Category Archives: Tech News

Bring back HTC Blinkfeed on Nova or Apex Launcher

Android, Tech News, ,

If you are like me, you liked Blinkfeed on your HTC One using its built in launcher, Sense 5. However, despite Sense 5 being very polished, more customisation and speed can be obtained using a third party launcher like Apex or Nova. The problem is Blinkfeed is part of Sense, so doesn’t appear with any third party solution. However, there is a solution to create a shortcut that looks like an app on the home screen.

Below is a screen shot of my home screen using Nova Launcher Prime. Two thirds down on the right hand side is an icon HTC, labelled Blinkfeed. Pressing this brings up Blinkfeed.

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To get to this point, first press and hold on a blank area of the screen to bring up the below menu.

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Press shortcuts, and then you will get to the screen below. Select Activites.

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Then scroll down till you get to HTC Sense and select this.

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The icon will now appear on the home screen. Press and hold it and rename it Blinkfeed. Now press the icon and its brings up Blinkfeed and any other home screens you had with Sense. Remove these other home screens, setup Blinkfeed and once finished, press the capacitive home button.

Job done.

So why do some variants of the HTC One have a micro SD slot?

Android, Tech News

Across the globe, China and Japan have a variant of the HTC One that has dual sim and a micro SD slot.

But why?

HTC’s Jeff Gordon, the company’s Senior Global Online Communications Manager went on record to say that the Chinese version of the One is designed specifically for the smaller Chinese radio bands, which means additional space inside the device is available for the microSD slot. That space isn’t available to us in the global version.

Do you believe that?

Some good news for HTC – the HTC One

Android, Tech News

HTC struggled at release to deliver hardly any HTC One smartphones when it launched back in April. It struggled with inventory and other production issues.

However, despite the above problems and fierce competition from Samsung, it looks like it is on track to have sold 5 million phones by the end of May.

On top of that HTC has doubled production to keep up with demand which it is still struggling to meet.

With Samsung shipping 10 million S4’s, who will be left to buy the next iPhone?

So Samsung now you have been in the press over the low memory in the S4 – what news on the S4

Android, Tech News

Despite Samsung being in the press and BBC Watchdog over its low percentage of free memory on the 16gb S4 and the absence in the UK and most of the world of the larger memory models, Samsung just made a big announcement about the S4.

Samsung decided colours were more important than memory and therefore has announced four new colors for the device for release this summer. In addition to Blue Arctic and Red Aurora (pictured below), Samsung also has plans for a Purple Mirage and a Brown Autumn variant. The S4 will also be available in 45 more markets by the end of the year, making a total of 155 countries.

Samsung has probably decided to cover its back in case of the rumoured iPhone 5S comes out in various colours. It would be handy if they released it in 32gb in the UK.

So now Samsung is looking for Galaxy Exclusive Apps

Android, Tech News

Following my post yesterday concerning how Samsung had created its own wallet and passbook application, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Samsung “will be hosting a global competition to lure developers to create apps for its Galaxy smartphones” that will pay 10 winners a combined $800,000 in prize money. WSJ added that Samsung was “particularly looking for apps that can be coordinated with” its new Group Play feature that debuted on the Galaxy S4 and that lets users quickly zap music, photos and other content via NFC from one phone to another.

That is a lot of money and hopefully Samsung finds success with some decent apps to make NFC technology easier and more trendier to use.

Samsung S4 Rugged News

Android, Tech News

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GSM Arena has caught a snapshot of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 rugged phone which is water resistant and dust proof. But before you get too excited, it does not have the same specs as the real S4. Samsung is simply using the brand power of the S4 to sell this device and other ones like the S4 mini. The camera on this device is downgraded from 13mp to 8mp.

What I would like from Samsung is a 4.5 inch phone that has the same specs as the S4 but without the screen size. This would then be a true competitor to the Apple iPhone.

Does the litigation ever end – Now Samsung S4 and Google Now involved in litigation with Apple

Android, Apple, Tech News

Foss Patents has established that Apple has now requested that the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Google Now be included in its ongoing lawsuit.

Two of the patents specifically relate to Apple’s voice-driven Siri personal assistant, as noted on Wednesday by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents. They are U.S. Patent No. 8,086,604, and U.S. Patent No. 6,846,959, both of which are entitled “Universal interface for retrieval of information in a computer system.”

Beyond Siri, the filing also alleges the infringement of three other Apple-owned patents:
U.S. Patent No. 5,666,502: “Graphical user interface using historical lists with field classes”
U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647: “System and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data”
U.S. Patent No. 7,761,414: “Asynchronous data synchronization amongst devices”

Apple filed the motion to amend its infringement complaint in a California court on Tuesday.

As for the inclusion of Google Now, the ‘604 and ‘959 patents related to Siri are also included in the filing because Google Now has replaced the Android Quick Search Box in some instances. That search box was previously targeted by Apple in its complaint.

A hearing to discuss Apple’s motion has been scheduled for June 25 in a San Jose court in front of Judge Paul S. Grewal.

The patent litigation is nuts and thwarts innovation which in turn affects products being sold. And sometimes impacts a product after you have bought it e.g. Apple removing push email in Germany on iOS devices and Samsung removing global search on the Galaxy range. This was after you had bought the devices too.

Pocket Informant Pro – Hits version 3 and is live on the Apple AppStore

Apple, Tech News

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pocket-informant-pro-events/id380732176?mt=8

Pocket Informant Pro version 3 has just been approved by the Apple AppStore and offers a wealth of new features and improvements including.

NEW “CLEAR” INTERFACE – a brand new re-designed interface that is beautiful, elegant and easy to use
NATURAL LANGUAGE EVENT CREATION – Enter phrases like “Coffee with Mom every Tuesday at 6am” and Pocket Informant will understand and set your event accordingly.
TODAY VIEW now shows Tomorrow, plus is fully customizable with Smart Filters and More!

CURRENT FEATURES MADE EVEN BETTER!
VIEWS – Today, List (Agenda), Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Task, Notes, Contacts views
INTEGRATED – Show events and tasks together, either what’s “in progress” or just what’s due
EVENT LOCATION MAPS – Tap a button and show today’s events mapped out for you, tap on the event and get directions (integrates with Google Maps, iOS Maps and Navigon)
RECURRENCES – Supports simple (every day/week/month/year) or complex (e.g. 4th Friday of every other month)
CUSTOMIZABLE – We give you the options you need to customize the way Informant works as well as how it looks. ISO week numbers, event and task defaults, month & week view layouts – all at your command.
COLORS/ICONS – Use Calendar or Tag coloring to visually make your organized calendar or task list more readable
UNIVERSAL – Runs on all of your iOS devices with one purchase! Other apps cost more than twice as much and have separate versions for iPhone and iPad!

NATURAL LANGUAGE CREATION – Enter phrases like “Take out the trash every Friday at 6am” and Pocket Informant will understand and set your task accordingly!
PROJECTS can now have a due date, a default template, be set to automatically complete, use parallel/sequential/single-task “next” action modes, and more!
CHECKLISTS – Create checklists for your tasks that involve lists (like grocery shopping, packing, etc.)
TODAY VIEW is now fully customizable with Smart Filters and more!
PI ONLINE EMAIL TO TASK CONVERSION – Subscribers can now email Pocket Informant Online to automatically create tasks that sync down to Pocket Informant Pro!

Current Features Made Even Better!
INTEGRATED – Show events and tasks together, either what’s “in progress” or just what’s due
FILTER – Use Tags to filter your tasks
TEMPLATES – create templates to quickly generate tasks, even with sub-tasks

The list goes on and on of new features and improvements. Just a shame you cannot make this a default app.

HTC in disarray with staff departures and production issues – really?

Android, Tech News

The Verge has reported that HTC’s Chief Product Officer, Kouji Kodera, has left the company last week. Kodera was responsible for HTC’s overall product strategy, handling the global launch of the One.

The Verge added that it was not just Kodera who left. In the past three-odd months, HTC has lost a number of employees in rapid succession, most recently Jason Gordon, the company’s vice president of global communications. Other fresh departures include global retail marketing manager Rebecca Rowland, director of digital marketing John Starkweather, and product strategy manager Eric Lin. Then there have been production issues and delays with the One and First.

But in reality how worried should we be? Well, if your HTC One works really well, then I personally would not be too worried. The hardware is still excellent and if HTC should kick the bucket, which I very much doubt, the clever people at XDA Developers will keep it running for many years. In fact, the custom rom development of the HTC One is very active with some splendid results.

And looking at the Verge reporting its way over the top. HTC is a large corporate and it looks like all the above is probably part of a corporate shuffle which is normal in the corporate world. Or a few people got new jobs or got squeezed out. Whatever it is, it’s not the end.

Samsung getting one step closer from removing itself from Google

Android, Tech News

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Earlier this year, Samsung showed off its Wallet app. Korean customers can download it onto compatible Android devices from the company’s own app market. At the moment it is set to collect credit card info, which users can then use to pay for goods and services, verified by a one-time password or PIN. This app will also provide access to tickets, membership cards and coupons all accessible in one place.

In addition, the app is designed to compete with Apple’s Passbook. I just wonder how much longer before Samsung is able to provide a total experience on android with any of Google’s services. Personally I don’t think it possible due to Gmail and YouTube.

The app is compatible with the Galaxy S4, S3, Galaxy Note and Note 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1.