News | Fone Arena - Part 2148

Samsung reportedly toning down TouchWiz tweaks and apps due to pressure from Google

Samsung, the world’s biggest Android manufacturer, is reportedly toning down its TouchWiz UI tweaks and own custom apps due to pressure from Google, reports re/code. Not long before, the Korean Chaebol unveiled a range of new Android devices at the Consumer Electronics Show, all featuring the company’s latest and heavily modified Touchwiz “Magazine” UX, that looked nothing like Android. And then we saw a couple more leaks of its adaptation for the mobile form factor, and even that was a drastic departure from the previous version of TouchWiz, let alone stock Android. This might have set Google off and reportedly, the two companies have come to a compromise(among many other things) in which Samsung will tone down its UI tweaks and replacement apps for Google’s services, going forward.

The image above, taken from a Ars Technica opinion piece paints a clear picture of how Samsung had its own ecosystem around Android, replacing almost every little Google service possible. It is all set to change soon.

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LG G Pro 2 shows up in leaked images

LG G Pro 2 leak

Earlier this week LG confirmed that it would launch the LG G Pro 2, successor of the LG G Pro next month. Live images of the device has surfaced in Korea, which shows off G2-like rear-mounted power button and volume keys, textured back panel, unlike G Pro’s shiny plastic panel with square pattern elements. It also has a sleek curved design, according to the leaked image. Continue reading “LG G Pro 2 shows up in leaked images”

Lava Iris 404e with 4-inch display, Android 4.2 listed online for Rs. 4065

Lava Iris 404e

Lava Iris 404e, the latest smartphone from Lava in the Iris range has been listed on Flipkart. It has a 4-inch (480 x 800 pixels) display, powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) OS. It has 2G (EDGE) connectivity, Dual SIM support with dual standby, 2-megapixel rear with LED flash and VGA front-facing camera. Continue reading “Lava Iris 404e with 4-inch display, Android 4.2 listed online for Rs. 4065”

Tata Group reportedly planning to exit telecom business

Tata

A year after taking over as chairman of the Tata group, Cyrus Mistry, has decided to exit the telecom business completely, according to a recent report from Economic Times. Tata Group, which includes Tata Communications and Tata Tele has initiated talks with Vodafone to sell the company, but the discussions are at an early stage. Continue reading “Tata Group reportedly planning to exit telecom business”

Gionee Gpad G4 with 5.7-inch HD display, Aluminium body now available for Rs. 18999

Gionee Gpad 4, that appeared online back in November is now available in India from online retailer Snapdeal as Gpad G4. It has a 5.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD one-glass solution (OGS) display, powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589T processor with PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, BSI sensor, f/2.2 aperture and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with 28mm wide angle lens. Continue reading “Gionee Gpad G4 with 5.7-inch HD display, Aluminium body now available for Rs. 18999”

Celkon S1 with 5-inch 1080p display, 13MP camera launched for Rs. 14999

Celkon S1

Celkon has launched the Celkon S1, the company’s latest flagship smartphone. It has a 5.0-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display based on one-glass-solution technology, powered by 1.5 GHz Quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean). It has a 13-megapixel auto focus rear camera with dual LED Flash and a 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The phone is very sleek at just 6.5mm. Continue reading “Celkon S1 with 5-inch 1080p display, 13MP camera launched for Rs. 14999”

Korea’s KT launches LTE Broadcast powered by Qualcomm’s technology

Samsung and KT LTE Broadcast

KT Corporation, one of the largest telecom providers in Korea has introduced the world’s first commercial LTE Broadcast/eMBMS (evolved Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service) for its subscribers using the latest Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone. We already know that the LTE variant of the Note 3 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. This service is based on Qualcomm’s LTE Broadcast Solution, which includes highly optimized broadcast middleware, a software development kit (SDK) and the eMBMS-enabled Qualcomm LTE Advanced chipset. Continue reading “Korea’s KT launches LTE Broadcast powered by Qualcomm’s technology”

HTC One Android 4.4.2 KitKat update starts rolling out in Europe

HTC One Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Back in November HTC promised that it would roll out the Android 4.4 Kitkat update for the HTC One users in EMEA countries (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) starting from January-end. It has kept its promise and has started rolling out the KitKat update in parts of Europe, including Nordic region. The HTC One Google Play Edition got the KitKat update back in November last year. Continue reading “HTC One Android 4.4.2 KitKat update starts rolling out in Europe”

Opera Mobile Store surpass 100 million users

Opera Mobile Store

Opera has announced that their Opera Mobile Store has reached 105 million monthly visitors at the end of Q4 2013. It now has over 100 million users globally, with a tremendous growth of 230% annually. It currently offers more than 200,000 mobile apps and games across most mobile platforms, including Android, Java, BlackBerry, Symbian and iOS. Last year it got redesigned, which brought new users and more downloads. Continue reading “Opera Mobile Store surpass 100 million users”

Google Chrome Apps for iOS and Android are coming

Google Chrome apps for iOS and Android are coming, as the company has just quietly unveiled, in its Chromium blog, that it is finally ready to extend the reach of Chrome apps to mobile platforms. It was previously rumoured to happen, but Google remained quiet even after the news spread fast. But now that it’s official, it is seen as a landmark announcement, as this might be a strategic move for all things Google, going forward. With Chromebooks gaining ground in the notebook space, thanks to several OEMs backing it up with some really interesting products, Google is now taking the bustling platform to mobile. This is a move that the whole industry has been expecting, ever since Google replaced Andy Rubin with Sundar Pichai, the Chrome boss at the Mountain View company. Having developed a tool chain for packaging Chrome apps into native shells for both iOS and Android, this Google-blessed offering will be a dream come true for many developers.

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Samsung ZEQ 9000 Tizen smartphone press image leaks

Samsung ZEQ 9000

Last year Samsung said that we would see a Tizen-based device in 2013, but it didn’t happen. Image of the Samsung GT-I8800 codenamed Redwood back in May, later in October we saw a video of the Samsung Z9005 RedWood running Tizen 2.2. Korean website MovePlayer has posted a render of its first Tizen-based smartphone, which is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. Continue reading “Samsung ZEQ 9000 Tizen smartphone press image leaks”

Google Glass now more socially acceptable with new shades, Titanium frames and prescription lenses

Google Glass, the futuristic HUD-like wearable device from the Mountain View company has been doing its rounds in the form of the Explorer Edition. We had unboxed it a while ago, and we gotta say that it really is something special that offers a glimpse of the future and the advanced present, perhaps. But ever since I saw it up close, I really really wanted to try it out and put it to good use, but haven’t been able to, mainly because it lacked any kind of prescription lens support. Yes, I wear spectacles to compensate for my poor vision, and that is what one exactly gets when using Glass without prescription lenses, it’s a blurry mess. It was the single loudest complaint from many explorers alike, and finally, we have a solution. Google has just unveiled a new range of light weight Titanium frames that can support prescription lenses, and all of them are pictured above. If that is not enough, here is a video showing off the same –

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eneEmDtSvzI

Continue reading “Google Glass now more socially acceptable with new shades, Titanium frames and prescription lenses”

BlackBerry OS 10.2.1 starts rolling out, brings new software features, FM Radio support and more

BlackBerry OS 10.2.1

Months after the BlackBerry OS 10.2 roll out, BlackBerry has released the OS 10.2.1 update for the Z10, Q10, Q5, Z30 and the Porsche Design P’9982. a lot of new features including pinch gesture to filter BlackBerry Hub, new incoming call screen with intuitive icons, Actionable Lock Screen Notifications, Picture Password for Quick Unlocking , Offline Browser Reading Mode, Device and Battery Monitor, FM Radio for select devices and more. Continue reading “BlackBerry OS 10.2.1 starts rolling out, brings new software features, FM Radio support and more”

iBall Andi 4.5 Ripple launched, comes in 2G and 3G variants for Rs. 5499 and Rs. 6399

iBall Andi 4.5 Ripple

iBall has launched Andi 4.5 Ripple that comes in both 3G and 2G variants. These smartphones come with a 4.5-inch (854 ×480 pixels) FWVGA IPS display, powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core Cortex A7 processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). These have a 5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash and a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) front-facing camera. As usual you ave dual SIM support with dual standby. Continue reading “iBall Andi 4.5 Ripple launched, comes in 2G and 3G variants for Rs. 5499 and Rs. 6399”

Windows Phone 8.1 rumoured to arrive in April

Windows Phone 8.1 codenamed “Blue” has been rumoured for a long time now, ever since Microsoft confirmed the existence of Windows 8.1(also codenamed “Blue”). While Windows 8.1 has seen its release right on time, with a developer preview in June last year and commercial release by October, we are yet to see even a glimpse of Windows Phone 8.1, which we were hoping to be delivered as fast as the first Windows 8 update. Now, fresh rumours from reliable Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet, reveal that Windows Phone is all set for a April reveal, with developers getting the preview first and general availability later. This comes after rumours of a Cortana reveal, which is a virtual assistant and very much a part of Windows Phone that coincides with Microsoft’s developer event at the same time – Build 2014.

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