Five things to know about the HTC One M9
Now that we’ve got our massive HTC One M9 review out the door, it’s time to step back and take a top-down view. Because for as much as we care about the details, we get that it can be a bit much. And there are few important things about the M9 that help define it as a smartphone, as well as help put it in context with everything else that’s out there — and with what’s to come.
So here, now, are the top five things you need to know about the HTC One M9.
Nintendo quashes talk of a live-action ‘Legend of Zelda’ series
We hope you weren’t planning your Netflix viewing schedule around that rumored Legend of Zelda live-action series… you’re about to have your hopes dashed. Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata tells Time that talk of the game-based show is “not based on correct information.” There’s “nothing new to share” about any Nintendo brands showing up in movies or TV, he says. The executive isn’t outright denying things, but you probably don’t want to count on seeing a gritty portrayal of Link’s adventures any time soon. It’s probably just as well if the series never comes to pass — the last time Zelda got a series, it didn’t get a warm reception.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Nintendo
Source: Time
Apple Seeds Fifth OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite Beta to Developers, Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of OS X Yosemite to developers, almost a month after seeding the first OS X 10.10.3 beta and just a week after releasing the fourth beta to developers.
The new beta, build 14D113c, is available for registered developers through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Mac Dev Center. Yosemite Recovery Update 3.0 is also available.
Earlier betas of OS X 10.10.3 have brought several new features to Yosemite, including the new Photos for OS X app. Designed to integrate with iCloud Photo Library, Photos for OS X is a replacement for both iPhoto and Aperture and is on track to see an early 2015 public launch. Reviews have suggested that while Photos is a suitable replacement for iPhoto, with more advanced tools and performance optimizations, it may leave professional users disappointed.
Along with the new Photos for OS X app, the first two OS X 10.10.3 betas introduced a redesigned emoji picker that consolidates emoji into a single page with clear labels, new diversified emoji and emoji skin tone modifiers, new flag emoji and updated emoji for the iPhone, iMac, and Apple Watch, and support for Google 2-step verification when setting up accounts in System Preferences.
Microsoft apps coming to more Samsung devices this year
Samsung and Microsoft are extending their software partnership this year, in a bid to improve productivity services for regular customers and business users alike. To wit, Samsung will pre-install additional Microsoft services and apps on its upcoming Android devices.
The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge already come with Microsoft’s OneNote, OneDrive and Skype applications pre-installed and upcoming Samsung tablets, scheduled for a H1 2015 release, will come pre-packaged with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint in addition to the S6’s software.
The aim appears to be to make Samsung’s products more appealing to the enterprise market, but general consumers may not take as kindly to the pre-installed “bloat” that they may never use. Businesses that purchase devices through Samsung’s business-to-business sales channels will be offered Business, Business Premium, and Enterprise Office 365 packages, coupled with Samsung’s KNOX security solution.
“Our goal is to meet the ever-evolving needs of both consumers and business customers and give them more power to discover new mobile experiences.” – SangChul Lee, Samsung Electronics
Microsoft appears to be increasingly receptive to opening up its software to competing operating systems and hardware, most likely in a bid to keeps its name relevant and to potentially lure customers back around to its operating system. Microsoft is currently a small player in the mobile market and risks losing software sales to unsupported platforms. Earlier in the year, Microsoft released its office software suite for Android tablets along with an Excel optimized keyboard. Rumors are also pointing to Cortana heading to Android in the future, not to mention the planned Windows 10 support for Xiaomi products.
Along with the Microsoft deal, Samsung also has an arrangement with BlackBerry to enhance its enterprise software suite. Samsung is looking to make itself stand out above the crowd in the business segment this year, with an extended range of applications and security features tailored to that market.
What do you think about the partnership?
Samsung, Microsoft expand partnership to bring more services to Android devices
Samsung and Microsoft have announced they are expanding their partnership, a move that will lead to more Microsoft services and apps being pre-installed on Samsung Android devices. The cornerstone of the new plan will be a Microsoft Office 365 and Samsung KNOX Business Pack which will be available as soon as the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are released.
Consumers will discover that new Samsung smartphones will come with Microsoft’s OneNote, OneDrive and Skype pre-installed. The first devices to get this new stack will be the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Samsung is planning to provide a similar stack of pre-installed Microsoft apps, with the addition of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, on Android powered tablets hitting the market in the next few months. Samsung and Microsoft will also provide 100GB of cloud storage space through OneDrive for up to two years after a device is purchased.
The companies are also targeting business users by making three versions of Office 365 available that have been configured to work with Samsung’s KNOX security platform. Business buyers will even be able to get setup service provided to help get things up and running smoothly.
Samsung executive vice president of the Strategic Marketing Office, IT & Mobile Division, SangChul Lee, says “We believer our suite of premium mobile products coupled with Microsoft’s productivity services will offer users the mobility they need in both their personal and business life.”
Anyone out there looking forward to seeing Microsoft expanding their offerings via their partnership with Samsung?
source: Samsung
Come comment on this article: Samsung, Microsoft expand partnership to bring more services to Android devices
Best screen protectors for HTC One M9
So, you’ve got your hands on the HTC One M9 or maybe you’re just waiting for it to arrive. The first thing you’ll want to do is ensure that you’re protected against all of the everyday dings and scratches that find their way to our phones’ screens. We’ve put together this handful of our favorite screen protectors to keep your One M9 in tip-top shape:
Fosmon One M9 shatter-safe protector
Fosmon comes through with the oleophobic coating to stop fingerprints, smudges and oil slick streaks in their tracks (/infomercial voice). The 0.26mm tempered glass ensures your M9 stays shatter-safe while retaining an ultra clear resolution. Fosmon promises frustration-free installation with this screen protector.
VENA vShield for One M9
If you’re in the market for something that minimizes reflection, this anti-glare offering from VENA comes in a 3-pack to maximize value. Boasting many of the same features as our other showcased protectors, such as anti-smudge and hard coating, this pack may be the favorite for folks craving a matte surface.
Spigen One M9 Crystal protector
We’ve featured accessories from them in the past and Spigen delivers, again, with this hard coated solution. Both front and back protectors are included and promise a precise application free of bubbles.
Klear Cut One M9 protector
If bang for your buck is your game, this pack of 6 ultra clear screen protectors from Klear Cut is directly in your lane. Featuring the prerequisite scratch resistant surface and anti-bubble installation, you can also rest assured that you’re protected by a lifetime warranty.
iLLumiShield One M9 Blue Light protector
This offering from Illumishield is a 2-pack of multi-layered screen protectors that features their Blue Light technology — designed to filter out the UV light that causes eye-strain. Promising a smooth and oil-resistant surface, this kit comes with a microfiber cloth, lifetime warranty, and installation squeegee.
Join Prime and get the best One M9 screen protectors with FREE two-day shipping!
The post Best screen protectors for HTC One M9 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Download the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge wallpapers
So you can’t wait for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to come out? Well how about enjoying their wallpapers early?
Below are the default bundled wallpapers for Samsung’s next flagship device and can be yours today. They come courtesy of XDA and a direct download link to grab the whole bunch of Galaxy S6 wallpapers is here.
Source: XDA
The post Download the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge wallpapers appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung explains how it freed the Galaxy S6 from “cumbersome bloatware”
Bloatware is a loosely defined term that’s thrown around quite liberally on Android forums, but it’s not often you hear a company using it, and much less in relation with its own products.
That’s why it’s surprising to see Samsung effectively bragging about how it removed “cumbersome bloatware” from the Galaxy S6 in this post from its official blog.
Samsung explains how it refined the software on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge with a focus on simplicity. Steps like replacing icons with text, reducing the number of features by 40%, and cutting down the aforementioned “bloatware” create, according to Samsung, a “simple and powerful structure” designed with the user in mind.
Another thorny issue that Samsung touches on is lag. The company tacitly admits that its previous phones suffered from sluggishness, but the simplified UI and the “powerful processors” inside the S6 should “eliminate lag in responsiveness.”
Our Josh Vergara highlighted the Galaxy S6’ newfound smoothness in his review. One aspect that Josh particularly appreciated is the removal of the many popups and tutorial screens that Samsung previously used, which is enough to make the Galaxy S6 feel much nimbler.
As for bloatware, it looks that indeed, Samsung is serious about leaving its bad reputation behind. Many of the apps pre-installed on the Galaxy S6 are removable, allowing users to further streamline what is already the lightest implementation of TouchWiz in years.
Other software features that Samsung highlights are the powerful theming system and the edge features of the Galaxy S6 Edge.
For more on the Galaxy S6 software, make sure to check out our in-depth review. From what you’ve seen so far, are you happy with what Samsung did with TouchWiz?
Deal: Last chance to save 77% on a 3-year subscription to Anonymizer Universal VPN
Using a VPN (virtual private network) is one of the easiest and safest ways to secure sensitive data on a mobile device. If you’re looking to stay anonymous online with top-notch protection, we suggest trying out a subscription to Anonymizer Universal VPN. This VPN service is compatible with just about every mobile device out there, and the interface is super intuitive and easy to use.
Anonymizer Universal VPN will protect you against government oversight, hackers, unsecured public Wi-Fi, online activity logging and tracking. It will also mask your IP address and conceal your physical location while connecting to only Anonymizer-owned servers to ensure ultimate anonymity. It won’t keep any record of any of your online activity, and US-based support is offered 24/7.
Up to five different devices can be connected at one time. This VPN service is compatible with Android, Chrome OS, Mac (Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite), Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8), Linux and iOS 5.0 or greater.
This is your last chance to save big on a three-year subscription to this VPN service. Thanks to the Android Authority Deals Store, $55 will get you covered for three full years. 77% off the normal retail price doesn’t come around too often, so you’ll want to act fast if you’re interested! Follow the link below for more information.
Toshiba begins production of 240fps, fullHD video image sensor
Today, Toshiba announced that it has begun commercial production of its new T4K82 CMOS image sensor for smartphones and tablets. The sensor packs in high-end features which could give a boost to next-generation products.
The T4K82 is a 13 megapixel BSI (back-illuminated) CMOS image sensor, which is a match for most modern high-end smartphones. However, the big talking point is that Toshiba’s new chip is capable of 240fps interlaced slow-motion video capture with a full 1080p resolution, which, on paper, is the highest frame rate available in the industry. It can also scale down its resolution to QVGA (320×240) for 900fps equivalent video capture.
To accomplish this, Toshiba makes use of its own “Bright Mode” technology to boost frame brightness by up to four times. This is achieved through “charge binning”, which adds the charges of two pixels and outputs the sum as one pixel with double brightness. Typically, high speed frame capture suffers from underexposure due to the shortness of time available to capture light. Toshiba provides an interlaced video output when using Bright Mode, effectively doubling the perceived frame rate of the video.
However, you won’t be able to view interlaced playback on a typical smartphone display. Instead, Toshiba provides its own interlacing-progressive conversion program to output high-speed capture to a progressive format. Depending on the quality of the conversion and how well charge binning works, the motion may or may not be quite as polished as a normal progressive capture could be at this frame rate and resolution. Even so, this technology should still offer additional smoothness and clarity over existing slow-motion implementations in the mobile space.
Slow motion video capture has become an increasingly popular feature in high-end smartphones. The new Galaxy S6, HTC One M9, Xperia Z3, and OnePlus One, among others, all support 120fps slow-motion video capture at resolutions of 720p. Toshiba’s sensor will double the equivalent frame rate and increase image clarity over current smartphones capable of slow-motion recordings.
While no products fitted with the T4K82 sensor have been announced yet, entering mass production means that we could well see 240fps, full HD video capable smartphones available later in the year.
AIVAnet 