HTC One available today in the US, Verizon gets it in-store first
By now you probably know if you need HTC’s shiny new One in your life — now it all comes down to where and when you can nab it. Thanks to some wheeling and dealing, Verizon Wireless has a head start in the US: online and in-store sales start today at 1pm Eastern. AT&T and Sprint will kick off their online sales at that time too, but you can’t waltz into one of their brick-and-mortar stores to find one until April 11. As you might expect, the 16GB model will cost you $199 while the 32GB model comes in at $249… and if the thought of contracts makes you ill, you can buy one sans agreement for $649. The lone standout is T-Mobile, which won’t sell the device until some time next month (we’ve reached out for clarification and will update this story as we learn more). Of course, everything above assumes you want your carrier’s blessing. Don’t forget: HTC will sell unlocked and developer versions for $649 on its website, and a $699 Play Edition version should hit the Google Play Store soon too.
HTC pushing Sense 6.0 to the OG One, One Mini and One Max soon
Well, we don’t have a specific date, but HTC’s latest Sense skin — which the company insists on calling Sixth Sense — will be coming to it’s older models this spring. Last year’s One, the One Mini and One Max will all be getting updates in the coming months with Sense 6.0. While it’s not a complete surprise, it’s nice to know that HTC isn’t leaving its customers out in the cold. It’s all part of its HTC Advantage program which guarantees two year of software updates and support. That’s longer than even Google suports its Nexus phone. Hopefully we’ll get specific launch dates sooner, rather than later.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, HTC
Japanese Court Rules Apple Does Not Infringe on Samsung Patents [iOS Blog]
A Japanese court ruled today that Apple’s iPhone 4s, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 do not infringe on Samsung’s data communication patents, reports Bloomberg. Tokyo District Court Judge Koji Hasegawa handed down the decision in the infringement case, which was originally filed by Samsung in April 2011.
Samsung said in a statement emailed to Bloomberg that it was disappointed by the decision and may consider an appeal, while Apple has not yet commented on the ruling.
“We are disappointed by the court’s decision,” Samsung said in an e-mailed statement earlier today. “Upon a thorough review of the ruling, we will determine which measures to take, including an appeal.”
This is one of several patent infringement lawsuits filed by the two technology giants in recent years. Apple scored the biggest win when it was awarded $890 million in a high-profile case that was presided over by Judge Lucy Koh in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California.
A second U.S. patent infringement lawsuit is set to begin on March 31, with Apple seeking up to $40 per unit in damages if Samsung is found guilty of infringing all five of Apple’s software patents.
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Fleksy keyboard for Android now has achievement badges and cloud syncing
Even though Fleksy’s predictive touch typing is fairly easy to learn, not everyone is familiar with all that this alternative keyboard has to offer. That’s one of the reasons the company has incorporated a new Badge system in Fleksy’s latest 2.0 update for Android, to hopefully have users spread its gospel and get a bit of fun out of it as well. For example, if you’re able to type on Fleksy’s invisible keyboard, you’ll get an “Invisible Master” badge, or a “Gesture Guru” stamp if you have those special swipes down pat. You can show off your badges to your buddies of course, but their main value is in introducing new color themes or prolonging Fleksy’s free trial period. Another addition to Fleksy 2.0 is a new cloud feature that lets you sync personalization features across your various Android devices. Things are moving ahead on the iOS side as well, as Fleksy has updated its SDK with eight new languages and improved typing precision. Around 50 iOS developers have already incorporated the Fleksy keyboard into their apps, many of which are featured here. For those on Android who have yet to try the full version of Fleksy, you would be wise to get it soon — the app will be 50 percent off ($1.99) for the next 72 hours only.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Google Play, Fleksy
Augmented reality concept uses Google Glass to make reading the newspaper more like… reading a website
As part of the Wearable Tech Expo 2014 in Tokyo, the Asahi Shimbun is looking to offer richer content to users still reading its dead tree editions. The ‘AIR’ concept uses wearable du jour Google Glass to both detect physical markers and display any digital companion content. According to Asahi’s Media Lab, the concept’s aim is to better broadcast and convey “emotional” content: a picture of Winter Olympics skater Asada Mao gets picked up and Google Glass barrels into a slideshow, alongside a stirring soundtrack. (She had announced her retirement, and apparently her many fans were very upset.)
It’s about connecting anyone who reads the (actual, physical) newspaper to everything that doesn’t make it on to the page, whether that’s more photos, related articles, or video. There’s no release date for AIR — to begin with, Google Glass isn’t even available in Japan — and it simply mimics, to a large degree, what we’ve already seen from augmented reality apps on smartphones. However, this wearable-based delivery method makes more sense, with no need to hover your smartphone camera over points of interest. The team didn’t mention who powers the detection software, although the recent news that Layar has brought its APK to the Google wearable could well be connected.
The software can also pick up physical objects, and direct users through to related video and site content, although it can be a little temperamental. Our model had a thing for the spring rolls positioned at the demo booth, even when we were looking elsewhere. Hey, we all like spring rolls.
Spotify now offers US college students half-price music streaming (updated)
Don’t think you can afford a paid streaming music service as a cost-sensitive student? Think again — the price may finally be within your reach. Spotify has launched a US student program that lets you pay just $5 per month for Premium access (half of the usual price) as long as you’re attending a post-secondary school that qualifies for federal aid, whether it’s a college or a vocational outlet. Be sure to time your registration well, though. Much like an equivalent offer in the UK, you’ll only get the discount for a year. Still, the $60 you spend may be worthwhile if it gives you enough studying music to get through a couple of tough semesters.
Update: Helpful reader will noticed that the discount merely lasts for a year at a time — you can renew it three more times before you’re paying full price. In other words, it should cover your entire degree.
Filed under: Internet
Via: San Francisco Chronicle, Rich DeMuro (Twitter)
Source: Spotify
Soft robot ‘slug’ oozes along with air pressure
As MIT proved recently with its squishy artificial fish, robots don’t need to be rigid to propel themselves along (or freak us out). A company called Super-Releaser has applied the same logic for Glaucus, its new open-source soft robot. Unlike its swimming counterpart, this bot “walks” across land using air pressure to pump up different parts of its limbs in sequence. Admittedly, that results in a locomotion speed similar to the sea slug it’s named after (see the video after the break) and it requires a tether. Still, the company is developing much more practical applications that use the same tech, like orthotic cuffs for rehabilitation and prosthetic sleeves for amputees. You can even 3D print a bot yourself using Thingiverse files and (slowly) terrify your friends.
Via: Motherboard
Source: Super-Releaser
Engadget giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S 4 and blinged out Galaxy Gear courtesy of Brilliance!
You’ve tricked out your ride, splurged on some curves for your home theater and even recreated that floating Burnquist ramp for extreme weekend fun, but there’s still something missing. The gem and jewelry purveyors at Brilliance have just the thing; they’ve provided an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S 4 and bundled it with a gemstone-studded Galaxy Gear, so that one lucky Engadget reader (or someone near and dear) can rock a bit of bling like the stars. Brilliance offers gemstone customization for a variety of gadgets and has recently worked with Samsung to create shiny custom wearables for celebrities like Jennifer Hudson. You get to choose the color of the Galaxy Gear and take your pick of real-life gems, so you can rock your rocks while wearing your tech — Xzibit would be proud. To get a chance at winning this sparkly wrist machine and life companion smartphone, you’ll need to enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Go ahead, it might just be your chance to shine.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337), and one (1) Samsung Galaxy Gear (SM-V700) customized with the gemstone of your choice, courtesy of Brilliance.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Samsung, Brilliance and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until March 26th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt
Select older HTC devices to receive Sense 6.0 update confirmed by leak
Ahead of the launch of the next generation HTC One later today, a recent leak for the roadmap of the HTC Sense 6.0 deployment for older devices confirms that a select few will get the updated software.
The new HTC One is set to come with an all-new Sense 6.0 skin bundled over Android 4.4 KitKat, but the update will extend to the first generation HTC One, followed by the HTC One Max, and HTC One Mini, which is scheduled to be deployed in the next few months.
Interestingly, the HTC Butterfly S will also get the update in June or July, but no other devices are scheduled for the update according to the recent leak.
[Via LlabTooFer]
The post Select older HTC devices to receive Sense 6.0 update confirmed by leak appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC to release HTC One M8 Google Play Edition
With only a few hours until HTC reveal the HTC One M8, it seems the company have deployed some preparations in the Google Play Store ahead of the announcement.
HTC have uploaded several Sense-based apps into the Play Store, one of these being the HTC BlinkFeed launcher, which was introduced with the previous HTC One last year. As well as this, a Gallery app has been released for the HTC One M8, but of most significance is the description for the App which mentions “support for HTC One(M8) Google Play Edition is limited to HTC Photo Edit.”
It seems therefore a pretty safe bet that we are going to see a Google Play Edition of the HTC One M8 released today. This belief is reinforced with discovery about the HTC One launch page
If you simply view the source of the landing page, it seems HTC have preparred the go live page hidden behind the current graphic and it reveals some nice details.
The source code of the page reveals that the new HTC One M8 will be available on Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile, but there will also be a Google Play Edition device as indicated by the image placeholder. It also seems there’ll be a developer version of the handset too.
In addition, there’s confirmation of the Gun Metal Grey, Silver, Gold, and Black colours for the HTC One M8.
It seems all that’s left to do is wait for the official announcement.
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