a model number of SM-G800, so that’ll be something to keep an eye out for going forward.

Samsung Galaxy S5 S-View Flip Cover review (Video)

Dom Esposito May 7 2014 - 5:14 am PT

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When it comes to cases, there’s usually nothing better than first-party options. With the release of the Galaxy S5, Samsung launched a new set of accessories to protect and enhance the device. Samsung’s new S-View Flip Cover is designed with simplicity and functionality in mind, but is it worth the money?

Epson releases second-gen Android-powered Moverio BT-200 smart glasses for $699.99

Chance Miller May 6 2014 - 2:17 pm PT

We’ve seen several competitors to Google Glass over the past few years, including smart glasses from Vuzix and Epson. The latter of those, in fact, beat Google to the market back in 2012 with its Moverio glasses. Today, Epson has announced its second generation smart glasses, powered by Android.

OneDrive for Android updated with improved sharing and organization features

Mark Hearn May 6 2014 - 2:08 pm PT

If you’re using your Android device to moonlight on Drive with Microsoft’s OneDrive, your infidelity just got a little easier. Today, the folks in Redmond released version 2.5 of its cloud storage app for Android. Users can now share files and folders via invite, link or by sending files to another app. If that’s not enough, you can select multiple files to download at the same time, while moving and sorting individual folders as needed. Head on over to Google Play to take this update for a spin and don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.

Sony’s SmartWatch 2 can now provide Instagram notifications

Ben Lovejoy May 6 2014 - 6:25 am PT

If you’re an Instagram user with a Sony Smartwatch 2, Sony has you covered. The snappily-named Smart extension for Instagram app allows you to view notifications and read friends’ comments on your photos.

The app gets integrated into Smart Connect once installed. You can choose an update frequency ranging from 15 minutes to three hours, and the watch will then vibrate to indicate Instagram activity, displaying details on the display.

The app is a free download from the Google play store.

Leaked photo of pink HTC One (M8) – perhaps destined for T-Mobile?

Ben Lovejoy May 6 2014 - 5:23 am PT

Generally reliable source @evleaks has posted a photo of the pink model HTC One (M8) he previously said was on the way, along with blue and red models. He previously leaked a photo of the red version.

No further details are given beyond the fact that it will be released at some point this year. After images of the red model were shown with Verizon branding, it made us wonder whether blue may be for AT&T and pink for T-Mobile? However, the pink model shown in the photo has no carrier branding.

As for the phone itself, we love the hardware, though have mixed views on Sense 6.

Google reportedly working to integrate Wallet functionality into Glass

Chance Miller May 5 2014 - 4:00 pm PT

According to a new report out of TechCrunch, Google is working to add Google Wallet functionality to Glass. Citing a “source close to the company”, the report claims that Google is currently testing the feature internally, but that it hopes to make it public in the near future. Currently, Glass users have to be signed in to a computer on Google’s corporate network in order to install the app on their Glass.

Like many features on Glass, Google Wallet will work almost exclusively with voice commands. Users will be able to simply ask Glass to “Send money”, then have the ability to swipe through the interface a view times and your done. One of the most common uses for this would be the ability to send your share of a dinner bill to a friend, much like with the Google Wallet integration in Gmail.

The fees for using Wallet with Glass will be the same as other services, with Google taking a 2.9 percent fee for all transactions. Google is certainly looking to add more practical use cases to Google Glass, and the ability to pay with Wallet will certainly come in handy for users.

Google Now will alert you when nearby shops have products you’ve been searching for

Mark Hearn May 5 2014 - 2:40 pm PT

If you find yourself constantly searching the web for new toys, you’re really gonna dig Google Now’s newest trick. As a follow up to a recent update that helps you locate stores while cruising the mall, this new software push takes things to another level. Starting today, Google Now will display a product information card whenever you’re near a shop that carries an item that you’ve been searching for online.