Ouya, makers of the $99 home video game console that runs on a customized version of Android, is starting to test out a limited time subscription pass. Valued at over $2,000, customers who pay $59.99 will get access to a library of 800 games for a year.
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Sony has been releasing a new flagship device every six months now, and it seems as though an image has been leaked of their next flagship device. The leaked images show what is allegedly the upcoming Sony Xperia Z3 and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.
According to the images, there will be some similarities between the Xperia Z3 and the Xperia T, but it seems that the Z3 will have a metal frame. Rumors suggest that Sony will be using the Snapdragon 801 for both the Z3 and the Z3 Compact, and they will be waiting for Xperia Z4 to use the Snapdragon 810.
Source: Esato
Via: PhoneArena
Come comment on this article: Images of Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact leaked
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Blackphone is touted as the world's most secure phone and is aiming to shift the focus of the smartphone market back to privacy and security. The phone is now shipping to all who pre-ordered the device.
We initially heard about the Blackphone earlier this year when we found out it would be running a custom version of Android called PrivatOS. A joint venture between Silent Circle and Geeksphone, the device certainly peaked a lot of interest as many users were wondering how exactly it would give them more privacy.
We later received a press release confirming the official specs of the device, revealing a NVIDIA Tegra 4i processor at its core. We also got a bigger glimpse into what was so secure about the device. The Blackphone will provide privacy enabled applications, years of key security subscriptions, remote wipe with anti-theft features, and smart disabling of WiFi (except in trusted hotspots).
Priced at $630 off contract, Blackphone will support all GSM carriers and will be arriving to the doors of its pre-order customers shortly. Be sure to check out the press release below:
Blackphone Shipping World's First Privacy-Optimized Smartphone
Handsets now shipping to customers; Web store re-opens July 14 for new orders
GENEVA, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – SGP Technologies SA, the Switzerland-based joint venture of Silent Circle and Geeksphone behind Blackphone, today announced that Blackphone handsets have started shipping to the device's first pre-order customers. SGP Technologies formally launched Blackphone earlier this year at Mobile World Congress (MWC). There is overwhelming demand for the phone's focus on user privacy and the unmatched array of integrated features for private communications, browsing, and cloud storage that make Blackphone a category-defining leader in privacy phones. Most recently,MIT Technology Review recognized Blackphone on its prestigious list of the "10 Breakthrough Technologies" of 2014. In addition, Blackphone has won two other awards since its media launch: "The 10 Best Products at MWC 2014″ and 2014 Red Herring Europe Top 100 Winner.
"We are excited to achieve this key milestone on schedule and ship a remarkable device to customers that is the result of an unprecedented combination of privacy and mobile innovations and visionaries," said Toby Weir-Jones, CEO of SGP Technologies. "Blackphone's arrival puts mobile privacy directly in the hands of professionals and consumers everywhere. In a world where devices and apps increasingly offer features only in return for users' personal or sensitive information, the pent-up demand for Blackphone shows there is strong, international demand for our brand's devices and services that stand apart by placing privacy before all else."
Blackphone is the world's first smartphone built from the ground up to maximize user privacy. Blackphone's security-enhanced operating system, PrivatOS, built on Android™ KitKat, provides users protection and control over security issues without the usual compromises. The unique advantages include:
- Private communications: Blackphone features private encrypted voice and video calls and text messaging with attachments viaSilent Circle's, Silent Phone and Silent Text apps created by Phil Zimmermann and Jon Callas, giving users the freedom to communicate securely anywhere they find cellular or Wi-Fi connections.
- Wi-Fi security: The included Kismet Smarter Wi-Fi Manager prevents Wi-Fi hotspots from capturing Blackphone users' wireless connection history and other information that could be used to track users' locations or patterns of activity and information about sensitive office or home networks.
- Security Center: Gives owners complete control over application permissions, allowing immediate changes without rebooting or reinstalling.
- Remote wipe and protect: A powerful remote wipe tool gives Blackphone owners further peace of mind in having the ability to control their phone's data from anywhere in the world.
- Anonymous Web browsing and VPN: Disconnect Search is the default search provider for Blackphone, offering private browsing protection from invasive Web monitoring by hiding users' IP address, browser cookies and personal information. Blackphone also features Disconnect's Secure Wireless app, which is a smart VPN designed to prevent eavesdropping over Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
- Private cloud storage: Blackphone owners can access files in SpiderOak's private encrypted cloud service right from their mobile device, knowing only they have the means to decrypt and access their private files.
Blackphone's initial inventory sold out quickly in the months following Mobile World Congress and SGP Technologies will re-open the Blackphone Web store at http://ift.tt/1fhzA0x on July 14 to begin accepting new orders. Customers in certain countries will be able to order Blackphone handsets through the device's carrier partners, such as KPN N.V..
For more information on Blackphone's availability, feature-set and technical specifications, please visit http://ift.tt/1anmSMT or follow @Blackphone_ch on Twitter.
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Google has yet to update the changelog on the Google Play Music listing on the Play Store, but there's some new surprises arriving in their latest update that could cause some concern. Rolling out to Android devices starting today, Play Music 5.6 adds a few new design tweaks (sorry, no Material design just yet), while making a few changes to the number of devices you can have authorized on your account.
According to some sources, only 5 phones can now be added to a single account, where GPM previously didn't discriminate between tablets, smartphones, or otherwise — they're are now all categorized for the most part. There's also a slightly redesigned sidebar menu with "Downloaded Only" toggle, account switcher, and support for the few Android TVs currently available. You can download the update via the Play Store, or 3rd party link below. Cheers.
Download on MediaFire: Google Play Music 5.6
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Google Play Music users have much to look forward to. The official application has just gotten an update to version 5.6, which will be slowly rolling out starting today. The update offers a few small improvements and adjustments, but there is one change we know many of you will find unpleasant.
With this update, Google is limiting the amount of smartphones you can have authorized (a topic we have long had a bitter relationship with). To be exact, you can only have up to 5 smartphones authorized under a single Google Account. The other 5 allowed devices can be a mixture of tablets and computers.
This will not be an issue in most cases, but it can become quite a hassle if you happen to own many devices. Those who work in the t ech industry will find some discrepancies in this new rule, for example.
Other improvements include some design elements, such as new switchers for accounts and on-device/all music options. Aside from small UI changes, you can also find there is no longer support for Cheapcast. Google makes up for this by adding Android TV support, getting us ready for the launch of the new platform.
I happen to like the new switches, even though the new authorized devices rules are not to my liking. These are all mostly small updates, though. There is no real advantage to updating right away, but we know many of you will want to get your fix ASAP. You can go ahead and download the APK file if you choose to do so. The rest of us can wait around until the update i s finished rolling out.
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Google Play Music is picking up an update starting today to version 5.6, which includes a few subtle interface changes and some clarity on how authorized GP Music devices are handled. To be clear, this isn't the Material Design-inspired new version of Play Music, but there's still plenty of time for that to arrive and we'll never scoff at a round of subtle improvements to a popular app.
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T-Mobile announced that it has achieved its mid-year coverage goal of expending its LTE footprint. Now the Un-carrier network announced that as of the end of June, it now has 230 million points-of-presence for its 4G LTE footprint, meaning its network is expanding and LTE is available in more areas. And though T-Mobile has hit its milestone for June, the carrier says that it will continue to expand its LTE footprint.
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Samsung has announced a quartet of smartphones aimed at lower tier market segments although all of them come loaded with Android 4.4. The Samsung Galaxy Core II, Samsung Galaxy Star 2, Samsung Galaxy Ace 4 and Samsung Galaxy Young 2 will help Samsung expand their Galaxy line across a wide swath of market segments and price points.
The Galaxy Core II is the "beast" of the four devices if one considers a smartphone with a 1.2GHz processor to qualify for that label. The Galaxy Core II also comes with a 4.5-inch display, a 2,000mAh battery, 768MB of RAM and a 5MP camera. Samsung did try to dress it up a bit by giving it a faux-leather back similar to their high-end devices. The Galaxy Core II does have a microSD slot and is dual SIM capable.
The Galaxy Ace 4 is a step down with a 1.0GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and a 1,500mAh battery in the 3G model. There is a 4G LTE version available that bumps up the specs to a 1.2GHz processor, a full 1GB of RAM and an 1,800 mAh battery. Both versions of the Galaxy Ace 4 come with a 5MP camera and a 4-inch screen.
Continuing on down the spectrum, the Galaxy Young 2 comes with 512MB of RAm and a single-core 1.0GHz processor powering a 3.5-inch screen. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Star 2 is similar in size with a 3.5-inch screen and 1.0GHz processor to go with 512MB of RAM.
All four of the devices will be available in shades of either black or white. No pricing or details on availability have been announced for any of the devices, but we expect they will be dirt cheap.
source: Samsung (official blog)
Come comment on this article: Samsung announces four new low-level smartphones all running KitKat 4.4
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