Emoji diversity: iOS 8.3 Beta adds more color, more flags from around the world, and more

Emoji diversity: iOS 8.3 Beta adds more color, more flags from around the world, and more

Next month, iOS 8.3 will be made available as a public beta test, with Apple hoping to recreate the success it had with a similar rollout for its OS X Yosemite update last year.

Unlike other public betas however, Apple expects you to earn your keep if you happen to get one of the coveted 100,000 available spots for the preview of iOS version 8.3. Beta testers will get a dedicated app to report bugs and such.

While those signed up for the AppleSeed program wait for their opportunity to get the beta, the rest of us are simply interested in what iOS 8.3 may bring to the user experience. Like any iOS update, the changes are fairly incremental, but iOS 8.3 beta 2 has already pushed to developers, so we get to take a look at what is inside.

Most noticeably, there is a wider selection of emojis to choose from, reflecting the diversity of ethnicity around the world. Speaking of the world, more flags have been added as well. Expect to see some images updated in the “objects & symbols” area, notably those of the iPhone reflecting an iPhone 6 image, and the watch resembling well, an Apple Watch.

Other enhancements lie beneath the surface. iOS 8.3 will bring improved login for Google services, as well as updated voices and languages for Siri including Russian, Danish, Dutch, Thai, Turkish, Portugese, and Swedish. Chinese support for Apple Pay should be fully enabled by its release. One thing not supported in the iOS 8.3 beta is Verizon LTE voice.

We have not yet had iOS 8.2 officially drop yet, so it is a safe bet that iOS 8.3 beta testing is going to last a while, meaning we will not likely see these new features until this summer. Source

Spotlight: Smart Unlock bypasses the Android lockscreen security when you're connected to trusted networks and devices

Spotlight: Smart Unlock bypasses the Android lockscreen security when you're connected to trusted networks and devices

Developed by two XDA Community members, Smart Unlock does something really small that you may greatly appreciate. Basically, when your smartphone or tablet is connected to a trusted Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device, it makes Android automatically bypass the lock screen security. It's logical - when you're safe at home, or in the car, you don't really have to get past swiping, patterns, pins, and all these precautions each time you reach for the screen! With Smart Unlock installed, and while in a trusted environment, pressing your device's power button takes you straight to the homescreen - no frills!

As the app is work in progress, the developers plan on adding BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) support to deal with the rising tide of smartwatches and smartbands. NFC connectivity and a manual lock button are in the cards, too.

Unfortunately, Samsung device owners won't be able to enjoy the app just now, as security features implemented by the vendor make it impossible to work. The developers are contemplating a Samsung edition of the app to get past that. Also, Clean Master, AcDisplay, and Llama are apps that break Smart Unlock, so you'll have to deal with that as well.

Smart Unlock has a 7-day trial version in the Google Play store, and XDA forum members can sideload an unlimited .apk version that supports up to three trusted devices. Source

Indeed there will be a new Chromebook Pixel “coming out soon”

Indeed there will be a new Chromebook Pixel “coming out soon”

Chromebooks, highly functional, and by most accounts, highly affordable devices that have made an impact in the public sector, educational institutions, and developing markets around the world. While they are arguably nothing more than a browser in a box, the Chrome OS powered devices are very lightweight, start almost instantly, and tied into Google’s services, provide a very compelling bang for the buck. Right now, an Acer C720 Chromebook is just $229.

There have been other equally affordable models over the years, with one exception, the Chromebook Pixel. The Chromebook Pixel made its debut two years ago, and it remains the power player of Google’s mobile computing platform. Packing solid specifications, beautiful build quality, and a gorgeous 2560x1700 resolution touch-screen display. All that goodness came at a cost though, prices started at $1,299.

Chrome OS is not lacking for development either, as now a number of Android applications can run on Chromebooks. Updates are pushed out regularly, and because the environment is browser driven, performance is consistently fast.

Two years is about four lifetimes in the world of technology, however, and thankfully, Google does not appear to be letting its guard down. At a conference last week, Renee Niemi, Google’s Director of Google for Work and Android & Chrome stated that a new Pixel is coming out, but it will be developer focused, and limited in availability.

We do have a new Pixel coming out and it will be coming out soon. We will be selling it but I just have to set your expectations: this is a development platform. This is really a proof of concept. We don’t make very many of these — we really don’t. And […] our developers and our Googlers consume 85% of what we produce. But yes, we do have a new Pixel coming out.

- Renee Niemi, Director - Android & Chrome, Google for Work

What can we glean from that? Well we would not be surprised if the overall design was unchanged, with natural build evolutions to some of the internals, and maybe reversible USB Type-C ports. As to what Ms. Niemi meant by “proof of concept,” we do not have enough information to hazard a guess. Since the new Pixel will presumably be the spec leader of Chromebooks, and will be built in limited quantities, we see no reason to expect a price point any lower than where today’s Pixel starts. Source

Made in Indonesia smartphone law could put Apple and others at a disadvantage in the country

"Made in Indonesia" smartphone law could put Apple and others at a disadvantage in the country

According to a law expected to be finalized in Indonesia next month, smartphones and tablets sold to the 250 million people living in the country must have at least 40% of its parts sourced from within the Indonesian borders. This law would take effect on January 1st, 2017. Understandably, global smartphone manufacturers like U.S. based Apple are not happy with this proposed rule. Samsung has already opened a plant in Jakarta that has been turning out locally produced handsets, but many business groups expect that the law will cause prices of handsets to rise in the country, and could prevent Indonesia from obtaining the latest technologies.

As it is, less than a third of the people in the country own a smartphone, which makes it quite an attractive market for manufacturers. Indonesia Communications Minister Rudiantara says that the law will be finalized next month and is designed so that Indonesian companies can snag more of the $4 billion in annual smartphone sales that occur in the country. The law would also support President Joko Widodo's promise to make Indonesia a nation of producers rather than consumers.

The office of the U.S. Trade Representative is said to be talking over the matter with Indonesian authorities, and the American Chamber of Congress mentioned the law in a letter to Communications Minister Rudiantara dated on February 12th. The country's smartphone manufacturing industry is only about a year old and many fear that Indonesia does not have the strong supply chain necessary for manufacturing smartphones in the country. The letter says that Indonesia could be violating international law if the rule is put into effect.

"We fear that the approach taken in this draft regulation could inadvertently restrict access to new technologies, raise the cost of ICT for Indonesian companies, stimulate grey and black markets for mobile phones, and carry other unintended consequences"-Letter from American Chamber of Congress to IndonesianCommunications Minister Rudiantara. Source

T-Mobile and Nokia aim small: to deploy small LTE cells that use unlicensed spectrum

T-Mobile and Nokia aim small: to deploy small LTE cells that use unlicensed spectrum

During T-Mobile USA’s earnings call last week, where it announced that it added over 8 million customers last year, outpacing everyone, Team Magenta’s CTO, Neville Ray, said that the carrier will begin deploying small cell units that operate in the unlicensed radio bands.

These units will initially be installed indoors first and deliver LTE-U (unlicensed) via the unregulated radio bands in use today. The gear is built by Nokia Networks and it is called Flexi Zone.

While T-Mobile said that installations would begin in earnest next year, Nokia says that the carrier has already begun deploying the Flexi Zone small cells. LTE-U is technically in a “pre-standards” phase, operating in the 5GHz band. You might be thinking that it might conflict with your home Wi-Fi, but Mr. Ray assures that T-Mobile’s LTE-U will not conflict with wireless LANs.

Part of the reason for that assurance (as well as the appeal of getting into the unlicensed space), is that there is in excess of 500MHz of unutilized, or under-utilized spectrum in the 5GHz band. That means there is great potential for delivering extremely fast throughput.

The tradeoff is that keeping everything in check within the unlicensed arena means limited coverage. However, indoor installations will be augmented by outdoor deployments where it can complement existing services.

This technology has been successfully deployed by NTT DoCoMo in Japan, called “Licensed Assisted Access,” or LAA-LTE, it uses Nokia’s Flexi Zone gear. Ericsson will be testing LTE-U small cells with T-Mobile as well. The standard will be finalized by 2016. Source

Microsoft Band update adds WordFlow swipe-to-type keyboard

Microsoft Band update adds WordFlow swipe-to-type keyboard

No sooner did Microsoft release the Microsoft Band last November, than the device was quickly sold out at Microsoft Stores. The popular fitness band tracks your heart beat, exercises and offers integration with Cortana. The latter is coming off a remarkable 83% accuracy rate in forecasting Academy Award winners! At $199.99, the wearable is priced to move.

An update to the Microsoft Band now gives it a dedicated cycling tile. The sensors keep track of distance and calories burned. And since the band knows that you are riding a bike, it will also track elevation and heart rate for cycling. You can also download a number of cycling based exercises. The cycling tile will work for outdoor bikes, or for the stationary variety.

One interesting addition to Microsoft Band is the WordFlow swipe-to-type keyboard. This might be hard to employ on a 1.4-inch screen, but it is there nonetheless and it does allow you to reply to messages by swiping your responses. While Microsoft has updated its web based Health dashboard to show you stats and graphs, the info is not available on the Microsoft Health smartphone app. Well, at least not yet.

Perhaps the biggest news is the release of an SDK for Microsoft Band that covers Windows Phone, iOS and Android. This should pave the way for many new features for the device in the near to intermediate future. Source

Not happy with the Windows 10 Technical Preview? Here is how you can drop back to Windows Phone 8.1

Not happy with the Windows 10 Technical Preview? Here is how you can drop back to Windows Phone 8.1

Have you recently loaded the Technical Preview of Windows 10 for Mobile on your Windows Phone? By now, you probably realize that this is a work in progress as it is quite buggy. Thankfully, Microsoft had the foresight to install a "rollback" feature in the Technical Preview that allows you to bring Windows Phone 8.1 back to your handset if so desired. You will lose all of your data, so back it up to a microSD card or to OneDrive before you begin.

To bring Windows Phone 8.1 back to your handset, you will need your phone, a USB cable, a Windows PC and the Windows Recovery Tool which is downloaded to your PC. Use the USB cable to connect your phone with the computer. The phone should be automatically recognized by the computer. If not, disconnect the phone from the PC and click on 'My phone was not detected' at the bottom of the screen; follow the instructions on the display.

Once your phone model is detected by the computer, click on the name of the model on your PC screen. The next screen will show software versions; click on the reinstall button. You will then see a disclaimer suggesting that you back up the phone. Click on continue. The next step has the recovery tool downloading and installing the firmware. It is important that you do not disconnect the phone from the computer while this is happening. When completed, you will see a notification that says "Operation successfully completed." Oh happy day!

Don't consider it a failure if you need to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 from Windows 10 Technical Preview. After all, we are not talking about the final version of the new Windows build here. Once Microsoft kills all bugs dead and releases the finished Windows 10 for Mobile, you should try again to update your Windows Phone device to the latest and greatest build of Microsoft's mobile OS. Source