HTC J Butterfly getting Sense 5 update by the end of this month

The HTC J Butterfly is set to get an update to HTC Sense 5, according to Jack Tong, president of HTC North Asia, quoted by Focus Taiwan.

In a statement mainly focused on the increasing production capacity for the HTC One, due to strong demand, the HTC official also revealed some good news for HTC J Butterfly owners. According to Tong, updates for the J Butterfly are planned for release by this month's end.

The updates will include a few of the features the HTC One already offers, starting with theSense 5.0 interface, BlinkFeed included, as well as the slide show feature for the camera.

It will be interesting to see whether the update will also become available for the Verizon version of the HTC J Butterfly, the Droid DNA, which Verizon is currently offering for free with a two-year contract for a limited period of time. You may remember that a custom ROM gave users Sense 5.0 on the Droid DNA, but an official update would certainly make the software available to more users.

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Tasker update hits Google Play, features new Holo UI for Android 4.0+ users

Back in January, developer Crafty Apps introduced a new beta to Tasker, bringing with it a whole new look. Now the latest version of the app has left the beta stage and officially hit Google Play with the new theme in tow, at least for those of us with Android 4.0 or newer.

For those of you who have never used Tasker, this app is very useful for setting up and performing actions based on user-defined options like time, date, location and gesture. As an example, when you enter into your office, your phone could automatically turn to vibrate mode and then turn back to normal ringing when you leave work for the day.

With the latest version everything you love about Tasker is still there, though it is now basically being split into two different versions. Devices with Android 1.6 and higher will all receive incremental improvements and bug fixes with this update, but only ICS or higher will actually get the new UI.

Those lucky enough to have Android 4.0 or higher will be greeted by 200 new built-in icons each for Holo light and dark. There are also several new states, events and actions in this latest update. For those that are used to the app already and wondering about learning curve in the new version, you have nothing to be concerned about. The navigation and overall functionality hasn’t changed too much, so there won’t be much different in terms of using the app.

So how about it, what do you think of the new app’s look? Impressed or not?

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Real Racing 3 update coming later this spring, introduces new cars and events

 

Real Racing 3 has certainly received a mixed reception since it first touched down to Google Play last month, with most of the complaints surrounding the series switching to a ‘freemium’ model and its somewhat ridiculous in-app purchase system. Still, the game has solid graphics and quite a few features if you can get past its flaws. Soon it will be getting even better thanks to a new update that is expected to arrive later this spring.

The new update will include 100 new events, cloud save functionality across Amazon, Android and iOS and a better notification system. It also has improved leaderboards and adds the Chevy Cobalt SS and Camaro as automobile choices.

Pocket Gamers managed to grab a few videos that give you a better look at what is coming in the update. The first of these videos talks about a new game mode, called “hunter”. Essentially this mode has you hunt down a car and overtake it in a single lap, with them having a headstart.

The next video talks about the cloud game save feature and what kind of sign-in you will need to make it work, mentioning both Facebook and Gamecenter as options. The last simply shows off the Chevy Camaro in the game.

So how about it, are you excited to get your hands on the latest update or are you completely turned off the series thanks to their decision to switch from paid content to free-to-play with in-app content?

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LG Nexus 4 design updated, now less 

Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like the Nexus 4 has quietly received a bit of a design change.
The news of the change was first reported by German site Mobiflip, and has since been confirmed by Android Central, which recently received a Nexus 4 via Google Play that features the newly reported changes.
Okay, with that out of the way, what’s different? On the front-side the Nexus 4 looks the same as ever, with both changes only affecting the back of the smartphone. The biggest change is the addition of two small nubs, as seen in the picture directly below this sentence.

At first glance, you might not think this slight change would mean much. Actually, it is quite a useful adjustment. Right now, the Nexus 4 lies completely flat on its back, which means it is more prone to scratching and even sliding. It also means that your speaker is somewhat muted when the phone is on its back. None of these are probably considered ‘deal breaker’ problems, but they are still annoyances nonetheless.

The next change is one of those “we changed it because we can” design adjustments. The camera lens’ outer ring is now smaller than the original model. We have no clue what practical reason they had for changing this. Perhaps the only reason for the change is purely aesthetics, though it is hard to say for sure.
So how about it, have any of you received a new LG Nexus 4 with these cosmetic changes? What do you think?

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Facebook releases updated Android app to Google Play

A new Facebook update has now hit the Google Play Store, bringing with it the ability to change profile pictures from within the app. Additionally, it is now easier to manage unwanted stories and spam from within the News Feed. Outside of these two changes, Facebook also made improvements that make it easy to start a group message with fewer taps and less hassle.

As you can see, nothing truly ground-breaking was introduced with this update, though Facebook is changing up the way it launches updates. Even though this update is just now hitting Google Play, some users have had it since Friday.

How does that work exactly? Apparently Facebook has a new beta program that is designed to push out updates to beta testers. The method works silently in the background, outside of Google Play. This gives testers a chance to provide feedback before the update hits a wider range of users via Google Play.

According to Facebook, the silent update feature will be used for testers going forward as a way to make sure that new updates work as they should. It is actually seems like a pretty wise move, as it gives a few willing volunteers early access to updates and at the same time means Facebook can discover bugs and other problems before updates launch. Beyond volunteer testers, Facebook doesn’t seem interested in using this silent update method to replace normal Google Play delivery.

What do you think of the idea of the changes in this new update? Additionally, what do you think of the new silent update method for Google Play testers?

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Google Currents updated, comes with post syncing and audio playlist support

 

Google Currents has become more and more popular, especially since the last UI makeover, and now the latest update comes with some useful new additions, including audio playback features and post syncing.
The new audio features are integrated in the app in a very useful fashion. Basically, if a post includes audio, you’ll get a “Play audio” link below it which will start the audio feed. You can then listen to the feed while reading other content.
You’ll notice an audio symbol at the bottom of the screen, which, when clicked, brings up the “Audio media bar” as the release notes call it.  The media bar allows you to go to the next or previous item in the playlist, as well as to stop, play or pause.
Finally, the new version also includes the possibility to sync a post’s state between devices, which can be very useful if you have more than one device on which you’re using the app.
Are you using Google Currents yourself, or do you prefer another app for your news reading needs?

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LG Optimus 4X HD and Optimus L7 to receive Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update in Europe soon

A few days after the LG Optimus L9 began receiving the official update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean in Europe, it’s now the turn for LG Optimus 4X HD and Optimus L7 owners to rejoice. In ablog post, LG Germany announced that both devices will be receiving the software upgrade by the end of this month. Granted, there’s an “Important Note” in the post stating that the vague schedule may be pushed, and any device with network operator branding may have to wait longer for approval processes by the network carrier to get done.
The Android 4.1.2 change log for the two Optimus smartphones include -

• Project butter, for a smoother and faster performance
• Constant frame rate by Vertical Sync
• Improved responsiveness
• Extensible alerts and notifications with actions
• Google Now integration
• Dictate will now work without an internet connection
• Android Beam 2.0 for faster data exchange via NFC
• Support for Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

The update won’t be available over-the-air, and users will need to use the LG Mobile Support Tool to download and install it. It is recommended that you backup all your data on your device first before going through with the update. You can find the full download and installation instructions in the original blog post (in German) .
What are your thoughts? Are you excited about finally receiving the official update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean?

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LG Optimus L9 finally receives long-awaited Android Jelly Bean update

 

In a report last month, we told you about a forthcoming software update for the LG Optimus L9 that would bring it up to speed with all the latest Android handsets in the market in terms of default software. Now, about three months after it first made its official European debut, the Optimus L9 has finally received this long-awaited software update, letting its users upgrade their device software to Android Jelly Bean.

According to initial reports, the LG Optimus L9 Jelly Bean update is currently available in the following locations: Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Portugal, and the Baltics region. Right now, this much-needed software upgrade is still not available in the U.S. But it won’t be a stretch to imagine T-Mobile rolling it out at some point in the future. The only question is when exactly.

The LG Optimus L9 comes with a 4.7-inch qHD IPS screen and uses a 1GHz dual core Cortex A9 processor with a PowerVR SGX540 GPU and 1GB RAM. Its other features include a 5-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, 4GB of internal storage, and support for extra storage space by way of microSD cards. The LG Optimus L9 software update — all 575MB of it — is available for download over-the-air (OTA) as well as through the LG Update tool.

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XMBC for Android gets updated as work on next version continues

 

If you’re a fan of XMBC for Android and the XMBC project in general, then you’re going to love the latest bit of news published over at the XMBC Blog. The XMBC team says that they are going back to their usual monthly development cycle, which means that users can expect a new version of XMBC to come out each and every single month. In fact, right now, as most people are still getting acquainted with XMBC 12 – Frodo, the team as well as a number of other developers are already hard at work on making the next version, XMBC 13 – codenamed Gotham.

There is currently a call for those with highly-developed art skills to come up with the relevant version images now for when it finally comes out. And at the same time, “the brave” are also called upon to test the resulting build that comes out of all the work done by the end of the month, to help streamline the software development process.

For now the most stable build is still the most recent one — XMBC 12 – Frodo — and from the February changelog, the XMBC Team has pulled out a number of noteworthy highlights:

Play Using…

For those familiar with AirPlay for video and audio, this is quite similar, except now you don’t need to be using an iOS device to push your content. You just need to check the box to turn on your UPnP server in XBMC under System->Services->UPnP and you can send your media anywhere that supports it.

Android Improvements

This first cycle includes a slew of Android improvements. For starters, XBMC now controls native Android audio, so users don’t have to close XBMC, turn the volume up, re-open XBMC, and finally listen to whatever they were listening to. Instead, the audio is controlled like any other Android app (thanks to mcrosson). Second, XBMC for Android is no longer stuck facing one direction. If you flip your Android device 180 degrees, XBMC will flip with it (thanks to montellese).

iOS Improvements

The local iOS keyboard is already the default keyboard for XBMC, but now it has even more utility. It can accept any text from any iOS language, and it also supports the iOS clipboard copy and paste feature (thanks to ulion).

Other Improvements

Dev Montellese continues his breakneck work of improving the XBMC library. With this cycle, he has added tags for tv shows and musicvideos, and he has also made it possible for those individuals who like to pick and choose each piece of media art individually to add alternative artwork (landscape, banner, etc.) without needing to use an addon like the automated Artwork Downloader. To use this feature, click “Choose art” on a piece of media’s info screen, and then select “Add art” at the bottom.

If you would like to learn about all of the changes introduced in the most recent stable version, XMBC has a list of all February milestones gathered all in one page. And as always, you may contribute through either donations or offering support through the user forums and submitting your own bug reports.

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Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and 7 now receiving their Jelly Bean OTA update

If you are tired of seeing the same outdated software on your Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab, there is an OTA update that is rolling out to most users that upgrades your tablet to, well, newer outdated software.

Android 4.1 is now hitting the Verizon Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and 7, bringing all the performance improvements you would expect from Project Butter, as well as a healthy serving of Google Now.

While those are the 2 biggest improvements, there are going to be specific features that will only be available on your particular device: click here to check out the entire list of changes for the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and here for the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.

As always, if you are one of the people who have not had the update pushed to your tab yet, head into the Settings -> About device -> System updates to manually ping the servers. The update has already been approved and pushed to the non-carrier branded unlocked models, so hopefully there should not be any hidden problems or major bugs. Do let us know how the update is performing in the comments.

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