Looks like Lollipop for the Note 2 isn’t happening
Chalk this up as sad news this morning but it looks like the Note 2 won’t be getting Lollipop. Despite news that the Note 2 made the official list for the update in Finland in December of last year, it looks like we won’t be seeing an official update for the second-generation Note phablet.
If the Samsung Gulf Facebook page has anything to say about the global availability of the update, it’s not happening. As such, the Note 2 phablet will officially remain on Android 4.4.2. It could very well be that the update will be quite region dependent, if it’s available at all, but given that Samsung has only just begun to put together Android 5.1, it could be Samsung is only focusing on the most current of devices. Even so, it could very well be that Note 2 users dodged a bullet here given the buggy nature of Lollipop 5.0.X.
That said, if you’re wanting to get a taste of Lollipop on your second-gen Note phablet, it looks like you’re going to have to do so in an unofficial capacity.
source: GSM Arena
Come comment on this article: Looks like Lollipop for the Note 2 isn’t happening
‘Reserve Strap’ Debuts New Design Focusing on Apple Watch Diagnostic Port [iOS Blog]
Originally announced by third-party developers Lane Musgrave and John Arrow back in early March, one of the biggest concerns of the battery-boosting accessory “Reserve Strap” was its use of the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor as a way to provide power to the wearable. Although it was unconfirmed, there was always a possibility of the Reserve Strap obstructing normal functions of the heart rate sensor, or causing the Watch to not function altogether by interfering with skin contact completely.
Last week, after getting their hands on an Apple Watch, Musgrave and Arrow have gone back to the drawing board on the design of the Reserve Strap, coming up with a new look that acts as more of a traditional Apple-made band without blocking the heart rate sensor at all. The new Reserve Strap aims to use the 6-pin diagnostic port – hidden inside of the band port on the bottom of the Watch – as the main source of providing power to the device, shirking the heart rate sensor’s magnetic inductive charging altogether.
The Original Reserve Strap design (left) vs the new design (right)
Finally getting our hands on the Apple Watch has further confirmed the immense value of the Reserve Strap. Since release day, we’ve been executing series of tests on the Apple Watch and have some really exciting news to share today.
We’ve developed and tested a completely rethought design that takes advantage of the 6-pin port underneath the band slide of the Apple Watch. This port hadn’t been deciphered by anyone until now but we’ve been able to make significant enough observations so far to warrant shifting our development focus to this new method. We’re looking forward to sharing more design details and technical specification of this new Reserve Strap as soon as we can.
The company claims in its blog posts that its engineers have “been able to independently confirm that the 6-pin diagnostic port underneath the Apple Watch case can be used for charging.” They continue by also noting the diagnostic port will allow for not only a higher charge capacity, but faster, more efficient charging times. The blog post also notes that the new method should improve durability of the strap as a whole and eliminate “any interference with Apple Watch functionality including taptic feedback and heartrate sensors.”
Initial renderings of the new design (left) vs fully realized 3D model (right)
No word was given on the planned Kickstarter for the Reserve Strap, but those interested can still pre-order the device from the company’s official website for $249.99. Color options will include white, gray and black, and customers will be able to choose between 38mm and 42mm strap sizes to fit their preferred Apple Watch size.
12.9-Inch ‘iPad Pro’ Rumored to Feature NFC, Bluetooth Stylus, Force Touch and USB-C [iOS Blog]
The much-rumored 12.9-inch so-called “iPad Pro” will feature a built-in NFC chip, pressure-sensitive Bluetooth stylus, Force Touch and USB-C port, according to AppleInsider. The report, citing a source familiar with Apple’s future product plans, also claims that the larger iPad will have a new touchscreen with improved latency and unsurprisingly be powered by Apple’s latest A-series processor.
A purported “iPad Pro” blueprint from December 2014 with possible dimensions
The inclusion of an NFC chip will enable the iPad Pro to be used as an Apple Pay payment terminal, although it is unlikely the tablet itself will have tap-to-pay functionality, according to the report. Apple Pay contactless payments are currently limited to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 5, iPhone 5c or iPhone 5s when paired with an Apple Watch, in the United States.
Meanwhile, the report corroborates well-informed KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s claim that the iPad Pro will feature an Apple-built stylus, which AppleInsider says will connect via Bluetooth and allow pressure-sensitive input. The iPad Pro’s display will also reportedly feature Force Touch, a technology that distinguish between a tap and a deep press on the screen.
The report adds that the iPad Pro’s USB-C port will either replace or supplement the Lightning connector equipped on other current iPads:
“The source also said that Apple’s new, larger iPad will also feature a USB-C input, though they didn’t indicate whether it would be a new, second port option, or if USB-C would replace the Lightning connector found on current iPads. Cases based on allegedly leaked “iPad Pro” designs have included spaces for two port openings, leading to speculation that Apple could potentially include both USB-C and Lightning, or offer docking capabilities in two different orientations.”
Many of these rumored iPad Pro features have been reported by other sources over the past year, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Kuo.
The report stops short of providing a release timetable for the iPad Pro, although The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Apple is planning to begin mass production of the device in September following some internal setbacks. Apple typically refreshes its iPad lineup in October, and it’s possible the iPad Pro could launch around that time if there are no further production delays.
Google tests converting websites so they load 4x faster over slow connections
Android users in Indonesia navigating on slow connections will soon be served streamlined versions of websites that load four times faster and consume 80 percent less data than normal versions.
Here’s how it works: when detecting a 2G or other slow connection, Google will automatically serve a stripped down version of the website that the user requests. This process is called “transcoding” and happens on the fly, without requiring any modification from the website’s behalf.
The approach resembles a bit what Opera Mini does with its data compression service. But Google goes deeper by optimizing the websites and stripping off non-essential content. Ads are also removed, though Google will preserve ads from its own AdSense and a few other networks.
Not every website can be transcoded; large sites, like video sites, any site that uses cookies, and any site that is “technically challenging” are excluded.
Webmasters can opt out from the program, and users can click on a link at the top of the page to get the regular version.
Google claims that transcoding speeds up page loading by up to four times, reduces data consumption by 80 percent, and increases page views by 50 percent. After all, users will browse a whole lot more if the experience is faster and smoother.
Google will begin field testing the feature later this month in Indonesia, for users running Chrome or the Android browser on Android 2.3 or higher. Only mobile users using slow connections will see the optimized pages.
There’s no information on the program expanding to other markets for now. Would you be interested in something like this in your own country?
Apple Watch diagnostic port: a goldmine for accessory makers
Long before it officially existed, there were rumors that the Apple Watch had disappointing battery life. It wasn’t long afterward that we started to hear companies were preparing to build external power packs to compensate. Thankfully, the folks over at Reserve Strap have discovered that you don’t have to sacrifice style in favor of usefulness, thanks to the six-pin “diagnostic” port found on the bottom of the watch case. It turns out that the feature doesn’t just transmit data, but can receive power at far faster rates than the magnetic inductive charging panel on the underside.
As Reserve Strap says, it means that accessory makers can now build more elegant straps that look a lot closer to the originals than a janky external case. It also makes us hopeful that, much like Pebble Time’s connected accessory port, companies could build straps with functions that run beyond just recharging the device. Of course, Apple won’t be happy with any of this, and will probably do everything it can in its power to hamper their progress — after all, Jonathan Ive doesn’t believe there’s even a need for you to own a battery case.
[Image Credit: Reserve Strap]
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Reserve Strap
Comments by Samsung Gulf suggest Samsung Galaxy Note 2 won’t be getting Android Lollipop
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There have been rumours that have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, by now a two-and-a-half year old device, would be getting Android Lollipop. Maybe it was blind faith or just hope, but we were hoping that this time this rumour would be true. Unfortunately, some comments made by Samsung Gulf, one of Samsung‘s regional offices, have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 won’t be getting Android Lollipop, which means the dream might be over for an official update.
Somehow it’s not particularly surprising seeing as Samsung has previously said that 18 months from launch is the window that it would be working off for future updates to devices, and the Galaxy Note 2 is way past its prime. If you’re disappointed, all is not lost, as is always the way with Android – plenty of great developers have been working on custom ROMs for some time now that will give you that Lollipop experience if you are adamant you want to have it on your Galaxy Note 2. If that interests you, hop on over to the XDA Forums where you’ll find your Lollipop fix.
What do you think about the rumour that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 won’t be getting Android Lollipop? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamMobile
The post Comments by Samsung Gulf suggest Samsung Galaxy Note 2 won’t be getting Android Lollipop appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google is experimenting with Dart to create faster, smoother Android apps
A group of Google developers is working on Sky, a Dart-based “experimental, high-performance UI framework for mobile apps.”
The majority of Android apps are written in Java, but Sky makes use of Dart, an open-source web programming language developed and promoted by Google. The goal of Sky is to allow the creation of faster apps that can run on any platform and can make use of better web integration for a better user experience.
Fast, smooth apps should be the norm in our day and age, but unfortunately not all Android apps attain the 60fps gold standard at which animations are perceived as smooth. According to its creators, Sky makes it possible to create apps that consistently run at 120fps. The team used Dart on Android to create this simple demo app that renders entire frames every 1.2 milliseconds, much lower than the 8 milliseconds required to hit 120fps. But even complicated apps should be able to fit within the 8 milliseconds limit.
In order to hit this impressive frame rate, the “jank-free” Sky prioritizes the UI over other processes, meaning the app should stay smooth when it works heavily in the background.
Sky works on top of the Dart virtual machine so Sky apps can work on Android, but also on other operating systems that have a Dart VM. And because Dart is primarily a web app language, Android apps made with Sky have most of their code stored on a web server, which makes it much easier to update them: instead of updating code on every device, developers only need to update the code on the server.
For now, Sky is billed as an experiment, but the project holds great promise. Ars Technica has a closer look at Sky and the possibilities it opens here.
Sony makes it easier to install a custom OS on its smartphones
Installing new ROMs can be an excellent way to breathe new life into an unsupported old handset, but leaping through all the rooting and recovery hoops can be a turn-off for many. Fortunately, Sony is helping to make installing custom operating systems a little easier, by releasing a set of special bootloaders that enable booting from the recovery partition. An essential requirement for installing and booting into another OS.
What this means is that users will be more free to install custom ROMs and even other operating systems, as developers don’t have to spend time modifying the Android build system to pack a recovery in with the boot image. By allowing for the the use of regular recovery images built on any AOSP based project, users will even be able to install other Android related operating systems, such as Firefox OS and Ubuntu Touch, to their phone.
The first Sony devices to receive the new bootloaders are the ARM Cortex-A7 CPU based Xperia T2 Ultra, Xperia T3, Xperia M2, and Xperia E3, with the potential for more devices to appear in the future. Sony hasn’t made an official announcement yet, but you can already download the bootloaders using Sony’s official flash-tool. Just plug in your device and select the “(open devices) bootloader” service. Additional instructions can be found in the source link below.
It’s not clear if or when Sony will be rolling out this feature to its higher end devices, but it’s a promising sign for those who like to modify their OS experience. We can only hope that Sony’s headstart will convince some other OEMs to include similar options in the future too.
Meerkat breaks up with Twitter, jumps into bed with Facebook instead
If your social media startup uses Twitter as a link to the people, then you run the risk of getting your lifeline cut off should you get too popular. After all, Twitter tried to crowd Instagram out with Twitter Video, Picture Sharing and Vine, and the social network is now trying to supplant Meerkat with Periscope. It’s one of the reasons that, in its most recent update, Meerkat has broken its close association with the site, making a Twitter account entirely optional.
Even better, is that users can now post their live video streams to Facebook, and you’ll also be able to find users who are in your phone book. It’s previously been quite an issue, since Twitter cut off Meerkat’s access to the social graph, making finding your friends that little bit harder. The updated Meerkat is available in the App Store (or, you know, on your phone), and we can presume these features will also hit the Android beta at some point in the future, too.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Via: Venturebeat
Source: Meerkat (Medium)
May the Fourth be with you: Celebrate Star Wars Day with KOTOR for $2.99
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Today is May the 4th and as Star Wars fans everywhere know, it’s Star Wars Day. Now, people will celebrate this day many different ways – board games and video games immediately spring to mind, as do movie marathons. Video games ring particularly true with me, and if there’s one thing I’m going to do today, I’m going to play KOTOR (short for Knights of the Old Republic), what I think is still the best Star Wars video game to date. And I’m going to play it on Android, because right now you can get KOTOR for $2.99 USD on the Google Play Store, a massive price cut from its $9.99 launch price.
Set many years before the events of the original movie trilogy, KOTOR focuses on a similarly epic storyline of a galaxy oppressed by a Sith Lord and a hero who rises from obscurity. What made it so endearing to those who first played it in 2003 was how much influence you had on the world around you and how your actions would cause an effect many planets away. It really goes to show how far smartphone technology has come these last few years that a console game from years back and now be played on a personal device. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this deal while it’s still around, hit the link below (yes it says $9.99, but click through to the Google Play Store and it will show as $2.99).
What are your fondest memories of KOTOR? Let us know in the comments below.
The post May the Fourth be with you: Celebrate Star Wars Day with KOTOR for $2.99 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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