| Pandora to remove 40h streaming cap, adds Sleep Timer and NissanConnect to app Aug 23rd 2013, 02:05, by Juan Carlos Torres It seems to be a musical day. Just earlier we talked about the Vivo X3, which is both the world’s thinnest smartphone and a music lover’s delight. Now, we also have news about Pandora removing it’s mobile streaming limit as well as updating it’s Android app with two new features. 
Popular Internet radio service Pandora announced that it will soon be lifting its 40-hour mobile streaming limit. According to the announcement, thanks to the rapid progress of its mobile advertising, it will be able to offset the royalty costs which it pointed out as the reason for implementing the cap last March. Furthermore, it seems that the limit was practically useless anyway, as it only affected fewer than 4 percent of its users. There is some speculation that Pandora has timed this changed ahead of the expected launching of Apple’s iTunes Radio later this year. Pandora has also updated its Android app to support a sleep timer feature and integration with Nissan cars. Sleep Timer, as the name suggests, lets users select an amount of time before Pandora stops playing music. Users have options of 15, 30, or 60 minutes to let Pandora play just the right tunes to lull them to sleep. Owners of select Nissan cars will now also be able to control music playing on Pandora using the car’s touchscreen or steering wheel via the NissanConnect technology. The mobile streaming limit will be lifted starting September 1, just before the anticipated launch of the rival Apple service. On the other hand, new version of the Pandora app is already available on Google Play Store and should be rolling out already to existing users. VIA: SlashGear |  | Vivo X3 is here, world's thinnest phone so far Aug 23rd 2013, 01:30, by Juan Carlos Torres The race for the title of “world’s thinnest phone” goes on, with the Vivo X3 finally arriving on the scene. But make no mistake, this smartphone has some other aces aside from its slender physique. 
First leaked early this month, the Vivo X3 is just one of the latest contenders for the never-ending battle for putting out the thinnest smartphone. Made by the popular Chinese manufacturer BBK, the Vivo X3 packs some decent hardware despite its small footprint. It is driven by a 1.5 GHz 28nm quad-core A7 processor and 1 GB of RAM with 16 GB of internal storage, sports a 5.0-inch IPS display with a 1280×720 resolution, an 8 megapixel rear camera, and a 5 megapixel front camera. At a thickness of 5.75 mm it still manages to cram a 2000 mAh battery to power the device. Even with the thin profile, the X3 probably wouldn’t be worth talking about if not for some other interesting features. It includes a gesture-based system that allows users to launch into specific apps or actions when the screen is turned off with some simple swiping gestures. Last, but definitely not the least, the X3 boasts of a ES9018, touted as one of the best DAC (digital to analog converter) chip around for delivering quality audio. And with features like a built-in radio, music sharing, and an Xtudio mobile recording system for making music, the X3 is probably a music lover’s fantasy phone. 
The Vivo X3 might luckily within reach as the company seems to be planning a simultaneous global release of the smartphone. But it’s bound to come first to China, where it will be available in stores in white and blue color options starting September 1 for the price of 2498 yuan or roughly $410. SOURCE: Vivo           | | Sony Honami teased on Sony's Twitter stream Aug 23rd 2013, 00:42, by Juan Carlos Torres Riding on the wave of leaks and rumors, Sony itself is now trying to whet the public’s appetite for its next smartphone. The company posted on its Sony Xperia Twitter account a peek at the power button of the much talked about Sony Honami. 
Sony Honami or Sony Xperia i1, call it what you will, the smartphone has had a long history of leaked information and rumored specs starting way back in May. Tagged as “#bestofSony”, the Honami’s features might indeed match up to expectations: a 5-inch Full HD 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 running at 2.2 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, a 3000 mAh battery, and to top it all off, a 20 megapixel camera. The Honami is also expected to come in black, white, and, interestingly enough, purple. Sony teases that the phone will finally be unveiled “not long now”. This is most probably referring to the anticipated September 4 announcement at the IFA trade show in Berlin. It remains to be seen whether Sony’s best will be able to stand up against the flood of product announcements that are also expected to take place in the same event, such as the HTC One Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note III. 
Whether you’re rooting for the Sony Honami or any of the other devices expected to debut in September, there’s nothing else to do but wait for a week or so. Best to brace yourself, though, because it’s bound to be a quite a storm. | |
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