Windows Phone 8.1 users will be able to keep their apps in a folder

Microsoft took down an article on its support site for Windows Phone, that hinted at folders for downloaded and installed apps. While this feature is currently available for iOS and Android users, those toting a handset powered by Microsoft's mobile OS, have been unable to organize the apps they download from the Windows Phone Store.

According to the now-removed article, this feature would work similar to the app folders used on iOS, and some versions of Android. App icons are dragged, one on top of another, stacked up inside a folder, which you can rename. The folders would be available on the start screen, but in order to have this feature, the user must have Windows Phone 8.1 running his handset.

The phrasing on the instructions note that "you need to have Windows Phone 8.1 Update installed on your phone," which makes it sound as though this feature will be coming in an update to Windows Phone 8.1, rather than being a feature that comes with the Windows Phone 8.1 update. The good news is that the article explaining how to create an apps folder was saved before Microsoft removed it, and you can read it for yourself by clicking on the sourcelink. This way, once Windows Phone 8.1 is released (which could be as soon as next month), you will know exactly how to put your apps inside a folder.

With Windows Phone 8.1, users will be able to store apps in a folder

Source:Phonearena

Could Android One also include subsidizing cell plans?

There were quite a lot of big announcements from Google this week, but one of the biggest was the Android One initiative. Android One was put forward as a program where Google would work with hardware manufacturers to help bring high-quality, low-cost Android phones to emerging markets around the world. But, there was another bit of the plan that Google glazed over that could be even more important. Sundar Pichai didn't go into depth, but he implied that the Android One initiative would go beyond hardware, saying, "We are working with carriers to provide affordable connectivity packages for these devices." 

This is potentially huge, possibly even bigger than the hardware side of the plan. The cost of mobile hardware is dropping to the point where there are affordable options for most users. The issue now is in the service plans. Google has already shown that it is working on ways to bring connectivity to more remote regions by building a network of satellites, but that will be a long process, and Google wants to get people connected as fast as possible, which means working with existing carriers. 

Monthly cell plans in emerging markets are nowhere near as expensive as here in the U.S., but can still be a burden considering that there are many areas where the average income is less than $1,000 per year. It is unclear if Google would end up subsidizing plans, but carriers will want to get paid somehow, so we'll have to keep an eye on this.

Source:Phonearena

Here's your passport to more BlackBerry Passport leaks

As we told you on Friday, BlackBerry has an interesting handset in the BlackBerry Passport. With a 1440 x 1440 resolution on a screen under 5 inches, we are talking about a rather meaty pixel density, surely the highest ever seen on a BlackBerry phone. On Saturday, a ton of leaks about the model were tweeted out by someone who obviously snatched up an advanced unit of the handset.

Even if you are sure that you will never leave your current platform, you need to keep track at what BlackBerry is doing here. Even if you have made a pledge never to leave iOS, Android or Windows Phone, stranger things have happened. Think back to the fall of 2009 when a unique number named the Motorola DROID was introduced as an exclusive for Verizon. For all of 2009, Android held a 3.9% share of the smartphone pie, up from .5% in 2008. The number one OS at the time? Symbian.

The point is that wheels turn, and as the incomparable Bobby D. once sang, "the loser now will be later to win." This is not to say that the Passport will single-handedly revolutionize the smartphone business. We are just pointing out that it has happened before. Everything was in the right place for the DROID to make waves. The Palm Pre didn't catch on as it was expected to do, Google gave Motorola Android 2.0 to include on the phone, and Verizon customers were looking for a touchscreen smartphone of their own, with all of the features that iPhone users were enjoying on AT&T.

Take a look at some new pictures of the BlackBerry Passport, including a video showing how the phone handles a YouTube video, by clicking the slideshow below.

Google Android L goes official, comes with performance and battery boost

Google has just made its next iteration of the Android OS official. The company has named the OS "Android L" (not sure if the name will be changed to Lollipop or not), with this OS the company has made a simple design with some real-time depth in graphics. The users will have a better experience with the realtime shadows embedded in the Android L OS. With realtime shadows the on-screen graphics will look more appealing and one can easily understand if the text or object is on the floor of the display or is floating above the surface of the display.

We are really happy with what Google has done with its latest Android build. Recently Apple announced the iOS 8 and if we compare Android L with it, we can definitely say that Android L is ahead this time. Google had officially announced that it had improved graphics on Android by working in coordination with NVIDIA, Qualcomm and other processor makers.

The next Android OS is going to get tons of upgrades. Some of the best things we liked about the Android L OS are as below.

* Material Design- Revamped Look and Graphics

* New back and home and menu buttons

* Apple like continuity feature among tablet, smartphone, watches and TVs

* New Floating notification, called Dynamic heads up notification

* Lockscreen notification revamped

* Multi tasking got better with new UI

* Support for 64-bit processors

* Personal unlocking, phone locks when used by another person

Source:sulekha

BlackBerry Passport will show there is a better way to accomplish more with its touch-enabled keyboard

That's according to BlackBerry who may have just slipped up a bit on a post to their Inside BlackBerry blog. You see, the post went live not that long ago but now it has gone missing meaning whatever was contained in the post, BlackBerry was not quite ready to say as of yet. However, it's the internet and nothing published to the internet can just disappear into the ether and the post has been captured.

Great keyboards have always been a part of the BlackBerry heritage. With our coming Passport device that has generated a ton of interest, we set out to create a smartphone that would break through and deliver a step change in productivity. Passport will show there is a better way to accomplish more.

Besides the massive square touchscreen, we've added a new innovative, touch-enabled keyboard to the Passport. It integrates the excellent tactile feel and performance you've come to know and love from our keyboards, along with the same capacitive touch technology found on modern phone and tablet touchscreens.

Ever been annoyed by your fingers obscuring, or worse, smudging, your touchscreen? Or had difficulty getting the cursor to just the right spot? Passport's efficient design makes those problems things of the past. You'll be able to navigate web pages, apps and e-mails by lightly brushing your fingers over the keys. It's a minimalist design that eliminates dedicated arrow keys while maximizing the already-awesome amount of screen real estate. You'll also enjoy Passport's other custom commands that take advantage of the touch-enabled keyboard to boost your productivity. Here are some of the ways:

• Scrolling: As noted above, you can use the keyboard to swipe up and down to scroll on long lists or in the browser. Keeping your fingers off the screen and focused on what's happening.
• Cursor Control and Text Selection: This is a classic BlackBerry productivity enhancement reinvented for the Passport. Double-tap the keyboard, then drag your finger across the keyboard to drop the cursor at precisely the right point. Or select the text just as you would on an older BlackBerry: hold the SHIFT key while dragging your finger across the keyboard to extend a selection.
• Contextual virtual keys: In addition to the Passport's very clean physical QWERTY keyboard, we have added a dynamic virtual row on-screen that smartly shifts depending on context. So if you're typing a password on-screen, numbers and symbols commonly used in passwords will automatically pop up. Or if you're typing an e-mail address, the '@' symbol will be displayed. Or if you're surfing the Web, the colon and backslash characters needed to type in a URL will be displayed. And if you need access to any special symbol or character, just swipe down on the keyboard to see all of them at once. Like I said, smart!
• Flick: Stuck on a word? BlackBerry 10's Next Word Suggestion feature learns from you to give you smart, personalized choice of words you're likely to type. You then just flick up to complete the word. No more Darn Auto-Corrects, as you type faster and more accurately over all.
• Delete: Made a mistake? No problem, just swipe back (left) to Delete the last word, just like on our virtual keyboard!
• Entering an accented character? Hold the letter key down, and then lightly tap on the key to add the appropriate accent!
• BlackBerry might be getting prepared to put this post up right this very second but if not, you can head on into the CrackBerry Forums to read more from it. Of course, there's always the chance this post might go missing as well, we'll see if I upset anyone in Waterloo. ;)

Source: Crackberry

Is this the leaked 5.5 inch screen from the Apple iPhone phablet?

An LCD panel, allegedly belonging to the Apple iPhone phablet, has leaked. Measured at 14cm, the actual size works out to a tad over 5.5 inches. Unfortunately, there are no special markings that would prove that this is from the phone that would be the first iOS powered phablet. Keeping a cynical eye on the photo, and taking this with a grain of salt (after all, this could be a screen from anything), speculation has the phablet launching later this year, in short supply.

There also has been talk that a larger screened iPhone will employ sapphire glass because of its strength and protective qualities. The 5.5 inch glass is expected to feature a resolution of 960 x 1704. An Apple A8 chip will be under the hood and the handset is believed to support VoLTE.

Apple is expected to offer the phablet this year, as a way to fight back against the ever increasing size of Android flagship models. Where once a 4.3 inch display was considered humungous, the Samsung Galaxy W was recently released with a 7 inch screen.

                    5.5 inch glass allegedly belonging to the upcoming Apple iPhone phablet

Source:Phonearena

Android: how to stop app shortcuts from being created automatically on your home screen

Let's say that you have your Android phone's home screens arranged to perfection – you have your app shortcuts, your folders, and your widgets right where you want them. But then suddenly, the immaculate presentation of your home screens is disturbed because that app you just installed slapped its shortcut on one of them. Oh, the horror! 

Okay, we may have gotten a bit carried away there – app shortcuts can be easily removed or grouped in folders for a tidier home screen. Still, there's a better solution for folks with OCD who don't want app shortcuts to be created automatically for each newly-installed application.

So here's the deal. To turn Android's automatic app shortcut feature off, you need to open your Play Store application. Tap on the basket in the upper left-hand corner (or swipe from the left) to bring out the side panel where the Settings menu is. Open up the Settings menu and take a good look at the third option, the one labeled "Add icon to Home screen for new apps". This is what you need to disable. 

Ta da! From now on, app shortcuts won't be generated automatically after you install an application. Your home screens will stay right the way you want them. Feel free to refer to the screenshots below in case any of the aforementioned steps are unclear.

                         How to stop app shortcuts from being created automatically on your home screen

Source: Phonearena

Note 4 with octa-core Exynos 5433 crosses the 40 000 mark on AnTuTu, beats Snapdragon 805

We had a Note 4 leak last week that listed the phablet coming in two versions - one with Samsung's 64-bit Exynos 5433 processor, which is said to be the European version of the handset, and one for the North American/Asian markets, donning a Snapdragon 805 chipset. The two models appeared in the AnTuTu benchmark database, listed with Quad HD displays, 3 GB of RAM, and 16 MP cameras, but the processor benchmarks themselves were missing.

Well, now that omission is remedied, and we have the first direct benchmarks of the Note 4, in its two reincarnations. It turns out that the upcoming octa-core 64-bit Exynos 5433 chipset is a veritable beast, as it scored more than 40 thousand points on the synthetic test, compared to the 37 780 points of Snapdragon 805, and is even encroaching on the territory of the mighty Tegra K1 processor. The Snapdragon 805 can be somewhat confirmed by the AnTuTu test of an already existing handset with the 805 processor and a QHD display - the Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A, which also scores in the same 37 thousand points ballpark

For comparison, the current flagship crop scores in the realm of 25 000 at the most with the stock firmware, so on paper we will be receiving a 20% boost from the new processor in Note 4, which should be needed to power that pixel-perfect QHD display. Moreover, the new ARM Mali-T706 graphics processor also scored higher than the Adreno 420 GPU in Snapdragon 805, which is pretty impressive. Our only concern now is battery life, as the LG G3 tests showed that the high-density panel dooms it to just average endurance.

Source: Phonearena

Apple to send out iOS 7.1.2 within two weeks; update to repair iMessages bug and much more

An update to iOS is on the way, according to a report that was published on Friday. The next build of Apple's mobile OS is version 7.1.2, and the software has been sent to Apple's carrier partners for testing. The release to consumers is expected to take place sometime in the next two weeks, and will include some bug fixes and security patches. iOS 7.1.2 will also improve iBeacon connectivity.

One of the bugs being repaired by the update, is one that fails to encrypt email attachments. Apple originally failed to admit that these attachments were not being protected. A German security expert had spotted this flaw as far back as iOS 7.0.4, and had alerted Apple to the problem. After iOS 7.1.1 was released in April, Apple admitted that it had a problem and said it would soon issue an update to fix it.

Besides repairing the encryption problem, iOS 7.1.2 is also supposed to fix a problem where the email app doesn't download email messages. Another fix is supposedly designed to prevent access to a limited number of apps via a lock screen vulnerability. Another small fix will handle data transfers from third party accessories. 

One problem that has been driving former iDevice users batty, involves iMessage. As we told you before, when an iOS device user switches to a new platform without disconnecting his number from Apple's system, iMessage will intercept text messages sent to the former iOS user, and will not forward them to his new device. Last month, Apple said it would fix this problem.

Sometime over the next two weeks, iOS 7.1.2 should be sent out to your iOS flavored device, so keep an eye open for the notification of the OTA update.

Source:Phonearena

Watch John Chen use the BlackBerry Passport on video

BlackBerry fans haven't really been used to this. The company has a smartphone that is so intriguing, that fans of all platforms are interested in the device. We're talking about the BlackBerry Passport. Expected to launch in September, the Passport offers a 4+ inch square screen with resolution of 1440 x 1440. A quad-core Snapdragon 800 powers the phone, which has 3GB of RAM inside, a 13MP rear snapper, and a whopping 3450mAh battery inside. Yes, this is an honest-to-goodness top-shelf model from BlackBerry.

More intriguing is the unique QWERTY keyboard on the phone. First, some history. After Steve Jobs introduced the OG Apple iPhone in 2007, BlackBerry executives felt that the public would never adopt to typing on glass. "The most exciting mobile trend is full QWERTY keyboards. I'm sorry, it really is. I'm not making this up," said then RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis in May 2008. BlackBerry wanted the typing process to feel so real, that it came up with its SurePress typing system for the BlackBerry Storm. The idea behind SurePress was to make typing on glass feel like typing on a computer keyboard. Unfortunately, for BlackBerry, the idea didn't translate well to the smartphone.

But BlackBerry appears to have another unique take on the QWERTY keyboard with the Passport. There are no number keys or punctuation keys. Apparently, you will type on the keys for letters, and swipe over them to input numbers and punctuation.

How would you like to see this intriguing handset in action? We have a video showing BlackBerry CEO John Chen giving a quick 15 second demonstration of the BlackBerry Passport. To view it, just click on the video below.

Source:Phonearena

Amazon Appstore coming to BlackBerry OS 10.3

When it becomes available this fall, BlackBerry's OS 10.3 will come with the Amazon Appstore for Android preinstalled. Amazon's offering will sit neatly alongside BlackBerry World, which will continue to serve native apps to fans of the Canadian smartphone maker's devices.

With this move, BlackBerry is heavily expanding the app selection for its handsets, allowing for easy installation of Android applications in an officially-sanctioned way.

The news comes hot on the heels of Amazon's boasting of the tripling of the number of apps in its Appstore, something that's happened in just one year. And it's rather interesting that BlackBerry is giving us this information on the same day on which Amazon is expected to unveil its very first smartphone.

The 240,000 or so apps in the Amazon Appstore will help BlackBerry OS make up for some of the difference in terms of available apps when compared to the biggest mobile platforms of this day and age.

One more thing to note is that the Music and Video sections in BlackBerry World will close on July 21. Previously downloaded content will remain available to you though.

Source:gsmarena

Android and Windows Phone devices will add a kill switch

The New York Attorney General has signed agreements with Google and Microsoft to add "kill switches" to Android and Windows Phone devices.

It comes as part of the "Secure our Smartphones" initiative, where the report stresses the importance of kill switch safeguards for mobile phone platforms in order to keep user data safe. With these "kill switches", you'll be able to render your phone useless, remotely, in the event of its theft.

The kill switch issue has been one that's been hotly discussed. For example, in California, the kill switch idea was immediately rejected, but then the state recently approved it this May. This bill states that whenever a new phone is purchased in the state of California, it must be loaded with the kill switch software.

Apple already has a kill switch feature loaded on its iPhones, and the New York City Attorney General cited that there was a 19% decrease in iPhone thefts ever since the feature was implemented; whereas Samsung phones that still didn't carry the feature experienced a 40% increase in robberies.

Now it's unclear as to when the kill switches will be added to the Android and Windows Phone platforms, but when they are, every one of Google and Microsoft's phones will have a kill switch.

Source:gsmarena

Cancelled BlackBerry Z5-C series appears in new photographs

A little more than one year ago, we introduced to you a handset called the BlackBerry Z5. This "all-touch"model was supposed to be the companion piece to the QWERTY equipped BlackBerry Q5. But last December,BlackBerry cancelled the phone, which was code named the Cafe. The Z5 was axed by the manufacturer after the company signed a five year deal with Foxconn that covered the design and production of entry-level models for the emerging markets. The first phone to roll off the Foxconn assembly line as part of the arrangement, the BlackBerry Z3, was recently launched in Indonesia with a release in India coming soon.

What has us looking at the BlackBerry Z5 after its cancellation, is a fresh series of photographs featuring the device. As you might expect, the specs of the device would not have blown you away. The phone was to be equipped with a 4.5 inch display with a 300ppi pixel density. Under the hood you would have found a dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 S4 processor with 1.5GB of RAM inside. 8GB of native storage was to be on board. The back and front-facing cameras were to weigh in at 5MP and 1.3MP respectively, and the device was going to be powered by a 2100mAh battery. 

It's all water under the bridge anyway, since the device will never see the light of day. Still it is interesting to see what might have been. Keep in mind that this handset was designed during the Thorsten Heins era.

Source:Phonearena

First 64-bit Samsung phone gets benchmarked, sports a Snapdragon 410 chip

Ever since Apple introduced the industry's first 64-bit processor with the iPhone 5s, silicon slingers have been in a state of emergency, or that's at least what multiple accounts seem to suggest. While those initially attempted to laugh off 64-bit chips publicly, it eventually became obvious that, much like anything else in the industry, the rest must follow. You may call it herd mentality, but it probably has a lot more to do with pure business than anything else.

Either ways, the current silicon king in the mobile space, Qualcomm, didn't take long to announce it's own plans to make the jump towards 64-bit processors, with processors like the Snapdragon 410, 610, 615, 808, and 815, all of which will be based on ARM's new 64-bit architecture. And while chip development usually takes a long time (in smartphone years, that is), we're already getting the first real hints that the first slew of devices powered by Qualcomm's 64-bit chips are around the corner. More specifically, a recent run through the GFXBench benchmarking suite left traces of a Samsung device that was powered by a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 chip and an Adreno 306 GPU.

The rest of the specs powering this still mysterious Samsung device (SM-G510F) include a 4.8-inch, 540 x 960 (qHD) resolution display, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. As for imaging, the SM-G510F makes do with an 8-megapixel rear snapper capable of 1080p video capture, and a 5MP front-facing selfie cam. Lastly, the device in question ran Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

As for the type of performance you can expect from a device with similar specs, this GFXBench pass already provides some clue. That said, do keep in mind that this is likely a model in early development, so further optimizations could (and likely will) take place. With that in mind, we've got to say that we weren't very impressed -- when compared with the Moto G (which has a more demanding, 720p screen), the SM-G510F managed to snatch a victory in several tests, but not by a mile. But we'll give this the benefit of the doubt and wait until these first 64-bit Android devices become a market reality. Until then, sit tight.

Source:phonearena

BBM to officially land on Windows Phone in July

While BlackBerry CEO John Chen was giving up some not so terrible news at the company’s quarterly earnings report, one of the things he confirmed was the availability of BlackBerry Messenger coming to Windows Phone.

It was back in March when BlackBerry said that we could expect to see the iconic instant messaging service sometime between May and July, and now Mr. Chen has confirmed that BBM will make that goal.

We knew long ago that Windows Phone would eventually get BBM, but it has been the better part of a year that we have been waiting to see the service expand beyond iOS and Android. At this point, we do not know how rich the feature set will be with BBM for Windows Phone, but hopefully it will at least have the same functionality that is available on BBM for iOS and Android.

No firm date was noted with Mr. Chen’s announcement, but at least we know BBM will finally be landing on Windows Phone in a few short weeks.

Source:WPCentral

The BlackBerry Windermere gets a new name and an official release date: meet the BlackBerry Passport

BlackBerry already released its financial report for the latest fiscal quarterand apart from the information that gave us insight about the company's current budgetary condition, another interesting piece of news got revealed. It seems that the heavily-rumored BlackBerry Q30 (also known as Windermere) will eventually see the light of day this September. This was unveiled by BlackBerry's CEO, John Chen, who confirmed that the high-end device will be unveiled at an event in London. However, its name won't be Windermere, like it was expected, but Passport instead.

The Passport will most probably come with a square-shaped display, which will be bigger than 4 inches and will sport a peculiar resolution of 1440 x 1440 pixels. Should this turn out to be the case, the BlackBerry Passport will be rocking a pretty high pixel density, allegedly around 480 ppi. The upcoming BlackBerry device is also believed to pack 3GB of RAM, a 13MP back snapper, and a removable battery with the monstrous capacity of 3450mAh. The BlackBerry Passport will also come with a QWERTY keyboard, which is reportedly functioning like a trackpad. 

So, could the Passport be one of the devices that will help John Chen turn BlackBerry into a profitable company? We will find out only after the BlackBerry Passport hits the shelves. 

Source:crackberry

The BlackBerry Windermere gets a new name and an official release date: meet the BlackBerry Passport

BlackBerry already released its financial report for the latest fiscal quarterand apart from the information that gave us insight about the company's current budgetary condition, another interesting piece of news got revealed. It seems that the heavily-rumored BlackBerry Q30 (also known as Windermere) will eventually see the light of day this September. This was unveiled by BlackBerry's CEO, John Chen, who confirmed that the high-end device will be unveiled at an event in London. However, its name won't be Windermere, like it was expected, but Passport instead.

The Passport will most probably come with a square-shaped display, which will be bigger than 4 inches and will sport a peculiar resolution of 1440 x 1440 pixels. Should this turn out to be the case, the BlackBerry Passport will be rocking a pretty high pixel density, allegedly around 480 ppi. The upcoming BlackBerry device is also believed to pack 3GB of RAM, a 13MP back snapper, and a removable battery with the monstrous capacity of 3450mAh. The BlackBerry Passport will also come with a QWERTY keyboard, which is reportedly functioning like a trackpad. 

So, could the Passport be one of the devices that will help John Chen turn BlackBerry into a profitable company? We will find out only after the BlackBerry Passport hits the shelves.

Source:phonearena

Deal with Amazon Appstore will load up the shelves at BlackBerry World

Remember the other day when we told you that Amazon had tripled the number of apps available from its appstore over the last year? Now, all 240,000 apps are going to be available to BlackBerry users with this fall's lineup of new BlackBerry 10 handsets. Popular Android apps such as Instagram, Netflix and Candy Crush Saga would be accessible to BlackBerry 10 users.

All the fun begins for users of BlackBerry 10 flavored handsets once they receive the BlackBerry 10.3 update this fall. While BlackBerry CEO John Chen still dreams about keeping the BlackBerry name relevant for consumers, it is in the enterprise and in governmental agencies where the company stands out.

Allowing all 240,0000 apps from the Amazon Appstore to run on BlackBerry 10.3 would give BlackBerry users a large number of consumer-oriented apps to use. Enterprise users, and those working for the government, will be able to find a number of productivity apps that might be of interest to them.

"Making the Amazon Appstore available on BlackBerry 10 devices will help BlackBerry continue to meet two essential needs: greater app availability for our smartphone users and enhanced productivity solutions for enterprises."-John Chen, CEO, BlackBerry

Source:phonearena 

Microsoft and London Designer Create Wireless Charging Trousers

After announcing the Nokia Treasure Tag and MD-12 wireless speaker accessories for smartphones, Microsoft has unveiled a revolutionary new mobile accessory as prototype. Built in collaboration with acclaimed designer Adrien Sauvage, the accessory are a pair of trousers that supports wireless charging for Lumia handsets.

The blog post also states how the Microsoft team and Sauvage incorporated the Nokia DC-50 wireless charging plate into the trousers. "The technology (known as inductive charging) comes from the new Nokia DC-50 wireless charging plate for Lumia smartphones. These smart trousers are the perfect way to keep your battery full and yourself in style," states the blog.

Microsoft said that the wireless charging trousers will be available for pre-order via Amazon soon. It however remains a question as to what actually powers the wireless charging plate. Sauvage's collaboration with Nokia is a part of the 'Modern Man' event set for July 11 at Toronto, Canada.

"We have a proud history of working within fashion, having previously collaborated with Bruce Weber and David Bailey, as well as recent partnerships at New York and London Fashion Week. Continuing this theme, we are excited to work alongside a talented designer such as A. Sauvage. As well as having the vision to co-create these amazing wireless charging trousers, his style complements the cutting-edge design of the new Lumia 930 smartphone perfectly," stated Adam Johnson, Marketing Director for Microsoft Mobile (UK and Ireland).

Nokia introduced its Treasure Tag and MD-12 wireless speaker accessories last month for the Indian market. Both the Nokia MD-12 portable wireless speaker and Treasure Tag pair with Nokia smartphones via Bluetooth or NFC.

Source:gadgets

BlackBerry Ties Up With Amazon to Offer 240,000 Android Apps

BlackBerry Ltd has agreed a licensing deal with Amazon.com Inc that will let the Canadiansmartphone maker offer some 240,000 Android applications from Amazon's app store on its line-up of BlackBerry 10 devices this fall.

The move allows BlackBerry to add a vast array of consumer-focused apps to its devices, and to focus on developing enterprise and productivity applications, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company said in a statement on Wednesday.

BlackBerry customers using devices powered by its 10 operating system will be able to access popular Android apps such as Groupon, Netflix, Pinterest, Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft.

The apps will be available on BlackBerry 10 devices from this fall, when the company rolls out the BlackBerry 10.3operating system, the statement said.

The move is the latest by the smartphone pioneer to streamline its focus as it attempts to reinvent itself under new Chief Executive John Chen as BlackBerry phones have lost ground to Apple Inc's iPhone and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's Galaxy devices.

Chen wants to remain a competitor in the smartphone segment, but is focused on making BlackBerry a dominant force in machine-to-machine communications. The company's QNX software already is a mainstay in the automobile industry, powering electronic and other systems in a wide range of cars.

BlackBerry already works with hundreds of large enterprise clients including corporations and government agencies to manage and secure mobile devices on their internal networks.

Chen intends to build on those ties and BlackBerry's touted security credentials to allow these enterprise clients to build and customize in-house corporate and productivity applications for their employees.

"Making the Amazon Appstore available on BlackBerry 10 devices will help BlackBerry continue to meet two essential needs: greater app availability for our smartphone users and enhanced productivity solutions for enterprises," Chen said in the statement.

Source:gadgets

Samsung Galaxy Core 2 Duos and Galaxy Pocket 2 Briefly Listed Online

Samsung might soon announce the next iterations of two of its popular budget Android smartphones, the Galaxy Core and Galaxy Pocket, if a new online listing (now pulled) is to be believed.

The yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy Core 2 Duos and Galaxy Pocket 2 were briefly listed at a Vietnamese online retailer named Mainguyen before being pulled down. However, GSMArena has obtained the complete specifications and also the press renders of both the rumoured Galaxy Core 2 Duos and Galaxy Pocket 2.

Notably, the Samsung Galaxy Core was launched in June last year, while the Galaxy Pocket was announced back in 2012.

According to the leaked specifications, both the briefly listed Samsung Galaxy Core 2 Duos and Galaxy Pocket 2 run Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box. The Galaxy Core 2 Duos is said to come with dual-SIM support, as the name suggests. The smartphone will come with a 4.5-inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) display and will have a pixel density of 207ppi.

The other specifications listed of the yet-to-be-announced Galaxy Core 2 Duos include a quad-core Cortex A7 processor, 768MB of RAM. It features 4GB of inbuilt storage and comes with expandable storage via microSD card. It is said to sport a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and also include a VGA camera.

GSMArena, citing the online listing, claims that the Galaxy Core 2 Duos comes with 3G connectivity option in one SIM, apart from Bluetooth, GPRS/ EDGE and Wi-Fi. A 2000mAh battery is said to back the alleged Galaxy Core 2 Duos and it will measure 130.2x67.9x9.8mm and weigh 138 grams.

The other yet-to-be-announced smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Pocket 2, is said to come with dual-SIM support and a 3.2-inch QVGA (320x480 pixels). It is powered by 1GHz processor clubbed with 512MB of RAM, according to the online listing. There is a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera on board. The rumoured Galaxy Pocket 2 is said to come with a 1200mAh battery and weigh 110 grams.

As of now, there is no word from Samsung on the launch of both the Galaxy Core 2 Duos and Galaxy Pocket 2 smartphones.

Source:gadgets

U.K. consumers favor BlackBerry over Windows Phone

A graph released by Kantar, shows the U.K. market share of smartphone operating systems over a ten year period from March 2004 through March 2014. What makes this chart so fascinating, is that we can look at the beginning of the graph and we know what is going to take place over the next decade. We see Windows Mobile and BlackBerry as the early leaders until iOS comes out of nowhere late in 2007, to challenge BlackBerry.

So we had a three way race open up in the U.K. between iOS, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry. But starting in 2009, Android entered into the picture. Google's open source OS started to team up with iOS to squeeze the market share belonging to Windows Mobile, and later, Windows Phone.

According to the chart, as of this past March, BlackBerry still owned a higher market share than Windows Phone in the U.K. And to make things look even worse for Microsoft's mobile OS, the graph is based on consumer data only. That means that BlackBerry 's share of the U.K. smartphone market topped the figure for Windows Phone as recently as three months ago, even without taking into consideration the phones purchased by the enterprise. The latter, of course, is BlackBerry's bread and butter.

BlackBerry has a larger share of the U.K. consumer market

Source:phonearena

Alleged iPhone 6 Images Show 4.7-Inch and 5.5-Inch Variants Side-by-Side

The much-anticipated next generation iPhone from Apple, expected to be called the iPhone 6, has been making a number of online appearances thanks to some alleged dummy models being compared with other handsets like the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3.

Now a new set of images posted on Twitter claim to reveal the alleged 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 dummy models. Sonny Dickson, the Australian teen who made a name for himself by repeatedly leaking images of Apple's iPhone 5s before its release last year, has now posted a couple of alleged images of Apple's next generation iPhone devices.

It's worth noting that this is the first time both the rumoured iPhone models (Apple has for a while been rumoured to be making 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch variants of the iPhone) have been pictured side-by-side together. However, there is no way we can check the credibility of the images.

The purported leaked model images of the iPhone 6 variants corroborate what's has been widely expected based on earlier leaks, that the iPhone 6 will take design cues from Apple's current generation iPod touch. The leaked images again suggest that the next generation iPhone would come with curved edges.

The front leaked image of both the models show slim bezels and the home button placed below the display. The smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model appears to include a gold-coloured rim around the home button, similar to the one found on the iPhone 5s. The leaked image of the rear panel indicates that the iPhone 6 handsets will sport a metal chassis, with the rear camera and flash placed at the top left corner.

Notably, the leaked image of the rear panel of both the alleged iPhone 6 models does not include the customary Apple logo, which does indicate that the images might be of dummy models.

Further, in-line with earlier leaks, the purported images again show the power button positioned on the right panel of the device, instead on the top panel seen on current iPhone models. Meanwhile, the leaked rear dummy image by Sonny Dickson on Twitter account again tips slightly modified volume buttons, akin to the ones seen on the current generation iPod touch.

A recent report claimed that Apple's next iPhone would hit shelves on September 19. The Cupertino-based company has been rumoured to be testing a higher screen resolution of 960x1704 pixels on at least one of the two iPhone models likely to debut this year.

We remind readers however, that nothing is official yet, and that all such leaks must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Source: gadgets

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 With 5.7-Inch QHD Display Spotted: Report

We have recently heard rumours about Samsung's next generation Note phablet flagship, expected to be called the Galaxy Note 4, with model number N910. Now according to a listing on the Zauba Indian import/export website, the SM-N910A (expected variant of Galaxy Note 4) with 5.7-inch display has been shipped to India.

Notably, the single-SIM SM-N910A smartphone listed in Zauba's shipping details is a sample unit for testing and evaluation purposes only. Also the same model number SM-N910A is listed on Samsung's website in a user agent profile source code, which features a display with a Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixel) resolution.

This coincides with earlier leaked details by Sammobile that reported the next Galaxy Note phablet flagship to include a QHD (1440x2560) AMOLED display of an unknown size with added UV sensor.

Although the earlier report did not detail the specifications of the processors, it suggested that Samsung will offer a Snapdragon 805 SoC to Chinese, Korean, Japanese and North American markets, while all other regions including Europe will receive a variant with an Exynos SoC. Reportedly it will be an upgrade of the Exynos 5430, the unannounced Exynos 5433 that's codenamed HelsinkiPro (whereas the Exynos 5430 is codenamed Helsinki).

The previous report also claimed that the modem on the Exynos version will be Intel's XMM7260 Cat. 6 modem, but it didn't confirm the same for the Snapdragon version of the alleged Galaxy Note 4.

As for its cameras, the alleged Galaxy Note 4 will reportedly pack a 16-megapixel rear camera with a Sony-made (IMX240) sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). The front camera remains the same 2-megapixel shooter as on the Samsung Galaxy S5

Source:gadgets 

Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5 to Soon Receive Android 4.4.3 Update: Report

The Android 4.4.3 KitKat update that recently began rolling-out (starting with Google Nexus devices) will reportedly be available for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 in the next couple of months.

According to a leaked document, it has been understood that Samsung has finished testing the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the Galaxy S5 SM-G900F and SM-G900H models, while the company has finished final testing of the update for the Galaxy S4 LTE-A model. Also seen is the roll-out period of the OS update for the Galaxy S5 (June) and Galaxy S4 (July) handsets.

The firmware listed on the leaked document (procured by Android Geeks) for both the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900F and SM-G900H variants are G900FXXUOBNE6 and G900HXXUOBNE3 respectively, while the Galaxy S4 GT-I9506 features firmware number I9506XXUQDNE4.

Notably, the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update is an incremental update from Android 4.4.2 KitKat and brings security enhancements and various bug fixes. Further, Google is said to bring few more fixes with its new update which include fixes for data connection loss, random reboots, missed calls and various camera bugs. Other than existing bug fixing, Android 4.4.3 is said to not bring anything significantly new in terms of features and UI interface.

Earlier this month, the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the popular Motorola Moto G smartphone was rolled-out for both the single SIM international variant and dual-SIM India variant. The Moto X (Moto X) (T-mobile) variant has also received the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update, and this too should soon roll-out in India, as well as the update for the popular Moto E.

Around the same time, Google also rolled-out the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for Nexus 7 and Nexus 4, and for the Nexus 5. Google Play Edition devices such as HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 , and Sony Xperia Z Ultra are also said to be receiving the Android 4.4.3 update.

Source:gadgets

Why Microsoft can't simply bring Cortana to Android

Experience is what matters, project manager tells search conference

An interesting couple of articles today from our sister site Windows Phone Central, regarding the possibility of Microsoft bringing its Cortana voice assistant (think Google Now) to other platforms, including Android. Of course, bringing Cortana to Android isn't as simple as just saying "Hey, let's bring Cortana to Android." And Cortana project manager Marcus Ash does a great job explaining the thought process that goes into even considering such a move.

The video above is from the SMX Advanced search marketing conference in Seattle, and it's absolutely worth a watch.

Said Ash:

"If I'm a Windows PC user and I have a Kindle tablet and an Android phone, how good is the Windows Cortana experience going to be if it doesn't know anything about what I'm doing with those devices? It's really a difficult question that we're spending a lot of time trying to figure out."

Would Cortana actually add anything to a traditional Android experience? Maybe, or maybe not. Gotta love that Microsoft is at least exploring the idea in the theoretical sense.

Source:androidcentral

Android 4.4.3 update reportedly rolling out to Galaxy S5 this month, Galaxy S4 to follow suit in July

A leaked Samsung KitKat update schedule document mentions that the manufacturer is set to roll out the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update to the Galaxy S5 later this month, and for the Galaxy S4 in the month of July. An earlier version of the document, which was leaked last month, revealed that the South Korean manufacturer was starting to integrate the latest Android build into the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4.

Announced earlier this month, the Android 4.4.3 update began seeding to Google's Nexus and Play Edition devices along with Motorola's latest line of handsets. The latest leaked document, which comes courtesy of AndroidGeeks, suggests that the octa-core version of the Galaxy S5 (SM-G900H) and the European model (SM-G900F) will be receiving the update in the month of June.

Once the update is live for these models, it shouldn't be long before other versions of the Galaxy S5 start receiving the update.

The document also states that Android 4.4.3 build is in the final stages of testing for the LTE-A version of the Galaxy S4 (GT-I9506) with the Snapdragon 800 CPU, and that an update will be rolling out next month.

Are you excited that the Galaxy S5 will be able to make the switch to the latest version of Android a few weeks after it was released to AOSP?

Source:androidcentral

Golden Samsung Galaxy F (S5 Prime) shows up

We can now take a look at a new render of what’s believed to be the Galaxy F, Samsung’s next high-end Android smartphone (also known as the Galaxy S5 Prime). Posted by @evleaks, the render (click on the image for a larger view) reportedly shows the upper half of a “perfect golden” Galaxy F. Obviously, this resembles the alleged white Galaxy F that we saw earlier this month. 

The Galaxy F is supposed to feature a 5.3-inch display with Quad HD (1,440 x 2,560) resolution, and a brushed metal back. Speaking of its back, we can see a heart rate sensor there, and a camera that likely has a 16MP sensor. 

A couple of days ago, we spotted the Galaxy F next to the regular Galaxy S5. Although the screen of the Galaxy F is a bit larger than the 5.1-inch display of the S5, the unannounced smartphone seems to have about the same overall size as the current flagship - thanks to its slimmed down bezels. 

Naturally, Samsung will go after LG’s G3 with this new Galaxy F. We don’t know exactly when Samsung intends to announce the handset, but it probably won’t be long until that happens. We’ll be here to keep you updated!

Source:phonearena

iOS 8 vs. Android 4.4: Does Apple finally have the edge?

Just as expected, Apple took the wraps off the newest version of iOS today at WWDC, and it looks a lot like iOS 7, at least on the surface. The improvements in iOS 8 are a bit more low-level than the fundamental UI redesign we saw last year, but it’s a big release nonetheless. Once again, Cupertino is chasing Android, and it definitely catches up in some areas. As Apple likes to say, this is the best version of iOS yet. Still, can it do anything to slow Android’s explosive growth?

Actionable Notifications

Apple has been trying to fix iOS notifications for a very long time and only recently got to a place where it was comparable to Android. For all its early issues, Android has always had great notifications. Beginning with Android 4.1, Google added the ability for developers to add actionable buttons to notifications. Now Apple is doing the same thing, but it goes a bit further.

Android uses expandable lines in the notification shade to keep notifications with buttons and text from taking up too much space. Apple’s buttons in iOS 8 seem to be expanded all the time, but they include quick-reply capability. For example, if you get a message while in another app, the banner that drops down includes a reply button that lets you type a response from the drop-down without leaving your current app. This is, of course, something that can be accomplished with various third-party tools on Android, but Apple’s native functionality is a step beyond Android here.

One remaining pain point with iOS 8 notifications is the continued apparent lack of a single button to clear all active items. As before, you need to empty out one section of notifications at a time. With Android, there’s a simple clear all icon on all devices.

Spotlight Search

With iOS 8 (and the updated OSX) Apple is finally putting that universal search patent to use after suing everyone over it a few years back. Pulling down the search bar in iOS 8 will now offer instant search across a number of different services. It will find apps installed on the device, messages you’ve received, and songs in your library. However, it also reaches out and lists content on iTunes, movie showtimes, maps, and more.

Android’s search UI varies a bit depending on the device, even as of Android 4.4. This is partially because of who was and wasn’t targeted by Apple’s patent suits a few years back, but Google’s default search app has unified things a bit. Basically, you get results from the web and your personal content (local and cloud) when you start typing. To get more, you can flip between various categories like apps, images, books, and other online content.

Android can do all the same things iOS Spotlight Search does — it’s just organized differently. However, any convenience lead Apple might claim in typed searches I feel is more than compensated for on the Android side by Google Now. Google’s predictive search stuff is getting scary good at times. It pulls content from your data like plane tickets, shipping confirmations, and appointments to show you what you need before you’ve even typed anything. Spotlight still can’t touch this.

Continuity Mode

Apple’s new Continuity framework seeks to make your iOS and OS X devices feel interconnected — like a single continuous client. With iOS 8, you can work on a document or look at a web page on one device, then pick up another one and easily pick up where you left off. Android does some of this, but it’s not presented as cleanly or consistently. It is, however, more universal.

Google’s services are much more focused on the web, so you can easily pick up browser tabs, documents, and other content across devices. You have to know where to go, but it does work. The upshot is that Google’s synchronization features work on all devices, even those running iOS. Apple’s Continuity platform is restricted to its devices running the newest version of the desktop and mobile software.

Apple also added the ability for messaging and calls to operate in a more interconnected way on its devices. If you get a call on your iPhone, your Mac or iPad can be used to see who’s calling and even act as a speakerphone to take the call. Regular SMS messages are also relayed through the new Continuity system so you can see them on other iDevices.

QuickType and big input changes

Apple’s keyboard used to be the best touchscreen typing experience, but in recent years the likes of SwiftKey, Swype, and others have given Android users something to cheer about. Apple is upgrading its own keyboard with iOS 8, which is nice, but the big change comes with the opening up of iOS input to third parties — finally.

The default iOS 8 keyboard will have a feature called QuickType, which is simply Apple’s way of saying it has added word prediction to the typing experience. Yes, Android’s default keyboard has had this for years. Unlike some other keyboards, the iOS solution will allegedly be smart enough to choose words based on who you’re talking to. So, it might suggest a more mature set of words when you’re sending an email to your boss than when you’re making plans with friends for happy hour. No sighting of swipe input on the stock iOS keyboard, but maybe you won’t need it.

If that’s just not good enough for you, Apple will be letting third-party developers become the default keyboard on iOS 8 as part of the extension framework (more on that later). You can imagine the folks behind SwiftKey, Swype, and other Android-centric keyboards cheered their heads off at that one. When the user sets a third-party keyboard as the default, it is cut off from accessing the network, which is a smart security measure. The user can grant network access as needed, though.

The customizability of Android’s default app scheme has long been a big selling point, and it’s very encouraging to see Apple adopt that model, even just a little bit.

Metal for gaming

OpenGL has been the standard for 3D gaming on mobile devices — both Android and iOS — for years now. The way Apple tells it, though, OpenGL is getting too heavy for its own good and the overhead is hurting the games. That’s why Cupertino is releasing Metal to developers.

Metal is a new graphics API that will allow games to render with much higher efficiency than they ever could with OpenGL. The demos did look very impressive with realistic physics and more triangles than you can shake a polygon at, though the scenes still looked a little sterile. It’s possible lighting effects with Metal weren’t ready to go in time for the keynote.

There’s nothing like Metal on Android — developers there will continue using OpenGL unless Google comes up with some alternative. iOS has been ahead in the gaming sphere for its entire history, so this isn’t so much about catching up to Android as it is widening the gap. Metal might also make it that much more annoying for developers to port games to Android in the first place. Maybe that’s part of Apple’s dastardly plan?

It’s also interesting to note that, with Mantle, DirectX 12, and GameWorks, nearly every major vendor is now working on a “low-overhead” 3D graphics implementation. It would be nice if they could all agree on one standard…

App Extensions

While it was explained in the “developer” section of the iOS 8 reveal, Apple’s new Extension framework might result in the biggest user-facing improvements to the iDevice ecosystem once developers are turned loose. The third-party keyboard support mentioned above is just one way Apple is going to use app extensions to make iOS 8 more Androidy.

At its most basic level, iOS 8 Extensions are about allowing apps to mingle without leaving their private sandboxes. Android apps have always been able to interact freely, but Google has been reigning some of that in over the years. Apple is trying to find a way to get data and features from one app into the other without introducing security holes, and the result is Extensions.

Developers will be able to pipe bits of their UI and features into other apps using this system, which could allow for a huge number of truly interesting implementations. Some of the features Apple demos include inserting more sharing options into AirDrop, custom photo editing, and building widgets for Notification Center. All awesome features that we saw in Android some time ago (i.e. the open sharing menu and rich third-party notifications). Android 4.4 also strengthened the cross-app file picker, which is something iOS 8 is doing now with custom document handler.

Depending on how much functionality developers get with extensions, this could go a long way toward making iOS more customizable and dynamic.

All the small things

The iOS 8 announcement also came with the usual array of smaller feature additions, some with direct Android analogs and some without. Case in point, photo editing has been enhanced with easier controls. It’s not quite as simple as Google’s Auto-Awesome pictures, but you get more control. iOS 8 essentially lets you choose from a slider how you want the image to look, and it twiddles the individual knobs for you.

All those photos can also be dropped into the newly improved iCloud Drive. You get 5GB for free, then it’s $1 per month for 20GB and $4 for 200GB, with additional tiers from there up to 1TB. Android users have the tightly integrated Google Drive service, which is an even better deal starting at $2 per month for 100GB.

All that stuff you’re saving in iCloud can also be plugged into the new Family Sharing system. Up to six people/devices can access each other’s purchased content and see a shared photo stream. Parents can also use this to grant authorization to buy and download content remotely. This is decidedly unlike anything on Android, unless you include the Kinde Fire HDX tablets, which pretty much no one does.

iOS 8 messaging is getting smarter too with improved group chat features like muting and easier ways to send voice and picture messages. This is more of a swipe at WhatsApp than Android, though.

Is Android threatened?

The new iOS looks much the same on the surface, but the under-the-hood improvements are impressive. Better search, enhanced notifications, and Continuity will help to bring iOS 8 closer to Android while extras like faster gaming with Metal widen Apple’s lead.

Android has a huge market share, and that’s not changing anytime soon. Apple has succeeded in making its platform more appealing, but it’s still iOS. To really steal committed Android users away, we’ll have to wait and see if Extensions can unleash developers to build advanced features for those who want them. That might be Apple’s greatest weapon going forward. Android is due for a big shakeup, though, and Google I/O is just weeks away

Source:extremetech