Samsung rolls out Jelly Bean to original Galaxy Note via Kies and OTA

It’s been a long time coming, but Android 4.1.2 has finally arrived for the phone that began the whole “is it a phone, or is it a tablet?” quandary: the original international Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000. The Jelly Bean update brings a number of improvements to the OG Note, with a brand new Nature UX that brings it a little closer to the Note sequel in terms of look and feel. It’ll also get features like Multi-Window, Page Buddy, Smart Rotation and of course, Google Now. As usual, the update will roll out in phases depending on your country or carrier and is available via Kies or over the air.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: Sammobile

Weather Channel for Android gets tablet optimization, precise weather warnings

Weather Channel for Android gets tablet optimization, precise weather warnings

The Weather Channel has dwelt mostly on its iOS apps as of late, but don’t worry — it’s lavishing attention on forecast-minded Android users today. As of version 4.0, the Android app is optimized for tablets and gives a better heads-up for the conditions ahead from your Nexus 7. Other tweaks are more for feature parity, including precisely-timed warnings for significant weather changes, faster radar maps and higher-detail forecasts. Favorites also help with Android-specific widgets. Should you need to know more about the rain or snow than a Google Now card can deliver, the Weather Channel revamp is ready at the source.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: Google Play

T-Mobile Sonic 2.0 LTE hotspot reportedly poses for a press image

TMobile's Sonic 20 LTE hotspot poses for a press image

We’ve previously had just a smattering of text to hint that T-Mobile might kick off its formal LTE launch with a Sonic 2.0 Mobile Hotspot. Things just got more tangible this weekend through an apparent TmoNews leak. The really-truly-4G pocket router has surfaced in a supposed press render that’s fairly plain looking, but suggests a little sophistication through a color screen. We’re still missing the rather important details of the Sonic 2.0’s performance and price; if prior tips are on the mark, though, we’ll have our answers (and more devices) in about six weeks.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: TmoNews

Fleksy predictive keyboard is free for iOS now and forever

DNP Fleksy predictive keyboard is free for iOS now and forever

We’ve long been fans of Syntellia’s Fleksy for its astonishingly accurate predictive touch keyboard, and were excited to see an Android version finally come out to play at CES 2013. Well now there’s news that’ll please fans on the iOS side: the company has announced the full version of the app, formerly $4.99, is now available for the unbeatable price of free. This isn’t just a special weekend offer either; CEO Kostas Eleftheriou told us in an email that it’ll be free forever. Eleftheriou said that this is in the interest of a “more open keyboard space, so that more innovations can happen in the area,” but also as a service to the blind community, which was Fleksy’s original target audience.

Interestingly, the updated app even includes a direct button to email Apple’s CEO Tim Cook so that users can advocate for a more native OS-level integration of Fleksy. It’s an audacious goal, but as Eleftheriou stated in the blog post, it’s also one that many users have demanded. While we’re not sure if such a grass roots campaign will work with Cook and co., you can certainly download the new fully gratis version of Fleksy at the App Store source to give it a go yourself.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: Fleksy Blog, Fleksy (App Store)

Verizon wraps up 700MHz spectrum sales to three rural telecom firms

Verizon wraps up 700MHz spectrum sales to three rural telecom firms

While Verizon wasn’t quick to start selling 700MHz blocks to live up to the terms of its AWS purchase, it’s clearly willing to up the tempo. The carrier says it just finished deals this week to sell lower B-block 700MHz airwaves in Texas to already announced customer Nortex Communications as well as Oklahoma’s Panhandle Telecommunication Systems. We’re also learning that Verizon quietly signed off on a deal in mid-January that transfers A-block spectrum in Houston to Colorado Valley Communications. The agreements might not provide the interoperability with Verizon’s C-block that some crave, but they could still help level the playing field for smaller telecom outlets.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

LG touts 15 million Optimus L Series phones sold like so many refrigerators

LG touts 15 million Optimus LSeries phones sold like so many washing machines

As stylish as it can be, LG’s Optimus L Series is very appliance-like, the smartphone line that gets the job done versus the more luxuriant Optimus G. It’s almost no surprise, then, that LG’s sales rate has accelerated to the volume we’d expect from an air conditioner or fridge: just two months after the L Series hit 10 million in sales since launch, it’s already at 15 million. That’s no doubt heartening to LG, especially with the L Series II right around the corner. We doubt Samsung will break into cold sweats, though. When the Galaxy S III alone moved twice as many units by November of last year, LG still has some catching up to do in 2013.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Bump app now allows transfers of any file between phone and computer

Bump app now allows file transfers between phone and computer

We’ve seen the Bump app evolve from just a way to transfer contacts to a version that allows for mobile payments and one that lets you share photos between your phone and your computer. Now the company has expanded its feature set to transferring files of all kinds, be they photos, videos or Word documents. Simply enable the location feature in your browser, tap the files you want to move over, slap that spacebar button with your phone and the files will be on their way. They’ll actually head over to Bump’s servers and not your desktop, but you can still easily download them if you so choose. The updated app is available on iOS and Android today, so you can start bumping your files over right now.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Bump

Mystery Nokia smartphone flaunted in European Lumia 920 ad

Nokia Lumia 920 ad from Europe shows a mystery model

A recent Nokia Lumia 920 TV commercial from Netherlands carrier KPN Mobiel — spotted by My Nokia Blog — shows a curious yellow handset at the five second mark, and after squinting for a bit we’re still not sure what we’re seeing. It’s obviously not a 920, and it doesn’t match any other existing models that we can remember. Our mobile experts noticed that it vaguely resembles the Nokia Lumia 822 from US carrier Verizon, but the headphone nub, camera pod position and tapered design don’t match that model — which also appears to be smaller than the one pictured above. Could the Finnish carrier be holding out on us until Mobile World Congress 2013? Or is it some kind of Dutch variant of the 822? We’ve no idea, but if any of you do, we’re sure you’ll let us know below. You can scope the video after the fold.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Via: WM Power User

Source: KPM (YouTube)

Nokia Music+ goes live for UK listeners at £4 per month (video)

Nokia Music goes live for

Nokia set broad targets for the launch of Music+ that left some of its audience wondering just when they’d have their turn. For the UK, that’s now. Those willing to drop £4 per month (or use a one-week trial) will get the promised unlimited offline downloads to their Lumia, improved audio quality, unlimited radio skips and web streaming. Americans still don’t have a firm date for their turn at a Music+ subscription, although they’ll get a better deal with a $4 monthly outlay.

[Thanks, Alam]

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Via: Symbian Tweet, WMPowerUser

Source: Nokia Music (Twitter)

Rogers CEO to step down next year, search begins for a successor

Rogers CEO to step down next year, search begins for a successor

Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed took over for company founder Ted Rogers in the Canadian communications company’s top post back in March of 2009, and today announced he will step down in January 2014. The news comes along with Rogers fourth quarter earnings announcement, where it noted 58,000 net subscriber additions for wireless and 7,000 for cable. Milestones achieved in the last year include the rollout of NextBox 2.0 features for cable TV viewers and LTE coverage it says reaches 60 percent of Canadians. Meanwhile Mohamed leaves able to note the company becoming Canada’s largest wireless carrier during his leadership. We don’t know yet who will step up in his place, but the press release mentioned Rogers family members Edward and Melinda — currently serving as a Deputy Chairman and Senior VP, respectively — will not submit their names for candidacy. We have submitted the names of Engadget mobile editors (and native Canadians) Myriam Joire and Sean Cooper for consideration, but have yet to hear back from the search committee.

Filed under: , , , ,

Comments

Source: Rogers Q4 earnings