The Sony Xperia L’s battery test completes, the results are inside

The Sony Xperia L packs a 1750 mAh Li-Ion battery and, in theory, should be able to power the 4.3-incher at the front and dual-core processor inside quite successfully.

However we’re not really the kind of guys that take anything for granted before checking what’s what ourselves. And so we did, check out the Xperia L battery test details after the jump.

The Sony Xperia L started the test really well posting an impressive 12 and a half hours of talk time, which places it firmly in the upper half of the chart.

Talk time

• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  21:18
• LG Optimus G Pro
  20:45
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  20:24
• Motorola RAZR i
  20:07
• Sony Xperia SP
  19:49
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (S600)
  18:03
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  16:57
• Sony Xperia Z
  16:03
• LG Optimus G
  15:30
• Sony Xperia ZL
  15:22
• Nokia Lumia 720
  15:17
• Nokia Lumia 620
  14:17
• Oppo Find 5
  14:17
• Google Nexus 4
  14:17
• HTC One
  13:38
• HTC One X+
  13:31
• Nokia Lumia 520
  13:33
• Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos
  12:45
• Huawei Ascend P1
  12:30
• Sony Xperia L
  12:30
• HTC Butterfly
  12:18
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  12:14
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  11:58
• Samsung Galaxy Premier
  11:30
• Asus Padfone 2
  11:20
• HTC Droid DNA
  11:07
• HTC Windows Phone 8X
  11:07
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  11:07
• Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
  11:06
• HTC Desire X
  11:03
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (Octa)
  11:01
• HTC One X (AT&T, LTE)
  10:35
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  10:20
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  10:15
• Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
  10:03
• HTC One V
  10:00
• Meizu MX 4-core
  10:00
• Samsung Galaxy Express
  10:00
• HTC One X
  9:57
• HTC One S
  9:42
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  9:40
• HTC Sensation XL
  9:30
• Nokia Lumia 810
  9:05
• Nokia Lumia 710
  9:05
• Acer CloudMobile S500
  9:05
• Motorola Atrix HD
  9:04
• HTC Vivid
  9:02
• Nokia Lumia 920
  8:56
• Nokia Lumia 610
  8:51
• HTC Rhyme
  8:48
• Apple iPhone 5
  8:42
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  8:42
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  8:41
• Meizu MX
  8:39
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  8:35
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  8:28
• Nokia Lumia 800
  8:25
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  8:23
• Nokia Lumia 510
  8:22
• Samsung Galaxy Fame
  8:21
• BlackBerry Z10
  8:20
• HTC Desire V
  8:20
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  8:20
• Sony Xperia T
  8:15
• HTC Rezound (LTE)
  8:10
• Samsung Galaxy Note (LTE)
  8:02
• LG Optimus Vu
  7:57
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  7:41
• Apple iPhone 4S
  7:41
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  7:25
• HTC Evo 4G LTE (LTE)
  7:21
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  7:14
• Nokia Lumia 820
  7:09
• Sony Xperia acro S
  7:09
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  7:09
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  6:57
• Nokia N9
  6:57
• HTC Radar
  6:53
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  6:53
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  6:52
• Sony Xperia E dual
  6:42
• Samsung Galaxy S III mini
  6:22
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  5:54
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T (LTE)
  5:53
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  5:52
• Sony Xperia P
  5:33
• Nokia 808 PureView
  5:16
• LG Nitro HD (LTE)
  5:16
• HTC Titan II (LTE)
  5:10
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  5:00
• Pantech Burst
  4:46

Things were still looking quite good when it came to the the web browsing test. The Xperia L managed to last for 6:40h of continuous browsing, which was enough to place it above devices with similar price tags such as the Xperia P and Nokia Lumia 620.

Web browsing

• HTC One
  9:58
• Apple iPhone 5
  9:56
• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  9:12
• Apple iPad mini
  9:05
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  8:48
• Nokia Lumia 810
  8:20
• Asus Padfone 2
  8:20
• Nokia Lumia 610
  8:01
• HTC One X+
  7:56
• Sony Xperia E dual
  7:42
• Samsung Galaxy S III mini
  7:38
• Nokia Lumia 720
  7:37
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (S600)
  7:24
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  7:23
• HTC Radar
  7:17
• Nokia Lumia 520
  7:15
• Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos
  7:09
• Samsung Galaxy Express
  7:09
• Motorola RAZR i
  7:06
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (Octa)
  6:58
• Apple iPhone 4S
  6:56
• HTC One V
  6:49
• LG Optimus G Pro
  6:40
• Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
  6:40
• Sony Xperia L
  6:40
• HTC Droid DNA
  6:40
• Samsung Galaxy Premier
  6:40
• Motorola Atrix HD
  6:40
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  6:40
• Sony Xperia Z
  6:37
• Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
  6:35
• BlackBerry Z10
  6:27
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  6:27
• HTC Butterfly
  6:24
• Sony Xperia SP
  6:18
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  6:15
• Nokia Lumia 510
  6:13
• Sony Xperia ZL
  6:04
• HTC Windows Phone 8X
  6:01
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  5:56
• Samsung Galaxy Fame
  5:55
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  5:53
• Pantech Burst
  5:51
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  5:45
• HTC Desire V
  5:44
• HTC Evo 4G LTE
  5:41
• Nokia Lumia 920
  5:40
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  5:34
• Oppo Find 5
  5:33
• Sony Xperia T
  5:33
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  5:33
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  5:28
• Samsung Galaxy Note LTE
  5:24
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  5:23
• HTC Sensation XL
  5:20
• Meizu MX 4-core
  5:19
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  5:17
• Sony Xperia acro S
  5:16
• HTC Rezound
  5:16
• HTC Desire X
  5:16
• LG Optimus G
  5:15
• HTC Rhyme
  5:08
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  5:07
• HTC One X (AT&T)
  5:03
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  4:50
• LG Optimus Vu
  4:49
• HTC Vivid
  4:46
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  4:45
• Meizu MX
  4:35
• Google Nexus 4
  4:34
• Nokia N9
  4:33
• Acer CloudMobile S500
  4:32
• Nokia Lumia 820
  4:24
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  4:24
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  4:20
• HTC One X
  4:18
• Nokia 808 PureView
  4:14
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  4:10
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
  4:10
• Nokia Lumia 800
  4:07
• HTC Titan II (LTE)
  4:05
• HTC One S
  4:03
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  4:02
• LG Nitro HD
  4:00
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  3:59
• Sony Xperia P
  3:59
• Nokia Lumia 710
  3:51
• Nokia Lumia 620
  3:50
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  3:47
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  3:35
• Huawei Ascend P1
  3:23
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  3:01

The big disappointment came from the video playback test, where the Sony Xperia L lasted the pretty mediocre 4:44h. While you can still rely on it to entertain a commute of average length, you won’t have much juice when you arrive.

Video playback

• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  16:35
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  14:17
• Apple iPad mini
  12:51
• Samsung Galaxy Premier
  12:51
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (S600)
  12:30
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (Octa)
  11:29
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  11:27
• Apple iPhone 5
  10:12
• HTC One
  10:02
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  10:01
• Samsung Galaxy Express
  10:00
• Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
  10:00
• Nokia 808 PureView
  9:53
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  9:42
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  9:34
• HTC One S
  9:28
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  9:27
• Apple iPhone 4S
  9:24
• HTC Evo 4G LTE
  9:07
• BlackBerry Z10
  8:44
• LG Optimus G Pro
  8:40
• Nokia N9
  8:40
• HTC Butterfly
  8:28
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  8:25
• Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos
  8:11
• HTC One X+
  8:11
• Motorola RAZR i
  8:11
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  8:00
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  7:55
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  7:52
• Samsung Galaxy S III mini
  7:46
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  7:45
• Asus Padfone 2
  7:38
• Huawei Ascend P1
  7:38
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  7:33
• HTC Droid DNA
  7:30
• Samsung Galaxy Note LTE
  7:30
• Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
  7:30
• Sony Xperia SP
  7:27
• Nokia Lumia 610
  7:23
• LG Optimus G
  7:16
• Nokia Lumia 720
  6:43
• Meizu MX 4-core
  6:33
• Nokia Lumia 620
  6:32
• HTC Windows Phone 8X
  6:27
• Sony Xperia E dual
  6:27
• Nokia Lumia 810
  6:27
• HTC Desire V
  6:26
• HTC One X (AT&T)
  6:26
• Nokia Lumia 820
  6:25
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  6:25
• Nokia Lumia 510
  6:23
• LG Optimus Vu
  6:23
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  6:21
• Nokia Lumia 920
  6:19
• HTC Sensation XL
  6:12
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  6:06
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  6:04
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  6:03
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  6:02
• Sony Xperia T
  6:01
• Motorola Atrix HD
  6:01
• HTC Vivid
  6:00
• HTC Radar
  5:54
• Nokia Lumia 800
  5:52
• Nokia Lumia 520
  5:50
• HTC Titan II
  5:50
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  5:47
• HTC One X
  5:45
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  5:44
• Sony Xperia Z
  5:39
• Sony Xperia acro S
  5:38
• HTC Desire X
  5:38
• Pantech Burst
  5:38
• Sony Xperia ZL
  5:28
• Meizu MX
  5:27
• HTC Rhyme
  5:23
• HTC One V
  5:20
• Acer CloudMobile S500
  5:18
• Oppo Find 5
  5:18
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
  5:18
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  5:09
• HTC Rezound
  5:03
• Samsung Galaxy Fame
  5:02
• Google Nexus 4
  4:55
• Sony Xperia L
  4:44
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  4:30
• Sony Xperia P
  4:30
• LG Nitro HD
  4:17
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  4:14
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  3:28
• Nokia Lumia 710
  3:27

Stand-by wasn’t very impressive either and what we’re left with is an endurance rating of 39 hours. This means that if you do an hour of calls, browsing or video playback each day you’ll need to charge the Sony Xperia L every 39 hours, so more often than not you won’t be able to last for two full days.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Sick of Typing Passwords? Get an Electronic Tattoo or Ingest a Pill

By Joanna Stern
@joannastern
Follow on Twitter

May 31, 2013 12:25pm

The average person inputs a password 39 times a day, with power users typing that string of letters and numbers up to 100 times a day, Motorola’s head of Advanced Technology & Projects Regina Dugan revealed at the All Things D conference this week.

But even then that password, as a series of recent hacks have shown, isn’t always secure.

Sure, there are ways of authenticating beyond passwords, including two-factor authentication which requires a user to input a password and a code that is sent to their phone, but Motorola’s dreaming up a way of keeping our passwords even closer to ourselves — literally.

At the conference Dugan showed off two ways of turning your body into a password.  With an electronic tattoo, she said, people would be able to just wear their password on their skin.

“We are thinking of a variety of options for how you could do better at authentication. You can start with near term things like tokens or fobs, but you can also think of a means of authentication that you could wear on your skin for a week at a time,” she said. “We are talking about an electronic tattoo.”

Motorola is working with a company called MC10, which makes a tattoo with embedded sensors and an antenna. “What we plan to do is work with them to advance a tattoo for authentication. Ten- to 20-year-olds might not want to wear a watch on their wrists, but you can bet they will wear a tattoo — if only to piss off their parents,” she said.

MC10 has shown off this technology before but in a medical sense. The tattoos could replace pacemakers, MC10′s CEO said at TedMed back in 2012.

RELATED: Passthoughts? Brainwave-Based Passwords a Reality

But Dugan is thinking beyond the outside of our bodies with authentication: “I take a vitamin every morning. What if I could take vitamin authentication?”

Dugan showed off a small pill. Inside that pill wasn’t medication but a tiny computer chip. “It also has what amounts to an inside-out potato battery. The acids in your stomach serve as an electrolyte and power it up,” she explained.

That creates a signal in your body and your body becomes the password. You can touch your phone, car or door and be “authenticated in.” Sounds crazy, yes, but this is not just “science fiction” Dugan said. Made by Proteus Digital Health, the pill was approved by the FDA in August 2012. Its version of the digital pill sends information to your doctor from inside your body. It is currently being tested with placebo pills.

So when is all of this coming? Not as soon as Motorola’s made-in-America Moto X phone. Motorola’s CEO Dennis Woodside said, “This isn’t stuff that is going to ship anytime soon, but having the boldness to think differently about problems everyday is really important for Motorola now.”

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

ASUS unwraps its PQ321 31.5-inch 4K-resolution monitor

ASUS has announced the PQ321 monitor packing 4K resolution. The professional-grade screen is 31.5 inches in diagonal and can show one billion colors thanks to its 10-bit RGB LED-backlit IGZO panel.

The 4K resolution translates to 3840 x 2160 pixels, which adds up to a pixel density of 140 pixels per inch. Other features of the ASUS PQ321 include 176-degree viewing angle, 350 cd/m2 brightness and 8ms response time.

Gladly, the monitor offers lots of adjustment; there’s height, tilt and swivel. Connectivity wise, there’s a DisplayPort, dual HDMI inputs sporting picture-in-picture capability, and a 3.5mm audio jack for the 2W built-in stereo speakers.

Promised to hit shelves in the USA and Canada at the end of June, the ASUS PQ321 doesn’t yet have an official price tag, but you can bet it’s going to be priced along the lines of its resolution.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic lands on iPad

The critically-acclaimed and beloved BioWare classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has made its way on to the Apple’s App Store.

The game is compatible only with iPads running on iOS 6 or later and costs £7/€9/$10.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic weighs almost 2GB, which means you’ll need to have 4GB free space in order to install the game. Don’t worry, it won’t occupy 4 gigs, you just need the space for the installation process.

I am very happy to see quality games such as this one make their way to the modern gadgets. We already have the classic RPG Baldur’s Gate (Enhanced Edition) available on iPad, while its Android version will follow soon. I just can’t wait to see what’s next!

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Purported second-gen Google Nexus 7 tablet makes an appearance in a promo video

Google certainly loves teasing us – the search giant has featured an yet unknown tablet in a promo Google Maps video. The real kicker is that it doesn’t look anything like the purported second-gen Nexus 7 slate we saw at one of the Google I/O sessions.

In fact, the newly shown slate has more round corners and a two-tone design, unlike the current-gen Nexus 7. You can check it out being held in the Google Maps video below. Make sure to pay attention around the 0:53 minute mark.

The upcoming update of the Nexus 7 has been doing the rounds in the rumor mill over the last couple of months. Some reports suggested it’s going to pack a 1080p resolution, while others suggest the Nvidia Tegra chipset is going to be replaced with a Qualcomm Snapdragon one.

Whatever the case is, Google hasn’t yet made any official move to suggest the Nexus 7 is going to be replaced. History has taught us though, that every new Nexus that replaces an old one, sports the same price. The Nexus 7 is expected to stick to the rule and cost $199 for the 16GB model.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

The price of running pure Android on the HTC One – no Zoe, Beats Audio software IR remote or FM radio

Holo fans are probably still a little hung over after finding out that the Galaxy S4 Google Edition wasn’t an accident – HTC is doing it too with the One. So, the two arguably best Android phones are getting a pure Android option, but what does that mean in terms of proprietary functionality?

Android Police asked HTC who sent back a detailed reply.

HTC One’s camera is its biggest feature and a lot of that depends on Zoe. The HTC One with Nexus experience loses Zoe and all its image processing magic (video Highlights, sequence shots, object removal, etc.) but the stock camera does have Photo Spheres.

Also HTC says “the camera will still produce comparable high quality pictures” so presumably Optical Image Stabilization will still work, which was the most important feature anyway. It remains to be seen how the native low-light mode compares to the one tuned by HTC though.

Similarly, the software part of Beats Audio will be removed but the high-quality audio hardware will remain.

Other hardware features that depend on non-AOSP software will also be disabled – that means no IR blaster and no FM radio. If Android grows native support for such features later on, they will be enabled (we could probably count on some flashable solution from XDA in the meantime, too).

The HTC logo that some modders managed to turn into a third button will remain disabled.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung to allegedly use Intel processors for its Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 tablet

Samsung is no stranger to working with a wide range of chip makers for its devices, even though the company fabricates its own chips. The reason for this have often been Samsung’s inability to produce enough chips on its own and thus had to look at other OEMs to supply the processors.

Although Samsung and Intel have worked together in the past on several products, we are yet to see a Samsung Android device running one of Intel’s processors. It seems, though, that it won’t be long before we do. According to the sources at Reuters, Samsung is working with Intel to get the latter’s Clover Trail+ series of x86 mobile processors in at least one variant of its upcoming Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 tablet.

According to Korea Times, the reason once again is related to supplies, as Samsung is seemingly unable to produce enough of its own Exynos range of processors. Although it’s hard to tell just how Intel’s processors stack up against Samsung’s in terms of performance, the former have done well so far on their own and should offer respectable performance on Samsung’s tablet.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Razer announces 14-inch Razer Blade and 17-inch Razer Blade Pro gaming laptops

Razer has updated their 17-inch gaming laptop – the Razer Blade – and it now comes with improved hardware and a new name. Called the Razer Blade Pro, the ultrathin gaming laptop gets some increased firepower under the hood courtesy of some next generation parts.

For starters, Razer has swapped the previous Intel Ivy Bridge processor in favor of a new 4th gen Intel Core ‘Haswell’ processor. The GPU has been updated from the NVIDIA GTX 660M on the previous model to a GTX 765M. Other specs include 8GB DDR3 RAM, 128GB SSD (optional 256/512GB drives available), 3x USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, HD webcam and the same 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display from the previous model. The Razer Blade Pro also has a secondary touchscreen LCD with Razer’s Switchblade interface that doubles up as the trackpad, and ten user configurable keys above.

The Razer Blade Pro is priced at $2,299 and will be available on Razer’s website in Q2, 2013. If you’re an indie game developer with a successfully funded Kickstarter, you can get a new Blade Pro for just $999.

The reason the previous Razer Blade was promoted to the ‘Pro’ status is because there is a new Razer Blade in town. The new 14-inch model carries over most of the important bits from the Blade Pro, including the Haswell CPU, the GTX 765M GPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD and 3x USB 3.0 ports. The 14-inch display, however, has a resolution of 1600 x 900 and the Blade lacks the touchscreen LCD trackpad and the configurable keys of the Blade Pro. However, it is incredibly thin at just 0.66-inch in height, which Razer claims makes it the world’s thinnest gaming notebook.

The Razer Blade is priced at $1,799 and will be available in Q2, 2013.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Asus rumored to launch its Memo Pad successor at Computex 2013

Asus is all set to launch an upgraded version of its Memo Pad at Computex 2013, which will kick off next week. The upcoming tablet is said to be named as Memo Pad 7 HD, according to a report from Yugatech.

Asus Memo Pad 7 HD is rumored to sport a 7-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and a pixel density of 210ppi. The tablet is said to feature a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor along with 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory, a wide range of connectivity options and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The potential Memo Pad successor is expected to be available in Black, White, Blue, Pink and Yellow color options. Asus Memo Pad 7 HD is estimated to be priced around $169 in the US market.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

NVIDIA announces GeForce GTX 770 GPU for $399

NVIDIA announced its newest GeForce GTX 770 GPU, which is the slightly more affordable version of the GTX 780 we saw last week.

The GeForce GTX 770 is based on the NVIDIA Kepler architecture for superior gaming performance. It features 1,536 cores and either 4GB or 2GB of high speed 7 Gbps GDDR5 RAM.

The latest GPU also includes NVIDIA GPU boost (2.0) technology, which automatically increased the clock speed for enhanced performance when needed and adds temperature target and fan controls.

The GeForce GTX 770 GPU supports a wide range of gaming technology, including the PhysX engine, NVIDIA TXAA and GeForce software enabling the users to have smooth gaming experience.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 GPU is currently available in the market from suppliers such as ASUS, EVGA, Gainward, KFA2, Gigabyte, Inno3D, MSI, Palit, PNY, Point of View and Zotac. The pricing of the GTX 770 is supposed to start at €329 for a 2 GB version in EU and $399 in the US.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple has sold 100 million iPod Touch players over the last six years

Today Apple unveiled the new affordable 16GB version of the iPod Touch 5 that loses the rear camera and the eyelet. The day also marked a huge milestone for the company – 100 million iPod Touch sold since the first model hit the shelves way back in 2007.

The iPod Touch was an offspring of the iPhone that tried to capitalize on the hype the first iPhone created. It hasn’t quite been able to achieve the iconic status of the original iPod but its sales are still going pretty decently.

The iPod Touch managed to outlive the now almost completely deserted portable medial player market by becoming a viable alternative to portable gaming consoles and a capable tool for browsing the web. Having access to the extremely rich iTunes store, full of quality titles it might live for quite a few more years to come, too.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Google updates its Calendar app with colors, new time and date picker

Google updated its Calendar app for devices running Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and above and those of us that are heavy Calendar users can now enjoy a variety of colors for events. There’s also the option to set a default calendar (if you have more than one) as well as a nifty new date and time picker interface.

The most notable improvement are the color options, which have finally arrived to Google Calendar and are probably the best way of organizing events – for instance birthdays purple, work stuff in red, personal errands in green, etc.

The color-coding option has been a big part of Apple’s Calendar for some time now and comes really handy when you’re browsing through your Agenda view so it’s a welcome feature for Android as well.

Google Calendar

The new date and time picker interface is pretty simple and intuitive. You get a clock-like interface and you drag the clock hands to the time you wish.

You can get the new app from Google Play on your device or by following the Source link below.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung Announces the Galaxy S4 Mini Phone

By Daniel Bean

May 30, 2013 11:20am

The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini is the latest installment of the Galaxy mobile phone family, and it’s just what you’d expect – a smaller, spec’d down version of Samsung’s Galaxy S4.

Though a 4.3 inch mobile phone screen wouldn’t have been considered “mini” a couple years ago, Samsung isn’t off the mark with this branding, considering its Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 models offer 5 inch and 5.5 inch screens, respectfully.

The qHD Super AMOLED screen features a lower resolution than the Galaxy S4′s HD display and the processor is only a dual-core rather than the S4′s quad-core. But the mini does offer the same Android Jellybean (4.2) OS with many of the same apps and features like the S Translator language application, S Travel turn by turn directions and the S Voice speech operated search assistant.

The rear and front cameras offer 8 and 1.9 megapixel resolutions, and the phone will be available in White Frost and Black Mist colors. The availability of 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ variants of the Galaxy S4 mini will be determined by market.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S4 mini at the Samsung Premiere 2013 GALAXY & ATIV London event on Thursday, June 20.

No announcement has been made regarding price, regional or carrier availability.

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

Analog Camera for iPhone now available in the App Store for $0.99

Realmac Software, the creator of the popular Clear to-do app for iOS, introduced its new iPhone photography app named Analog Camera, just a few days ago. Now, the camera software for the iPhone is officially available in the App Store.

Analog Camera is one of the easiest ways to take images, process and share your photography skills on your favorite social networks. The latest camera app has a simple user interface and comes with a set of eight filters for post-processing.

Images of Analog Camera for iPhone

Analog Camera for iPhone has three camera modes to set up a perfect shot and even offers manual focus and exposure. The app also has a horizon line, which helps you capture images like a professional. Lastly, the newly built camera app allows you to easily access your photos from your camera roll and photo stream.

Analog Camera for iPhone is priced at $0.99 and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Facebook to Crack Down on Hate Speech Posts

By Daniel Bean

May 30, 2013 10:48am

Facebook will tighten its policies on hate speech posts after a coalition of activist groups launched a campaign to highlight the volume such content on the site.

New steps that the site will be taking, effective immediately, include an update to the guidelines that Facebook user operations team members follow to better recognize reported hate speech materials, and an effort to work more closely with “legal experts and others, including representatives of the women’s coalition and other groups that have historically faced discrimination.”

Users have always had the ability to report or “flag” Facebook content for investigation when a post is perceived to violate community standards.

On May 21, Women, Action & the Media, the Everyday Sexism Project and author and activist Soraya Chemaly went public with a campaign to call on Facebook to stem gender-based hate speech on its site. Supporters have since sent over 60,000 tweets (with the hashtag #fbrape) and 5,000 emails.

“[We're now helping Facebook to remove] any kind of content that is glorifying or attempting to normalize violence against women,” Jaclyn Friedman, executive director of Women, Action and The Media (WAM), told ABC News.

The WAM website shows some examples of posts that the new coalition of groups working with Facebook hope to put an end to.

One user-reported picture shows a woman’s beaten and bloodied head with the words “I like her for her brains” written on it. As WAM shows, the post was reported, but Facebook did not remove it, saying it “doesn’t violate Facebook’s Community Standards on graphic violence.”

“Over the last two years, activists and groups like ours had approached Facebook,” said Friedman. “We published the open letter last Tuesday morning, encouraging people to use #fbrape to spread awareness. Facebook eventually contacted us and sat down with us that week.”

Marne Levine, Facebook’s vice president of global public policy, posted to the site Tuesday to explain the company’s new effort on content promoting hate speech, as well as its philosophy and policies regarding controversial or harmful content.

“Facebook’s mission has always been to make the world more open and connected. We seek to provide a platform where people can share and surface content, messages and ideas freely, while still respecting the rights of others,” Levine wrote.

Facebook has recently been looking into measures to keep anonymous offensive material off of the site as well. A few months ago, Facebook began testing a new system that would remove “cruel and insensitive content” that was posted by a user who was not disclosing “his or her authentic identity.” Levine wrote that this system could help other users “hold the author accountable and directly object to the content.”

Levine said the site already prohibits content deemed to be directly harmful, but, to promote “openness,” does allow content that is offensive or controversial.

Examples of things deemed “harmful” by Facebook’s community standards would be the organizing of violence or online bullying. The Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities prohibits “hate speech,” the VP’s post said, but this new effort will help to better define and identify it.

READ: Facebook Sometimes Too Much ‘Drama’ for Teens, Study Says

Gabe Rottman, legislative counsel and policy adviser for the American Civil Liberties Union, told ABC News that, since Facebook doesn’t necessarily have to allow any offensive materials on its site, he applauds their attention to the value of free speech while they carefully approach this hate speech issue.

“While it’s certainly true that the First Amendment doesn’t apply to Facebook and other private publishers, as more of our speech migrates from sidewalks and parks to social media, these companies have an enormous amount of power to influence the marketplace of ideas,” he said.

“These new gatekeepers should be commended when they apply First Amendment principles to keep their platforms as open as possible.”

Friedman told ABC News that that the specifics of how Facebook and WAM will systematically cooperate have yet to be worked out, but she said, “We’re thrilled. We’re really looking forward to seeing what comes of [the efforts]“

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

Microsoft reveals Windows 8.1 details – Start button is back, better Metro window management, new search and more

Windows 8 made sweeping changes to the traditional Windows UI and that made many people unhappy. Well, they’ll be glad to hear that with the free Windows 8.1 update (formerly ‘Blue’), Microsoft has listened to their demands and made big improvements to the interface.

Perhaps the change that will draw the most attention at first is the Start button – yes, it’s back, yay! But don’t get too excited, the Start menu is still dead, the button is just an always-visible way to launch the Start screen (to be fair, that disappearing charm annoyed the hell out of me).

Speaking of charms, you can modify what each of the charms in the corners of the screen do.

The Start screen has received plenty of new features too. First off, there are two new sizes of tiles – a new small one and a new big one. Also, you can manage groups of tiles at once – resize, rearrange and even uninstall.

With Windows 8.1 you have to press and hold (or right click) to move a tile, which prevents accidental moves. You can filter apps by name, category, most used or date of installation.

The Start screen also lets you put images as a wallpaper, including animated images. The Lockscreen can display slideshows (of local photos or ones in SkyDrive) and you can snap a photo with the camera straight from the lockscreen.

You can boot straight to the desktop if the Start screen isn’t your thing.

Moving on, you can run up to three apps on a single monitor in Metro mode, including multiple windows of the same app. Better yet, you can adjust how much of the screen occupies (rather than the fixed split in Windows 8) and Microsoft promises better support for multiple monitors.

Search has also been revamped – now it cooperates with Bing to show related web results alongside the local results. I’m not entirely sure if this will be useful or annoying.

Other changes include a new and improved Internet Explorer 11, better cloud integration, more options in the PC Settings menu and more.

Microsoft promises there’s more to come and will show it off at the Build conference, which starts June 26.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nokia Lumia 925 and 920 get screens, low-light shooting prowess compared

Bloggers from WinP.cn have gotten hold of a Nokia Lumia 925 and did a quick low-light shootout with its predecessor, the Lumia 920. They also checked the differences between the screens of the two (the 925 uses the new AMOLED screen, while the 920 has an IPS LCD).

Reportedly, the Lumia 925 offers sharper images with better white balance and less glare. Part of that is due to the new lens design – a 6 element lens for the 925 versus a 5 element lens for the 920. Shutter lag has also been reduced.

Nokia Lumia 925 • Nokia Lumia 920

The comparison of the screens is also quite interesting – the LCD is brighter (obviously), but the AMOLED has much darker blacks and more vivid colors. The updated software also allows you to tweak the screen’s white balance and color saturation. The AMOLED screen seems more evenly lit as well.

Lumia 925 above and Lumia 920 below

You can also check out our preview of the Nokia Lumia 925 for more info on the refreshed Windows Phone 8 flagship.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Crazy rumor says Sony Xperia L4 phablet will have a 6.4″ 1080p screen that can use a pencil as a stylus

Styluses have had a bit of a revival in recent years. Now a curious rumor suggests that a 6.4″ Sony phablet codenamed Xperia L4 will go back further in time and use the predecessor of the stylus – a regular pencil. There’s not a lot of info on the L4, certainly nothing we can confirm, but it’s still an interesting rumor.

The S Pen for the Galaxy Note family adds things like pressure sensitivity and detection from a distance so it has found a place in the current finger-centric world. Will anyone want to use a pencil (or a pen)?

For what it’s worth, a pencil will allow accurate handwriting, more accurate than you can achieve with a small, thin stylus, not to mention with your finger. So, maybe it would be something like Sony’s prototype 13.3″ e-ink tablet.

Anyway, the rumor is that the Sony Xperia L4 will pack a 6.4″ FullHD screen, a Snapdragon 600 or 800 chipset and a 13MP camera. It should be announced some time in the summer, but we do recommend taking this rumor with a big pinch of salt.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple launches new 16GB iPod touch for $229 sans the rear camera

Out of the blue, Apple has launched a new variant of their popular iPod touch. This new model starts at $229 but loses a few features to achieve the price drop.

For starters, the iSight camera on the back has been dropped and all you get now is the FaceTime camera on the front. Other omissions include a lack of the mechanical loop on the back for lanyard and no color options other than the default silver. Lastly, the internal capacity is now 16GB.

Other than that, the new iPod touch variant is identical to the 32 and 64GB models. It has the same design, the same 4.0-inch Retina display, dual-core A5 processor and comes with a pair of Apple EarPods. While not a bad option for those on a tight budget, it makes more sense to just pay the extra $70 and get the 32GB model with the camera for $299.

The 16GB model is now on sale on the Apple online store and will be shipped within 24 hours. Apple retail stores will get it on May 31.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Twitter for iOS and Android updated with new UI changes

Twitter has updated its mobile applications on iOS and Android with some new UI changes. First of all, you will notice a new tweet compose window, which instead of a popup now appears as a new screen over the current one. You will also see larger fonts while typing but more importantly they have completely changed the way you add images and preview them.

Now, when you try to add an image to your tweet, it will pop a drawer below that shows all your images from your device in a grid. This view includes images from all your folders so if you want to go to a specific folder without having to sift through all the photos then you can still do that by launching your image gallery from within the app and selecting the folder and the file.

After you add the image, you’ll notice a new preview mode, where the image appears in the same size as it will in the tweet after you post it whereas it would show a tiny thumbnail on the side. This makes it easy to check how the tweet will look once you post it.

Tweet a photo in under six seconds with our new mobile update! vine.co/v/bY5dEjLxeJd

— Twitter (@twitter) May 29, 2013

Other changes include an edge to edge timeline design, where instead of having white space on the side the timeline and menu items, they stretch right to the edges. The notifications have also been improved and on devices running Android 4.0 and higher you get details like avatars and can see how people are interacting with you (reply, retweet, etc.). You can also receive a notification when a friend joins. There are some bug fixes and performance enhancements but the Android version still refuses to refresh the image cache, which means display pictures continue to look the same even after people update them.

You can download the iOS and Android version from the links below.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Rayman Jungle Run now available on Windows Phone 8

One of the best mobile games on the market has now made its way to the Windows Phone platform. Ubisoft has released a version of Rayman Jungle Run for Windows Phone 8, which is now available on the store for $2.99.

We reviewed the game when it was first released on iOS and Android last year and found it to be absolutely phenomenal in every possible way. The game has challenging but incredibly exciting gameplay and combines it with gorgeous visuals and a peppy soundtrack. If you’re a Windows Phone 8 users and were feeling a bit left out of the action, this game will surely keep you busy for a while.

Click on the link below to purchase this game.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

High-end Acer tablet with Windows 8 dubbed Bulgari is reportedly in the works

A high-end Windows 8 tablet by Acer, featuring the latest generation Intel Core i3 Haswell is reportedly in the works. Dubbed Bulgari, the upcoming slate is rumored for an official reveal next month.

Along with the latest Intel silicon, the Acer Bulgari is tipped to sport an impressive 11.6″ IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The rest of the rumored specs include 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in, expandable storage, and an 8MP camera.

If rumors pan out to be the real deal, the upcoming Acer slate is certain to attract a good deal of attention. We’ll keep a close eye on any further developments on the subject.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Cellphone Users Check Phones 150x/Day and Other Internet Fun Facts

By Joanna Stern
@joannastern
Follow on Twitter

May 29, 2013 7:28pm

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. — Admit it: You check your phone a lot, even when it’s not ringing or buzzing. It’s OK. Lots of other people do.

In fact, people check their phones 150 times a day, according to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers’s annual Internet Trends report.

The report, which was complied and presented by analyst Mary Meeker at the All Things D conference, found people check their phones an average of 23 times a day for messaging, 22 times for a voice call and 18 times to get the time.

But that’s just one interesting take-away from the 117-page report, which included hundreds of other facts and figures about the state of the Internet, mobile technology and the future of it all.

So what else are people doing with their phones? Lots of things, but one of the main ones is taking photos and sharing them. More than 500 million photos are shared every day, the report said. Meeker expected that figure to double in the next year.

Many are using popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But Snapchat, the app that self-destructs messages and photos within 10 seconds, has seen huge growth. About 150 million photos are shared on Snapchat a day.

Twenty-four percent of the world population shares “most things or everything” – although only 15 percent of Americans admit to sharing most or everything online, the report found.

But, Meeker said, the future might not depend on us having to grab our phones those 150 times a day. Wearables, sharables, drivables, flyables are the future, she noted in the presentation.

Wearable technology, like Google Glass, and sensors we can put on ourselves will allow us to share information more seamlessly.

“Some people laugh at wearables,” one slide said, as the next said, “Some people laughed at the PC and Internet.”

You can view the entire presentation below.

KPCB Internet Trends 2013 from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

Chromebook Pixel mini review

Quite frankly, when Google took the wraps off the $1,299 Chromebook Pixel, just about everyone got caught by surprise. After all, the newcomer costs over six times more than the cheapest Chromebook on offer, and thus goes completely against the notion that notebooks running Google’s OS embodies cheap computing.

Of course, the Pixel does have some chops to show for its price tag. Leading the way is a stunningly gorgeous body, machined from anodized aluminum. Once you crack the notebook open, a jaw-dropping 12.85” touchscreen with a resolution of 2560 x 1700 pixels greets you.

Late as we are, we got our chance to try out a review unit and we didn’t waste any time but whipped up our own mini review. For starters, read on to see the full list of talents which this Chromebook OS royalty has to offer.

• Dimensions: 297.7 x 224.6 x 16.2 mm
• Weight: 1.52kg
• Processor: Intel Core i5 processor (Dual Core 1.8GHz)
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM
• Display: 12.85” touchscreen with a resolution of 2560 x 1700 pixels; 3:2 aspect ratio
• Graphic: Intel HD Graphic 4000
• Storage: 32/64GB SSD; 1TB of free Google Drive storage for 3 years; SD/MMC card reader
• Battery: 59WH battery
• Features: 2 USB 2.0 ports; HD Webcam; backlit keyboard; fully clickable etched-glass touchpad; headphone/ microphone jack; integrated DSP for noise cancellation; dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n; Bluetooth 3.0; optional LTE connectivity; active cooling with no visible vents

Design and build quality

Regardless of the angle you’re looking at it, the Chromebook Pixel is absolutely a thing of beauty. The cold, industrial design, combined with the machined aluminum body brings quality and class to the Chromebook Pixel, which few other notebooks can match. The small details in the Pixel’s design such as the etched Chrome sign at the notebook’s hinges and the light on its cover which pulsates in Google’s own colors add even further to its character.

The backlit Chiclet keyboard is well laid-out and feels great to use, especially considering the compact dimensions. There’s an extra row of keys above it for controlling the browser/OS of the notebook. The touchpad is among the best we’ve experienced.

A well-sorted keyboard and trackpad

The display of the Chromebook Pixel is truly a view to behold. With a resolution of 2560 x 1700 pixels and 3:2 aspect, gobbling up any type content on the notebook feels like a true occasion. Viewing angles, contrast and brightness are among the best available on a notebook at the moment.

The display is a marvel to look at

The overall build quality of the Chromebook Pixel is exceptional. It leaves no doubt that the notebook will last for quite some time, bar any unforeseen circumstances.

The Pixel is a quality item

Performance

Given that Chrome OS mostly consists of a web browser, the presence of Intel Core i5 CPU and 4GB of DDR3 RAM on board of the Pixel can be metaphorically compared to stuffing a V8 engine into a Fiat 500. Every action and command you perform on Google’s notebook happens instantly. The only downside is that, most of the time, the processing power on tap goes unused.

Battery performance is acceptable. Google claims five hours of use, we managed a tad above four of mixed use. Given the screen alone, we believe it is an acceptable showcase.

Final words

With a starting price tag of $1,299 ($1,449 for the 64GB model with LTE) it is impossible to recommend the Chromebook Pixel as the only computing companion in your life – the more capable options out there are way too many. This obviously has nothing to do with the hardware alone – it is outstanding for the most part. It is the Chrome OS, which is still lagging behind the machined aluminum body and high-resolution display.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com