Android Apps Runs on Windows 9? Former Microsoft Employee Says It’s Possible

There’s no doubt that Windows 9 is going to bring a significant array of changes, and although Microsoft doesn’t talk too much about the new features to be part of this OS release, people that are more or less involved in the development process point to quite some impressive novelties.

Among them, there’s the support for Android apps, which would basically enable every Windows 9 adopter to run software published in the Play Store on their devices, be they smartphones, tablets, or even PCs. Hal Berenson, who in the past worked as engineer and general manager for Microsoft, says that bringing Android apps on Windows 9 is very likely, especially because Microsoft is struggling to address the lack of apps on its modern platforms. Just as expected, everything would start with the Windows Phone version, Berenson explained, and a potential implementation of OpenMobile ALC for Windows could make this reality. “Microsoft has only one play to really close the app gap in the next 12-18 months, and that is something they have to do that if they want Windows Phone to have a future. That play is make it easy for developers to port Android apps to Windows Phone, a capability I think is likely to be part of Threshold,” the former Microsoft employee said.

So what about PCs? If Android apps arrive on Windows Phones, in the same manner they did on BlackBerry 10 devices, expect Microsoft to make it possible to run on PCs and tablets with Windows 9 as well. And Berenson has a pretty good reason for this. “I suspect Microsoft is looking to take this another step, and use the opportunity to easily run Android apps on Threshold to convince developers to adapt them to the Microsoft environment. For example, first use it to encourage developers to support Microsoft services (when running on both Windows and Android),” he said. “Then use it to convince developers to turn their Android apps into multi-platform apps, with customizations (to the user experience) when running on Windows. How far they will go is a big question mark, but I believe they will go beyond just wanting to run existing apps unchanged.”

This isn’t the first time we’re hearing that Microsoft could allow Windows users to run Android apps on their devices, but previous reports pointed to a possible implementation of BlueStacks, the software solution that’s still in beta right now and gives users a chance to install apps from the Play Store on their Windows desktops. This time, however, it appears that Microsoft has a much more ambitious plan, but there’s no doubt that the company still needs to consider a number of setbacks that could in the end affect its core Windows platform.

First and foremost, if the majority of Android apps run on Windows, developers might not port any of their titles to Windows and thus offer users a native experience. Microsoft is already working with developers to encourage them to port apps to modern Windows, so it might look like the company is paving the road to make sure that such a thing won’t happen.

Second, if the Windows + Android cocktail doesn’t work well and users are still not attracted by such a mix, Microsoft could do more harm than good. But as Berenson points out, “when you have 3 percent market share, how much risk is it really?”

Microsoft wants to allow all Windows 9 users to run Android apps on their devices
Image credits to Lottspace.com

Read more »

Mini Variant of Lenovo K920 (Vibe Z2 Pro) Allegedly Emerges Online

Tomorrow, Chinese mobile phone maker Lenovo should make official a new high-end smartphone, none other than the Lenovo K920, aka Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro, and it seems that a mini flavor of the device is also being prepared.

For those out of the loop, we should note that Vibe Z2 Pro is rumored to arrive tomorrow with a 6-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) resolution, as well as with a metallic body. A leaked photo with the Lenovo K920 (Vibe Z2 Pro), that has emerged courtesy of weibo, appears to be showing it next to the aforementioned mini version, which will sport a metallic body as well. One thing that you should be aware of, however, is the fact that this Lenovo K920 mini, or however it will be called, is not a small device. Not even close to being small, in fact. As GSMdome notes, the handset is expected to go official with a 5.5-inch touchscreen display, which is larger than most flagship smartphones out there, and the same size as LG’s G3. The screen on this mini Lenovo K920 (Vibe Z2 Pro) is said to deliver a full HD resolution, and might also include a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, supposedly paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory.

Moreover, chances are that the mobile phone will be announced with a 13-megapixel camera on the back, as well as with a 5MP front camera for taking selfies and for making video calls while on the go. The usual set of connectivity capabilities and sensors should also be included in the package, along with the latest flavor of the Android operating system, just as with the Vibe Z2 Pro. However, with no official confirmation on the device, we’ll take the info above with a grain of salt for the time being. Furthermore, should the phone go official, it remains to be seen whether it will be marketed as Lenovo K920 mini, Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro mini, or it will feature a completely different name. Rumor has it that Lenovo will make the smartphone available for purchase with a price tag of only around $323 (€240) attached to it, which will certainly turn it into a highly appealing device.

Most probably, Lenovo will share some details on this Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro mini as soon as tomorrow, when the fully fledged Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro should become official, so keep an eye on this space for additional info on the matter.

Lenovo K920 (Vibe Z2 Pro) photographed next to a mini variant
Weibo Image credits to  GSMDome

Read more »

White Samsung Galaxy Alpha Emerges in Leaked Photos

One of the smartphones that South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics is expected to make official in the next several weeks is the Galaxy Alpha, long rumored to arrive on shelves as the first handset in the company’s lineup to sport a metallic body.

According to the latest info on the mobile phone, Samsung could be set to announce it on August 13, which would be only three weeks before Samsung Galaxy Note 4 should go official in Berlin during the IFA 2014 trade show. Before that happens, however, you can admire the device in a new set of allegedly leaked images, this time photos that show it all dressed up in white, and also powered up. Said leaked photos have been spotted on weibo and, as nowhereelse notes, they depict a smartphone looking exactly the same as the black Galaxy Alpha did in the previously spotted images. Most probably, Samsung will make the mobile phone official in other color options as well, the same as it did with Galaxy S5 and other recent devices in its lineup. For those out of the loop, we should note that Samsung Galaxy Alpha is expected to be about the same size as the Galaxy S III, which was released two years ago.

The upcoming mobile phone is said to pack a 4.8-inch touchscreen display that should deliver an HD (1280 x 720 pixels) resolution, while being powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor. Apparently, the quad-core CPU will be clocked at 1.9GHz and will also be paired with Mali-T628 graphics. 2GB of RAM will also be attached to it, so as to ensure that users receive appealing performance capabilities at all times. Samsung Galaxy Alpha is also expected to arrive on the market with 32GB of internal memory, but won’t feature a microSD memory card slot for storage expansion purposes, it seems.

On the back, the handset should sport a 12-megapixel camera, which will certainly be capable of recording videos in full HD resolution, if not higher. The mobile phone should run under the Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system version right from the start, though it will also sport a series of exclusive apps and software enhancements coming from Samsung itself, that’s for sure. No official confirmation on Galaxy Alpha has been provided as of now, so take the info above with a grain of salt. Until more on this device emerges online, have a look at the newly leaked images with it, available below. Click for larger images.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha
Images credits to Weibo via NoWhereElse

Read more »

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Photos Emerge Online

One of the smartphones that has seen a great deal of rumors and leaks over the past several months but hasn’t gone official as of now is the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which many of you might know under the name of Galaxy F.

The handset, supposedly set to land on shelves as a premium flavor of the Samsung Galaxy S5, is now said to have made it online in a series of leaked live photos. Said images, available courtesy of Vietnamese website Tinhte, indeed depict a device that resembles a lot the Galaxy S5, but which sports a metallic body, just as the Galaxy Alpha has been previously rumored to sport. What’s interesting to note is the fact that the handset in said leaked images appears to feature the LTE-A logo on the back, which suggests that it would have a Snapdragon 805 processor inside. Moreover, as pocketdroid.net notes, this could also suggest that the mobile phone might be available exclusively in South Korea, at least in the beginning. Overall, we might see the new device landing on shelves with about the same hardware specifications as the Samsung Galaxy S5, though in a smaller form factor.

Recent reports on the matter have suggested that the mobile phone might come to shelves with a 4.7-inch touchscreen display, albeit one that would deliver a great resolution (some suggest that it would be a Quad HD panel). The aforementioned Snapdragon 805 processor should be paired with 3GB of RAM for increased performance capabilities. Most probably, the mobile phone will also run under the latest flavor of the Android KitKat operating system, provided that it is indeed released in the next few months. Since no official confirmation on the phone has been provided, and since there’s no way to verify whether said leaked photos are the real deal or not, we’ll take the info with a grain of salt for the time being. However, with most of the reports on the yet unannounced device claiming that Samsung would be ready to make it official in a matter of months, it won’t come as a surprise if things pan out in the end.

As far as rumor goes, Samsung might be determined to make both the Galaxy Alpha and the new Galaxy Note 4 devices official during the IFA 2014 trade show in Berlin. Hopefully, more on the matter will emerge soon, so keep an eye on this space for additional details.

Allegedly leaked Samsung Galaxy Alpha
Image credits to Tinhte.vn

Read more »

ADATA Releases Overkill XPG V3 Memory of 3,100 MHz

Hardcore PC owners would probably argue that there is no such thing as overkill, especially when it comes to CPU and memory speeds, but I would beg to differ when faced with what ADATA has just released.

The company has formally launched a dual-channel memory kit composed of two modules with a clock of 3,100 MHz frequency: XPG V3. There used to be a time when 2,500 MHz was considered a huge overclock for memory whose technical specification says 1,600 and 1,866 MHz should be the upper “limits.” Clearly, RAM device makers are not concerned with this as pedestrian as “limits.” Adata designed this positively ludicrously overclocked memory kit for systems powered by Z97 motherboards and Intel's Haswell and Broadwell high-end CPUs (Core i3, i5 and i7).

The memory supports Intel XMP 1.3 (Extreme Memory Profile) and has a bandwidth of 24.8 GB/s. Also, the 8-layer PCB with 2oz copper improves cooling performance, which is why the heatspreaders (Thermal Conductive Technology, TCT for short) can even handle the heat caused by the frequency of over 3,000 MHz in the first place. Alas, ADATA did not say what humongous price it intends to charge for a dual-channel, two-module kit. Curiously, it didn't even specify a capacity (it would presumably be offered in 8 GB and/or 16 GB variants).

ADATA XPG V3 memory
Image credits to ADATA

Read more »

Xiaomi Mi4 Goes Official with Snapdragon 801 Processor

Today, Chinese mobile phone maker Xiaomi officially announced the upcoming availability of a new flagship handset, in the form of Xiaomi Mi4.

The new device went official during a press event held in Beijing, and it is said to be the fastest smartphone in the world. To ensure high-end performance capabilities for its device, Xiaomi included a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor inside it, along with 3GB of RAM. When last year’s Xiaomi Mi3 was launched, the mobile phone maker claimed that it was the fastest handset in the world at the time, just as it does for the Mi4 today. However, the powerful processor is not the only highly appealing feature that Xiaomi is teasing for its new handset. The company is also touting the phone’s 3080mAh battery as being able to deliver up to one day and a half of usage time, more than what most 5-inch flagship smartphones out there can offer. Moreover, the handset vendor notes that the battery can be charged at 60 percent in less than an hour, so that users won’t stay away from their devices for too long.

The new Xiaomi Mi4 was also announced with a 5-inch touchscreen display that can deliver a full HD resolution and with back-cover replacements to add extra customization options to the package. On the back, the smartphone sports a 13-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX214 sensor, which is capable of recording videos in 4K resolution. Moreover, the mobile phone will arrive on shelves with an 8-megapixel camera on the front and an f/1.8 sensor with 80-degree wide-angle lens, enabling users to enjoy a great experience when it comes to snapping selfies. Xiaomi Mi4 was announced in two different flavors, one featuring 16GB of internal memory, while the other packing 63GB of storage.

The new handset also arrives on shelves with the usual set of connectivity capabilities and sensors inside, while running under the Android operating system. The phone will also sport nano-coating for water resistance. Moreover, the phone features Xiaomi’s own MIUI loaded on top, which provides users with a wide range of customization capabilities. The mobile phone maker confirmed that a new variant of the user interface was set to become available in August, in the form of MIUI 6.5. Users in China interested in the purchase of Xiaomi Mi4 should know that the device is set to be put up for pre-order in the country as soon as July 29, as AndroidOS reports. The handset will be quite affordable, considering its hardware specs. The 16GB model will cost 1,999 Yuan ($322/€238), while the 64GB variant will be priced at 2,499 Yuan ($403/€298).

Xiaomi Mi4
Images credits to Xiaomi via AndroidOS

Read more »

Gionee GN9005 Could Be the Thinnest Smartphone at 5mm

Chinese mobile phone maker Gionee appears determined to bring to the market the thinnest smartphone out there, in the form of Gionee GN9005, which has emerged in China with a body that is only 5mm thick.

The handset has already received the necessary approvals in its homeland market, and we might see it going official very soon with the aforementioned thin body and with a 4.8-inch AMOLED touchscreen display that can deliver a 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. The mobile phone should also arrive on shelves with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor inside, as well as with 1GB of RAM. Moreover, it was listed at TENAA in China with 16GB of internal memory, it seems. On the back, the upcoming Gionee GN9005 will sport an 8-megapixel camera, which will be complemented by a 5MP front camera for making video calls while on the go.

The specs list of this device is also said to include a 2050mAh battery, along with Google’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system loaded on top. The new handset is expected to arrive in China with TD-LTE connectivity inside, which would make it fit for the network of wireless carrier China Mobile. Unfortunately, no specific info on its release date and pricing has been provided as of now.

Gionee GN9005
Image credits to TENAA via PhoneArena

Read more »

LG G3 Prime to Go Official on July 25 with Snapdragon 805 CPU

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics has been long rumored to plan on releasing a new, updated flavor of the LG G3 smartphone, and it appears that all might go down before the end of this week.

According to info coming from South Korean website Naver, the new device model, long referred to as LG G3 Prime, should go official as soon as July 25.In fact, we should note that said handset has already emerged online in South Korea, under the name of LG G3 Cat. 6, even if it hasn’t been officially introduced in the country as of now. What the new device model will bring along when compared to the original LG G3 variant is support for Category 6 LTE-Advanced networks, with speeds of up to 225 Mbps. This is due to the inclusion of a Snapdragon 805 processor inside the new smartphone variant, which not only offers support for the faster data transfer rates, but also delivers increased performance capabilities. The rest of the handset’s hardware specifications should remain unchanged, which means that those who will go for the LG G3 Prime will still enjoy a 5.5-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) resolution.

Moreover, the mobile phone sports 3GB of RAM, along with 32GB of internal memory, paired with a microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes. On the back, the LG G3 features a 13-megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilization and support for 4K video recording, complemented by a 2MP front camera for making video calls while on the go. The handset is powered by a 3000mAh battery, while also featuring support for 3G networks, along with the usual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC capabilities. The same as its predecessor, the smartphone comes with back-mounted power and volume buttons. However, it also adds a Laser Focus sensor on the back, so that users receive a better experience when it comes to snapping photos. LG G3 runs under the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, but also sports LG’s own set of customizations and exclusive applications loaded on top.

The new LG G3 Prime is expected to become available for purchase only in South Korea, at least in the beginning. However, chances are that LG will work with other LTE-A carriers to release it in other markets out there as well. What remains to be seen at the moment is whether the phone will indeed become official before the end of this week, so stay tuned to learn more on the matter.

LG G3
Image credits to LG

Read more »

Moto G2 Smartphone Emerges Online

Moto X, the flagship Android-based handset that Motorola launched last year (though only a mid-range device), might not be the only phone in the company’s lineup to see a successor before the end of 2014, the latest reports on the matter suggest.

Moto G, the cheaper variant of Moto X, is also said to be receiving such a treatment in the not too distant future, and info on what could prove to be this handset’s sequel made it online today. The mobile phone, supposedly called Moto G2, has emerged online in an allegedly leaked photo, which confirms that it will arrive on shelves with a front speaker, similar to its predecessor. Moreover, the device is said to sport model number 1068 XT and to run under the latest flavor of Google’s Android operating system. The leaked info on this handset has emerged online courtesy of mallandonoandroid, yet no official confirmation on the matter has been provided as of now. Rumor has it that the mobile phone will arrive on the market with a quad-core ARM V7 processor inside, paired with Adreno 305 graphics, and that it will also feature dual-SIM capabilities. Moreover, the Moto G2 is supposedly set to launch with a touchscreen display capable of delivering a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. However, info on its size hasn’t been provided as of now.

The specs list of this mobile phone would also include an 8-megapixel camera on the back, most probably capable of recording videos in full HD resolution. A front-facing camera will also be present on this device, along with the usual set of connectivity capabilities and sensors. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, no official word on this mobile phone has been provided as of now, and it remains to be seen how much of the info presented above will pan out in the end. Undoubtedly, Motorola is preparing the release of a Moto G successor, especially when considering the success that the original device has enjoyed in various markets out there. At the same time, we can assume that the company will be releasing the phone at a price tag similar with that of the predecessor, so as to ensure that it continues to attract users on its side.

In addition to this phone, the vendor is also expected to launch a Moto X sequel before the end of this year, and it might also be working on even cheaper devices, similar to the Moto E that landed earlier this year.

Allegedly leaked Moto G2
Image credits to mallandonoandroid

Read more »

6 TB Helium-Filled HDDs Can Now Be Used in Network-Attached Storage from QNAP

Network-attached storage devices are a great way to add centralized storage space to a network, which anyone with a desktop, laptop or mobile device (tablet/phone) can access via LAN, Wi-Fi or even the Internet if you set it up that way. QNAP has just delivered the latest upgrade to its NAS units.

You see, most NAS devices, whether made by QNAP or others, can't handle anything larger than 4 TB. Even those that can usually have 5 TB as the upper HDD/SSD limit. Now, though, QNAP has announced that its Enterprise and Small-Medium-Business lines of Turbo NAS products can successfully accept and read HGST Ultrastar He6 helium-filled hard disk drives (HDD) with 6 TB capacity. It has been a long time coming, but HGST has finally started to persuade OEMs to use the things.

In 8-drive units, this means a total of 48 TB, though RAID setups will take around 10% of that in order to “fool” every network-connected system into thinking there is just one huge drive volume available, not several. RAID brings great benefits in performance and security. The exact range of supporting products for the helium-filled HDDs is this: QNAP Turbo NAS TS-x79U-SAS series and QNAP expansion enclosures REXP series.

HGST Ultrastar He6
Image credits to HGST

Read more »