No updates planned for Android L Developer Preview
If you are one of the many Nexus 5 owners and even some Nexus 4 owners who have the Android L developer preview on your phone as a daily driver, you might be sad to see that the developer preview will not be updated.
While the build is intended for developers to get a peak at Android 5.0 and to build and update apps for it, it was never truly meant to be a permanent build. Many people still use it today and have had little to no bugs encountered, but it looks like we won’t be seeing another taste of “L” until the official release, which is anticipated to be in October if history is to repeat itself.
Are you still using the developer preview on your phone? Let us know how it’s been so far!
source: Android Community
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“Save Once, View Anywhere” with Facebook’s new feature
Facebook is introducing a new ‘Save’ feature which, like many other apps and services, allows you to save articles or posts you see in your News Feed and view them at another time.
This feature can be perfect for quickly getting caught up on your News Feed without viewing every post or article at once, then doing so when you have a quiet chance.
Save will allow you to swipe right and tap the ‘Saved’ button to view them all, or if you forget, you will see reminders of your saves periodically in your News Feed.
We will start to see the Save feature in the next few days as the update rolls out to Android, iOS and web browsers.
source: Newsroom
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iPad Sales Total 225 Million Units Since 2010 as Apple Claims ‘Significant Innovation’ Coming
During today’s earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared new information on the state of the iPad, including details on overall sales since the product launched a little over four years ago, recent growth in different markets, and hints at future plans. It was revealed earlier that sales of the iPad were down for the second straight quarter in a row, as the company sold a total of 13.3 million iPads, down from 14.6 million in the year-ago quarter.
Cook said that iPad sales have totaled to 225 million units since 2010, as the current iPad Air and iPad mini have hit 98% and 100% customer satisfaction, respectively. According to recent market studies, 63% of customers planning to buy a tablet are planning to buy an iPad, while half of all iPad buyers were planning to buy their first iPad.
Additionally, Apple noted that 2.5 iPads are being sold for every Mac, as the tablet now holds an 85% share of the U.S. education market. Internationally, the iPad also experienced a 50% growth in China and 60% growth in the Middle East year-over-year.
In reaction to iPad sales being down, Cook noted “significant innovation can be brought to the iPad”, stating “[Apple] plans on doing that” and that the tablet category as a whole is still “in its infancy.” Recent reports have pointed to Apple launching updated models of the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini later this year, with each likely to come with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and a faster A8 processor.
The company is also rumored to be preparing a larger “iPad Pro” which is said to feature a 12.9-inch ultra high-definition display. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the iPad Pro in 2015, but a recent report noted that Apple’s plans may be on hold for the foreseeable feature.
Apple’s EFI Firmware 2.9 Update for 2011 MacBook Airs Appears Bugged, Some Users Unable to Install [Mac Blog]
Apple’s recent EFI Firmware 2.9 update for 2011 MacBook Air models appears to be causing trouble for several MacBook Air users, according to a thread on the Apple Support Communities.
Released on July 15 to fix sleep/wake issues and a bug that caused fans to run at full speed after waking from sleep, the EFI update has caused some MacBook Air machines to shut down completely for several hours and on other machines, the update is still listed in the App Store after being installed.
Multiple users have said their machines turned off and did not reboot for several hours after attempting to install the update, while others have been unable to install the update at all. Some users have also reported completely bricked machines even after several hours.
One user attempted to install the update multiple times with no luck, while another user took his machine to the Apple Store where employees were also unable to get the update to install.
I had the same issue. The machine simply shuts off and doesn’t restart so the firmware update is never applied. The power button stopped working and the machine would not turn on at all. So I took it the the Apple Store and they cracked it open to do a physical SMC reset.
It booted up fine after that. We tried the install again and no dice. Same thing happened. This time the guy at the Genius Bar did some kind of “soft” SMC reset. He pressed SHIFT+FN+CONTROL+POWER at the same time (the first 3 keys are in the lower left corner) … held it for a few seconds and let them go. When he pressed the Power button after that the machine booted up fine. Still didn’t apply the firmware update though. The guy at the Genius Bar said he would report this issue to Engineering to alert them to the problem with the update.
It is not clear if the issue is widespread or limited to just a 2011 MacBook Air users, but as none of the affected users in the thread have discovered a solution, those who have not yet attempted to install the 2.9 update might wait to wait for an official fix from Apple.
HTC Sense keyboard released to the Play Store
HTC is slowly working to follow Google, Sony, Motorola and others by pulling out some of their specific apps and loading them to the Play Store. The newest addition is the HTC Sense keyboard. With every app that OEM’s pull from their deeply embedded custom skins the better for owners everywhere. With the app safely free to be updated and altered at will, it prevents users from suffering through bugs in hopes that a OTA shows up to fix it.
The images that HTC added to the Play Store are definitely not of the English variety, Chinese maybe? I am not entirely sure. However, the keyboard does have a number of language packs inside. As with most OEM made available apps, this one will only be able to be installed on compatible devices. HTC fails to offer up the list, but we would imagine most of the newer HTC devices, like HTC One (2013 and 2014) should be using it as well as the newer mid-ranged Desire line. It might be worth picking up if you do have a HTC device and you use the Sense keyboard.
What’s New
1. Support Google extract view in landscape mode.2. Add the prompt when adding none word into personal dictionary.
3. Show .ru/.ro/.nl on Russian/Romanian/Dutch URL keyboard.
4. Enable Handwriting manual submit mode.
5. Fix Zhuyin “ㄦ” cannot be typed issue.
Head to the Play Store and grab it, unless HTC pushed it through to your device already.
HTC Sense Input Play Store Link
HTC corporation on the Play Store for more language packs if needed.
Via 9to5Google
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Android 4.4.2 update heading to the Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
I can remember a time when we all talked about and wanted an Asus Transformer Pad. It was an Android tablet, with a detachable keyboard, that made its self into a laptop. It was pretty amazing when Asus first put them out. Now the line has come down a notch and other OEM’s have started to do even bigger things. Nvidia and the newly announced Shield Tablet comes to mind. Asus was always fairly good about keeping the Transformer line updated and squashing bugs though. The higher-end Transformer Pad, the TF701T, is picking up an update that owners will be happy to see.
In a typical staged roll-out owners should all start to see a pop up to let them update the wonder tab to Android 4.4.2. You can head into the device settings and hit that software update button if you want to. If you happen to be impatient, you can also visit the Asus website and look for your devices SKU and side load it. Although they don’t offer any documentation on how to install it. AndroidPolice recollects that you tossed the file on an external SD card and popped it into the tablet to trigger the update process. You may want to do some research on the matter before hand and be sure you get the right file as well.
Any Transformer TF701T owners out there seeing the update on their devices today?
Source: Android Police
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Apple Reports Q3 2014 Results: $7.7 Billion Profit on June Quarter Record $37.4 Billion in Revenue [Live Blog]
Apple today announced financial results for the second calendar quarter and third fiscal quarter of 2014. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $37.4 billion and net quarterly profit of $7.7 billion, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $35.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $6.9 billion, or $1.07 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.
Gross margin for the quarter was 39.4 percent compared to 36.9 percent in the year-ago quarter, with international sales accounting for 59 percent of revenue. Apple also declared an upcoming dividend payment of $0.47 per share, payable on August 14 to shareholders of record as of August 11. The company currently holds $164.5 billion in cash and marketable securities.
Quarterly iPhone unit sales reached 35.2 million, up from 31.2 million in the year-ago quarter, and the company sold 13.3 million iPads, down from 14.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 4.4 million Macs, up from 3.8 million in the year-ago period.
“Our record June quarter revenue was fueled by strong sales of iPhone and Mac and the continued growth of revenue from the Apple ecosystem, driving our highest EPS growth rate in seven quarters,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are incredibly excited about the upcoming releases of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, as well as other new products and services that we can’t wait to introduce.”
Apple’s guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 includes expected revenue of $37-40 billion and gross margin between 37 and 38 percent.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q3 2014 financial results conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
Live Updates – No need to refresh 
FXNOW Channel With Simpsons World Content Coming to Apple TV [Mac Blog]
The Apple TV may gain a new FXNOW channel that includes Simpsons World content, according to TV writer Jason Lynch who tweeted the news yesterday (via iLounge). Lynch said the FXNOW channel will come to the Apple TV, Roku, and other devices within the next 12 months.
FXNOW is the on-demand portion of the FX, FXX, and FXM television channels, all of which are owned by the Fox Entertainment Group. The FXNOW Apple TV channel will reportedly include content from The Simpsons, branded Simpsons World, which offers all 552 episodes of The Simpsons along with additional content. Simpsons World, debuting in October, will allow fans to search for and watch any episode or clip of The Simpsons on demand on FXNOW.
According to reports, Simpsons World will also allow users to create playlists of episodes and share favorite scenes, features that will likely make their way to the Apple TV version of the channel. FXNOW with Simpsons World currently requires cable authentication and is limited to FXX subscribers, and the Apple TV version will require a cable subscription as well.
Currently, supported cable providers for the existing FXNOW channel include AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, and Time-Warner. Simpsons World access will also be available through the FXNOW app for the iPad.
Apple Acquired 29 Companies Since Fiscal 2013, Including Five Since April [Mac Blog]
During today’s third quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that Apple has purchased a total of 29 companies since fiscal 2013, including five new companies after the end of the March quarter. Of the 29 companies purchased, some are known but many remain unknown.
Only three of Apple’s newest acquisitions have been revealed, including LuxVue Technology in early May, Beats Electronics in late May, and Spotsetter in June, leaving two unknown acquisitions. The acquisition of Beats marked Apple’s most expensive purchase to date at $3 billion. Apple CFO Luca Maestri says the deal is expected to close this quarter.
Earlier in 2014, Apple acquired SnappyLabs, a company that produced a burst-mode photo app, and Burstly, the company behind the Testflight iOS beta testing platform.
Including BroadMap, Embark, HopStop, Locationary, and WiFiSlam, along with other notable additions like 3D company PrimeSense and Novauris, a speech recognition company.
The technology from Apple’s acquisitions will undoubtedly make its way into future products and updates. For example, significant mapping updates are expected sometime after the launch of iOS 8, adding transit directions and improved indoor mapping techniques.
During the company’s April earnings call, Tim Cook said Apple was “on the prowl” for additional companies to acquire.
iTunes by the Numbers: Billings up 25% Year-Over-Year, $20B Paid to Devs, 75B App Downloads [iOS Blog]
During its financial results call covering the third fiscal quarter (second calendar quarter) of 2014, Apple shared details on the success of its iTunes Store, which has become an increasingly important revenue source for the company in recent years, mainly due to the ever-growing popularity of the App Store.
For the first fiscal nine months of the year, Apple CEO Tim Cook said iTunes software and services were the fastest growing part of Apple’s business. iTunes billings grew 25 percent year over year to an all time quarterly high, largely due to the App Store.
In the third quarter, iTunes generated $4.5 billion, an increase of 12 percent year over year. There have been 75 billion cumulative App Store downloads, and Apple has now paid a total of $20 billion to developers. In January of 2014, Apple had paid out $15 billion, meaning $5 billion of that total has been paid out in 2014 alone.
During the call, Tim Cook said that he expects iOS 8 with more than 4,000 APIs and the company’s new developer language, Swift, to result in significant growth and improvement for apps and the App Store.
Overall, Apple posted revenue of $37.4 billion and a net quarterly profit of $7.7 billion, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $35.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $9.5 billion ($1.07 per diluted share) in the year-ago quarter. Year over year, Apple’s revenue is up 6 percent and its profit is up 12 percent.
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