Microsoft Build 2014: Windows Phone 8.1 with Cortana and Action Center, Windows to Bring Back Start Menu

Today in San Francisco’s Moscone Center, Microsoft kicked off its annual Build developers conference. Up until now, many had been questioning Microsoft’s continued relevance in this new mobile-friendly age. However, today’s keynote clearly shows that Microsoft doesn’t intend on letting Google and Apple have all the fun.

Does Windows have what it takes to be your platform of choice in 2014? Read on to find out more about what Microsoft has in store for Windows and Windows Phone.

Windows Phone 8.1

Microsoft began today’s keynote by talking about the future of Windows Phone. As we’ve known ever since the middle of December, WP8.1 has been poised to provide a major facelift to Microsoft’s struggling mobile OS. Now, Windows Phone 8.1 is official here.

First up, we have Cortana. Just like Google Now and Apple’s Siri, Cortana can place calls, send messages, schedule appointments, set reminders, create notes, set alarms, play music, get directions, and search the Web. This functionality can also be extended via third party apps.

Despite its similarities to other digital assistants, Microsoft states that Cortana is able to get to know you more than what you’d expect from “a mere search engine.” While the not-so-subtle jab may vastly underplay Google Now’s features, there is some merit to the claim. Cortana’s keeps a “notebook,” which puts you in control of how Cortana interacts with you. This notebook allows you to customize your interests, inner circle of people who matter most, quiet hours, people who can break through quiet hours restrictions, and much more.

Next up on the topic of personalization are personalized lock screens and tile customization. Like we’ve already seen for some time on Android, WP8.1 allows developers to take control of the lock screen to deliver highly themed, custom experiences. In addition, users can now heavily customize their start screens by adding backgrounds and configuring how many tiles are displayed.

Windows Phone 8.1 finally brings proper notification handling. Dubbed “Action Center,” Microsoft’s take on the Android notification shade offers four customizable quick settings atop a standard notifications from all apps. This is accessible all throughout the entire UI, including the lock screen.

Windows 8.1 and Beyond

Microsoft also talked quite a bit about the future of traditional Windows. For starters, many will be elated to learn that Microsoft is bringing back the Start Menu with an update coming later this year. The revised Start Menu is essentially the Windows 7 Start Menu with some Windows 8 flair. It’s about the same size as what we’re used to in Windows 7, but with the added benefit of also displaying Windows 8 Live Tiles.

In addition to the new Start Menu, Microsoft is also introducing a new interface mode that allows you to run Modern UI apps while in Desktop mode. Furthermore, a substantial update to Windows 8.1 to improve keyboard and mouse usability is coming in under a week. This will bring an ever present task bar, which allows users to seamlessly switch between apps just like what was possible on Windows 7.

Unified Apps

Finally, Microsoft also talked about making applications easier to code across all of its platforms. Now, developers can create a single app that works on Windows Phone, traditional Windows, and even the Xbox One. With this, developers can allow consumers to purchase an app on one device and access it on any connected Windows device.

What do you think of Microsoft’s announcements today at Build? Does the prospect of Unified Apps help developers and consumers? Are you glad to one day get the Start Menu back? Let us know in the comments below. And if you’d like to watch the entire three hour keynote in its entirety, head over to Microsoft’s Channel 9.

Protect Your Device Like a Pro with Cyclic Lock Xposed Module

Privacy is an important topic in Android and mobile computing in general. Since its initial release, Google has implemented a few different ways of securing one’s device. But even now with face unlock and certain devices featuring fingerprint readers, the time-tested PIN and unlock patterns are still arguably the most popular. But the main disadvantage of these two methods is that prying eyes can easily see the code you are entering, compromising your data in the process.

If you care about your privacy as you should, an Xposed Framework module by XDA Senior Memberelesbb may be up your alley. A single pattern, PIN, or password may be easy to remember, but remembering three patterns is a bit more tricky. This module siwtches between patterns, PINs, or passwords cyclically to enhance security and prevent people from accessing your data. Since it’s Xposed module, you must be rooted and have Xposed Framework installed.

To up your device security, head over to the module thread and give Cyclic Lock a try

Convert Your HTC One (M8) to a Google Play Edition

To many, the HTC One (M8) is the ideal device. After all, it offers class-leading build quality, absolutely stunning aesthetics, powerful specifications, and a near perfect screen. However, there are those who don’t really care for the stock HTC Sense experience. Luckily, there’s a Google Play edition variant of the device, which gives you all of the hardware goodies of the M8, but with the Pure Google software we all know and love.

However, not everyone is willing (or able) to shell $700 for an unlocked phone direct from Google. Instead, most users purchase devices with a heavy carrier subsidy on contract. But now thanks to XDA Forum Moderator graffixnyc, you can get the GPe software experience on your standard M8.

The conversion process comes in a couple flavors. The first to be made available was a Nandroid backup image that can be restored using Phil’s CWM. After that, graffixnyc made it a little easier to install by providing this ROM as a recovery-flashable update.zip. Both builds are purely stock + root, as to give the authentic software experience. Finally, graffixnyc also ripped the stock GPe recovery, which can then be flashed through fastboot.

If you’d like to try out the GPe software on your M8, head over to the ROM thread. If you’re a developer looking for the stock Boot.img and System.img from the GPe device or if you’re an end-user looking for the CWM Nandroid, head over here. Finally, if you’d like to install the GPe recovery on your M8, check out this thread.

Oppo's Find 7 boasts up to 1440p display, 2.5GHz Snapdragon and 50MP photos

Two flavors of Oppo's new high-end phone launching this Spring

Chinese manufacturer Oppo has taken the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone, the Find 7. With an enormous 5.5-inch display and up to QHD (2560x1440) resolution, the Find 7 rivals the latest flagships from Samsung and Sony, boasting 538 pixels per inch. The top-end Find 7 model also features a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor (MSM8974AC) and 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a 3000mAh battery. There's also a less pricey 1080p version with a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 2800mAh cell.

But the major talking point is the Find 7's camera. It's got a 13-megapixel Sony IMX214 sensor, but software trickery allows it to shoot up to 50-megapixel images though a "Super Zoom" feature. And early sample shots from Engadget seem to show plenty of fine detail, even when viewed at full size. And the Oppo Find 7 also offers 4K video recording to boot, along with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

Other hardware tricks include rapid charging — Oppo claims it'll go from 0 to 75 percent in just 30 minutes — and MaxxAudio plus DiracHD audio enhancements. And software-wise, you're looking at Oppo's ColorOS, previously seen on the N1. Based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

The 1080p Oppo Find 7 (dubbed the Find 7a) will be available in China from mid-April, with the 1440p model following in May or June.

How to color code calendars on OS 10.2.1

One of the features I take advantage of most on my BlackBerry is the ability to color code my calendar. As someone with multiple accounts and appointments that populate more than one calendar, this presents an easy way to distinguish between them. 

Whether it be managing a calendar for work, personal, or for your BBM group, all you need to do is complete these steps to set the colors for each of them.  

• From the home screen launch the Calendarapplication
• Tap Settings > Calendar Colors
• Tap on the specific calendar you wish to change
• From the popup, choose from the 15 predefined colors and tap on a color
• Repeat the above steps for each calendar you wish to set a color for
• Press the back button twice to return to the main calendar screen

Once this is complete, every calendar appointment will show in separate color so that you can differentiate between events and which ones are associated with a certain account.

For more tips and tricks, be sure to check out all of our BlackBerry 10 help guides.

First dual-boot Windows Phone 8 and Android handsets said to arrive by June

Windows and Android are such good pals, they're quite literally inseparable on a number of dual-boot devices. 

Aside from some old community-driven projects, however, the relationship between Google's mobile OS and Windows Phone hasn't blossomed to a point where they're officially comfortable sharing a smartphone. Well, they better pencil in a bonding session, because The Times of India reportslocal manufacturer Karbonn is set to launch the first such dual-boot handset by June. With the ink now dry on a deal with Microsoft -- presumably a WP license agreed behind closed doors at MWC -- plans are to offer a range of split-personality devices with professional and tech-savvy types in mind. Perhaps they'll run Windows Phone 8.1 right off the bat, too, given the new version's broader hardware support, and show that you needn't create mutant advocates to tempt consumers one way or another.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 (Complete Details)

Samsung has finally pulled the curtains on the next-generation Galaxy smartphone – theSamsung Galaxy S 5 is finally here! Those of you who couldn’t wait for the device would be happy to know that the Samsung Galaxy S 5 has received some major upgrades. Well, without waiting any more time lets take a look at what’s new in the Samsung Galaxy S 5.

Samsung Galaxy S 5

Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone manufacture by volume, pumping millions upon millions of smartphones around the world. These smartphones range from low to expensive ones, but the smartphone that you will be interested is the flagship one; the top of the range;the Galaxy S 5.

Today in Barcelona, Samsung unveiled the next-generation smartphone, the ultimate device for Samsung and Android fans.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Design

Let’s begin with the design of the Samsung Galaxy S 5. As you can see from the pictures above and below, the design of the Galaxy S 5 is almost similar to that of its predecessor, the Galaxy S 4. In fact, from the front, both devices are completely the same, one might mistakethe Galaxy S 5 for the 4; something which happened with Apple’s iPhone.

But the back is an entire different story. The Samsung Galaxy S 5 has a perforated back, removing the cheap plastic-y look previous Samsung phones had. This is an update which you might be happy with.

The Galaxy S 5 has a 5.1 inch Super AMOLED 1080p display, almost similar to the Galaxy S 4. The Galaxy S 5 also includes a fingerprint sensor just like the iPhone 5S. But you will have to swipe slightly above the home button to activate it, unlike the iPhone.

Another welcoming feature for the Galaxy S 5 is the IP67-rated water and dust resistance. What this means is that you can submerge your Galaxy S 5 up to one meter (three feet) in water for up to 30 minutes; and it is also dust resistance – which is great.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Camera

Samsung has considerably improved the camera. The Samsung Galaxy S 5 now packs a cool 16 megapixel camera with amazing new features such as automatic HDR and Selective Autofocus.

Automatic HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows you to take great pictures, which many other smartphones already have. But the Galaxy S 5 has HDR for video too; the world’s first. The other interesting bit is the Selective Autofocus; meaning, you can now re-focus on a specific part even after taking the picture; no more blurry photos!

Samsung adds that it has improved the camera user experience, we are yet to find out what this exactly is once we get our hands on it.

Samsung Galaxy Specifications

Samsung has been known to include some powerful specs in their devices, and the Galaxy S 5 is no exception. Samsung Galaxy S5 packs a 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, an IR remote, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE/ANT+, Cat 4 LTE. You get storages of 16GB or 32GB, depending on which one you want.

According to Samsung, they have included the world’s first MIMO tech in a smartphone with the fifth-generation WiFi – 802.11 ac; which is currently used in latest computers.

The battery has been upgraded too, it now features 2800 mAH; which in smartphone terms is quite a lot. This battery will power your Galaxy S5 up to 10 hours of web surfing on 4G LTE, and 12 hours of video playback. The Galaxy S5 has a feature called “Ultra Power Saver Mode” which will only use the most important functions of your device to conserve power. Samsung mentions if you turn on the utlra power saver mode on 10 percent battery, the Galaxy S 5 will last for 24 hours on stand by – which is pretty good.

The Galaxy S5 features an adaptive display which will control your screen based on your surrounds (not sure how this is different from normal “brightness control”). It also has a super dimming mode for those night times.

Samsung Galaxy Health

The technology world is moving towards health and Samsung is leading the way. Samsung today announced a complete new feature and a first of its kind on a mobile device – a heart rate monitor.

The heart rate monitor is situated slightly below the rear camera (you can see from the image above). You simply place your finger on the monitor and it will give you a reading within 5-10 seconds. And, according to initial hands-on, it works as advertised.

Samsung with its new S Health app will track and give you feedback on your health and exercise activities. It calls this new feature the “coach”; a coach that is with you all the time to help you stay fit.

This is definitely a welcome feature from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Price

If you have been impressed with the smartphone, then this is the next thing you want to hear about. What exactly is the price of the Samsung Galaxy S 5? Well Samsung did not give an official price of the device at the stage. But what we do know is that Samsung Galaxy S5 will be available in 150+ countries on April 11; that is the launch date of the Galaxy S 5.

Samsung has definitely introduced a great smartphone, it has paved the way for its future products and set goals on what it wants in the up-coming years. But is the Samsung Galaxy S5 a device worth buying? Well, if you want to take a leap over to Android’s side from another operating system, then the Galaxy S 5 is currently the best smartphone you could go for. But if you own a previous version, then you might think twice before actually buying it.

Artemis pCell promises perfect phone signal

Artemis pCell is a new technology that, according to the company, would give 4G smartphones like thei Phone 5s and the Samsung Galaxy S4 a perfect connection, no matter how many people were around you.

Whereas conventional networks rely on large cell towers to broadcast the mobile phone signal, pCell uses numerous smaller pWave transmitters dotted around a location, they then work together to cut through the noise and give each smartphone its own personal cell.

What this means then is that rather than sharing a cell with hundreds, or even thousands of other people your phone would be getting the full signal possible, and along with it, the fastest speed.

The pWave is still in development at the moment but the company's founder and ex-OnLive CEO Steve Perlman has already given a demonstration in New York showing how with the pWave he can stream four 1080p Netflix shows and two 4K trailers all over the same 4G network.

Whilst for the moment this may not be an essential purchase for consumers it certainly seems to solve the common problem of phone signal dropping drastically in crowded areas like stadiums, shopping malls and city centres.

Apple should consider building an Android phone, says co-founder Steve Wozniak

Speaking at the Apps World conference in San Francisco, Steve Wozniak has suggested that Apple might want to consider offering an Android-based phone, before it potentially suffers the same fate as BlackBerry. ”There’s nothing to keep Apple out of the Android market as a secondary phone market,” said Wozniak. Woz, who co-founded Apple, seemed to be making the remarks in response to the fact that Apple might not be able to produce the next killer product that everyone expects, and that unless it can continue to innovate, it could go the way of BlackBerry, which was knocked out of the running far faster than anyone would’ve expected. Personally, I think hell would freeze over before Apple released an Android phone.

Apple, according to Wozniak, has been rather fortunate in the last decade with the massive success of the iPhone and iPad. ”A whole new category of product doesn’t happen very often,” said Woz. If it can’t create another new category, then Apple will have to face some tough decisions — such as releasing an Android phone. Woz thinks that BlackBerry could’ve saved itself if it had switched to Android, rather than developing its own OS. ”BlackBerry’s very sad for me…  [but] I think it’s probably too late now [for an Android-based phone].”

Now, if we just loosen our grip on reality for a moment and actually consider what an Android iPhone would be like… well, I think we can all agree that it would be pretty awesome. Imagine a version of Android that has been tweaked to be as polished as iOS, running on iPhone-like hardware. I guess Apple would call it the aPhone — and, presumably, it would have the usual slew of first-party Google apps (Gmail, Chrome, Play) and access to the million-odd Android apps. I can’t see any reason Google (which retains control over who can make official Android devices) wouldn’t let Apple join the party. And yes, if such an aPhone ever came to market, I’d buy it in an instant – especially if it played nicely with the iOS ecosystem (Apple TV, AirPlay, AirDrop, etc.)

Should Microsoft kill Windows Phone and switch to Android?

I’ve just had an interesting idea (which is pretty rare at the end of a long, hard week). What if Microsoft’s new CEO,Satya Nadella, drops Windows Phone in favor of Android? This might seem crazy, given the amount of time and money that Microsoft has put into Windows Phone — but desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Adding credence to this idea is the Nokia X (codenamed Normandy) — a Lumia-style phone that runs Android. This mid-range phone, despite Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia, still looks like it’s going to come to market this spring. Is it possible that Microsoft is waiting to see how the Nokia X does, before making a decision on the continuation of Windows Phone?

Now, there is obviously a lot of inertia against this idea. Microsoft has worked very, very hard to make Windows Phone a viable third option alongside iOS and Android. It’s not quite there, but it’s getting tantalizingly close. Presumably, Windows Phone 8.1, due out in the first half of the year, will finally push us over the “hey, this is actually really cool” threshold. Likewise, and perhaps more importantly, Microsoft has spent a lot of time and money cultivating an army of Windows Phone app developers — developers that, confronted with the runaway success of iOS and Android, probably took a lot of convincing.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Hardware specs, software, and release date rounded up

It is now all but confirmed that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 will be unveiled on February 24 at Mobile WorldCongress in Barcelona. Earlier this week, Samsung sent out invites to an “Unpacked 5″ event, and in the last few days various insiders have leaked information about the event itself. While the S4 was released at a glitzy soiree in New York City, insiders say that the S5 will have a more reserved, business-like introduction in Barcelona. Another inside says that Samsung won’t be putting quite so much emphasis on gimmicky features, such as the S4′s Air View, with the S5 — instead, we should expect gentler, more mature innovation.

The rumor mill currently indicates that the Galaxy S5 will have an ultra-high-resolution screen (possibly 2560×1440), an all-new aluminium chassis, and possibly some kind ofbiometric scanner (fingerprint or retina). If the Galaxy S5 is unveiled in Barcelona, it will probably be released some time in March.

Let’s dive into everything that we know about the Galaxy S5′s hardware, software, release date, and price.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Hardware specs, software, and release date rounded up

• By Sebastian Anthony on February 6, 2014 at 12:38 pm
• 33 Comments

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It is now all but confirmed that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 will be unveiled on February 24 at Mobile WorldCongress in Barcelona. Earlier this week, Samsung sent out invites to an “Unpacked 5″ event, and in the last few days various insiders have leaked information about the event itself. While the S4 was released at a glitzy soiree in New York City, insiders say that the S5 will have a more reserved, business-like introduction in Barcelona. Another inside says that Samsung won’t be putting quite so much emphasis on gimmicky features, such as the S4′s Air View, with the S5 — instead, we should expect gentler, more mature innovation.

The rumor mill currently indicates that the Galaxy S5 will have an ultra-high-resolution screen (possibly 2560×1440), an all-new aluminium chassis, and possibly some kind ofbiometric scanner (fingerprint or retina). If the Galaxy S5 is unveiled in Barcelona, it will probably be released some time in March.

Let’s dive into everything that we know about the Galaxy S5′s hardware, software, release date, and price.

Galaxy S5 release date

First off, we should note that Unpacked 5 isn’t guaranteed to be the launch of the Galaxy S5. Previously, it was rumored that Samsung’s MWC event would focus on software and its Tizen phones, with the Galaxy S5 receiving its own separate event in the following weeks. Given the invitation’s prominent use of the number 5, though, it would be very sneaky if Samsung didn’t unveil the Galaxy S5 at MWC. Samsung tends to release its flagship Galaxy phones about a month after their unveil — so expect a Galaxy S5 release date around the end of March or beginning of April.

Galaxy S5 hardware specs

Rather unusually for a smartphone, the Galaxy S5′s hardware spec is still quite nebulous. Most reports agree that the Galaxy S5 will receive a higher-res screen — possibly as high as 2560×1440 (560 ppi, if the screen size remains at five inches). Beyond that, it’s mostly guesswork. The S5 will almost certainly have a beefy SoC — but odds are, it probably won’t be a 64-bit chip (except for Apple’s A7, there simply aren’t any 64-bit ARM chips ready to go). RAM-wise, there are a few reports that the Galaxy S5 might be the first smartphone with 4GB of RAM.

There are also fairly solid rumors that the Galaxy S5 will have some kind of biometric sensor — either a fingerprint or retina scanner. Evleaks, a fairly renowned leaker with a good track record, says the S5 will have a fingerprint scanner.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch

The third generation of Galaxy Tab slates consists of three tablets of different sizes, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch is the middle child in the family. It is an Android 4.2.2 based tablet that fits perfectly in the mid-range category – with an 8-inch touchscreen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and a 5MP auto-focus camera to top it all off. But hardware specs aren't all that this device has to grab our attention with. The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 actually stands out with being pretty light and portable for its class. But ultimately, is it worth getting? Read on to find out!

Ubuntu for android

Today in the world of computer operating system we found many OS such as windows,ubuntu(linux-open source) etc.What is more important to us is the integration of the os with the mobile phones or tab but as we know android ,ios,windows, already covered the mobile OS market in the world. So planning to launch a new os is wastefull idea looking at ths scenario ubuntu developers came up with a brilliant idea of integrating ubuntu with the android os. 

Xolo Q2000

Indian handset brand, Xolo, recently launched its new smartphone or rather phablet, the Xolo Q2000, which features the company's biggest screen on a smartphone, yet. The phone boasts of decent hardware specifications and promises to offer all the features of a modern phablet at an economy price point. Is it good enough to take on the likes of Samsung's alphabets
Build/ Design
When you first look at the Xolo Q2000, you realise it's a big black slab with a utilitarian design, not evoking any emotions. The phone's front features its massive 5.5-inch IPS display, the three capacitive touch buttons for navigating around the phone's interface placed below it, and the sensor array and the front-camera lens, placed above it. Enclosed in a plastic frame, the bottom edges out, creating a small chin-like extension.

The Q2000 is rectangular with corners that are not rounded, giving it a sharp look.

The left edge of the Xolo Q2000 features the Power/ Screen lock key, while the left edge houses the volume rocker. Both the keys are made of plastic and offer decent tactile feedback. The top edge sports the Micro-USB port and the 3.5mm headset jack. The edges feature a sturdy frame which appears to be made from polycarbonate, bearing a glossy finish.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 To Be Launched In January 2014!

t seems Samsung is pumping out new smartphones every day and today we have the news many Samsung fans would want to hear. A release date for the next generation Samsung Galaxy – the Samsung Galaxy S 5! According to a report from a Korean newspaper;Samsung Galaxy S 5 will be launched in January next year! Check out the details below.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Release Date

Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 this year and it shattered all previous records. It sold a staggering 10 million units in the first month it was released, although not huge compared to Apple’s standard but huge nonetheless.

Well it seems some records are going to be broken after a couple of months when Samsung announces the new smartphone. Samsung is expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S 5 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2014!

This report comes directly from the home ground of Samsung. The Korean site Naver, which is run by former Samsung employees mention that Samsung is planning to launch the next iteration of the Galaxy series somewhere in January 2014.

This might surprise some of you, considering Samsung Galaxy S 5 is expected to go on sale somewhere in mid 2014.

Although no major details have been leaked regarding the Samsung Galaxy S 5, it is expected that this device will pack a; 16 mega-pixel camera, Samsung Exynos processor, and an eight-core chip.

Samsung has been rolling out new smartphones  almost every week, it started with the Samsung Galaxy Round, the world’s first curved display smartphone and recently theSamsung Galaxy J – an upgraded version of the Galaxy S 4.

This is just a rumor, so don’t take this as the final word. More on this soon.
Via:Maypalo

Download BBM iPad & iPod Touch (Link)

It has finally come to iPad and iPod touch. Blackberry Messenger, Blackberry’s most popular tool in staying in the smartphone market is now available on the iPad and iPod touch! Yes folks, those of you who were waiting for BBM to be available for the iPad and iPod touch should now rejoice. Download BBM for iPad and iPod touch from the download  link below.

Download BBM iPad & iPod Touch

Blackberry Messenger, or commonly known as BBM initially launched on the iPhone and Android smartphones couple of weeks back. The response was so immense that Blackberry had to start a que system for people to use the BBM service. Just goes to show how popular BBM is even though Blackberry smartphones have lost a huge chunk of smartphone market share.

Although previously there was a waiting system for people to use BBM but it seems that those of you who are downloading BBM for iPad and iPod touch won’t have to wait. Download it and start messaging your friends and family!

Here is the change log for the new version of BBM:

• Support for iPod and iPad.

• Invite BBM contacts to BBM Groups by Email.

• Tell your friends’ feature helps you connect with friends on BBM.

• Quickly share your BBM PIN and PIN bar code to your social networks.

• Fixes an issue where some users would be missing BBM Contact names.

• Resolves some issues experienced in right to left language support.

• Bug fixes and performance improvements.

This is definitely great news for those people with iPad and iPod touch, as they will finally be able to download BBM for iPad and iPod touch. This way it gives those Wi-Fi only devices a means to text friends and family on non-iOS devices. BBM is a cross-platform messaging service unlike any other!

Those of you who have used Blackberry Messenger on any other device should just go ahead and download BBM from the link below. But if this is the first time you are downloading BBM for your electronic device – well,  just download it anyway.

Download BBM for iPad, iPod Touch, & iPhone.

People who have downloaded BBM for iPad and iPod touch are mentioning that it is just a stretched-out version of the iPhone version. Well we are expecting a more personalized version for the iPad and iPod touch in the coming weeks, so don’t complain too much.

HTC BUTTERFLY S (Pictorial)

                             

iPhone 5S Vs Galaxy S 4 Vs HTC One Vs Lumia 1020! (Table)

Apple yesterday at its Cupertino campus announced the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C to the world. These both new devices are the next generation products from Apple – especially the iPhone 5S. So how does the iPhone 5S compare to the competition especially the market leaders? Well check out the comparison chart below which shows ” iPhone 5S vs Galaxy S 4 vs HTC One Vs Lumia 1020.

iPhone 5S vs Competition

Were you thinking to buy the iPhone 5S once it was released to the public? If yes, then you should definitely check out the table below which shows a comparison between all the top smartphones especially the ones that are going to give the iPhone 5S a tough competition.

The table has been compiled below to give you an idea on which smartphone is the best among the iPhone 5S, Galaxy S 4, HTC One, and Lumia 1020.

	iPhone 5S	Galaxy S4	HTC One	Lumia 1020
Screen Size	4 inches	5 inches	4.7 inches	4.5 inches
Resolution	1136 x 640	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080	1280 x 768
Screen Type/ppi (pixels per inch)	LCD, 326 ppi	Super AMOLED, 441 ppi	S-LCD 3, 468 ppi	AMOLED, 334 ppi
Weight	3.9 oz	4.6 oz	5 oz	5.5 oz
Chipset	A7 64-bit chip, M7 motion co-processor	Quad-core 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 in the U.S. (8-core 1.8GHz Exnyos 5 Octa elsewhere)	Quad-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (Dual-core 1.5 GHz)
Storage	16GB, 32GB or 64GB, no card slot	16GB, 32GB or 64GB +microSD slot	32GB or 64GB, no card slot	32GB, no card slot
Connectors	Apple Lightning	microUSB	microUSB	microUSB
Operating System	iOS 7	Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	Windows Phone 8
Battery (in milliamperes/hour)	1,434 mAh, LTE browsing time 10hrs	2,600 mAh	2,300 mAh	2,000 mAh
Camera	8MP, True Tone dual LED flash, burst mode 10fps, auto image stabilization, 720p HD video at 120fps slow-mo	13MP autofocus, LED flash & zero shutter lag	4MP (“ultrapixels”)	41MP, PureView, Xenon Flash
Networking	Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
U.S. Price (with 2-year contract)	$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB	$199.99 for 16GB, $299.99 for 32GB	$199.99	$199.99

After looking at the table above, which one do you think is the best smartphone in the world? 

Via: Maypalo.com

BlackBerry Z10

BlackBerry Z10

BlackBerry is (sort of) back - there's no doubt about that after the huge launch of the BlackBerry Z10 and it's BB10 operating system. The lateness of said launch caused some to question the relevance of the phones, but it's still a phone that ticks a lot of boxes.

The BlackBerry Z10's Peek function, interesting camera features and ability to offer you a work and life balance will appeal to a lot of people who struggle to carry around two handsets when the office won't let you bring the iPhone in.

The Z10 has a quality finish as well as a clever interface, and the expandable storage, removable battery and Adobe Flash support are all small wins for the Z10 and will help as it tries to stand out in a crowded market.

Add in the presence of BlackBerry 10.2 to supercharge the OS (to some extent - improving the Priority Hub is a nice move) and you can see it's not game over for BB just yet.

Sony Xperia SP

Sony Xperia SP

The Sony Xperia SP is a phone that's flown a little under the radar in recent
months: a phone with a decent spec list that can be had for a fair few quid under £300.

One of the main draws is the camera, where the range of settings and the quality of the images it produces were well beyond what we would expect from a smartphone at this price.

It's become an indispensable tool of any modern handset, and Sony has concentrated its efforts to make sure this part of the Sony Xperia SP really punches above its weight.

There are other things we really dig on the SP too: the inclusion of a microSD slot is always welcome, and the Walkman app makes a mid-range handset really shine for the music lover.

It's also packing 4G connectivity for speedy data on the go, which again is really rather nice for the price - in short, it's a handset that outperforms its price tag.