New location settings for Android 4.4 Kitkat

If a new rumor is to be believed, Android’s location access screen is getting a makeover in the upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat update.

The news comes by way of Android Police, where the site has recently received screenshots of the new changes. As you’ll see in the images below, not only is the Location Access screen’s layout quite a bit different in Android 4.4 KitKat, the screen name has also been shortened to simply “Location’.

So what’s new here? First, the location on/off toggle is moving to the top right corner of the location screen. Next, the location source checkboxes are gone and have been replaced by a new sub-screen called Location Mode.

Within the location mode screen you’ll find three different location modes: High Accuracy (GPS/Wi-Fi/Mobile network), Battery Saving (Wi-Fi/Mobile networks) and device sensors only (GPS). This might not be a massive change, but it certainly is a bit of an easier, straightforward way of doing things as opposed to the old checkbox method.

Left: Android 4.4 KitKat                                              Right: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (TouchWiz)

Left: Android 4.4 KitKat                               Right: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

The final noticeable change in the new ‘Location’ screen is that there is now a spot that shows recent location requests, which could certainly come in handy if you want to get a better idea of what apps are accessing your location data. The recent location requests info may also be useful in figuring out GPS-related battery drain issues.

Although none of these changes seem particularly crazy or unbelievable, it’s important to remember that the new location access changes are currently unofficial. Even if the screenshots are legit, there’s no way to guarantee these changes will make their way into the release build of Android 4.4 KitKat – though it certainly wouldn’t surprise us if they did.

What do you think of the new ‘location’ screen, like the changes or not?

From: http://www.androidauthority.com/android-4-4-location-settings-282262/

Sony QX10 and Sony QX100

With Sony QX100 and Sony QX10 you can transform your mobile phone into a high quality camera. They are compatible with almost any terminal and we don't need to attach the objetives to the phone, so we can use them as if they were external cameras .

More and more mobile phone users who decide to enter the world of photography. But the truth is that there comes a point at which the cameras that incorporate terminals often fall short . For this, Sony has released these two external objectives that provide a high quality camera and possibilities to virtually any smartphone. Presented at the IFA in Berlin , are now available in Spain .

Sony QX10

Target is more economical of the two launched by Sony . With a 18.2 megapixel sensor and 10x optical zoom , image stabilizer features and is capax FullHD video recording .

It also has WiFi to connect to the phone and be controlled from the same to transfer photos to phone memory etc. .

It costs € 197 in the black version and 200 € in the white version .

Sony QX -100

This lens has a higher economic level than his brother , and the difference is considerable. In this case , the sensor is 20.2 megapixels and optical zoom is even lower, at 3.6 magnification, also features image stabilization and can record in full HD .

Other improvements over the previous model , in this case, the optical lens is Carl Zeiss . A more professional end goal . This superiority is seen in the price around 450 € .

Click below to watch a video showing its operation .

You can purchase the devices through the following links:

• Sony QX10
• Sony QX10 White
• Sony QX100

Leak shows off new Sony Lens cameras that can be attached to a smartphone

Sony seems to have a new, innovative product up their sleeve. This is a leak and a rumor, but it’s pretty damn credible. The rumored devices are the DSC-QX10 and QX100, which are new products Sony will probably call “lens cameras.” With a lens, image sensor, BIONZ image processor, WiFi, NFC and an SD slot, they are fully equipped to take high quality photos. However, they lack a screen or any way to control them.

They are made to attach to a smartphone. Using WiFI and/or NFC, they will connect to the phone and allow it to control the lens camera. With this fairly small accessory, you’ll be able to take awesome photos on the go using your favorite smartphone. And best of all, these accessories will work with both Android and iOS devices.

According to this leak, there will be two models. The bigger one will contain the 20.2MP RX100 Mark II sensor, which is a very large 1-inch sensor. The other model will come with a smaller 1/2.3-inch 18MP sensor and 10x zoom lens. Those are pretty impressive sensors for phone accessories.

This photo is a double leak, because if you look closer, the phone that is being used is actually the rumored Sony Honami.

We hope that Sony will price these devices well, because these could really improve mobile photography while we wait for phones to get better sensors and lenses. We may see these devices at IFA on September 4, so stay tuned. Would you get one? And if not, tell us why!

Copied from: http://androidandme.com/2013/08/devices/new-leak-shows-off-sony-lens-cameras-that-attach-to-and-are-controlled-by-a-smartphone/

Motorola Moto X is here!

The Motorola Moto X has finally been officially unveiled in New York shows all the details of the smartphone and clarifying or denying all the rumors and leaks that have plied cyberspace recent months. One of the most anticipated terminals of recent times and the first to launch the American company since its acquisition by Google, the Moto X will continue to be debated at length. Keep reading and you have all features.

We carry several months hearing about this phone. With rumors, leaks, specification sheets and videos that we showed the benefits of the expected terminal. Much noise, but really, how many nuts are there?

As many. The Moto X has several keys that can make a star smarpthone rivaling the iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One or the Sony Xperia Z.

The first key for the Moto X is so much to say which is the first major release of Motorola since it was bought by Google. While it is true that recently have come to light Mini Motorola Droid, Droid Droid Ultra and Max, the truth is that they are exclusive models made specifically for Verizon in the United States. In fact, the Moto X is the first handset from Motorola in which Google has messed with, influencing the final result, bringing it much closer to the Nexus range than previous Motorola handsets.

But to the point and go to the final specifications.

Specifications of Motorola Moto X:

Motorola Chipset X8

Qualcomm dual-core processor at 1.7GHz S4 Pro MSM8960DT

Adreno 320 GPU

2GB of RAM

Internal memory of 16GB and 32GB

AMOLED display 4.7 "with a resolution of 720p

10MP rear camera and LED flash Clear Pixel 2.1MP front and both with the possibility of video recording at 1080p

802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi

Bluetooth 4.0 LE + EDR

4G - LTE

Android 4.2.2 (stock version, very slightly modified)

NFC Chip

Battery non-removable 2,200 mAh that promises 13 hours of talk time and 24 normal use.

Dimensions: 128.5 x 65 mm

130 grams

2 years free storage 50GBs Google Drive

Specifications include it somewhere between medium and high. But let these specifications for parts.

Chipset:

The Motorola X8 is the chipset that beats in the Moto X. It is a computer system comprising eight cores. A dual core CPU Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.7GHz running, to which is added the Adreno 320 graphics processor quad core. And say: "missing core, right?". Yes And is that the main CPU must add two chips than those of motorlola have called Contextual Natural Language Computing Processor and Processor.

In this case, the Snapdragon S4 Pro we found is not the same as found in other terminals, but has been modified and optimized by Motorola. By working together with these two extra chips that form the X8 motorola reduce consumption and increase the performance of the terminal.

The context processor is in charge of managing sensors, display, touch input, etc.. But the most interesting feature of this is that it can function as main CPU when the phone is in sleep mode, by switching to energy saving and turning off the S4 Pro

The natural language processor for its part, is responsible for tasks such as noise cancellation, or voice recognition, which will always be waiting to receive orders to begin to obey.

Thanks to this combination, it promises to increase the battery life considerably.

To ensure that both services in the background to handle the chips and functions as normal user programs run smoothly, have footwear Moto X with 2 GBs of RAM.

Display:

The display of the Moto X is a normal screen 4.7 inch high definition without being one of the best on the market, or the biggest, does the job perfectly and saves battery. With a definition of 720p and a density of 316 dpi is not Full HD, but this is reflected in a reduction in cost and lower energy consumption.

Furthermore, it should be noted that in these sizes of devices, the perception among the regular HD and Full HD is practically imperceptible.

Internal Memory:

Fulfilling the predictions, has been released in version 16 GBs and one of 32GBs exclusively for AT & T. But what is striking is that this space will not be expandable via microSD. Google already announced for Nexus 4 and it seems that now Motorola will continue this way.

I argued at the time that the management of the memory through microSD was ineffective, and relied more on cloud storage, policies that follow in this new terminal.

Battery:

The battery is 2200 mAh, a priori, does not seem too much, but keep in mind that is similar to riding the Samsung Galaxy S4. But if we take as reference the autonomy of this phone, and we add the efficiency of computer chip created especially to energy saving in the spotlight may be more than enough.

Camera:

The camera is one of the strengths of Moto X. Clear Pixel is a 10.5 MP camera that stands for a pixel size larger than most cameras, surpassed only by the camera UltraPixel HTC One

The videos can be recorded at 1080p and 60 FPS with a 30 FPS Slow Motion.

It also has a 2.1 MP front camera for video calls and hangouts.

Design:

The design is one of the aspects that have led to talk of Moto X. They spoke of many customization options for what we found among the 18 combinations backshells to which we add that we can change the front panel (choice of white or black), side buttons, and the ring around the camera.

This phone features a Magic Crystal Glass, which has been created by Corning, the makers of Gorilla Glass, in collaboration with Motorola, and it is a crystal that not only is responsible for protecting the screen, but covers the entire front cover . This indicates that the resistance of the cell will be quite high.

Price and Availability:

What catches the attention and where they intend to strike hard with the Motorola Moto X is in the price. It goes for 199 € in his version of 16GBs and relieve the Nexus 4 as a phone with best quality / price. It is hoped that in Spain the price is of 199 €.

It is expected to cross U.S. borders and reaches the other markets later this year.

In short, a very interesting terminal with a more interesting price. While the Moto X is not the same height as the HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4, yes it brings features that make it worthy of being highlighted. And with such an attractive price, is a worthy rival to the great high-end devices in the market.

Now it remains to see how users respond against this presentation, and how they evolve sales and Moto X distribution worldwide.

Extracted from: http://androieo.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/el-motorola-moto-x-ya-es-oficial.html

Uses for your old Android devices

Have you got an old Android phone or tablet just wasting away and gathering dust in your cupboard? Well, what are you waiting for? Get it out of there. Now!

There’s so much that your Android device is capable of and you just haven’t realised it yet. So with a little bit of effort, you can help your old Android device break free from the depths of your cupboard.

1. Alarm clock

People still buy dedicated alarm clocks? Are you using your smartphone as an alarm clock? It’s easy to grab a dock and an app to create an Android powered alarm clock. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean might have added Daydream to make your alarm clock look more beautiful, but you don’t need to have the latest and greatest Android tablet or smartphone to use it as an alarm clock.

The Daydream feature in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean can be easily accomplished by other apps for lower versions of Android. They aren’t quite as elegant as Daydream though.

There are dozens of apps which can turn your Android tablet or smartphone into an alarm clock (Alarm Clock Xtreme is a popular one), and with a $10 dock from ebay, you can save yourself the trouble of buying a dedicated alarm clock. What’s even better is that if you are a particularly heavy sleeper, you can always plug your Android device into your surround system (or just a regular speaker) to make sure that you don’t miss that important meeting.

2. MP3 Player

Are you a heavy music listener? Your old Android smartphone or tablet is perfect for such situations. We are already trying to eke out every last drop of battery life from our Android smartphones, and if you are a particularly heavy music listener, you can waste a good 10% or more in one day of listening to music locally, never mind streaming it.

Luckily, you can use your old Android smartphone or tablet (smartphone would be more preferable in this situation for obvious reasons) as a dedicated MP3 player. This way you can conserve your precious battery life for more important matters. An old Android smartphone without a SIM card is also perfect for your gym sessions, so that you won’t be distracted by any phone calls or texts while you are working out.

You can also store your favourite videos for mobile viewing. So now you can watch Gangam Style to your heart’s content without taking a hit in the battery life department.

The Best MP3 Downloader Apps for Android [3:30]

The Best Equalizer Apps for Android [6:39]

3. Baby monitor/Security monitor

If you’ve got an IP camera then you can use your old Android smartphone or tablet as a monitor. Whether you want to keep an eye on the baby or you just want to know who’s at the door, your old Android smartphone or tablet fits the bill perfectly. You can even hook your tablet up on the wall to be used as an LCD monitor for a fixed position in your living room. Audio-only is so 20th century, and those dedicated LCD monitors can be costly, so using your old Android tablet or smartphone would be perfect.

Best app for the job: IP Cam Viewer Lite

4. A development device

So you’ve spent a few hours reading about these cool custom ROMs on the XDA forums, but you are afraid of bricking your shiny new Android device. Maybe you don’t want to lose your warranty. That’s why your old Android smartphone or tablet can be transformed into your development device so that you can explore the wonderful world of Android customization, without having to worry about bricking your device.

Paranoid Android (left), Cyanogen Mod (center), AOKP (right).

There are loads of custom ROMs to try, and if you have a particularly popular old smartphone or tablet, then you’ll be well supported by the development community.

5. DSLR Remote controller

If you like to experiment with your DSLR shots, pairing your old Android smartphone or tablet to your DSLR can bring some interesting shots. You can create great time lapse shots, time controlled HDR-sequences, and all sorts of other functions. If you’ve got an old Android tablet with Infrared built-in (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus), you can use the built-in IR blaster to control your DSLR as well.

Great app for the job: DSLR Remote

6. Cookbook

You can buy cooking books and tutorials from the Play Store or just use Youtube to watch tutorials.

Those cooking sessions can get messy, so using your old Android phone or tablet as a digital cookbook would be incredibly convenient. You can buy cooking books and tutorials from the Play Store or just use Youtube to watch tutorials. With your old Android phone or tablet by your side, all of those incredible dishes that you saw on TV and thought were impossible to make, can now become a reality.

Great apps for the job: Google Play Store, Youtube, Kindle app.

7. Digital photo frame

There are hundreds of Wi-Fi connected digital photo frames to choose from, but why spend money on something you already have. An Android tablet coupled with a dock would be perfect to show a slideshow of your favorite pictures on your tablet. There are dozens of apps to pick from, and you can even use it as a digital photo frame and a bedside alarm clock. Talk about multi-purpose.

Great app for the job: Photo Slides

8. Emulator console

Chances are that your old Android smartphone or tablet won’t be able to run the newest graphics intensive games, but that won’t stop them from being great emulator consoles. If you’d like to relive the glory days of your Game Boy’s, Play Station’s, Nintendo 64’s and all your other favourite older consoles, your old Android smartphone or tablet can do just that. With loads of emulators to choose from, you’ll be sure to find one for your respective console of choice.

Great apps to choose from: ePSXe for Android, SuperN64, My Boy! Free.

9. E-Reader

Just like MP3 players, very few people buy dedicated E-Readers anymore. Now instead of taking a battery hit on your smartphone while you’re reading your favourite novel, you can use your old smartphone or tablet as an E-Reader. What’s even better is that if you have an old Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy S2 or any other smartphone with an OLED display, you can switch to the night theme and enjoy incredible battery life thanks to the low energy consumption of OLED displays when showing predominantly black screens.

Great apps to choose from: Kindle app, Google Play Books.

10. There’s so much more you can do!

There are all sorts of other crazy, interesting use cases that can keep you busy long into the summer D.I.Y. season. You've just got to be a little imaginative.

We could’ve limited this list to 10 definitive choices, but there’s so much more you can do with your old Android tablet or smartphone. You can pilot quadrocopters, use them as media servers, install them on your car dashboard for in-car entertainment and GPS systems, use them as a controller for your home automation systems, and all sorts of other crazy, interesting use cases that can keep you busy long into the summer D.I.Y. season. You’ve just got to be a little imaginative.

You can also mix and match different ideas into the one tablet or smartphone so that you can use your old device for more than one purpose, and if you still haven’t found a good use for your old Android device, then you can sell or recycle it, or even donate it to a worthy cause.

Have you been inspired to break your old Android device free from the dark depths of your closet? Which idea interests you most?

- See more at: http://www.androidauthority.com/10-great-uses-old-android-phones-tablets-247254/#sthash.LVSK42fQ.dpuf

From: http://www.androidauthority.com/10-great-uses-old-android-phones-tablets-247254/

Google Maps brings back the offline maps on a new update

When Google launched its new Maps app for some users yesterday, it was criticized by some for the way offline maps had been handled. The feature, accessible via menus in earlier Maps versions, could only be activated by searching for "OK Maps" in the new app, in a sort of Easter egg.

Today the app has been updated once again with an easier way to download offline map caches — tap the (empty) search bar and you'll find "Make this map area available offline." It's perhaps not the most obvious place to put this feature, nor the most elegant-looking card, but we can't fault Google's fast turnaround on this issue. (The "OK Maps" shortcut will continue to function in the new version, Google says.)

In addition, there's now a "Where's Latitude" button in the main menu area linking to Google's support page on Latitude's retirement. The service, which is absent from the new Maps app, will be closed entirely on Aug. 9.

If you're running the new version of Maps, you should see an update to your app this morning. As an aside we're now starting to see the new Google Maps 7.0 on more of our devices, so if you're not updated yet you might want to check your Play Store app for updates.

You can see the original text at: http://www.androidcentral.com/new-google-maps-updated-offline-maps-button

Available Android 4.1.2 update for AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

You'll lose some of your customizations in the process, however

AT&T this morning dropped word that its version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 can now update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. 

That's the good news. The bad news is that you have to do it with Samsung KIES on a Mac or PC. A tethered update is better than no update at all, of course.

The update brings about the following improvements:

• Customizable widgets
• Improved text input and spell-checking
• New dictionaries for better error correction and word suggestion
• Enhanced web browsing and personalization capability
• Improved email management
• New technology for better security options
• Google Now with enhanced voice activation

That said, you'll also lose some customizations with this update. Paired Bluetooth devices will be removed, as will custom APNs. Home screens will be reset to the default Ice Cream Sandwich view, and the app menu will revert as well. Contacts and groups will still be on your tablet, but contacts will be removed from the groups. Also: Music playlists and settings will be rest.

Extracted from: http://www.androidcentral.com/android-412-update-available-att-s-samsung-galaxy-tab-2