Cyanogen OS 12 rollout resumed, new build includes bug fixes and “Ok, OnePlus” hotword
Reports are coming in that Cyanogen and OnePlus have resumed the rollout of the Cyanogen 12 OTA (Lollipop) for the OnePlus One.
Following more than a few delays, the OnePlus One began receiving its much-anticipated update to Lollipop last week. However, by Monday this week, the rollout of the update was halted, ostensibly to add a new feature to the firmware, detection of the “Okay, OnePlus” hotword. Many have doubted the sanity of stopping a long-delayed rollout just to add a small new feature, and it seems that the doubters were right.
According to Cyanogen’s Steve Kondik, commenting on the OnePlus forums, the actual reason for the pause was to fix some serious bugs:
“The reasons why we stopped the initial rollout are because of a problem updating encrypted devices from 11 to 12, and a couple of bugs that we felt were critical enough to fix before continuing (mms/telephony/themes). We also had an error in our production build environment that broke voice wakeup.”
Apparently, said bugs have been fixed now, and the rollout can now resume; users who already received the initial CM 12 build (YNG1TAS0YL) will receive a small OTA for the aforementioned bugs. Users still on CM 11 will soon receive a preparatory update of about 8MB that’s mandatory for encrypted devices, followed immediately by the full CM 12 update (YNG1TAS17L).
As usual, the OTA file for the CM 12 (YNG1TAS17L) update is available for download and manual installation. You can get it from here and flash it for yourself, provided you’re on the latest version of CM11.
As for the “Okay, OnePlus” feature, once you get the update, you can activate it from Settings>Language and Input>Voice Wakeup.
Xiaomi Mi 4i official: 5-inch Full HD, Snapdragon 615 for just $200
Hugo Barra took the stage today in New Delhi to unveil Xiaomi’s newest weapon against mid-range competitors worldwide. The Xiaomi Mi 4i is a budget-minded, yet very compelling device coming first in India for the equivalent of around $200.
Barra said that the Mi 4i is a device designed for the Indian market, though you can rest assured the phone will be well received when it hits other countries soon. As the name suggests, there are similarities with the “flagship” Mi4, but the lower specced processing package place the Mi 4i somewhere in the upper mid-range, price not considered.
The Mi 4i features a 5-inch Full HD display, a Snapdragon 615 octo-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard memory, a 13MP f/2.0 rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, and a 5.1MP f/1.8 front camera with a bevy of software features including “beautify” mode. The main camera is identical to the 13MP shooter found on the higher-end Mi Note, and offers a suite of Xiaomi enhancements to the HDR mode and more. There’s also a beefy 3,120 mAh battery in the Mi 4i’s 7.8mm thick body, which is actually slightly better than the Mi 4’s. This is a dual-SIM device, with both slots accepting LTE cards.
The Mi 4i is the first Xiaomi device to run Android 5.0 Lollipop (MIUI 6), which includes a number of features designed for the Indian market, like Visual IVR (which simplifies dealing with automated phone systems typically encountered in customer service). MIUI6 also includes support for six Indian languages – Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
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Xiaomi will offer the plastic-made Mi 4i in five bright colors that match the Mi Pad 7.9 tablet: black, white, orange, blue, and pink. The smartphone will go on sale in India through Flipkart starting April 30, for Rs. 12,999, or about $205, with reservations starting today. Prices and availability for other markets are not known for now, but it will probably be in the $200 range.
Xiaomi also launched its Mi Band fitness tracker in India, available soon for Rs. 999.
Thoughs on the Mi 4i? What do you think about the price?
Carphone Warehouse’s iD mobile network launching in May, offering flexible plans and affordable 4G data
It seems that everyone is busy announcing new mobile networks lately, what with Google unveiling its Project Fi network yesterday in the States, and now we have Carphone Warehouse (CPW) taking the covers of its iD mobile network in the UK. Just like Google, CPW has decided against the great cost of building its own mobile network infrastructure and has instead partnered with the Three Network.
So what is the iD network all about? CPW says the new network will offer greater flexibility in terms of plans and avoid the issue of Bill Shock by providing controlled and capped monthly payments. Users going to Europe will also be able to use local networks thanks to iD’s roaming plans that most likely work just like Three’s current Feel at Home roaming service. And, in a move away from the trend of only offering 2-year contracts, the iD network will offer 12-month contracts with 4G data coverage.
The iD network will apparently kick things off with a series of market-leading, introductory offers with the first Mega plan being the Samsung A3 handset on a 12-month contract with 300 minutes, 5000 texts and 1GB of data for £19.50. The iD network will go live from May, so there isn’t long to wait at all.
It’s difficult to see exactly how the iD network will fit into the volatile UK landscape, especially since the network it is piggybacking off, Three, is itself supposed to be a budget-oriented operator. Another reason being that the value-for-money Giff-Gaff service provider piggybacks off the O2 network, which is now owned by, you guessed it, Three. It’s all getting a little convoluted. If you want to learn more about the iD network, we have the full press release just below and remember you can visit the iD Mobile site to register your interest.
Full Press Release:
London 23 April 2015: Today, Carphone Warehouse announces iD, a new mobile network that is built around what the customer wants and addresses consumer frustrations with current mobile phone plans.
iD – available from May and operating on the Three network – will launch with a set of market-leading, introductory offers promising the mobile user increased contract flexibility, greater access to free data roaming and the best value 4G available on the UK market.
Commenting on the launch, Graham Stapleton, UK CEO at Carphone Warehouse, said: “We’ve been listening to our millions of customers’ network requirements and desires for years. In doing so we have identified some common challenges. People want greater flexibility from their plans and are fed up with the ‘one size fits all’ approach. In fact, a recent study by Which? found that overspend on mobile phone charges in the UK amounts to £5.42billion each year – showing just how many people aren’t on the right plan for them. We are also a generation obsessed with the mobile internet and accessing data and services on the move – things people are either paying too much for or just aren’t getting. Addressing these challenges forms the basis of the first wave of plans from iD.”
At launch, the new network will solve three core customer frustrations:
- Bill Shock – for those who want to make the most out of their money and like the reassurance and security of a standardised bill each month; delivered through controlled and capped plans at the lowest price on the market
- Uncertainty when using your phone abroad – for those who travel abroad frequently but are hindered by inflexible plans. iD’s roaming plans cover more European countries than anyone else
- Flexibility – 12 month contracts for those who want great value 4G, with the flexibility of shorter term commitment
Graham continues: “This is just the beginning. We know that there are lots more customer issues and frustrations with existing mobile plans that we’re eager to tackle. We want this network to be focused on the individual and we will continue to listen to customers over the coming months, asking them to help develop and evolve iD.”
iD is the first major initiative from Dixons Carphone and will be available to customers from May 2015 via all Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PC World stores, as well as online channels. For more information and to register interest visit www.idmobile.co.uk.
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Plunder Pirates crosses the Seven Seas to Android after 7 million downloads on iOS
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The strategy genre on mobile has been booming of late thanks to perennial favourites like Clash of Clans. So it’s no surprise to see newcomers entering the ring each week, but this latest entry looks like it could be a winner. Plunder Pirates, published by Rovio’s publishing label, Rovio Stars, is making the journey onto Android after a very successful six months on the iOS platform – 7 million downloads successful – and if the trailer is anything to go by, Plunder Pirates looks like a high-quality pillaging affair. Check out the trailer below:
Like all games in this genre, in Plunder Pirates, you’ll be building up your little corner of the world with as many defenses as possible so that while you’re away, people can’t steal from you, or at the very least, can’t steal as much from you. And also common in this genre, and by virtue of the game being available for free, there will probably be a whole host of content that you can buy for real world money that will aid you in your quest to be the best on the Seven Seas. Plunder Pirates is available now on Google Play so hit the link below if it takes yar fancy.
What do you think about Plunder Pirates? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Plunder Pirates crosses the Seven Seas to Android after 7 million downloads on iOS appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Uber co-founder’s new app wants to be your personal shopper
Shopping these days is easy peasy. You can either buy online if you want to stay in your pajamas or go to a store if you need a sales rep’s help. One startup believes it can combine both experiences, though, through a fledgling concierge service called the Operator. The service has been (quietly) in development for the past two years, a brainchild of Uber co-founder Garrett Camp and former Zynga executive Robin Chan, who serves as its CEO. The app’s homepage clearly states what it can do with the tag line “Looking for something? Make a request and we’ll find it for you.” And based on what the startup showed TechCrunch, that’s exactly how the service works. You fire up the app and send out a text through it detailing the item you’re looking for.
Your request will then be sent to an “Operator” aka a sales rep, who will, in turn, send you a description and pictures of a product that matches your description. If you click “I’ll take it,” the system will use your credit card on file to make the purchase. The execs told TechCrunch that the Operators in charge of finding the right items are either employees of the retailers themselves or people trained to know brands’ inventories inside and out.
With how easy it is to buy goods from big e-commerce websites like Amazon and to look up items on Google first before making an informed purchase, one has to wonder what kind of plan the startup has to drum up interest for the service when it launches. We could see it being really useful to extremely busy (or lazy) folks who don’t have time to research their own purchases, though, or to those in desperate need of a gift at the last minute. At the moment, the app is still in private beta, but you can sign up to participate if you want to give it a shot.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Operator
Pentax’s top DSLR uses image stabilization to reduce noise
Given the moribund DSLR market, Ricoh wasn’t about to mess around with the follow-up to its popular Pentax flagship, the K-3. Sure enough, the K-3 II retains the weather-proof body, fast 8.3 fps shooting speed and high-quality 24.4-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor of the last model, while getting some enticing new tweaks. First and foremost is the so-called Pixel Shift feature which uses in-body shake reduction to sample pixels four times, significantly reducing noise at low-light levels. While the feature only works for static subjects, it should be ideal for astrophotography and other applications.
The revised in-camera shake reduction also improves stabilization to 4.3 stops. The K3-II has a new, built-in GPS receiver that can record shooting location, camera orientation and other features. Together with acceleration sensors and the in-body stabilization, it can sync the CMOS sensor to the movement of celestial bodies with its “Astrotracer” function, another boon for star shooters. Unfortunately, the GPS mechanism replaces the built-in pop-up flash, which may disappoint casual users.
Other new features on the K-3 II include new algorithms for its 27-point autofocus system and automatic horizon correction, but, WiFi still isn’t built-in and has to be done through a FLU card. The price is perhaps the best feature of all: at $1,099, it’s $200 less than the last model and $700 cheaper than Canon’s 7D Mark II, for instance. It’ll arrive in the US next month.
Filed under: Cameras
Via: Engadget Japan (translated)
Source: Ricoh
Apple Watch Pre-Orders Now Shipping for April 24 Delivery
During the night, Apple quietly began notifying some Apple Watch pre-order customers with updates on their order status, now confirming their packages were indeed shipping out to them, many with a confirmed delivery date for tomorrow’s launch.
With the Apple Store’s order status finally updated in tandem with a few early notifications customers have received from services like UPS, Apple Watch pre-order customers with a confirmed shipping status can now track their package through Apple’s online store. Though yesterday’s UPS notifications sent out to some customers focused mostly on areas in the south, this morning’s official update from Apple unsurprisingly appears to blanket the entire country. There is no word on international confirmations yet, however.
Today’s update comes after a week of slight confusion for most Apple Watch pre-order customers, with credit and debit card charges occurring on Monday and a handful of order status changes soon thereafter, but with most customers still left in the dark for the rest of the week despite early-morning pre-orders. This morning’s news should come as a breath of relief for most customers who got in early on April 10, and Apple still promises that dispatch dates beyond 4/24 – 5/8 could be coming in earlier than expected, as well.
LG Watch Urbane coming to Google Store soon
The Watch Urbane, G Watch R’s swanky-looking brother, is finally hitting stores, two months after its official unveiling.
LG announced earlier that the Watch Urbane will be landing in South Korea this week at an unspecified price, with customers in twelve other countries to get the option to buy it from this month through Google Store (formerly the hardware section of the Play Store). LG said that details about availability and price will be released when the phone actually goes on sale, though we expect a higher price tag than the $300 the G Watch R goes for.
The Watch Urbane shares with the G Watch R the 1.3-inch OLED display, Snapdragon 400 processor, 4GB of storage and 410 mAh battery. The differences are largely cosmetic, with the Urbane sporting a more sophisticated, less aggressive design that should appeal to more users.
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The Watch Urbane will be the first smartwatch to get Android Wear 5.1, announced on Monday, which brings Wi-Fi support, always-on apps, and interface changes. The Urbane will ship with 5.1 out of the box.
Will you be getting the Watch Urbane when it becomes available?
OnePlus celebrates its 1st birthday with giveaway and 50% discount on accessories
Recently, OnePlus announced that you can now buy the OnePlus One handset without needing to worry about its frustrating invite system. And today, as a way of celebrating its 1st birthday, we have news that OnePlus have discounted their accessories by 50% for today only. The OnePlus One will also be discounted by one (1!) unit of your local currency in a symbolic gesture. Finally, you can also win some prizes by entering the #NeverSettle Party, in which your can win T-shirts or even a OnePlus One handset and power bank bundle.
The sale means you can get 50% off the standard retail price of OnePlus accessories globally. So no matter where you live, you can take advantage of this offer and save yourself some dough. The accessories range from earphones, wall chargers and phone covers to screen protectors and data cables. You can browse the range of accessories on sale here. You can also enter the #NeverSettle Party giveaway here. Good luck!
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: OnePlus
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How to check Project Fi coverage in your area
By now you’ve probably heard an awful lot about Google’s announcement about providing a new network called Project Fi. The network piggybacks off of Sprint’s and T-Mobile‘s networks and supports making calls and texts over a WiFi connection when an LTE signal isn’t detected. If you’re considering your options as to whether to ditch your current provider and join Project Fi, you might want to check the signal coverage map first to see if you’re covered.
All you have to do is visit the Project Fi web page, type in your zip code and the map will show what sort of network coverage you can expect. Besides the mobile network coverage, Project Fi subscribers will also be able to use Google’s estimated 1 million WiFi hotspots situated around the country.
Source: Project Fi
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