First glimpse of new Nexus 4 emerges

It seems like a whole lot of Google stuffage is happening today. Today ushered in the unveiling of a new Android operating system name, Android 4.4 KitKat. Coinciding with that news, Google also let everyone know that now that the 8GB Nexus 4 has run out of stock, it won’t be resupplied. With all the signs pointing to one thing, it seemed inevitable that the leaks of the new Nexus 4 would be forthcoming. And interestingly enough, it seems that the first credible glimpse of the device comes from El Goog itself.

In a video showing off the new Android KitKat statue, a Google employee is seen holding a Nexus device that definitely isn’t the current Nexus 4 or the Nexus 7. It’s a brief look, but screengrabs show another employee in the picture holding a Nexus 4 and there’s a marked difference between the two phones.

For one, this new Nexus device features the same sort of horizontal Nexus logo as the 2013 Nexus 7. Another thing is that it appears to be slightly larger than the existing Nexus 4. The back no longer looks to be made out of glass since there’s not any sign of a reflection or even gloss finish on the phone. More than likely, it features the same type of matte plastic as the 2013 Nexus 7 to help keep more of a uniform design throughout the brand.

A couple of other things should be mentioned. For one, the camera lens on the device looks larger than usual, perhaps indicating a bigger focus on the camera of the Nexus 4. Another thing is that we can see what looks to be an LG logo. Maybe. For now, we’re going to go ahead and assume that LG is making this new Nexus 4 as it both makes sense and follows some of the rumors swirling around.

Unfortunately, Google noticed its goof and pulled the video down. On the bright side, this is the internet and nothing is ever really gone. Several mirrors of the video were made including the one that can be viewed below. See if you can catch a glimpse of the device.

Now that you’ve seen the rumored 2013 Nexus 4 for yourself, what are your thoughts on it?

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BBC iPlayer Radio – featuring all the best radio stations in the UK

by Paul Wilks Aug 29, 2013 10:49 AM –

Install

BBC iPlayer Radio is a high quality digital radio player that showcases the BBC’s range of radio stations. It’s terrifically simple to use, looks awesome and lets you download station podcasts, view video clips, listen to audio clips, browse programs and view upcoming schedules.

Price: Free

Tested on: Nexus 4
Content Rating: Medium Maturity

Pros

All the BBC radio stations!Great UI!Plenty of browsing features and extras!Set alarm to wake you up to your favourite stations!

Cons

BBC iPlayer Radio is a digital radio player for the UK. Featuring all the BBC’s digital radio stations and a gorgeous user interface to explore them with, the app is a nice companion to the BBC iPlayer application that lets you watch the UK BBC television channels.

The feature that initially stands out is the user interface. It combines a cool ‘wheel’ dial for selecting a station with more traditional ‘Holo’ elements for deeper exploring. Everything about the app is very smooth and responsive meaning that, straight away, it’s a great experience to use.

Radio stations include: Radio 1, Radio 1 Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra, Radio 5 Live, Radio 5 Sports Extra, Radio 6 Music, Asian Network, World Service, Radio Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal, Radio Ulster, Radio Foyle, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru plus localised radio stations.

The app offers more besides merely listening. You can view video clips, listen to audio clips and listen to podcasts. While there’s no download option for offline listening, there is plenty of programs to choose from and lots to explore. Sound quality is digital and therefore very high quality whether you’re listening using headphones or your device’s speaker.

If you enjoy listening to the radio, the BBC endeavors to provide something for everyone. From the pop-tastic Radio 1, cultural Radio 4 and sporty Radio 5 through to various regional stations around the UK, there is lots to choose from. It’s a shame there is no way of downloading the podcasts, but this can be achieved using other podcasting apps, such as BeyondPod and Pocket Casts.

The wheel UI, combined with the Holo features means the app is simple to navigate and very easy to use and explore.

This will depend on the user and how much they enjoy listening to radio on the go. Channels are running pretty much 24/7, 365 days per year so there’s always something to listen to. From some comments in the Google Play Store, it would appear some elements of the application were historically unstable, but I’ve always found it to work fine.

As previously discussed the user interface is sublime and exceptionally designed. There appears to be much thought put in to creating a positive user experience.

Tags: Android App, Android Apps, AndroidTapp.com App Review, Audio, bbc, BBC Iplayer Radio, iPlayer, Music and Audio, radio, UK

Categorised in: Media & Video, Multimedia, Music

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HTC overload: HTC Desire 601, Desire 300, BoomBass speaker and Vivid Blue HTC One, One mini

The title of this post may seem a bit long, but that’s HTC’s fault, not ours. HTC has decided to kick off IFA by unveiling two new Android devices and another crazy accessory, along with the Vivid Blue color variant for the HTC One and One mini. Since we have a lot of ground to cover, let’s dive right in.

The HTC Desire 601 and Desire 300 may look like they belong in the HTC One family, but don’t let their looks deceive you. Labeling these phones as mid-range devices would be an insult to the HTC One mini. The HTC Desire 601 comes in right below the HTC One mini, featuring a 1.4GHs Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage (expandable to 64GB with a microSD card), traditional 5 megapixel camera, VGA front-facing camera, 4.5-inch qHD display, BoomSound and a decent 2100 mAh battery. The HTC Desire 300 is actually a few steps below the HTC Desire 601 with a 1GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4.3-inch WVGA display, 4GB of storage (expandable to 64GB) 5 megapixel camera, VGA front-facing camera and 1650 mAh battery.

Both phones trade in the aluminum chassis found on the HTC One and One mini with a cheaper polycarbonate shell. While polycarbonate may be cheaper than aluminum, we’re inexplicably fond of HTC’s soft-touch polycarbonate devices.

If you thought BoomSound was a ridiculous name for the HTC’s front-facing stereo speakers, we’re sure you’re going to love the name BoomBass. No, HTC isn’t going to embed sub-woofers in any of its phones (at least not yet), but the company is expanding its lineup of accessories with a new Bluetooth 3.0+EDR speaker. Powered by a 1200 mAh battery, the HTC BoomBass can be paired with Android Bluetooth enabled devices and is able to pump out your music for a full nine hours on a single charge. the HTC BoomBass also features NFC connectivity for hassle-free pairing with compatible devices. Pricing for the HTC BomBass is not yet available, but the wireless speaker will go on sale through HTC’s online accessory store starting in October.

As it turns out, the rumored blue HTC One is real. In fact, the HTC One mini is getting the Vivid Blue color treatment as well. The color of the aluminum chassis on both phones is the same, but HTC has given the One a black strip, while the One mini has been given a more subtle blue trim. HTC says that both the HTC One and One mini in Vivid Blue will start shipping in Q4, but there is one rumor that suggests Sprint will be stocking the Vivid Blue HTC One in just over a week. We’re not sure which service providers will offer the Vivid Blue HTC One and One mini in Europe, but Carphone Warehouse will be selling the devices for as little as £33 and £26 when paired with a new two-year service agreement.

Show Press Release

Category-changers: HTC introduces new mid-range Desire 601 and entry-level Desire 300

New HTC BoomBassTM supercharges BoomSoundTM for the ultimate HTC One® audio experience

London, 3 September 2013 – HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced the addition of the HTC Desire 601 and HTC Desire 300, to its popular smartphone family enabling consumers to enjoy a premium experience at any price point. Changing the face of the mid-range, the HTC Desire 601 introduces LTE speeds and innovative features from the flagship One family, including HTC ZoeTM with Video Highlights and HTC BoomSound. Setting a new standard for entry- level smartphones, the HTC Desire 300 offers a powerful, large-screen browsing experience and HTC BlinkFeedTM.

In addition to extending its range of affordable Desire smartphones, HTC is also bringing new choice and performance enhancements to its acclaimed HTC One family. HTC BoomBass, a Bluetooth subwoofer, combines with the One family’s HTC BoomSound to offer a fully-immersive audio experience like no other. A new ‘Vivid Blue’ HTC One and One mini also introduce a bold new option for those who want a handset that stands out from the crowd.

“For the last 17 years HTC has challenged the mobile industry to develop innovations that change the way in which people use their mobile phone. Now we’re not only changing the way people view the mid-range and entry-level market but setting the bar even higher when it comes to our premium devices and capabilities,” commented Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “We are committed to offering the most innovative portfolio of products on the market. Our Desire family has become synonymous with affordable quality. Offering some of the most advanced capabilities of any smartphone, these phones truly represent premium quality in a more affordable price bracket.”

HTC Desire 601: A powerful value smartphone for everyone
The HTC Desire 601 comes complete with many of the features that have led the HTC One to be crowned the best phone in the world. HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe with Video Highlights and HTC BoomSound make this the most advanced mid-range smartphone available on the market today.
The rear-facing 5MP camera captures HTC Zoes, bringing images to life in three-second videos. The simple editing capabilities of HTC Zoe support advanced features such as Sequence Shot, Always Smile and Object Removal, making it easy to achieve incredible results with minimal effort.

Video Highlights takes the camera experience to the next level by creating highlight reels displayed on the HTC Desire’s 601's 4.5? qHD screen. Accompanied by a range of pre-set themes for a more personal memory, these stunning 30-second video montages are simple to create and instantly sharable.

Superfast streaming, sharing and browsing
The HTC Desire 601 combines a Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 400, dual-core, 1.4GHz processor and LTE connectivity to enable superfast HD video and music streaming with no compromise on quality. Changing the way you experience media on the go, dual, front-facing HTC BoomSound speakers join with the large screen to create a completely immersive audiovisual experience. Delivering richer, sharper tones, the raw power of the speakers lets you take the “big screen, big sound” home entertainment experience with you, wherever you go.

HTC Desire 300: A personal and powerful entry-level smartphone
The HTC Desire 300 enhances the entry-level browsing experience with HTC BlinkFeed making personal and up-to-date content and social media updates available instantly on your home screen. Its stunning 4.3?, full lamination display is perfect for reading your customised HTC BlinkFeed updates, watching videos, viewing photos and surfing the web, whilst the Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM dual-core, 1GHz processor means that you’ll never be short on performance.
Boosting the bass for HTC One

In the HTC One, HTC redefined the smartphone sound experience with HTC BoomSound and has now raised the bar again with the introduction of a new accessory for the HTC One family. HTC BoomBass, a compact, Bluetooth-enabled subwoofer with a dedicated amplifier, provides clearer, more powerful bass when combined with the HTC One family’s BoomSound. The subwoofer enables HTC BoomSound’s speakers to produce enhanced quality of lower range frequencies so, no matter what music you’re playing or video you’re watching, you are guaranteed immense and exceptional sound that can travel with you.

Availability
The new HTC Desire 601 will be available with mobile operators and major retailers in select markets across EMEA from September 2013. The HTC Desire 300 will be available in select markets from October 2013.

The new Vivid Blue HTC One models will be available in select markets from Q4 2013 and HTC BoomBass will be available from the HTC Accessory Store from mid October 2013. (http://www.htcaccessorystore.com)

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Android passes a billion activations; next version will be KitKat

Sundar Pichai took to Google+ just a few minutes ago and revealed a big milestone, along with the apparently well-kept secret that is the name for the next version of Android.

As the headline reads, Android has now passed a billion activations. This comes just a little over three months after they hit the 900 million activations mark.

They have also finally given a name to the next version of Android. While all the rumors had it pegged as Key Lime Pie, they have gone with perhaps the somewhat surprising name of KitKat. Interesting to see a brand name singled out rather than just a generic dessert, but in truth I prefer a delicious KitKat bar to Key Lime Pie so I’m good with the name.

Update: We were a bit excited to share this news with you, but we have some additional details now.

Android KitKat will indeed be Android 4.4 and not a 5.0 release. Whether you can infer that the name change indicates a major change or that the .1 update means it’ll be minor isn’t clear yet. There’s also the language accompanying the new version on the site. “It’s our goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody.” Is this a hint at the rumor that the next version of Android will be capable of running well on lesser hardware, thus making it more accessible to everyone? This line of thinking is supported by the rumor of a Nexus starting at $200 from Motorola coming soon.

Regardless you can sign up to be notified of launch details at the newly created site. There’s also a contest available through Kit Kat that you will find at the top of that page. You could win a Nexus 7 or Google Play credit. The that link redirects you to Hershey’s site, so Google has cut some kind of deal here.

What are your thoughts on a branded name for the OS? I think we probably all have a sour taste in our mouth. Regardless of how good KitKats might be, this just doesn’t feel right.

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TapeACall – Record Calls app

by Antonio Wells Aug 29, 2013 12:43 PM –

Install

TapeACall – Record Calls using conference lines and stores conversations in the cloud, therefore, you can download recorded calls, manage them or upload to other cloud services in MP3 format. The freebie is not limited in recording lengths yet limited to sixty seconds of recorded playback, read further in our review to see if you should upgrade to the full version!

Price: Free, $3.99 (Launch Price)

Tested on: Samsung Galaxy S4
Content Rating: Everyone

Pros

Record phone calls!Easy to manage, label, download or upload MP3 files of conversations locally or to cloud services!Can be initiated before a call or during!Easy to follow tutorial and simple interface!

Cons

Must conference a call and merge in order to work.

TapeACall uses a conference line to record your call rather than a one-touch button to record stealthy in real-time like MP3 InCall Recorder & Voice I’ve been evaluating. The aforementioned app executes probably the best of all these types of call recording apps. So using TapeACall requires you to tap the red ‘Record’ icon which basically initiates a phone call to the toll-free line (in the US), after the beep it then gives you the opportunity to call who you’d like to record a conversation with. Now let’s stop here as there are legalities here and you must check the laws in your vicinity on call recording- luckily the app points to an online informational guide via Wikipedia in the settings if you need help.

In addition to initiating calls the app can be done while on a call but it requires a few vital steps. You must place the person on hold to ‘Add A Call’, thus phoning the TapeACall contact that should be stored as result of installing the app, once connected it’s important to ‘Merge’ the call. Once done with the conversation you can access the recordings. In the free version of the app you can listen to and download up to one minute of the conversation, you’ll have to upgrade for $3.99 for the entire length of the recording. You can either get a public download link to use and/or share or upload recordings as MP3 files into other cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, Skydrive, etc. To keep you organized, just long-press a recording in the list to manage a custom label or you can delete it and this does remove them from being stored online at TapeACall’s website (it even gives a cool deletion message). Lastly, you should know recordings are saved up to one year.

This type of app can be very useful, especially for conference meetings and such- although I wouldn’t recommend it for legal admission purposes due to various laws it can be a vital tool for recording phone conversations.

This area is my only gripe about the service after coming off the heels of MP3 InCall Recorder & Voice. With this app you can set to automatically record all calls or selectively by tapping one button in-call. Whereas TapeACall requires a few extra steps.

The interface is simple and straightforward. I value that they have a very easy tutorial guide to walk you through call recordings once activated.

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Buttons and Scissors – don’t judge this by the cover, it’s an incredibly addictive puzzler! (Download)

by Paul Wilks Aug 27, 2013 9:31 AM –

Install

On the face of it, Buttons and Scissors might seem like the twee, cutesy little puzzle game that you might get your Grandmother to play, but beneath the haberdashery surface lies something genuinely challenging. The game sees you cutting off same-coloured buttons as they lie in a straight line. Link the buttons with your finger and the scissors do the rest. Make sure you remove all buttons to complete the level. Easy to play, tough to complete, it’s an excellent little logic game that will have you addicted in no time.

Price: Free, plus in-app purchases

Tested on: Nexus 4
Content Rating: Everyone

Pros

Nice graphics and music!Addictive gameplay!Fun to play!Lots of challenging levels!Good value IAPs 

Buttons and Scissors is a fun logic game where you have to cut buttons from a grid jean material. You have to cut off two or more buttons of the same colour, as they lie in the same direction; up-down, left-right or diagonally. Once selected the scissors kick in and remove the buttons. You have to ensure no other buttons get in the way of your cutting and the aim of each level is to remove all the buttons. It’s an incredibly simple concept, but as levels progress and grid size increases, gameplay gets progressively tougher.

It’s an easy game to dismiss for being a bit twee, but it’s remarkably challenging once you get through the early levels. Your ability to identify patterns logically and be able to remove lines of buttons in the right order is very important. Like many puzzlers, there are loads of levels so it’s easily a game that you can become very engrossed in. Levels can be completed quite quickly, once you’ve worked it out, which means it’s a great little puzzle game to play while on a daily commute or whenever you have a few casual minutes.

The graphics and sound are top notch for a puzzle game, while you’re not getting 3D visual eye-candy, it’s smooth, perfectly designed and animated. The sound includes a nice music track which works well with the game in addition to complimentary sound effects. The effect of both is to give you a nice, relaxing experience that works well with gameplay.

The game is free and offers a selection of in-app purchases. What stood out to me was that it doesn’t try and rip you off! For $1.99 (£1.32) you can unlock everything in the game, which is nice to see compared to apps which will charge you stupid money to unlock each element.

Buttons and Scissors is undoubtedly a cute game and lots of fun if you enjoy logic puzzles. The early levels fly by and the more complex they get, the more rewarding it is to complete them.

Oh very. The gameplay blends that simple gameplay with a serious ‘one-more-go’ factor.

The graphics are very good, much better than many puzzlers. The animations are very smooth and the controls highly responsive. Everything is clearly well ‘themed’ and it works like a charm with the actual gameplay.

As discussed the music and sound effects are top notch and quite impressive.

Tags: addictive, Android App, Android Apps, Android Game, AndroidTapp.com App Review, BUttons and Scissors, Challenging, logic, Puzzle

Categorised in: Brain & Puzzle

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Additional Galaxy Note 3 specs confirmed alongside leaked screenshots

With Samsung’s Unpacked event in Berlin just a day away now, it’s not shocking that containment efforts for the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear have basically been lost.

The newest leak for the Note 3, courtesy of @evleaks, is a couple of screenshots accompanied by some supposedly confirmed specs, which are mostly in line with what we have heard previously for the Note 3.

Let’s take the specs first, as that’s likely to be of the most interest to everyone. The screen should be a full HD 1920 x 1080. If the projected 5.68-inch screen size proves correct, that would mean a 397 ppi screen. It might not be the 1440p insanity that LG showed us a few weeks ago, but good luck finding any pixels without your trusty microscope.

Naturally you need a powerful processor to keep all those pixels moving, and the Note 3 will have a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor (read: Snapdragon 800) to get that done. It’ll also carry 2.5GB of RAM, a bit shy of the 3GB we have seen previously. (Frankly either is plenty).

Moving on to the screenshots themselves. Thankfully it seems that the Note 3 will launch with the same build of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean that is seen in the new Nexus 7. Assuming they manage to get this thing launched soon, it’ll be current. And the second screenshot offers an AnTuTu benchmark score of 24,497. That isn’t the highest score we’ve seen, but it places the device well ahead of previous generation devices like the Galaxy S 4 or HTC One. We’ll find out tomorrow if that translates into smooth real-world performance.

I’ve carried the Note 2 as my daily driver since its launch last year. Between the big screen and the S-Pen support, it has been one of my favorite devices to date. I’m really hoping that Samsung manages to deliver a worthy sequel here. I know they can put out solid hardware, but I hope to see advancements with the S-Pen and related software, as those are the real differentiators for the Note line. If they can’t continue to make that a compelling experience they may as well just build a better spec’d Galaxy Mega, and I can at least say that I don’t want that to happen.

Any current Note owners have something specific they want Samsung to do this time around with the software? Or if you are considering a Note, what could they announce tomorrow that would tip the scales for you?

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