Fleksy launches public SDK, ups the ante on smart keyboards for iOS

Alternative keyboard app Fleksy is now available to all iOS app developers as a public SDK. That means developers can use Fleksy's smart keyboard technology within their own app, replacing Apple's native keyboard just in that space. After a private beta launch back in December 2013, Fleksy's keyboard is currently available in 14 iOS apps, including Evomail, Happy, and a few other note-taking and text apps, but this is the first that parent company Syntellia has offered the SDK to the public.
Does this announcement sound familiar? It should, vaguely. In January, rival keyboard app SwiftKey launched a note-taking app--SwiftKey Note for iOS--in partnership with Evernote. Though these two platforms take different approaches to typing on the iPhone, their end goal seems to be the same. Introducing users to different keyboards for iOS and getting them to jump on the smart keyboard bandwagon could put some pressure on Apple to loosen its grasp.

Because of Apple's restrictions on iOS, its native keyboard cannot be completely replaced by a third-party offering like it can on Android. The workaround is to use an app that contains a smart keyboard, and then export that text to the field you'd like to use it in. This process is clunky at best; a smart keyboard is only really of value when it's embedded within an app that you actually wanted to use.

Apple's keyboard isn't bad: It has solid autocorrect capabilities, remembers your commonly typed words, and lets you program your own shortcuts. But if you're willing to familiarize yourself with Fleksy, you could make typing even quicker.
Fleksy uses the oh-so-familiar QWERTY layout and takes up about the same amount of real estate as Apple's keyboard, but its keys are slightly more spaced out. As you start to type, Fleksy will guess what word you're trying to peck out and finish it for you.

Fleksy relies solely on gestures for navigation, which you'll have to master in order to use Fleksy efficiently. If the predicted word is wrong, swipe down to change it. Swipe right to enter a space, swipe left to delete, and swipe right twice to change the punctuation. For Fleksy pros, you can hide the keyboard all together and just type based on familiarity.

The public SDK keeps all of these same features intact, but users must have Fleksy's standalone iOS app installed along with the compatible third-party app. That way, it can share your custom settings and dictionary, which grows the more you use Fleksy. Developers can also offer their users different colored Fleksy keyboards that match the iPhone 5c's palette.

App developers can start experimenting with Fleksy's SDK right now, and I reckon we'll see the keyboard available on more and more apps as it becomes more well known.

BlackBerry CEO Miffed With T-Mobile

John Chen, BlackBerry's new chief executive, lashed out at T-Mobile after it sent an email to BlackBerry users imploring them to ditch their current devices and switch to an iPhone.

BlackBerry was not notified about T-Mobile's email blast beforehand, causing Chen to become "outraged" over what he dubbed a "clearly inappropriate and ill-conceived marketing promotion."
Many a BlackBerry user subsequently asked if T-Mobile was halting its sale and support of BlackBerry. These questions prompted T-Mobile CEO John Legere to tweet, "BlackBerry users, I'm hearing you loud and clear. Let me work with the team and get back with you."
He later tweeted that T-Mobile was indeed continuing its BlackBerry service. T-Mobile followed that with an announcement that it would be offering expedited shipping of BlackBerry devices.




[Sources: BlackBerry, the Los Angeles Times]

WhatsApp Gives BlackBerry a Bounce

Today in international tech news: Investors seem to think that if WhatsApp is worth $19 billion, then BlackBerry Messenger must be worth something, too. Also: Europe looks beyond the solar system; Apple sees an uptick in China; Russia's Yandex searches for more smartphone biz; and Kim Dotcom plans an appeal. 

Facebook's US$19 billion purchase of mobile-messaging service WhatsApp appears to have buoyed the value of BlackBerry Messenger -- and by extension, BlackBerry. 

BlackBerry shares went up nearly 10 percent in after-hours trading because, in the words of Reuters, Facebook's purchase "put a rough valuation metric around the smartphone maker's own BlackBerry Messaging service," also known as "BBM."
WhatsApp came to the party after BBM but flew past its predecessor, which had long refused to open itself up on other platforms. WhatsApp has an estimated user base of 450 million -- BBM is at about 80 million -- and is compatible with iOS and Android, as well as devices powered by Windows and BlackBerry.
Before the announcement of the WhatsApp deal, financial services outfit Raymond James on Tuesday valued BBM at $240 million, or $3 per user. WhatsApp, however, sold at an amount worth roughly $42 per user, thus making BBM more attractive. Ergo, BBM looks better now than it did Tuesday.
 

source:Reuters

HTC confirms the Desire 8

HTC has confirmed that it will unveil the Desire 8 on February 24th in Beijing.
In a posting on its official Weibo page, the Taiwanese company said that it will show off its mid-range Desire 8 smartphone for the first time next week.
It had been thought that the company would use Mobile World Congress to launch the smartphone – possibly alongside the HTC M8. However, the Weibo post suggests that the Desire 8 will instead make its debut in China.
The company refused to provide any details about the phone beyond confirming its name and that it will debut next week.
Previous rumours have suggested that the phone will feature a 5.5-inch screen with a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB RAM, a 13 megapixel rear facing camera and a five megapixel front facing camera.
It is also said to be coming with 8GB of storage, front-facing speakers – like the HTC One – and be available in a range of colours. It is also expected to run Android KitKat.
The phone is said to be being launched in China, Europe, Africa, the US and Asia. There s no word on whether the phone will make it to the rest of the Americas and Australia.



Source: LlabTooFer

most-anticipated-smartphones-of-2014-galaxy-s5-iphone-6-more

Smartphones grow more exciting with each passing year, as advancing technology sees these life companions look more and more like pocket-sized supercomputers.

Those due an upgrade in 2014 will have no shortage of shiny new handsets to choose from, with Android pioneers Samsung and HTC on the brink of unleashing new flagship devices, and Apple set to deliver a new iPhone later in the year.

With a slew of devices due to be announced at next week's Mobile World Congress, we have rounded up our most anticipated phones of the next 12 months.

 

Sony Xperia Z2 

Sony's Xperia Z smartphone is the Android handset of choice for many thanks to its exceptional 20.7-megapixel camera, luxurious build quality and high-powered chipset.

The Japanese electronics maker is almost certain to lift the lid on the Xperia Z2 at MWC, and we can expect a host of improvements, including 4K video recording, wider viewing angles, a slimmer design and longer battery life.Like its predecessor, the device is expected to be resistant to both water and dust, giving it the edge over many of its competitors where durability is concerned.

Samsung Galaxy S5 

 New flagship additions to Samsung's Galaxy range never fail to set the Android world alight, with powerful chipsets and eye-popping display technology on their side.

The Galaxy S5 is set to be unveiled alongside a second-generation version of the Galaxy Gear smartwatch on February 24, and reports suggest that it will boast a 5.25-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 16-megapixel camera capable of shooting in 4K.There have also been rumours that the firm is planning to ditch the plastic coating of previous Galaxy products in favour of more premium-grade materials for the Galaxy S5, which is said to feature a fingerprint sensor embedded into its home button.

 

People eagerly check out the new Galaxy S4
 iPhone 6 

Although Apple is not due to announce a new iPhone until the latter half of 2014, that has not stopped the rumour mill from churning.

This could be the year that the tech titan overhauls its long-standing iPhone blueprint with the introduction of larger screen sizes, with numerous supply-chain leaks suggesting that the firm has ordered the production of phablet-sized displays.

There have also been rumours that the iPhone 6 will pack a Lytro-style camera capable of capturing layered images that can be manually refocussed afterwards.

 

iPhone 6 concept designs

The All New HTC 

HTC has its work cut out delivering a follow-up to the critically-acclaimed HTC One smartphone, so it comes as no surprise that the company is sticking to its guns with its so-called M8 handset.

Leaked photographs of the All New HTC One suggest that it will retain the same aluminium-clad form factor as its predecessor, while dual camera lenses have been spotted on the rear.

Expect to see a device sporting a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, and 2GB of RAM when this one breaks cover on March 25.

Leaked image of the All New HTC One in gold

Nokia Normandy 

 Nokia has made a name for itself with some stellar Windows Phone devices in recent years, with its Lumia handsets rocking impressive camera capabilities and eye-catching designs.

The Nordic firm's entry into the Android market is sure to be a talking point when the so-called Nokia Normandy handset lands at MWC, marking a change of direction for the company.

Also referred to as the Nokia X, the handset is expected to be a budget offering running a forked version of the Google operating system, featuring a dual-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, a 4-inch screen and a 5-megapixel camera.

 

A press shot of the Nokia X (aka Nokia Normandy)

LG G3 

Although the LG G2 lacked the same allure as the likes of the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4, it was up there with the best smartphones of 2013, and we're hoping the Korean company can go one better with its follow-up.

Little is known about the LG G3, but recent reports suggest that it could emerge around May, sporting a fingerprint scanner, a Quad HD display, an octa-core processor, and a 16-megapixel rear-camera.Such high-end specs make it a viable competitor to the Galaxy S5 in the Android sector, but LG will have to pull something special out of the bag to challenge its South Korean rival.

 

 

YouTube updated with new centre-aligned design and improved playlist options

YouTube on Thursday announced it had made changes to its overall design, as well as the way people would manage and use playlists.
On the official YouTube blog, web developer Yining Zhao, writes, "The way you watch YouTube keeps changing so we are making a few tweaks to YouTube to keep up with you. Starting today you'll see some changes to make it easier to find what you want to watch on YouTube and collect playlists to watch again and again."
Under the new playlist revamp, the left side of the YouTube site will also have a dedicated Playlists window below the 'What to Watch' section, which will show users their favourite videos, and the channels they like. In addition, there will be a new guide that will have all the playlists created and playlists liked. If a user makes a playlist then there will be a new page that helps making the editing easier.
In addition to that, the blog states that there is a new look to the website too. The centre-aligned look, fits neatly on screens of any size, which is in sync with the YouTube mobile app, which the team at YouTube feels, is where users spend most of their time on. Zhao writes further, "One can quickly flip between what's recommended and popular in "What to Watch", and the latest from subscribed channels in "My Subscriptions," with both options now front and centre." A guide icon to the right of the YouTube logo can be clicked to access the playlists, subscriptions and the other new options.
The changes do not come as a big surprise given that there would be changes of this nature after Susan Wojcicki was appointed the new chief of YouTube, and it seems she has focused her attention first on the playlists and the alignment of the same.

Huawei Ascend G6, MediaPad X1 allegedly spotted in leaked images ahead of MWC

It seems like Huawei is preparing to introduce a new mid-range smartphone, dubbed the Ascend G6, apart from a high-end phablet, the MediaPad X1. The yet-to-be-announced devices have allegedly appeared in some press render images and live shots.
The purported images of the expected Ascend G6 smartphone comes via @evleaks, the serial tipster, via a Twitter post, which shows the handset in five colour variants - Blue, Gold, Pink, White and Black (seen above).
The Huawei Ascend G6 seemingly sports a sleek profile, is rumoured to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and is said to feature a 4.5-inch screen. The device is expected to be powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor clocked at 1.3GHz, paired with 1GB of RAM. The Ascend G6 is said to sport a microSD card expansion slot for augmenting built-in storage, and an 8-megapixel rear camera, coupled with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Huawei is also expected to reveal its Ascend G6 in the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2014 event as a teaser hinting three devices along with the MWC event date (23 February) was revealed couple of days ago.

As we mentioned above, the Chinese smartphone maker may also unveil a phablet at MWC, the MediaPad X1, which passed its Tenaa certification earlier this month. Reports suggest that it is powered by a HiSilicon 910 Kirin chipset (1.6GHz quad-core, Mali 450 GPU, 2GB of RAM) and will be running the older (surprisingly) version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on it. Some of the purported live shots of the Huawei MediaPad X1 can be seen below.
New reports indicates the yet-to-be-announced MediaPad X1 phablet will feature a 7-inch screen with a high 1200 x 1920 pixel resolution, LTE connectivity, 16GB/32GB built-in storage variants, and a 6,000mAh battery. The device is might also be priced somewhere around 1200 yuan (approximately Rs. 12,000).

Nokia X now in mass production at company's Hungary plant: Report

Nokia's much-anticipated first Android phone, believed to be dubbed Nokia X, is tipped to have entered mass production at a Komarom plant in Hungary.
A Hungarian site claims that the Nokia X entered mass production in the company's Komarom plant a few weeks ago, a plant that notably saw reduction in its workforce as a part of job cuts that the Finnish company announced back in 2012.
The site also suggests that the Komarom plant is manufacturing the Nokia X, previously dubbed Nokia Normandy in multiple colours. Further, the site claims that Nokia X will not feature any Google Services or even support the Play Store, which is very much in-line with earlier reports. An earlier report indicated that Nokia, following the lead of Amazon, has been working on a fully-tailored or forked version of Android for the Normandy program.
On Thursday, Nokia's much-awaited Android-based smartphone, the Nokia X (aka Normandy, A110, and RM-980) was seemingly revealed in four different purported live images, which showcased some of the apps one might find integrated in the custom UI of the device.
The Nokia X, besides being said to fall between the Asha and Lumia line-up, will reportedly feature a 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480x854 (FWVGA) pixels; a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor; 5-megapixel rear camera; microSD card and dual-SIM support, apart from Android 4.4 KitKat. The device was recently also spotted on a listing page on a Vietnamese online retailer website.
Nokia also started a countdown page for the MWC event on its official Conversations blog, with a clear 'X' marked, and released several teaser images, again showing the 'X' mark.
Earlier this week, Nokia in an attempt to promote the expected launch of its first Android phone, released teaser images ahead of the Nokia X (aka Normandy) launch.
Notably, the Nokia X teaser images did not reveal much about the upcoming device, but it explicitly showed an 'X' mark in a couple of the images.

WhatsApp for Android update has updated privacy settings

WhatsApp has released a new update (v2.11.169) for Android that brings with it some new privacy options. You can now choose who can see your ‘Last seen’, profile photo and status message. You can let everyone see it, only your contacts see it or set it so no one can see it.
The iOS version of WhatsApp has had the ability to hide the Last seen status since forever but it’s only now that the Android version received it. But along with it, it also got the ability to hide the profile photo and status message, that iOS version does not yet have.
There are several other changes, as well. The mute functionality has been improved and now finally works as it should. Previously, even if you muted a group, you would still see the notifications. Now, muting the group makes it completely silent and only when you open the app would you know you have new messages from a group. Unfortunately, there is still no permanent mute option and the maximum duration you can choose is still one week.
You can now also pay for a friend. You can choose from 1, 3 or 5 year subscription option and gift it to a friend using Google Wallet, PayPal or sending payment link. Lastly, the notification options for broadcast messages have been removed but you can still send broadcast messages.
b

Angry Birds Rio in a new High Dive episode

Rio 2 is going to hit the cinemas worldwide on April 4 and Rovio has just released a new Angry Birds Rio update to get you warmed up.
The High Dive episode packs 26 brand new water-themed levels, where you will be rescuing dolphins.
The Rio 2′s Amazon setting looks nice and those new levels seem fun to play. Rovio has also updated the graphics a little bit, probably in order to prepare for the release of new episodes corresponding to the Rio 2 script.
Naturally, the High Dive update is free to install and play, as it is the Angry Birds Rio itself. You can get it right now on Android and iOS.

4.7in iPhone 6 to be joined by 5.6in iPhone phablet

Rumours that Apple is going to release new smartphones in more than one size just won't go away. The latest report states that there's going to be a 4.7in iPhone 6 launched alongside a brand-new 5.6in phablet.
According to Taiwan's Economic Daily News Apple will launch the new device alongside the iPhone 6 and it won't carry the iPhone branding. It's not clear from the report what the new device would be called, although it's possible that it would fall under the iPad range.
The new device is said to be experimental, as Apple tries out different screen sizes. It makes sense in a lot of ways, as large screens are becoming a common feature on the Android competition: the Samsung Galaxy S5 will have a 5.25in screen. With the iPhone 6 said to have 'just' a 4.7in screen, a second phablet device to compete with the larger Android devices would let Apple compete better here.
Similar claims have been made before, with rumours that there would be two iPhone 6 models, each with a different screen size. All the reports agree that the new phones will use Sapphire glass to create tough, scratch-resistant screens.
Of course, none of this information is confirmed and is purely speculation and rumour. Many of the rumours about multiple screen sizes are likely to have occurred because Apple was said to be experimenting with screen sizes in order to find one that worked. It's still more than likely that Apple will just pick a single screen size for the iPhone 6 and release just that model.
 

 

Microsoft offering a free Nokia wireless charging plate with the purchase of new Nokia Lumia Icon

If you have your eye on the newly available Nokia Lumia Icon for Verizon, Microsoft has added a little incentive to pick one up them (either in-store or online) in lieu of going to Verizon directly.
Now through March 16, if you buy a Lumia Icon on a new two-year agreement, Microsoft will throw in a free Nokia wireless charging plate. That is roughly at $30-$50 value (depending on where you buy one) by itself.
Wireless charging is convenient, and it saves wear and tear on placing and pulling the USB plug on the device. Since it is a feature built into many Nokia Lumia devices, having a wireless charging plate handy is not such a bad thing.
The promotion is good until mid-March or while supplies last and you can have the charging plate in any color you want, as long as it is black.



  source: Microsoft

WhatsApp could have gotten more than $19 billion from Google

It was recently announced that Facebook had agreed to purchase WhatsApp for a whopping $16 billion ($12 billion in Facebook shares and $4 billion in cash), plus another $3 billion in vested payments. The deal is huge, and quite an aggressive move by Facebook. Then, the news came out that WhatsApp had actually turned down a $10 billion offer from Google before agreeing to Facebook's purchase. But, the story doesn't end there.

A new report from The Information is now saying that Google was willing to beat the $19 billion offer from Facebook, even though Google apparently didn't really want to acquire WhatsApp. According to the report, Google was mostly trying to keep WhatsApp from being acquired by Facebook. Google CEO Larry Page also tried to convince WhatsApp to stay independent, in order to keep it away from Facebook.  

In the end, Google apparently "did not seem excited" about purchasing WhatsApp. So, even though Google was willing to pay more than Facebook, maybe the lack of enthusiasm was what sold WhatsApp on choosing Facebook to make WhatsApp employees very rich.  

 

 

source: The Information via BGR

Android & Firefox OS-running smartphone Geeksphone Revolution is up for sale

Revolution, the Android and Firefox OS-running handset from Spain's Geeksphone, is officially on sale in the company's web-shop. The phone costs about $300 (221 EUR, 182 GBP) pre-tax. Worldwide shipping is available, and there is a calculator on checkout that provides pricing and delivery information.  

Currently, only the phone is on sale. Accessories for it will be added sometime in the future. 

The Revolution features Geeksphone's proprietary MultiOS technology, a "1-click system" for alternating between operating systems. The phone runs Android by default, but the user can "seamlessly" switch to Firefox OS or an alternative via a "user-friendly graphical interface".  

The handset is not restricted to running only Mozilla's mobile platform alongside Google's. While we're yet to see whether the phone will live up to its revolutionary name, the potential is definitely there.

Nokia Treasure Tag official, arriving in April to help keep track of your valuables

After floating around the rumor mill since July 2013, Nokia's Treasure Tag accessory finally got its official introduction today. Nokia unveiled the small device on its official blog, touting it as a "small, perfectly formed accessory that everyone should own." 

The Nokia Treasure Tag pairs with a smartphone over NFC or Bluetooth and, if the Tag and its connected handset become separated, both will emit a loud alert. The accompanying Treasure Tag app can also display the Tag's location on a map. Also included in the Windows Phone app is Live Tile support, which will show updates on the last known location of the paired Treasure Tag. 

Should a user want to voluntarily separate the Treasure Tag and its paired device, the Tag can be deactivated with a long press. Nokia's Treasure Tag app also includes options to mute the device or put it to sleep. 

There's not a lot to the Nokia Treasure Tag in terms of specs. The accessory measures 30x30x10mm in size, weighs 13g and uses a standard CR-2032 coin cell battery that's estimated to provide up to six months of battery life.   

Nokia says that the Treasure Tag will be available starting in April at a price of €24.90 ($29.99 USD). As with most other Nokia products, the Treasure Tag will be sold in a handful of different color options that include cyan, yellow, white and black. In order to pair the Tag with a smartphone, users will need a Nokia Lumia smartphone that's running the Lumia Black software. Apps for Android and iOS are also said to be coming. 

The Nokia Treasure Tag looks like a nice little accessory for those of us that often misplace our keys, bag or other valuable. Some may say that it's a little pricey for such a small accessory, but the Tag could help make up for its cost if it actually ends up helping a user to locate an important item.  





 via Nokia conversation

Jolla embarks on Sailfish 1.0 with an Android launcher -- and an Angry Birds cover

Jolla's Sailfish software reaches commercial readiness -- and you'll be able to try it out as a launcher on your Android phone. 

 

Jolla, the Finnish phone company founded by Nokia refugees, is ready to roll out the full, "commercially ready" 1.0 version of its Sailfish software. The attractive OS can run Android apps and you'll soon be able to try it out on your Android phone by downloading a launcher that mimics the Sailfish interface.
Sailfish started life as MeeGo, once the future of Nokia software, but sidelined in favour of Windows Phone when Nokia aligned with Microsoft. It's similar enough to Android that you can install Android app stores, and the company hopes it'll be adopted by canny phone users looking for an alternative to Google's green robot.
"Customers are now able to install their preferred Android app store, and choose from hundreds of thousands of available Android applications," said Marc Dillon, co-founder and COO of Jolla, in a statement. "In addition, the active and passionate Sailfish OS community has already developed major social media applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and Foursquare, natively to the Sailfish OS.
"We've been working hard together with our user community to make the user experience of the Jolla smartphone and Sailfish OS effortless and distinct," Dillon said. "We believe that Jolla now offers a truly viable option for all smartphone users. Naturally we are not stopping here, as we continue to provide monthly software updates to Jolla devices and Sailfish OS."
The Jolla phone, also called Jolla, is available for 399 ($540) plus postage direct from the company, but only in Europe.
Angry Birds smart cover 

Jolla's teamed up with fellow Finnish go-getters Rovio for a special Angry Birds other half that will turn your Jolla into an avian-flinging frenzy of a phone, with special wallpapers, ringtones, sound effects and other features.
"This co-branding concept gives Rovio a new fun way to delight the fans, and to expand the Angry Birds experience in an innovative way," said Rovio CMO Peter Vesterbacka.
The Angry Birds cover will be released later this summer.


by Nick Hide

Mobile security :Half of UK consumers concerned about mobile security

Half of UK customers fear for the safety of their mobile data, a survey has found 

  

Half of UK consumers are worried about the security of their mobile data, and over a third (35 per cent) would blame their mobile operators for any data breaches that they suffer.

Mobile security has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following the revelations the NSA mined smartphone data from apps including Angry Birds.

Out of the 1,922 consumers surveyed by F5, two thirds (65 per cent) stated that security is more important to them than access to the latest devices.

However, despite the constant stream of high-profile mobile security stories and increased sharing of data on mobile devices, around half (49 per cent) admit that they don’t know how to protect their phones from malicious threats.

With mobile users over three times as likely to blame their mobile operators (35 per cent) than the providers of services such as Facebook, Gmail or banking apps (10 per cent) or handset manufacturers (4 per cent), operators have to take customer security much more seriously. This is compounded by the fact that 52 per cent of consumers would switch providers after a major data breach.
Leonid Burakovsky, Senior Director of Strategic Solutions at F5 Networks said: “The message is clear: comprehensive multi-layer security should be an integral part of any LTE enrolment. Many consumers now hold mobile operators liable for security breaches. Failure to act could hit the bottom line and trust in the mobile ecosystem to deliver new - revenue generating - services like mobile commerce or mobile health.”
“LTE networks are inherently less secure than their 3G and 2G predecessors. This can open mobile networks up to a greater number of very real threats, meaning the onus will be on mobile operators to increase their efforts to protect users, network and applications.”
 

 source:Telegragh

Google outs Project Tango, a 3D-mapping phone that takes cues from Kinect

It's only a prototype, but the possibilities are endless 

 

Imagine using your phone to create a 3D map of the world around you, one you could use to figure out how new furniture will fit in a room or maneuver through an unfamiliar building or find an item on some lone supermarket shelf.
Thanks to a new Google endeavor, you may one day be able to do all these things and more.
Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group has announced Project Tango, a 5-inch Android smartphone prototype packing customized hardware and software to track the device's entire 3D motion. Using the data, the phone crafts a 3D map of the surrounding environment.
The phone's sensors can snag over a quarter million 3D measurements a second, and as it updates its position and orientation in real-time, it coalesces the information into a single 3D model.

Project Tango has definite Kinect undertones, and for good reason.
ATAP lead Johnny Lee used to work for Microsoft's Kinect crew. Of this Project Tango, Lee said its goal is "to give mobile devices a human-scale understanding of space and motion."
The phone houses development APIs that send position, orientation and depth data to standard Android apps. Though the days are still early, Google envisions Project Tango having applications in gaming, helping the visually-impaired, maps/navigation and other everyday scenarios.

Not for you. Yet 

As if you couldn't tell, Project Tango is firmly planted in the "early stages" sands. For now, Google is focused on "exploration of what might be possible in a mobile platform."
That said, Project Tango does have a few known specs, including a 4MP camera, 2X computer vision processors, integrated depth sensing and a motion tracking camera.
Only 200 prototype dev kits exist, and Google hopes to get them out the door by March 14. The company is searching for professional developers to take a crack at "creating more than a touchscreen app."
Some of the dev sets have been set aside for indoor navigation/mapping, single and multiplayer games that use physical space and new algorithms for processing sensor data. There are also a number set aside for "we haven't thought of [it] yet" purposes.
 

 Source:TechRadar

Is Huawei's smartwatch taking cues from the LG Lifeband Touch?

It's hardly a surprise to see Huawei getting in on the smartwatch game, but this isn't quite what we thought it would have up its sleeve.
One Huawei official has posted a picture of an interestingly-looking wrist device over on Weibo, along with the message, "My new toy. Do you like this color?"
The colour isn't the problem – it's the design of the watch itself that will likely divide. Going by the pictures, it seems to be taking some inspiration from the LG Lifeband Touch's rigid style.

Fighting fit 

However, this could be a separate health-focused wristband we're looking at, rather than a more straight-up smartwatch like the Galaxy Gear.
Huawei's smartwatch is expected to show up at MWC 2014, which kicks off in Barcelona on February 24.

Samsung Galaxy S5 out in three weeks

Samsung's Unpacked 5 event at the Mobile World Congress is scheduled for next week - February 24, Monday at 20:00 CET. This gives Samsung just two weeks to get the device in stores before it's finally ready for customers to purchase in the middle of March. 


The specs of Samsung's next flagship suggest 3 GB of RAM, Snapdragon 800 or 805 chipset, with a quad-core Krait CPU clocked at 2.5 GHz, 16 or 21 MP camera, 5.25" QHD (2560 x 1440) display. Soon enough we'll see if it's a bezel-free one.
The TouchWiz user interface will receive a plethora of enhancements with the introduction of a new cleaner and flatter look.

 
Those of you who've eyed the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5, mark your calendars. Samsung executive confirmed the story.



source:gsmarena

Samsung to show Exynos Infinity at MWC

Samsung is teasing a chipset announcement by means of its official Exynos Twitter client. The teaser shows a bull going after a red flag, Corrida style.

The name Exynos Infinity and a description entailing Samsung's latest innovations are all we got from the teaser, though.
As for the architecture, we've heard Samsung will include 64-bit ARMv8 processors into its 2014 flagships, but it's unclear if those will be of the Cortex-A5x series or some custom developed ones.
There's an outside chance that this will be the new chip powering the Galaxy S5 smartphone, although it's far more likely that the flagship settles for a Snapdragon 805 or an older-gen Exynos.
Apple took the mobile world by surprise with its 64-bit A7 chip and so far Qualcomm has only responded in the form of an mid-range 64-bit Snapdragon 410 so it seems logical that Samsung will counter with a powerful next-gen 64-bit Exynos of its own.



source:sammy hub

ZTE Plan Two Smartphones for MWC

Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE is reportedly bringing two devices to Barcelona next week, with a Firefox OS on the cards for one of them.

The ZTE Open C will be aimed at emerging markets, and will run Firefox 1.3, an operating system that ZTE has really jumped on over the past few releases.
The next phone that will be on show at Barcelona is the ZTE Grand Memo II, a 6” phablet which is the successor to the original Grand Memo, released at MWC last year.
Specifications are being kept secret at the moment, but ZTE has let slip that it will use its own MiFavor user interface on top of the Android operating system set to feature in the handset.

Nokia Normandy Gets Official Name

The budget Android Nokia Normandy we’ve been hearing about has now been named the Nokia X, after a promotional image was released sporting the name. 

The image, which as ever comes from the notorious Twitter leaker @evleaks shows the phone besides the Nokia X tag, confirming suspicions of the name.
The handset had been known until now as the Nokia Normandy, a codename which the device most likely picked up during development.
This is a common occurrence within many companies, with the HTC One+ codenamed the M8 and other upcoming Nokia handsets being codenamed Moneypenny, along with some other rather strange names.
Whilst the name is seeing a change, don’t expect any of the previous specs we reported earlier this month alter though, with the X set to feature a 4” display and 512MB RAM.
The Nokia X will be joining the Asha line of handsets the Finnish company is so keen on, and some models of the smartphone have apparently been shipped to Indian developers to try and drum up support for Nokia’s first Android device.
Whilst the handset is powered by Android, Nokia is expected to replace many Google branded apps with its own, meaning the likes of Google Maps and Play Store will not feature on the X.



written by luke Hartfield

Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo Review

Introduction 

Samsung outed the Galaxy Grand Neo without much fanfare, or even a proper announcement, and if you look at the specs it might be easier to understand why. The phone has weaker points not only compared to the newer Grand 2, but even to last year's Galaxy Grand. 

The handset sports a 5” screen with very low pixel density, but the rest of the specs are decent, as the Grand Neo offers you 21 Mbps HSPA+ connectivity, 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, and a quad-core processor. However, the original Galaxy Grand still sells worldwide, and actually offers higher resolution camera and video recording, which raises some eyebrows, so let's see what Samsung is hoping for with the Grand Neo... 

Design 

A chubby budget 5-incher with traditional design and matte plastic back 

The handset spreads in 5.66 x 3.04 x 0.38” (143.7 x 77.1 x 9.6 mm) dimensions, and weighs the serious 5.75 oz (163g), so it's neither compact nor light in comparison with other 5-inchers out there. The rounded corners and physical home key scream “Samsung”, but the back is made of matte white plastic, instead of the company's usual glossy finish. The matte surface is actually nicer to the touch, less slippery, and doesn't attract fingerprints. 

Grand Neo sports an easily removable back cover, which grants you access to the mini SIM and memory card slots, as well as to the swappable 2100 mAh battery. The side keys blend well with the chrome rim imitation around the phone, and are easy to feel and press without looking, providing good tactile feedback. The same goes for Samsung's traditional physical home key underneath the display.  

 

Display 

Too low pixel density of the screen is the phone's biggest drawback 

Grand Neo comes equipped with a 5” panel, but that's where the fun stops. This basic LCD screen has 480x800 pixels of resolution, resulting in a 186 pixels per inch count, worthy of an eye roll. As a consequence, most everything appears jagged and pixelated, which can be rather annoying not only if you are a screen purist, but simply if you have toyed with today's midrangers, most of which come with at least 220ppi. 

Still, for watching videos and occasionally for browsing, a big screen often trumps pixel density. If these are your main purposes, the Neo might be a fine budget choice, as there are no glaring issues with the display's color representation or viewing angles. Its peak brightness and surface reflectance are also decent enough for usage outdoors, unless you are standing in direct sunlight. 

Display

Apple on the rise in China

The latest figures from the Wall Street Journal show that Apple is starting to become more widespread in China. The world’s largest mobile market, China has long been the bastion of low-cost Android alternatives from Asian manufacturers like Huawei and Lenovo.

However Apple’s market share in China went up from 6% in Q3 of last year to 7% in Q4. This currently puts the Cupertino company 5th amongst smartphone vendors. 

That ranking is expected to increase for this quarter, as we’re barely a month removed from Apple’s deal with China Mobile. The country’s largest carrier has just started selling iPhones to its 760 million subscribers.
Meanwhile, Samsung continues to hold the top position in China with 19% market share as of last quarter, while Lenovo comes in second at 13%. Coolpad and Huawei come in third and fourth at 11% and 10%, while upstart manufacturer Xiaomi is hot on Apple’s heels in sixth position with 6%. Analysts argue that Xiaomi is expected to continue to grow, and could overtake Apple if the China Mobile deal doesn’t deliver as expected.
Still, Apple has gone on record to indicate that market share does not determine the success of its brand. Rather, the high-end smartphone sector is what Tim Cook has recently stated is important to the tech giant, rather than competing amongst “feature phones, [or] smartphones that function as or are used as feature phones.” Still, with IDC analysts predicting less future growth in the premium smartphone market due to new users coming from smaller cities and rural areas, Apple may have a hard time staying in the top five.

Google Currents reaches end of the road, directs you towards Newsstand

Google Currents was Google’s content aggregating service along the lines of Flipboard for Android. The app was recently replaced by the much better Newsstand but still existed on the Play Store for users to download.

The app has now finally reached the end of the road, as Google has released an update that will essentially hide the app from your device. After you install the update, launching the app will direct you towards the new Newsstand app and the Currents icon will disappear from your app launcher. 

If you had separately installed the app, the better thing to do would be to just uninstall it if you haven’t already. If it came pre-installed then just leave it alone as it deletes all its user data anyway. It is instead transferred to your Newsstand app so all your subscriptions should show up there just fine.

Facebook agrees to purchase WhatsApp for $19 billion

Facebook has agreed to purchase WhatsApp. The social networking giant will pay the staggering $19 billion for the massively popular cross-platform messaging client in cash and stock ($4 billion in cash, $12 billion in stock, and additional $3 billion in restricted stock which will vest over the four years after the deal’s closing).

As part of the agreement, WhatsApp will continue to operate independently. Jan Koum, one of the messenger’s creators and current CEO, assures WhatsApp users that there will be “absolutely no ads interrupting your communication”.
According to Facebook’s CEO, the company counts on its new acquisition with over 450 million users (70% active on a daily basis) to complement its currently available messaging services. Furthermore, the CEO of WhatsApp will join the social network’s board of directors.
Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp comes less than a week after Viber got acquired by Rakuten. At $900 million however, Viber (300 million users on its own) looks like a bargain compared to WhatsApp and its $16 billion valuation.


 source:facebook,Whatsapp

Gionee Elife S5.5 unveiled as world’s slimmest Smartphone

Gionee mobiles have introduced a new Smartphone in the market and this latest device is dubbed as Gionee Elife S5.5. This phone is being touted as the world’s slimmest Smartphone at the thickness of just 5.5 mm.  It has been listed on company’s China website at roughly around Rs. 23000.

Gionee Elife S5.5 features a 5 inch display screen with no word about its resolution count and display quality. Under the hood, this phone has been powered by a quad core CPU which is found to be ticking at a speed of 1.7 GHz. This processor is clubbed with a 2 GB RAM space for better processing.  This Smartphone runs on the company’s Amigo UI on top of Android OS. For connectivity, users can make use of features like GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G, USB 2.0 port, 3.5 mm audio jack and GPS etc.
Gionee Elife S5.5 includes a 13 MP snapper which is fitted on the rear side as well as a 5 MP camera on the front for video calls.  A 2300 mAh battery is installed inside for running the phone for the entire day with a single charge.  The availability of this device in India hasn’t been revealed.

HTC M8 launch date set for 25 March

Mark that calendar: the HTC One M8 is coming soon. On 25 March to be precise, meaning there's only a month to wait before we meet the phone that could transform HTC's ailing fortunes.

HTC has asked the press to make a note in the diary for the afternoon of Tuesday 25 March.
Unlike Samsung's icon-tastic invitation for the S5 launch this weekend, the HTC invitation doesn't offer any hints at the new phone.


Codenamed the M8, the sequel to the flagship HTC One could be called the HTC One 2, if that's not too ridiculous. Leaks have pointed to a new new version of BlinkFeed and a 5-inch, 1080p screen, and could be joined by HTC's first wearable device and a mini version.

The unveiling will take place in London, which is a good sign when it comes to hearing UK details of the phone; launches in other countries often mean a new gadget isn't coming to us for a while.

It also means your humble correspondents will be there in person to bring you the first news, previews and videos of the new device, so keep it CNET.

The new HTC phone won't be among the phones and tablets making their debut at Mobile World Congress, this weekend's technology extravaganza where the year's coolest kit is unveiled.

eBay’s latest acquisition lets you try new clothes online

eBay is already a one-stop shop for many internet users out there, but the company is still working hard to enhance the shopping experience it provides. The online retailer has acquired startup company PhiSix, who specializes in creating virtual changing rooms.


There, you’ll be able to try on all the clothes you like without leaving your computer. PhiSix’s work enables patterns and pictures of clothes to turn into 3D models. All you then need is to create your avatar and give it your basic measurements.  
eBay plans to go beyond its own domains and lend its enterprise service customers the tech for the virtual dressing rooms as well. Furthermore, the online giant is also looking int getting the virtual dressing rooms to brick-and-mortar stores.

Acer announces Liquid E3 and Liquid Z4

Acer has just announced the mid-range Liquid E3 and the entry-level Liquid Z4 smartphones.
Acer Liquid E3 

The Acer Liquid E3 packs a 4.7" 720p IPS display and runs on a quad-core 1.2GHz processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. There is no info on the CPU architecture, but Cortex-A7 seems like a safe bet. The rest of the specs include 4GB of expandable storage, Wi-Fi and GPS. There is also this Acer RAPID key at the back of the device, which can answer calls, launch the camera or unlock the phone with just one press.

The Liquid E3 has very interesting camera department. Acer has equipped the device with a 13MP main snapper at the back and a LED flash. The manufacturer promises "ultra-fast" focus time. The front snapper is 2MP, also accompanied by a LED flash for better selfies. Now that's a first!
The smartphone is running on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, but Acer promises an update to KitKat shortly after launch.
Acer Liquid Z4 

The Acer Liquid Z4 is an entry-level droid featuring a 4.0" TFT screen (the screen aspect suggest WVGA) and powered by a dual-core 1.3GHz processor (again we are going to bet on Cortex-A7). There is also a 5MP snapper with a LED flash and 4GB expandable storage.


Acer Liquid Z4 is also relying on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean though no upgrade plans was shared. Acer will be pre-loading its own launcher, which is going to offer four different UI modes (Basic, Easy, Classic and Keypad) for better experience.
Even though there is nothing official, a closer inspection on the official pictures suggests the Liquid Z4 might also come with the Acer RAPID key we've mentioned above.
Those two smartphones will premiere at the MWC in Barcelona in a few days. Another Liquid smartphone that was recently teased is expected to go official in Barcelona too. We will be on spot covering everything for you.

Why would Apple ditch the iPhone brand for its phablet?

There is a new report from from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, there is almost certainly another handheld device coming from Apple this year to go along with the new 4.7-inch iPhone 6. That much isn't really news at this point. The interesting thing is that the Economic Daily News claims that the 5.6-inch device will not carry the iPhone branding. Frankly, we're not sure what to make of this rumor. 

The report claims that both devices will launch in Q3, which makes sense, because that is Apple's traditional quarter for iPhone releases. It says there will be the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, which is a rumor we've heard plenty before. But, things get odd when moving on to the phablet-sized device. The Economic Daily News claims that this is an "experimental" device that will feature a 5.6-inch sapphire glass display, and that it will not carry the iPhone name.  

The size of the device has been up for debate for a while, so that part of the rumor can be left aside. The idea of a 5.6-inch sapphire glass display seems fairly unrealistic, but possible. But, to say the device will not carry the iPhone name is a very interesting assertion. The report doesn't say what name the device will carry, so Apple could simply call it an iPad Nano and the rumor would be accurate. It could also carry the iPhone Pro name to go along with the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but that wouldn't fit with the rumor. 

The shadow 

Let's imagine for a moment that the rumor is true, and that Apple is going to give the device its own branding. We won't waste time trying to come up with the name of the device, because the question of why Apple would do this is far more interesting. The iPhone and iPad brand names carry huge amounts of power in the market, so it would obviously be a big risk to avoid using either name. But, it could be a great opportunity for Tim Cook to really put his stamp on Apple and show the world that it is his company now.  

Being the man that has to replace Steve Jobs is an almost impossible task. The hype is enormous and the expectations are likely unrealistic. You have to deal with the constant barrage of both those who will try to knock you down simply for not being the same kind of leader and those who wrongly believe you to be carrying on that same legacy. For better or worse, the specter of Steve Jobs is beginning to fade, and Tim Cook may want to have his moment announcing something new.  

Defining a market  

While those of us who spend our time reading about the mobile ecosystem constantly think of devices in the 5.3-inch to 6.4-inch range as "phablets", the average consumer doesn't really know what a phablet is. We saw last year that Nokia was surveying consumers trying to determine what the marketing team could call a tweener device like this. The company was curious if the average consumer thought of these devices as small tablets, phablets, or big smartphones, and whether the average user even knew what the term "phablet" meant. We don't know the results of that survey, but the Nokia marketing for its 6-inch Lumia 1520 refers to the device only as a smartphone. Actually, no major manufacturer has used the term phablet in marketing a device. The Samsung Galaxy Note, HTC One Max, and Sony Xperia Z/Z Ultra are all either referred to as phones or avoid any classification. The closest any manufacturer has gotten is with the Fonepad which Asus simply refers to as a "handheld".  

We mention this terminology conundrum because it is exactly the type of issue that Apple has traditionally cleared up with a market-defining device. The term "smartphone" obviously existed before the iPhone, but you likely would never have heard it in casual conversation or on the local news. The same goes for the term "tablet" and the iPad. The iPod would have been another example except that the iPod essentially killed off all other MP3 players, so they are all just called iPods now. This means that there is a market segment that clearly exists and is quite popular, especially in Asia, but it has no accepted classification with the common user. The tech elite know what to call such a device and be understood by others in the same sphere, but we wouldn't often use the term "phablet" too freely, because it would always have to be couched with the definition that it is "too big to be a phone and too small to be a tablet".  

Apple almost certainly would never actually use the name iPhablet on a device brought to market, but what if Tim Cook brought back the name iSlate, which we thought was a true contender for the name of the Apple tablet before the iPad was announced? Remember, the name "iPad" was originally considered for the name of the iPhone, so it is possible that an old name could be revived. Or, what if Tim Cook decided to take a shot at Samsung by calling the device the iNote? Samsung has the trademark on the name Galaxy Note, but not the word "note" in all its permutations.  

If Apple were to release a 6-inch device under the name iPhone, it would garner the usual media attention. But, if Apple were to release the iPhone 6 alongside the brand new iNote, that would lead to a whole different kind of coverage. There would be debates about the name (which of course would only serve to make the name acceptable, just like we saw with the iPad), and the mass media would likely help out Apple more by explaining how a phablet can offer the best of both phones and tablets (or be a jack of all trades and master of none. Either way, there is no such thing as bad press.)  

Conclusion  

Even if Tim Cook isn't looking to make a name for himself, he knows that he needs to generate more buzz around Apple. The company is still pulling in record profits, but revenues are missing projections, and its mobile market share continues to drop. The iWatch will likely help quite a bit, assuming it doesn't continue to hit production troubles, but the iWatch has a tougher road. Smartwatches are by no means an established form factor, and Apple has tended to do best at entering a market segment that is established, but missing out on its potential (MP3 players, smartphones, tablets). When it enters a market that hasn't quite been established yet, the results aren't as impressive (Newton, Apple TV).  

Most of us around here at PhoneArena could explain why smartwatches will be amazing, but the average consumer may not understand the value proposition as easily. That doesn't hold true for phablets. Users obviously see the value in phablets, be it in battery life, screen size, or in cost efficiency (compared to buying both a smartphone and a tablet). But, there is no cultural touchstone for phablets, and that's what Apple likes to create (with the help of the mass media and local news, which don't like to explain things properly). In the early days of Android, the phrase "its like an iPhone but..." was uttered far too often, and the same happened with at the beginning of Android tablets ("its like the iPad but..."). No one outside of our sphere is saying that the Lumia 1520 is "like the Galaxy Note but...". However, if Apple were to release an iPhablet, that might change.  

 

 

 

 

reference: Economic Daily News

Typo to judge: BlackBerry's patents are invalid

In a request made to a federal court in San Francisco, Apple iPhone accessory manufacturer Typo is requesting that the court dismiss BlackBerry's patent infringement suit against it. For those coming late to the opera, Typo is a company co-founded by Ryan Seacrest. Yes, it's the same guy who hosts American Idol and who has his fingers in the pies of many other broadcast properties. Seacrest came up with the idea of a snap-on QWERTY keyboard for the Apple iPhone after tiring of carrying a BlackBerry for typed communications and an iPhone for everything else.
The problem is that the design of the Typo QWERTY resembles that of the keyboard on a number of BlackBerry models, or so says the Canadian handset manufacturer. BlackBerry says that its patents have been infringed on. Typo has responded by saying that not only were the patents not infringed on, some of them are unenforceable because the design was widely available on QWERTY keyboards used prior to 1988. That was the year when BlackBerry received its first keyboard based patent. Typo claims that BlackBerry omitted this information in its application with the USPTO all those years ago.
Typo is asking for each claim against it to be dismissed with prejudice, which means that it cannot be brought up again in court. Meanwhile, Seacrest has a hit on his hands as Typo sold out of its January and February production, and new orders won't ship until the middle of March. The company states that iPhone users can type 50% faster using the product. Typo is available for the Apple iPhone 5s and the Apple iPhone 5.


  source:REUTERS