Gadget Hacks News
News: The End of Dead Phone Batteries Is Closer Than You Think
The old "my battery is dead" excuse for not calling your mother may soon be a thing of the past. A team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), led by Professor Jo Byeong-jin, has developed a "wearable thermo-element" that can be built into clothing to power your electronic devices. The science behind the innovation converts body heat (thermal energy) into usable electric energy. Made with lightweight glass fiber, this small thermo-element strip can produce about ...
News: Sprint HTC One M8 Receives First Update—Your Battery Life Will Thank You
Although the new HTC One M8 was only released about two weeks ago, owners of the Sprint variant are receiving their first software update this morning.
News: Twitter (Sorta) Buys a Lock Screen
Earlier this morning, Twitter announced (through a tweet, naturally) that it has acquired Cover, roughly a minute after Cover made the same announcement. Cover Lock Screen, a lockscreen replacement app, has been vastly popular during its first year. The app places relevant shortcuts on your lockscreen that adapt to your habits, so whether you're at home, work, or in the car, you'll find the apps you use the most in these situations readily available for you. For more information on Cover, inc...
News: Microsoft's Cortana Just Blew Siri Out of the Water
As Microsoft unveiled their new Windows Phone 8.1 software update yesterday, undoubtedly the most memorable takeaway was their showcase of Cortana. Competing directly against Apple's Siri and Google's Now, Cortana is Microsoft's entry into the digital voice assistant fray, and the official replacement to their search app.
News: Amazon Launches Fire TV to Compete Against Apple TV, Chromecast, & Roku
Amazon just announced its entry into the set-top streaming content marketplace with its new Fire TV box. Competing directly against Apple TV, Google's Chromecast, and Roku, Amazon is betting on big processing power and voice controls to stand out from the competition. Features include the following.
News: An Album Just Launched into Space—Listen to It Based on Your GPS Location
John Frusciante, of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame, has just launched a new album, literally. His latest work, Enclosure, was loaded up on Sat-JF14 satellite inside the payload bay of the Interorbital Neptune Rocket on March 29th and launched into orbit.
News: Crackle & Rdio Apps Updated for Chromecast Support
Adding to the growing list of Chromecast capable apps, today two entertainment streamers for both Android and iOS join the list; Crackle for videos, and Rdio for music.
News: The New HTC One M8 Has Been Rooted
Just short of a week after its release, the new HTC One has been rooted thanks to Android devs beaups and jcase, the same guys that brought us S-OFF for the original HTC One (M7).
News: Sprint HTC One Max to Receive Update to KitKat and Sense 5.5
As a little late night surprise, Mo Versi, Executive Director of Product Management, took to twitter to announce a KitKat and Sense update for the Sprint variant of the HTC One Max. Mo has used tweets in the past to keep customers informed of product updates, and it's a trend we'd love to see from all OEMs. As part of HTC's renewed commitment to keeping devices updated for two full years after release, dubbed HTC Advantage, the One Max will see Android's latest version.
News: Microsoft Office Suite Apps Come to the iPad—But Are They Worth Your Download?
After much speculating, denying, and waiting, Microsoft has finally released their suite of Offices apps dedicated to the iPad. With increased competition and flocks of users going to apps like Quickoffice (which was recently acquired by Google) and Kingsoft Office, it was getting close to do-or-die time for Microsoft.
News: The Galaxy S5 Has Been Rooted!
Chainfire, the renowned Android dev who brought us tools like CF-Auto-Root and 500 Firepaper, among many other apps and tools, has done what he always seems to do, which is root devices before they hit the shelves, this time for the Samsung Galaxy S5.
News: KitKat Rolling Out for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3
After leaks and rollouts from rival carriers, AT&T has finally released their official Android 4.4.2 KitKat update for the Galaxy Note 3. If you haven't received your update notification, force a manual check by going to Settings -> More -> About Device -> Software Update -> Check for Updates. Make sure you're connected to Wifi and have at least 50% battery remaining. This update includes:
News: Korean Carriers Defy Samsung; Release Galaxy S5 Two Weeks Early
In a move that seemingly surprised everyone—including Samsung—Korean carriers have released the Galaxy S5 a full two weeks early to avoid being caught up in an about-to-be-imposed ban.
News: What's New & Improved in Sense 6 for Your HTC One M7
After all the leaks and peeks of the HTC One M8, it has finally been officially introduced to the public, available for purchase at most U.S. carriers. HTC also unveiled Sense 6 during the launch event, the newest iteration of its operating system, and thanks to their new Advantage Program, the update shouldn't be too far behind for the older One (M7).
News: Is the HTC One M8 Indestructible? No, But It Comes Pretty Close
The new HTC One M8 has only been out for a few hours, but it's apparent that some people had their hands on the device before the announcement. And well, one them decided to drop the thing in water.
News: The New HTC One M8 Released Today—Here's Everything You Need to Know
After much hype and even more leaks, the HTC One M8 has finally been unveiled at the company's New York release announcement.
News: Google Adds Serious Style to Glass with New Partnership
They may not be the coolest looking things in the world, but Google is addressing some of the shortcomings of its Glass hardware by announcing a partnership with Luxottica Group. The company, with over 5000 retail stores in the US, has a strong portfolio of brands under its belt, including Amette, Persol, Ray-Ban, and Vogue. And for this Glass Explorer, the news is welcomed with open arms. Admittedly, these bad boys have come a long way over the past couple of years, just take a look at the i...
News: Everything You Need to Know About the New Xposed Installer (Version 2.5)
Allowing us to easily get features that would otherwise be available only through flashing mods and custom ROMs, Xposed Installer has been a godsend since its development, simplifying the sometimes tasking and potentially harmful process of changing the core components of Android's operating system.
News: Original Song- "Just for You"
Hey! Please check out my video! Like, comment, and SUBSCRIBE TO ME!!! PLEASE?!?! AND SHARE! That would mean the world to me!! BTW, this song is copyrighted, and any form of usage is triable by prosecution.
News: Find Out How Much Time You're Wasting Using Facebook & Other Apps on Your Galaxy S3
In today's dog-eat-dog world, every minute matters. Whether you're in school or working for the Man, a huge amount of your day is consumed by tasks, assignments, and other kinds of work. Then there's the time you spend playing video games, watching TV, or screwing around on your Samsung Galaxy S3.
News: New Update Allows You to Take Pictures & Videos Directly from Google Search
Today, a server-side update to Google Search added the ability to take pictures and videos directly from voice commands in Google Search. Simply say "take a photo/picture" or "record/take a video" from Google Search, and your camera app will automatically open up, either in camera or camcorder mode, depending on the command it received.
News: Google Beat Apple in the Next-Gen Smartwatch Race—And It Looks Incredible
Watch out Samsung (and you too, Pebble, Sony and the still unrealized Apple), your hold on the smartwatch market is about to get a lot less firm. Announced today, Google has released Android Wear, their platform for developing smartwatches, along with a preview of the Moto 360 smartwatch from Motorola.
News: The New HTC One Will Go on Sale "Minutes" After March 25th Announcement
Well, that's one way to get a leg up on Samsung! Announced earlier today, Carphone Warehouse has stated that the new HTC One, dubbed the M8, will go on sale around 4pm on Tuesday, March 25th, "minutes" after the official announcement to unveil the product from HTC. According to the press release, the "handsets will be transported directly from the venue of the launch announcement to six Carphone Warehouse stores in London". A first for a smartphone manufacturer, the move will give HTC a coupl...
Fearmongering 101: The Case of the Samsung Galaxy Backdoor Exploit
Yesterday, the Free Software Foundation published an article written by Paul Kocialkowski. A software developer for the the Android fork system Replicant, Paul stated that his organization discovered, and later patched, a "backdoor" vulnerability that existed in older Samsung Galaxy devices, including our beloved Galaxy S3s. Only problem is, it's kind of bullshit—but we'll get to that later.
News: New Features and KitKat Compatibility Added to HTC Backup for Your HTC One
If you are using the the AT&T variant of the HTC One, you are well aware that the carrier opted not have the HTC Backup app pre-installed on the device. Luckily for us, HTC said "screw it" and put the app on Google Play, allowing anyone with an HTC One, regardless of carrier, to be able to download and use the app—if you're an AT&T customer, grab the app and let's take a quick walkthrough (again, the rest of us on other carriers should have the app already).
News: Google Releases "Dogfood" YouTube App to Google Play
If you watched a YouTube video on your Android device today, you may may noticed something just a little different. If you haven't, go check out the app in your drawer or homepage. Google today pushed out an update to their YouTube app, but by all accounts, it was never meant to hit the public. This is labeled a dogfood build, which is a term used to describe products going through in-house testing, in effect "eating their own dogfood".
News: Worst Kept Secret Ever? Full Specs Leak of the New HTC One
After a lengthy video and a series of leaks got us a good look at what we can expect from the new HTC One, codenamed M8, the guys over at GSMArena have brought it full circle.
News: The Samsung Galaxy S5 Will Come with Over $500 Worth of Freebies
Samsung has announced that their latest flagship device, the Galaxy S5, will ship with over $500 worth of exclusive, pre-paid, and discounted subscriptions from leading mobile content and service providers.
News: KitKat Update Rolling Out Now for Your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4
Starting today, T-Mobile has begun rolling out the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update to their Galaxy S4s. The roughly 390MB update brings the standard KitKat fare to your GS4, including:
News: Google Play Celebrates Its Second Birthday with Limited Time Deals
Today Google Play turns 2, and it's celebrating by offering deals for a selection of apps, books, magazines, movies, and music. The deals certainly aren't "door busters", but they're deals nonetheless. While a few games have been included in the promotion, the discounts are mainly on in-app purchases, so they're not readily identifiable. And if you've been dying to grab the Grumpy Cat book but thought four bucks was just a tad too much, head to Google Play and grab it for two bucks while it's...
News: KitKat Update Rolling Out Right Now for the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3
As reported by member Rick, the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is rolling out right now for the T-Mobile variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, matching the Sprint and US Cellular updates from last week. While we don't have any specifics from T-Mobile regarding the update, it can be assumed that it brings the standard KitKat features such as immersive mode, transparent status bar, lock screen upgrades, and cloud printing support.
M8 Leaks: What We (Kinda) Know About the New HTC One
Confirming a lot of what we already knew, now we have a physical walkthrough video on HTC's new flagship, the M8. Or, maybe the "New HTC One", but let's hope that's not the name of the final product. Before we get to the video, here's what we already know:
News: This Extremely Offensive Insult Generator Dishes Out Disses for You on Your Galaxy Note 2
I can't begin to tell you of the many times my friends and I get into arguments that eventually lose any semblance of structure, becoming shouting matches where we just lob the stupidest, meanest insults we can fathom.
News: Apple Developers Running Beta Builds of iOS 7.1 Still Vulnerable to SSL Security Flaw
Apple released iOS 7.0.6 last week, an update to fix a serious security flaw that allowed hackers to not only capture sensitive user information such as bank statements and passwords, but also modify that same data on secure HTTPS sessions.
News: Everything You Need to Know About the New Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 was just officially announced at Mobile World Congress. The new flagship device will be available worldwide beginning April 11, 2014, including all major U.S. and international carriers. With over 200 million Galaxy devices sold to date, the S5 doesn't stray too far from the trend, at least not aesthetically. We've still got a high-grade plastic shell with perforated back covers, and four color choices at launch. Our highlights of the release event are as follows.
News: How to Watch the Samsung's Galaxy S5 Launch Today Live
Starting at 20:00 CET (11:00 PST, 14:00 EST), you can stream the live feed from Samsung's Unpacked 5 event, happening today at Mobile World Congress. While the company may have more than one trick up their sleeve, the star of the show will be the launch of the Galaxy S5.
News: Cast Your Own Personalized News Station Pulled from Local & National Sources to Your TV
With Chromecast-capable applications slowly seeping into the market, it's difficult to find useful ones that we might use on a daily basis.
News: Samsung Teases the Galaxy S5 Ahead of Launch
Samsung released a teaser video today, touting its next flagship Galaxy device, presumably the Galaxy S5. With an official announcement expected on Monday at Mobile World Congress, this video should serve as a final teaser before the big day.
News: Join the Google Cast Chrome Extension Beta Program
Google has opened up their Beta version of the Google Cast extension for the Chromecast. If you don't know, you can cast tabs from a Chrome browser to your Chromecast connected display. Today, they've released the beta version of the extension to the public, and you can grab it right now.
News: KitKat Rolling Out Right Now for the Sprint & U.S. Cellular Variants of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Starting today, and over-the-air (OTA) update is hitting the Sprint variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, carrying the latest Android version (4.4.2 KitKat) as well as some other upgrades to Samsung's proprietary apps, like new launcher settings and a lock screen camera shortcut.