Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition Receiving Android 4.4.2 KitKat (AOSP) Update

Shortly after the HTC One Google Play Edition received the recently launched Android 4.4.2 KitKat update, another Google Edition device got the upgrade, the Samsung Galaxy S4.

XDA Developers reports Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is now getting the said update via OTA (over the air). This is a staged rollout, which means not all devices will receive it at the same time. The update is sent under the codename KOT49H and has around 57MB in size, which makes it rather small compared with other major updates.

Those who do not wish to wait until Android 4.4.2 KitKat (KOT49H) update arrives on their Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition phones can manually download and install it via Google's servers. Keep in mind that the binaries and the kernel source for this update have already been published by Samsung and are available for download via the company's open source center.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition "About phone" screenshot
Image credits to XDA-Developers

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HTC One Google Play Edition Receiving Android 4.4.2 (AOSP) Update

One of the first devices to receive the latest Android 4.4 KitKat major upgrade, the HTC One Google Play Edition has been confirmed to receive another update that fixes some bugs and issues.

The Taiwanese handset maker published earlier today the kernel source for HTC One Google Play Edition's Android 4.4.2, but the update was not ready for deployment yet. However, it appears that HTC has started the rollout of Android 4.4.2 KitKat for the One Google Play Edition devices after all.

The folks over at Droid-Life have been tipped on the availability of the update, so those who have yet to be notified may want to manually check for it. Keep in mind the Android 4.4.2 KitKat for HTC One Google Play Edition is rolled out in stages, so it might take a few days until it reaches all devices.

HTC One Google Play Edition "About phone" (screenshot)
Image credits to Droid-Life

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Android 4.4.2 Factory Images for Nexus 7, Nexus 10 Are Now Available to Download from Google

Just a few days ago, the Android 4.4.2 OTA update for the Nexus 7 (both 2012 and 2013 models) and Nexus 10 was spotted into the wild.

But for those who didn't get it so far, Google has made available the factory images and binaries, so you can download them right now. Note that you’ll need to have Android 4.4. or Android 4.4.1 installed in order to upgrade to the latest build. Once you have successfully flashed the proper Factory Image to your device, Google advises you to lock the bootloader, advocating for safety.

Factory images are important to those who plan on tinkering with their devices and need a safety net to fall-back onto, in case something goes wrong. As for the source code, it will surely be picked up by developers working on custom ROMs, with CyanogenMod and OmniROM leading the way in this department.

Google posts factory images and binaries for its Nexus tablets
Image credits to Google

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Oppo R1 New Photos Leaked

Chinese mobile phone maker Oppo has been rumored lately to plan the launch of a new Android-based smartphone called Oppo R1, and some more leaked photos with the device are now available for your viewing pleasure.

The new handset is expected to be launched in China as a mid-range device, though it should be able to provide users with a premium feel. Furthermore, the next handset in the Oppo R-series is said to feature a better camera, which should allow it to stand out in the crowd. For those out of the loop, we should note that the Oppo R1 is rumored to land on shelves with an 8-megapixel camera on the back, with an f2.0 aperture. Basically, this is the same camera that was packed inside the flagship Meizu MX3 smartphone recently, GizChina reports. At the same time, the upcoming Oppo R1 should arrive on shelves with an all-glass construction, as well as with an anti-fingerprint coating, which should keep its body clean even when heavily used.

The same as other R-series smartphones from Oppo, the forthcoming handset is expected to be powered by a Mediatek processor. It will sport a quad-core MT6589 CPU, it seems. The specifications list of the new mobile phone also includes support for two SIM cards at the same time, along with micro SD memory card slot for expansion purposes. The handset hasn’t been officially confirmed as of now, but rumor has it that it will be launched before the end of this year. Furthermore, it is expected to cost around 2,000 Yuan ($329/€239) when made available.

The same as other Oppo smartphones, the new device will be powered by Google’s Android operating system, but no specific info on the actual version of the platform has been provided as of now. Keep an eye on this space for additional details on the matter.

Oppo R1
Images credits to Weibo via GizChina

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Huawei Honor 3C Leaks in Official Images

Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei is expected to make official in the not too distant future a new set of smartphones, with one of them said to be the Huawei Honor 3C, which can be seen in newly leaked official images.

The handset made it online before, and the new photos with it, available courtesy of Weibo, unveil some more details on the specifications that it will feature when launched. However, as GizChina reports, the info that can be extracted from these images is a bit different than what the phone was previously expected to include. The upcoming Huawei Honor 3C is currently said to sport a 5-inch touchscreen display that will be able to deliver a 720p resolution, though it was previously said to pack only a 4.7-inch screen. At the same time, the leaked info unveils that Huawei will pack the new mobile phone with a 1.3Ghz quad-core MT6582 processor inside, and not with the MT6588 CPU, as previously rumored. Even so, it appears that the yet unannounced smartphone will still be able to deliver appealing performance levels.

According to one of the leaked images, the smartphone could score around 17,000 points in AnTuTu, which would make it a great competitor for the Zopo ZP700, especially given its higher resolution display. Huawei Honor 3C is also said to arrive on shelves with an 8-megapixel camera on the back, with f2.0 aperture. The sensor comes from Sony and is similar to the one packed inside Meizu MX3. Furthermore, it will be paired with a 5-megapixel camera from Samsung, with f2.4 aperture, offering a great experience when it comes to video calling while on the go. It still remains to be seen whether these rumored specs for Huawei Honor 3C will indeed pan out or not, so keep an eye on this space for additional details on the matter.

Huawei Honor 3C
Images credits to Weibo via GizChina

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Nokia Normandy Is an Affordable Smartphone Powered by Android

It appears that Nokia did not ruled out completely the launch of an Android device after all. Although the Finnish company decided to go all out with Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, Nokia fans who would had preferred the handset maker would try its hand on some Android devices will be pleased to know their dream may come true.

The Verge reports the previously leaked Nokia Normandy that we originally thought it will bring the gap between the Lumia and Asha series much closer, is in fact a budget-friendly smartphone powered by Google Android operating system. However, the Normandy is said to run a “forked” version of Android that has little to do with Google's stock variant, much closer to what Amazon is doing currently with the Kindle Fire series. Nokia Normandy has no issues running some of the most important Android applications, Skype including. The smartphone has been especially developed as an Asha equivalent, but with a much larger potential due to access to Android's ecosystem. Unfortunately, there's no telling if the Nokia Normandy will ever get launched on the market after Nokia's acquisition by Microsoft, but The Verge claims all Nokia employees working on the phone have been informed the handset is most likely to get released sometime in 2014.

Moreover, the Normandy project is said to be “full steam ahead,” which might mean that Nokia is really determined to bring its first Android smartphone on the market. It would be interesting to know whether or not Microsoft is already aware of Nokia's plans to launch the Normandy and how the Redmond-based company feels about it. If Microsoft-Nokia deal closes before the Normandy gets to be released, it's unclear if the former would be interested to launch an Android device that will surely compete with its own Windows Phone platform. Stay tuned for more on this one.

Nokia Normandy
Image credits to evleaks

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Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition Released with Android 4.4 KitKat

Sony Mobile and Google have just announced the immediate availability of the Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition in the United States.

When we thought Google couldn't surprise us anymore after rolling out two KitKat updates in only two days, the search giant starts selling Sony's phablet on its Play Store. Customers can now purchase the Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition for $650 (€470) outright via Google Play Store in the United States. According to Google, the smarpthone ships for free in just 1-2 days, so for now there's enough stock to meet the demand. The fact that it's priced so high is probably one of the reasons the phablet isn't out of stock yet. The Google Play Edition of Sony Xperia Z Ultra ships with Android 4.4 KitKat operating system out of the box, unlike the standard version which is still powered by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean platform. It is also worth mentioning that besides stock Android and the latest Google experience, the Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition comes with some of Sony's unique tech, including Bravia smarts and X-Reality for mobile picture engine.

Aside from the that, Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition features the same specs as the standard version, so expect powerful phablet with high-end capabilities. The Xperia Z Ultra is equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.2GHz, an Adreno 330 graphics processing unit and 2GB of RAM. The phablet boasts a huge 6.4-inch full HD (1080p) TRILUMINOUS capacitive touchscreen display, as well as 16GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera and LTE support. “Bringing our first Google Play edition device to the US market represents a milestone in Sony’s on-going developer outreach and work with Google’s Android Open Source Project.”

It’s something our users have been asking for, and now we’re responding – we’re excited to gauge reaction to the latest Android version running natively on our unique product’s hardware,” said Fredrik Ekstrand, Head of Software Product Management at Sony Mobile.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play Edition
Image credits to Sony Mobile

http://developer.sonymobile.com/2013/12/10/introducing-sony-z-ultra-google-play-edition
We're excited to introduce Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition, released on the latest Android version (4.4; KitKat) -- it's available now through the Google Play™ store in the United States.
Video credits to SonyXperiaDeveloperWorld

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LibreOffice 4.1 vs. Microsoft Office 2013 Complete Comparison, LibreOffice is The Winner

A complete comparison between LibreOffice 4.1 and Microsoft Office 2013 has surfaced and it demonstrates the similarities and features of both products.

Among the best features of LibreOffice that have no real correspondent in the Microsoft product there is a portable version that runs on USB flash disks (without installation), it’s open source, has full integration of all office components, and it’s completely free of charge. This is probably the most complete comparison ever put together and it shows that LibreOffice is in fact on par with most of the features in the latest Microsoft Office 2013, and it’s even leading in some areas.

Microsoft Office 2013 also comes with some perks. It features advanced support of transitional (default) and strict OOXML files, EXCEL can fit up to 16384 columns, has embedded video edit, and can export straight to video. The complete comparison can be found in a comprehensive wiki, but the number of features is way too big to list. Image comparison below, click for larger image.

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Possible Nexus 8 (LG V510) Shown in Leaked Photos

It appears that the LG V510 tablet rumors have intensified. Just yesterday we brought you news of a tip reported by @evleaks which claimed the elusive device was a Nexus tablet.

Couple this information with the fact that last week Chinese website Weibo leaked a service manual for the LG V510 showing the device had a 8.3-inch screen and we have the Google Nexus 8 in the cards once again. Now MyLGPhone has stumbled upon a couple of leaked pictures actually showcasing the possible LG Nexus tablet. Apparently, this is going to be a Wi-Fi only model, so speculations claiming this was an LTE version of the LG G Pad 8.3 tablet drop to the ground and transform to ashes.

But before getting all excited, take a look at the photos and you'll see there’s no apparent Nexus branding in the pictures, so at the moment we still don’t have enough to step out of the “another LG tablet” realm. For the time being, we know the LG V510 will come sporting an 8.3-inch TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, two cameras (1.3MP in front and 5MP on the back), 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory.

Possible LG branded Nexus 8 tablet shown in leaked photos
Images credits to MyLGPhones

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Flyme 3.3 for Meizu MX3 Screenshot Leaked

Soon, Chinese mobile phone maker Meizu should make available for download a new flavor of its Flyme software, and some leaked screenshots provide us with a glimpse at what it will look like when released.

The software, set to land on devices as Flyme 3.3, will be pushed to Meizu’s octa-core Android-based MX3 handsets in the not too distant future, though no specific info on when that might happen has been provided as of now. The aforementioned leaked Flyme 3.3 screenshots (available courtesy of ctechcn) unveil a series of tweaks made to the user interface of the platform, which should result in enhanced overall looks.

Furthermore, Flyme 3.3 is expected to provide users with an updated camera application, as well as with a new version of the music player and some new icons for its social apps, as GizChina notes. More info on this should emerge soon, so stay tuned.

Flyme 3.3 for Meizu MX3
Image credits to CTechCN

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