Tag Archives: software

Windows 8: keyboard, task manager and digital pen [Video]

Hopefully, you’ve checked out the walkthrough video of the Samsung Windows 8 tablet from Build 2011 but I actually couldn’t cover everything in there in that video. Sadly, I’ll have to give this tablet back soon so I decided to create another video to take a deeper dive into the software. As we covered before, Windows 8 is a bold reimagination of the platform which takes a touch-centric, Metro-style user interface and makes it the main focus of the computing experience. Tablet fans and mobile OS fans should find it comfortable but what about keyboard users and those who are happy with the traditional Windows experience? As you can see from the video, the keyboard shortcuts all still work and it’s easy to switch between apps with a quick ALT+Tab. I didn’t have a mouse in the video but I’ve used Windows 8 on other machines with that device and many of the contextual menus that are achieved through gestures can be brought up with a right click. Additionally, you can use the scroll wheel to “flip” through your pages of live tile apps. The Samsung Windows 8 tablet also came with a digital pen which you can use to write notes or draw pictures. Like with the capacitive stylus on the View 4G, I’m not convinced that I would ever use this but I’m sure there are some users who want it, so it doesn’t hurt to bake in support. Overall, we’re very excited about Windows 8 and what it will mean for tablets and the future of computing. Unfortunately, we’re probably still about a year away from this thing really hitting the market (maybe even longer for ARM tablets to land) so I’m going to cherish this tablet for as long as I can. Windows 8: keyboard, task manager and digital pen [Video] originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-15T01:25:55Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

LG Optimus S Gets Android 2.3 Update

Won’t be long before Froyo is obsolete. Sprint has released Android 2.3 for the LG Optimus S (which, if you didn’t know, is their version of the LG Optimus One). Sprint’s version of the phone is a slightly modified version of stock Android so you can expect the stock Gingerbread look that has really grown on a lot of people. Find the list of changes below and grab instructions on how to pull the update down here . [ Sprint via AC ] LG Optimus S Software Update – Android 2.3 (LS670ZVH) Enhancements/Fixes: – Volume adjustment from handset when backlight is off and in a Bluetooth call – Initiation of a 3-way call in certain markets – Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) – Updated color scheme (includesdarker notification bar and black-based menus) – New on-screen keyboard (supports multi-touch input and a  smart auto-correction function) – Improved cut-paste functionality – New integrated download application for ease in accessing downloaded files – Updated camera application – Power management and task killer applications Important Notes: – The new software version is: LS670ZVH – Released in stages with 100% of devices having received the update within 10 days – Refer to the LG Optimus S Software Update blog for install instructions

Google Maps for Android now lets you see places you’ve rated 4 and 5 stars, attach photos to reviews

Google has once again updated its Maps app for Android. Version 5.10.0 doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table – it’s mostly about reviews, allowing you to see places you’ve rated 4 and 5 stars right on the map view. What’s more, now when you’re writing a review, you will be able to attach a photo alongside text. You’ll be definitely prompted to update and since we like to keep our software up to date, we advise you to “push the button.” Not sure we’ll actually use the new capability, but you never know. Speaking of capability, this could easily be a part of the upcoming Zagat integration in Google Maps . I would expect to see Zagat’s stars popping all around maps where their reviewers have tested restaurants. Now that I’m thinking those Zagat folks have the best job in the world – they are actually paid to try out the food all around the world. I hope they realize just how lucky they are… Bas**rds. Google Maps (FREE) [ Android Market link ] [Via: AndroidCentral ] Google Maps for Android now lets you see places you’ve rated 4 and 5 stars, attach photos to reviews originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-09T07:52:05Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

BlackBerry App World 3.0 goes live – adds social sharing, looks pretty

After a short beta period , RIM has launched the new version of their software portal, BlackBerry App World. Most of the new stuff is just user interface shuffling, like new app categories, and updated search bar placement. There are a few functional updates, like sharing apps to Facebook, Twitter, and BBM, and every month there will be a new themed section to feature particular types of apps. I’m still not sure why RIM’s splitting up My Account and My World; one is supposed to handle your app library, and the other your payment options (PayPal, credit card, or otherwise), but it seems natural to provide all that information in one section with separate tabs. (Update: Just got a chance to play around a bit with the update, and it looks like one of the two has been renamed Payment Options, which should clear up some potential confusion. App World 3.0 should also be introducing subscription payments, which is awesome, though I can’t see the option My World just yet.) Overall, there aren’t too many new functions compared to previous App World updates. For example, App World 2.0 launched carrier billing and barcode scanning, and  2.1 introduced in-app purchases . To be fair, App World is running out of new features to include – heck, you can even browse App World in your desktop browser and sideload over USB. At this point, App World just needs to work on spreading its international coverage and filling up with quality apps. To check out the new App World, point your browser to BlackBerry.com/AppWorld . BlackBerry App World 3.0 goes live – adds social sharing, looks pretty originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-06T14:06:42Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Rumor: Samsung interested in dumping Android and taking Nokia’s former MeeGo responsibilities?

Some pretty insane rumors are floating around the internets right now. People who have spoken to MeeGoExperts and NetbookNews say that Samsung is looking to take over MeeGo development, which was originally lead by Nokia, but sadly progress has recently slowed to a crawl after the Finnish handset maker decided to focus on Windows Phone. The rumors go on to say that Samsung would stop selling Android devices at some point in the future since they’re not too pleased with the legal issues that Google’s mobile operating system is currently facing. That doesn’t jive with what JK Shin, President of Samsung Mobile’s Global Operations, said after Google purchased Motorola. Here’s a bit of a refresher: “We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem.” Considering Samsung already develops their own mobile operating system, known as “bada” (yes, lowercase “b”), which by the way they don’t license to anyone, why would they want to contribute to an open source project? MeeGo, as it appears on the Nokia N9, is gorgeous, but it’s not MeeGo, it’s Maemo 6 “Harmattan”, which just so happens to be MeeGo compatible. It’s not as if Samsung can just grab some source code and produce a device that works exactly like the N9, which is what many of you are thinking right now, aren’t you? Note that Samsung ships approximately 1 out of every 5 mobile phones sold right now, so if they do decide to create a platform that competes with what’s already out there then they’re actually in a somewhat decent position to make a dent on the market. The question is what exactly would Samsung gain by owning the software layer? Yes, Apple is the shining example everyone likes to point to as what happens when a company has tight vertical integration, but while Apple has proven themselves to be incredibly competent at making software, when has Samsung ever come off as innovative in the bits and bytes department? Rumor: Samsung interested in dumping Android and taking Nokia’s former MeeGo responsibilities? originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-06T12:12:58Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Report: Amazon’s Kindle Tablet exists, and it’s coming soon to battle the Nook Color

Last night, TechCrunch writer MG Siegler began teasing us on his Twitter about a big scoop he’d be writing about today. He is reporting that not only does the rumored Amazon Kindle tablet exist , but he has seen one with his own eyes and played with it. According to the report, the device will target Barnes and Noble’s Nook Color more than anything else. The name will just be “Amazon Kindle,” though it will not be like the Kindle we are currently familiar with. It has a 7-inch full-color multi-touch display, which consumes the entire front side of the device. There are no hardware buttons in sight — a first for Amazon. The big news here is the software. It runs Android, but it’s been completely skinned by Amazon to the point that it doesn’t even look like Android. The Nook Color takes this approach. Siegler writes: “The interface is all Amazon and Kindle. It’s black, dark blue, and a bunch of orange. The main screen is a carousel that looks like Cover Flow in iTunes which displays all the content you have on the device. This includes books, apps, movies, etc. Below the main carousel is a dock to pin your favorite items in one easy-to-access place. When you turn the device horizontally, the dock disappears below the fold. Above the dock is the status bar (time, battery, etc) and this doubles as a notification tray. When apps have updates, or when new subscriptions are ready for you to view, they appear here. The top bar shows “YOUR NAME’s Kindle” and then the number of notifications you have in bright orange. It looks quite nice.” Amazon is also going all-out with integration of its popular services. To read books, pop into the Kindle app. Amazon’s Cloud Player serves as the music player, Instant Video Player serves to play movies, and Amazon’s Android Appstore ( which has already been released ) serves as the marketplace for third-party apps. A web browser is included as well. Supposedly, Amazon plans on including a free subscription to its Prime service, which offers streaming video access and premium shipping options for $79 per year. Siegler believes the Kindle tablet only includes 6 GB of internal storage, and he could not find an SD cart slot anywhere on the device. He did find a micro-USB port, however. And like the Nook Color, this device does not sport a camera. Amazon will release the Kindle tablet this year, the report says. It will sell for $250 — the same price as the Nook Color. A larger 10-inch device is said to be in the works, but we probably will not hear about that until next year. [ via ] Report: Amazon’s Kindle Tablet exists, and it’s coming soon to battle the Nook Color originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-02T21:11:24Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Android in spaaaace! (Part 2)

Back in December, Android ventured into near space , thanks to a weekend of DIY work, a couple of Nexus S phones, some weather balloons and the help of this little guy . After this first adventure, we knew it was only a matter of time before Android went further into space. On the last manned space shuttle, Atlantis , NASA sent two Nexus S phones along for the ride as part of the STS-135 mission. The goal is to use Nexus S on the International Space Station to explore how robots can help humans experiment and live in space more efficiently. NASA is using Nexus S phones to upgrade a trio of volleyball-sized SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites), originally developed by MIT. The phones help the robotic satellites perform tasks the astronauts used to do, like recording sensor data and capturing video footage. In the future, the phones will control and maneuver the SPHERES using the IOIO board and possibly the Android Open Accessory Development Kit (ADK) . A couple of our engineers built an open source sensor logging app that NASA decided was perfect for running diagnostics with the SPHERES. You can download the same app yourself from Android Market . NASA was interested in Android because it’s an open source platform, which makes it easy to customize the software on the phone to meet the specifications required to fly in space and work with the SPHERES. Nexus S was also a good fit because of its various sensors and low-powered, but high-performing, processor. You can learn more about the project on NASA’s website . We loved being a part of the final Space Shuttle mission and working to bring the power of the Android platform to space exploration. Posted by Thor Lewis, Creative Lead, and Charles Chen, Software Engineer

T-Mobile’s showing at the Samsung Galaxy S II event lackluster at best

T-Mobile users, this is just not your day. While Sprint and AT&T customers will be spending the rest of the night watching hands on videos, drooling over spec sheets and balancing their pocketbooks for a mid-September Galaxy S II release, you get close to nothing. Sure, you now know a Galaxy S II made for your Magenta overlord exists, but you also know it’s quite a ways off. T-Mobile has revealed little to no information on their version of the Galaxy S II at tonight’s Samsung event . No price, no release date, no hard specs, not even a fully functional device attendees can get their hands on. But why? Judging by previous hands on pictures , the Samsung Hercules is just about ready to go. At least the Telus version is. And that’s what T-Mobile should be carrying , right? There’s really only two explanations behind tonights weak showing. Either T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II has enough custom parts so that they just couldn’t finish the software in time, or they just really dropped the ball here. Looking at it from the first angle almost makes sense. According to previous leaks , the Samsung Hercules is actually quite different from the original Galaxy S II. Not only was the Hercules rumored to be running on a Qualcomm processor (as opposed to Samsung’s in-house chip), but it also packs category 24 HSDPA that allows for 42Mbps HSPA+ speeds. It’s also rumored to launch with support for AT&T bands as well as T-Mo’s normal AWS. Then again, T-Mobile could have simply messed up. It’s very possible custom hardware had nothing to do with it, they just didn’t take the launch seriously enough. They are rumored to host a separate showing for their Galaxy S II once more information is made available, so maybe they thought, “hey, even a little something now is better than nothing.” After all, the Hercules has been rumored for a late October launch before. It looks like that’s one of the leaks that just may come true. How do you feel about the whole thing, T-Mobile users? Sad? Let down? Glad you got to at least see the device? Let us know in the comments below. Pictures and videos courtesy of ThisIsMyNext and Phandroid .

Nokia likely to show off Symbian Belle tomorrow according to their Facebook page

Nokia’s Facebook page has a funky countdown timer that’s set to hit zero at around 08:45 in the morning (New York time) on Wednesday, and it says “It’s time to try something new on Symbian”. The folks at Engadget noticed that the filename of said countdown timer is “belle_fb_TeaserMain”, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that we’ll be hearing about the next version of Symbian tomorrow. We’ve already seen it in several videos thanks to a leaked copy of Belle that’s floating around the internet, and we honestly hope that what Nokia presents tomorrow is better than what’s been demoed by amateurs narrating in broken English with shaky and out of focus cameras. We’re more concerned about the timing of Belle; Anna didn’t start getting pushed out to phones until last Friday , and it was first talked about in November 2010. Following that same timeline, if Nokia shows off Bella tomorrow, are they really going to hold out on actually shipping the software until April 2011? Software updates are a touchy subject in the mobile industry. Handset vendors, at their core, don’t really care about the devices they ship after they leave the factory. They’d rather work on selling more boxes than making sure you’ve got the latest features. Apple changed that with the iPhone because they only ship one model per year, so keeping it up to date is incredibly simple. Move on over to the Android world however, and you’ve got a serious case of fragmentation, even among the variants of one particular model since operators are in control of the software update cycle. Nokia has been fairly mediocre when it comes to updates. They take care of their highest selling devices, but don’t really add features to them, more like bug fixes. It’s better than nothing. Any of you curious about Belle? Nokia likely to show off Symbian Belle tomorrow according to their Facebook page originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-08-23T09:17:38Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

EVO 3D update brings ability to unlock bootloader

Modders rejoice! Just days after the release of the unlock tool for the European Sensation, HTC has announced via it’s Facebook page that the latest OTA firmware update for the EVO 3D will allow users to utilize HTC’s unlock tool to unlock your bootloader. In order to unlock your bootloader, you will need to be on the latest software version (2.08.651.2). If you’re on any other software version, be sure to update by going to Settings –> System Updates –> Firmware Update. Once you have the latest update, head over to HTC’s Dev website  and follow the instructions there to unlock the bootloader on your EVO 3D. Do so at your own discretion, however, as unlocking your bootloader will void all or parts of your warranty. If you do decide to unlock your device via HTCDev, let us know how the process went for you by leaving a comment below.