Sprint debuts Wi-Fi calling for Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S4 Mini
Sprint on Friday announced that the Samsung Galaxy Mega and Samsung Galaxy S4 mini are the first to support its new Wi-Fi calling. Available shortly, the free service allows for calls and messaging over traditional Wi-Fi networks. Users will need to download and install the latest over-the-air software update. As for that update, the carrier says it should be pushed automatically in the coming weeks.
According to Sprint the service is easy to set up and works quietly in the background. It’s not clear whether calls initiated on Wi-Fi networks will hand off seamlessly to cellular towers or vice versa.
Sprint says other models are expected to pick up Wi-Fi calling capability as the year progresses.
Customer benefits include:
- Enhanced coverage for in-building coverage or areas with challenging network conditions.
- Easy Setup: Once activated, everything is seamless and happens in the background.
- Unlimited voice calling and messaging on Wi-Fi: All domestic calling and messaging is FREE (standard CDMA international rates apply for international calls).
The post Sprint debuts Wi-Fi calling for Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S4 Mini appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Tegra Note 7 tablet to get an LTE refresh, early adopters pick up KitKat update
Itching for a Tegra-powered gaming device, but insist on a slate with LTE support? You’re in luck: NVIDIA is building a tablet just for you. Today the company announced the Tegra Note 7 LTE, a $299 variant of its existing Note 7 tablet equipped with (you guessed it) a cellular radio — its own i500 LTE chip, to be precise. The new radio promises to support “popular carriers across the world,” specifically citing bands compatible with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in the US and carriers like O2, Vodafone and Orange in Europe.
The upgraded slate won’t be available until sometime next quarter, but NVIDIA says it’ll be rocking Android 4.4.2 when it does arrive. Of course, if you already have the WiFi model, you won’t have to wait — the latest OTA update delivers not only Kitkat, but a port of the NVIDIA Shield’s Gamepad Mapper app. Check out the company’s official announcement at the source link below.
Source: Nvidia
Amazon Planning March Launch for Apple TV Set-Top Box Competitor
In light of recent reports stating that Apple is hard at work on an Apple TV refresh, Amazon is allegedly readying a new Web TV box that would compete with Apple’s set-top box and the Roku, according to Re/code. The report states that Amazon’s new media streaming device could be available as soon as March.
Similar to rumors that surfaced last year, this latest information claims Amazon’s set-top box will tie into the company’s Instant Video service and may support third-party content providers in a manner similar to the Apple TV and Roku.
A box is also a logical move for Amazon, which is investing heavily to build up a Web video catalog, and is starting to produce its own shows as well. An Amazon box will allow its customers to easily watch that stuff on their TVs; it should also give other content providers a chance to serve up their stuff via apps, in the way that Roku and Apple TV boxes do.
Sources tell me Amazon’s box is will be powered by Google’s Android operating system, which is also not a surprise — Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets use a “forked” version of Android.
Re/code also speculates that Amazon’s set-top box could contain a gaming component, noting that the company is looking to expand its Amazon Games Studio by hiring game developers who can “break down technology barriers and deliver experiences people have never seen before.” This follows another recent rumor from VG247 that suggests the online retailer is working on an Android gaming console similar to the Ouya.
Amazon has stepped up its streaming content offerings in the past year, producing 14 original television pilots and using feedback to decide which get made into full shows, as well as spending significant amounts of money to secure exclusive rights to popular shows like Downton Abbey and The West Wing.
Currently, Amazon’s Instant Video service is available on iPads and iPhones, the Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii, the Sony Playstation 3, smart televisions from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio, TiVo, the Roku box, as well as a number of Blu-ray players.
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Unleash the Kraken: A.M.S Case for Moto X Review
I’ll be straight with you, I am not a case kinda guy. I enjoy being able to take in all the beauty of my Moto X with its Bamboo back! That was one of the main reasons I purchased the phone!
However, I never turn down the opportunity to conduct a review, because you never know what you might get. In my case I got a lot, the Trident Kraken A.M.S. Case. This case is a beast, I am talking the tank of phone cases, but I did find myself intrigued by it!
What we got:
The Kraken A.M.S. (Adaptive Modular System) is a full fledged case made up of three separate layers, a kickstand, and built in screen protector. The case also comes with a belt holster clip.
The Good:
- Pretty much invincible
- Built in screen protector
- Sturdy Kickstand
- 3 separate layers:
- The “Kraken” layer, made of hardened poly-carbonate
- The middle layer, “Perseus,” crafted from impact-resistant silicone and can be used by itself
- The top layer, which is also constructed from poly carbonate, contains the built in screen protector, and holds all three in place
- All ports are still accessible and usable
- Many color options
The Bad:
- It is HUGE!
- $50 bucks, not your average consumer kind of case
- Kind of tricky to get all the layers to fit together, but once you figure it out it is second nature
Judgement:
The Kraken hasn’t persuaded me to keep all three layers on the phone, but yet I do enjoy the “Pegasus” layer. I think Trident has done a great job creating a case that can fit many lifestyles, but mostly this is the kind of case you would get for a construction worker.
This case does provide some awesome protection from the elements and when you do leave the job site, you can downgrade to the silicon layer and hit the town. Reigning in at 50 bucks, to protect your $600+ smartphone, well that’s your call. I’ll be sporting my sleek and slim Moto X caseless, yet if I do drop it, I will wish I had a Kraken.
Check out the Kraken along with all the accessories available for it at Trident’s website!
The post Unleash the Kraken: A.M.S Case for Moto X Review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The First Sign Hair Clip is here to serve and protect as an early detection system for crimes against You
There’s no doubt that the wearable technology market is booming with plenty of emphasis put on fitness and tracking devices that help interpret information from your daily activities. Something that hasn’t been entirely explored by wearables yet, however, is the area of personal safety and how wearables can help make our lives safer. That’s where the First Sign Hair Clip from First Sign Technologies comes in.
The First Sign Hair Clip is designed to be worn on clothing or in the hair, while connected to a mobile app that is able to call for help at the first sign of danger. The First Sign Hair Clip is able to do with with the embedded accelerometer and gyroscope; once an attack or emergency is sensed, the Hair Clip, which is connected to a mobile device via Bluetooth, initiates collecting information from the device’s camera and GPS. The Hair Clip also uses the user’s device to issue the following from its speakers: “evidence has been collected and help is on the way”.
It’s definitely an intriguing concept, one I think will give some people more peace of mind when going out to enjoy the nightlife. The First Sign Hair Clip is currently undergoing its Indiegogo campaign to reach its target of $50,000, of which they’ve currently reached almost half of. Check out the campaign here if you’re interested in pledging to the project.
Press Release
First Sign Technologies Launches First-Ever Smart Wearable That Fights Crimeand Collects EvidenceThe Mobile Security Device Automatically Detects Violent Attacks Then Reacts to Deter, Apprehend, and Prosecute AttackersSCOTTSDALE, AZ – Feb. 20, 2014 – First Sign Technologies today announced the launch campaign for the first-ever hair clip that serves as an automatic personal security system against violent crimes. The First Sign Hair Clip is a smart wearable device worn in the hair or clipped on clothing that works with a mobile App to automatically call for help and to collect evidence at the first sign of trauma in an emergency situation. This mobile security device is the only solution of its kind that has the capability to identify, deter, apprehend, and prosecute attackers.First Sign Technologies is accepting pre-orders and contributions to its mission through its Indiegogo campaign. A strong show of support in the next few weeks is needed to start production of First Sign Hair Clips, providing peace of mind and safety by Fall 2014. People that believe in the mission and product can pre-order HERE.“The response to the Technologies has been overwhelming. Violence against women is far too common and this is the first solution to not only be automatic, but to focus on increasing the prosecution rate,” said Rachel Emanuele, co-founder, First Sign Technologies. “The First Sign Hair Clip can be used in so many different situation to protect you – when dating, walking at night, exercising alone, traveling, to protect kids against bullying, and many more.”The First Sign Hair Clip’s alarm is activated when a violent attack is detected by the hair clip’s embedded accelerometer and gyroscope. It then uses a Bluetooth paired cell phone to collect more evidence and call for help while the phone’s speaker lets the attacker know that “evidence has been collected and help is on the way.”Features of the First Sign Hair Clip include:Automatic Alarm: Working with the user’s smartphone, the First Sign Hair Clip triggers an alarm that alerts professional security personnel at the first sign of violent movement using its gyroscope and accelerometer.Evidence Collection: Evidence is immediately collected once the alarm is activated. A microphone on the hair clip transmits audio evidence while it connects via Bluetooth to the user’s phone to access its camera, GPS, speaker, and cell signal. The evidence is streamed to the professional security monitoring station so all evidence will remain available to prosecutors even if the phone is destroyed.Lifestyle Friendly and Fashionable: The hair clip can be worn discretely concealed under the hair, as a fashion accessory, or clipped on the body somewhere close. Either way, the clip is “out of sight and out of mind” but it will never stop working for you. There is a 15-second window to deactivate it in the rare case of a false alarm.First Sign Technologies is on the cutting-edge of the shift in personal safety and products that make society safer. For more information go to the First Sign Technologies’ Indiegogo page at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/first-sign-hair-clip-the-first-automatic-security-system-against-violent-crimes.
Sailfish to invade Android devices first by launcher, then full firmware assault
There’s a certain glamor to new mobile platforms that offer something different from established players, but nobody wants to spend hundreds on a new device just for a dabble. For those intrigued by the MeeGo-derived Sailfish OS specifically, Jolla hopes to lead you into temptation soon with a launcher for Android that mimics the Sailfish UI. Also during the first half of this year, Jolla plans to offer full firmware downloads for your handsets if you want to end it with Android altogether. The community around open-source Sailfish has successfully ported the OS to a number of devices, but we believe a formal and user-friendly method of distribution is what’s being suggested here. We can picture the Jerry Springer episode already. The launcher was just a “friend,” you see, until the firmware moved in and Android became but a homeless ROM. But… who’s the father?
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Jolla
New trailer for the Samsung Unpacked 5 event makes sure we know the Galaxy S5 is Coming
We’ve known for some time now that Samsung’s Unpacked 2014 Episode 1 event is going to be on the 24th of February, smack bang in the middle of MWC 2014. We’ve also had quite a lot of indication, even from Samsung itself, that the event is almost inevitably going to feature the announcement of their newest flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S5, so much so that the event is known as the Samsung Unpacked 5 event. Well, Samsung has added yet another teaser to that list, this time a trailer which makes it an absolute certainty that “The Next GALAXY” is going to be announced at Unpacked 5. Check it out:
As you can see, a lot of things featuring a 5 are seen in the video, but an extreme focus was given to “life”, presumably as Samsung is going to looking to include more lifestyle features into the Galaxy S5, but exactly what that entails will likely have to wait until the Unpacked event itself.
What do you think about the trailer? Did you spot something that you think Samsung is going to emphasise at their Unpacked 5 event? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: YouTube
White House offers new web tools to help fight patent trolls
The White House isn’t relying solely on legislative measures to try and curb patent trolls; it’s also giving the trolls’ targets some online resources to defend themselves. To start, it just launched a USPTO website that tells victims what to do if they’re served with infringement notices or subpoenas. Meanwhile, a future effort will crowdsource prior art to thwart suits over patents that should never have been granted in the first place. There’s still more work ahead in the legal realm, including pro bono defense lawyers and technology training for patent examiners. However, the new online tools just might give smaller companies the know-how to fight back against trolls that prey on their lack of information.
[Image credit: Michelle Rivera, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet
Via: PCWorld
Source: White House, USPTO
Oppo’s 2K-ready Find 7 makes first appearance, lets you swap batteries
Remember when Chinese smartphone outfit Oppo promised two versions of its Find 7 handset? The first of the pair has just passed through China’s telecoms regulator, spec list in tow. Sadly, this isn’t the Quad-HD (aka: 2K) version of the device, but the 5.5-inch 1080p screen shouldn’t be sniffed at. Inside, you’ll find a 2.26GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, microSD card slot, a 2,700mAh removable battery, TD-LTE and Android 4.3. Weighing in at just 165 grams and only 9.2mm thick, we’re looking forward to putting this thing through its paces on March 19th.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: TENAA
[LEAK] Huawei MediaPad X1 gets leaked in candid photos showing off call abilities and a smart Cover
As MWC 2014 approaches, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more and more leaked pictures of devices destined to be shown off at the mobile-centric event. The latest device to get the leak treatment is the Huawei MediaPad X1, expected to be latest model in Huawei‘s line of very solid tablets. The above photos were posted on Chinese social media site Weibo showing off the X1 with the ability to make calls, as well as featuring a smart cover with clock functionality, as we’ve seen previously with the Samsung S View.
The Huawei MediPad X1 is expected to have a quad-core HiSilicon 1.6GHz processor along with 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, a 7-inch 1920×1200 display and a 6,000mAh battery. Those specs make the X1 a very intriguing package, at the right price, which is rumoured to be 1,200 Yuan (or around $200 USD). There is also a rumoured option of LTE, but presumably the rumoured price doesn’t correlate with the LTE version. Even so, the X1 looks like a very viable alternative to the Nexus 7 2013 model, particularly if it is able to make calls, only for those inclined to do so, of course.
Would you consider the Huawei MediaPad X1? Let us know what you think in the comments.
AIVAnet 