Hasta La Gadget!

The CyanogenMod team made switching from your phone’s original Android setup to its own flavor of the OS much easier with paired mobile and desktop installer apps, but now there’s one extra step. In a blog post, CyanogenMod states the Google Play Support team contacted it and claims the installer app is in violation of their TOS. This, despite CyanogenMod’s insistence that the app’s only purpose is to enable ADB on the device, then guide users through connecting it to the desktop app. Despite “hundreds of thousands” of installs for its alternative Android experience, the mobile app is still usable via sideloading, and its installation guide walks users through the necessary steps. Going forward, the CyanogenMod team is submitting its app to Samsung and Amazon’s alternative app stores, but interested Android users can download it right now.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

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CyanogenMod Blog

As if that recently announced trio of Desire smartphones wasn’t enough, HTC today introduced a couple more, this time in Taiwan. Meet the Desire 700 and Desire 501, both aimed at the mid-range market in said Asian territory. For its part, the 700 (pictured above) features a 5-inch, qHD display alongside BoomSound speakers, an as-of-yet undisclosed quad-core Snapdragon chip, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a 2,100mAh battery. The 501, on the other hand, packs those same traits but with a smaller 4.3-inch, WVGA screen and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor — oh, and it comes in a few different colors. HTC is pricing its dual-SIM-packing Desire 700 at NTD 13,900 (about $470), while the Desire 501 will be available with a cheaper NTD 9,900 price tag.

Update: Engadget Chinese had some hands-on time with the new Desires, so be sure to check that out right here!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC

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Source: HTC (Desire 700), (Desire 501)

Nokia’s Lumia 525 popped up in a Chinese regulatory filing earlier this month, but now we have official information about this new budget Windows Phone 8 device. In lieu of fanfare or a Middle Eastern press event, it’s appeared via a YouTube video (embedded after the break) and a simple product page. Appearing as a successor to the popular Lumia 520, the 525 keeps the swappable covers (orange, yellow or white) like previous Lumia models and the polycarbonate style-jacking iPhone 5c, while doubling the amount of RAM inside to 1GB. Just like the earlier model, it has a 4-inch screen, the 5MP rear camera is still without flash, microSD storage expansion, and it’s powered by a dual-core Qualcomm S4 processor. It will arrive with Nokia’s usual Lumia apps, but with that extra memory it can run more of them at once.

There’s no release information yet on the page yet, while the website only lists Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. However, Nokia has said it will not be coming to the US or the UK. Fortunately, Engadget Chinese reports the 525 and 526 have been announced for China Unicom and China Mobile, respectively, at an off-contract price of 1,099 yuan ($180 US), shipping in December. This pricing is in line with the 520, aligning this as the pay-as-you-go WP8 option it appears to be, but we’ll keep an eye out for domestic carrier release info just to be sure. %Gallery-slideshow123399%

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia

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Nokia

Since Motorola was acquired by a certain tech giant last year, its new owner hasn’t had a particularly strong impact on the way it does business. Not too long ago, in fact, Motorola dealt another brag-hand of Droids, but there was something distinct about the Moto X that followed them. The first evidence of a change in direction, perhaps. In the same vein, the recently announced Moto G feels very much like a Google phone, and it makes a ton of sense.

If the Nexus 5 is for smartphone aficionados, and the Moto X is for upgraders who can’t resist the offer of a custom handset, then the Moto G is for those who want a functional device at a reasonable price. At $179 or £135 unlocked, the Moto G slots into the low-cost niche Samsung and others have been steadily cashing in on. That price tag, however, includes an unwritten disclaimer: Sacrifices were made. It’s certainly true with the Moto G, but with expectations in check, it’s hard to not be impressed with what Motorola has managed to achieve.%Gallery-slideshow122931%

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iHeartRadio, the streaming service that brings your local radio stations with you wherever you go, has updated its Android app today, and the fresh code brings some handy new features along. The most useful improvement is undoubtedly the new mini player that grants access to playback controls from both lock screens and notifications drawers, so users can pause, play and make volume adjustments without diving into the full app. Along with that bit of convenience, it also delivers local news, traffic and weather updates inside user-created custom stations, and iHeartRadio Talk show pages are accessible from within the app, too. Want the new goodies? They’re waiting for you at the source below.

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Source: Google Play