Hasta La Gadget!

We have heard the rumors that Facebook had at one point in time attempted to bid on Snapchat for a cool $3 billion, which the creators of the app decided to turn down, and even turned down Google’s reported $4 billion bid attempt as they felt that they were worth a lot more. Well according to a report from GigaOm, they are reporting that Instagram could be getting instant messaging features, similar to what Snapchat is doing at the moment. It’s kind of like, if you can’t beat them, join them! After all Instagram had added video capture to the app in a bid to compete with the likes of Twitter’s Vine, so this would not be unprecedented.

GigaOm reports that this feature would allegedly be introduced to the app in a major update scheduled for release by the end of the year. As it stands there is no way to message someone on Instagram privately, and the only way to get their attention would be to either tag them or mention them in your comments. This alleged private messaging feature of Instagram is said to offer one-on-one messaging, as well as group messaging. Take it with a grain of salt for now, but what do you guys think of this feature making its way onto Instagram? Yay or nay?

Instagram Rumored To Be Adding Private Messaging Feature original content from Ubergizmo.

The Moto G may not reach the US until January, but that doesn’t mean it will be unavailable on North American shores until then. Motorola’s budget wunderkind has just reached the continent through Canada’s Telus and its low-cost Koodo brand. Both carriers are selling the 8GB smartphone for $200 CAD ($189 US) off-contract; thriftier shoppers can get the Moto G for free on a two-year Telus agreement, or $50 at Koodo with a $150 use tab. Other local carriers aren’t expected to offer the Moto G in the near future, so this may represent the best chance of getting the handset for both Canucks and eager American importers.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google

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MobileSyrup

Source: Telus, Koodo

You don’t have to hold onto hope for that truly unlocked iPhone 5s any longer — it’s now available to buy on Apple’s site. To be clear, this version of Apple’s Touch ID-imbued flagship comes completely free of any carrier attachment, separating it from the unlocked T-Mobile variant that ships with a Magenta nano-SIM inside. The SIM-free GSM handset, which’ll ship within one to two weeks from order, is available in the standard 16GB/32GB/64GB storage and color configurations, so pricing remains the same at $649/$749/$849, respectively. But you’ll still need to hitch your data ride to AT&T or T-Mobile for that fancy phone to work in the US. So, the strings… they’re still attached. There are just fewer of them now.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple

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Via: 9 to 5 Mac

Source: Apple

When Motorola threw its weight behind Phonebloks’ modular smartphone concept, it pretty much signaled to the rest of the industry that the Google company was dead serious about customization. But that radical vision of a completely upgradeable handset needs an equally radical manufacturing partner and Motorola’s found that in 3D Systems. Today, the two companies have announced a multi-year deal that’ll see 3D Systems building what Motorola calls “the factory of the future,” and providing a complete end-to-end fabrication process for ‘Project Ara.’ As part of the deal, Motorola’s exclusively tasking 3D Systems with creating new “multi-material printing capabilities including conductive and functional materials” to build these modules (e.g., chassis, battery, etc.) and help it keep pace with eventual consumer demand for ‘Ara’ phones. That’s all if 3D Systems can prove its undeveloped printing process actually, you know, works. If not, well, 3D Systems can kiss that exclusivity agreement goodbye.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google

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While the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 might not necessarily be Samsung’s largest phone in their portfolio at the moment, it is possibly their highest specced and most expensive so far. Well the good news is that if you wanted a large screen device but didn’t want to fork out for the Galaxy Note 3, you’re in luck because MetroPCS has announced that they will be offering up the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 starting from the 25^th of November. Subscribers will be able to get their hands on the device for $349 after a $100 rebate, and an additional $50 rebate if they were to buy it in the store, making the device a somewhat affordable large screen handset if you did not want to be tied to a contract.

The handset will be pretty much the same device as the one we reviewed earlier this year, meaning that customers can look forward to a 6.3” 720p HD display. This large screen coupled with the HD resolution means that pixel density will not be as sharp as the Galaxy Note 3’s Full HD, but it’s a matter of preference and also budget. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and will come with 8GB of onboard storage with support for microSD card memory expansion. It will pack a 3,200mAh battery, and will sport an 8MP rear-facing camera, a 1.9MP front-facing camera, and will come with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean preinstalled.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Heading For MetroPCS 25th November original content from Ubergizmo.