Motorola X leaks in LTE testing as XT1056

The much-anticipated Motorola X may well have been caught in the wild, with the smartphone believed to have been spotted in 4G carrier testing as the Motorola XT1056. The image, leaked to PhoneArena, shows a “confidential”-marked handset running Android on what’s expected to be a 4.5- to 4.7-inch display.

According to the source of the photo, there wasn’t the opportunity to actually measure the display, so it’s unclear how closely it matches up to previous rumors about specifications. So far, we’ve heard that the MOTO X will have a 4.7-inch panel – running at 720p HD, rather than 1080p like the HTC One – and use a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

There’s also expected to be 2GB of memory and 16GB of storage space, the latter of which the tipsters supposedly confirmed. OS is, on this tester model at least, Android 4.2.2, and there’s confirmation of a removable battery.

The leak comes while the XT1056 is in 4G LTE testing on Sprint’s fledgling network, it’s claimed, and ahead of what’s widely expected to be an official announcement on August 1st.

The Motorola X has built up quite a following even ahead of launch, predominantly because it’s said to push the envelope in terms of context. The phone will be “contextually aware of what is going on around it” Motorola’s Dennis Woodside said last month, using its various sensors to adapt behavior to suit the environment and usage patterns.

So, Woodside suggested, if you’re in a car then the Motorola X’s GPS will tell it you’re moving at speed, and the interface you see, or the apps you have access to, could be changed to suit what’s safe to do and what functionality you’re most likely to have access to. Alternatively, the user will be able to set preconfigured responses to different actions, such as taking the MOTO X out of a pocket.

That context-awareness is, Motorola apparently hopes, the company’s way of stepping off the specifications bandwagon. In contrast with other flagship devices from rival firms, the leaked hardware details we’ve seen so far are somewhat conservative; still, if Motorola can do more intuitive, useful things with that hardware, it may be enough to distract people from the usual spec-sheet bingo.

Apple's Lightning cable hacked by a Chinese firm

Seems like the folks at the iPhone5Mod are not messing around. Last year, the Chinese firm released a Flash Lightning Dock, which allowed Apple's Lightning cable to be replaced with cheaper vendor versions, which definitely didn't made the latter happy. Now, iPhone5Mod has announced that it has made its way into AppleiOS 7's authentication and will be offering cheaper cables on the market that will be compatible with the newversion of the platform.

According to Cyril Chang, who is working at the Chinese firm, in order for Apple to fix that issue it has to change its own Lightning cable hardware, since the cheaper version was made accessible via a hardware crack.

source: MacRumors

Gionee E6 with quad core processor, 2 GB RAM coming to India

Gionee is all set to launch its next flagship phone, called as Gionee ELife E6, in the first week of July in China followed by India.

According to GizChai.com, Gionee E6 will come with 5 inch 1080p full HD display and will be powered by the latest MT6589T quad core chipset clocked at 1.5 GHz. The phone is also reportedly said to have 2 GB RAM.

The Gionee E6 will also feature a 13 megapixel front camera with BSI sensor and auto focus. The camera would be able to record full high definition (1080p) videos at 30 frames per second. It is said to have a 5 megapixel front camera with 720p video capture capability as well. The phone will run on Android 4.2 out of the box.

From the pictures the phone looks really good. Specification wise the phone looks better than any phone available right now from the Indian or Chinese players.

According to our sources in Gionee, the Chinese company will definitely launch the phone in India soon after its debut in China. Though price has not been confirmed but we expect it to be below Rs 20,000 mark.

Acer Iconia A1-811 quad core 3G tab coming in July for Rs 13,499

cer plans to beef up its Android tablet portfolio in India next month with the launch of Acer Iconia A1-811 at an affordable pricing.

S Rajendran, chief marketing officer, Acer, revealed this to The Mobile Indian during the launch ofIconia W3 in Delhi today.

"Acer will be launching Android based Iconia A1-811 that will support 3G connectivity in July in India for around Rs 13,499," Rajendran said.

Acer Iconia A1-811 will support a 7.9-inch IPS display panel with 1024x768 pixel resolution. It will have a SIM slot that will support 3G connectivity.

Iconia will run on Android 4.2 and a 1.2 GHz quad-core Mediatek MT8125 mobile processor. It will also have 1 GB RAM and 16 GB on-board storage which can be expanded up to 32 GB through a micro SD card.

Acer Iconia A1-811 will sport a 5 megapixel rear camera with auto focus and 1080p full HD video recording capability. Besides, it will have a front 0.3 megapixel camera in the front. The tablet will have WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, micro HDMI port and GPS too. The tablet will be powered by a 3250 mAh battery.

Microsoft to open Windows stores in India

Microsoft is planning to open Windows Stores - experience zones in India, at which customers can have a hands-on experience of Microsoft products like mobiles based on Windows Phone 8, tablets and PCs based on Windows 8, and tools or apps in the Windows 8.

Chakrapani Gollapali, general manager - consumer channels group, Microsoft India said to The Mobile Indian, "We are planning to open Windows Stores in India in coming days. They will be experience zones that will be setup within existing stores of multiband retailers or malls to provide customers hands on experience of our complete line up of products right from devices to software."

He added, "Microsoft doesn't plan to open any standalone stores because the idea of opening Windows Store is to provide user experience rather than selling, though selling will take place at stores."

He didn't share any specific timeline or places where the stores will be opened.

This move by Microsoft can be seen as an attempt by the software giant to grab the attention of shoppers at large retailers, which in return could lead to sales and profitability.

Also, another development that might have promoted Microsoft to open stores in India may be to grab consumer attention in the wake of Google's success in terms of Android OS, which is ably supported by partners like Samsung, and by Indian players like Micromax, Lava, Xolo, Spice and Karbonn.

Interestingly, just a couple of days back Google made an official announced that in the coming days it will open physical Android stores, called Android Nation, in India.

These stores will act as points of sale for Android powered devices of different brands as well as an experience zones where one can get a feel for devices.

Now the thing that needs to be watched is who will come up with a store first - Google or Microsoft, and which one will provide a better user experience.

Celkon CT910+ HD a 7 inch 3G SIM tablet launched for Rs 7,999

Celkon has announced the launch of a new 7 inch Android tablet called CT910+ HD. The tablet comes with 3G SIM calling function and is powered by a 1 GHz dual core processor and a 3500 mAh battery.

The tablet, which comes with HD resolution based display, is based on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system. Further details are not yet available. The tablet has been priced at Rs 7,999 which looks attractive for a tablet with this kind specification.

Celkon CT910+ HD also comes with 2 megapixel front and rear camera. The tablet supports 3G SIM calling as well as video calling function.

The Celkon tablet offers GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. However, information about its RAM and internal memory is not yet known to us.

Mercury mTAB Lite launched for Rs 6,000

Kobian, a player in computer peripherals and tablets, has launched a 7 inch tablet mTAB Lite for Rs 6,000.

Mecrury mTAB Lite is based on Android 4.0 and is powered by 1GHz Vimicro Cortex processor. It has a 512MB RAM, 4GB of Internal storage and supports 32GB extendable memory through Micro SD card.

mTAB Lite is 12mm thick, weighs 320gms and support 2G connectivity through SIM card. Other features in the tablet are WiFi, 0.3 megapixel front and rear camera, and 2700mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A with Snapdragon 800 finally unboxed

We've been hearing about the "faster" Samsung Galaxy S4 with a Snapdragon 800 chipset that supports LTE-Advanced connectivity, and even learned this morning that it might launch as soon as this week, since the Korean carrier SK Telecom will be ready with its LTE-A network ahead of time.

Well, that rumor seems to have held water, since a few pictures of theGalaxy S4 LTE-A, in and out of its retail box, have appeared online, displaying the blazing fast handset for the world to see, and in cool Blue Arctic and Red Aurora versions at that. Have a looksie in the slideshow below, and feel for the pain of those Koreans that just bought the "slow" version.

[출처] 갤럭시S4 LTE-A 개봉기(SHV-E330S)|작성자 삼모샵 스타일마켓점

Russia allows safe passage for Edward Snowden – calls U.S. demands “ravings and rubbish”

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated publicly on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 that Edward Snowden was indeed present in Russia but that Russia would not be arresting him, nor would they detain him for extradition as per request of the United States.

Since Snowden’s initial leaks on the NSA’s Prism program and further information on the U.K.’s data mining programs, he has been a top priority for arrest by the U.S. government .  The U.S. also accused both China and Russia for assisting Snowden and for ignoring the requests to have him extradited.  Both nations have called the U.S. accusations baseless and insulting.

While on a recent trip to Finland and speaking openly at a press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the U.S. demands for extradition nothing more than “ravings and rubbish”. “I myself would prefer not to deal with these issues,” Putin said during a press conference. “It’s like giving a baby pig a haircut: there’s a lot of squealing, but there’s little wool.”

After a couple days of speculating where Snowden might be, Putin confirmed that the former NSA employee turned whistle blower was in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.  Putin said that authorities would not be holding him for any reason but did say that the sooner he left Russian soil, “the better it would be for us and for himself.”

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, had only harsh words for Russia for not holding Snowden for extradition, and while he has admitted there was no such extradition treaty with the country, that were still “standards of behavior between sovereign nations”.

Wiki leaks representatives have confirmed that their attorney’s were assisting Snowden, and that he applied for asylum in Ecuador since leaving Hong Kong and was accepted. Currently, he is traveling with a refugee document of passage as provided by the South American country of Ecuador.

$99 Ouya gaming console sold out at retail, Kickstarter backers left waiting

The ambitious $99 Android powered game console Ouya (Ooh-Yah) made its way to various retailers in the US and the UK, is sold out already. Meanwhile, Kickstarter backers run out of patience.

It sucks if you invest your money on a product in-development, simply because you believe in it, and that the developers promise to deliver a unit of their product to you, the backer, before the general consumer gets it. Sadly, that promise has been broken by the big name for the new small console Ouya. Topping Kickstarter charts with a record $8.6 million in funding, it looks like the console has made its way to retailers both in the US and the UK and is already sold out, all this while the original backers of the Kickstarter project are still left waiting for their unit.

OUYA game console specifications:

• 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Tegra 3 Chipset
• GeForce ULP GPU
• 1 GB RAM
• 8 GB Internal Storage
• Wireless Controller
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• $99 (including controller)
• 
  

We understand that the unexpectedly high demand for the console-that-can led to much delay in shipping of the final units to Kickstarter backers, but news that the console made its way to retailers like Target, Amazon (and is sold out) before the household of the faithful backers is somewhat (and understandably) infuriating for them.

UPDATE

the delays were caused by their shipping partner, DHL, not by the company or manufacturing delays

Source: Forbes | Buy OUYA, via Amazon

Sony Music Unlimited adds offline playback, 320kbps tracks to iOS app

Sony has added offline playback and high-quality streaming to its Music Unlimited service for iPhone.

After updating the app to support the iPhone 5 last month, Sony has reached feature parity with its Android counterpart by adding offline playback, the ability to cache songs and albums for listening without an internet connection, and high-quality 320kbps music streaming to its iOS app.

The update will go live this week, based on Apple’s review period, but the company is promoting it by discounting Music Unlimted to $41.99/year for PlayStation Plus members, and $59.99 for those without a subscription. Both deals are significantly cheaper than paying $9.99/month, which is what the company normally charges, and compares favourably to other services available in Canada like Rdio, Slacker Radio Premium and Deezer.

The main issue with Music Unlimited is that Sony lacks the design prowess of Rdio, and it does not integrate with third-party services like Deezer. If you’re looking for a cheap-and-cheerful music streaming service, you can’t go wrong with Music Unlimited, though.

Download Sony Music Unlimited for iOS.

Via: SEN Blog

Mozilla updates Firefox with 3D gaming, video calls - shows off with demo game

Mozilla released a new version of its Firefox Web browser on Tuesday that delivers support for 3D gaming, video calls and file sharing, enabling developers to create related Web apps without any plugins or third-party software.
The new Firefox, called Firefox 22, uses a "supercharged" version of JavaScript that equips developers with the ability to build Web applications, like 3D games and photo processing, without having to install additional software.
By releasing a more capable and feature rich version of its browser, Mozilla is likely hoping developers will create more enticing apps that will draw users away from the competition. The company revealed in a blog post that it's excited about the latest version of Firefox, and it especially cannot wait to see what developers will create.
Mozilla even showed off a first-person shooter 3D game, called BananaBread, to demonstrate Web technologies like WebGL, Emscripten, asm.js and WebRTC and how users can experience fast, high-end 3D multiplayer games with Firefox.

Mozilla also released a new version of its Firefox browser in April, called Firefox 20, that incorporated new privacy features and a redesigned download manager. Along with the browser update, Mozilla also launched a new version of its Android app in the spring that allowed Firefox to run on ARMv6 powered devices. The update bolstered browsing privacy, so users could swap tabs between private and non-private use in one browser.

• Source: Firefox Download
• Source: Mozilla Blog
• Via: TNW
• Source: Banana Bread

Learn About The Redesign Of The Google Play Suite Of Apps From Android Design In Action

As Android users and enthusiasts, we sometimes find ourselves curious about the continuously evolving interfaces in Google's ecosystem. Over the years, there have been a number of changes to the Play Store, once known as the Android Market, but we've never had the pleasure of learning how some of the big design elements came to be. This week, Nick Butcher and Roman Nurik of Android Design in Action invited a couple members of the Android design team, Marco Paglia andOwen Otto, to share details about their process.

The video contains a few tips and comments about building a content-driven interface for several different screen sizes and how to make the best of each. The examples continue to demonstrate the cards-based interface and why it was chosen to represent the Play Store and other related apps like Music and Books. A lot of the discussion centers around creating an immersive experience that is consistent from beginning to end, even across multiple applications. It's great to get a little insight into the software we use every day was made.

Google+

Gameloft Expands Modern Combat 4 With Free Meltdown Update: 3 New Maps, 2 New Modes, And Lots Of Explosions

Gameloft's shooter magnum opus is getting a big update today. If you've purchased Modern Combat 4, head to the Play Store to start the download for the Meltdown update - it's free. Those who haven't bought MC4 can get it with a new purchase. The update is fairly typical for a high-profile first-person shooter: new maps, new weapons, and a new specialization class. But what will probably excite fans of the game most are two new multiplayer modes.

They're called Bomb Squad and Destruction, and roughly speaking, they're capture point maps. In Bomb Squad, one team has to secure a location, plant a bomb, and defend it until it goes off, while the opposing team tries to bust in and defuse it. In Destruction, one team has to sabotage a series of devices while the opposite team stops them. Both modes will make use of the new Demolition specialization class, which has resistance to explosive damage, grenades, a proximity mine, and the ability to set off explosives with gunfire. Other classes can get new abilities from a selection of perks, and try out a spiffy new sniper rifle and single-shot grenade launcher.

  

There are also a handful of new attachments, a few balancing tweaks, a revamped messaging inbox, and a Random Quick Match mode for ranked play. All in all it's a pretty sizeable update, and if this were Modern Warfare, you'd definitely be paying for the maps and weapons. Good on ya for the endgame support, Gameloft.

What's in this version:

√ 3 new maps, from Barcelona to Antarctica
√ New ""Demolition"" specialization with 7 new perks including ""Dedication"" (dying from explosions won't reset your streak) and ""One Last Thing"" (drop a grenade whenever you die)
√ 2 new weapons: Special Forces Sniper Rifle & Grenade Launcher Pistol
√ 2 new team multiplayer modes: Bomb Squad & Destruction
√ Many other improvements: Visit www.modern-combat.net for all the details

Via Modern-combat.net

Samsung Releases Kernel Source Code For AT&T Galaxy S 4 Active And Note 8.0 LTE

Kernel source code is an important part of a ROM developer's everyday life. It's what enables them to bring new features to your favorite device. What gives them with the opportunity to improve battery life, overclock (underclock) the processor, and so much more. For the average Joe, it's no big deal; for developers, however, it's a valuable asset.

Today, Samsung has made available the kernel source code for some of its new LTE devices: theGalaxy S 4 Active on AT&T and Note 8.0 LTE. With this code, developers who adopt the devices will be able to not only provide the aforementioned tweaks, but ensure the most stable builds and highest chance of custom ROM compatibility.

If you're one such dev, hit the links below to grab the download.

Galaxy S 4 Active

Note 8.0 LTE (AT&T)

Note 8.0 LTE (Canada)

Sony Xperia Ion Jumps To Android 4.1.2 With Latest Firmware Update

Sony has handed out Jelly Bean to a number of devices in the past month, but it has taken a while for the update to reach the Xperia Ion. That's now changing. Build number 6.2.B.0.211 has started to roll out to the device that, until now, was missing out on all the fun that its Xperia siblings were having.

Despite the wait, this is not an over-the-air update. Owners need access to a computer and theSony PC Companion to update their device. Note that this is an update to Android 4.1.2. Sony's handset is still not running the latest version, but it's now more up-to-date than it was.

Image via dhruvmu

Via: Xperia Blog

iPhone 5S leak shows

For those of you unfamiliar with how in-depth an iPhone release is covered in the technology press environment, the following post is going to give you a good idea of how ravenous Apple smartphone fans can be. What we’ve got here is a collection of parts, each of them relatively unrecognizable to the lay person, together combined to make a next-generation iPhone in time. Everything from the SIM card slot to the connectors between the display and the logic board – they’re all here.

The collection of photos you’re seeing here appear to prove the idea that the iPhone 5S will be an incremental update to the iPhone 5. This is not unexpected. In fact the only little bit of change we’ve seen or heard of thus far is the dual-LED flash on the back of this device where previous iPhones only worked with a single bulb.

Other than that and a possible relatively minor upgrade to the processor in this machine from what it was in the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S is sizing up to be a delivery vehicle for the next-generation iOS system without too much distraction from that. Such a delivery is certainly not unheard of from the likes of Apple, that much is certain.

This set of images also tips the idea that the iPhone 5S (or whatever it’ll end up being called) is in full production mode, as each of the pieces seem to be ready to hit final units. This device will be working with the same size screen as the iPhone 5 along with a chassis that are nearly identical, if not so similar it’ll be exceedingly difficult to tell the two apart. Aside from that back-facing flash change-over. You’ll find an inner vision of the phone here as well courtesy of a leak from earlier this week.

This rush of oddities comes from Wuhan China-based leakster C Technology as well as little known user “David” from the publication known as Fanatic Fone. While the latter source hasn’t appeared outside a set of two leaks (both of which are contained in this SlashGear post), C-tech has been known to reveal its fair share of later-proven-true early looks at hardware before they’re made official.