New Motorola Phone is Always Listening to Your Conversations

­A few features of Motorola forthcoming flagship Android smartphone have been leaked by a video posted on a Google+ account website.

The most significant development appears to be that the Moto X smartphone will be listening for voice-activation commands, even when in standby mode with the screen switched off.

If the video is correct, then users will be able to carry out searches and perform other functions simply by saying ""OK Google Now..."

While useful for the individual user, a prankster could presumably cause havoc in a public area by using the tannoy to broadcast the activation command into a conference hall or shopping centre.

A new motion control option also allows apps to be launched without tapping the screen -- such as twisting the phone to start up the camera.

Also, iPhone style notifications alerts will display incoming calls, texts and social media updates in the locked screen.

Huawei Shows Off Youth Targeted Android Tablet

 

Huawei has announced the MediaPad 7 Youth, the company’s latest tablet in the MediaPad series. It has a 7-inch IPS display, powered by a 1.6 GHz dual-core processor  and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with Huawei’s Emotion UI on top. It has 3G connectivity through a SIM card slot and supports voice calls, SMS, and MMS. It has a rear camera, a front-facing camera and has a sleek aluminum metal unibody design. Huawei unveiled the MediaPad 7 Vogue last month powered by a quad-core processor. Details such as display resolution, RAM and memory are not available yet,  will update you once i get more info.

Huawei MediaPad 7 Youth specifications

• 7-inch 10-point multi-touch display
• 1.6 GHz dual-core processor
• Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Voice calls
• Rear Camera
• front-facing Camera
• 9.9 mm thick and weighs 350grams
• Expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD
• 3G (HSPA+ up to 21Mbps), Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS / aGPS
• 1080p Full HD Video Playback
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 4100 mAh Li-Polymer battery

The Huawei MediaPad 7 Youth would go on sale in Russia, China, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe in Q3, 2013. No word on pricing yet.

Google Facing EU Probe into Android OS Licensing

­Google is facing a European investigation into how it promoted the Android operating system to smartphone manufacturers.

According to documents seen by the Financial Times, the European Union's antitrust investion has focused on allegations of anti-competitive deals being struck between Google and smartphone providers.

The specifics of the allegations apparently include offering Android OS licenses at below cost and influencing smartphone manufacturers to cancel or delay handset launches based on actions by other manufacturers.

The probe is currently at a preliminary stage and hasn't been formallised into an official investigation.

It is also understood to be looking at the conditions that Google attaches to the OS to permit the use of Google related services on the handsets, such as Gmail and its maps service.

Latest HTC One Mini leak reveals front, back and specs

1.4GHz Snapdragon S4, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, 720p display

The HTC One Mini hasn't yet been officially announced, but thanks to a steady stream of leaks we already know a great deal about what to expect from HTC's upcoming mid-ranger. The device has appeared yet again today, over on German-based blog AndroidNext.de. The outlet scored shots of the Mini's front face and back panel — almost identical to the full-size HTC One, with a few minor differences — along with a hardware details from the CPU-Z app which confirm what many were suspecting.

The HTC One Mini is said to pack a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, of which 11.2GB is available for use, and a 1280x720 display. The phone has a 4-megapixel "Ultrapixel" camera around the back, and a 1.6-megapixel front-facer, the site reports. On the software side, it's running HTC Sense 5 atop Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean — the same Android version to which the European HTC One has recently been updated.

With the device now in carrier testing, according to today's report, hopefully it won't be too long before theHTC One Mini is officially unveiled for all to see. Sources have told Android Central to expect an early August launch for HTC's "Mini," while the larger "HTC One Max" is on track for a September arrival.

Nokia Lumia 1020 announced, packs in a 41-megapixel PureView camera with optical image stabilization, 6-element lens and Nokia Pro camera app

After a flurry of leaks, Nokia finally announced the highly awaited Nokia Lumia 1020. It is the company’s first Windows Phone 8 smartphone that brandishes the game changing 41-megapixel PureView camera from the PureView 808 smartphone. Many had expected this phone to arrive last year, but instead Nokia chose to launch the Lumia 920 which also came with a PureView branding, but instead was the first smartphone to feature optical image stabilization (OIS).

The Lumia 1020 marries the best of Nokia in one package. On one side we get the popular colorful unibody polycarbonate laden design language, but along with this one gets the power of Windows Phone 8 and Nokia’s revolutionary 41-megapixel PureView camera.

Obviously, it’s the camera that’s the big deal because the 41-megapixel f/2.2 sensor uses a technique called oversampling that combines 7 pixels into 1 super pixel, to create 5-megapixel images that contain the details of a 41-megapixel image. This way the Lumia 1020 is able to not only capture incredible 5-megapixel images that give some point and shoot cameras a run for their money, but also facilitates lossless zoom. This basically means one can digitally zoom in on the subject without sacrificing image quality. Nokia says users can obtain up to 3x lossless zoom.

The oversampling technology is also applicable to video and allows 4x zoom at 1080p resolutions and 6x zoom at 720p resolutions.

But all this was also possible with the PureView 808, which admittedly ran the archaic Symbian OS. Nokia has gone one step beyond the PureView 808 and has combined technologies heralded in some of its new smartphones. So, the Lumia 1020 marries the 41-megapixel sensor with OIS that was seen on Lumia 920 last year and a six element lens that as seen earlier on the Lumia 925.

Technically, this means the Lumia 1020 should have the best camera performance of any camera phone out there because due to OIS users can obtain longer exposures and have blur free photographs and less shake in videos. The six-element lens will lend more sharpness to the images.

There is also an LED flash that will work with video and a Xenon flash that will work with stills.

The phone itself is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory but no microSD card slot. It has a 4.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280×768 pixels, a 2,000 mAh battery and is slimmer and lighter than the Lumia 920 at 10.4mm and 154 grams. It supports wireless charging via separately sold covers, in addition to having a 1.2-megapixel front facing camera with a wide lens and NFC connectivity.

All this means that when compared to the latest Android phones like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, the Lumia 1020 still lags behind as it uses an older generation Qualcomm processor and is still stuck on a 720p screen while they have a 1080p panel. But the bigger issue is the Windows Phone 8 operating system itself, which currently only has 160,000 apps while Android has more than 900,000 apps.

In fact due to the rigid nature of Windows Phone, Nokia had to create a camera app specifically for the Lumia 1020 called Pro Camera. The app is much more detailed than the stock Windows Phone app and it offers a radial interface that appears to be quite intuitive, which gives the user quick access to settings like ISO, white balance, metering, shutter speed and exposure. There is a menu option that will allow the user to have a custom grid in place including grid formations for the rule of thirds, golden ratio, crosshairs or even a square frame. Users can also shoot photos at maximum resolutions and standard resolutions at the same time via a feature called dual capture.

Other software features include Nokia Music, Nokia Mix radio, the Here Maps suite, Nokia Smart camera and Nokia Rich Recording. The Lumia 1020 runs on the Windows Phone Amber update which enables bluetooth 4.0, double tap to unlock, a low power clock.

Lumia 1020 users can go for a camera grip accessory which houses a separate 1,020 mAh battery, a tripod mount and a two stage camera button. When the Lumia 1020 is housed in the accessory then it dons a profile similar to the Galaxy S4 Zoom and even has a 4-LED indicators on the side to notify the user about battery life.

The Lumia 1020 will be available in the US on July 26 and currently there is no word on the Indian launch and pricing. Considering the Lumia 925 is yet to launch in India, the Lumia 1020 seem some time away.

Can the Lumia 1020 bring Nokia to the fore again?

Samsung Galaxy S4 Burst Into Flames While Charging

It seems that modern day smartphones are a fire hazard all by themselves - although the number of spontaneously combusting handsets are far and few in between, but cases of exploding phones have been reported in the past, and it looks like the buck will not stop anytime soon. The first reported case of a Samsung Galaxy S4 catching fire has happened in the UAE, but thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.

Am I a hot phone or what? / © Emirates 24/7

The proud owner of a one month old Samsung Galaxy S4 woke up to the smell of smoke at night, where she left her Galaxy S4 charging overnight. She said, “I cannot explain to you my extreme frustration, disappointment and extreme fear when I found my brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 burning at the charger connection to the phone.”

Being based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sarah Shurrab then promptly wrote to Samsung about the situation, and attached a fair number of photos (two of which you can view above) that depicted the burnt charging tip as well as the charging port of the flagship device. Sarah’s situation was not helped when she went from one dealer to another for a replacement, but all she was offered was a mere repair job, but thankfully, Samsung has decided to “resolve matters amicably” with Sarah after she was in contact with them.

Samsung had agreed to replace the burnt Galaxy S4 with a new unit, in addition to the flip cover which got singed as well, which is contrary to a non-existent compensation policy - but I guess this is the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully this is a one off case, otherwise you might want to think twice about charging your Galaxy S4 overnight after reading this.

Having said that, there has been at least one instance in the past where someone tried to put their phone on fire purposely, but Sarah's case seemed to be a genuine one.

Custom ROMs: A guide for beginners and experienced users

In the past, we’ve done some looking into custom ROMS and their benefits. However, it’s easy to get lost in the amount of information out there. With this article, we hope to answer the following questions:  Why would I ever want to install a custom ROM and which ROM is suitable for whom?

Stock Android or a custom ROM? / © AndroidPIT

Why a Custom ROM?

First, it must be clarified as to why you should for a custom ROM. One thing is certain: not every user who owns a smartphone or Android device needs a custom ROM, but it’s still worthwhile to learn about what the Community can do with custom firmware. As such, I see three useful applications for custom ROMs.

Updating an old smartphone

Many users are familiar with this problem: Your smartphone is only a year old, but the manufacturer has decided not to provide any more updates. New versions of Android are not only interesting because they bring new features, but they also include security updates.

A new toy for hobbyists

Custom ROMs brings not only the latest version of Android to your device, but they also provide a plethora of customization options. Whether they are themes, additional options, or overclocking, the possibilities of custom ROMs are almost unlimited.

Ideal for purists

You may have bought your phone because you find that the hardware and the design were particularly appealing, but you’re also a fan of pure Android. Many users find manufacturer ROMs, such as Touchwiz and Sense, to be clunky and unappealing. The basis for custom ROMs is the “Android Open Source Project”, or AOSP for short. All ROMs are based on a genuine version of Android, which are subsequently enriched by the community behind firmware modifications.

Thanks to custom ROMS, the Galaxy S has seen some more recent updates. / © AndroidPIT

So, which one?

Custom ROMs are a dime a dozen and they aren’t always easy to choose from, especially when looking for one that suits your personal needs.

For beginners and everyday heroes

CyanogenMod is without a doubt one of the most popular custom ROMs out there and it’s pretty easy to see why. It’s fast, stable, and offers many customization options. The settings are specified clearly and aren’t too ridiculous, enabling beginners to the custom ROM scene to not feel overwhelmed with an abundance of options. CyanogenMod is also great for everyday use.

For hobbyists and modders

For those that are constantly changing the look of your ROM and want to be able to control everything down to the smallest detail, the AOKP custom ROM is definitely the choice for you. The setting options for the ROM are virtually unlimited and you can tweak almost everything within it: from the position of the clock on your screen to the colors of almost anything.

AOKP offers as many options as you could possibly want. / © AndroidPIT

For the versatile

Do you have a smartphone but want the tablet look? Check out Paranoid Android as it offers you the option to change the layout of Android apps to be optimized for either a tablet setting or a smartphone setting. In addition, there are a ton of other additional settings that you can play around with, such as the transparency of the status bar.

For the….unusual

Do you want to try something completely different from the standard Android experience? Check outMIUI as your custom ROM of choice. The appearance is that of iOS and uses large icons, a glossy look, and a lot of eye-candy. Definitely not one if you’re looking for something simple, but who knows, it may just catch your eye.

MIUI brings a completely different look to Android. / © AndroidPIT

Of course, this was only a small sampling of some of the custom ROMs that are available. Like I said, custom ROMs are a dime a dozen and more keep on popping up every other day.

For those who just don’t like the idea of rooting their device and installing a custom ROM, you can always check out the countless number of Android Launchers that allow at least some flexibility when it comes to personalization.

What’s your favorite custom ROM? 

MIUI v5 now available for the HTC One

Last week, we did a little write-up on the various custom ROMs available and which one you should be choosing based on what you wanted to get out of them. One of the ROMs that we highlighted was MIUI, a ROM that completely changes the look of Android. Well, HTC One users, you can rejoice today, as MIUI v5 is now available for your device. 

© AdyScorpius (XDA)

Over at the XDA-Developers forum, user AdyScorpius has posted a relatively stable build of the ROM that works on HTC One devices. Please note, as always, that the installation of custom ROMs and flashing your device is risky business and we always recommend that you backup your data prior to playing around with the firmware.

If you’re still that you want to give MIUI a try on your HTC One device, head over here and download the ROM file that you need and follow these simple instructions:

1. Push zip file to sdcard or Download on phone.
2. Reboot to recovery.
3. Wipe data (Factory Reset)
4. Flash ROM.
5. Reboot.

As noted by Android Authority and AdyScorpius, the above instructions are only guaranteed to work with the international versions of the HTC One. If you have a carrier specific variant, please do some research over at the XDA Forums before flashing away blindly.

Has anyone installed MIUI on his or her HTC One yet? If so, how do you like it so far?

Switch: Sense 5 and Pure Android on a HTC One

You know what? Sometimes I’m really torn between whether I want to be running a pure Android experience or using one of the manufacturers ROMs. In some respects, the Sense 5 does have some pretty interesting and useful features that I like to use, as does pure Android. Well, with Switch, you now can have both systems running in parallel on your HTC One device and can flip-flop between both with ease.

Sense 5 or pure Android? Why not both? / © HTC/AndroidPIT

With a numerous amount of possibilities out there in terms of manufacturers with their own version of Android running of their devices, along with the newly released Google editions of the Galaxy S4and HTC One, it’s often hard to try and decide what you should go for in terms of both hardware and software. Hopefully, this new feature will at least lessen the burden on the software side of things, allowing a more flexible experience.

With Switch, it should be this easy to try and figure out which ROM you'll want to use at a given moment. / © Paul O'brien

The acclaimed Android developer, Paul O’Brien, is currently working on a software called Switch and is concentrating mainly on the HTC One right now. With Switch, it would be possible to switch tween stock Android and Sense 5 with a press of the button. Seamless and fast.

One of the really cooler things that have come out of this revelation is that O’Brien has said on  twitter account that he’s working on a “Best of Both” approach as well, which would allow users to pick and choose parts of each ROM that they like best and use them in conjunction. Both systems working alongside and in tandem!

While we don’t know the specifics of how this really work, we do have the confirmation that it’s currently in the works. Judging by past reveals by O’Brien, we don’t have much doubt that Switch will see the light of day.

We will be keeping an eye on these developments, as this is probably one of the more interesting features we’d like to see go live.  Would you use Switch if and when it would be available? 

Galaxy Tab 3 series released in the US

Samsung has just released the Galaxy Tab 3 series in the US. The range comes in standard 7.0'', 8.0'' and 10.1'' screen sizes and the new tabs are set for release from Samsung's web store on July 19th (Amazon and Best Buy have them ready to ship already). The 8.0'' and 10.1'' come rocking Android 4.2 straight out of the box, but for some reason the 7.0'' only boasts Jelly Bean 4.1. Weird. They also still have physical buttons.  

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 range. / © Samsung

The Galaxy Note series still dominates Samsung's tablet offerings, but the Galaxy Tab series provides a solid mid-range (although still quite pricey) compromise. The 7.0'' Galaxy Tab 3 comes in at $199.99, the 8.0'' at $299.99 and the 10.1'' at $399.99. At these prices, the 10.1'' is not far off the iPad with Retina display or even Samsung's gangbuster Galaxy Note 10.1''.

So, what's under the hood? Is the price worth it for the specs you get? Well, have a look and see what you think:

Technical Specs

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0''

System:	Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Display:	7.0 inch TFT, 600 x 1024 pixels
Processor:	Dual-core 1.2 GHz
RAM:	1 GB
Internal Storage:	8/16 GB
Expansion:	microSD, up to 64 GB
Camera:	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels (rear-facing camera), 1.3 MP (front-facing camera)
Video:	720p@30fps
Connections:	Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP
	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Infrared port
	USB v2.0
Battery:	Non-removable Li-Ion 4,000 mAh
Dimensions:	188 x 111.1 x 9.9 mm (7.40 x 4.37 x 0.39 inches)
Weight:	306 g (10.79 oz)

The 8.0'' in the alluring new 'gold brown' colour option. / © Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0''

System:	Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Display:	8.0 inch TFT, 800 x 1280 pixels
Processor:	Dual-core 1.5 GHz, Exynos 4212
RAM:	1.5 GB
Internal Storage:	16/32 GB
Expansion:	microSD, up to 64 GB
Camera:	5 MP, 2560x1920 pixels (rear-facing camera), 1.3 MP (front-facing camera)
Video:	720p@30fps
Connections:	Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP
	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Infrared port
	USB v2.0 (MHL), USB Host
Battery:	Non-removable Li-Ion 4,450 mAh
Dimensions:	209.8 x 123.8 x 7.4 mm (8.26 x 4.87 x 0.29 inches)
Weight:	314 g (11.08 oz)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1''

System:	Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Display:	10.1 inch TFT, 800 x 1280 pixels
Processor:	Dual-core 1.6 GHz
RAM:	1 GB
Internal Storage:	16/32 GB
Expansion:	microSD, up to 64 GB
Camera:	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels (rear-facing camera), 1.3 MP (front-facing camera)
Video:	720p@30fps
Connections:	Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP
	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Infrared port
	USB v2.0 (MHL), USB Hub
Battery:	Non-removable Li-Po 6,800 mAh
Dimensions:	243.1 x 176.1 x 8 mm (9.57 x 6.93 x 0.31 inches)
Weight:	510 g (1.12 lb)

The 10.1'' Tab 3 is also a giant universal remote. Sold! / © Samsung

So, what are the major differences? Well, nothing spectacular. The jump from the 7.0'' to 8.0'' is noticeable enough, with a half GB more RAM, beefier processor (from 1.2 to 1.5 GHz), more on board storage, the jump to Jelly Bean 4.2.2 and a better camera at 5 MP. 

The gap between the 8.0'' and the 10.1'' is much smaller though, with the camera dropping back to 3.15 MP, the RAM back to 1 GB, no increase in resolution despite the increased screen size, only a minor CPU upgrade (from 1.5 to 1.6 GHz, but still only dual-core) and a Lithium-Polymer battery (admittedly at a strapping 6,800 mAh compared to the Lithium-Ion 8.0'' at 4,450 mAh and the 7.0'' at 4,000 mAh).

With the minimal spec improvements between the 8.0'' and the 10.1'', I really don't think the larger tablet is worth the extra dough. At these prices you might be better off dropping just a little more ($100 for the 10.1'') and buying a Galaxy Note instead. But the smaller screen models, especially the 8.0'', are a decent enough entry-level tablet, although far from strong competition, especially at these mid-range prices.

Although a quad-core processor, full HD, more RAM, better camera and processor speed on the 10.1'' might have made it more enticing, it would then perhaps be a little too close to the Galaxy Note series. If Samsung really wanted to distinguish these tablet series, they should have introduced a slightly (much) bigger price discrepancy for the lower-end Tab 3 to match the lower-end specs.

What do you think? Would you buy a Galaxy Tab 3 or spend the extra for a Galaxy Note?

IMAGE GALLERY

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0''

EmoPulse Smile: Your Smart Digital Companion

Taking a whole new approach to the whole smartwatch business, this piece of wearable tech is equipped with almost any feature imaginable, turning it into a smart digital companion.

The EmoPulse Smile could be described as a wearable smartphone, but it is actually so much more. It is also a smartwatch, a news and social network feed, a gaming and entertainment hub, and your very own personal assistant, all wrapped in an impressive bracelet design.

Features

The gadget is basically a twin display that uses full-color OLED technology. The displays are protected by an aluminum enclosure with shock- and water-resistant glass. It does not run on Android of iOS, but on a custom Linux operating system.

The AI system was designed so as to allow the device to learn and adjust its processes and features based on the users’ preferences. With the help of embedded biosensors, the Smile gathers information about the wearer and based on the collected data, it automates some of its processes.

The device will thus be able to learn 7-8 times faster than other systems. For instance, after you’ve watched two or three movies, the EmoPulse Smile will be able to recommend other films you might like, based on your emotional response. The gadget can do this with other types of media and it can also adjust its recommendations if your tastes change.

The Smile’s biosensors can be used to monitor your physical activity and workouts, but also your diet and health. They will also be able to determine if you’re relaxed or stressed. Based on the readings, the gadget will suggest a course of action.

Moving further into the world of sci-fi, the gadget can also control your sleep stages and dream times and also let you know when it’s time to get some rest or some exercise. The device will hold off all your calls and messages when you’re asleep and can even change your Facebook status to “sleeping” so that you can get some rest undisturbed.

Technical specs

The EmoPulse Smile will be powered by Texas Instruments’ high-speed OMAP5 processor with built in HD graphical processing. It has 2GB system memory and is available in two storage capacity versions: 128GB and 256GB.

The gadget also has three cameras and three microphones, it is Wi-FI and NFC enabled, and is equipped with nano-SIM cart slot, USB 3.0, Purepath audio technology, voice recognition software and others. The Smile is powered by a 2,500 mAh battery that can last two days of intensive use and 7 in power-saving mode. 

The device is still in a prototype stage and manufacturers have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise $300,000 for mass production. The company is already taking pre-orders for the gadget, with the first finalized models expected to go into production by the end of the year. Indiegogo backers can get a 128GB version for a $480 pledge and a 256GB version for $550.