“Still 100% committed to bringing #BBM to Android and iPhone. Sign up at http://BBM.com to know when #BBM4All”
Thursday, October 10, 2013
BlackBerry still committed to launching BBM for Android
Galaxy Gear
Samsung is the first smartphone OEM to leap with Galaxy Gear, a timepiece and smartphone shortcut all in one. That’s not to say it’s the only device out there as Pebble, a popular rival and baseline standard for smartwatches, andQualcomm’s Toq are also in the market, but it’s the first release we’ve seen from a household brand, but does that mean it’s better than the competition?
Performance
The philosophy behind smartwatches is to cut down the number of daily arm curls needed check your phone for messages, emails, phone calls, and the other million possible applications available. That doesn’t mean you can throw your phone away. First off, it needs that phone within Bluetooth range to become more than just an impressive digital watch. These watches don’t boast that they’re a replacement, just a convenient complement to your device.
But before fastening the device to my wrist, it’s already at a disadvantage. Unlike every competitor including the much cheaper Pebble, Galaxy Gear only pairs with the new Galaxy Note 3 or Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. Even within its brand, that’s pretty limited. Samsung says it’s working on widening device availability, but such a tight-gripped user base at launch isn’t doing them any favors.
Setting up the device is straightforward (if not a little weird). Users must tap the charging module to the back of the Note to prompt the Gear Manager installer, which is the mission control function for managing the smartwatch’s apps and general settings.
After a couple days of testing, I found the interface easy to use. An internal motion sensor wakes the device when you raise your wrist or you can press a button on the side. The sensor works well though sometimes it takes a second to wake up. Swiping left or right lets you page through apps while swiping down returns you to the previous screen. If you’re on the home display, swiping up opens the phone app while the opposite launches the watch’s built-in, 1.9 megapixel camera.
The Galaxy Gear needs to do at least three things well to be worth it considering the steep $300 price tag: calls, messages, and apps. With a 1.6-inch display, there are going to be inherent limitations. Dialing a phone number manually requires extra attention considering the small screen surface. S Voice aids the process by integrating a Siri-like voice command option, allowing you to call by contact name rather than typing in phone numbers. The Galaxy Gear’s call quality is pretty solid. After a few test calls and one argument as to why I was calling so late, people on the other end said they could hear me clearly, whether the build-in strap mic was by my side or near my face. However, hearing them wasn’t as easy and I ended up mimicking the Secret Service by holding the watch up to my ear.
The Galaxy Gear is convenient for keeping track of texts, but responding to them is annoying. The S Voice command works sporadically and text colloquialisms aren’t exactly speech-friendly.
And when it comes to apps, another failure. The availability just isn’t there—at least for now. As mentioned, the small screen comes with some inherent limitations so it’s understandable if you don’t want to use certain apps on a smartwatch—but you need to have some heavy hitters: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, for instance. These apps are ubiquitous with smartphones and are arguably as important as a phone’s core functions.
If Galaxy Gear can’t provide these basic services, and provide them seamlessly (a difficult task), then its appeal slowly degenerates. Add the fact that texting is mediocre at best, and you haven’t got much else to work with.
Hardware and Design
Samsung’s product press release heralded the design of the Galaxy Gear as “understated elegance” and comparable to “luxury jewelry.” While the watch feels like a well-made piece of gear, it’s not attractive. The elegance must be very, very understated. My test watch came with a gray band, dull in comparison to other colors like wild orange or rose gold. The watch’s face is bulky, the band stiff, and overall visually lacking in comparison to Pebble, or even i’m Watch.
The Galaxy Gear’s 1.9 megapixel camera also comes with a 720p video and playback capability, though it can only record in 15-second chunks. The device communicates with the Note via Bluetooth 4.0 and has an accelerometer and gyroscope packed in as well. Storage tops out at 4GB, and the 315mAh battery provides little more than a two-day charge. That’s much less than its competitors.
Conclusion
Opening the box on the Galaxy Gear was an exciting moment: A big name OEM-designed smartwatch finally in hand. That tide of excitement quickly abated. Samsung makes a valiant effort—a heroic cannonball, if you will—into smartwatch waters, but it missed its target. With a high price tag, limited usability, poor texting and restricted app selection, there’s just not enough there to sell someone on the device, especially over better and cheaper options already available. Many of these problems, especially app availability, will fix themselves as the market matures. But ultimately, the emergence of the Galaxy Gear proves that sometimes it’s best to wait for warmer waters.
Now, where did I put that Target watch?
N7100XXUEMI6 – Leaked Android 4.3 test firmware for Galaxy Note II (GT-N7100)
Country: Open Europe
Version: Android 4.3
Changelist: 1750609
Build date: Fri, 25 Sep 2013 18:06:49 +0000
Product Code: OXA
PDA: N7100XXUEMI6
CSC: N7100OXAEMI6
MODEM: N7100XXUEMI6
Download: AP_N7100XXUEM16_CP_N7100XXEM16_CSC_N7100XAEM16_BY_WVAZ_DINK.zip(Password: wagnervaz)
- This test firmware will NOT increase your binary counter NOR void your warranty.
- This test firmware is a pre-release firmware and not official from Samsung.
- Extract (unzip) the firmware file
- Download Odin3 v3.09 (From here or here)
- Extract Odin .ZIP file
- Open Odin3 v3.09
- Restart phone in download mode (Press and hold Home + Power + Volume down buttons)
- Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
- Add AP_N7100XXUEM16_CP_N7100XXEM16_CSC_N7100XAEM16_BY_WVAZ_DINK.tar to AP
- Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
- Click start button, sit back and wait a few minutes.
- If you encounter any issues with the firmware (Any FC, Bootloop etc)
- Boot into recovery mode (Home+power+vol up)
- Choose to wipe/factory reset. (THIS WILL ERASE ALL OF YOUR DATA INCLUDING YOUR INTERNAL SD CARD!)
- Then choose reboot and you should be good to go!
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Sample images
Early verdict
Nexus 4
Note 3. Amazing
Premium Design
Air Command
With the S Pen, life has just gotten easier.
Hover the S Pen over the screen and simply click the pen button to instantly access 5 useful S Pen features:
Action Memo: Activate your memos instantly
Scrapbook: Organise important pieces of your life
S Finder: Search from your entire phone to the web
Pen Window: Draw to perform another simple task
Screen Write: Enjoy annotating on captured images
Action Memo - Scrapbook
Don't stress anymore about organising the information and contents stored in your phone. GALAXY Note 3 allows you to easily track down and categorize images, videos and other contents by tapping the 'Scrapbooker' button in Air Command. Just circle the information or image that you want to save and move it into Scrapbook. It's never been easier to categorize and design your own personalised Scrapbook.
Action Memo - S Finder
Contents cannot be lost in GALAXY Note 3.
With S Finder, you can search your entire phone from hand-written memos to the web. Simply click the pen to access S Finder and then search by keywords and/or apply date, location or content filters from one starting point to find related images, videos, music, personal notes, documents, events or chats, even Help advice.
It’s easy with automatically saved dates and enabled location tags in the Camera, S Note, Scrapbook, Voice recorder.
new S Note
Enjoy note taking now more than ever.
The new S Note lets you quickly scribble notes on extensive canvases, browse through them effortlessly and edit them beautifully without having to rewrite or redraw anything. The new S Note can also be synced with Evernote or a Samsung account to enable viewing from your PC or tablets. The Easy Chart function also transforms scribbled charts into professional-looking graphs instantly. Yes, this is now possible with the new S Note.
new Easy Clip
Neatly cropped images are no longer limited to professional tools. Select the area to be cropped, and the new Easy Clip will remove the background instantly for a professional look. Enhance the boundaries of your creativity with the new Easy Clip.
Direct Pen Input
The GALAXY Note 3 recognises both your handwriting and typing. The advanced handwriting recognition technology can accurately read most writing styles and be transcribed into a message, planner, alarm or phone function. This feature allows you to experience greater versatility and flexibility.
Multi Window
Now, Multi Window means more than just opening and viewing two different applications at the same time on your screen. By using the 'Drag & Drop' mode in new Multi Window, you can easily drag and drop words or captured images from one window to the other in an instant for enhanced productivity across different applications. Also, you can now open the same application in two windows at the same time: read the news in one browser while searching in another, view two Youtube videos or chat with two different people on ChatON, etc. The GALAXY Note 3 allows you to take multitasking to the next level.
Pen Window
Open a window as small or as large as you want, wherever you want on the screen. The GALAXY Note 3 allows you to multitask via new windows without interrupting your work on the main screen. For example, while preparing a presentation, create a smaller window to access a calculator for some quick math. Working from different windows simultaneously has never been easier.
14.4cms Full HD SCREEN
GALAXY Note 3 with 14.4cms FHD screen
This bigger display enables efficient multitasking and a maximum viewing experience. Explore where this large screen can take you
My Magazine
Personalise viewing with magazine-like layouts.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Next Launcher APK Download
“One of the most heavily customizable, fluid, and striking launchers we’ve ever seen here at Redmond Pie.” - Redmond Pie
“A gorgeous app packed with dynamic effects and 3D elements. The gratifying 3D visual elements, transition effects, and gestures will get you a different and brilliant visual enjoyment and operation experience.” - Topapps
“The launcher features crazy 3D effects, turning any device you own into a futuristic Tron-centric trip. With additional themes and custom widgets downloadable from Google Play, it’s an extensive and extremely comprehensive option for someone looking to spice up their device.” - Droid-life
■ Key Features
- Extremely fancy 3D effect with buttery smooth experience
- Real 3D Home Screen Transition Effects (Crystal, Cloth, Folding and more coming soon)
- Stunning 3D screen preview with dazzling animation of screen switching
- Build unique icon style by changing its size, angle, style and label (Icon Editor)
- Combine all good parts from different themes into a single theme you really love (Theme Mix Mode)
- Efficient and powerful batch apps management with gestures
- Up to 8 different gestures available in home screen and app drawer
- See how cool your phone could be by blowing all the icons and the widgets to air space (Floating Mode)
- Enhanced shining border effects for home screen transition
- Up to 7 rows on dock to shortcut all your favorites
- Keep releasing 3D Next widgets, 3D themes and live wallpapers special designed by GO Launcher Dev Team
Watch Next Launcher 3D demo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88mjYORVVRc
■ FAQ
1. Why I have to set Next Launcher as default home screen replacement each time after some devices restarted?
A bug in Android system 4.1.x causes the problem. If you happen to encounter this issue, please find "Next Launcher Patch" in Google Play and follow the instructions to apply it.
2. How to use icons in GO Launcher themes?
Install a Go Launcher theme -> Click “Next Key”- > Click "Theme Mix" -> Click the shining desktop elements -> Find the GO Launcher theme and apply it.
If you happen to find some theme cannot be applied, please send its name and your Next Launcher version to nextlauncher@gmail.com. We'll follow up ASAP.
We strive to become better than we are, providing the best Android home screen replacement for you! Thanks for your support!
More tips: http://www.goforandroid.com/GDTEn/faq.aspx?softid=55&nav=99
■ Follow Us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextLauncher
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nextlauncher
Google+: https://plus.google.com/108624381722454375934/posts
■ Contact Us
E-mail: nextlauncher@gmail.com
________________________________________
Use of this app is governed by our Terms of Service: http://www.goforandroid.com/GDTEN/terms-of-service.htm and Privacy Policy:http://www.goforandroid.com/GDTEN/privacy.htm
Office Suit APK Download
Description
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1Bc_pgX2Ni0X3lGSW80R0JwekE/edit?usp=docslist_api
(Click in the link or copy paste the link in the address bar to download)
The world’s No. 1 mobile office today!
# Installed on over 100 million devices in more than 205 countries
# Over 40,000 registrations per day
# No. 1 app in Google Play Business category
Made by MobiSystems, OfficeSuite Pro allows you to view, create, edit, print and share Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the go. You can also open attachments and see PDF files on an Android based phone or tablet with our feature-rich mobile office solution.
OfficeSuite Pro includes a File Browser and integration with Cloud service leaders: Box, DropBox, Google Drive, SkyDrive and SugarSync to give users a multitude of options on how to manage files and attachments.
---OfficeSuite Pro 7 Out Now! New Features---
* New and improved UI
* Side bar navigation in the File Browser for quick access to different folders and remote third party cloud services
* Templates - OfficeSuite Pro 7 users can benefit from a wide range of templates, from Resume and Invoice templates to Travel Planner and Weight Loss Tracker templates, among others
* Extended Cloud support - now compatible with Microsoft SkyDrive. Google Drive support has been improved, by adding folder support, thus allowing for optimized document view
Docs Editor:
* Styles - apply MS Word styles or styles used in the document
* Table design – ability to fashion an inserted table as per our library of tailor-made designs
* Formulas (display only)
* Format painter
Spreadsheet Editor:
* Improved selection of parameters in functions
Slides Editor:
* Animations
PDF Viewing:
* A new PDF engine using library from Adobe, providing instant opening of large PDF files
* Find/Find Next
--File Formats Supported--
* Text format - Microsoft DOC, DOCX, DOCM, RTF, TXT, LOG
* Spreadsheet - Microsoft XLS, XLSX, XLSM, CSV
* Presentation - Microsoft PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPSX, PPTM, PPSM
* Other formats - PDF, EML, ZIP
* Microsoft Office 365 Compatible
--Easy File Access and Sharing--
* With the integrated File Browser you can easily access, modify and share your local or Cloud stored files. OfficeSuite integrates with Google Drive, DropBox, Box, SugarSync and SkyDrive
* Easily open email attachments
* Work with Outlook EML files
* Share documents via Email or Bluetooth
--Intuitive and Intelligent Design--
* OfficeSuite 7 comes with new intuitive design and user experience allowing quick and intuitive workflow while you manage your files or create and modify documents.
* New side bar gives instant access to local and cloud stored files.
* Two-finger zoom, multi-touch support, context toolbars and popup menus make your work with OfficeSuite quick and fun.
--OfficeSuite Extensions--
* QuickSpell – fully integrated with OfficeSuite Pro QuickSpell will help you dramatically improve your typing accuracy.
* QuickWrite - multilingual contextual text prediction tool and keyboard.
* Font Pack – allows you to use Microsoft most used fonts in OfficeSuite text documents.
* Oxford Dictionary of English - look up word meaning in office text documents in the most popular English dictionary
** Note that OfficeSuite Extensions are sold separately. Purchasing any of the extensions is optional.**
Compatible with Sony Ericsson LiveDock™ Multimedia station.
com.sonyericsson.extras.ATTACHED
Works great on a big screen with MHL!
How OfficeSuite uses the granted permissions on your phone - http://www.mobisystems.com/android_office/full-features.html#permissions
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Solo Guitar APK download
It's ideal for jamming sessions when you don't have your guitar with you, or an excellent reference for when you do!
This is a free demo version and includes:
* Great, authentic sounding acoustic guitar
* The same huge chord library available in the full version
* Create and load custom chord layouts
* Uses Immersion’s MOTIV haptic effects for advanced haptic feedback
* Many settings to customize to your playing style
* Great for S Pen Samsung Galaxy Note
Also available in the full version:
* Classical guitar, acoustic guitar and electric guitars, each with authentic sound
* A huge chord library with chord diagrams - hear and see how each chord is played.
* Create your own chords
* Play along to any music loaded on your phone
* Get chord and lyric overlays from the web - excellent for teaching yourself new songs to play
* Play with a capo to fit your vocal range
* Create, load and save chord layouts for your favourite songs
* Customize the UI to fit your playing style
* Use multitouch on supported devices
Solo Lite is a freemium app, that is ad supported and it uses in app upgrades to obtain full version features. (Don't hate me, even developers have to make a living :). For this, the app requires a few extra permissions (these are in the Lite version only, the full version has no ads or extra permissions). Below is a description of required permissions:
VIEW NETWORK STATE - Solo checks if internet connection is up and enables/disables online features as appropriate
READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY (Solo Lite Only) - Only used to access the device ID. Solo does NOT access phone calls, etc. only the device ID (needed to uniquely identify the device and earn gold to upgrade features)
The "Read phone state and identity" permission doesn't give devs access to passwords or other personal identity information. The only id obtained from this is the phone's IMEI number, which is a unique serial number tied to every device with a sim card. Knowing this number does not give devs access to any personal information, it only provides a way for us to reliably distinguish between different devices.
GET_ACCOUNTS (Solo Lite only) - This is used by GetJar and Pocket Change to identify users across multiple devices. This way, features upgraded through GetJar, or rewards earned through Pocket Change, will still be available if you change your phone and reinstall the app on a new device. Without this, upgrades purchased would only be available on the device where the original purchase was made.
GET_TASKS (Solo Lite only) - Used to determine if a sponsored app (installed to earn free GetJar gold) has been opened so that the gold can be awarded to you and be used to upgrade features.
STORAGE - Used to backup/restore chords on the SD Card
VIBRATE - For string vibrations and haptic feedback (optional)
