Motorola Xoom Gets Unofficial Android 4.4.2 KitKat Update

Motorola Xoom Gets Unofficial Android 4.4.2 KitKat UpdateThe Motorola Xoom was a tablet released by Motorola a few years ago, back in 2011 to be exact. We haven’t seen anymore tablets from Motorola in the past couple of months, neither have we heard any plans of newer Xoom tablets in the future either, so safe to say the Xoom was the last of Motorola’s tablet efforts, at least for now. Well the good news is that if you’re still using your Motorola Xoom and you have absolutely no issues with it, you might be pleased to learn that the tablet will be getting an update to Android 4.4.2 KitKat! Yes, you read that right, a tablet about 3 years old will be getting an update to the latest build of Android!

Unfortunately this is not an official build from Motorola, but rather a custom ROM courtesy of XDA member, Schischu. This is an Android 4.4.2 KitKat-based OmniRom build meaning that if you haven’t rooted your Motorola Xoom tablet, you will have to do so. If you have no experience in rooting and flashing custom ROMs, this is where you’ll probably need to start doing some homework if you’d like your Xoom tablet to run the latest Android build. As it stands there are still a couple of minor issues with the build, such as the selection of alternate keyboards and audio dock volume controls, but like we said they’re minor and should not affect the overall experience.

In any case if you’d like to get started on flashing the custom ROM onto your Xoom tablet, head on over to the XDA forums for the details. For those running the WiFi-only model, you can head here; 3G models over here; and LTE models over here.

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  • Motorola Xoom Gets Unofficial Android 4.4.2 KitKat Update original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Apple’s Lucky Bag Contents Revealed

    Apples Lucky Bag Contents RevealedWe had earlier reported that Apple will be taking part in the traditional “Lucky Bags” sale over in Japan. This is a tradition that takes place all over Japan where retailers offer up bags stuffed with mysterious goods that customers can purchase at discounted prices. Sometimes some customers walk away with something worth a lot more, while sometimes they might walk away with something only a little bit more, but either way they do walk away with a deal. Well turns out that Apple has been pretty generous with their Lucky Bags in 2014 as there have been reports of customers walking about with an 11” MacBook Air!

    These Lucky Bags are priced around $340 and the bag that is worth the most contained an 11” MacBook Air, an Apple Magic Mouse, Pill Speaker by Beats, a red MacBook Air jacket, an Apple t-shirt, along with an assortment of smaller items. Pretty damn good deal, don’t you think? Other Lucky Bags contained items such as a WiFi version of the iPad Air, the first-generation iPad min, seventh-generation iPod nanos, along with other accessories such as Smart Covers, Philips Hue start kit, a Nike+ FuelBand SE, speakers, and more.

    It’s a pity that Apple does not hold events like these in other parts of the world, but then again we can imagine that by holding events like this all over the world, it could cut into Apple’s profit margin quite a bit. Any of our readers in Japan managed to get their hands on one of Apple’s Lucky Bags this year?

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  • Apple’s Lucky Bag Contents Revealed original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Samsung home theater gear to debut at CES 2014

    Samsung is at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in force each year. Samsung traditionally has one of the largest booths at CES packed with TVs, home theater gear, … Continue reading

    Ford C-Max Solar Energi Concept can go off the grid

    Ford has unveiled a new concept car based on the C-Max plug-in hybrid vehicle. The concept car is called the Ford C-Max Solar Energi Concept. Ford says that the car … Continue reading

    Mac Pro Production Could Delay In-Store Availability Until March Or April

    Mac Pro Production Could Delay In Store Availability Until March Or AprilApple’s latest Mac Pros were released towards the end of December 2013, but unfortunately due to immense popularity and also because it has been speculated that Apple might have some production difficulties, the shipping times for those who placed their orders later were set for February this year. Now according to reports, not only has this delay affected customers buying the computer online, but have also affected those who planned to walk into Apple’s shops to buy the Mac Pros. Based on the reports, those planning on purchasing the Mac Pros from the shops will only be able to do some come March, or worst-case scenario, April!

    This information is according to an Apple Australia business specialist who has reportedly directed customers to purchase their Mac Pros from the online website as this is one way that they will be able to secure themselves a Mac Pro in a slightly more timely manner. Given that the Mac Pros are seeing an estimated shipping date in February, we guess this is better than say March or maybe even April. It has been speculated that Apple’s new Austin, Texas production facility could be the cause of the delay of the Mac Pros, and given that it is a new facility, we guess there are some teething problems at the start, but hopefully it will all be sorted out in due time. In the meantime for customers interested in the Mac Pros, you could always try your luck at the store, or at worst place an order online and play the waiting game.

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  • Mac Pro Production Could Delay In-Store Availability Until March Or April original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    BlackBerry Plans On Supporting OS 7 Until 2015, No Plans For Tablets

    BlackBerry Plans On Supporting OS 7 Until 2015, No Plans For Tablets

    It’s easy to switch from one app to the other, and to close them

    BlackBerry 10 is the Canadian company’s latest platform when it comes to smartphones, but unfortunately it isn’t doing as well as the company would like. However at the same time there are still plenty of users left on BlackBerry 7 devices, whom presumably BlackBerry would love for them to upgrade to OS 10. Well the good news is that if you have no immediate plans on upgrading to OS 10, BlackBerry’s Managing Director of India, Sunil Lalwani, has confirmed that the company will be maintaining support for OS 7 until December of 2015. According Lalwani, after that date, “Then we will discontinue sales of older BB devices, and provide exchange offers and upgrade offers for existing BB 7 users, to move to BB 10 platform.”

    Lalwani has also confirmed that BlacKBerry will cease focus on the lower-end market has no plans to re-enter the tablet space at the moment. The last time BlackBerry entered the tablet space was with the BlackBerry Playbook, which was a good attempt but lack of native software found on BlackBerry phones left a lot to be desired. There have been rumors of a Playbook successor but we have not seen anything materialize so far, and this recent confirmation should put those rumors to rest. What do you guys make of these new revelations from the company? Is this the direction that BlackBerry should be headed at?

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  • BlackBerry Plans On Supporting OS 7 Until 2015, No Plans For Tablets original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Nokia Open To Google Discussing Possible Patent Settlement

    Nokia Open To Google Discussing Possible Patent SettlementIn the tech space, companies such as Apple have taken on some of Android’s biggest players in the form of Samsung, and Nokia has been doing their part as well in their legal battle with HTC, but it seems that Nokia is willing to take on Google themselves (and Google’s subsidiary Motorola Mobility whom they acquired not too long ago) in a statement released by Nokia as part of their ITC filing, stating that they are willing to sit down with Google and discuss the “unauthorized use” of Nokia’s patents.

    According to the statement, “If Google wishes to proceed with its requested meeting, Nokia will do so, as we have repeatedly told you. Indeed, Nokia’s Robert Gray explained in his October 25, 2013, letter to Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.: ‘If Google is in a position to end the unauthorized use of Nokia patented technology in Android products, [Nokia] would welcome independent discussions with Google on that basis.’ Google has not taken Nokia up on that offer. Mr. Gray (or someone on his team) remains available to meet in Finland before the settlement conference deadline, if Google so desires.”

    As it stands Nokia has been somewhat successful in their legal tussle with HTC and has managed to get several of HTC’s products banned in various parts of the world. Assuming Nokia decides to take things to the next level, they will be joining the likes of the Rockstar consortium in taking the legal fight to Google’s doorsteps.

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  • Nokia Open To Google Discussing Possible Patent Settlement original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    The US Postal Service Is Testing Mobile Point-of-Sale Technology

    The US Postal Service Is Testing Mobile Point-of-Sale Technology

    Door-to-door mail delivery might be on its last legs, but that isn’t stopping the US Postal Service from flogging the horse. Now, it’s testing a mobile point-of-sale system to reduce waiting times in its customer lines.

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    Samsung’s Shape M5 Speaker: A Smaller Sonos Clone

    Samsung's Shape M5 Speaker: A Smaller Sonos Clone

    Just a couple of months back Samsung launched the M7 streaming speaker, a device which was strikingly similar to a Sonos. Now, it has a smaller version called the M5, which is… also strikingly similar to a Sonos.

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    A new year, and new sales taxes on Amazon purchases made in Indiana, Nevada and Tennessee.

    A new year, and new sales taxes on Amazon purchases made in Indiana, Nevada and Tennessee. Sorry, folks!

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