Sharp: we're making displays for new iPhone and shipping them this month

If it feels like yesterday you read our in-depth review of the dual-core Meizu MX, you're not too far from the truth. In reality, it's been just over seven months and we've already moved onto the smartphone's quad-core sequel, aptly named the Meizu MX 4-core. Not only is it easy to confuse the two phones by name, but good luck trying to tell which one is which. Indeed, the two handsets are quite similar both inside and out, with the exception of some improvements in a couple rows on the 'ol spec sheet.

The biggest surprise isn't necessarily the speed with which the company cranked out a second MX, and it's not even the reasonable price (HK$3,099, or US$400, or the 32GB version, and HK$4,099 / US$530 for the 64GB). Nope, it's seeing Meizu, a manufacturer known for its copycat products, evolving into a relevant player beyond its native China. So how does this latest effort stack up? Read on to find out.

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/01/meizu-mx-4-core-review/

Apple seeks patent for Smart Cover with embedded secondary display

According to a patent application made public by the USPTO this morning (and originally filed a year ago), Apple believes it's possible to build a flexible display into an iPad cover in order to "greatly enhance" the functionality of the tablet itself. Taking power and data from a dedicated connector on the side of the slate, at least one segment of the name-deserving Smart Cover could be used to augment the main display with space for extra icons, or operate as a separate media control interface, or simply display notifications. Drawings collected in the gallery below also hint at using the entire inner surface of the cover as a keyboard (ala Microsoft Surface) or as a drawing area. As with all patent applications, there's nothing to say such an idea will ever see Californian sunlight, but it'd be crying shame if it didn't.

        

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/02/apple-smart-cover-display-patent-application/

iShower is ready to get wet: water-resistant Bluetooth speaker now shipping for $100

Move over, Pantene, because you may need to make room for a new addition to showers across the globe. That's because the iShower, a water-resistant music system for use as you get squeaky clean, is now shipping for $100. Despite its name, the iShower should have no trouble playing the compatibility game, thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity with support for up to five paired devices. What's more, you won't need to bust out the tools to install the iShower, as the mounting system's built-in adhesive lets you pretend to be a handyman without doing any real work -- the unit can also be hung over the shower head if you're wary of sticky residue. The music system runs on three AA batteries and provides up to 15 hours of sudsy listening time, and there's even a built-in clock, for those unfortunate mornings when you need to cut the rock operas short. To see the system in action, just hop the break for a demonstration of the iShower from the company's CEO.

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/02/ishower-now-shipping/

Google to offer 100 GB of free cloud storage to new Chromebook and Chromebox buyers?

Google’s first-generation Chromebooks haven’t quite made it to the mainstream yet, but the search giant has decided not only to follow up on those devices, but also to step up its game a bit.

The makers of the web-centric Chrome OS have upped the ante in terms of tech specs, equipping the new Chromebook with a far snappier processor than the first-generation one, but also with more RAM. Aside from the new Series 5 Chromebook 550, Google has also released a brand new Series 3 Chromebox, similar with Apple’s Mac Minis, but available at a lower price point.

While all those changes have been welcomed warmly by everyone involved in the tech business, the new Chromebook/Chromebox duo hasn’t scored a great start. Many blamed the high prices and the limited storage for the Chromebooks’ lackluster sales performance, but it seems that Google is working hard to improve on at least one of these two fronts.

According to G+ user François Beaufort, there’s a very intriguing piece of code in Google’s Chromium source, which says “Get 100 GB free with Google Drive”. Although some of you might be tempted to say this is just an elaborate hoax, Beaufort published the respective lines of codeand they look legit, at least to me.

If this “rumor” will actually prove accurate and Google will in fact offer its customers 100 GB of free cloud storage, the Mountain View-based giant might kill two birds with one stone. Users will have enough storage space to go around (both the Chromebook and Chromebox only come with 16 GB of on-board memory), but they’ll also get a good deal that, in the long run, will actually lower the price of the two devices.

To purchase 100 GB of Google Drive storage, you need to pay $4.99 a month, so this special offer might save you almost 60 bucks a year. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that the first-generation Chromebooks will be left out of this promotion, as only the “Lumpy” and “Stumpy” Chrome OS builds have those magic lines of code. As expected, Google officials refused to comment on the matter, telling the guys over at GigaOM that “we’re always trying out new interfaces and features to enhance the user experience, but have nothing new to announce at this time.”

If you bought a new Chromebook and/or Chromebox and you have trouble getting by with your on-board memory, try to resist the temptation of purchasing cloud storage for a little longer. It might be worth it! Also, if this is the first time you’re hearing about the two new Chrome OS-based devices and you want to find out more about them, go over to this link for full spec sheets, pricing, and technical details.

Source:http://www.androidauthority.com/google-100gb-free-cloud-storage-chromebook-chromebox-104810/

New Pictarine Android app unites all your photos from 11 different social networks

If the social networking bug got into you, chances are you might always be split up between different platforms and services. This is not only inconvenient, but it could also make you lose out on important events or miss your true friends’ online social involvement.

Fortunately, there are many tools that can help you choose what’s really important from all those different social networking services, or simply access everything from one place.

Such a tool is Pictarine, which aims to help you browse all your pictures and your friends’ online pictures in one place, now available for Android. Pictarine can connect to and pull photos from 11 major social networks, that you can then view, share, comment, and like.

Pictarine is not exactly an entirely new thing and has been available as a web app for a while, but on mobile it has officially debuted yesterday. We also have to note that the app’s developers have chosen Android before hitting iOS, one thing that we can’t help but admire.

Available over in Google Play for free, Pictarine for Android is not exactly the most complex and sophisticated organizing tool, but it’s straightforward, easy to use and master, and this is often more important than having a bunch of complicated features and functions at your disposal.

Upon launching the app, you will be asked to log in to either your Facebook or Google account. Once you’ve done that, you can choose to follow photos of your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, Google, Dropbox, Windows Live, 500px, Photobucket, and/or Shutterfly. You can, of course, pick any one of those social networks or all of them, and you can change your preferences at any time.

Your “Photo Feed” will then display all pics shared by friends on your favorite networks in a user-friendly, elegant, yet simple interface. If you’d like to add your own pictures to the mix, you can do that with the “My photos” function.

From that point on, the sky is the limit, as you can share, like, tweet, retweet photos and pretty much do everything you could do on any of your favorite networks, from just one place. The “Playlists” and “Surprise Me” functions will most likely be your best friends, allowing you to organize your favorite pics and only show top choices in your app’s home menu, or display random photos from everywhere.

Source:http://www.androidauthority.com/new-pictarine-android-app-unify-social-networks-photos-104829/

Sprint Epic 4G Touch (Galaxy S2) Ice Cream Sandwich update rolling out, again

Remember when we told you that the Sprint Epic 4G Touch, also known as the Samsung Galaxy S2, was going to get its own Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich build soon? Well, it turns out we’re going to have to make the same announcement again, and it looks like it’s the real deal this time.

Phandroid now reports that various Epic 4G Touch users have been able to update their handsets to software version IMM761.FF18, which is the Android 4.0.4 version for the handset.

Naturally, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear that for some reason, Sprint decided to pause the upgrade again, which is not unheard-of when it comes to such Android updates. Therefore, we’re certainly looking forward for feedback from our readers on the matter.

Once you install ICS on your Sprint Galaxy S2 handset, you can get in line for the next update, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. And Samsung is yet to say when it will release its Galaxy S2 Jelly Bean update, which means you’ll be in for another rather long wait.

Source:http://www.androidauthority.com/sprint-epic-4g-touch-galaxy-s2-ice-cream-sandwich-update-rolling-out-again-104921/

Samsung Galaxy Pocket available on Three UK by September

Not everyone can afford a top-of-the-line Android smartphone. In fact, some mobile users would prefer cheap and rugged phones that don’t get second looks from thugs when you use it on the subway or dark alleys at midnight. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Pocket GT-S5300, the South Korean company’s upgrade to the cheap Galaxy Y, which has proved to be a big hit in emerging markets.

In the UK, Three will start offering the Galaxy Pocket by September, although the network is still mum about how much the phone will cost. It will likely be offered for free with a contract and data plan, judging on how the phone usually retails for about $120 contract-free in other markets.

As a recap, the Samsung Galaxy Pocket will feature lightweight specs in a small form factor. Here are some highlights:

• 832MHz single-core ARM 11 processor
• 2.8-inch QVGA screen at 320 x 480 resolution
• 2-megapixel rear-facing camera (no front camera)
• 3GB internal storage
• microSD slot
• 1200mAH battery
• Support for GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 and HSDPA 900 and 2100
• Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS

The Galaxy Pocket ships with 2.3.6 Gingerbread on board. The phone features the same resolution as previous entry-level devices from Samsung, although the 2.8-inch screen gives it a higher pixel density than, say the Galaxy Y or dual-SIM Galaxy Duos. However, the small screen may come with some usability issues, especially given Android’s predominantly touch-based interface. Apps that require bigger screen real estate may not work properly, or at least without scrolling.

However, a notable upgrade from previous entry-level devices is the improved internal storage. At 3GB, that’s already 1,500% larger than the space offered by previous entry-level models, which were prone to running out of memory unless a user knew how to move apps to SD or create symbolic links via root-only hacks like Link2SD.

The Samsung Galaxy Pocket would be an excellent smartphone to start your young kids with. It’s light on the pocket — literally and figuratively. With Android smartphones as small as these, who needs a man-purse?

Source:http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-pocket-available-on-three-uk-by-september-104944/