With all the brouhaha over PRISM and internet security lately, it might be time to seek out some instant messaging apps that can handle “off the record” messaging. Google’s chat does this transparently when using the web-based client via Gmail, and Mac and PC apps like Adium can handle the encryption as well.

Interestingly, Google’s own Hangouts app, at least on my iPhone, isn’t able to. You just get the raw encryption, which just looks like random text, which is what it’s supposed to be.

We got an email today, though, from Shape Services, the developers of IM+ and IM+ Pro, saying that there’s a in-app purchase that adds this encrypted chat to their apps, both on Google Play and iTunes.

Better yet? Starting tomorrow, the in-app purchase, regularly $4.99, will be free.

OTR (Off the record) messaging uses end to end encryption, encrypting it on the sender’s side and then decrypting it on the receiver’s side. This means that there is no way to read the message once it’s sent, except by the intended recipient. No matter how many stops along the way, the data is unreadable by all except the person you sent it to.

The encryption keys are generated on a per-conversation basis, and discarded after use. That means even you and the person you’re chatting with can’t read these messages later. That’s why OTR chat sessions aren’t archived in Gmail.

Regular instant messaging isn’t secure like that. Once you send it, it’s “in the clear,” and anyone with access to your internet provider’s data, like we worry about with PRISM, can read it. Even SSL encryption isn’t end to end, so there’s a chance it can be read between sender and recipient.

To grab the in-app purchase for IM+ or IM+ Pro, either on your Android or iPhone, simply tap on the Gear icon in the upper right corner, and then tap Off-the-Record Messaging. If you miss the free period, your account will be charged $4.99 for the privilege, but isn’t this kind of privacy worth five bucks?

Source: Facebook

The post Care About Your Privacy When Chatting On Your Mobile Device? IM+ Might Have The Answer appeared first on Cult of Android.

While alternate RSS services have started popping up left and right in the wake of Google Reader’s death sentence, the strongest contender so far is certainly Feedly. In a few months, the service already has 12 million users and a pretty sophisticated platform.

Today Feedly officially turned on its own cloud sync, effectively cutting ties from Google Reader for good. The web app has also been redesigned to adapt to multiple browsers on different screen sizes without the need for a plugin.

Feedly had previously been using Google Reader’s backend to sync RSS feeds while allowing existing Reader users to import their feeds. Now that Google Reader’s days are coming to a close, Feedly has fully transitioned to its own proprietary sync technology on mobile and desktop. Google Reader users can still quickly import their feeds when signing up for a Feedly account.

Developers can now use the Feedly API to build the service into their RSS clients. Apps that have announced partnerships with Feedly include Sprout Social, gReader for Android, Press for Android, and Newsify. Popular iOS and Mac app Reeder recently announced that Feedly integration is coming in a future update.

The web interface for Feedly has been redesigned to operate on its own without the need for a browser plugin. You can login into Feedly from any web browser and view your feeds in a clean, app-like interface. The cross-platform nature of the service makes it a compelling option.

Google Reader will shut down on July 1st. We’ll have a roundup of some good alternatives next week. In the meantime, check out Feedly.

Source: Feedly

The post Feedly RSS Service Updated With Cloud Sync, Making It Top Google Reader Alternative appeared first on Cult of Android.

OmniPage Ultimate, the world’s number one scanning and OCR software from Nuance, is an incredibly useful piece of software that transforms papers, forms, and PDF files into documents you can easily share, edit, or archive on your PC. It allows you to manipulate documents into new formats without having to completely rewrite them.

Walk into your local software store and you’ll pay $500 for it, but thanks to Cult of Android deals, you can currently save a staggering $401 — that’s 80% — and get it for just $99. But don’t wait around, because the offer won’t last forever.

OmniPage Ultimate is universally compatible with all scanners — so no matter what you’ve got at home or in the office, OmniPage Ultimate will play nicely with it. It’s also amazingly accurate. We have scanned poor-quality fax files and PDF images and gotten completely clear, legible results every time.

Check out some of its best features:

• Edit Directly within PDF Files
  Improved OCR engines deliver amazing accuracy for document conversion and archiving business critical documents.
• Maintain Perfect Formatting
  Converted documents look exactly like the original and are easier to edit than ever before, complete with columns, tables, bullets and graphics.
• Mobile Document Capture
  Capture text with a digital camera or iPhone®. Quickly convert your pictures to text documents with Nuance’s most accurate 3D Correction technology available.
• Works With Any Scanner
  If your device can scan then it can work with OmniPage. Mobile scanners, desktop scanners, All-in-one and Multi-function printers all work more productively and with better accuracy using OmniPage.
• Supports All Your Favorite Applications
  Supports the widest range of output formats including PDF, HTML, Corel® WordPerfect®, Microsoft® Word, Excel® and PowerPoint® (pptx) plus many more formats.
• Convert documents in the cloud
  Convert documents stored in Windows Live SkyDrive, GoogleDocs, Evernote, Dropbox, and many more. Includes the Nuance Cloud Connector powered by Gladinet.
• Batch Processing, Amazing Value
  Schedule large volumes of files for batch processing from folders or email with unattended automation for real time processing of documents.
• Complete Forms Processing
  Convert paper forms to fillable and distribute electronically. OmniPage can collect data fromPDF or paper forms and export to a spreadsheet or database.
• Built-in Automatic Redaction & Highlight
  Redact or black out confidential text or quickly locate information with highlights. OmniPage can recognize and automatically mark up your text based on a list of key words.
• Recognizes Over 120 Languages
  Process, edit and store documents from anywhere in the world. OmniPage includes the recognition of languages based on the Latin-, Greek- and Cyrillic alphabets as well as Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages.

What’s more, OmniPage Ultimate is super easy to use, and it’s compatible with Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8. All you need is a PC with a 1GHz Intel Pentium processor or better, 1GB of RAM, and 2.7GB of free hard disk space.

To take advantage of this incredible deal and get OmniPage Ultimate today, just click the button below. Remember, this deal is only valid for 12 days, so don’t hang around.

The post Get OmniPage Ultimate, The World’s No. 1 Scanning Software, And Save $400 Now [Deals] appeared first on Cult of Android.

Gone are the days where Chromebooks could only be purchased via Google Play, Amazon, and Best Buy. Last night, Google announced that it will be expanding retail availability of its trademark laptops to almost three times the number of stores.

Announced this week, and available today, Walmart will carry Acer’s low-end Chromebook which comes in at just $199.

Starting from this weekend, Staples will carry HP, Acer, and Samsung Chromebook models in every one of its U.S. stores, as well as online, or through the Staples Advantage B2B program (if buying for enterprise purposes).

In the coming months, Office Depot, Office Max, TigerDirect and Fry’s will all carry Chromebook’s, however, as of yet the exact models have not been announced.

Google is also expanding the availability of Chromebooks in the another 10 markets worldwide, such as Dixon’s in the U.K., as well as new stores in France, Sweden, Australia and the Netherlands. It will also be announcing new countries later this year.

Source: Official Google Blog

The post Google Expands Chromebook Availability appeared first on Cult of Android.

The popular third-party Android dictation app, Dragon Mobile Assistant, this week received a pretty nifty update that brings numerous new features, including intelligent driver mode, email dictation, and notification readback.

Version 4.0 brings the ability for Dragon MA to automatically detect if you’re in a moving vehicle, and then intelligently switch over to “Driver Mode.” There’s no more messing about with settings or buttons — it’s completely hands-free. You can even program your own customized wake-up command.

Users will be able to dictate their own command, for example ‘toggle DMA’ or ‘Pink Pop-Tarts’, then, when you say that command, Dragon Mobile Assistant will automatically switch itself on.

Dragon Mobile Assistant’s update also brings email dictation for sending out quick messages on the go, and you will now be able to enjoy improved readback functionality with the addition of notification readback for upcoming appointments, messages, and social network updates.

The video below was published on the developer of Dragon Mobile Assistant’s YouTube channel, and shows you exactly what the update brings and how the new features can be used.

If you’re a Dragon Mobile Assistant user or want to try it out, just click the source link below.

Source: Google Play

The post Dragon Mobile Assistant Gets Intelligent Driver Mode, Email Dictation & More appeared first on Cult of Android.

Verizon is gearing up to roll out a new software update for the Samsung Galaxy Stellar. The update was announced today and brings a bunch of stability improvements, new features, and improvements to the entry-level device.

As the Galaxy Stellar has already made the jump from Ice Cream Sandwich to Jelly Bean, the update doesn’t bring any new stock Android features. But Verizon insists the update brings a host of much-needed improvements to speakerphone audio and hotspot connectivity.

The update also brings ‘new capabilities’ to the Galaxy Stellar, such as the addition of the CallerID app to the application tray and the inclusion of the Amazon App Store as a preloaded app.

The Galaxy Stellar is a great device for anyone who doesn’t need a high-end smartphone. It’s one of the most affordable devices under the Galaxy brand, and packs a punch for mid-to-low range smartphone users, with a 1.2 GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen and 4G LTE capabilities.

Verizon hasn’t announced when the update will start being pushed out, but we do know that it will be 80.3 MB in size.

Source: Verizon

The post Verizon Announces New Update For The Samsung Galaxy Stellar appeared first on Cult of Android.

NEC became the world’s first and only smartphone manufacturer to launch a liquid-cooled handset back in May, but it may quickly lose that claim later this year. According to some sources, a number of high-profile smartphones makers, including Apple, Samsung, and HTC, will be launching their own liquid-cooled devices in the fourth quarter.

Of course, DigiTimes isn’t the best source, so we advise you to take its rumors with a pinch of salt — particularly when they’re as farfetched as this one. But according to “sources from cooling module player [sic],” Apple, Samsung, and HTC are all “showing interest” in adopting liquid-cooling technologies for new smartphones that will launch later this year.

DigiTimes notes that conventional “graphite plus foil cooling” methods are no longer able to dissipate enough heat in modern smartphones, especially those with 4G chips built-in, and so overheating is becoming an increasing concern. An affective way to tackle that is to use ultra-thin “heat pipes” that circulate cooling liquid around the internals of the device.

The heat pipes used in NEC’s Medias Xo6E are much smaller than those used to cool ultrabooks, measuring just 0.6mm in diameter. So size may not be too much of an issue. But there are other concerns that come with this cooling method.

There’s always a chance that the liquid used to cool the device leaks inside it and causes component failure, and that’s an even bigger issue with smartphones, which we carry around in our pockets and bags all day long, and tend to drop more frequently than other devices. And then there are manufacturing hurdles to overcome, too.

While there are several cooling module manufacturers currently producing 0.6mm pipes, they’re not producing them fast enough. So installing them in a handset as popular as the iPhone or one of Samsung’s latest flagships would be infeasible at this time.

The possibility of all Apple, Samsung, and HTC all launching liquid-cooled smartphones by the end of this year seems highly unlikely, then.

Source: DigiTimes

The post Apple, Samsung & HTC To Release Liquid-Cooled Smartphones This Year [Rumor] appeared first on Cult of Android.

The new Red Aurora Galaxy S4 is now available to purchase from AT&T. It’s the first time Samsung has released a new color variant following the flagship handset’s release back in April, and it’s exclusive to AT&T in the U.S., so you won’t find it anywhere else.

You won’t need to pay any more for the Red Aurora model; it’s $200 with a two-year contract just like the original white and blue models. And it comes with the same 16GB of internal storage, though you can expand that via the microSD card slot.

Samsung’s latest update for the Galaxy S4 allows you to store apps and games on external storage cards (when AT&T decides to release it), which makes that microSD card slot all the more useful — particularly with the Galaxy S4, which only has just over 9GB of storage available to users.

You can order your Red Aurora Galaxy S4 from AT&T now by clicking the source link below.

Source: AT&T

The post Red Aurora Galaxy S4 Now Available From AT&T appeared first on Cult of Android.

Still trying to choose which flagship smartphone you’re going to pick up this year? Well, if display is the most important thing to you, the Huawei Ascend D2 currently has the best on the market, according to the experts at DisplayMate. Steer clear of the Sony Xperia Z, though, because that has the worst.

DisplayMate has been putting the latest smartphones with 1080p displays through their paces in an effort to establish which is best. Out of the Ascend D2, the HTC One, and the Xperia Z, it’s the first that has been rated best, while the latter was labeled “extremely disappointing.”

“With the Ascend D2 Huawei appears to have taken the same successful solid approach for display performance as Apple,” DisplayMate said. “In our extensive side-by-side viewing test comparisons the Ascend D2 was virtually indistinguishable from the iPhone 5 and iPad Retina Display, two of the most accurate and high quality mobile displays we have ever tested.”

“The Huawei Ascend D2 joins an elite group of Smartphones with world class displays,” DisplayMate concluded.

Very impressive indeed. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the HTC One or the Sony Xperia Z. DisplayMate found that while the One has an “excellent” LCD panel, which is manufactured by Sharp, HTC has significantly degraded its performance by “introducing unnecessary image and color processing in a poorly implemented attempt at making the display stand out.”

As a result, the One’s display is distorted, with over saturated colors and contrast, DisplayMate said, before adding that HTC should provide users with an option to turn its processing features off like other manufacturers do.

As for the Xperia Z, that’s the worst out of the three.

“First of all, the Xperia Z has awful viewing angle performance, which is common for low-end low-technology displays, but is inexcusable in an expensive flagship top-of-the-line product,” the report reads. “Second, the “Bravia Engine” that they brag enhances picture quality instead significantly degrades it, introducing extremely gaudy, oversaturated and distorted colors – similar to what you’ll see if you turn the Color Control on your HDTV all the way up to maximum.”

DisplayMate notes, however, that Sony does provide the option to turn the Bravia Engine off, which does improve things.

Wondering why the Galaxy S4 wasn’t part of this shoot-out? Well, DisplayMate has already put that through its paces separately, calling it a major enhancement over the Galaxy S III, and a “good reason to consider trading up.”

Source: DisplayMate

The post Huawei Ascend D2 Has The Best 1080p Display, Sony Xperia Z Has The Worst [Report] appeared first on Cult of Android.

HTC’s first smartphone with a 1080p display, the Butterfly, just got a new successor. The Butterfly S boasts some significant improvements over the original, such as the introduction of the HTC One’s 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera, and the latest Snapdragon 600 processor.

In fact, the Butterfly S shares a lot in common with the One, but the glaring omission with this device is its lack of BoomSound, HTC’s dual front-facing speakers. It does have a 5-inch 1080p display, a 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage.

The Butterfly S beats the One when it comes to expandability, however, with a microSD card slot that will accept up to 64GB of extra storage. It also ships with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and HTC’s latest Sense 5 user interface, plus all the nifty features that comes with it, like BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe, and HTC Share.

The new Butterfly S looks a lot like its predecessor, but it is thicker, measuring 10.6mm. That’s likely due to its larger 3,200mAh battery, which should keep it going for longer in between charges.

The Butterfly S is expected to make its debut in Taiwan this July, priced at around NT$22,900 ($766). It’s unclear at this point what HTC’s plans are for a wider rollout.

HTC had promised to stop releasing numerous flagship devices each year, and just focus on one unit. But with the One and the Butterfly S already, that plan has clearly gone out of the window.

The post HTC Announces Butterfly S With 5-Inch 1080p Display, UltraPixel Camera appeared first on Cult of Android.

AT&T has announced a new pilot program that is scheduled to start in New York City called Street Charge, which supports cellphone users who are in need of some extra battery juice by providing them with solar-powered charging stations around the city.

The solar-powered charging stations will be set up initially in parks, public buildings, and other popular locations. They can be accessed and used by any cellphone user who is in need of some valuable juice, and they support almost every device you can think of, including the iPhone, Androids, and BlackBerry devices.

According to AT&T, the initiative is designed to help those in need of a renewable and innovative solution, as well as to allow people to connect through a common frustration.

The video below explains the Street Charge program and shows you exactly how it can be used to charge your cellphone.

Personally, I think the concept behind AT&T’s idea is superb and can only lead to a mass of positive feedback. However, the solar-powered charging stations could lead to an increase in cellphone theft. When your cellphone is charging on AT&T’s public charging station, it is on display for the whole world to see, making it extremely easy for a thief to steal your phone in a matter of seconds if you’re not concentrating.

Source: YouTube

The post AT&T To Keep New Yorkers Connected With Solar-Powered Charging Stations appeared first on Cult of Android.

HTC has kept us in the dark about its plans to push Android 4.2.2 to the One, while recent rumors have suggested that the update could be rolling out soon. According to Three U.K., however, the update has been pulled with no specific reason given.

The carrier currently has no information on when we can expect the new update to arrive, either.

@2jof @ThreeUKSupport Hi, we've learnt HTC have just pulled the 4.2.2 release, we don't yet have a new schedule for this >Ros

— ThreeUK (@ThreeUK) June 17, 2013

HTC has confirmed that Android 4.2.2 is still on its way to the One, but users may have to wait a little while longer for it. At the moment we are unsure of the exact date that we can expect Android 4.2.2 to touch down on the device, but hopefully HTC won’t keep us waiting too long.

The One is HTC’s flagship device for 2013, packing a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 32GB of built-in storage, 2GB of RAM, BoomSound, an UltraPixel camera with HTC Zoe, and a 4.7-inch 1080p display.

Source: Twitter

The post HTC Pulls Android 4.2.2 Update For HTC One appeared first on Cult of Android.

Several authorities from ten different countries around the globe wrote a letter to Google CEO Larry Page today, asking the company to provide clarification on various privacy concerns. The request for detailed information, from Mexico, Israel, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and others, came with a statement that their knowledge of Glass is based on speculative media reports, and they would like hard data from Google.

While Glass is not on available to consumers, yet, the recently active and visible beta program has created quite a stir as many people worry about invasion of privacy due to the included camera function built into Glass.

Australian Senator Cory Bernardi is on record saying that Google Glass as “the end of privacy,” saying that rather than needing to grab a mobile phone to capture footage, Glass can automatically record video “every day, automatically.”

The privacy commisioners who wrote Larry Page the letter say that Google has not approached them for discussions of possible ethics issues, and have asked eight questions around these. The commisioners want to know how Glass complies with data protection laws, how privacy is safeguarded with Glass, what information Google will collect and retain, and whether Google has undertaken any privacy risk assessment, according to a ZDnet report.

The group would also like a demonstration of Google Glass, and for Google to let them test it themselves, as ministers and authority on privacy concerns in their respective countries.

“We are aware that these questions relate to issues that fall squarely within our purview as data protection commissioners, as well as to other broader, ethical issues that arise from wearable computing,” said the letter. “Nevertheless, we feel it is important for us to raise all of these concerns.”

Google, of course, responded in a statement, saying that it’s pretty early in the product cycle, yet, and that the company is thinking carefully about such privacy issues.

“It’s very early days, and we are thinking very carefully about how we design Glass, because new technology always raises new issues,” said a Google spokesperson. “Our Glass Explorer program, which reaches people from all walks of life, will ensure that our users become active participants in shaping the future of this technology.”

Source: ZDNet

The post Multi-National Group Asks Google To Address Privacy Concerns Around Glass appeared first on Cult of Android.

The popular Android third-party Twitter client, Falcon Pro, has once again hit the dreaded 100,000 active user token limit. And it appears there’s only one solution to the problem: revoke all users original tokens and require every Falcon Pro user to sign in again, effectively resetting the token counter for a few more months.

The active user token limit is imposed by Twitter on all third-party clients which do not have a direct partnership, therefore they are limited to the amount of users that can use their client. For a third-party Twitter client 100,000 active users is quite a strict limit, considering some Twitter clients get well over 1,000,000 downloads.

However, Falcon Pro has had well over 50,000 downloads with customers using more than one Twitter account, thanks to Falcon Pro’s latest update, meaning that Falcon Pro is hitting the 100,000 limit much quicker.

The popular third-party client first hit the 100,000 token limit just four months ago and the solution today is the same one they used then – revoke all users original tokens and require every Falcon Pro user to sign in again.

Resetting the user tokens is a temporary workaround, but for small third-party clients it’s the only real solution available at the moment. According to Falcon Pro’s developer, Joaquim Vergès, it’s also the “least dodgy solution.”

There is a new update out for Falcon Pro which will require users to log in again, automatically resetting all user tokens. The updated version of Falcon Pro can be downloaded by hitting the source link below. But get in quick if you want access, because once all 100,000 tokens are gone, that’s it until the next reset.

Source: Google Play

The post Falcon Pro Twitter Client Hits Token Limit… Again appeared first on Cult of Android.

The demand for 4G LTE connectivity has never been higher, and companies are pulling all the tricks out the bag to try to fulfil the high demand. Last night, Sprint announced that it has turned on high-speed 4G LTE data in 22 new locations. The announcement was made in a single press release on the U.S. carrier’s website.

The new 22 locations that Sprint has turned on high-speed LTE data in include:

• Baton Rouge, La.
• Centralia, Wash.
• Clarksville, Tenn.
• Corsicana, Texas
• Dalton, Ga.
• Dunn, N.C.
• Fond du Lac, Wis.
• Gainesville, Fla.
• Henderson, N.C.
• Kingsport, Tenn.
• Lansing/East Lansing, Mich.
• Longview, Wash.
• Miami
• Napa, Calif.
• New Orleans
• Palatka, Fla.
• Raleigh, N.C.
• Sebring, Fla.
• St. Cloud, Minn.
• St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Mich.
• Tampa, Fla.
• Warsaw, Ind.

That means that Sprint currently support LTE connectivity in a whopping 110 locations across the United States.

In the same press release Sprint also listed a number of cities that will recieve its LTE service in the coming months in Texas, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Those include:

• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Aberdeen, Wash.
• Allegan, Mich.
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Battle Creek, Mich.
• Corpus Christi, Texas
• Eagle Pass, Texas
• Flint, Mich.
• Laredo, Texas
• Marshfield/Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
• Mount Pleasant, Mich.
• Oak Harbor, Wash.
• Watertown/Fort Atkinson, Wis.

Sprint’s LTE mobile technology is capable of delivering mobile internet speeds more than 10 times faster than the standard 3G network.

Source: Sprint

The post Sprint Launches LTE Connectivity In 22 New Locations appeared first on Cult of Android.

T-Mobile USA has confirmed that it will carry the Sony Xperia Z this summer, finally putting an end to all the rumors that have been circulating since the device was spotted back in April. The carrier will become the only provider in the U.S. to offer Sony’s waterproof smartphone, which has been available in Japan and Europe since January.

“T-Mobile customers traveling this summer will love the Xperia Z with its big, beautiful HD screen, water-resistant design and advanced camera features,” said Jason Young, T-Mobile’s vice president of product marketing, in a press release this morning.

“This is an outstanding combination: a premium 4G LTE smartphone with Sony’s best features coupled with T-Mobile’s unlimited data and speedy nationwide network.”

You’ll be able to purchase the device on T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan, which offers unlimited calls and texts and up to 500MB of data for $50 per month. Pricing for the handset itself is yet to be confirmed, but you can expect that to be around $20 per month after a $99 upfront fee.

If you’re interested in the Xperia Z on T-Mobile, click the source link below to register your interest and T-Mobile will notify you as soon as its available. And be sure to check out our review before you make your purchase.

Source: T-Mobile

Via: T-Mobile

The post T-Mobile Confirms It Will Carry The Sony Xperia Z This Summer appeared first on Cult of Android.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is now available to pre-order in the United Kingdom from mobile phone retailer Phones4U. The handset is available for free on contracts from £27 ($42) per month, and it’ll be delivered on launch day this July.

You can also get the Galaxy S4 Mini on EE, the U.K.’s first and only (for the time being) 4G network, from £36 ($56) per month. If you choose this deal, Phones4U will also throw in a free Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch. But bear in mind that for £3 less, you could get yourself a full-sized Galaxy S4 instead.

The Galaxy S4 Mini certainly isn’t a bad midrange device, though, packing a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a 960×540 resolution, a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. It’s also a great way to get your hands on Samsung’s latest TouchWiz user interface and all its features without splashing out on the Galaxy S4.

Phones4U is offering the Galaxy S4 Mini in both black and white, and you can pre-order yours today by clicking the source link below.

Source: Phones4U

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Now Available To Pre-Order In The U.K. appeared first on Cult of Android.

Verizon could be gearing up to launch a brand new Galaxy S4 variant under a new name. But unlike the original, which is currently available in just two colors, Verizon’s model could be customizable, allowing adopters to choose their own paint job when they order.

In the image of a customized Galaxy S4 shown above, obtained by @Evleaks, it looks as if Verizon will allow customers to create a custom backplate and wallpaper to match the device. The design of the backplate is provided by Kidrobot, a well-known toy manufacturer that works with tons of high-skilled graphic designers, but you can choose your own design to feature on the backside of the device, available in any color of your choice.

We don’t know much more about the device, other than what’s shown in the picture at the top of the page. We assume that the device is a stock device featuring a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch Super AMOLED display and LTE capabilities.

It has also been reported that the Verizon’s fully customizable backplates will not be compatible with Samsung’s stock Galaxy S4, which could mean that we may be seeing yet another S4 variant, exclusive to Verizon. As if we need one of those!

Would you be interested in a fully customizable Galaxy S4?

Source: Twitter

The post Verizon To Release Customizable Galaxy S4 Under A New Name [Rumor] appeared first on Cult of Android.

HTC appears to be gearing up to add a new entry-level handset to its 2013 smartphone lineup. Although it hasn’t officially been announced yet, the Desire 200 has today popped up on the company’s website, confirming a number of recent leaks.

The handset, which was first spotted by Engadget, is expected to replace last year’s Desire C. It hasn’t been priced yet, but we know all about its internals. It features a 3.5-inch LCD display with a 320×480 resolution, a 1GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage.

There’s also a microSD slot, HSDPA connectivity, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and of course, Beats Audio. The Desire 200 runs Android — likely 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich — with HTC’s older Sense 4+ user interface over the top.

The Desire 200 looks like a very nice entry-level offering, particularly with that sleek design and features like Beats Audio. While it won’t compete with the high-end HTC One or any of its competitors, it could prove to be a very good buy for those on a tight budget.

Source: HTC

Via: Engadget

The post Entry-Level HTC Desire 200 Appears On HTC Website With 5MP Camera, Beats Audio appeared first on Cult of Android.

All is revealed.

Last Friday, June 14, reports were flying in from Glass Explorers all over the United States they had received mystery shipping notifications from a sender described as “GOOGLE X.” We were completely in the dark about the contents of the package at the time, but we now know exactly what’s in the box.

Before you proceed, prepare to be disappointed.

Many people were speculating that the Glass Explorers could be receiving a new white Nexus 4 to thank them for being the first Glass adopters, or possibly a Glass accessory for testing. Although the idea was pretty farfetched, I thought it was perfectly feasible considering they each paid $1,500 for the opportunity to test Glass.

It turns out that after all the speculation, however, Glass Explorers didn’t receive a white Nexus 4 or anything remotely as exciting. Instead, Explorers received a good old fashioned water bottle (pictured below).

Glass Explorer Jason Alvarez posted a series of pictures on Imgur, including the one above, showing off his brand new Google water bottle together with a kind handwritten note from the Glass team at Google HQ in Mountain View.

The only feature that separates Google’s water bottle from any other water bottle is that Google’s has the official Glass logo embedded on the side, which I surpose is a pretty neat way to brag to your friends that you’re an official Google Glass Explorer. At least this is a pretty exclusive gift that only a few will own.

Jason Howell created an unboxing video wearing his Google Glass unit, to show us his elation and disappointment from a first-person perspective when he opened his gift box from Google, which I found somewhat amusing. If you wish to view this video click here.

Source: Imgur

The post Google’s Mystery Gift To Glass Explorers Is Revealed appeared first on Cult of Android.

Skype has announced that it will be taking its new video messaging feature out of its “preview” phase and making it a permanent fixture inside its Android, iOS, BlackBerry, and desktop clients as of today. The feature will be available to all users with a Skype free or premium account.

The video messaging feature allows you record a video up to three minutes long and send it to friends on Skype — regardless of whether or not they’re online. It’s ideal for sending quick messages when you’re in a rush, and a more personal way to communicate with friends when they’re away.

Skype has published a demonstration video on its official YouTube channel showing just how simple it is to send a video message, which you can watch below.

As the video shows, you’ll first have to choose the contact who you would like to send the video message to. This can be done in two ways; if you’re viewing a contact’s profile, hit the ‘more’ option and select ‘video message’. If you’re already in a conversation, just hit the + button and select ‘video message’.

Then all that’s left to do is record your video message, and hit the send button.

If you already have the latest Skype app, there’s no new download or update necessary. All you have to do is sign into your Skype account and you’re ready to go.

Source: YouTube

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How strong did Samsung say it was?

Samsung is clearly unhappy with complaints about the quality of the materials in its smartphones. The company always fights back with the same response and insists that its phones do not sacrifice weight and durability for fancy materials. However, this time it has gone the extra mile.

Samsung has posted a video on its YouTube channel showing us just how much stress the Galaxy S4 can actually handle.

This isn’t just a standard drop test by any means. The device is not only dropped, it is put through a water test, temperature/humidity test, impact test, sink test, tumble test and finally a cover-glass strength test.

The Galaxy S4 stress test was conducted and recorded by Samsung employees and uploaded to Samsung’s official SamsungTomorrow YouTube channel, so it’s pretty safe to assume that it’s an honest and reliable test.

The video shows just how strong the Galaxy S4 is, surviving every single test it is put through. I really do believe that this is the strongest high-end smartphone that Samsung have ever built.

The Galaxy S4 offers a Snapdragon 1.9GHz quad-core processor, a 5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, 2GB of RAM and a 2,600mAh battery.

What a truly great response to a storm of public speculation.

Source: YouTube

The post Samsung Shows Us Just How Much Stress The Galaxy S4 Can Actually Handle [Video] appeared first on Cult of Android.

MetroPCS is now ready to start selling devices that run on T-Mobile’s 3G HSPA+ network, which means this is the beginning of customer migration from MetroPCS to T-Mobile. The migration has begun ahead of schedule, coming just six weeks after the newly-appointed T-Mobile began trading.

Statistics provided by MetroPCS show that 60% of its customers upgrade their handsets every year. By interpreting these statistics MetroPCS expects that its whole customer base should be using GSM handsets by the end of 2015 – making them elegible to be used on T-Mobile’s network.

T-Mobile announced that it has already started the combination process of LTE offerings between the newly merged companies, starting with the availability for MetroPCS customers in Las Vegas to connect to the T-Mobile LTE network.

As the process of customers leaving MetroPCS’ CDMA network goes ahead, the network will progressively merge with T-Mobile’s current LTE rollout.

The full press release can be read below:

BELLEVUE, Wash. – June 14, 2013 - Just six weeks after completing the combination of T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) today announced the migration of MetroPCS customers onto its 4G HSPA+ and LTE network is ahead of planned schedule. This migration will provide customers of both brands deeper LTE deployment and faster network performance – delivering on the benefits of the combined company.

“The moment that NYSE bell rang on May 1, we put it into high gear and hit the gas,” said John Legere, president and chief executive officer of T-Mobile US, Inc. “We’ve already begun moving MetroPCS customers to our blazing-fast network. The best part is as they upgrade their phones, their wireless experience immediately gets better.”

The company is making HSPA+ and LTE compatible devices available to MetroPCS customers as well as allowing them to bring their own unlocked compatible HSPA+ or LTE phone, providing them the opportunity to upgrade to a powerful 4G network. With approximately 60 percent of MetroPCS customers upgrading their phones every year, it is expected that migration of customers will continue at a rapid pace. The company expects full customer migration to be complete by the end of 2015.

MetroPCS customers in Boston, Las Vegas and Hartford, Conn. can now purchase two new HSPA+ Android(TM)-powered cutting-edge smartphones running on a nationwide 4G network, the LG Optimus L9TM and Samsung Galaxy ExhibitTM. On June 17, MetroPCS will also make available a refreshed version of the Samsung Galaxy S® III, which will take advantage of 4G LTE in addition to a nationwide 4G HSPA+ network1.

Additionally, MetroPCS launched a “Bring Your Own Phone” program in these markets, as well as Dallas, giving customers the option to bring their own compatible unlocked phone to gain access to the 4G HSPA+ and LTE network.

Migrating MetroPCS customers will also benefit customers of T-Mobile. As customers leave the MetroPCS network, the freed up spectrum can then be added to the company’s growing 4G LTE network. Deploying the company’s spectrum on a single network provides a path to double its initial super-fast 4G LTE deployment (to 20+20 MHz of 4G LTE) in approximately 90 percent of the top 25 metro areas planned for 2014 and beyond.

Indeed, just two weeks after becoming one company, T-Mobile leveraged the compatibility of existing MetroPCS 4G LTE handsets and enabled them to connect to its 4G LTE network in Las Vegas. This allowed the company to combine MetroPCS’ 4G LTE spectrum with T-Mobile’s spectrum, doubling the LTE spectrum deployment in Las Vegas and dramatically increasing data speeds for both T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers with capable devices. As the company’s 4G LTE network expands to more cities, T-Mobile will continue to migrate MetroPCS customers with 4G LTE-capable handsets and leverage MetroPCS’ spectrum to deepen the combined company’s LTE coverage.

Independent third party tests of the company’s 4G LTE in Las Vegas conducted before and after the addition of MetroPCS spectrum show that its 4G LTE has the fastest average download speeds in the city, with an increase of nearly 50 percent.

Source: T-Mobile U.S

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Prior to its unveiling back in March, the Samsung Galaxy S4 was one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2013. It has big boots to fill after following the hugely successful Galaxy S III, and to do that it’s been equipped with a new 5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, and an entire plethora of software features you won’t find anywhere else.

But is the Galaxy S4 worth the upgrade if you already have a Galaxy S III, and does this device have what it takes to stay one step ahead of its competitors? I’ve been using it for the past few weeks to find out.

Table of Contents

Page 1: Intro & Table of Contents
Page 2: Display & Performance
Page 3: Battery, Camera, Microphone & Speakers
Page 4: Connectivity & Design
Page 5: Software & Verdict

The post The Galaxy S4: Samsung’s Best Galaxy Yet [Review] appeared first on Cult of Android.

The release of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, which is expected to take place on June 20, won’t bring a complete makeover to our Android devices; instead it will bring some optimizations and a few new features. However, with the release of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, we should see a refresh to the look of the Android OS.

What they might be like is a mystery at the moment, but we can only hope it looks like this gorgeous concept.

Designers are already busy creating their own concepts of what they would like to see included in Android 5.0. One of the best so far was created by Jinesh Shah, and posted on his Google+ page. Shah’s design is minimal and clean, giving off a highly functional and practical experience for Android users.

In one of Jinesh’s designs, a lockscreen widget provides a detailed insight into the user’s upcoming schedule; the insight even goes as far as to show a preview of a meeting’s location on a map. In Jinesh’s homescreen design, we can see an awesome concept of ‘hidden’ widgets.

You can toggle a widget with swipes and other hand gestures to reveal other widgets, so you don’t have to have your homescreen cluttered with multiple widgets when they are not in use.

Check out the concept images below:

Source: Google+

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