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  • Verizon’s new Galaxy S III update cripples connectivity

    Samsung Galaxy S III owners on Verizon got a much awaited update recently which was supposed to bring much needed software improvements like the Multi-Window View and Best Shot camera mode to name a few. This may sound good but the update has crippled connectivity with many of the Galaxy S III as they are unable to connect to the Verizon 4G and 3G networks.

    Some users are able to connect to the 3G network but that means generally slower speeds on the nation’s fast 4G network while other aren’t getting a signal at all.

    vzw gs3 Verizons new Galaxy S III update cripples connectivity

    The update also adds more bloatware in the form of a Verizon’s Caller Name ID app with users complaining that they’ve been added automatically into the program that costs $3 per month.

    Is your Verizon Galaxy S III facing the same problem? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Mobilink and HTC launch the HTC One in Pakistan

    HTC fans waiting to get their hands on the Taiwanese company’s latest flagship – the HTC One don’t have to wait anymore as Mobilink in collaboration with HTC have finally launched the HTC One in Pakistan. The HTC One in Pakistan will retail for Rs. 72,000 and come along with a special bundle that includes 10,000 on-net minutes, 10,000 SMS, 2 GB Bucket Bundle valid for 30 Days, Mobi Music free trial for 30 days, Car Charger worth Rs.1500 and Mobile Screen Protector.

    HTC One 360 Wide 570x285 Mobilink and HTC launch the HTC One in Pakistan

    The HTC One features a 4.7-inch 1080p LCD3 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon S800 1.7-GHz Quad Core Processor, 2GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, an Ultrapixel camera with 1080p video recording and 2MP front camera. The HTC One runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with HTC Sense UI on top, the One will obviously be upgradable to their next version of Android when it becomes available.

    Also check out:

    Will you be getting the HTC One? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Skype makes video messaging free for all it’s users

    Skype under it’s new ownership from Microsoft is quickly evolving and bringing in new features that make it’s service even better. Today the VOIP giant announced that it’s making video messaging free for all it’s users

    Skype announced the feature some time ago to compete with Vine and the now Instagram video, although limited at first with the amount of 3 minute messages you could send being limited and the only way to get over that limit was to get a premium Skype account but now it’s free.

    Skype video messaging is now available on the desktop versions of Skype, iOS versions for both the iPhone and iPad, Android, and BlackBerry. Surprisingly this list does not include Windows Phone which of course is made by Microsoft which own Skype.

    Thoughts on the news? Let us know in the comments below

     

  • Install Samsung Galaxy S4 XenonHD JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM

    The Samsung Galaxy S4 is Samsung’s latest and greatest flagship phone yet and luckily for it’s owners it has excellent developer support. This excellent development support resulted in a brand new Jelly Bean 4.2.2 ROM called XenonHD.

    XenonHD is a great custom ROM that brings many features from the stock firmware along with many third party features enhancing the capabilities of an already great phone.

    Samsung Galaxy S4 07 580 90 Install Samsung Galaxy S4 XenonHD JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM

    Installing the XenonHD JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM is really easy, make sure you have a custom recovery installed and just follow the steps outlined below:

    Step 1- Download the XenonHD JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM and Google Apps.

    Step 2- Connect your Samsung Galaxy S4 to a computer using mass storage mode.

    Step 3- Copy and paste the ROM and Google Apps zips downloaded in step 1, into the root folder of the mass storage device. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the root, but putting it in the root helps finding it easier.

    Step 4- Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S4 and reboot into the bootloader. Do this by pressing and holding the Volume Up + Volume Down and Power buttons.

    Step 5. Use volume rocker to navigate and power button to click. Perform a data wipe + cache wipe

    Step 6. Navigate to flash ZIP from SD card and choose ZIP from SD card

    Step 7. Select the XenonHD JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM’s zip downloaded in step 1 first. Select it using the power button and confirm installation.

    Step 8. Now do the same things with the Google Apps zip file.

    Step 9. When installation is done, go back to the main menu of CWM and perform a reboot.

    That’s it, if you have any questions feel free to ask us in the comments below.

  • Edit videos directly on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

    Smartphones are quickly becoming desktop replacements for many who live their lives on the go, so they should be able to do most of the things a desktop does. One of the most important things smartphones nowadays need to be able to do is edit videos and pictures on the go, which they thankfully can now. Today we’ll be talking about Givit which enables you to edit videos on the go on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPads.

    Using Givit is incredibly easy, all you have to do is pick a clip or video, select a highlight, repeat or add music, etc and then share the creating with your friends and family. Processing is super fast, especially on new hardware like the iPhone 5 and iPad 4 so it should not take much of your time.

    givit Edit videos directly on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

    Givit is currently available for free to download but does feature in app purchases for additional tracks and other extra goodies.

    Let us know in the comments below what you think about the app.

  • Battlefield Play4Free Now Officially Released! Available Now Free

    EA just released the full game to the public and so far it’s proven to be brilliant. Battlefield Play4Free is exclusive to Windows PCs and as it’s name states is available for free directly from EA’s website. The game plays and handles just like Battlefield 2, you could say that EA decided to relaunch the game for free. Another reason for not using the frostbite engine like the Bad Company games lead us to believe that EA wanted the game to run smoothly on old computers too. To play the game just log into your existing or create an EA account, download and install the game and play, it’s as simple as that. Check out the launch trailer after the break and don’t forget to try it out, you can download it from the source link.

    Source: Battlefield Play4Free Official Site

  • Update your Sony Xperia Z with CM10.1 and MIUI based Avatar JB

    The Sony Xperia Z is a great phone, I own it myself. The best thing about it is it’s something new and helps freshen things up from the Samsung Galaxies and the iPhones. The phone is great but Sony haven’t been the greatest of OEMs when it comes to updates for the phone, luckily the Sony Xperia Z has excellent support from the Android community resulting in many customs ROMs with latest features.

    One of the better custom ROMs available for the Sony Xperia Z is the CM10.1 and MIUI based Avatar firmware which brings Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean to the phone along with it’s improvements in features and performance. The ROM is pretty stable so you can use it as your daily driver.

    xperia z display 0 Update your Sony Xperia Z with CM10.1 and MIUI based Avatar JB

    Follow the steps below to install CM10.1 and MIUI based Avatar JB on your Sony Xperia Z, please make sure that you have a custom recovery installed before attempting this tutorial.

    Step 1- Download the CM10.1 and MIUI based Avatar JB ROM and Google Apps.

    Step 2- Connect your Sony Xperia Z to a computer using mass storage mode.

    Step 3- Copy and paste the ROM and Google Apps zips downloaded in step 1, into the root folder of the mass storage device. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the root, but putting it in the root helps finding it easier.

    Step 4- Turn off your Sony Xperia Z and reboot into the bootloader. Do this by pressing and holding the Volume Up + Volume Down and Power buttons.

    Step 5. Use volume rocker to navigate and power button to click. Perform a data wipe + cache wipe

    Step 6. Navigate to flash ZIP from SD card and choose ZIP from SD card

    Step 7. Select the CM10.1 and MIUI based Avatar JB’s zip downloaded in step 1 first. Select it using the power button and confirm installation.

    Step 8. Now do the same things with the Google Apps zip file.

    Step 9. When installation is done, go back to the main menu of CWM and perform a reboot.

    Feel free to let us know if you have any problems or difficultly with installing the ROM in the comments below.

  • Current Windows Phone users left out of Windows Phone 8 update

    Are you licking your lips reading the list of all the new features in Windows Phone 8? You better be. Microsoft has a fantastic OS on their hands that can finally challenge the mighty iOS and Android. Are you also a current Windows Phone 7 user with the latest phone? Bad news for you. Microsoft has made official the worst fears of anyone who recently bought a Windows Phone 7, which includes the Lumia and Titan range. None of the current phones will be getting Windows Phone 8. Instead they will get Windows Phone 7.8. What is 7.8 and how does it differ from Windows Phone 8?

    Windows Phone 7.8 is essentially Windows Phone 7 with the new start screen. This means current generation WP7 users will be able to resize and restack the live tiles just as the new WP8 users will be. You also get more theme colors. Other than that everything from Windows Phone 7 has remained unchanged.

    It’s understandable if you’re a recent buyer of the latest and greatest Windows Phone 7 and are more than a little unhappy to know your phone is already outdated. What Microsoft has also done is to effectively kill of any current Windows Phone sales. It makes no sense at all to purchase a Windows Phone right now knowing that it wont be getting WP8 later this year.

    Such is the brutality of innovation at blistering pace. Some people will get left behind. Windows Phone 7 hardware is just not fast enough to run Windows Phone 8. As mentioned before, this is not an incremental update, it’s a massive overhaul and with it it will need the most up to date hardware. Microsoft could have made WP8 available for WP7 phones but that would have compromised performance, which totally goes against what Windows Phone stands for.

    The question on everyones mind right now should be, will apps for WP8 work on WP7 phones? Will this fragment the marketplace?

  • Black Ops 2′s third DLC is called Vengeance, hitting Xbox Live July 2nd

    Activision and developers Treyarch have finally decided to reveal the long awaited third DLC pack for Black Ops 2 called Vengeance. Vengeance will like previous DLC packs before it bring four new multiplayer maps and one new Zombies map. Vengeance will also bring a Zombies exclusive DLC weapons called the Ray Gun Mark II which as the name suggests is an evolution of the Ray Gun.

    The four multiplayer maps include Cove which takes place at a rocky Island somewhere in the Indian ocean, Detour taking place on a bridge with multiple levels, Rush which takes place in a Paintball Arena and finally Uplink which takes place at a satellite control facility and is a re-imagining of Black Ops’ Summit.

    The Zombies map in Vengeance is called buried and is themed around the old wild west and will take place in a underground cave. The party characters will have tons of information to share as the story progresses, the map will also feature a new character to the Zombies storyline which could either be a friend or foe. The Zombie weapon included in Vengeance Ray Gun Mark II is supposedly very powerful and can kill hoards of Zombies in a single go.

    Black Ops 2 Vengeance DLC pack hits Xbox Live July 2nd and will be available on PS3 and PC a month later. Will you be getting the Vengeance DLC pack? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 Smart Dock Review

    A charging dock is quickly becoming one of the most popular accessories users wants to buy for their smartphones, now as phones are getting smarter than ever these simple charging docks are quickly evolving into what Samsung calls a Smart Dock. Samsung recently launched a Smart Dock compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 which allowing users to turn their smartphones into mini desktop computers.

    This particular dock that we’re reviewing includes an HDMI port, three USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5mm stereo audio jack and a microUSB port to charge the phone of course. These connectivity options will allow you to connect your phone to a TV or monitor via the HDMI port, connect an external keyboard, mouse and even external storage via the USB ports, connect external speakers via the 3.5mm audio jack while the phone is being charged by the microUSB port.

    Instead of the dock you could get separate MHL, OTG, AUX and other cables to fulfill the purpose but the dock makes everything so simpler. It’s so small and easy to carry, has a beautiful design and is very simple to use. In short the extra price gets you a much better product. Also as far as compatibility with devices is concerned the dock will work seamlessly with the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4 but with the Galaxy S3 it won’t be able to power a USB drive.

    The Smart Dock also has a full software overlay displayed on the device connected that displays the weather and other details similar to what we get on Motorola’s docks. I’ve been using the dock to mirror my Galaxy S4 on my TV for a few days now and the display quality is splendid, there is little to no lag while browsing and movies and other media played have exceptional quality.

    The Smart Dock isn’t for everyone though, most casual users will be put off by somewhat low app compatibility and the fact that most if not all Android apps work better with the touchscreen than a keyboard or mouse. I consider the Smart Dock a niche item which will be very useful to those who need a tiny computer in their pockets that has the ability t0 turn into a proper desktop.

    A short note though, if you’re planning to use the Smart Dock with a cover make sure you use the official Samsung ones, I tried using it with my third party leather cover on my Galaxy S4 and it was a pretty tight fit so I took the cover off.

    The Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 Smart Dock is now available for purchase for just $83 which is excellent value in my opinion.

    TechDeville gives the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 Smart Dock 4/5 stars.