HTC And LG Expected to Use Sapphire in Their Upcoming Flagship Devices (Rumor)

Apple has set a new standard by implementing a fingerprint scanning technology in their latest iPhone 5S, followed by HTC One Max that also came with a fingerprint scanner in the rear panel. Well, a new rumor has it that upcoming flagship devices will be equipped with this technology, with HTC and LG Electronics planning to adopt Sapphire home buttons to their upcoming flagship models, in order to add fingerprint recognition technology to their handsets.

Smartphone vendors HTC and LG Electronics will likely adopt sapphire home buttons in order to add fingerprint recognition in their next-generation flagship models, the HTC One 2 and G3, according to industry sources.

HTC has already implemented this technology with HTC One Max and will apparently launch the HTC One 2 with a fingerprint scanner, but we’ve yet to witness the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner in LG handsets. Recently, we also heard a rumor that LG ‘s upcoming flagship device, LG G3, is also expected to feature a fingerprint scanner as a security measure.

Well, smartphone manufacturers have to come up with new technologies, and set new standards. In case of Samsung, a rumor has it that it’s planning to integrate an Iris scanner in the upcoming Galaxy S5, but there’s no official word from the Korean OEM about. Let’s just take this rumor with a pinch of salt as Digitimes doesn’t have a very accurate track record when it comes to rumors. Additionally, CES is just around the corner, let’s hope we can get some information at the event.

Source: Digitimes, Ubergizmo

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LG G2 Poor Sales Are Due to Google Nexus 5, according to a report

LG G2 is one of the best Android devices available in the market. The handset comes with incredible hardware, and can go one-on-one with any high-end handset selling in the market. However, the sales didn’t turn out as expected. Earlier this month, a report suggested that LG G2 managed to sell a total of 2.3 million units in four months, which are way below the expectations of the company. Now, according to a new report, from none other  than Digitimes, it could be due to the launch of the Google Nexus 5, which was too close to LG G2 and as a result, affected the sales of LG’s flagship device.

LG originally projected to sell 10 million units of its Optimus G2 flagship model in 2013, but global sales have so far reached slightly over two million units, the observers noted.
The release of the G2 was too close to the launch of the Nexus 5, which affected sales momentum of LG’s own flagship model, added the sources.

Google Nexus 5, which is also manufactured by LG, boasts almost a similar set of specifications, with a few differences such as camera and performance, including the Snapdragon 800 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB storage options, and runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box. There’s no doubt that it has some specs which are not as high-end as LG G2, but the price difference matters as well.

Google Nexus 5 retails at almost half the price of the LG G2, so there’s no denying users will be more tempted towards Google’s own offering. On top of it, the handset gets the updates before any other device, and runs the latest Android OS. Users did have issues with the camera and audio of the handset, but those who can live with them generally go for the Nexus 5. Additionally, the handset received positive reviews as well. What do you think. Let’s just take this report with a pinch of salt, as Digitimes is not always a very accurate source of information.

Source: Digitimes, Ubergizmo

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Concept Design Emerges

Rumor mill has picked up its pace in the past few days when it comes to Samsung Galaxy S5. We’ve seen all sorts of rumors, ranging from its specifications to its design. In terms of desing, many rumors suggested that the handset might see the daylight with a curved display, while some suggest it is highly unlikely. Well, let’s just skip the rumors and take a look at this new Samsung Galaxy S5 concept design with curved display, and it looks pretty impressive.

According to rumors, Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to come with a 5.25-inch display sporting 2K resolution. Recent rumors suggest that Samsung has started mass production of the 2K display panles, which might be for the purported Samsung Galaxy S5. Under the hood, it is expected to come with a 64-bit processor (possibly Exynos) or the latest Snapdragon 805 with 4GB of RAM on board.

Other features include a 16MP ISOCELL camera for photos and videos, Iris scanner as an extra security feature with Android 4.4 KitKat pre-installed out of the box. Based on rumors, the purported handset is rumored to make an official appearance at the Mobile World Congress 2013, which will take place in Spain between February 24th and February 27th. We’ll update you as soon as we have more information/

Source: GalaxyS5Info

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Boost Mobile To Start Selling Moto G Soon (Rumor)

Moto G is without a doubt an excellent device considering its price, and most importantly, the hardware it brings at such an affordable price. The handset is available for $179 for the 16GB model, while the 32GB version costs $199, from the Motorola online store. Recently, the prolific leaker @evleaks posted an image of the Moto G with a caption, “Moto G for Boost Mobile,” suggesting that the affordable handset might be available from Boost Mobile in the near future.

 Moto G rocks a 4.5-inch display sporting a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels with a quad-core Snapdragon 400 chipset with a clock speed of 1.2GHz and 1GB RAM on board. On the storage side, the handset brings 8GB and 16GB storage, but there’s no expandable memory. On the rear, Moto G packs a 5MP camera capable of recording videos at 720p with a 1.2MP front-facing camera for video calls.

Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth, 2,070 mAh battery and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean out of the box. In case you don’t know, the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is already rolling out for the handset. Motorola did a tremendous job in making sure that its devices stay updated to latest OS. Moto X is running Android KitKat on all major carriers, and as promised, they also released the latest software update for Moto G.

Source: Twitter

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Sony Xperia Z1s To Launch Early January in China? (Rumor)

There’s been a lot of hype surrounding the miniature version of the Sony Xperia Z1. The handset is available for sale in Japan, and we’ve seen rumors floating around that’s going to see an international launch in the coming weeks. Well, according to a new rumor, the alleged Sony Xperia Z1s is expected to make an official appearance early January, during the Chinese New Year Festival. Sony’s China website shows an event scheduled for January 3rd, and we’re hoping that Sony will unveil the Sony Xperia Z1s on that event.

 Other sources report that the model is codenamed i3 and will carry a 4,099 yuan price tag (roughly $675), which might be a little too much for the mini version, if its true. You can get the Sony Xperia Z1 for that price range, and we’re expecting that if there is a global launch, the price would vary with different markets.

In case you can’t recall, the Sony Xperia Z1f aka Xperia Z1 Mini boasts a similar set of specifications as its big sibling, except a trimmed down 4.3-inch display sporting 720p resolution and a lower capacity battery of 2,300 mAh. Other features include Snapdragon 800 chipset clocked at 2.2Ghz, 2GB of RAM and 20.7MP rear camera with Sony G Lens.

Unfortunately, there’s no confirmation if it will hit the United States or not, as we’ve yet to witness the launch of Sony Xperia Z1 in the US. We did saw a T-Mobile branded render of the handset a few weeks back, but there’s no official announcement as of now.

Source: GforGames

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Amazon Beats its Mayday Button Response Time Goal

Amazon launched its new Mayday customer support feature back in September. The goal of the new feature was to deliver help to owners of Amazon devices like Kindle Fire tablets. The feature allows the users to see an Amazon support person on a small video screen. The support person can’t see the user, but can see the device screen to help with troubleshooting.

Amazon said that its goal for response time to customer requests for help using Mayday was 15 seconds. The online giant said that on Christmas Day it exceeded that goal. According to Amazon, it was able to reply to customer help requests in only 9 seconds. Amazon says that it had “thousands” of mayday tech advisors available on Christmas Day to take calls. Mayday is available 24 hours a day, every day.

“We set a goal for ourselves to have a response time of 15 seconds or less when a customer tapped the Mayday button—we’re proud to say that on Christmas Day we met this goal, with an average response time of just 9 seconds,” said Dave Limp, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “We’re excited that millions of customers opened a Kindle Fire tablet this holiday season, and we’re glad so many customers tried out the Mayday button.”

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Amazon Making Up For Missed Deliveries With $20 Gift Cards And Shipping Refunds

The holiday season is always busy for Amazon. During the holiday season, the company sold 426 items per second. That is a lot of orders to process and ship. And with that many orders, things can happen that get your order screwed up.

Well if you shopped on Amazon for some last minute gifts but your items didn’t show up in time for Christmas, you are taken care of. Amazon wants to compensate you for any frustration you may have endured. Sure, you didn’t get your gift for Christmas, but this is better than nothing right? It’s nice of Amazon to even offer. Doesn’t that make you feel warm and fuzzy?

According to some reports, Amazon has started to give its affected customers $20 gift cards, as well as refunding any shipping charges that customers paid. Customers have to appreciate this gesture. There are not many large companies that would do this for their loyal shoppers. Especially since the fault of many missed packages is down to their delivery partners, like UPS and FedEx. Good move Amazon. This is why people love the company. They manage to remain human after all these years.

Source Ubergizmo

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CyanogenMod Now Available for Oppo N1

Not too long ago, Oppo released its CyanogenMod powered Oppo N1 device and carried the same price tag of $599 as the regular version of the device. If you’re using the normal Oppo N1 and want to get the taste of CyanogenMod installed on the handset, you be glad to know that it’s now available.

Recently, the folks at Oppo posted a version of CyanogenMod that can be installed on the regular version of the handset. The ROM is still managed by the CyanogenMod team and they will be responsible for issuing timely updates. The ROM is designed to work on any version of Oppo N1 and supports all the innovative features such as “the O-Touch Panel, O-Click Bluetooth remote control, the revolutionary rotating camera, and also unique features from ColorOS such as double tap to wake and screen-off gestures.”

The folks at Oppo posted a complete guide on the Oppo forums (link given at the end of the post) along with instructions and guide on how to get the CyanogenMod up and running on the device. Before you begin, make sure you have created a complete backup of your device. If you already installed the CyanogenMod on your Oppo N1, feel free to share your experience in the comments below.

Source: Oppo Forums, Android Central

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Nvidia Tegra Note 7 Gets Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update

Several devices have already received the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update in the past few week. For those of you who are using Nvidia’s Tegra Note 7 tablet, you be glad to know that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is rolling out at the moment. The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is rolling out via over-the-air and comes with several new features, including improved stylus experience, camera fixes and a bunch of bug fixes, and improvements.

The latest update brings always-on high-dynamic range (AOHDR) capability, providing users with “more lifelike images across a range of lighting conditions.” Video stabilization is also a part of the update for shake-free videos, as well as improvement camera performance in different lighting conditions. The Android 4.3 update also give users the ability to transfer app and data files from internal memory to an external microSD card, along with the usual bug fixes and improvements.

The OTA is rolling out now and should reach all Tegra Note 7 tablets in the coming few days. If you’re one of the lucky owners who received the update, please share if you can notice any improvements and new features, as well as the performance of the tablet. Additionally, Nvidia didn’t mention anything about the Android 4.4 KitKat update for its tablet. But, we’re hoping it will get the sweet taste of Android 4.4 in the near future, as it’s already available for some tablets.

Source: Nvidia

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Panasonic and Sony End OLED TV Partnership

Sony and Panasonic announced that they were tying up in a partnership to develop OLED TVs in June of 2012. The goal of that partnership was to develop and sell bigger screen OLED TVs. The two companies have now announced that the partnership is being dissolved. The two firms had hoped to have OLED sets resulting from the partnership available this year, but that never happened.

OLED TVs offer better image quality and color while being greener and thinner than LCD TVs. The problem was that the OLED TVs with large screens are much more expensive than comparably sized LCD TVs. The two firms say that they will continue to develop OLED screens independently.

The two companies also noted that they might cooperate again on the production of OLED panels at some point in the future. Both Sony and Panasonic are expected to show off 56-inch OLED TVs at CES 2014 kicking off next month. Sony was the first electronics firm to market with an OLED TV back in 2001. That OLED TV was only 11-inches and cost $2500.

via WSJ

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LG Gives Appliances the Ability to Chat Via LINE with Users

LG is tipped to be bringing some new smart appliances to the CES 2014 show kicking off next month. The new appliances reportedly have Natural Language Processing to allow the user to monitor and control the appliances via mobile messaging. The smart appliances will work with the LINE mobile messaging service that has about 310 million users around the world.

LG says that with the adoption rate of LINE many people would have no learning curve in order to communicate with their appliances. The LG HomeChat service allows the appliances to understand natural language commands sent over the LINE application. The idea is that the user could send a message to the appliances telling them something like “I will be on vacation for three days.”

The appliances could respond with a question like “Should I go into vacation mode?” If the owner replies yes, then the appliances will enter their power saving modes and vacation schedules for tasks. Smart Appliances have been a big category at CES over the last few years. The idea of the system is to allow users to control their appliances without needing another device to do so.

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Octafire 8 Port Charge Allows Users to Charge Multiple Devices Simultaneously

In the modern world, a majority of us own multiple gadgets, smartphones or tablets. The main problem arises when you have to charge them. Octafire 8 Port Turbo Smart USB Charger is here to solve these problems, allowing users to charge up to 8 devices simultaneously, and works with iPhone, iPad, Android and Other USB Devices. The project is currently seeking funds on Kickstarter to begin mass production of the prototype they have designed. The project is pledging for $20,000 and managed to generate $33,559 with 555 backers, and with 20 more days to go.

The charger features an elegant design with the ability to charge up to 8 devices at one time, each at up to 2.1A / 5V power. The adapter is AC/DC adapter is UL, CE, FCC and RoHS Certified so you can rest assured that its safe to use. Octafire comes with international compatibility as it takes 100-240VAC 47-63Hz power input that makes it work in all countries. However, it will be shipped with a US style plug so you need an AC pin adapter from US pins to your local AC pins.

We wanted a charger that can charge everything in our homes. Almost all our family members had a Smartphone. Also, most of our homes had a couple of tablets (some had iPads and other Android) and iPods. In total, we wanted a charger that has more than 6 USB ports and can charge almost any type of device. We started looking  for a multi-port USB charger, but our search on Amazon and other places yielded chargers that had no more than 4 ports. Even with 4 ports, they were doing only 1 Amp per port which is not enough current for optimal charging of tablets (normally tablets require 2.1 Amp current). Also, these chargers were designed for particular brands like Apple, Samsung etc. and none of them were supporting optimal charging in an intelligent and brand independent way.
This is where the idea of Octofire came from. It was a difficult journey, but we took up this challenge. We set out to design a charger that can charge almost any USB powered device under the sun. This required an intelligent circuit that is capable of device detection and USB port configuration, leading to optimal charging. In addition, we wanted this charger to be able to deliver enough power to charge 8 tablets at optimal current simultaneously.

You can check out the video below to know more about the charger or visit the Kickstarter page for more information.

Source: Kickstarter

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Smartphone App and Accessory to Help Users Check Their Cholesterol Level

Nowadays, smartphones are used for a variety of purposes, including fitness and health tracking, calorie count, steps walked and a lot more. Recently, some researchers from Cornell University has designed a smartphone accessory and app that give users the ability to check their cholesterol level. Users can test their cholesterol levels at home without having the need to pay their doctors a visit every time they need to check it, which can get a little expensive and not to forget, time consuming as well.

According to the research paper, the accessory sports a reagent test strip and requires users draw a few drops of their blood and drop it on the strip. Later, the reagent strip will change different colors, depending on the blood cholesterol level of the person. It’s quite impressive to see how the accessory takes advantage of the smartphone’s camera and flash to illuminate and capture the color of the strip, helping you stay away from ‘specialized equipment or in-person health professional’.

Additionally, the lab is also working on an accessory that can check the levels of Vitamin D as well.
What do you think about this new technology? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Mashable

Image Credit: Cornell University

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Evasi0n Jailbreak Tool Updated, Removes TaiG

There’s been a lot of controversy going on about the inclusion of a Chinese AppStore Taig in the latest iOS 7 untethered jailbreak. Recently, the Evasi0n team released an update, bumping it to version 1.0.1 and removes Taig package from the jailbreak. The news came from pod2G via Twitter that the woes of the community has been heard and they have removed Taig from the package.

We have heard the community. Evasi0n 1.0.1 is available on http://evasi0n.com . TaiG has been removed from the package. Merry Christmas!

Although some problems still exist with the jailbreak including the compatibility issue with the iPad 2 or Mobile Substrate. But, considering that holidays are here and everyone has to give some time to their loved ones. Pod2g did confirms that iPad 2 compatibility issues will be restore soon.

We still have to work on the compatibility issue with the iPad 2, but we have been busy celebrating with our family… Tomorrow probably!

It seems things are going very well for the recently launched iOS 7 untethered jailbreak and things might be moving in a right direction for those who want to jailbreak their devices. Did you jailbreak your iOS device with evasi0n? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Twitter, AppAdvice

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Apple Fined Almost $670,000 by Taiwanese Authorities for Interfering in iPhone Pricing

Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission fined Apple 20 million Taiwanese dollars (almost $670,000) after finding out that the company is interfering in iPhone carrier pricing in the country, according to a report from WSJ. The commission found that Apple was telling Taiwan’s three main service providers, including Chunghwa Telecom, Far Eastone Telecommunication, and Taiwan Mobile, to adjust iPhone rates.

Apple has the option to appeal against the decision taken by the Taiwanese commission, however the company may face a fine of up to 50 million Taiwanese dollars (almost $1.7m) if the company fails to comply with the initial decision of the company.

“Through the email correspondence between Apple and these three telecom companies we discovered the companies submit their pricing plans to Apple to be approved or confirmed before the products hit the market,” the commission said in a statement, according to the WSJ.

Additionally, the ruling only applies to iPhone pricing in the country, and the commission mentioned that they have no plans to investigate if the Cupertino-based company is interfering in the price of iPads in the country.

Source: MacRumors

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Two New Sony Smartphones Leaked Via AnTuTu

AnTuTu has become a good source of leaks and information of unreleased smartphones. Earlier this week, a bunch of Sony devices were spotted on AnTuTu and Postel, including Sony D5322, Sony D5503, Sony D2005, Sony D2105. Sony SGP521, and the Sony D5303. There’s a possibility that some of these devices may see the daylight on MWC 2014 or CES 2014 next year. Now, two more unannounced devices have popped up on AnTuTu benchmarks with model numbers Sony D2004 and Sony D2303.

One of them, SOny D2004 managed to grab an AnTuTu score of 12,633, which may not be considered impressive by many smartphone enthusiasts. It could be a low-end device that is being tested by the Japanese OEM. On the other hand, Sony D2303 scored 17,853 and judging by this score, it fairly easy to assume that this might be a mid-range device.

Well, there are so many Sony models popping up on the internet and suggests there are several products in Sony’s pipeline, which might see the daylight at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 that will take place from January 7-10th in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Mobile World Congress 2014 will take place late February in Barcelona. Anyway, let’s take this as a rumor, and there’s no guarantee if any of these handsets will ever hit retail. We’ll update you if any other information pops up.

Source: XperiaGuide

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HTC One 2 Mockup Created Based on Specs Information From An Insider

Rumors suggest that HTC is working on the successor of its flagship device known as HTC M8 aka HTC One 2. The handset is yet to make an official appearance, but is there any way you can stop the rumor mill from giving information about unreleased products? No, you can’t. Now, a user designed a 3D-mockup, made of resin, of the purported HTC One 2, based on information from an inside source. The mockup looks quite similar to HTC One, but boasts a larger 5-inch screen compared to 4.7-inches in HTC One.

We’ve several rumors about the rumored successor in the past, and it barely posed for the camera as well. Based on rumors, the purported handset will come with a 5-inch display sporting a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Under the hood, the handset is rumored to feature a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, with Android 4.4.2 KitKat and Sense 6.0 pre-installed out of the box. There’s no word about the RAM, but we’re wildly guessing it could be 3GB. And, it would be amazing if they can introduce Snapdragon 805 in it.

Rumors suggest it will make an official appearance at the Mobile Word Congress 2014, which will take place in Barcelona from 24th of February until February 27th. Additionally, it’s rumored to launch on all major US carriers by the end of first quarter next year. Let’s just take this rumor with a pinch of salt. There’s no denying that it could look like its predecessor, but we must wait for the official announcement.

 Source: Slashgear

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Grippity Is a Transparent Android Tablet Seeking Funds (Video)

We’ve always seen transparent displays and tablets in sci-fi movies, but they don’t exist in reality at the moment. However, Jacob Eichbaum came up with a new transparent tablet known as Grippity, which is currently seeking funds on Kickstarer. Grippity is a transparent Android tablet with two-sided touch. The project is currently seeking $199,000 on Kickstarter to begin mass production of the tablet. At the moment, the creators managed to generate $19,268 with 29 more days to go before it ends.

The transparent tablet will come with a 7-inch LCD display sporting a resolution of 800 by 480 pixels with upper 25% non-transparent for thumbs input. Under the hood is Cortex A8 ARM processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB internal storage with an SD card slot. While Android 4.2.2 is listed as the tablet’s operating system, it could launch with Android 4.4 KitKat, if the specifications allow it.

Grippity is a totally new way of looking at input – A transparent, dual sided multi-touch display that enables you to lean back in your most comfortable chair (or even stand or lie down) and use ALL TEN fingers, while keeping your palms at a neutral ergonomic posture. It also enables you to accurately touch (the back of) small menu items and buttons on websites and software that were originally designed for desktops. As Grippity is running Android, you can download or develop apps for your specific needs.

You can check out the video below to know more about Grippity or visit the Kickstarter project page.

Source: Kickstarter

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Apple Reportedly Launching Larger iPad in October 2014, Larger iPhone May 2014

We’ve seen quite a lot of rumors lately about the alleged large iPad carrying a screen size of 12-inches. Last time we heard, it was rumored that two iPads carrying a screen size of 12.9 inches will launch next year; one will come with a 2K resolution while other will feature 4K resolutions. It was also reported that Quanta computers has landed an order from Apple to manufacture the large iPad, due in 2014.

According to a new report, the large iPad will see the daylight in October 2014 next year, along with the larger iPhone in May 2014. The report further mentions that Apple is exploring the possibility of replacing the 11.1-inch Macbook Air with the larger iPad. The report emerged from Digitimes, which has a very questionable track record when it comes to rumors, so a little bit of speculation is required if you want to believe this rumor.

Apple is rumored to release a 12.9-inch tablet in October 2014, targeting North America’s educational market, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. Apple’s large-size tablet will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, and was originally expected to adopt either 12.9- or 13.3-inch panels, with recent rumors indicating that 12.9-inch has a better chance to be picked, the sources noted.

The report from Digitimes further comments that Apple will launch a larger iPhone in May 2014, which will be equipped with 20nm processor manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Well, this rumors requires a lot of salt to digest as Digitimes isn’t always correct. As usual, they cited “sources from the upstream supply chain.” Let’s see what happens, It’s been almost four months since Apple launched the iPhone 5S, and launching the iPhone 6 in May might be a little surprising, considering that we’ve seen reports lately that points at late-2014. But, let’s see what happens. We’ll update you as soon as we have anything.

Source: Digitimes

Image Credit: MacRumors

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Cydia App Redesigned with iOS 7 Look and Feel for Jailbroken Devices

Not too long ago, the Evasi0n team released the untethered iOS 7 jailbreak, which came under a lot of criticism as it came with a cracked Chinese App store. Let’s just forget that for a moment, and look what we have here. Cydia application for jailbroken devices recently got a makeover, which embraces the look and feel of iOS 7. There’s no denying that the new interface looks much cleaner and better than the previous version. The tab bar icons were designed by Surenix, the UI Icons were made by Kyle Matthews.

Saurik explains about the launch of the redesigned Cydia, which looks pretty good.

Due to evasi0n 7 having been released with an unofficial build of “Cydia”, I had to upgrade Cydia via a package. This is more complex, as packages I release in my repository have to work for all users, not just those on the latest firmware. I have managed to get Cydia 1.1.9 working on iOS 2-7.

The update focuses more the look and interface of Cydia, than on new features, as it comes with iOS 7 design elements and human interface guidelines. The updated version of Cydia is available for free on Saurik’s own Cydia/Telesphoreo repo. So, if you’re running a jailbroken device, update the Cydia application and let us know about your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: iDownloadblog

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