Galaxy Gear update brings full notification support to Samsung’s smartwatch

The Galaxy Gear is Samsung’s first attempt to break into the wearable computing market, but so far reception has been fairly lukewarm.

The Gear is a pretty cool looking gadget with a lot of potential, but the problem is that it also arrived to store shelves feeling  a bit unfinished. Not only did the Gear solely support the Note 3 at launch, it also has been hindered by limited apps and a notification system that often requires you to whip out your phone to actually find out what’s going on...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

Download: Android 4.4 KitKat factory images for Nexus 4, all Nexus 7 models (2012, 2013) and Nexus 10

After making the Android 4.4 KitKat update available for various Nexus devices including the Wi-Fi versions of the Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013 models) and Nexus 10, Google has posted KitKat factory images for all its Nexus handsets and tablets.

The official over-the-air (OTA) downloads may not be available for certain devices, including the Nexus 4 and the cellular versions of the two Nexus 7 models, but their respective factory images are available, which means users can manually install the updates themselves...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

Smartphones – making our lives easier, every day

What is meant by a smartphone? 

A smartphone is a mobile phone that has multiple capabilities and possesses many of the same functions of a desktop computer. 

There are currently just under 7 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, with smartphone subscriptions sitting at over 1 billion. The most popular are Android and iPhone smartphones, which contributed to 90% of smartphone sales in 2013. 

What are the key developments in smartphone improvements?

Some of the key developments in smartphones over the years include faster processors, increased camera resolution, increased variety, bigger storage space and larger screens. 

Have they become smarter since they were first released?

Certainly. Smartphones have rapidly developed and improved since their inception in 1996, and continue to make people’s lives easier with each new development. The smartphone market is heavily competitive, with each operating system designed to support quicker and better features than the smartphones before. 

Let’s take a look at the history and development of the BlackBerry smartphone. The first BlackBerry smartphone was developed in 2003, and it has been a transformative presence in the world of communication, drastically improving the way people communicate and the technology capabilities of smartphones. 

When the BlackBerry smartphone was introduced, the possibility of sending and receiving emails on a smartphone was realised. It also enabled web browsing, thereby opening up a whole new platform of possibilities and options for users. People were no longer limited to accessing the internet on their desktops, and could now connect to the internet wherever they were, at whatever time they chose. 

These are some of the improvements BlackBerry has made over the years:

 

  • The improvement of third party apps, which means that apps can run faster. For example, if you are a fan of mobile casinos, you can download Royal Vegas Casinos Online quicker and easier than ever before 
  • The short battery life of smartphones is a thorn in the side of many smartphone users. However, the battery life of the BlackBerry has seen over 60 battery saving improvements since 2003 so that users can enjoy longer usage. 
  • Increased camera resolution 
  • A perfect example of the improvement of smartphone features is the Blackberry Z10. It has a 4.2 inch screen, USB and HDMI connectivity, a dual core processor of 1.5 GHz and an 8 megapixel camera as well as 2GB of RAM

 

Apple Releases iOS 7.0.4 With Fix for FaceTime Call Issue

Apple today released iOS 7.0.4 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, a minor update that includes a number of improvements and bug fixes for the operating system. According to Apple, the update repairs a bug that could cause FaceTime calls to fail for some users. 

Apple has also released iOS 6.1.5 for the fourth generation iPod touch, which fixes the same FaceTime issue. A new version 6.0.2 of the Apple TV software is also available, although it is unclear what has been changed...

Read the full story here... Source: Mac Rumours

Rumor: LG G Flex coming to AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile

A short tweet from a well-known leaker reveals that one of the first two flexible display smartphones will arrive in the USA at some point in the future.

So far, the LG G Flex has launched in South Korea and is confirmed to arrive in France via local mobile operator Orange...

...While @evleaks has posted mostly accurate leaks, we’re going to remind you that LG is yet to make the launch official, so don’t get excited just yet.

However, what’s interesting in case the rumor turns out to be true is that LG may beat Samsung when it comes to launching the first flexible display smartphone in the USA...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

T-Mobile Nexus 5 launches online for $449.99, only 16GB model available

T-Mobile has kicked off Nexus 5 sales on its website, at a time the handset is not exactly available any more from Google’s Play Store (or at least the version the carrier is selling).

As previously announced, the T-Mobile Nexus 5 retails for $449.99, a full $100 more than the phone’s starting price in the Play Store – we’re looking at the 16GB model here.

T-Mobile offers Nexus 5 buyers the possibility of paying for the handset in 24 installments of $17 each, after a $41.99 up front fee...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

Teardown of Retina iPad Mini Reveals A7 Chip, LG Display, Larger Battery

The experts at iFixit have performed another one of their usual high-quality teardowns on Apple's new iPad mini with Retina display, revealing that while the device is nearly unchanged visually from the original iPad mini, it features a number of internal upgrades such as an A7 chip and M7 motion coprocessor alongside the new high-resolution display...

Read the full story here... Source: Mac Rumours

Sprint HTC One Max to launch on November 15, for $249.99 on-contract

After being accidentally listed by Best Buy and Sprint a few hours ago, the HTC One Max has been confirmed to arrive on the Now Network on November 15 for $249.99 on-contract.

The carrier also sells one of the HTC One Max’s main rivals, the Galaxy Note 3 for $249.99 with new contracts.

The phone can be pre-ordered from Best Buy (check out the Source link below), with the retailer listing it for $249.99 with new two-year contracts from Sprint, and $749.99 off-contract. Sprint is only taking pre-registrations at this time...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

Motorola Moto G official: specs, features, price and availability

The Moto G wasn’t a well-guarded secret (though it wasn’t as leaky as the Moto X either), but we’ve still looked forward to finding out what this affordable little device is all about.

Now the Motorola made the Moto G official and we have the rundown on specs and features, as well as the all-important price information. Is the Moto G worth more praise than its spec sheet suggests? Let’s find out...

Read the full story here... Souce: Android Authority

T-Mobile Nexus 5 launch set for November 20, report says

T-Mobile may launch the Google Nexus 5 smartphone on November 20, according to a new report, although the date is not officially confirmed yet.

TmoNews got its hands on an image that shows a purported T-Mobile calendar, which seems to indicate that the Nexus 5 will launch across all channels on November 20. Additionally, the Nexus 7 is also listed for launch on the same day.

Furthermore, other interesting details are mentioned, including a “Sony Black Friday Blitz,” as well as Samsung and LG sales incentives...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

More Google Now smart features for Nexus 5 tipped for November 13 update

A publication has revealed in a Nexus 5 one-week-of-use review that the handset may soon get new Google Now features, with an update pegged for November 13.

According to Wired, more smart Google Now features are coming soon, although Google is yet to officially announce them.

Apparently Google Now will get even smarter than it currently is, with the voice-based assistant getting some sort of answering back features...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority