3G-capable LG smartwatch appears in an FCC filing
LG’s apparently gearing up to release a new smartwatch in the US other than the G Watch R — one that’s 3G-capable, just like Samsung’s Gear S. A document that’s just passed through the FCC points to an oval/rectangular LG smartwatch (57.7 x 35.5 mm) slightly smaller than the Gear S (58.3 x 39.8 mm) which comes with CDMA connectivity. Because of its codename (VC100) and the fact that it supports Verizon’s CDMA frequencies (according to the FCC docs), it might just land on Big Red if there’s a US launch. With 3G connection built into the watch, it can presumably work on its own — download apps, make phone calls, send messages and connect to the internet, among others — without being paired with a smartphone. It may take a while until the mysterious smartwatch comes out, though, seeing as LG’s answer to the Moto 360 isn’t even out in the US yet.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, LG
Via: G for Games, 9to5google
Source: FCC
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Leaks point towards a 5.5″ Samsung Galaxy A7
For those of you looking for premium build on a mid-range device, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha was probably music to your ears. However, for some people 4.7″ is not a big enough screen size. It appears that Samsung is coming to the rescue for those users thanks to a new leak from SamMobile. New details about Samsung’s next A series phone, the Galaxy A7, have been released by Zauba. According to the site, the A7 (or SM-A700 at it is referred to in the shipping listing) will feature a 5.5″ screen.
While this is sure to please many people, it has been previosly confirmed that the A7 will ship with a 720p display. This resolution is decent on the Alpha’s 4.7″ display, but 720p at 5.5″ will not provide a sharp display. However, it is still passable, and for those of you who are not obsessed with pixels, it should not be a problem.
Now comes pricing. The listing on Zauba shows a per unit cost of 12,474 rupees which comes out to around $200. This phone at that price would be fantastic, but SamMoblie is claiming that the phone could retail for up to $500. While $500 is not a bad price for a 5.5″ quality smartphone, there are definitely other alternatives with similar screen sizes that come in at less money. Other details provided by SamMobile on the Galaxy A7 include LTE support and dual SIM slots.
What are your first impressions of this new information on the Galaxy A7? Tell us in the comments!
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For Your Consideration: mobile accessories to check out this weekend (Sept. 27)
Hey, Happy Saturday! Welcome to the first of an ongoing series of accessories round ups. The plan is to highlight at least five accessories to check out, but we’ll play loose with the number, especially if it pertains to different smartphones or tablets. Let’s jump right in!
The Glif
The Glif is perfect for you if you have ever wanted to use your phone with a tripod. It has 2 purposes: it is a universal tripod mount, and you can use it as a kickstand. Its small and can be adjusted to fit any phone, even if the phone is in a case. It’s extremely portable, it comes with a keychain adapter so you can take it with you anywhere with your keys. The company, Studio Neat is from Austin,TX and the Glif is made in America. It can be found here on Amazon – The Glif.
Chargecard for Android
If you have ever been stuck somewhere and needed a micro-usb cable for your phone, this one is for you. The Chargecard is shaped like a card and is made to fit in either a wallet or purse. The name is slightly deceiving, this is not a portable charger as the name implies; this is just a compact USB cable that fits in your wallet for whenever you need it. The reason I included it is because I can’t tell you how many times, I have been stuck and needed a USB cable, this would have helped a lot. It can be found here- Chargecard.
Spiderpodium
I read about the Spiderpodium and thought of 1 thing: a holder for my phone in the car. I have had this problem in my car since I decided to get it back in March; I have nowhere to put it when I am in my car.
This accessory is one of the most versatile stands for a phone that I have ever seen. The stand has 8 flexible legs that can be arranged to grip and support your phone wherever you decide to put it. The are two different versions: one for the phone, and a bigger one for the tablet.
LG Tones
If you are in the market for some stereo bluetooth headphones, you should look at these strongly. I have owned a pair of these for about a year now, and they work unbelievably well. One of my favorite features is that it works with Google search on your phone, if you press one of the buttons on the device, it functions as if you just said “OK, Google” in the search app. They sound great, I haven’t had any issues with music or podcasts. Another of the cooler features is that these vibrate when receiving a call as well. Check them out at Amazon.
Otterbox Symmetry
I love Otterbox cases! I have used an Otterbox case for almost every phone I’ve used for over 2 years. I started with nothing but Commuter cases, which are smaller than the Defender, and have a screen protector included in every package. The new Symmetry case has caught my attention. I love that they are smaller and lighter than the Commuter, and offer a great level of protection.
What I don’t like is that they don’t come with screen protectors. Maybe Otterbox will include them at some point in the future. You can find one of these cases for some of the newer phones. Check out one of these symmetry cases for some of the more popular Android phones: LG G3, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5.
Well, that’s all for this week! Let us know what you think about the accessories on the list. Also, let us know in the comments which accessories you want to see covered next!
Featured this week
Otterbox Symmetry Series for Samsung Galaxy S5 – Retail Packaging – Black (Black/Black)
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The post For Your Consideration: mobile accessories to check out this weekend (Sept. 27) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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The extended Nexus family: Google’s golden Android standard
Google’s Nexus line has long stood as the company’s ideal vision of its widely adopted, open-source Android operating system. The devices, be they smartphones, tablets or even one-off media streamers, are built in conjunction with select hardware partners and represent an ideal marriage of tech specs with an unadulterated version of Android. It’s Google’s way of dealing with fragmentation (read: skinned versions) in the mobile OS market it created; a reference mark for manufacturers to aspire to, so to speak.
On the tail of the original Android handset’s sixth anniversary and in the run-up to whatever new Nexuses come next, we take a look back at the hardware path that’s been Google’s gold standard for Android.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Samsung, HTC, Google, LG, T-Mobile
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Corvette’s ‘valet mode’ is illegal depending on where you live
When we took the Corvette Performance Data Recorder for a spin at CES this year we’d never have guessed that the system could cause a run-in with Johnny Law. As it turns out, the system’s audio recording feature that activates when the car’s put into valet mode doesn’t jive with privacy statutes in a handful of states. In fact, using it could be a felony depending where you live. Chevrolet, for its part, is apparently attempting to skirt any legal issues that may arise by notifying dealerships and giving them letters to pass out to customers. The correspondence alerts owners about the possible privacy issue, as noticed by Jalopnik when a sample was posted to Corvette Forum.
The letter to owners, embedded below and via CorvetteBlogger, urges them to not use the mode until a fix is implemented that would bring Chevy back on the right side of the law. Should you still want to use the feature, the Bow-tie Company advises owners to let the temporary driver know in advance. For now, we can think of at least two car-hops who’re probably ecstatic about this development.
[Image credit: Chevrolet]
Filed under: Transportation
Source: CorvetteBlogger, Corvette Forum
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Tip: How to speed up your Samsung Galaxy S5
We published a tip that would instantly speed up your Samsung Galaxy S4, and whilst the Galaxy S5 is no slouch the same tip applies to the new device and will have it lightning quick.
The tip will help speed up your Samsung Galaxy S5 and have it feeling brand new, and it’s as simple as having developer options enabled.
The little hack revolves around the animations applied to transitioning between windows and turning the device on or off. By simply turning this off, it contributes to making the device seem extremely snappy and fast.
First, you’ll need to enable the Developer Options hidden menu. To do this, go into Settings -> About Device and scroll down to “Build Number”. Now, tap on “Build Number” five times and you’ll see a notification saying that “Developer mode has been enabled”.
With that hidden menu now enabled, we can head on into it to begin fastening up our Samsung Galaxy S5.
- Head on in to Developer Options in Settings.
- Scroll down to the Drawing section.
- Of interest here is the Window Animation Scale, Transition Animation Scale, and Animator Duration Scale.
- Click on them individually to change the scale.
You are able to turn the animations off completely, or set them to 0.5x (default is 1x) so the animations will be double speed for those who would like to retain them.
You’ll notice your Samsung Galaxy S5 feels substantially quicker. Let us know your comments in the section below.
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HTC RECamera images leak ahead of October 8 event
HTC’s GoPro competitor has leaked ahead of their upcoming October 8th event, in which we’re also likely to see HTC’s smartwatch (which has been killed and resurrected numerous times already).
The images show a device that has, what is rumoured to be, a 16-Megapixel camera, a 170-degree Super Wide Angle Lens, underwater shooting capabilities, and slow motion video capture.
Is there room for a competitor to GoPro? Drop us a comment in the section below.
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The post HTC RECamera images leak ahead of October 8 event appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Yahoo’s old web directory still exists, but not for long
Way before Yahoo launched Search, it offered people from a different era a more primitive way to find websites: a web directory. While the advent of sophisticated search engines likely means you haven’t seen that directory in a decade or so (confession: we didn’t even realize it was still around), it apparently still exists… though not for long. Yahoo has just announced that it’s finally shutting down the service on December 31st, 2014, 20 years after company founders Jerry Yang and David Filo first put it together. For the young ‘uns who’ve never had to use it, the Yahoo Directory is exactly what it sounds like: a directory of websites you can browse to find the info you’re looking for, something we clearly don’t need anymore. Let us have a moment of silence as this relic of the early internet bids farewell and (along with Yahoo Education and short movie creation service Qwiki) joins the 60 other services Yahoo has recently killed in an effort to find its focus.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Yahoo
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Sony is shutting down PlayStation Home in North America, too
It was only a matter of time. When word came down that Sony was shuttering the PlayStation 3 virtual space, PlayStation Home, in Japan earlier this year, the service’s domestic days were likely numbered as well. Citing a “shifting landscape” as the cause (and likely no public outcry that the oft-laggy environment was missing from the PlayStation 4), senior community manager Paul Sullivan writes on the PS Blog that the last day to run around the hub will be March 31st of next year. Don’t start fretting just yet, however, as the electronics giant plans to release new downloadable content for the quasi-Second-Life experience ahead of that. Perhaps it’s time to do a mournful diva dance in your virtual domicile to commemorate this event. A bit rusty with the proper moves? Check the video after the jump for some inspiration, then.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Via: Gamasutra
Source: PlayStation Blog
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Recommended Reading: André 3000 chats ‘Jimi: All Is by My Side’
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
Billboard Cover: Andre 3000 Talks Playing Jimi Hendrix, His Seven-Year Disappearing Act and Outkast’s Future
by Lang Whitaker,
Billboard
It has been an eventful for year for André Benjamin. Perhaps better known as half of the hip-hop duo Outkast, Benjamin — or André 3000 — rejoined Big Boi on a globe-trotting festival tour this year for the pair’s 20th anniversary performances. If that weren’t enough, Jimi: All Is by My Side, the film where he stars as Jimi Hendrix, is set to hit theaters this weekend. The artist and actor opened up to Billboard on the role, life and rumored new album.
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Ex-Employees Say Home Depot Left Data Vulnerable Last week, Home Depot revealed that details of 56 million customer credit cards were compromised in a massive data breach. That’s even larger than Target’s woes last year. As it turns out, the chain was easy game. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
The Evolution of Flying Lotus If you don’t immediately recognize the name Flying Lotus, you’ve likely heard some his work. The great-nephew of John Coltrane has a list of collaborators that includes the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Thom Yorke, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock and many more. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
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Project Titan: A Brief History of a Game that Doesn’t Exist With the official word from Blizzard that its Titan MMO had been canceled coming this week, now’s a good time to revisit Joystiq’s piece from last year detailing the project. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
iPhone 6 Plus Camera Review: Iceland Pro travel photographer Austin Mann trekked through Iceland for a few days to put the new iPhone camera features through their paces. Mann’s findings were part of a feature for The Verge, but he further detailed the trip on his own website. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
[Photo credit: Mark Horton/WireImage]
Filed under: Misc
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AIVAnet 