Android 4.4: Nexus 5 at his best

The phone is made by LG Electronics, based on Google's designs. The new features succeeds in showcasing how Android can be at its best.

Here are few features of Google Nexus 5:

1. Price in India: Rs 28,999/ for a 16GB and Rs 32,999/ for the 32GB model. You cannot find such low price for smartphones with these features. Users have highlighted the low price as one of the main reasons for the popularity of Google Nexus 5.

2. Android 4.4 KitKat: Fast, Smooth, & Sexy. Google's operating system Android, which changed the way mobiles operate. We were having Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), an improved version which was again followed by Android Jelly Bean, a much faster and better OS. Android 4.4 KitKat is the latest version with faster, great features,  and definitely better UI.

3. Snapdragon 2.26 GHz: With a processor Google Nexus 5 is easily considered the best Android device in the market for its performance and specifications. Nexus 5 supports 2GB RAM, the Nexus 5, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, will runs very smooth.

4. Talktime of 17 hours: Google Nexus 5 have 2300 mAh battery which the Google claims gives 17 hours of talktime and 300 hours of standby time. How real is it, we will find out soon. Still, the best with the price tag.

5. Display: Nexus 5 comes with 4.95-inch full-HD IPS display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and a pixel density of 445ppi. The high-resolution screen on the Nexus 5 is one of the best, comparable to other phones from other companies like Samsung, HTC, it is even sharper than the iPhone. Moreover, it sports a Gorilla Glass 3 which is very light, thin and scratch-free.

WhatsApp: Now available for Nokia Asha 501

WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging services is finally available for the Nokia Asha 501. The hotly anticipated app will be available to download, following the over-the-air software update, which will roll out this week. It is already available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and Symbian platform.

"Starting November 21, all Nokia Asha 501 users can download the IM (instant messaging) application through a software update," the company said in a statement. The messaging service is already available on other Asha phones, which run on the older platform.

Launched in May, Asha 501 is the first device to run on the new Nokia Asha platform. Nokia said the new software also comes with a one-touch social sharing and a more intuitive home screen.

The WhatsApp app will allow the users to connect with their contacts and the app can be used over 2G networks, 3G networks and WiFi Connection. The app also offers message notifications and the activity with WhatsApp will get featured in the Fastlane of the Asha 501.

Nokia said the updated software with WhatsApp will come pre-installed in all new Nokia Asha 501 handsets, set to hit stores on December 5, 2013 and the existing users can update the software through an over-the-air update.

You may have already received a notification to update your Asha 501's software, but if not, we've got a few steps:

1. Go to "settings" then "phone update".
2. Use mobile data to check for the update. Make sure you're on Wifi to make the process as fast and smooth as possible.
3. Press "update" and presto – you will see the download progress, which takes just a few minutes.
4. When the update is done, a WhatsApp launcher will appear on your home screen. Press this to download and install the full app.
5. Still unsure? Learn more about the SW update here.

And there you have it. The features you need to be your most social self, directly from your Asha 501 smartphone.

WhatsApp currently has over 350 million monthly active users. It will also come pre-installed on the Nokia Asha 500, Asha 502 and Asha 503 Dual-SIM when they hit the stores later this year.

Nexus 4: Google Begins Kitkat Update

Some Nexus 4 users are reporting that the Android 4.4 update has finally upgrade their phones. The update comes just hours after the Moto X received the same and updated to Android 4.4. Google begins out a bug fixing update to some of its others Nexus devices.

It seems that the KitKat OTA for the Nexus 4 rolled out with a slight delay to allow Google to fix the bugs found after the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 were updated last week.

Few days back, Google announced that it would be rolling out the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update in the near future though it didn't say exactly when. A few days later, the company introduced Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update factory images and binaries, something that hinted at the arrival of an Over-the-Air update for users. That OTA update never arrived and Nexus 4 owners were left in the dark.

Earlier today, we told you that the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update OTA was closer than ever and it appears that that assessment was dead on as the Nexus 4 Android 4.4 KitKat update appears to be rolling out to owners right now, only a few hours after new factory images and binaries hit Google's developer site.

Indeed, this Android 4.4 KitKat roll out has been far different than other Android roll outs for Nexus devices. Typically, we see a very orderly roll out, across devices. This roll out has been much more fragmented, something that has been compounded by the silence from Google.

Android 4.4 KitKat won't bring to the Nexus 4 the new Google Experience Launcher, but there still is a lot to look forward to. 

Nexus 5 Bumper Case, LG QuickCover

Nexus 5 owners looking for official accessories for the new Google handset should know that Google has already listed three of them in the Play Store including the Nexus Wireless Charger, the LG Quick Cover for Nexus 5 and the Nexus 5 Bumper Case.

The Quick Cover is available in different colors and costs around $49.99. The unibody case also ships in 1-2 business days.

Finally, the Bumper Case is the cheapest accessory for the handset, as it's priced at $34.99. The Bumper Case is available in four colors including Black, Gray Bright Red and Bright Yellow, but only the last two options can be purchase right away – they will also ship in 1-2 business days.

Nexus 5 is now available in India

The Nexus 5 is now available for purchase on the Google Play Store in India. The phone comes in two colours - black and white. The website mentions the estimated delivery time (in India) as 2-7 business days.

The Google-LG Nexus 5 phone is the first device to run on the latest version of Google's Android operating system, nicknamed after the KitKat candy bar. The Nexus 5, which will come in two colours - black and white - has a 5-inch full HD display and an 8 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation. The new lens on the Nexus 5 is touted to capture more light for brighter night and sharper action shots.

The 16GB model of Nexus 5 sells for Rs 28,999 while the 32GB model costs Rs 32,999. The Wi-Fi version of Nexus 7 costs Rs 20,999 for the unit with 16GB internal stoarge and Rs 23,999 for the unit with 32GB internal storage. 

The 32GB unit of Nexus 7 is also available with support for LTE (cellular data connection). The LTE version costs Rs 27,999. Nexus 5 will also go on sale in retail stores across India from today. However, in retail stores the device has been priced at Rs 29,999 for 16GB model and Rs 33,999 for 32GB model. The price is Rs 1,000 higher because of added retail-related costs. 

To buy from Play store, a consumer has to use a credit card registered with the Google Play store. The two models of Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (32GB) will ship immediately. the Nexus 7 (16GB) will ship after November 26. 

With a 5" display, Nexus 5 gives you a Full HD display so you can see every detail in lifelike color with less glare and a wider viewing angle—the perfect canvas for your moments.

Powered by Android 4.4, KitKat, Nexus 5 is fast and powerful.

Technical specifications

OS

Android 4.4 (KitKat)

Screen

4.95" 1920×1080 display (445 ppi)

Full HD IPS

Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

Camera

1.3MP front facing

8MP rear facing with Optical Image Stabilization

Size

69.17 x 137.84 x 8.59 mm

Weight

4.59 oz (130 g)

Battery

2,300 mAH

Talk time up to 17 hours*

Standby time up to 300 hours*

Internet time up to 8.5 hours on Wi-Fi, up to 7 hours on LTE*

Wireless Charging built-in

Audio Output

Built-in speaker

3.5mm stereo audio connector

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2.26GHz

GPU

Adreno 330, 450MHz

Wireless

Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4G/5G) 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

NFC (Android Beam)

Bluetooth 4.0 LE

Memory

16 GB internal storage (actual formatted capacity will be less)

2 GB RAM

Ports

Micro USB

SlimPort enabled

3.5mm stereo audio jack

Dual microphones

Ceramic power and volume buttons

New Facebook Chat Messenger

Facebook has revamped its web based chatting script after iPhone app update.

The newer version will display all your friends online including the one who logged in on their mobile phones. Previously, you were online on the web or mobile, had messenger installed but were offline, or were offline completely. The new feature being tested will mean Facebook will let you see friends who are currently online on "web" or "mobile."

The file sharing is now fast and easy. The interface is still in testing mode and will be available for all users.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Android 4.3 update pulled

Samsung recently started rolling out the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for its flagship smartphone of 2012, the Galaxy S III. While the company is still busy pushing out the update globally, a new report has unearthed issues with the Galaxy S III after the Android 4.3 update.

A report by Phones Review says that some users in UK have encountered problems with their Galaxy S III smartphone after the Android 4.3 update.

According to the report, the Galaxy S III users are complaining of unresponsive handsets, particularly the lock screen, after updating the smartphone. Other issues include erratic Wi-Fi connectivity, poor battery backup, and a system hanging problem that requires the battery to be pulled out to restart the smartphone.

The report also speculates that the South Korean manufacturer might have stopped the Android 4.3 update for Galaxy S III, after the issue attracted attention. It also expects that this may result to delay in Android 4.3 update for the Galaxy Note 2 phablet.

Interestingly, the South Korean major skipped the Android 4.2 update for the Galaxy S III and the device was still running the dated Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, so the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update was long overdue.

The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S III brings many changes, including a core UI elements update, which makes it similar to Galaxy S4; new Samsung keyboard; updated GPU drivers; new lockscreen with multiple widgets and improved ripple effect; new Screen modes (like Galaxy S4); Daydream; Driving mode; new actionable notifications; new move to SD card feature; additions in notification centre; revamped settings UI and new Camera mode with Sound and Shoot.

How to install Android 4.4 on LG Nexus 4

All of us are waiting for the Kitkat update and to feel that I am writing few steps which will help you to install the Android 4.4 on your Nexus 4.

Here are *steps. Please follow these steps only if you have good knowledge of what you are doing.

1. Download the latest version from ROM from this XDA thread here. If latest version doesn't work for you try downloading older.
2. Connect your Nexus 4 to your computer with a microUSB cord, go to File Explorer, and open up the internal storage folder of your Nexus 4.
3. Drag the Android 4.4 KitKat ROM you just downloaded into the root of the storage (inside no folders)
4. Power down the Nexus 4.
5. Boot into recovery mode by holding the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time.
6. When in recovery, use the volume up and volume down buttons to move and the power button to execute.
7. You should see an Android laying down, with the word START above it. Press the Volume Down button until it says Recovery Mode and press the Power Button. You’ll then be booted into the recovery.
8. First backup your device.
   
   
   
   You will lose everything on your phone when you wipe the device later, so backup your phone in the Backup and Restore section of the recovery first.
9. After the backup is completed,  go to wipe data/factory reset and follow the prompts until the phone has been reset.
10. Go to wipe cache partition and follow the prompts.
11. Go to advanced and select wipe Dalvik cache and follow the prompts.
12. Now let’s install your ROM.
13. Go down to Install Zip > Install Zip From /sdcard > 0/ and then select the ROM. (4.4_mako_odexed.zip or something similar)
14. Wait until the installation is completed and reboot your device. The initial boot will take some time, so be patient.
15. Great, you are now running Android 4.4 KitKat. Enjoy!

*NOTE: It looks like the 4.4 ROM won't install with the stock TWRP custom recovery, so be sure to have either the modified TWRP recovery or Clockwork Mod (CWM) recovery installed before you continue. We're using Clockwork Mod, so the installation process will be based off of this recovery.

Android Mini PC MK808B

This little gadget is an Android mini TV box capable of turning your boring, standard TV into a fully-functional all-singing, all-dancing Smart TV. TV boxes and dongles are becoming an increasingly popular choice for consumers as they achieve a lot for the price in comparison to fully fledged Smart TV’s.

You can use the MK808B to access apps and widgets like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube and even the radio. You can stream television, watch movies or even play games – all on your TV in stunning 1080p HD. This could even be a replacement to your freeview box if you usually watch stuff on demand, although you may find it difficult to stream live TV on most channels.

For less than $50, the MK808B Android Stick PC provides enough power to do almost anything from surfing the web to playing the games. If you want to more like video calls then you should consider spending $10-$15 more. However, if you want the best value around, the MK808B is a strong choice, as long as you're willing to flash a new ROM.

Pros: 

Best performance

Up to date Android with Root Access

Awesome build quality

1080p Support

Bluetooth capability

Low cost

Cons: 

Android can be best experienced using touch devices where it lacks.

Specifications

• OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• WIFI: 802.11B/G
• Chip: Rochip RK 3066, Cortex-A9
• Display: HDMI OUTPUT(TV)
• RAM: 1GB DDR3
• Video support: M-JPEG,MPEG-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4,H.263,H.264,VC-1,DivX, Xvid, RealVideo,VP6,Sorenson Spark

• Audio support: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI, M4A

• Flash: 8GB Nand Flash
• Power Supply(Adapter): DC 5V 2A (Providing more stable electric current)
• Power Indicator (LED) Power ON: Blue

• 2.4G: Support 2.4Ghz wireless remote keyboard and mouse
• Hard Disk: SUPPORT SD Card: 1GB-16GB ; Hard Disk: 1GB ~ 5TB
• Built-in Bluetooth

• I/0 Port:
  USB2.0 host X 1;
  OTG micro USBX1 ;
  HDMI OUTPUTX1
• Port
  HDMI Socket: 1pc
  USB Socket: 1pc
• Application software: Google Search/Email Gmail/Video Player/Audio Player / Alarm/ Clock /Apk Calculator Calendar/ES file/Explorer/Google Maps Market/NC Manager PDF/Reader /Photo Browser
• Android APPS: YOUTUBE,FACEBOOK,ANGRY BIRDS,Skype,NETFIX,etc.

You can download the games and play them on this device. Just check out blog entry about android game blogs right here.