Android World Update # Android Community

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Minuum Keyboard public beta lands in the Play Store Aug 19th 2013, 19:25, by Robert Nelson There isn’t a shortage of available keyboards for Android users, however as of today another has arrived in the Google Play Store. This latest is called Minuum Keyboard and it has arrived as a public beta. While today marks the entry in the Play Store, this isn’t the first time we have heard of this keyboard though. In fact, this was one that originally began as an Indiegogo project back in March. The app then came available (in beta form) for those who backed the project in June. Well, flash forward till today and now everyone has access to that beta. The one catch — you will need to be willing and ready to shell out the $3.99 purchase price. This keyboard touts itself as being the “little keyboard for big fingers” and promises to offer “simplified touchscreen typing.” The simplified portion comes in with the auto-correction, but right from the beginning things look a bit different with Minuum. As the name would imply, the Minuum keyboard takes the minimal approach. In this case they use a single line of keys. Aside from the setup you see in the images here in the post, the Minuum Keyboard also offers a regular keyboard and voice typing. The full-sized keyboard is a newer option and can be accessed by pressing down on the keyboard with two-fingers. While we suspect the folks at Minuum would prefer users to stick with their layout, they have said the full-sized keyboard would be “especially useful” when it comes to entering a web address or password. This latest beta release also improved the access to punctuation and allows for alternative alphabet arrangements. The punctuation can be accessed by double-spacing and those alternative alphabet arrangements include the AZERTY layout. That all being said, while this looks like an interesting option, we do offer the reminder that it is still beta and as such there may be some issues. SOURCE: Minuum Blog, Google Play Store Story Timeline Minuum Keyboard ready for beta testing - aims to change how we type SwiftKey Keyboard slices price in half thanks to 5-star ratings Google Keyboard gets its first update with fixes and fine tuning Google Keyboard: 5 helpful tips and tricks SwiftKey Cloud beta aims to make Android keyboards smarter HTC One X up next for Android 4.2, rolling out now in Europe Aug 19th 2013, 18:58, by Cory Gunther In April we learned the HTC One X was set to be updated to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean come this June, and now it appears to finally be rolling out in Europe, only a few months late. Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and the new Sense UI 5 is arriving for the Tegra 3 powered HTC One X in Europe as we speak. Earlier this month we saw the update arrive for the HTC One X+ (not the AT&T model) and now it sounds like HTC has moved on to the original X this week as well. Below is more info as well as the update popup with full details. Multiple reports have surfaced in our inbox, and over at XDA, that the 380MB update to Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and Sense 5 is hitting smartphones as of late last night. Sadly there still appears to be no details for the HTC One, or the AT&T versions of the HTC One X and X+ at this moment. HTC Blinkfeed will be available, but not enabled by default, and the other features such as HTC Zoe will also be included. The new camera and gallery apps will be there, as well as the homescreen unlock options. The update also details the quick settings panel with 12 default options. So far this is hitting Nordic Countries, and again, we have no details on when AT&T will get around to updating either of these devices stateside. Story Timeline HTC One X on AT&T finally gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean [Update: it's live] AT&T HTC One X+ update rolling out - still 4.1 Jelly Bean Android 4.2 tipped as the last update for HTC One X HTC One X+ Android 4.2 update brings Blinkfeed and Zoe camera features Timely arrives as a feature-rich alarm clock app [Hands-on] Aug 19th 2013, 18:35, by Robert Nelson A new alarm clock app has landed in the Google Play Store. The app is called Timely Alarm Clock and while we suspect many will tune this out thinking the stock clock/alarm app works just fine — this one may be worth a look. Not only does Timely bring some good looks, but it also brings a feature those with multiple devices may like. The Timely app works across multiple devices. First things first though, the Timely app launches to the clock screen, which also shows the current day of the week and date along with the time of the next alarm. The icons to switch between the Alarms, Clock and Countdown are all sitting towards the top going from left to right. A tap of the alarm option will show any current alarms and also allow you to create more. Creating an alarm can be done by tapping the alarm icon in the lower left or by swiping in from the left-side of the device. The alarms are easy to set and come with the options one would expect. For example, you can name the alarm and you can also choose which day(s) that it should wake you. There is a wide variety of available alarm tones and you can also add a challenge or Smart Rise. The challenge is just what the name implies — a way to make it harder to snooze. Some of these include shaking the phone, doing a match or math puzzle or following a random pattern. The Smart Rise feature is a bit more interesting and is said to be based on the “advanced sleep cycle theory.” Basically this means the alarm can wake you up to 30 minutes early when you are in a light sleep cycle. Getting back to the multiple device option. This is one you will find when you install Timely on more than one device. For example, we installed Timely on one phone and setup the alarms and adjusted the preferences. We then installed Timely on the second device and upon launch — everything was all set. You will notice the message you get on the above screenshot. And worry not, silencing an alarm on one device will silence it on all devices. The nice part about this is the changes happen very quickly. But features aside, Timely does also look really nice. There are a handful of different options available to change things up. Some of these are in-app purchases and some are free. But in the end, even after just a few minutes of playing, Timely has already replaced our default clock/alarm setup. SOURCE: Google Play Store Story Timeline 4 awesome alarm clock apps for Android Minimal Clock app brings simplicity to your homescreen Oppo N1 Camera phone tipped for September release Aug 19th 2013, 18:08, by Cory Gunther This year has been all about the camera when it comes to smartphones. Whether that be Samsung’s Galaxy Camera hybrid, Nokia adding a 41MP camera to their Lumia 1020, or Sony’s recently leaked clip-on 21 megapixel lens attachment. Well, the folks from Oppo want to get in on the action, and have just teased (and made official, in a way) the Oppo N1 cameraphone. Earlier this month we received our first leaked images, which were only rendering, suggesting Oppo was working on a camera-centric smartphone. This afternoon however the company has confirmed it with a slew of teaser images, and it looks like we’ll know all the details next month. The Oppo “N-Lens” series was also talked about and made the rounds through the rumor mills. And now Oppo is set to announce the new N1 smartphone next month. That doesn’t 100% confirm it, but things are shaping up quite well. Oppo is an extremely popular and fast growing Chinese manufacturer and we loved the Find 5. The new Oppo N1 is set to be quite the smartphone coming with a 12 megapixel camera using their new “Owl” tech for greater low light photography performance, as well as a Xenon flash. There’s also rumors of a 5-inch or bigger 1080p display, and the camera possibly being 16 megapixels, which would make more sense. Stay tuned as it looks like we’ll be finding out more details next month. VIA: GforGames Story Timeline OPPO Find 5 unboxing and hands-on: 1080p HD display and all Oppo Find 5 smartphone available today in Europe Oppo Find 7 with Snapdragon 800 and 4,000 mAh battery in the works OPPO confirms N-Lens series will be camera-centric OPPO N-lens camera phone renderings surface

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Android World Update # HTC One Max sits side-by-side with One, One Mini; might have a fingerprint scanner

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HTC One Max sits side-by-side with One, One Mini; might have a fingerprint scanner Aug 19th 2013, 19:51, by Quentyn Kennemer Wondering what the HTC One Max might look like up against some of its siblings? The guys over at ePrice have given us just that, with the big version of HTC's 2013 flagship sitting side by side with the HTC One Mini and the original granddaddy HTC One.

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Android World Update # BRAVEN 855s Bluetooth weather-resistant speaker review

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BRAVEN 855s Bluetooth weather-resistant speaker review Aug 19th 2013, 19:37, by Scott Webster We’ve reviewed a number of speakers and headphones over the years, some wireless, some portable, and some weather resistant. Up for review today is the premium-grade Braven 855s Bluetooth weather-resistant speaker. As one of the newest models in their product line, this one is a mean and rugged speaker designed to take a beating. It’s a shame, though, because it’s too pretty and classy looking to scuff it up. This guy looks great in any environment – the office, your night stand, on the beach, or in a field. Indeed, the price point is the first thing that you’ll likely look at; it often is for us as well. Most of us start with a budget in mind of have a certain point that we consider a cut-off before we won’t buy a product. Getting this right out of the way, the Braven 855s runs $299 everywhere you look, even Amazon. Now, before you run complaining that you’d never spend this kind of money for a portable speaker, please read on. Also, do consider that you’re not buying into a contract and that this guy will likely outlast your next two smartphones. Measuring less than 10 inches long and almost 4 inches tall, the Braven 855S will surprise you with just how loud and clearly it projects sound. And when we go loud, we stay just as clear. While we’ve tested this with multiple smartphones or tablets, we eventually moved this into the office and paired it with the Chromebox. Yep – we put away the three piece speakers that we previously used and replaced it with something better looking and better sounding. Made from “aircraft-grade aluminum” and wrapped in a coating of rugged, waterproof gel, the speaker wants to go outside and play in the rain. It’s the sort of unit that belongs on your back deck, blasting your playlists and entertaining guests.  Planning on taking that party well into the early morning hours? No sweat, the Braven 855S boast 20 hours of playback. In our few weeks with the speaker we found that we rarely had to charge up. The side of the speaker has a cover that protects the plus and ports. It’s here where you’ll find the 3.5mm input, battery indicator lights, and USB out. Why an output? Because you can actually power your phone or device off of the speaker whenever you’re plugged in. Consider that a daisy-chain experience of sorts. Along those lines, you can also wirelessly connect multiple Braven speakers together for a two-channel audio experience. The battery indicator lights are a nice touch in that there are five of them; easily identify whether you have 40% juice or 80% left over. Across the top of the speaker you will find the standard power and volume buttons as well as one for playing audio and taking phone calls. We were really impressed that we were able to take calls on this at very loud and clear levels. The same goes for playing music through Google Play and our other apps – it’s rich in sound and the clarity is right where we wanted it. At $300, the BRAVEN 855s is quite an investment. But, because of the fact that it’s water resistant, offers 20 hours of playback per charge, and lets us take calls, we were forgiving. The Braven 855S looks like it belongs in a military vehicle or on a desert island TV show it’s that sharp and well-designed. The overall look and feel of the speaker just oozes quality and the weight tells you it’s legit stuff. No, you won’t take this everywhere you go, but the places it does end up will be better for its presence. Learn more about the 855S and other products at Braven’s website. The post BRAVEN 855s Bluetooth weather-resistant speaker review appeared first on AndroidGuys.

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Android World Update # Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 announced for AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular

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Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 announced for AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular Aug 19th 2013, 19:08, by Bogdan Petrovan In a market that increasingly favors smartphones with 5-inch and larger displays, the Galaxy Mega 6.3 stands out as a beast. While not the first smartphone with a display of more than six inches, the Mega 6.3 is the best known and probably the one with the widest distribution. Samsung Mobile announced today that the 6.3-inch model of the Galaxy Mega will be gracing with its magnitude the stores of several US major carriers: AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular. While the official press release is lacking in detail, only offering "this month" as a timeline for the availability of the Mega, AT&T announced that the device will be available starting August 23, for $149. Sprint also confirmed it would be carrying the Galaxy Mega 6.3 "later in the year", and we expect an official word from US Cellular any time now. So, what will you get for your money, besides that expansive display? The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is rather unassuming in terms of specs, with a 720p resolution, a dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor running at 1.7GHz, and 1.5GB of RAM. At 8MP, the camera is just as mid-range as the other specs, but at least media hoarders can rejoice knowing that the Mega 6.3 will be offered with up to 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. On the software side, you'll get some of the niceties offered by the Galaxy S4, such as Air View, Multi Window, WatchON, and Easy Mode. Check out the press release for all the details. Samsung Brings the Galaxy Mega to U.S. Consumers 6.3-inch HD screen combines a tablet experience with the functionality of an everyday smartphone Dallas, TX – August 19, 2013 – Continuing its commitment to provide choice to consumers, Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) today announces the Samsung Galaxy Mega™ for the U.S. market. The 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega is the ideal hybrid mobile device for those who want to experience smartphone portability with the immersive experience of a tablet. "We continue to bring innovation with our Galaxy family of devices, with the Galaxy Mega representing a manifestation of consumer's enthusiasm for our thin, large screen designs," said Nick DiCarlo, vice president of product planning and marketing at Samsung Mobile.  "The Galaxy Mega combines exceptional features from the Samsung Galaxy smartphone family with a 6.3-inch screen, making it an optimal device for movies, books, music and games." Superior Galaxy® Features The Galaxy Mega allows users to enjoy many of the benefits of Samsung's latest flagship device, the Galaxy S® 4, on an even larger screen. The Galaxy Mega's big-screen experience enhances everything you do on a smartphone – whether it's watching a video, browsing web pages or composing an email. • Air View™: Explore information and content on your Galaxy Mega without ever touching the screen. Simply hover your finger an inch above the screen to preview emails and photos, initiate speed-dial and even magnify text. • Multi Window: Multi Window split screen multitasking allows users to seamlessly run multiple apps on one screen simultaneously, and is now better than ever on the 6.3-inch HD screen of the Galaxy Mega. Watch a movie on Samsung Hub™ and check email at the same time, all by dragging and dropping apps on the same screen. • WatchON™: Control your television using the Galaxy Mega as a remote control. Discover a rich TV viewing experience with the Integrated Infrared (IR) controller that makes Smart Remote functional with any IR capable TV or Set Top Box. Users can share content from the Galaxy Mega to a TV effortlessly, as well as channel surf in a smart, new way that lets you browse by genre, search by title or receive recommendations based on your interests. • Easy Mode: Helps smooth the transition for first-time smartphone owners by simplifying the home screen layout, camera, calendar, messaging and the internet browser to make the settings menu easy to navigate. Once a user is more comfortable with their Galaxy Mega, they can easily switch back to the standard home screen interface. Captivating Camera At 8-megapixels, the Galaxy Mega rear-facing camera has zero shutter lag to capture life's memorable moments without delay. The Galaxy Mega is equipped with the easy-to-navigate Galaxy Camera™ user interface which supports numerous shooting modes such as Beauty Face, Best Photo, Sound & Shot, Panorama and more to enhance photos taken by even the most novice photographer. Galaxy Mega users can also create photo albums on the fly with Story Album™ – a unique way to group content by event or date. With the spacious display and a variety of filters and editing tools, smartphone photos have never looked better. Powerful Performance The Galaxy Mega has 6.3 inches of screen real estate with a HD Super Clear LCD (720×1280) display that beautifully showcases photos, e-books and magazines, or PowerPoint presentations. Wide viewing angles mean that users can maximize productivity and never sacrifice their experience. The Galaxy Mega runs Android™ 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), powered by a 1.7 GHz dual core CPU and 1.5 GB of internal RAM. Users can store large libraries of photos, music and videos with expandable storage of up to 64 GB of memory with an external microSD™ card. The Galaxy Mega is also SAFE™ (Samsung for Enterprise), allowing users to work and play with confidence that their photos, emails and contacts are protected. Built with enough power to get you through the longest work days, the Galaxy Mega is powered by a removable 3,200 mAh battery for extended use on a single charge. Protect the Galaxy Mega with an assortment of cover options, such as the S-View Flip Cover, a specially designed flip cover with a clear window to answer or reject a call and view battery status. The traditional Flip Cover provides similar functionality without a viewing window, and the Protective Cover + fits snugly around the Galaxy Mega to protect against bumps and falls. Sold separately, the S-View Flip Cover, Flip Cover and Protective Cover + come in a variety of vibrant colors to add personality and style, all while protecting the Galaxy Mega. The Galaxy Mega comes in Nova Black and Polaris White color options and will be available beginning this month. AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular will carry the device – each carrier will announce their specific availability, colors and timing. For more information on the Galaxy Mega and accessories, please visit www.samsung.com.

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Android World Update # Barnes & Noble releases Nook Video app to Google Play, specialty version for Nooks

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Barnes & Noble releases Nook Video app to Google Play, specialty version for Nooks Aug 19th 2013, 19:03, by Andrew Martonik A great step in the right direction for B&N's content store Working to build up its digital media presence, Barnes & Noble has released a Nook Video app to both Google Play and its own range of Nook tablets. The new app, which is available today, gives customers access to thousands of movies and TV shows for either purchase or rental, which can then be watched on a variety of devices. B&N is quick to point out that unlike some other services (we all know they mean Amazon), there's no annual subscription required to have access to their entire content catalog. The content is also flexible and can be either downloaded or streamed, whichever is more convenient for you. The app is available from Google Play for Android phones and tablets, and will show up automatically on your Nook tablet when connected to Wifi. Smartly, B&N is also making iOS and Roku apps available the same day — having content available across multiple devices is the best way to go. Source: Barnes & Noble

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