Polled BlackBerry Users Want BlackBerry 10 To Be Themable

Polled BlackBerry Users Want BlackBerry 10 To Be ThemableOne of the more customizable features of Android is the ability to theme it however you want, and the best part is that depending on the level of customization, you might not even need root access to be able to do it. This is compared to other platforms like iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry 10 which are more rigid, where customization is basically changing the wallpaper and the ringtone.

However it seems that during a poll conducted by CrackBerry, they have found that the majority of those who participated in the poll want the ability to theme their BlackBerry 10 handsets. The votes came in at over 60%, while the remaining numbers were kind of split in the middle between saying no to theming, and that it doesn’t matter.

We guess this is particularly important to BlackBerry users because with BlackBerry 7, users could download themes or create their own themes if they wish. It’s that level of personalization that really gets a user to feel more connected to their phone, and maybe even to the brand which can help create loyalty.

Unfortunately it seems that theming is not a feature that BlackBerry is concentrating on at the moment, at least not for BlackBerry 10, but who knows, perhaps it might arrive at a later date, but in the meantime what do you guys think? Do you wish that you could create or download BlackBerry 10 themes?

Polled BlackBerry Users Want BlackBerry 10 To Be Themable , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , ,



Apple’s Roadmap For 2014, According To An Analyst

Apples Roadmap For 2014, According To An AnalystGiven Apple’s secretive nature, we can only speculate and assume what Apple has planned for release this year, and the next, and so on. However according to KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, he has recently put together a slide showing what he expects Apple’s roadmap to be for 2014.

According to Kuo, he expects that towards the end of Q2 2014, Apple will introduce an upgrade to the iMac, possibly at low cost. During Q3, he expects that both the iPad Air and the iPad mini will be getting an upgrade which dispels rumors that Apple could be killing off the iPad mini.

During Q3 Kuo also expects that Apple will launch the rumored iWatch and that it could come in two sizes. One will be of the 1.3-inch display variety and the other of a 1.5-inch variety, and both will come with a flexible AMOLED display. Q3 is also when the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is expected to make its debut.

Come Q4, Kuo thinks that Apple will be announcing an upgrade to its Apple TV, which we guess is due for an upgrade. The rumored 12-inch MacBook is also expected to make its debut early Q4 along with MacBook Pro upgrades as well which is interesting as Apple typically makes computer-related announcements at WWDC. Last but not least is the 5.5-inch iPhone which he thinks could debut towards the end of the  year.

We should note that this isn’t the official roadmap and it is one put together by an analyst who thinks that this is what Apple has planned for the rest of the year. However Kuo has been pretty reliable in the past when it comes to providing insider knowledge regarding Apple’s products, so perhaps there might be some truth to his claims, but to be on the safe side, you might want to take it with a grain of salt for now.

Apple’s Roadmap For 2014, According To An Analyst , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Apple, Cellphones, Computers, Tablets, , , , ,



Facebook To Remove In-App Messaging, Forces Users To Download Messenger App

Facebook To Remove In App Messaging, Forces Users To Download Messenger AppFacebook Messenger, for those unfamiliar, is a separate app that lets you message your friends without actually having to open up the Facebook app itself. However there are times when it gets a little annoying when messages pop up in the Facebook app and on the Messenger app simultaneously, but it seems that Facebook will be putting an end to that.

According to reports, Facebook has confirmed that they will be removing the Messenger feature from its Facebook mobile app, instead if Facebook users want to chat with their friends on mobile, they will have to turn to Facebook Messenger instead. However not all devices will be affected by this, according to Facebook. (more…)

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  • Facebook To Remove In-App Messaging, Forces Users To Download Messenger App original content from Ubergizmo.



    MetaWear $30 Wearable Chip With BT LE And Accelerometer On Kickstarter

    MetaWear $30 Wearable Chip With BT LE And Accelerometer On Kickstarter
    With the recent  launch of the new Android Wear OS and the gazillion fitness bands and Smartwatches, wearable tech is the new hot trend in consumer electronics right now.

    Last Sunday, I met with MbientLab co-founders Laura Kassovicand Matt Baker at their office in San Francisco where they developed the $30 MetaWear tiny board featuring a Nordic Bluetooth LE and ARM Cortex M0 SoC (System-on-Chip) that will allow enthusiasts with expertise and startups to build their wearable devices more rapidly at a lower cost.

    (more…)

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  • MetaWear $30 Wearable Chip With BT LE And Accelerometer On Kickstarter original content from Ubergizmo.



    Facebook Messenger For Asha, Lumia, Nokia X Announced

    Facebook Messenger For Asha, Lumia, Nokia X Announced As the Nokia X smartphone runs on a forked version of Google’s Android mobile operating system, which translates to it not having access to Google’s services such as the Play Store or Hangouts, this does not mean that you are unable to run Android apps on it. The developer, however, will play an important role, and we are pleased to say that Facebook Messenger is now available on the Nokia X, while making its appearance for the Nokia Lumia and Nokia Asha devices, too.

    Doing away with likes, shares and personal feeds, the Facebook Messenger app intends to be a pure conversation app, concentrating on you having private conversations with your mates. This means there is no need for the full Facebook app to be installed beforehand, which is a good thing if you happen to be running low on memory on your smartphone. With the Facebook Messenger app on Nokia’s devices, you can check out who happens to be online, being able to create group chats and send photos and stickers, now how about that?

    Those who are rocking toa Nokia Lumia will see your Facebook friends added to your People Hub automatically, where notifications pop up on the Start Screen. As for Nokia X and Asha owners, these notifications will appear in Fastlane.[Press Release]

    Facebook Messenger For Asha, Lumia, Nokia X Announced , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , ,



    Nokia X Custom Android ROM Revealed

    Nokia X Custom Android ROM RevealedWhen the Nokia X was announced at the end of February this year, many people were surprised to find out that this happens to be the first Android-powered device from Nokia, who have stood by Windows Phone staunchly before that. While it is not exactly a true blue Android-powered device as it runs on a forked version of the mobile platform, this does not mean that the Nokia X would not be on the receiving end of a custom Android firmware. Sure, the stock Nokia X is unable to support Google’s mobile services like the Play Store or Hangouts, but at least one can now enjoy the benefits of a custom ROM for some spice in life.

    Senior XDA developer dhacker29 happens to be the one behind this custom Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean ROM for the Nokia X, where the firmware relies on source code from Code Aurora that comprises of vanilla Android, in addition to the rest of the specific enhancements and optimizations for Qualcomm’s chipset that is already present in the smartphone itself.

    The existing build is stable enough for normal, everyday use, with stuff such as network connectivity, camera, FM radio, GPS and location services running without a hitch. Do bear in mind though that certain navigation issues were discovered, which is no surprise considering how the Nokia X has just one hardware button. Good to know that a second version of this custom Android ROM has on-screen navigation buttons.

    Nokia X Custom Android ROM Revealed , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , , ,



    Arirang AS1201 Could Be Made In China, Ironically

    Arirang AS1201 Could Be Made In China, IronicallyIt was right at the start of this week when we brought you word that North Korea’s smartphone, known as the Arirang AS1201, happens to look eerily similar to China’s very own Uniscope U1201, especially when you place the two of them side by side as depicted in the image above. Well, here we are with word that the Arirang AS1201 could actually have been made in China instead of rolling off the production lines of North Korea itself, but don’t let the North Korean populace learn of this since it might be considered to be a loss of face to their recently re-elected Supreme Leader of North Korea.

    (more…)

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  • Arirang AS1201 Could Be Made In China, Ironically original content from Ubergizmo.



    Nokia 225 Is Slimmest Affordable Internet Handset


    Nokia continues to make their mark, not only in the high end side of things with the likes of a Lumia 1520 released, but also in the entry level market with the Nokia 225 being introduced, where it is accompanied by the Nokia 225 Dual SIM variant. Both models intend to deliver the Internet to the masses, and will not burn too large a hole in your pocket in the process.

    Touted to be Nokia’s slimmest Internet phone to date, both of these models will arrive with a larger 2.8” display that makes it perfect for slipping into a pocket and handbag, in addition to keeping you entertained as you are on the move. Apart from that, those who lead active lifestyles need not miss a beat, since the Nokia 225 comes with a dust and splash proof keymat, standby times of up to 36 days for single SIM and 27 days for Dual SIM, now how about that?

    You can choose from red, yellow, green, black and white colors, while a 2MP camera at the back handles any impromptu moments when you need to snap a photo. Oh yeah, with Nokia’s Xpress Browser, you can browse the Internet while keeping data costs down since website data will be optimized before it arrives on your device. Expect a starting price of 39 Euros for the Nokia 225. [Press Release]

    Nokia 225 Is Slimmest Affordable Internet Handset , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , nokia 225,



    Cyber Dust Messaging App Deletes Texts 24 Seconds After It Has Been Read

    Cyber Dust Messaging App Deletes Texts 24 Seconds After It Has Been ReadOne of the appeals of Snapchat is the ability to send photos over the app and have it erase itself after a certain amount of time. This will allow users to send photos that might not meant for outside eyes and rest easy knowing that the photos will eventually get deleted. Billionaire Mark Cuban has a similar idea called Cyber Dust which is basically a new messaging app that will delete a text message 24 seconds after it has been read.

    In fact Cuban stresses that the messages are not even stored on Cyber Dust’s servers meaning that they cannot be traced and cannot be retrieved once they have been deleted. Cuban has described the app as WhatsApp meets Snapchat. According to him, the inspiration for the app came about when the SEC took a text message he gave them and took it out of context.

    “[It’s also realizing] That the phone companies and your text recipients own your texts and even the most innocent text can take on a whole new context. I wanted to have a means of communication that is analogous to face to face – where you can speak openly and honestly. That is why we created Cyber Dust.”

    He also stated that these values also applies to his kids. “This is applicable to my kids.  I don’t want an innocent text my daughter sends to a boy taking on a life of its own and living on forever online because some kid decides to add a story and posts her text.” As it stands the app itself is free for download for iOS while an Android version is on its way.

    Cyber Dust Messaging App Deletes Texts 24 Seconds After It Has Been Read , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , cyber dust,



    IFTTT App Could Be Coming To Android Soon

    IFTTT App Could Be Coming To Android SoonYou guys might recall that a while back, an app called IFTTT launched on the iPhone. The name is short of “If This Than That” which is a nod to programming where programmers create if-then-else scenarios for specific events. For those unfamiliar with the app, it basically helps to automate your smartphone even further by allowing users to setup recipes.

    For example you could set it so that you will only be notified of emails whenever it comes from a particular address. You could also set it so that every photo you snap will be saved to the cloud or sent to your email as a copy. There are also recipes that will notify you about the weather in the morning so that’s the first thing you see when you wake up, and so on.

    The good news is that it looks like IFTTT’s exclusivity on iOS is over as the developers have recently announced that they are planning on launching a beta of the app for Android. Oddly enough the post, which was spotted by Phandroid on Google+, has since been deleted although we’re not sure why. Perhaps it went out a bit too early, or perhaps the post was only meant to be seen by certain parties, and not everyone.

    Either way we guess the cat is already out of the bag and while we have no idea when the app will be released, we can at least take comfort in knowing that it will be released for Android hopefully in the near future. That and the fact that Android isn’t as tightly controlled as iOS, hopefully this means that we can expect even more interesting recipes. Heck, perhaps developers will find a way to create recipes for rooted devices as well.

    In the meantime for iOS users, the app is available for download and is available for both the iPhone and iPad, so head on over to the iTunes App Store for the download.

    IFTTT App Could Be Coming To Android Soon , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , ,