HTC Promises Android 4.1 Upgrades for HTC One X and One S Start this Month

In addition to revealing the HTC One X+ today, HTC said that it will start rolling out the upgrade to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) for its HTC One X and HTC One S in the near future. This will be accompanyied by a new version of the Sense user interface

Sense 4+ will offer a slew of new features that will coincide nicely with the Android upgrade. Here is a list of the enhancments that will be offered with the Sense 4+ upgrade and Android 4.1:

Get Started

The first feature the new UI will offer is Get Started, which will allow users to log into an account using PC or Mac to set up the device, before it even arrives. Users will be able to add and edit various accounts, customize their themes, and even install applications.

Watch 2.0

Sense 4+ will also offer Watch 2.0 which will double as both a demand service similar to Netflix and a utility feature that will link to other video related applications such as YouTube bringing all of the user's video content to one place. From there users will be able to directly form there HTC Watch Home screen or they could opt to play the media directly on their television (given the users has the HTC Media Link).

Google Now

Simple and sweet, Google Now will allow suers to press the home screen to pull up Google Now. This will offer users direct access to certain information such as places to eat, transport times and sports results (similar to Siri).

Music Apps

In the same fashion of Watch 2.0, Music Apps will let users directly link all of their Music applications loaded into the HTC device, creating an all-in-one music hub.

Self Portrait Mode

This feature will simplify taking personal photos by auto-detecting the users face and using imaging software to subtly improve the quality of the image.

Sightseeing Mode

When using smartphone camera for extended periods of time it can become bothersome to have to continuously open the camera application after unlocking the device. Sightseeing Mode will look to alleviate this annoyance allowing users to unlock straight into the camera application, when this mode is enabled. Additionally, all passwords and lock patterns will be disabled when this mode is engaged, though user access will be restricted to the camera for security reasons.

Gallery App

Finally there is the Gallery App, which again works similarly to the Music App or Watch 2.0. Gallery App acts as a hub for all of your photos. Furthermore, things like Instagram, Picasa and Flickr can be linked in for quick and easy access to all of your photo streams from one place.

Availability

The Sense 4+ and Android 4.1 upgrade is expected to be released for the HTC One X and HTC One S sometime later this month. However, consumers in the U.S. should be aware that U.S. carriers will likely delay the upgrade to further test it before releasing it to the general public.

These features will be avaulable on the HTC One X+ when it is released -- this device will luanch with Sense 4+ and Android 4.1.

 SOURCE : View The Original Article Here 

Why Android 4.2 Phones Won't Offer Multiple User Accounts

Following Google's unveiling of Android 4.2, an updated version of Jelly Bean, the upcoming operating system's support for multiple user accounts seems to be the standout feature, but it's only for tablets. A new report claims that its limitation to tablets could be in part to Nokia -- more specifically, a Nokia patent.

Android 4.2While Google has said the update won't be a huge step forward, the capability to add multiple user accounts would give the operating system a step-up on Apple, which only allows iPads and iPhones to sync with a single user account. Yet, only Android tablets will offer the feature, as Nokia owns a patent for such a characteristic on phones.

According to a patent publication application from May 2005, Nokia's patent US 2005/0107114 A1, dubbed "multi-user mobile telephone", is described as being able to offer a "first end-user" the ability to "alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that first end-user and a subsequent end-user can alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that subsequent end-user."

Google's tablet-specific version of Android 4.2 will provide users with their own email, apps, bookmarks, home screens and more, simply by switching between accounts from the lock screen. While people don't generally share smartphones, it was just assumed Google made this feature solely available on tablets for practical reasons, though with this recent finding, there appears to be more behind that reasoning.

Neither Google nor Nokia has confirmed the report as true, but it would certainly make sense. Especially when one considers that Microsoft's recently-announced Windows Phone 8 operating system includes something similar to multi-users accounts -- Microsoft and Nokia are close partners on smartphones.

More about Android 4.2

The latest Android update is going to bring a range new features,  including Photo Sphere, which will let users capture and create a 360-degree picture, as well as Gesture Typing, which will let users type by gliding their finger over the letters. These improvements will be for both smartphones and tablets.

Android 4.2 will first make its appearance on the Internet giant's next line of Nexus devices, including the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, in the coming weeks.

SOURCE : View The Original Article Here 

New Details Emerge on the Next BlackBerry with a Keyboard

Some of the specifications for two BlackBerry series have leaked out of RIM, showing that the company is planning to offer models for those who prefer touchscreens as well as for fans of physical keyboards.

Virtually all of the rumors so far about devices to run the upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system have described touchscreen-based models. According to information that supposedly leaked out of the company today, RIM hasn't forgotten that it built its reputation with smartphones that include hardware keyboards.

The N Series will allegedly use the traditional design for a BlackBerry, with a screen set above a small keyboard. It will have a 720 x 720 display, with a pixel density of 330 ppi.

The L Series will be all touchscreen, designed around a 768 x 1280 display at 356 ppi. The reference device RIM recently started giving out to developers has this resolution.

Availability

The L Series is expected to be the first BlackBerry 10 model to be introduced when it is announced in August. The N Series, on the other hand, allegedly won't debut until early 2013. These will be models capable of running BB10 -- there will be no upgrades.

BlackBerry LogoThere is no word yet on pricing, or which wireless carriers will be picking up these handsets.

SOURCE : View The Original Article Here