Google has pushed out a new visual update for the Play Store on the web and it is the most comprehensive UI overhaul so far. The store features a brand new interface throughout and also brings along some much needed speed improvement.
On the homepage you can see they have gotten rid of the slideshow for apps on top and you simply start with recommended apps, games, movies, etc. tailored for you. If you want to see more, just click ‘See more’ on the side. The lists on the left have also been removed in the redesign. The homepage also tends to load content as you scroll down, as seen on the recent Play Store for Android update.
Clicking on an app or any other link brings a quick loading animation and the page loads almost instantly, even on relatively slow connection, and significantly faster than the previous design. The new item page looks great, with details up top, screenshots in the middle and description below. Further down you’ll find the ratings and user reviews, along with similar items.
You’ll notice that the compatibility list has been changed to a floating drop down list below the item name and that screenshots are now significantly bigger and higher resolution, although they do take much longer to load now. They also load in full resolution regardless of whether you want to click on them or not, which is a waste of bandwidth if you don’t end up opening them.
There is a My Orders page hidden in the gear icon on the top right, where you will find a list of all items you have purchased from the Play Store, free or paid. The Settings page shows your devices and you can now choose to rename them or even hide them from appearing in the compatibility list in app pages. This is a boon if, like me, you have a million devices assigned to your account and want to get rid of old devices that are no longer in use.
The latest Play Store update is definitely a step in the right direction and not just a visual enhancement over it’s predecessor but also functionally superior. You can check it out from the link below
Play Store
Source: GSMArena
Samsung recently announced its next generation ultrabooks with Windows 8 on-board. Back at the event the company did not mention anything about pricing and the availability, but it’s finally delivering the valuable info to the US citizen.
Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite is now available on pre-order in the US and is priced at $800. The 13-inch sleek ultrabook will hit stores on July 28.
The Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite comes with a 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 pixels touchscreen display and features a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, AMD Radeon graphics, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB SSD, HD webcam and Windows 8 OS.
Source: GSMArena
We've got something special at HQ today. The perfect Nexus phone has arrived and it looks like a Galaxy S4. This shameless poser embodies everything worth admiring from both worlds - timely updates, the unblemished stock Android experience, the highest-grade hardware money can buy and expandable storage. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition makes the LG-made Google Nexus 4 look like it should be in the minor league.
With one swift blow Samsung managed to create a mouth-watering Nexus smartphone, featuring some really hot hardware coupled with the latest software bundle.
But it makes you wonder, why did the South Koreans bother? With over 10 million Galaxy S4s shipped already, it's unlikely that the Google Play Edition S4 will make an impact, especially when you consider the high price tag and limited availability (USA-only, no subsidies). Was the idea to make good with Google or developers? Or was it just a blatant demonstration of power.
In any case we're happy to just let this one slide and enjoy the fruits of the holy Samsung-Google alliance, which has brought a FullHD Super AMOLED and expandable storage to the sanctity of stock Android.
Check out what else you get from the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition.
Key features
- Stock Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
- 5" 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED with around 441 ppi, Gorilla Glass 3
- Gorilla Glass 3
- 16 GB built-in storage, microSD card slot
- 13 MP camera with autofocus, single LED flash, 1080p video recording
- 2 MP front-facing camera with 1080p video recording
- Quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 with four 1.9 GHz Krait 300 cores, 2 GB of RAM, Adreno 320 GPU
- LTE support
- Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac with DLNA and Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0
- GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS support
- 2600 mAh removable battery
Main disadvantages
- None of the TouchWiz software enhancements are present
- Camera app offers only basic settings
- No display modes as in TouchWiz
- Steeply priced at $649 with no subsidies and currently only available Stateside
- Not available in 32 GB and 64 GB versions, sole White Frost color option
The Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is not for everyone. It will be the device of choice for users that need the stock software, the way Google intends it to be, but want the absolute best hardware you can get - that's a pretty exclusive group to develop a device solely for.
The majority of users will likely miss the TouchWiz advancements Samsung has implemented in its software package - the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink camera app, the 50 gigs from Dropbox, the smart gestures, Adapt sound, Air View, Direct Call, the list goes on and on into eternity.
But perhaps there's a silver lining - getting both sides of the fence in a single purchase. If you're willing to root your I9505 Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S4 you could simply install the stable stock Android ROM and still have the option to return to TouchWiz at a later time. It's a route only advanced users will take but it gets you everything for less - the subsidized Galaxy S4 is widely available.
The hallmark of the Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 is the stock Android operating system. Sure, you could always get the same experience on a Nexus 4, but you'd be losing the huge and beautiful screen, the expandable storage, the immensely-better camera and the potent chipset - and that's a lot.
It's a rare enough thing to see a product which doesn't make sense but makes you want to churn out an illogical amount of cash to get your hands on. It shoots a strong bolt of electricity through our inner geeks and makes us eager to test it, get a better feel for it, and even place it side-by-side with the Nexus 4 and start pointing bragging fingers in its direction.
A whole heap of unanswered questions begs for resolution. Does the more conventional physical-button design work well with stock Android? Will the camera kick ass just as it did on the TouchWiz Galaxy S4? Will the device be as fast, will the battery retain its high standards? Does the cleaner look and feel outweigh the perks up the TouchWiz version's sleeve? These and many other pressing questions deserve a thorough investigation and thankfully we've got the right men for the job. Read on for the hardware digest.
Source: GSMArena
Back in May 2012, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued an import ban on Motorola devices due to an infringement on a patent that Microsoft holds related to how a device synchronizes its calendar events with other computers.
Microsoft is suing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, alleging that the agency had secret meetings with Google and proceeded to allow Motorola devices continue to enter the country even though nothing has been done to address the patent violation at the center of the ITC ruling.
Deputy General Counsel for Microsoft, David Howard said, “Customs has a clear responsibility to carry out ITC decisions, which are reached after a full trial and rigorous legal review. Here Customs repeatedly ignored its obligation and did so based on secret discussions.”
Google has responded with its own counter argument that U.S. Customs rejected Microsoft’s attempts to broaden the scope of its patent claims. Microsoft named DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano in its complaint as well. The Department of Homeland Security is the agency that oversees Customs. Secretary Napolitano announced that she is resigning her post to take a job with the University of California. The ITC order is in effect until August 2018 and is under appeal. Those arguments will be heard this summer.
What is interesting about this is that it appears Customs made its own decisions about a ruling from another regulatory body, and this past June, Customs announced its decision to continue allowing Motorola devices to enter the country. What is also interesting is that it looks like a number of Motorola devices will start being made in Texas in the near future. Any lawyers in the house want to talk about how imports will suddenly not be an issue any more?
Microsoft is seeking a court ruling to compel Customs to adhere to the ITC’s order. Of course, if the ITC’s ruling did not cover the scope of Motorola devices that were not imported, this issue may be short-lived, or we will see a whole new litigation drama begin to unfold.
Source: Phone Arena
The latest products from the Samsung ATIV lineup, that were announced in London on June 20, are now on pre-order on Amazon UK.
Starting with the Samsung ATIV BOOK 9 LITE, will sport a starting price of £499 for the non-touchscreen version and £599 for the touchscreen version. The slimmer, more powerful and higher-resolution BOOK 9 PLUS, naturally, is priced a bit higher
You’ll have to shell out £1299 for the privilege to own a qHD+ touchscreen ultrabook that weighs just 1.3kg and is 1.3cm thick. While the BOOK 9 LITE is available in black and white color variations, the BOOK 9 PLUS is only available in black.
Lastly, there’s the convertible tablet ATIV Q, which also boats 13.3″ qHD+ touchscreen and can be transformed into a number of usage modes. It carries the highest price tag of the three at £1399.
If you’re not interested in pre-orders, Amazon UK will start selling the two ultrabooks and the ATIV Q tablet July 19 and July 12, respectively.
Source: GSMArena
Microsoft has just announced Windows 8.1 will be released to manufacturers this August and the OEM partners will be ready for the first devices in time for the holiday season.
The existing Windows 8 users will be able to update shortly after the RTM version goes live.
Windows 8.1 update will bring back the Start button, as well as to boot straight to desktop and add dynamic backgrounds. Windows 8.1 also gives you better control over how app windows are snapped and now supports 50/50 split view among the defaults, but will also allow you to define your own percentages for even more control over the personalization. Windows 8 apps now get support for multiple monitor setups, too.
In case you are eager to try Windows 8.1 update, you can do it right now by installing the official Public Preview.
Source: GSMArena
