Author: Shivaank Rana

Soon To Be A Billion? Facebook Now Has 874 Million Monthly Active Mobile Users

Facebook is on a tear. The company reported its Q3 earnings for the three months ending September 30th today, and investors have renewed reasons to be excited about the world’s largest social network.

Facebook beat analysts’ estimates by posting revenue of $2.02 billion, earning $0.25 per share on non-GAAP net income of $611 million. The company now derives 41% of its overall revenue from mobile — 49% of its advertising revenue comes from mobile, too. Overall ad revenue for the quarter was $1.80 billion.

On the user base side, Facebook is now used by 874 million mobile users per month, a 45% increase from the same period a year ago. Overall usage is now 1.19 billion people, 699 million of whom log in daily. Daily active users on mobile totalled 507 million, meaning mobile users are more likely to log in every day than those who keep strictly to the web.

The market is reacting quite positively to the earnings announcement, sending the stock shooting up 15% in after-hours trading.

October 31, 2013
Android 4.4 KitKat To Be Optimized For Low Memory Usage

Though we’ve seen plenty leaks of the Nexus 5, little is known about the next version of Android itself — other than its chocolate bar-related name, of course. Now, Amir Efrati of JessicaLessin.com has detailed a number of key upgrades to KitKat, based on a confidential document Google sent to its OEM partners.

In it, Google outlines key enhancements to low-memory devices such as entry-level handsets from Huawei, Samsung, ZTE and others. OEMs have traditionally been reticent to update older devices because there are performance considerations with newer versions of Android, especially as graphics acceleration becomes more ubiquitous throughout the OS. The other side of the coin is that, however easy Google makes it for OEMs to update, they’re still unlikely to spend the time, money and effort to do so, especially in the cheaper market.

KitKat is also purportedly optimized for wearables, which coincides nicely with the rumour that Google is readying a smartwatch for later this year or early 2014. KitKat is expected to support three new hardware sensors, according to Efrati: geomagnetic rotation vector, step detector and step counter. The latter two are important if you consider that many new devices are likely going to emulate the iPhone 5s in keeping track of users’ steps and elevation throughout the day.

Android 4.4 is also expected to improve NFC connectivity with certain types of hardware. That, and Bluetooth, are usually serviced by the OEMs themselves, leading to disparate and often incompatible executions of the same idea. This has lead to some wearable technology, like Fitbit’s line of health monitors, to have limited compatibility with Android hardware.

KitKat may also unify the IR stack for hardware manufacturers, bringing a uniform experience for virtual remote controls and other uses of infrared blasters.

We will likely know more in the coming days (or hours) so stay tuned!

October 31, 2013
Nokia Lumia Achieved Record Sales Last Quarter

Sales of Nokia Lumia smartphones have hit a record high as Nokia gears up to release another batch of Windows Phone 8 devices. It represents the fourth consecutive quarter in which Nokia Lumia sales have hit a new peak.

According to the Wall Street Journal‘s sources, Nokia sold “at least eight million” Nokia Lumia phones between July and September. Obviously this doesn’t even approach Apple or Samsung figures, but for a Windows Phone platform that comes a distant third to iOS and Android in usage numbers it’s truly noteworthy.

It’s an improvement on the previous quarter’s record-smashing 7.4 million sales. It’s also a massive increase on the same quarter last year, during which Nokia sold only 2.9 million Lumia phones.

Nokia is expected to release as many as six new devices including the Lumia 2520, which will be the company’s first tablet, and Lumia 1520 at the Nokia World event. A Nokia smartwatch patent emerged just last week, but we don’t expect launch of this device from Nokia this time around as it may very well be in a prototype stage.

Not helping matters is the fact that Apple is expected to the launch its latest iPad on the same day, meaning that Nokia will have some seriously stiff competition as it vies for the world’s attention.

The event will also be the first big public appearance for Elop since the acquisition, which saw him emerge as a leading candidate to take over from current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer when he goes into retirement in 2014.

October 21, 2013
Microsoft Releases Official Remote Desktop Apps For iOS and Android

Coinciding with the release of Windows 8.1, Microsoft has unveiled Remote Desktop apps for iOS and Android.

RDM has long been a way for users to remotely access Windows desktops, whether from another computer or a mobile device. While this is Microsoft’s first foray into official iOS and Android apps for the service, other solutions from large companies like Citrix and Splashtop have adequately filled the gap for years.

What Microsoft’s remote desktop version has going for it is its price — free — and its official support of Windows 8.1, which is rolling out now. The app also supports Network Layer Authentication (NLA) which, according to Microsoft, “completes user authentication before you establish a remote desktop connection and the logon screen appears. This is a more secure authentication method that can help protect the remote computer from malicious users and malicious software.”

The app is a bit rough around the edges, according to initial reviews, lacking pinch-to-zoom and multiple desktop size support. In other words, you’ll be doing a lot of scrolling if your computer’s native resolution is much higher than your phone’s or tablet’s. Of course, you’ll have to install the host software on that PC in the first place, so the solution isn’t quite plug-and-play.

October 19, 2013
BlackBerry 9720 Review

Build Quality and Design

No surprises here. The BlackBerry 9720 is the quintessential BlackBerry – candybar design, the iconic trackpad and the adored QWERTY keypad. It resembles almost every other BlackBerry smartphone ever made, especially the curve series.

The BlackBerry 9720 is really light and fits perfectly in to your palms. The back panel has a rubber finish and has a texture running throughout which gives the phone a nice grip, while making it safe from fingerprints.

One of the highlights is the inclusion of a dedicated BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) key on the phone’s left side. In truth both this key and the convenience key on the right side are programmable, adding a little flexibility to the hardware layout of the 9720, despite the letters ‘BBM’ embossed into the side of the handset.

[pullquote_left]The BlackBerry 9720 is the quintessential BlackBerry.[/pullquote_left]

The front has the earpiece grill and the BlackBerry logo up top. Underneath that is the touch-screen with its array of buttons finishing up the front.

Overall, the design would please all BlackBerry purists, but the build quality could have been better. Our review unit already had its back panel squeaking and loosened up.

Hardware

The BlackBerry 9720 has a 2.8-inch capacitive display which offers a resolution of 480×360 pixels and it’s responsive and bright. Though there’s only 512MB of internal storage — and a matching amount of RAM — the microSD card slot supports cards up to 32GB, and it’s unreasonable to expect more substantial storage for the price. It also has a video-capable 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and an FM radio.

Display, Performance and Multimedia

The BlackBerry 9720 sports a 2.8-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 360×480 pixels, boasting of a pixel density of 214ppi. It is a rather attractive HVGA panel with a respectable 214ppi and a nice vibrant colour palette at its disposal. It’s size it its biggest weakness, a problem somewhat rectified on the pricier Q5.

Due to the screensize, this device is not for media consumption. What impressed us most was the inclusion of the FM radio. In the day and age where even smartphones exceeding the 50k price mark do not have a feature as basic as the FM radio, it is nice to see the BlackBerry 9720 have one.

The BlackBerry 9720 has an 806MHz Tavor MG1 processor and 512MB RAM. we feel it these are lacking at times as we often get the spinning clock and prompts that the device has to be restarted due to it not having enough memory. If you’re doing simple tasks and not using too many apps we think you can get by, but for most users this will be one of the biggest downsides of the device.

Running BBOS 7.1 you’re getting the latest pre-BB10 experience, which admittedly comes with a number of handy features for BB fans, such as Social Feeds, Multicast and BBM with BBM Voice functionality playing to the phone’s social strengths, however, it is still a dated OS, and reminds us of the reason BlackBerry came out with the BlackBerry 10 OS.

Keyboard

The 9720 is the first BlackBerry OS smartphone (not including the Porsche Design P’9981) to have a straight keyboard, as found on the Q10 and Q5. So, for anyone coming from another BlackBerry OS there may be a slight learning curve in getting used to the keyboard.

Camera

The 5-megapixel snapper on the back produces usable shots in natural light, although macro photography is pretty much off the cards. Low light environments breed heavy noise, although the in built LED flash works wonders to fill out a shot. The lowly internals also limit video performance to 480p SD recording with very weak audio recording capabilities.

Auto-focus would have been nice but seeing as it looks like it’s part of the Curve line, it fits the bill. One thing that has been added to the camera app is the ability to share the picture you just took, making things a lot easier.

Battery

The battery is a 1450mAh JS1 and we found it did last us a day. It is also a removable battery so you could swap it out if you had a spare too. Since this is targeted at emerging markets, battery life may suffice. You might burn through the battery life if you used BBM Groups a lot though but it would still go for more than half a working day.

Conclusion

The 9720 is a basic, traditional BlackBerry; it has strong messaging, email and phone capabilities as you’d expect – but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. If you take a 2-year old BlackBerry you’d find that it has the same specs as the BlackBerry 9720, and more or less the same features.

It’s not a bad device, but it will confuse consumers, which the company should be bombarding with the benefits of BBOS 10, not the older ecosystem that represents the many troubles the company has been trying to leave behind.

October 19, 2013
Apple Retains Multi-touch Patent

USPTO now once again recognizes patent No. 7,479,949 (for the multi-touch feature) in Apple’s favour after invalidating it in 2012. This happens to be one of the two patents that the ITC has determined was infringed on by Samsung, leading to a current import ban on some older Samsung models.

Titled “Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics,” the ‘949 patent is a broad, sweeping property covering functional aspects of multitouch screens like those found in many smart devices, like the iPhone and iPad.

Steve Jobs is listed as the first of over two dozen inventors on the patent, and it is considered perhaps the most famous of his over 300 credited patents.

As FOSS Patents notes :

As we speak, the Steve Jobs patent is even stronger than it was before someone (presumably Samsung and Google) challenged it anonymously. On September 4, 2013, the USPTO issued a reexamination certificate confirming the patentability of all 20 claims because the prior art neither anticipated this invention nor renders it obvious.

A number of Apple’s key patents have been challenged for reexamination as its competitors have sought to derail Apple’s claims against them in various court battles.

Apple has also filed an appeal to broaden the US import ban to cover additional Samsung products. The Cupertino company has asked the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to review three more patent cases, following the ITC finding Samsung guilty of two patent infringements already.

October 18, 2013
Google Posts $14.9 Billion USD Revenue in Q3

Google had yet another winning quarter in Q3, bringing home $14.9 billion USD in revenue and $2.97 billion in net income, or $8.75 per share. This represents a 12% revenue increase from this time last year, and a 6% uptick from the Q2 of this year.

While Android is not specifically broken down in its earnings, as the company gives the software away for free and accrues advertising revenue from the use of its mobile services, mobile ad units continue to cost significantly less than their desktop counterparts, dragging down growth throughout the division.

Google’s $12.5 billion Motorola acquisition is still not bearing fruit, as the handset company posted losses of $248 million on revenue of $1.18 billion. A year ago those losses were just $192 million on revenue of $1.78 billion.

While the Moto X was not on sale for much of the quarter, which comprised the period between July 1st and September 30th, it was still available for just over a month. That being said, Google admits to spending a lot of money marketing the product, and Google’s Chief Financial Officer, Patrick Pichette, called the Motorola acquisition a “long-term bet” during today’s earnings call.

According to Motorola CEO, Dennis Woodside, the Moto X is the first in a series of redesigned products. We’re expecting a low-cost Moto X variant to be announced in the coming months, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the company come out with a revamped tablet line-up in the near future, too.

October 18, 2013
Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 Camera Launches With 24-200mm f/2.8 Lens

Sony on Tuesday announced a few big new cameras and a handful of e-mount lenses.

Among the more wallet-friendly territory is the RX10, a slick new camera that comes equipped with a 1.0-type, 20.2 effective megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 24-200mm f2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T zoom lens, and a BIONZ X processing engine along with an advanced AT system. The sensor is actually the same Sony used in the RX100 II, though the camera overall is much different from that pro-sumer point-and-shoot.

“The innovative new RX10 high-zoom camera is a natural extension to our popular RX family of products, carrying on its legacy of balancing compact size and high- performance imaging in the ultimate package,” said Patrick Huang, director of the Cyber-shot camera business at Sony Electronics. “It’s an unparalleled all-around performer that will leave enthusiasts, hobbyists and even professionals reaching for their DSLRs less and less.”

The RX10 also has a viewfinder onboard, lock-on AF system, the ability to shoot at 10 fps, and bright 3.0-type White Magic LCD. Other features include Full HD video shooting, flexible controls and settings for DSLR-like flexibility, and six customizable buttons.

Watch the video below to see the new Sony RX10 in action.

[youtube id=”BOx0KfbmZTY” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

October 16, 2013
Nike Introduces New Nike+ FuelBand SE

Nike took the stage in NYC this morning to announce their newest fitness product, the FuelBand SE. It’s a revamped version of the FuelBand introduced in 2012, but includes all sorts of upgrades.

The Fuelband SE can now monitor yoga activity, if stretching on a mat is your thing, and other motivational features like “3.2.1 Go! Sessions,” which let you pick a specific physical activity and monitor your progress towards that goal.

The new device, which will retail for $149, is better able at separating actual exercise from movement meant to trick the device into registering more “Fuel” points, which is the company’s metric for representing users’ activity.

Nike also announced that the FuelBand SE fitness tracker will only work with Apple devices, dealing a blow to Android users who expected support with the newest device.

During Apple’s iPhone launch last month, the company revealed that the Nike+ Move app is the first program that takes advantage of Apple’s new M7 processor in the iPhone 5S. That “motion coprocessor” continuously measures motion data through the accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope, taking it away from Apple’s standard A7 processor. That should allow health apps to constantly collect data without draining the battery too quickly.

October 15, 2013
Apple Confirms October 22nd iPad Event

While the latest rumours pointed towards Apple holding a media event to unveil the new iPad on October 22nd, today it was officially confirmed. The event proudly states, “We still have a lot to cover.”

The 5th generation iPad will reportedly come with a 9.7-inch display, the new A7 processor, an 8MP camera and the same Touch ID fingerprint sensor found in the iPhone 5s.

As for the iPad mini, the second generation of the tablet is expected to have a 7.9-inch Retina display with the A7 chip.

Expectations are also high that Apple will announce the release of the latest version of its desktop software, OSX “Mavericks”, which recently completed its testing phase, and set a date for the release of the new Mac Pro desktop computer. The latter was trailed in June, and will be the first update to the Mac Pro line since June 2012.

October 15, 2013
LG Launches 55 & 65 Inch 4K Ultra HD TVs (PR)

LG Electronics India expanded its Ultra HD TV portfolio by unveiling two new models- a 55-inch and a 65-inch television.

“When we first unveiled our 84-inch ULTRA HD TV the reception we received was phenomenal,” said Soon Kwon, MD- LG India. “The ULTRA HD TV format is here to stay and with the new sizes offering NANO FULL LED backlighting and our proprietary Tru-ULTRA HD Engine, these models are in a class of their own.” Added Mr. Kwon

The TVs–which have an elegant, streamlined look, with an ultra-narrow bezel and an attractive silver stand–have a few unique features, including LG’s Nano full-array LED backlight technology, which spreads LED particles across a thin film behind the screen, allowing for local dimming of 144 separate zones, the company says. In past reviews of full-array backlights with local dimming, we’ve seen improvements in black levels and contrast, though we haven’t yet tested these specific sets.

Also unique is a retractable 4.1-channel motorized sound bar speaker system that slides out of view when the TV isn’t being used. The system, which can be programmed to remain out of view even when the TV is playing, includes a behind-the-screen subwoofer for lower bass frequencies.

The sets will also be among the first to include a built-in HEVC (also known as H.265) decoder. HEVC is a new video codec that uses an extremely efficient compression scheme, so it can send higher-quality content–such as Ultra HD movies and TV shows–without requiring more bandwidth. In the future, we expect to see many content providers, as well as broadcasters and Internet video services, move to the HEVC format to deliver Ultra HD content. We also expect Blu-ray to adopt the HEVC standard in Ultra HD Blu-ray players sometime next year.

Not surprisingly, the TVs are loaded with features, including LG’s smart TV platform with access to a lot of online content, plus its passive Cinema 3D technology. LG’s new LA9700 Ultra HD 4K TVs have an inbuilt camera and inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity with a USB movie and HDMI connection.

The 55 and 65 inch LA9700 Ultra HD TVs are priced at Rs.3,30,000 and Rs.4,50,000 respectively, and are available across LG best shops from 1^st week of Oct’13.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]LG launches 55- & 65-INCH 4K ULTRA HD TV for Ultimate Home Entertainment

ü Provides Incredibly Sharp Picture and Powerful Audio Quality

ü LG LA9700 ULTRA HD TVs received Certification of Validation from Intertek and Underwriters Laboratories

The leading Home Entertainment brand of the country, LG Electronics India today, expanded its Ultra HD TV portfolio by unveiling two new models- 55-inch and 65-inch to provide an irresistible home entertainment experience to its customers. LG’s new ULTRA HD TVs offer incredible sense of immersion with stunningly sharp picture quality and exceptional color contrast to produce mesmerizing ULTRA HD images.

“When we first unveiled our 84-inch ULTRA HD TV the reception we received was phenomenal,” said Soon Kwon, MD- LG India. “The ULTRA HD TV format is here to stay and with the new sizes offering NANO FULL LED backlighting and our proprietary Tru-ULTRA HD Engine, these models are in a class of their own.” Added Mr. Kwon

The prediction of a bright future for UDTV comes from NPD Display Search, who’s latest Quarterly TV Design and Features Report forecasts as many as 7 million worldwide shipments by 2016, rising from an expected 500,000 units this year.

Unparalleled ULTRA HD Picture Quality:
LG’s 55and 65-inch ULTRA HD TVs deliver an incredible 8.3 million pixels per frame, enabling the new models to achieve a superior screen resolution. Its incredible picture quality has received the certificate of validation from Intertek and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), two of the most respected product testing and certification bodies in the world. LG’-ULTRA HD Engine up-scales any video format into crisp, near-ULTRA HD picture quality. Optimized with the company’s proprietary Super Resolution algorithm, 1000 MCI, the Tru-ULTRA HD Engine maximizes image clarity , improves sharpness and eliminates any blurring caused by the up-scaling process.

Additionally, LG has equipped its new ULTRA HD TVs with Nano FULL LED backlighting. As a result, illumination control is greatly enhanced, guaranteeing outstanding contrast and consistent brightness across the entire breadth of the screen. Fitted with an IPS Panel, consumers can enjoy watching LG’s ULTRA HD TVs from almost any position in the room, without having to worry about color distortion or loss of visual detail.

The razor-sharp ULTRA HD screen resolution of LG’s 55- and 65-inch models produces the most stunning 3D images. Additionally, the company’s FPR 3D technology provides a crosstalk flicker-free 3D viewing experience that enables the user to wear comfortable, lightweight 3D glasses. It also has a dual play feature which includes special glasses allowing two players to see only their perspectives simultaneously on the full screen at once without having to split the screen. This elevates the gaming experience a full notch up, truly an encounter of the first kind. Furthermore, the embedded 2D to 3D conversion engine makes it possible to convert any 2D show to 3D, thus making 3D content practically limitless.

Sliding Speaker & Breathtaking Design:
LG has complemented its superior ULTRA HD picture technology with captivating audio. Embedded with virtual surround plus feature, both new models feature a 4.1 channel, 50W sound system that includes the Sliding Speaker. This cleverly concealed sound bar boasts four forward-facing speakers, which deliver room-filling audio with excellent expression across the mid and high frequency ranges. Located behind the screen, a powerful subwoofer ensures strong bass performance as well. The elegant, decor-enhancing Sliding Speaker can be programmed to remain permanently hidden or permanently extended. Alternatively, it can be set to silently slide out when the TV is turned on, and retract when powered off.

LG’s ULTRA HD TVs are the embodiment of stylish yet functional modern design. The new models offer the subtle aesthetics and narrow bezels of LG’s CINEMA SCREEN Design, serving to heighten the viewer’s sense of immersion. An unobtrusive chrome finish stand completes the minimalist appearance of LG’s next generation TVs.

Desirably Smart TV:
LG’s Smart TV platform offers an incredible user-friendly design and access to a growing collection of apps and content services from all over the globe. Meanwhile, the Magic Remote provides natural language recognition, point, wheel, and gesture controoptions, making it easy to navigate menus, search for content or play entertaining game apps. LG’s Smart TV platform also incorporates a useful service called Now On, which recommends content based on the user’s viewing habits. In addition, the 55- and 65-inch ULTRA HD TVs boast excellent wireless connectivity options, such as WiDi and Miracast for convenient screen mirroring, and LG’s NFC-based Tag On for convenient device pairing. One can record live television with the help of time machine embedded in the smart tv feature. It also has voice & motion control feature which monitors voice modulation and acts according to the need. Skype feature in the smart tv helps make voice and video calls, and chat with your friends and relatives anytime of the day.

Convenience & Connectivity:
LG’s new ULTRA HD TVs have an inbuilt camera and inbuilt wi-fi connectivity with a USB movie and HDMI connection. Features like Digital (Output Audio Out) and HVEC decoder directly play the ultra HD content and smartly save energy.

The 55 and 65 inch LA9700 Ultra HD TVs are priced at Rs.3,30,000 and Rs.4,50,000 respectively, and are available across LG best shops from 1st week of Oct’13.[/toggle]

October 15, 2013
Apple iPhone 5S Outselling iPhone 5C By Double

When Apple introduced the iPhone 5c, the large consensus seemed to be that the newer, low-priced and colorful iPhone might outsell the more expensive iPhone 5s thanks to price alone. That isn’t the case, however, according to new research recently published by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. The firm found that consumers are still flocking to the more powerful, and more expensive, iPhone 5s by a large margin.

64 per cent of all iPhone sales in September were people snapping up the high-end Apple iPhone 5S, according to figures from CIRP.

That’s compared to just 27 per cent for the Apple iPhone 5C, with the cheaper Apple iPhone 4S making up the remaining 9 per cent of all iPhone purchases last month.

CIRP also found that the iPhone 5C is still selling better than the Apple iPhone 4S did last year when it was demoted following the launch of the iPhone 5. While the device accounts for 27% of iPhone sales in late September, the Apple iPhone 4s only made up 23% of sales in October 2012.

Despite the iPhone 5S outselling the iPhone 5C, which is as predicted, the iPhone 5C as shown by the data is still an incredibly sought after device, of which Apple will undoubtedly sell millions of.

The figures are particularly noteworthy considering it’s still hard to find specific iPhone 5s models. The gold version, for example, is still on super limited and short supply. In New York City, the white and black 16GB options are still easiest to find, even though the 32GB iPhone 5c is in stock at nearly every retailer.

[Via]

October 14, 2013
Sony Alpha A7 And A7r Cameras Leak

The upcoming Sony Alpha A7 and Alpha A7r cameras have leaked out ahead of official release.

The image on top shows the 24 megapixel Sony Alpha A7 with the 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. The image below shows the 36 megapixel A7r with the 35mm f/2.8 Zeiss lens.

The Sony Alpha A7 is equipped with a 24 megapixel sensor and comes supplied with a 28-70 mm lens and is expected to cost around $1698 for just the camera body without any lens and around $1,998 a camera lens kit and camera body.

The Sony Alpha A7r will come equipped with a 36 megapixel sensor and a 35mm f/2.8 Zeiss lens as seen in the image below and is expected to be priced at $2,198 for the body only. Both the Sony A7 and A7r cameras are equipped with 2.4 million dot resolution OLED electronic viewfinder technology and include SD card storage and are powered by NEX batteries.

The LCD screens on the rear of the cameras tilt and both feature integrated Wi-Fi and NFC technology. The cameras also have a new LAEA Full Frame A to E-mount adapter and an optional vertical grip. The cameras are tipped to work with current NEX APS-C lenses and crop mode or in full frame mode if shooters are okay with heavy vignetting and dark corners.

Expect an official announcement on Wednesday.

[Via,Via]

October 14, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Update Leaks, You Can Get It Now

A Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update is seemingly on the cards with the software leaking ahead of an expected mass rollout in the coming weeks.

Although Android 4.4 KitKat is believed to be heading to the realms of reality later this month aboard the heavily rumoured Google Nexus 5, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is yet to be bestowed with the latest iteration of Jelly Bean. This looks set to change though with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update having leaked once again.

S4 users can install the leaked software update by following the instructions over on Sammobile but be warned that you do so at your own risk and you could well end up wiping all your data and bricking your handset.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean should offer blocking of apps for parental use, accessiblity tweaks for notifications sent via Bluetooth, easier text input, faster user-switching, dial pad autocomplete, background Wi-Fi location and support for Africaans, Amharic, Hindi, Swahili and Zulu.

The folks at SamMobile have already done a video preview of the Android 4.3 ROM running on the Galaxy S4 smartphone. Check it out below.

[youtube id=”8Z8kwAeJDqE” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Anyone wants to give this particular update version a go? The download and install instructions can be found here.

October 14, 2013
Windows Phone 8 GDR3 Update Is Now Official
Micxrosoft has announced the third update to the Windows Phone 8 OS – this is known as GDR3 or General Distribution Release 3.

The company stated on their blog that the update includes several key features such as a “bigger Start screen” that now houses six Live Tiles and “paves the way for future Windows Phone devices with 5- and 6-inch” with 1080p displays. In addition, GDR3 supports Qualcomm’s 8974 quad-core processor and comes with Driving Mode, screen reader (help the blind and visually impaired use their device), plus better storage management, new rotation lock, and improved internet sharing feature for making a hotspot with Windows 8.1 devices.

You’ll also find that another much-requested feature has made it: broader custom ringtone support. At long last, you’ll be able to put your own sounds to use on text messages, instant messages, emails, voicemails and reminders.

The company outlined three key objectives of the update:
1. Enable incredible new Windows Phone devices.
2. Enhance the platform with new capabilities for current users and partners.
3. Improve overall quality.”
Microsoft says that the GDR3 update will begin rolling out to device owners within the coming weeks and that this will continue for several months. That’s pretty vague considering there are many device users eager to get a look at what’s on offer, but Microsoft says in its press release that availability will vary depending on several factors including device model and carrier.
October 14, 2013