Hasta La Gadget!

Android 4.2.2 began arriving on an assortment of Nexus devices yesterday with “performance and stability” improvements listed as the only changes, but Android Police dug into Google’s change logs and compiled a list of small tweaks. With the update on board, Play Store downloads now display the time left to their completion, and Android Debug Bridge security is shored-up with the addition of a whitelist. Now, WiFi and Bluetooth tiles can be toggled by a long press in the notification Quick Settings. The release also makes hardware play a tone when it begins to charge wirelessly with less than 95% juice left, and uses new low battery and cord-free charging chimes for the Nexus 4. Reports about possible Bluetooth fixes are mixed according to Android Police, and a reference to patching them up hasn’t been spotted just yet. If you’d like to take a look at Mountain View’s code commits, give the neighboring source link a jab.

Filed under: Mobile, Google

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Source: Android Police (1), (2)

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

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As MWC draws near, it’s not surprising to see an increase in leaks, and today we bring you a few more pictures of Huawei’s Ascend P2, which recently made a cameo in some unofficial product shots. The 4.7-inch full HD handset is expected to feature Android 4.1.2, a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor (developed in house), 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage (plus microSD), a 13MP shooter and a 2200mAh battery. Slotting below the 5-inch Ascend D2 and 6.1-inch Ascend Mate we saw at CES, the Ascend P2 is rumored to be less than 6.45mm thick with Nexus 4-like on-screen buttons. Of course, since the FCC is unlikely to certify such a svelte device, it’s likely we’ll see a tweaked version of this phone if it ever makes it to the US — then again, it looks thicker to us in the pictures. Pricing is supposedly targeting the 3,000 Yuan mark ($480), unsubsidized. Guess we’ll find out more in Barcelona, right? Hit the break for a couple more images.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Via: M.I.C. Gadget

Source: QQ Tech

Lately, ASUS hasn’t exactly been the best at keeping some of its secrets under wraps, but the company is trying to be as good as it can be about helping potential customers better understand its devices. More specifically, it’s the recently announced 7-inch MeMo Pad, with the Taiwan-based outfit taking to YouTube to release a simple and somewhat informative video on some of the tidbits you can expect out of the Jelly Bean-loaded, budget-friendly tablet. Naturally, ASUS is quick to point out how the MeMo Pad’s relatively small chassis “fits perfect in your palm,” as well as showing off how effortless it is to stay in the social loop with video calling capabilities and things such as BuddyBuzz. Other touted features of the 7-inch slate include its expandable storage via that microSD slot, plus the easy access to various productivity and entertainment apps like MyPainter, SuperNote Lite and ASUS Studio — oh, and for folks who enjoy a little color, the previously seen trio of Spectrum Covers can also be spotted making a quick cameo. You can “experience” the vid yourself past the break, and feel free to let us know what has you the most excited about the Nexus 7 this particular MemoPad.

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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Via: Android Central

Source: ASUS (YouTube)

Stitcher’s Android app can do many things with radio and podcasts, but one thing it hasn’t done lately is blend in — its interface is out of sync with a platform that has had its own distinct style for more than two years. A major remake today helps make amends. The new Stitcher app relies on the Action Bar and overall concepts of Holo-native apps for input, simplifying things for anyone who’s comfortable with Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean — and more than a little prettier, we’d add. It’s more than just eye candy, though. The Android build now has a dedicated Smart Station to listen to recommendations, browsing that keeps interruptions to a minimum and Jelly Bean-specific playback controls in notifications. While there’s no fundamental changes that would lure someone who’s wedded to a single-purpose app, the Stitcher refresh could be worth a look if previous versions ever felt like strangers on Google’s turf.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile

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Source: Google Play