AT&T pushing first stability update to the BlackBerry Priv
BlackBerry Priv owners on AT&T will be excited to hear that the first update for the handset is on its way. The update, originally pushed to the unlocked device on December 1, will bring a variety of stability enhancements, including security fixes, camera improvements, and more.
Here’s what you can expect to see:
- An improved camera: We’ve implemented a number of tweaks that improve the speed of our camera app, and re-tuned it for better low-light image quality.
- Better performance: We’ve also tweaked the PRIV’s software to improve overall system performance
- Improved stability: The update further includes a number of adjustments designed to improve device reliability and reduce instances of crashing and freezing.
- Enhanced security: Lastly, the release includes December’s security patches – rest easy knowing your device is protected against the latest Android security threats.
There have been some other changes that are more publicly available as well. Users will find improvements to many BlackBerry apps via the Play Store, including BlackBerry Keyboard, BlackBerry Hub, BlackBerry Camera, and DTEK by BlackBerry.
The update being pushed to the device is a whopping 475MB in size. If you haven’t gotten it yet, be sure to navigate over to About Phone in the Priv’s Settings to check for the new update manually.
source: Michael Clewley (Twitter)
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OnePlus X will be invite-free once a week
OnePlus took to Twitter to announce that the OnePlus X will be available to purchase without an invite on Tuesday and every Tuesday after that. This comes not long after OnePlus announced that the OnePlus 2 was going completely invite-free in celebration of the company’s birthday on December 17.
Consumers previously would need an invite to pick up a OnePlus X, and still will every other day of the week. However, Tuesdays have become the day that everyone can pick up the OnePlus X, in an effort to encourage more sales.
As a quick refresher, the OnePlus X sports a 5-inch Full HD display, a 2,3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, an Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable internal memory, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, an 8-megapixel front-camera, and a 2,525mAh battery. At just $249 in the US, that’s some value that’s hard to pass up. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the OnePlus X has some connectivity issues in the US, particularly in suburbs, rural areas, and dense buildings.
OnePlus says that open sales will officially kick off at 4pm Pacific Time.
source: OnePlus (Twitter)
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Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a pressure-sensitive display, à la Apple’s “3D Touch”
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The smartphone industry is primarily driven by innovation and imitation – if you aren’t creating something new, you’re generally copying it and putting your own twist on it. It’s accepted practice, and it’s how you either stay with the pack, or surge ahead – in Samsung‘s case in 2016, they might have to do a bit of copying. Apple launched its latest devices this September with a pressure-sensitive display technology that they dubbed “3D Touch“, and frankly while it’s applications are kind of limited for the everyday user, it’s something to market, and predictably, the Wall Street Journal has it on good authority that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a pressure-sensitive display to match Apple’s efforts.
This should really surprise nobody as 3D Touch was the main attraction of Apple’s latest devices. Also in the not-surprising bucket is assertions that Samsung will again be releasing two devices at the same time, the Galaxy S7 and its companion Galaxy S7 edge. It’s said that the design for these new flagships won’t differ that much from this year’s design and that has so far been supported by a number of rumours. Whatever the case, it’s going to be interesting to see how Samsung follows up from this year’s effort.
What do you think about the news the Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a pressure-sensitive display? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Wall Street Journal via engadget
The post Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a pressure-sensitive display, à la Apple’s “3D Touch” appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Taking screenshots becomes easier on Marshmallow devices
Let’s face it – taking screenshots on Android phones has never been the easiest thing to do. Pressing power button and lower volume button together may not sound like a big deal for some, but many users find it quite tricky and end up capturing lower volume button options in the screen grab.
Google has solved this problem in devices running Marshmallow and up, as Now on Tap allows you to take a screenshot by simply tapping the home button. All you have to do is, simply update your Google app and then long press the home button to launch Now on Tap. You will then see many location options to save the captured screenshots.
It is a good news for those who don’t want their photo galleries to be cluttered. Since you can save the screenshots in either Google Drive or any other cloud folder, not only will your phone will be better organized, it will also save some storage space for you.
If you want to use this feature on your phone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, make sure that you have the latest built of the Google app, which has started rolling out slowly via Google Play.
Via: GreenBot
The post Taking screenshots becomes easier on Marshmallow devices appeared first on AndroidGuys.
NASA accepting applications for the position of ‘astronaut’
Wanted ads aren’t usually newsworthy, unless the company is NASA and the job is “going to space.” The US space agency has started recruiting astronauts and will likely need quite a few since it hasn’t hired for nearly four years. Suffice to say, the requirements are demanding — along with top-notch academic credentials, you’ll also need to pass grueling physical tests. Specifically, NASA demands US citizenship, a minimum undergraduate degree in engineering, science or mathematics, at least three years of related professional experience (or 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command of a jet aircraft) and correctable 20/20 vision (glasses are okay).
Peggy A. Whitson, PH.D, the first woman to command the ISS
While LinkedIn says that three million candidates fit the bill, those requirements are the bare minimum, to say the least. As a small sampling of the background of current astronauts, the socially-savvy commander Reid Wiseman has a Master of Science in system engineering, won five combat awards flying the FA-18F Super Hornet and worked as a test pilot in the F-35 Lightning program. On the civilian side, Dr. Peggy A. Whitson graduated summa cum laude from college, has a doctorate in biochemistry and worked as a NASA National Research Council research associate.
If you’re still not discouraged, you can apply here and learn further details from the space agency’s Reddit AMA. Applications close mid-February, and NASA will winnow down the final candidates by mid-2017. The agency said “those chosen may fly on any of four different US spacecraft during their careers,” including the ISS, two commercial crew spacecraft from Boeing and SpaceX, and NASA’s own Orion deep-space exploration vehicle. Since all of those vehicles except the ISS are still untested with astronauts aboard, there’s one last qualification you’ll definitely need: nerves of titanium.
SpaceX’s Dragon V2 will soon carry astronauts to the ISS.
Source: NASA
Lucozade thief may also be first UK ‘hoverboard’ conviction
As an orange Lucozade addict, I can’t help but quietly applaud the work of the Hoverboard Lucozade Bandit (hat tip to VICE for coining the name). Not just for his choice of loot, but for executing the most brazen raid in the history of the Mitcham Co-op. Who dares to ride a whirring, neon steed into a local shop, pick up an entire crate of the orange nectar, and pull of a masterful three-point turn before setting off down the road like nothing was amiss? The Hoverboard Lucozade Bandit, that’s who. But alas, his 15 minutes of infamy are at an end, with the Met Police confirming he’s been tracked down and charged. The Croydon native isn’t only accused of theft (and failing to comply with a court order), though, but could be the first person in the UK ever convicted for riding a “hoverboard” on the pavement.
Given the nonchalant bandit’s choice of getaway vehicle, it’s understandable the Met Police wants to make an example out of him. Before now, no one has been formally charged with riding a “hoverboard” on the pavement, despite their explosion in popularity of late. Safety fears aside, it’s illegal, and effectively has been since the Highway Act of 1835, with prohibits riding on public paths. It’s the same Act that outlaws cyclists from pavements, and was clarified to cover self-balancing, motorised vehicles like “hoverboards” several years ago when Segways were in the spotlight. The bandit is due in court on December 30th, at which point we expect London Mayor Boris Johnson to appear, orange Lucozade in hand, to defend the rights of “hoverboarders” everywhere.
Via: The Guardian
Source: Metropolitan Police
HTC slashes RE camera to just $80, all accessories 40% off for a limited
HTC today announced that its next Hot Deals product is the RE camera, selling the device for $79.60. That’s 60% off of its original price at $199.99. The deals don’t end there, though. The Taiwanese-based company is also slashing prices on all accessories by 40%.
Unfortunately, HTC is putting some restrictions on the amount of product you can buy. Each customer can only buy up to three RE cameras and only 10 accessories. Additionally, this discount is exclusive to the US market and will only last until 11:59pm Pacific Time or until sold out.
Anyone buying?
[HTC]
Come comment on this article: HTC slashes RE camera to just $80, all accessories 40% off for a limited
HTC One X9 images with leaked online, could launch in 2016
Photos of the rumored HTC One X9 have leaked online just a month after passing through China’s TENAA certification. HTC might have hoped the One A9 would turn its sinking ship around, but it seems like HTC might have another flagship to introduce soon.
This new report is saying that we could we see the new handset from HTC sometime in 2016. Initial rumors indicate that the device will sport a 2.2GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, microSD support, and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The disappointing aspect is that it’ll come with Android 5.0.2 right out of the box and not Marshmallow as the One A9 had come with. Of course, these are rumors, and it’s much too early to start call anything official by any means.
Unfortunately, these leaked images don’t really give anything special away about this device. Interestingly, these images do show off the One X9’s alleged camera visor–similar to that of the Nexus 6P–that was rumored a little over a month ago. Beyond that, we’ll no doubt hear more sometime in 2016, particularly after Samsung’s expected Galaxy S7 announcement.
For the rest of the images, be sure to hit the source link below.
source: CNMO
via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: HTC One X9 images with leaked online, could launch in 2016
New list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update leaks out
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With each passing month, there seems to be a new list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update and it would appear that this month is no different. Thanks to a new leak from SamsungViet, a new list of so-called “confirmed” Samsung devices getting the Android Marshmallow update was made available today, showing quite a few devices that weren’t mentioned in previous leaks. Notably, this list includes some of Samsung’s tablets, though perhaps not as many as we were expecting. It’s also a shame that it’s not the Android 6.0.1 update that Google just rolled out, but an update’s an update.
The list suggests that 12 Samsung devices will be receiving the update in Q1 2016, which seems plausible – we should keep in mind though that these are only guidelines and chances are the actual dates may slip depending on how smoothly it all goes for Samsung. Having said that, Samsung might be well prepared for this round of updates after the Marshmallow update appeared on some Galaxy Note 4 devices in Hungary earlier this month. That might have only been by accident, but we’ll take it as a sign anyway.
What do you think about the list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamsungViet via SamMobile
The post New list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update leaks out appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Amazon UK brings one-hour Prime Now deliveries to Manchester
With Christmas less than two weeks away, Amazon wants to be there for UK customers who are likely to leave their festive shopping until the very last minute. After its recent expansion in Newcastle, the online retailer has rolled out its Prime Now service in Manchester and surrounding areas, allowing Prime subscribers to get one-hour deliveries for £6.99 or two-hour shipments for no extra cost.
Amazon says it’s now serving selected postcodes in Bolton, Eccles, Salford, Wigan, Stockport and Oldham. It has also confirmed it will continue deliveries right up until the “late hours” of Christmas Eve to cater for last-minute panic buyers.
Via: Amazon Media Centre
Source: Prime Now
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