| Firefox for Android update improves sharing, adds Night Mode for Reader Sep 17th 2013, 18:16, by Robert Nelson The latest Firefox for Android update has arrived in the Play Store today. The focus of this update appears to be sharing, however there are also a couple of other items included. As for the sharing improvements, those deal with Quick Share and NFC. Beginning first with the Quick Share feature and users will likely notice this one (thanks to the colorful app icon) in the Firefox Share menu. 
An example can be seen in the above image. And in an effort to make this simple to use, Firefox for Android will automatically add the service you share with most. Next up for sharing deals with NFC. This one is a bit simpler and means users will be able to share open tabs between two NFC-capable handsets. The next noticeable change with this Firefox for Android update comes with Reader and a Night Mode. This update has added the night mode which is basically a black background with white text. Details here include how users will be able to switch from regular to night mode manually or automatically based on the level of light in the room. Otherwise, there was also support added for a few additional languages. This time around we are seeing newly added support for Catalan, British-English and Swedish. Looking for the totals, this means Firefox for Android now supports more than 20 languages. The last item on the changelog today was WebRTC. This support had arrived for Windows, Mac and Linux back in June and has just arrived on mobile — for Android. WebRTC is described as being a new HTML5 API that enables real-time communication. Of course, while the addition of WebRTC support sounds good, this is one that is more for the developers at this point in time. SOURCE: The Mozilla Blog |  | Google Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat spotted in benchmark tests Sep 17th 2013, 18:14, by Cory Gunther At this point we’re pretty confident in saying the new Nexus 5 will be made by LG, and is coming soon. Between the leak yesterday of the Nexus 5 being found at a bar, Google’s own video showing off the phone, and more. Well, today we can add one more sighting complete with additional details found from a GFXBench result. 
We know most of the important details at this point about the upcoming Nexus smartphone, which here is being called the Google Nexus 5. Not the LG Nexus 5. Showing the brand being Google, and the name being Nexus 5. This leaked benchmark result, if accurate, also shows the device running Android 4.4 KitKat. Confirming what we already knew this is teasing the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor at 2.26 GHz, 2GB of RAM, and a 1080p full HD display. It’s showing 1794 x 1080 because the use of on-screen navigation keys of course. Then we’re still seeing “Key Lime Pie” instead of KitKat, with the Android version build being KRS71D. Which of course the K is for KitKat (or KeyLimePie) just like all current builds start with a J for Belly Bean. 
While this could be fake we’ve seen similar results turn up accurate from GFXBench before, not to mention this mirrors countless other leaks and rumored specs. At this point all we really need to know is what carriers will get it, if Google can get all (read: Verizon) on board, and when it will be released. Latest tips suggest an October 14th reveal and end of October release date.    | | Nexus 7 LTE gets shunned by Verizon, can't be activated Sep 17th 2013, 17:15, by Cory Gunther Back when Google announced their brand new and improved 2013 Nexus 7, it was met with tons of excitement due to the fact they’d be offering an 4G LTE model with support for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all for just $349. After a month of waiting last week the tablet with LTE finally went up for sale. But now we’re hearing bad news that Verizon (once again) isn’t playing nice with Nexus devices. 
It appears that Verizon isn’t too keen on the idea of the Nexus 7 working on their network, and as a result, won’t let users activate the new Nexus 7. Don’t get us wrong, the LTE Nexus 7 will work fine with Verizon, as we saw from Droid-Life last week. The problem is Verizon apparently doesn’t want it on their network, and won’t let you add a line and “activate” it with a SIM or a share everything plan. However, if you have a SIM just throw it in the Nexus 7 and you’ll be up and running in no time, it’s the activation part that isn’t working, and might never actually work. A few of our readers were complaining about the situation earlier this week, and today Verizon’s official Twitter support page replied, and things aren’t looking good. Basically saying “not all LTE tablets are created equal. It’s not part of our line up & can’t be activated” in response to questions about the new Nexus 7. Fail! 
We have reached out to Verizon for more details, and will update the moment we learn more. At this time we’ve received a few different reports of Verizon not being able to activate or support the new slate, so hopefully you can get a SIM some other way. As a reminder the Nexus 7 works with GSM (3G and faux 4G HSPA) with AT&T and T-Mobile, but not Verizon. LTE works for all three. The CDMA of Verizon’s network being the issue here. It makes sense for them to not support a device that only works with LTE, even though they have the “widest LTE coverage in the US.” If you aren’t in an LTE area the device won’t work at all, while an AT&T or T-Mobile variant will drop back to GSM and work without fail. Are you having the same problem with Verizon? We’re also getting scattered reports that AT&T might not “officially” support the Nexus 7 either. Drop us a comment below. Hopefully we learn more shortly, because this is a hot mess. Also, my faith in the LG Nexus 5 coming to Verizon is starting to dwindle. – Thanks Jeff, and everyone else who sent this in! | | BBM for Android will not be a Samsung exclusive upon release Sep 17th 2013, 17:03, by Robert Nelson Once again the BBM rumors have been heating up. The BBM for Android user manual appeared last month and that was followed by the actual app, which leaked yesterday and couldn’t actually be used. Perhaps key for today though, despite the earlier confirmation coming from Samsung Nigeria, there will not be any exclusives when the app actually launches. 
That confirmation came yesterday when Samsung Nigeria tweeted about how Samsung had a three month exclusive on the release of BBM for Android. Well, in an updated statement provided to CrackBerry, there will not be any exclusive offering. Coming by way of BBM Communications Director at BlackBerry, Victoria Berry, “no one will have an exclusive on offering BBM.” Further comments from Berry also touched on the hype that seems to be surrounding this release. She also spoke about how “the upcoming BBM launch on iPhone and Android devices seems to know no bounds.” Sadly though, she didn’t offer anything in terms of when the app would be available. As many have likely seen, BBM for Android is expected to be available this coming Friday. Comments from Berry note the app will be ready for Android users “across the globe soon.” Soon could mean Friday, however if Samsung Nigeria was incorrect about the exclusive it seems somewhat likely they may have been incorrect about Friday also. All that being said, it is slightly interesting that Samsung Mobile NG has yet to remove that tweet. | | Verizon HTC One drops to $49 at Best Buy, Blue model included Sep 17th 2013, 16:46, by Cory Gunther After months of waiting the Verizon HTC One finally was released last month. And now for those who waited, an excellent deal has just appeared worth mentioning. The folks from Best Buy are offering up Verizon’s HTC One for only $49, and that includes the brand new exclusive Metallic Blue color option as well. 
Not to be confused with the European Vivid Blue that was announced earlier this month, Best Buy has a metallic blue color for all carriers, exclusive to them. Whether you want blue or silver the Verizon model full of fast 4G LTE, NFL Mobile, and more is available for a pretty epic deal. Being just $49 from Best Buy is a pretty awesome deal considering Verizon themselves are still asking $199. We’re also seeing a few online retailers drop it down to $149, but I’d be headed into a nearby Best Buy if I were you guys. Oh, Amazon has it for $49 too, but not in that fancy Metallic Blue color variant. 
The 4.7-inch 1080p full HD display and quad-core processor make the HTC One a top-tier device, and the front facing speakers just tops it all off. Android 4.3 is coming any day now for the device, and surely Android 4.4 KitKat will follow. At some point. Grab it below if you’re interested. VIA: BestBuy | |
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