Galaxy Nexus on Verizon sadly lagging behind in Jelly Bean updates

At Phones Review we try to keep readers informed about the latest operating system updates for their devices and although some manufacturers and carriers manage to push out updates fairly quickly, sadly that can’t be said for all. One case in point is the sad tale of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Verizon, still playing catch up with other Nexus devices when in fact one of the joys of owning a pure Android Nexus device is that it should always be one of the first to get the latest official OS updates.

This may be one reason why Google’s latest Nexus smartphone, the LG Nexus 4, is not tied to a carrier as the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon is rather a sorry tale and shows what can go wrong when updates have to go through a carrier approval process. The Galaxy Nexus was released on Verizon last November running Android 4.0 ICS and in June this year 4.1 Jelly Bean was announced. By July the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus variant was receiving the 4.1 Jelly Bean update but it took a further two months for the LTE Galaxy Nexus Jelly Bean build to be approved by Verizon, even though other non-carrier Nexus devices received 4.1 Jelly Bean much earlier.
Since then there has been more of the same. Non-carrier Nexus devices have now received 4.1.2 and then the 4.2 update was also announced and rolled out before minor update 4.2.1 arrived. Meanwhile the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon remains firmly stuck on 4.1.1, three updates back, with no leaks of new builds. It seems as though Verizon is the stumbling block as Droid-Life helpfully outlines the update process. With non-carrier Nexus devices, Google only has two easy steps to complete, firstly to approve the software for the device and then to push out the update to that device.

However the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon is a more complicated example of the update process. In this instance Google comes up with the update, which is then sent to Verizon for approval. As you can imagine, this may simply be added to a rather large pile of pending updates with the fact that it’s a Google Nexus device not gaining it any advantage in being speedily dealt with. At some point Verizon then approves the update and then Google can finally make it available for that device. In some cases Verizon may deny the update meaning the whole process starts all over again.
Thus the saga of OS update catch-ups for the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon goes on and we can understand the frustration that many Galaxy Nexus owners will be feeling, especially given the fact that it’s a Nexus device that you’d think would be above these complications. The lesson to be learned here is the valuable advantage of a non-carrier Nexus phone or tablet but that won’t help Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners right now.
We’d be really interested to hear your thoughts on the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon and how it trails behind other Nexus devices in receiving the latest OS updates? Are you one of those still waiting for Jelly Bean for your Galaxy Nexus? Let us have your comments on this.

US iPhone 5 unlocked via Apple, maybe within hours

There’s great news today for potential iPhone 5 owners in the U.S. who have been waiting for the unlocked variety to go on sale through Apple. Although Apple has so far been selling the iPhone 5 on contract with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint it seems the iPhone 5 unlocked availability will be here at any moment with the word being that it could be released for sale as early as 9pm tonight (Thursday).

When the iPhone 5 was first released back in September we told how customers who’d purchased it on Verizon received a lucky bonus as it turned out the Verizon model was unlocked, even when purchasing on a contract. This can be a real benefit for many people, especially for those who travel a lot and we welcomed this customer-friendly move from Verizon. However this only applied to the iPhone 5 on Verizon and earlier this month we told how Apple was rumored to be getting ready to sell the iPhone 5 unlocked by the end of 2012 and also gave leaked pricing.
Now it appears that Apple is planning to sell the unlocked iPhone 5 earlier than we anticipated as sources of 9to5Mac have said they will be available to purchase from tonight at 9pm from the Apple online store. If that’s accurate we could see the online Apple Store go down for a while later before becoming live again with details of the unlocked version. Meanwhile Apple retail stores are also expected to begin selling the unlocked iPhone 5 very soon and stocks are already arriving in-store. The prices given are the same as those earlier rumored prices, i.e. $649 for the 16GB version, $749 for 32GBs or rising to $849 for the 64GB model and the iPhone 5 comes in two color options, white with silver and black with slate.

We should point out that we cannot verify the news of the 9pm sale of the unlocked iPhone 5 from Apple online as we have no way of confirming this. Nevertheless as this comes from 9to5Mac we’re inclined to think it’s more likely to be accurate than not so if you’re after an unlocked iPhone 5 you might want to check Apple online at various points later tonight. One more snippet of news is a slight change to the Apple Store Personal Pickup Program where customers will now have the option to reserve goods for pickup whenever they choose rather than only after 10pm.
We think a lot of people will have been hoping to get their unlocked iPhone 5s through Apple before Christmas and so this is very welcome news. We’d really love to know if you manage to order the unlocked iPhone 5 from Apple online tonight? Also if you spot it for sale unlocked in Apple retail stores you could share with readers when and where you saw it? Send your comments to let us know.

iPad cutting board for your kitchen creations

I’m sure if your are into doing a lot of meal preparation in your kitchen, or experimenting with new foods and the like, you probably either use your smartphone or tablet at the side of where you work for referring to recipes and the like. However how about a chopping board you can slice up all your veggies and stuff on, that will hold your tablet to make it easier to follow cooking instructions?

Well if you spend a great deal of time in your kitchen moving your Apple iPad around when it gets in the way, then you might be able to make use of a chopping board that features an integrated iPad stand, and oddly enough we have one for your consideration simply called the cutting board with iPad stand.
The cutting board with integrated iPad stand enables you to prop up your iOS slate in such a manner that it is easy to view recipes and stuff whilst you are brandishing your knife, professionally slicing up whatever you slice up, although the iPad should be fine as long as you don’t go prodding it with that knife.

As for that cutting board, it is generously sized, whilst being dishwasher safe, and apparently will not dull the sharpness of your knives, along with featuring a juice groove that keeps the counter top and your iPad dry, and to be perfectly honest I see no reason why this cutting board couldn’t be used with other tablets as well as long at they fit in that slot of course.
The chopping board also sports four rubber feet to stop it slipping, is heat resistant to 350 degrees F, and has been approved by the National Sanitary Foundation, and has been specifically designed using multiple layers of Forest Stewardship Council certified wood fibres.
So if you spend a fair bit of time in your kitchen and think that you could do with a cutting board that can hold your iPad, you can purchase the cutting board with iPad stand from Chef Sleeve at a cost of $69.99.

Nexus 4 shares iPad and iPhone status on eBay

It’s no secret just how popular demand for the LG Nexus 4 has become, so much so that shipping has now been put back yet again, along with the fact that many unscrupulous people have been trying to earn a quick profit by ordering a load of these handsets up and then selling them on for a profit. As a result eBay has now set up a few restrictions, which means that the Nexus 4 now shares the same status as the iPad and the iPhone.

The online auction site has seen how the high demand for these latest LG Android handsets have resulted in people trying to sell far too many of these items, and while this will not allow you to get one of these Nexus 4′s before the Christmas period, it’s nice to know those that caused the shortage and made it tough for you to get your hands on one will not be able to profit either.
Below you will be able to see the limitations that eBay has set, and you don’t have to be a genius to work out why the device is so popular, but you have to wonder if Google has had a hand in this to cause such a hype in the first place – a lot like Nintendo did with the original Wii during the 2006 Christmas period and long after that as well.

So you can see that authorized sellers still have no restrictions so are still allowed to sell as many of these Nexus 4 handsets as they like per week. Those top rated eBay sellers can only sell 8 per week, and those with a minimum level of performance can sell just half that amount each week. If you are new to eBay and have confirmed your personal details to the online auction site then you can only sell just one LG Nexus 4 per week.
However, if you do not confirm your personal information or have yet to meet the minimum performance set by eBay, then you will not be allowed to sell a Nexus 4 smartphone during the pre-launch period. It’s good to see someone finally standing up and trying to stop individuals trying to make a profit from those who just want one Nexus 4 to take home and enjoy.
We never thought we would ever see such limitations imposed on the Nexus 4, but it’s certainly nice to see a non-Apple device becoming so popular in a short amount of time. Don’t get us wrong, we love Apple, but this kind of competition is good for not only the industry but consumers as well. Having said that, it’s just annoying that there are those out there that try to benefit from this, although many of them have caused this shortage in the first place.

BlackBerry App World getting new moniker

I’m pretty sure that even those that don’t use a BlackBerry know that the platform’s app store is called BlackBerry App World. However apparently BlackBerry’s storefront wont be known as that for much longer, because Research In Motion has decided that a name change is in order for BlackBerry App World to coincide with the release of BlackBerry 10 no doubt.

The word is according to the BlackBerry Dev Blog, RIM has unveiled a new name for BlackBerry App World, during BlackBerry Jam Asia in Bangkok, although not very creative I must say, as all RIM has done is dropped the word ‘App’ from the moniker so that the storefront will be known simply as BlackBerry World.
Apparently the dropping of the word ‘App’ from the store’s handle is probably due to RIM moving their storefront to take on rival stores such as Google Play and the Apple App Store, as the new store will now include movies, TV shows and music as well as mobile apps.

Furthermore, in the beta operating system build that developers are currently receiving, there will be a new icon for the new storefront, and RIM will be releasing updated graphics for developers to use on their websites.
BlackBerry Playbook users will see the updated moniker in a future build, however music and video content will only be available through Video Store and Music Store apps on the tablet. Whilst those that own a handset running BlackBerry 5,6,7 and 7.1 will also see the new name but wont have access to music and video content.
Word is RIM will roll out the new BlackBerry World web store before their BlackBerry 10 event on the 30th of January, but in case users are worried, the current appworld.blackberry.com URL will continue to work for applications that are already being used.
As we have already reported RIM is expected to unveil a couple of their new BlackBerry 10 smartphones along with release dates for the devices at that January 30th event, and it appears that RIM is gearing up to make sure everything is in place, including the new BlackBerry World by then, although RIM isn’t letting on about any other details on the new storefront until it is rolled out.
Do our readers think the name change is fine, or do your feel RIM could have been a bit more creative. If so any suggestions what they could have renamed it?

Note 2 and Galaxy S3 new flip covers now available

If you are the proud owner of a Samsung device you’ll no doubt want to keep that device free from scratches and the like for as long as possible. Old Sammy knows this, and as such has now unveiled new protective flip covers for their two top devices, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Most want to keep their device free from being accidentally marked, and although there are already some quite nice cases for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 available, who better to get a case from than the maker of the device.
According to a report by Phone Arena, Samsung has now delivered a range of flip covers for both Android devices that means you don’t have to replace that back cover, because these new flip covers also protect the back of the handset along with having that flip over cover for protecting the front.

The flip covers originally released by Samsung for the Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, featured the same glossy material as the standard cover, which meant they were just as susceptible to scratching. However the new flip covers sport a soft touch material to both the back and front, meaning less likely to get scratched.
The new flip covers still offer the same style as previous cases, but now offer double the protection so you can keep your Note 2 and Galaxy S3 in pristine condition for as long as possible, something every handset user wishes to do.
The new Samsung flip covers for both devices are available in a varied range of cool looking colours, whilst commanding a price tag of $39.99 a pop from the Samsung website, or if you wish to save a few bucks, you can order two cases at a cost of just $49.99.
Whilst if you happen to require four flip covers, perhaps for gifts for friends this Christmas, four covers will set you back $99.99, so there is a good saving to be made.
So, there you have it, what do our readers think about these new flip covers for the Galaxy S3 and Note 2, are you tempted?

iPhone 5 gains rear screen with popSLATE case

So you own an iPhone 5 with its nice retina display, but what if you could have a secondary screen on the back of your iOS smartphone? With another rear screen you could make your iPhone 5 looks completely unique to other iPhones so you stand out from all the rest, and of course it would be a good conversation point with friends.

So if you would like a second screen on the rear of your iPhone 5, how does one go about it? Well by way of an iPhone 5 case of course, but not just any old case. By using the popSLATE case for the iPhone 5, which is an E-Ink screen incorporated into an iPhone 5 case.
As the screen is E-Ink it means it is always on, low power, readable in sunlight and completely customisable, meaning the case is a blank canvas that can be populated with any image on the rear of your iOS smartphone.

Using the popSLATE case along with the corresponding app, a user can change the rear design of their iPhone 5 with whatever they can come up with, a picture of a friend, a famous landmark, iPhone screenshots,or any photo you happen to have on your device, and can show them one at a time or create a slide show.
As the popSLATE case for the iPhone 5 is low power, it’s always on the possibilities are endless, with such things as calendars, maps, notes, sports scores, urgent notifications and more all available at a glance.
The iPhone 5 case uses the Lightning connector to power the E-Ink screen and transfer the data, as because it is E-Ink it shouldn’t drain your juice too much and will apparently only use power when you change the image.
Unfortunately though you can’t purchase the popSLATE iPhone 5 case yet, as it is a project currently running on Indiegogo, where the project is looking for a funding goal of a whopping $150,000 to get off the ground, and has thus far managed to garner $63,153 in pledges with 47 days to run.
We have embedded a video demo for your viewing consideration below of the popSLATE case for the iPhone 5 in action, so head on down and hit that play button to check out the footage, and if you feel the case is something you’d like to own you can of course make a pledge to the project to help it along.

Galaxy S3 64GB cancelled for UK

If you are over here in the United Kingdom and have been holding off purchasing the very popular Samsung Galaxy S3 in order to grab the 64GB model, it appears you have been holding off for no reason, because the 64GB handset has thus far failed to get into UK stores, and the word is the 64GB SGS3 is not becoming available in the UK.

Not too long ago Clove said they would offer customers the opportunity to purchase the 64GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S3, and placed the Android smartphone up for pre-order as an unlocked and SIM free handset commanding a price tag of £600.
However Clove ranging the 64GB Galaxy S 3 in black depended on how much demand they received for the device, and they would make a decision in a couple of week’s time. But apparently that demand wasn’t enough, as most customers in the United Kingdom seem to prefer 16GB or 32GB capacity handsets.

That two week period has now ended and the Samsung Galaxy S3 64GB handset will not be offered to customers by Clove, and as no other network or retailer offers the 64GB model in the UK, it would appear that those that might have liked to own the 64GB version will now not be able to do so.
As such the Samsung Galaxy S3 64GB black page over on the Clove website, no longer shows any pricing for the Android smartphone, and there is now a note stating that they will no longer be ranging the product.
Of course other than the bump in capacity the 64GB Galaxy S3 still offered the same specs and features as other versions, such as that 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD touch screen, 1.4GHz quad core processor, 8 megapixel rear facing snapper, 1.9 megapixel front facing camera, and running Android Ice Cream Sandwich, but now upgradable to Android Jelly Bean.
No doubt if you were waiting to own the 64GB Galaxy S3 this will come as a bit of a disappointment, and it is looking highly unlikely the 64GB version will ever see the light of day in the United Kingdom. So perhaps it is time to settle for either the 16GB or 32GB versions.
Have any of our UK readers been patiently waiting for the 64GB handset and are now disappointed it wont be made available?

Microsoft Surface Pro, divulged price & release

The Microsoft Surface RT tablet was expected to make a few waves when it released last month as it was a flagship device for Windows 8 and many expected big things of the device. However the Surface RT made ripples rather than waves so no doubt Microsoft now has higher hopes for the Intel-powered version, the Surface Pro. Microsoft has now announced release information and pricing for the Surface Pro and there’s not too much longer to wait as it’s coming in January.

It’s fair to say that the Surface RT had pretty mixed reviews and we recently told how sales had been rather modest for a device where there had been so much anticipation. One of the criticisms of the Surface RT had been that it was rather expensive and now that Microsoft has given the price details for the Surface Pro it’s safe to say that anybody hoping the Surface Pro would be reasonably priced will be disappointed. There will be two standalone models of the Surface Pro, the 64GB version will cost $899 while the 128GB model is priced at $999.
These prices don’t include a Touch Cover or Type cover either although these will be sold separately at $120 or $130 respectively. However pricing does include a Surface Pen with Palm Block technology, according to the Official Microsoft Blog. Something to remember here though is that the Surface Pro was always intended to be priced along the lines of an Ultrabook rather than a tablet. Another point that is unlikely to go down well is that the Surface Pro will have a battery life lasting only around 4 hours. Some of this is down to the fact that Microsoft chose to go with an Intel Ivy Bridge processor offering more speed, rather than compromise with a slower processor for a longer battery life, according to Cnet.

Some of the key specs of the Surface Windows 8 Pro include an Intel Core i5 processor, 10.6-inch ClearType display with full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080, full USB 3.0 port and Mini DisplayPort. It weighs less than 2 pounds and is less than 14 millimeters thick. The Surface Pro is to release in January although Microsoft did not give specific release date details. All this said, it’s difficult to see how the Surface Pro will find mass sales and it looks as though the latest attempt to rival the iPad is ultimately unlikely to be a major threat.

Doctor Who iPhone cases galore

If you are an avid fan of the UK smash science fiction hit, which has been around longer than most people who own a iOS smartphone, but would love to show their love of all things Doctor Who, you can do so by tarting your iPhone up with a Doctor Who orientated case, such as the Doctor himself, or perhaps the legendary Tardis or even the doctor’s evil enemy the Daleks.

Most use a case to protect their iPhone from everyday mishaps so if you are a fan of the Doctor then why not show it by having your smartphone decorated with time lord gear such as the Tardis, although of course the case wont be bigger on the inside.
I have been a fan of Doctor Who from an early age, I can even remember the original Doctor Who, so that tells you how old I am. I also have several canvasses and collectibles to do with the time lord, but the one thing I don’t possess is a smartphone case, so I thought I pass along a few for other Doctor Who fans consideration.

There are a huge number of Doctor Who related cases for the iPhone and iPod depending on just what design you are looking for, and over on Red Bubble they have some 1570 doctor Who designed cases in the offering.
Of course a few of those sport the doctor’s time travelling machine, the Tardis in varying shades of blue, whilst others depict the legendary fix anything device the doctor uses called the sonic screwdriver, others depict the doctor, depending on which regenerated vision of the time lord you prefer of of course.
Then there are several iPhone cases carrying designs of the doctor’s enemies such as the Daleks and Cybermen. In all there are 53 pages of Doctor Who cases to wade through so it might take you a bit of time to find the one your might be looking for.
And these iOS smartphone cases aren’t badly priced either as the pricing ranges from £23 up to £27, which isn’t that overly expensive to show your love of the programme if you are an avid fan. Each case is compatible with the iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPhone 4, 4S, and the iPod Touch 4G, and are said to be incredibly tough and unique.
Any of our iPhone toting readers a fan of Doctor Who, and would like to own one of these cases?

HTC Droid DNA devs get hold of kernel source code

We’ve written many posts now about the HTC Droid DNA on Verizon, currently one of the in-demand phones of the moment. This is a very commendable smartphone and has gathered a lot of interest from Android enthusiasts. The good news today is that the Droid DNA kernel source code is now available. Although right now this is only likely to interest developers it’s promising news for owners who like to customize their devices.

The Droid DNA quad-core smartphone running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean recently released on Verizon at a reasonable price of $199 on a standard two-year contract. There’s a lot to impress about this smartphone and we know that many people who have purchased it will already be thinking ahead to customization. With any new hot smartphone we expect that developers will get straight to work on unraveling the hardware but it’s great to hear that already the kernel source code has been released by HTC along with other open-source tidbits.
The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-based 3.4.10 code is now available on the HTCDev site and no doubt custom ROM developers are already getting to grips with the Droid DNA’s internals. The kernel source code is issued for developers who know what they’re doing so at this stage this is not for the man on the street who likes to dabble with devices. However the sooner that developers obtain the kernel source code the sooner we are likely to see the goods that they come up with so this is a good indication all round.

Although at Phones Review we never recommend tampering with your devices we also know that many of our readers enjoy this aspect of smartphone ownership so like to bring news of developments on this. However if you choose to use custom ROMS, jailbreaks, etc. and something goes wrong it is entirely your responsibility.
If you haven’t yet purchased the Droid DNA but are thinking of a new smartphone then we can tell you that we included it in our selection of some of the top phones for the holiday season. Key specs and features include a 5-inch Super LCD3 display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 1.5GHz Qualcomm quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and one of its only drawbacks, only 16GB of internal storage (non-expandable). It also has an 8-megapixel rear camera and 2.1-megapixel front-facer, NFC support, 2020 mAh battery and LTE connectivity. You may also be interested in our Droid DNA vs. Galaxy S3 comparison here.
We’d like to hear what our readers think about the Droid DNA. Have you already purchased this phone and are pleased to hear developers now have their hands on the source code? What do you think of your Droid DNA’s performance? Maybe you’re undecided and have your eye on something else too? Let us know with your comments.

T-Mobile iPhone 5 surprise could be imminent

Only a week or so ago we were discussing the likelihood of the Apple iPhone 5 coming to T-Mobile USA as speculation has been rife for some time. However at that time it appeared that this was unlikely to happen very soon with T-Mobile asserting that the price would have to be right before it would make a deal. It now seems that we could be in for an imminent surprise though with an announcement coming as early as next week about T-Mobile and the iPhone.

Previously we told how T-Mobile still wanted the iPhone and acknowledged that the lack of carrying the iPhone 5 had made a negative impact on business in Q3. However the company was unwilling to make unnecessary sacrifices and so it seemed that it might yet be quite some time before the iPhone came to T-Mobile. The latest news today though suggests that we could be shocked at how soon the iPhone may come to T-Mobile, with a possible announcement on December 6th or 7th during analyst day meeting.
Scott Craig, analyst for Merrill Lynch, said in a note to clients yesterday that there was heightened speculation that Deutsche Telekom will declare the iPhone’s arrival very soon on subsidiary T-Mobile, according to Fortune. This, despite the fact that T-Mobile’s LTE network has yet to go live although it has invested huge amounts of money in updating its HSPA+ network to suit current iPhone models. This latest information follows hot-on-the-heels of news yesterday that the Apple online store is about to sell the iPhone 5 unlocked.

If T-Mobile does indeed begin carrying the iPhone this would mean that Apple would have access to 98% of the post-paid market in the US. Craig also added that a T-Mobile iPhone would bump his estimate of 179 million iPhones sold in 2013 by another 4 million units. It’s worth reminding readers that although T-Mobile doesn’t yet carry the iPhone around 1.5 million of the unlocked devices currently use T-Mobile networks after T-Mobile urged AT&T customers to jump ship with its Unlimited & Unlocked promotion.
It will certainly be interesting to see how this story unfolds over the next week or so and we’ll be keeping an eye out for any developments, particularly on December 6 and 7 next week. Are you a T-Mobile customer who would love to see the iPhone on your carrier of choice? Maybe it makes no difference to you as you would have used another carrier to get the iPhone 5 if you’d wanted one and would rather stick to an Android such as the Nexus 4 or Galaxy S3? Let us know with your comments.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 gets Mugen boost, whopping 6400 mAh battery

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (Note II) has been one of the most popular smartphones since its release back in September. It took a little more time to come to various US carriers and the Verizon version has only just finally released. If you’re raving about your Galaxy Note 2 and using it constantly then your brain might just boggle at the thought of a Mugen whopping 6400 mAh battery for it that is due to release just before Christmas.

Alternatively you may have a family member or friend who you know loves their Galaxy Note 2 and would appreciate a replacement battery of such capacity, so this would be an ideal accessory gift for the holiday season. Not that the battery that comes with the Galaxy Note 2 is a slouch as many would already think the 3100 mAh battery is adequate. However heavy users who always like to carry a replacement battery with them may be wowed at the thought of how long they could keep going with this 6400 mAh battery.
Mugen Power has come up with this extended battery with more than double the capacity of the battery included. The product page for the Mugen Power 6400 mAh Extended Battery for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with Battery Door lists it as being compatible with the following models – the Note 2 N7100, OLLEH Note 2 SHV-E250K, AT&T Note 2 I317S, Sprint Note 2 SPH-L900, T-Mobile Note 2 SGH-T889 and US Cellular Note 2 SCH-R950. Regular price is $105.99 but currently it’s listed as $98.95 in both black and white color options. That’s no small price to pay but no doubt many avid Galaxy Note 2 owners will think it worthwhile.

There will be another price to pay though for that humungous battery capacity and that is that the bulk of your smartphone will increase. The Mugen extended battery HLI-N7100XL might last 2.06 times as long as the included battery in the Galaxy Note 2 but because of that extra capacity it’s also thicker. Mugen has considered the extra weight though and included a handy kickstand to take the strain, as noted by Engadget. The Mugen Power Galaxy Note 2 6400 mAh battery is due for shipping on December 21st.
What are your thoughts on the Galaxy Note 2 and this extended battery? Are you a happy Galaxy Note 2 owner who hasn’t noted a need for extra battery capacity? Maybe you love your Galaxy Note 2 but feel an extended battery would be useful, even at this price? Send your comments to let us know.

DROID RAZR HD & MAXX HD Jelly Bean update nears

There seems to be a growing number of popular smartphones that are being treated to the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update in the last few weeks, even though there are still a number of handsets waiting to get the previous version of the Google mobile operating system. Today we have news for Verizon users in the US that own the Motorola DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD, as the Jelly Bean update release nears.

Previously Motorola promised the update would arrive before the end of the year for the two handsets, and now Verizon has announced that the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update will begin rolling out to users from next week.
No exact start date was revealed and the update will be staggered, and the carrier has also revealed what kind of new features owners of the handset can look forward to once the update arrives. The update is software version 9.1.41.XT926.Verizon.en.US, and is sized at 276MB.
The carrier is advising users to have a fully charged battery and to carry out the update via a strong Wi-Fi connection, and Verizon is promising there will be improved voice and data connectivity in the update.

Other new features coming to the smartphones include an enhanced notifications panel, voice search, Google Now, smart keyboard, and much more. Owners of the handsets would have started to get a little fidgety waiting for the update to arrive after seeing the Droid RAZR M already treated to it, but will now only have a few more days to wait before it lands on their handset.
The carrier is also providing owners of the handsets step by step instructions of how to achieve the update if they need it via the links above. It does seem that the various smartphone manufacturers are getting Jelly Bean out to devices quicker than they did with Ice Cream Sandwich.
With all Android updates it can be the various carriers holding the release of the software up before giving it the OK to be released to end users. Do you think Jelly Bean is getting pushed out quickly enough?

Nexus 4, 7 & 10 Jelly Bean 4.2.1 manual update & root news

If you’re the lucky owner of a Google Nexus 4 or Galaxy Nexus phone or Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 tablet then you may already have heard about the latest Jelly Bean 4.2.1 update that should be headed to your device. This may be a minor update and is being rolled out over-the-air but today we have details on manually updating to 4.2.1 if your device hasn’t received notification yet. For those of you who like to root your phones or tablets we also have news that this is also now available for 4.2.1. for the above devices.

A few days ago we told readers about the Jelly Bean 4.2.1 update and the rollout seemed to be hitting the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 first, followed by the Nexus 7. The update is mainly a few fixes including the notorious ‘missing December’ issue from 4.2 and also improvements to the FaceLock mechanism. It’s only a small 1.1 MB update but some of the patches it brings will be very welcome. Many of you with these devices may have already received the OTA update to 4.2.1 but those of you who haven’t can manually update through an Internet ZIP package.
This guidance is for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 but it’s also reported that an OTA package is also available for the Galaxy Nexus. We cannot verify that at this time although yesterday we told how Galaxy Nexus owners on Verizon were some way behind other Nexus devices with Jelly Bean updates so far. We should give you our customary caution that we do not recommend any kind of tampering with your device and you are entirely responsible for anything that goes wrong when using a procedure. Nevertheless we appreciate that many readers enjoy this aspect of owning a smartphone and so like to bring you the relevant information.

Once getting the appropriate device ZIP package for the OTA update the update installation can be achieved by two methods, with custom recovery or stock recovery. You will also need to use a computer with the latest version of ADB. For full step-by-step instructions for the manual 4.2.1 update head to Redmond Pie here for clear guidance on just how to do this. In further news from Redmond Pie we can also advise readers that a root has already been achieved for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Galaxy Nexus. This requires flashing a custom recovery and also pushing SI binaries to the phone or tablet involved.
Again we’ll remind you that if you wish to root your device you do so at your own risk and anything that goes wrong is entirely your own responsibility. Remember to back up your data before you begin as a precaution. You’ll first need to make sure you have one of the above devices and that the bootloader is unlocked. You’ll also require SuperSU binaries, ClockworkMod Recovery 6.0.1.9, Android Debugging enabled, installed ADB with fastboot and make sure you have at least 70% charge on your phone or tablet before you start. You can find the necessary files and once more, step-by-step instructions at this Redmond Pie link.
We’d like to hear from readers with these Nexus devices about whether your device has already received the 4.2.1 rollout or if you will consider updating manually? If you use either procedure above let us know if everything went smoothly by sending us your comments?

Samsung Galaxy Camera LTE-equipped heading to Verizon

Although cameras are not Phones Review’s normal remit we have made an exception for the Samsung Galaxy Camera as it will have cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity and runs on the latest Android mobile operating system, Jelly Bean. We always knew this would be available on AT&T in the US in an HSPA+ model but some were surprised at the lack of a 4G LTE version. However we now have some very interesting news as it appears that an LTE-equipped Samsung Galaxy Camera is now heading to Verizon.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera has captured a lot of people’s attention and the fact that it will also come in a 4G LTE version for Verizon should please a lot of potential customers. As the Galaxy Camera will take high-resolution photos it makes sense for it to be used on a network that can more easily cope with uploading and sharing and Verizon is likely to play on this fact in its promotion for the device. Unfortunately there’s no precise release date yet for the LTE Samsung Galaxy Camera on Verizon but it would make sense for Samsung and Verizon to hurry this out in time for the Christmas holiday market.
News of the Verizon version of the Galaxy Camera came via the FCC where a Galaxy Camera with model number EK-GC120 has been approved that appears to carry 700 MHz 4G LTE radios but no overseas radio bands. As Engadget reports then there can be no other logical conclusion but that Verizon will release the Galaxy Camera LTE. The AT&T HSPA+ Galaxy Camera has the model number GC100 and was released two weeks ago.

This connected point-and-shoot camera has specs and features including a 16.3-megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS lens, 21x optical zoom, 4.77-inch HS Super Clear Touch display, 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 8GB of memory and a memory card slot. Other inclusions are 10 modes, Smart Pro, Share Shot, auto-cloud back up, HDMI 1.4, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/GLONASS and a 1650 mAh battery. It’s possible though that there might be slight differences on the LTE variant for Verizon.
Another thing to consider is the price as the AT&T HSPA+ Galaxy Camera is $499 so it will be interesting to see what a Verizon model with LTE connectivity will be priced at. Of course there’s no news on that yet as Verizon and Samsung have not even officially confirmed the Galaxy Camera will be released on Verizon yet.

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Apple iOS 6 Maps fix by TomTom requested

Since the loss of Steve Jobs just over a year ago it seems as though Apple is making a number of wrong moves, with one of them being the huge mistake of getting rid of Google Maps for their own service. We’re not saying that Apple should not pursue their own mapping service, but they should have spent a lot more time in the development process before they even considered forcing us to use this free service.

One has to wonder just how long we have to wait before Apple’s iOS 6 maps receives a fix, but we do know that they have already contacted TomTom (Apple’s navigation provider) for help in addressing the issues at hand. You know that things are very serious because the iPhone maker has already sacked a few key employees, as they know that they need to have the right team members on board to completely overhaul their maps software.
Eddy Cue, who took over the role heading up the Maps team, has urged TomTom to help them. Let’s face it, they need to do something because what users currently have is a sub-par service that often struggles to find locations. I was in two minds whether to make a switch to Android, but because Apple promised great things with their new Map service I stuck with them and got the iPhone 5 – now I’m starting to regret my decision a little.
Apple knows that they need to build confidence once again because Maps is a crucial piece of software for the phone, and with Google already working on an App for iOS 6 the pressure is certainly on. One has to wonder if this would have happened if Jobs were still with us. We just fear that Apple are now going in a new direction because those who shared Steve’s views have all but gone – we’re just uncertain if this will be for the good of the consumer or the bad?

We’re told that because of the issues surrounding Apple’s maps app this has led to a fall in iPhone 5 sales, but Tim Cook has said that the service will improve the more people use it, so it’s like Apple want us to do the job for them. Why would anyone want to use a service that will get them lost or not even know where they are going in the first place?
One of the biggest issues Apple has is how they deceived us when they said this will be one of the best mapping service out there, clearly this is untrue and is proof that they should stick to what they do best (hardware) while letting the likes of Google doing what they do best (search and mapping).
We’re sure that Apple will get their in the end, but shouldn’t we have the right to choose a decent free service in the meantime? What mapping system would you like on your iPhone, and how much are you prepared to pay because the free ones have pretty limited features?
It’s clear to see that many iOS users are sticking with their current iPhone, or not choosing to upgrade to iOS 6 until Apple have rectified the issues with their Map app, that way they are still able to use Google maps – even if it doesn’t have turn-by-turn directions.

inKa File Manager Plus [FULL] v0.6.4.1 Apk Android

inKa File Manager is a File Manager for Google Android. inKa is able to copy, move, rename, delete, open as well as archive your files. So maintaining your files becomes easy without the need of a computer.


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MONOPOLY Millionaire v1.4.6 Apk + Data Android

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ZENONIA 5 v1.0.0 Apk Android

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Samsung Galaxy Note non-official Android 4.1.2 JZO54K

We try and keep our readers up to date with all the latest news regarding the rolling out of the various versions of the Android operating system to hardware on the platform, and today we have some news about the original Samsung Galaxy Note and a non-official Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 JZO54K being leaked before release.

The first Samsung Galaxy Note still has a lot of followers that despite its newer replacement love the handset, and back in October Samsung’s Swedish arm promised that the device will be treated to Android Jelly Bean before the end of the year. Now SamMobile has got hold of a pre-release leak of the Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Note and is the first leak to be based on Android 4.1.2.
So far all the leaked versions of the operating system have lacked some of the Samsung S-Pen features as the company has yet to add these to the source code of the software. Sources are claiming that the Jelly Bean update is almost ready for the Samsung Galaxy S2, and has already been seen running on a video.
The build for the Galaxy Note meanwhile still needs a lot of work before it is released to end users, and now the release of the software is being tipped for either December or January of next year. Some of the features that the leaked firmware brings to the handset include better performance and stability thanks to Project Butter, Multi-View, Page Buddy, 2 home screen modes, Google Now, and much more.

Users can even disable the Multi-View feature that is already popular on the Note 2 and is also heading to the Galaxy S3 once it receives the next Android update. Obviously this firmware is not an official build of the operating system and may contain some bugs, so only download at your own risk.
SamMobile do state they have tested the firmware and say it works as it should, but hopefully those of you that like to download official Android updates shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to get a taste of Android Jelly Bean.
Have you downloaded a pre-release leak of Android Jelly Bean to your Galaxy Note?