Amy Eichelberg

In a statement released yesterday, Nokia unvieled the new dual-SIM Asha 501 complete with its new Asha OS. Nokia bought the Norwegian mobile OS developer Smarterphone in January 2012 and is proud to show off their new budget friendly device. Nokia had this to say about the launch: “The key feature of the new software is its ability for users to swipe between two screens: the traditional home screen to launch apps and phone functions, and the “Fastlane” skin, which lists recently accessed contacts, social networks, and apps, it said. Smarterphone develops an OS which runs smarter, smartphone-like apps on feature […]

Facebook has quietly added Facebook Home support for the HTC One as well as unofficial support for the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Sony Xperia ZL. The change comes just hours after the company hosted a small press event at its campus in Silicon Valley. Following that event, the Facebook application itself received an update even though the Facebook Home launcher has not seen an official update since April 22. Galaxy S4 and Xperia ZL users will now see an option to “Use Home Anyway.” Tap it, and Facebook Home launches just like that. Additionally, Facebook Home is working without this

AT&T has officially launched the LG Optimus G Pro today. As expected, the  G Pro sports an enormous 5.5-inch 1080p display, along with a Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel camera. Users will relish in the 32GB of built-in storage, expandable via microSD card, alongside a whopper of a  3,140mAh battery. It’s undeniable that this baby is a beast and certainly holds its own. The LG Optimus G Pro is available now though AT&T for $199.99 on a two-year plan, or $549.99 off-contract. Source

LG has done well with the release of the ever popular Optimus G. So, it comes as no surprise that the Android OEM would want to take full advantage of its success and release a successor of some sort. It looks like we won’t have long to find out what the company has up their sleeve, as they recently sent out an invitation to a press event scheduled for May 30th in Macau, China. The tagline on the invitation reads “ImaGination Begins,” so we’re obviously going to see a device that will join the G family lineup. The G Pro just

Right in step with Iron Man 3, Marvel has decided to launch its Marvel Unlimited app for Android devices. Comic book enthusiasts and fans alike can now opt for a paid Marvel Unlimited subscription that will give them access to comic book content covering a 70 year span. Users can delight in the likes of Spider-Man and The Avengers to Captain America and the all mighty X-Men.  The app also offers the option to read comics offline, which is perfect for when you find yourself in situation without a connection. So, if you’re jonesing for some action check out the

Google Earth received a solid update which bumped it up to version 7.1.1. This update allows users to drop all of the way down into Street View, use improved directions (better visuals) and search (quicker), and navigate the app more easily thanks to a slide out navigation menu from the left side. While most of you may not find a use for Google Earth on a day to day basis, this update has made the overall experience enjoyable and worth taking a look at. Interested users can grab the updated version here at the Play Link. Changelog: Google Maps Street View: With Street View, you

It’s only been one week since Samsung announced the new 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3, and the device has already hit the FCC for approval. As expected, this model is WiFi only and doesn’t have LTE or voice-enabled bands. The modest specs have stayed the same with highlights including a WSVGA (1,024 x 600) TFT screen, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 8GB or 16GB of storage (expandable up to 64GB), a 4,000 mAh battery, a rear 3-megapixel camera and a front 1.3-megapixel one. It will come equipped with Android 4.1 and a 3G variant will launch sometime in June. If perusing fascinating FCC documents is

Great news for anyone who actually owns Google Glass, as the Android-powered wearable glasses just began receiving a significant software update. The update not only bumps the software up to XE5, but also brings with it a more reliable estimation of the remaining battery charge, incoming notifications for Google+ and Hangouts, crash reporting and a required combo of a power source and Wi-Fi connection for background uploads. The full XE5 changelog can be found below: Change to sync policy: require power + Wi-Fi for background uploads Crash reporting Incoming G+ notifications (direct shares, comments, +mentions), including ability to comment and

Nokia has launched a new beta version of its Ringtone Maker over on the Nokia Beta Labs. The app essentially users to create ringtones from locally stored music files, removing the requirement to upload, edit and save files using various free web services. Numerous tools and controls are available to edit the chosen file. Version 1.2.5.6 offers support for MWA, M4A, WMA and AAC formats alongside MP3. As expected, minor improvement tweaks and bug fixes have also been introduced to enhance overall stability. Interested users can head over to Nokia Beta Labs and the Windows Phone Store to download the latest version of

You may recall us talking about the HTC First, but probably forgot about in the midst of the Samsung Galaxy S 4/ HTC One whirlwind. Sadly, you’re not alone as the mid-range, Facebook Home laden device seems to have been hit with a huge price cut due to a lackluster launch. Even though the First was launched at about $100 on-contract it still didn’t draw the attention it needed to make consumers sway its way. So, now AT&T is practically giving it way with a new price of $1-on-contract. If you’re hesitant on commitment  AT&T has also reduced the non-subsidized HTC

Just one month after the third “M snapshot” build, the CyanogenMod team is rolling out the first “RC” or release candidate build of CM 10.1. RC1 of the Android 4.2.2-based firmware. According to the CM team’s announcement, they expect this to be one of the last milestones before the stable release of CM 10.1. The list of devices with RC1 builds includes approximately 40 devices and you can see the full list of codenames over at the source link below. If you’re interested in the builds you can jump to the official download page at get.cm. Happy flashing folks! Source

5-inch smartphones are all the rage now, and Sharp doesn’t want to be left behind. So we weren’t that surprised to learn about Sharp’s recent phone unveiling. Say hello to the new Sharp AQUOS Phone Xx  SoftBank 206SH (try saying that name five times fast). What we like about this baby is that it claims to run up to two full days on its 3,080mAh battery. You’ll also notice that this device uses a continuous grain (CG) silicon display as opposed to amorphous silicon found on traditional LCD TFT panels. This not only provides for a thinner display and enhanced

Most of you are familiar with the third party launcher, Apex Launcher, and will be happy to learn that it has now been updated to version 2.0. Users can look forward to several new features and enhancements across the entire app.  You’ll notice the most changes if you spring for the paid “Pro” version, which provides folders in the app drawer, integration with Apex Notifier and notification badge support. If you’re not down to pay up for the Pro version, the free version still has some perks like added support for changing vibration duration, update translations, improved the activity and wallpaper

In typical Sony style, the official Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the Sony Xperia S (LT26i) has appeared on the website of the PTCRB, the North American wireless device certification forum, before an official announcement from the manufacturer. Also in line to receive some Jelly Bean infused love are the Xperia Acro S and the Xperia SL. Now that the firmware is certified, we’re hoping the official update release is just a few days away. Considering it’s been six months since Sony first mentioned the Xperia S was in line for Jelly Bean, it’s about time this rolls out.

Do you want the Chrome browser for your favorite iOS apps? Well, you’re in luck as Google has just released code for that exactly that. The release now provides developers with the ability to have links open directly in Google Chrome versus Apple’s Safari browser. Interested devs will have to add Google’s code — a URL scheme with x-callback — to their app, and you have to have Chrome installed on your device, but other than that the end result is flawless. If you’re a developer who is interested in including this in your app, head to the Chromium Blog for