Samsung beats Apple in J.D. Power tablet satisfaction survey

Apple products usually win in customer satisfaction surveys, but this time around Samsung managed to come out on top.





Apple has been dethroned from the top of J.D Power’s tablet satisfaction survey, according to a recent release by the consultancy.

This is the first time Apple has not won in this survey in over two years. Samsung was the only manufacturer to net a better score since the last survey, which was conducted in April. Samsung’s score went from 822 to 835, and has barely edged out Apple’s score of 833. Amazon came in third at 826 points on a 1,000 point scale. Samsung has been on a tear lately, and has posted its highest quarterly profits last quarter. The launch of tablets like the Galaxy Tab 3 and the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition has worked out in the favor of the South Korean manufacturer.



J.D. Power says 59 percent of tablet buyers purchase their device at a store, while 41 percent buy the devices online. It has been found that buyers purchasing online have a better overall experience (8.5 on a scale of 10) against consumers buying at a store (8.3). Online customers also have a higher satisfaction score for in terms of the pricing of the tablet (7.8 vs. 7.5).

The study was conducted on 3,375 tablet owners from March to August and measured consumer satisfaction across five key segments: performance (26 percent); ease of operation (22 percent); styling and design (19 percent); features (17 percent); and cost (16 percent). The survey found that half of the customers who were looking to buy a tablet device sought recommendations from friends and family, while 49 percent gathered the relevant information from the manufacturer website.

Source: J.D. Power



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Motorola, HTC confirm Android 4.4 update for select devices

It’s been a few hours since Android 4.4 KitKat was (finally) made official, and Motorola and HTC have already confirmed that they’ll be updating select devices to the latest version of the OS.

HTC was the first to speak out on its rollout plans, and Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America, confirmed that the HTC One will be receiving the Android 4.4 update within 90 days, at least on the US carrier variants. The Google Play Edition, which runs stock Android and is sold and updated directly by Google, will receive it in the next 15 days, while developer editions should get updated in a month.

The 90 day commitment is commendable, though there’s no word on when global variants of the device will be updated. Mackenzie promises that updates will be pushed out rapidly in the future as well, saying*”we’re not going to [roll out updates] in a lazy fashion. We’re going to make it a priority to have every dot release out on the One within 90 days.”

As for Motorola, the Google-owned company unsurprisingly confirmed that the Moto X would be tasting the chocolate-themed version of Android, but failed to specify a timeline. Also in line to receive Android 4.4 are the DROID Mini, Ultra, and Maxx – that’s four devices Motorola will be updating, and it shouldn’t be a tough job considering the DROID Ultra, Mini, and Maxx only differ in screen sizes.



Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and LG haven’t made official statements yet, but I’m sure that will change in the coming days. Android 4.4 is quite a major and important update, aimed at making Android faster, lighter, and overall more cohesive, so let’s hope manufacturers manage to push it out to as many devices as possible.

Via: Engadget, Android Police

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Motorola Moto G gets leaked, is a more affordable variant of the Moto X

Moto G has similar internal hardware as the Moto X, but will allegedly be offered for free on contract.



@evleaks mentioned in a tweet that the Moto G, Motorola’s next smartphone, will be available for free on contract. He also mentioned a few hardware details in the tweet, which include a 4.7-inch HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5 GHz, 8MP camera at the back, internal memory variations of 8/16 GB along with a 1,950 mAh battery. There is no mention of how much RAM will be included in the device, but considering the other hardware, we should be looking at 1 GB. The device is allegedly manufactured by LG.

From the image, it looks like the device will feature Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Although Motorola is now owned by Google, it does not look like the manufacturer is getting preferential treatment as the Moto X similarly did not come with the latest version of Android when it launched. However, Android 4.4 KitKat does work well with devices with less RAM, so if the Moto G were in fact to have 1 GB RAM, we might also see Android 4.4 KitKat.

Motorola had a link for the Moto G live on their site for a few minutes earlier this week, so it is likely that the device will be announced in the near future. From the image in the tweet, it looks like the device will feature a chrome finish around the front. The Moto G might in fact be the low-cost Motorola DVX device that Motorola is said to be working on. @evleaks does mention in the tweet that this information is via a*tip, so final details of the device might differ.

Source: Twitter



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Here are the key changes in Android 4.4 KitKat

Google unveiled the Nexus 5 along with Android 4.4 KitKat today, and the latest version of Android comes with a host of new features.



One of the key changes that have been included in Android 4.4 KitKat is a new immersive mode which lets you focus on the task at hand while hiding all background elements, like the status bar and navigation buttons. There is also a new screen recording utility that allows you to record your screen, and saves the resulting video in a MP4 file format.



Another key feature is voice recognition. In Android 4.4 KitKat, users can just say” OK Google” and launch the voice search feature. This works when a user is in the home screen or in Google Now. Essentially, it includes functionality that is first seen in the Moto X, but at a software level.





Google Now will also see contextual cards, which will be added in the coming weeks.*Memory optimization is also better on Android 4.4 KitKat, with Google mentioning that it has reduced memory consumption and the way background services run. What this means is that Android 4.4 KitKat will work smoothly on devices that have 512 MB of RAM, which is what a majority of affordable Android devices in emerging countries like China and India come with. It is clear that Google wants to tackle the issue of fragmentation, and by including these changes in the latest version of Android, is ensuring that low-end devices do not get left out.



A new document framework means that you can access files from your cloud storage accounts faster on your device. You can access your Quickoffice files and us the same UI to save the file onto Google Drive, for instance.



When you’re listening to music, you will now be able to see full-screen album-art, and dedicated controls on the lockscreen give you the ability to play, pause, or seek from the lockscreen. The same functionality is also added to movies that you stream to Chromecast. You will also be able to listen to audio longer, thanks to the low-power audio playback feature that tunnels audio digital signal processor instead of using the system processor.

Hangouts now collates all your SMS and MMS in a single interface, and includes threaded conversation views so that it is easier for you to track your conversations.*Furthermore, Android now supports Bluetooth Message Access Profile, which means that devices on Android 4.4 KitKat will be able to communicate with more in-car entertainment systems. Bluetooth HID over GATT allows you to connect your Android device to mice, joysticks, and keyboards.

In the camera segment, a new feature called HDR+ is introduced, which allows you to take a lot of images in a burst mode setting. Android also has a unified standard for dealing with IR blasters so that you can use your Android device as a remote for your TV. Earlier, manufacturers had to resort to eternal solutions to enable this feature in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One.



Android also includes functionality for sensors like step counters, which means that it can interface with wearable devices better. Google Wallet has also been retooled, and there is a new architecture that deals with how NFC transactions are conducted. Google Wallet will now come with an Instant Buy feature that allows you to buy content more easily.

Google has mentioned that devices like the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be able to make the switch to Android 4.4 KitKat in the coming weeks. A device that has been noticeably left out is the Galaxy Nexus, with Google mentioning that the device will not receive the latest version of Android.

Source: Android



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Google officially announces the Nexus 5, available today starting $349

After months of leaks and rumors, the Nexus 5 is finally official. The device will be available starting today, and costs $349 for the 16 GB version.



Google’s latest Nexus offering, the Nexus 5, is also manufactured by LG, and like the Nexus 4 last year, shares a lot of design elements with one of LG’s flagship, the LG G2. It however does not have any irregular button placement, and the volume and power buttons are located where you would usually look for.

The Nexus 5 includes a lot of firsts. It is the first full-HD Nexus mobile device, and is the first one to include LTE connectivity off the bat. The mobile comes with a 4.95-inch full-HD screen that packs in a pixel density of 445 ppi. The screen is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. The Nexus 5 weighs 130 gms, and although the device has a 4.95-inch screen, it does not look gargantuan thanks to extremely thin bezel size. The device has ceramic power and volume buttons.

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Under the hood, the Nexus 5 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 mobile SoC. And this version of the Snapdragon 800 includes the higher-binned 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait 400 CPU, along with a 450 MHz Adreno 330 GPU. Also included is 2 GB RAM, an 8MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization along with a 1.3MP front shooter, LTE connectivity (Bands: 1/3/5/7/8/20), Wi-Fi ac, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, 2,300 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat. A new feature that is being touted by Google is the HDR+ mode, which is essentially a burst mode that allows you to take a lot of images in one go.

Google announced that the Nexus 5 will be available in two storage variations, with the 16 GB model costing $349, while the 32 GB variant will set users back $399. The Nexus 5 is available to order from the Play Store today in countries like the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Korea and Japan, and will be available in India soon. Google also announced accessories for the device, which includes the likes of LG smart covers and*wireless charging pads.

Retailers like Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack will be stocking the Nexus 5 in shelves in the coming weeks.

Source: Google



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How Apple is likely to replace those iPhone 5s units that have manufacturing defect

It was reported recently that a number of iPhone 5s units suffer from a manufacturing defect. Apple is going to replace those units, and the procedure it is likely to follow has been explained in a new report.

Apple has already confirmed that there are iPhone 5s units out there, albeit in very limited numbers, which suffer from a manufacturing defect. This defect causes issues with the battery, which might not charge at all, might take longer to charge or might result in very low battery life. The company has already said that it is going to replace such units, a new report explains the procedure Apple is expected to follow in order to replace the defected units.

It is claimed that Apple will call customers who have these defected units. The company will know who to call because it has a list of serial numbers of the defective units. If someone who believes that they have such a unit, but don’t receive a call from Apple, can call AppleCare who will try to find if that unit’s serial number is included in the company’s list. If not, then AppleCare will troubleshoot the unit like it normally would.*Customers with units that are to be replaced will receive a Genius Bar appointment, or their AppleCare advisor will set up a replacement at a local reseller. Affected customers will also have the option to get replacement units shipped to them.*In such a case, Apple will also send along material for return shipping of the defective unit.

Apple hasn’t said exactly how many iPhone 5s units have this manufacturing defect, but rumor has it that the number is in the low-thousands range.

Source: 9to5Mac

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iPad Air stock begins arriving at Apple Retail Stores and resellers

Ahead of the launch on Friday, November 1, iPad Air stock has now started arriving at Apple Retail Stores as well as at third party retailers and resellers.

As per reports, the company doesn’t expect any stock shortages on launch day. So far it has been widely believed that iPad Air supply will be able to meet with launch demand, despite the fact that iPads are popular products which usually see people lining up outside stores to get one, or two. The iPad Air might particularly be in high demand, seeing as how its the first iPad to come with substantial design changes since the iPad 2 was released back in 2011.

It is said that larger Apple Retail Stores have received as many as 500-1,000 units of the iPad Air, multiple storage options, ahead of the launch. If these numbers hold up, then there should be plenty of stock as far as launch day purchases are concerned. Apple is also expected to offer in-store personal pickup service on launch day, which would reiterate its belief that supply is going to be able to meet added demand on launch day, though this has not been confirmed as yet.

The iPad Air goes on sale on November 1, the 16GB Wi-Fi base model costs $499. Apple will start taking orders for home delivery at 12:01 AM Pacific, on the very same day. Pre-orders have not been taken for the new tablet.

Source: Macrumors

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Sponsored Ads on Instagram - Will it work?

Companies utilizing Instagram to engage their community is nothing new. When Instagram announced that they would be rolling out sponsored ads there was a worldwide groan; yet another social media outlet would begin to require user to sludge through ads to connect with each other. In a recent blog post, Instagram gave the world a look at what their ads will look like. The sample ad resembles a typical Instagram image or video shared on the social network, except that it will include a sponsored label in the top right corner. What does help users feel better about the transition is that Instagram will offer users the option to hide each ad from their stream. Although many users likely follow a brand, or two, many wonder how the world will respond to ads that will take up an entire iPhone screen.

The biggest downsides I see of introducing these sponsored ads is the amount of space they will use on a feed and the process by which users require to block these ads. Instagram users love the ease of scrolling and the ease of interacting with an image with a simple double tap to ‘like.’ However, as previously stated these ads will take up an entire screen and require a user to click through in order to block the ad. Although I don’t think the ads will stop users from using Instagram, I do believe it will alter how we utilize the app. Users could potentially hit scrolling fatigue and stop trying to scroll through adds to interact with the accounts they prefer. So the questions becomes, what will happen if we users stop scrolling? Will they begin to simply worry about uploading their own pictures? Will user images be seen and interacted with? Will the ads be seen making them worth the investment of companies?



Like most new developments there are both positive and negatives and the roll out of Instagram ads is not different. Firstly, Instagram formalizing ads on the app will legitimize what many companies have already been doing; utilizing Instagram to present images that engage customers and tell their brand’s story. By allowing brands to sponsor their ads not only does Instagram look to make a profit off of brands using their platform but they also allow companies to ensure that the time they put into their social media marketing will be seen by a large audience. Finally I think the evolution of sponsored ads will also push companies and individuals to increase the value of their content. Through quality content that tells strong stories and resonates with Instagram users companies may able to decrease the chances of users blocking their ads.

Companies will be keeping an eye on the successes or failures of those companies that are quick to adopt this new marketing tool. Instagram will likely be prepared to make any adjustments necessary to appease both the companies paying money and their loyal users. While the companies prepare for these ads only time will tell the true impact of Instagram’s new ads of how users interact with the app and each other.



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Sponsored Ads on Instagram – Will it work?

Companies utilizing Instagram to engage their community is nothing new. When Instagram announced that they would be rolling out sponsored ads there was a worldwide groan; yet another social media outlet would begin to require user to sludge through ads to connect with each other. In a recent blog post, Instagram gave the world a look at what their ads will look like. The sample ad resembles a typical Instagram image or video shared on the social network, except that it will include a sponsored label in the top right corner. What does help users feel better about the transition is that Instagram will offer users the option to hide each ad from their stream. Although many users likely follow a brand, or two, many wonder how the world will respond to ads that will take up an entire iPhone screen.

The biggest downsides I see of introducing these sponsored ads is the amount of space they will use on a feed and the process by which users require to block these ads. Instagram users love the ease of scrolling and the ease of interacting with an image with a simple double tap to ‘like.’ However, as previously stated these ads will take up an entire screen and require a user to click through in order to block the ad. Although I don’t think the ads will stop users from using Instagram, I do believe it will alter how we utilize the app. Users could potentially hit scrolling fatigue and stop trying to scroll through adds to interact with the accounts they prefer. So the questions becomes, what will happen if we users stop scrolling? Will they begin to simply worry about uploading their own pictures? Will user images be seen and interacted with? Will the ads be seen making them worth the investment of companies?

Like most new developments there are both positive and negatives and the roll out of Instagram ads is not different. Firstly, Instagram formalizing ads on the app will legitimize what many companies have already been doing; utilizing Instagram to present images that engage customers and tell their brand’s story. By allowing brands to sponsor their ads not only does Instagram look to make a profit off of brands using their platform but they also allow companies to ensure that the time they put into their social media marketing will be seen by a large audience. Finally I think the evolution of sponsored ads will also push companies and individuals to increase the value of their content. Through quality content that tells strong stories and resonates with Instagram users companies may able to decrease the chances of users blocking their ads.

Companies will be keeping an eye on the successes or failures of those companies that are quick to adopt this new marketing tool. Instagram will likely be prepared to make any adjustments necessary to appease both the companies paying money and their loyal users. While the companies prepare for these ads only time will tell the true impact of Instagram’s new ads of how users interact with the app and each other.

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Juice Cubes: Rovio Stars introduces Pocket PlayLab’s new game

A tropical paradise, pirates, mermaids and witches. Juice Cubes, the new game from Pocket PlayLab will be distributed and marketed by Rovio Stars When the good ol’ Candy Crush Saga just wouldn’t do, perhaps it is time to switch over to a new, fun and addictive smartphone game app. Rovio Entertainment, a Finland-based video game Read the full article...



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[Singapore] Free Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) classroom training

Want to know what the key benefits to hiring an SEO agency are? Or perhaps you would like to understand black hats better. Join SearchGuru this November! Get an express lesson on SEO, from the key benefits to black hat methods to hiring an SEO agency. In this no-fluff, no-BS classroom training, get in on Read the full article...



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Sony to offer 'Call of Duty: Ghosts' PS3 pre-loads starting Nov. 3

Sony will be offering PS3 pre-loads of Call of Duty: Ghosts to gamers who pre-order a digital copy via the PlayStation Store.



The announcement comes by way of Pierre Gravereau, director of digital distribution for SCEA, who detailed that the pre-loading of the original and Digital Hardened Editions of Call of Duty: Ghosts will begin on Nov. 3 at 3pm PST. Infinity Ward will also be holding a Double XP Weekend starting Nov. 8 to celebrate the game’s launch.

Taking advantage of the digital pre-load allows gamers to dive right into the fray when the game’s servers go live on Nov. 5, alleviating the pesky download times on day one.

It will be interesting to see whether or not a few talented hackers decrypt the files from the Ghosts pre-load and leak certain content, which happened with Grand Theft Auto V‘s ill-fated PS3 pre-load.

After a recent debacle on the next-gen front, Infinity Ward has recently confirmed that of Call of Duty: Ghosts will run at 1080p on PS4, whereas the Xbox One version will be upscaled from a native resolution of 720p. With much approval from shooter fans across the world, the studio has also confirmed that dedicated servers will be offered for all platforms.

Call of Duty: Ghosts is slated to release on Nov. 5, 2013 for PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U with next-gen versions available on each console’s launch. For more information be sure to check out our recent coverage or head on over to the game’s official website.

Via EGM



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Apple working on fix for Late 2013 Retina MacBook Pro keyboard and trackpad issues

Apple has broken its silence and issued a statement regarding the keyboard and trackpad issues that many owners of Late 2013 Retina MacBook Pro are facing since the past week.

Apple refreshed the Retina MacBook Pro lineup last week, at its media event on October 22. The new laptops come with Intel Haswell processors,*as well as decent price cuts. Unlike the tablets announced that day, the new laptops were available for purchase immediately after the event. Naturally, the new Late 2013 Retina MacBook Pro was picked up a lot of customers, who then took to Apple Support Communities to vent about the various issues they were facing with their new laptops.

Owners of both 13 and 15 inch models complained of facing the issues, the keyboard and trackpad on the new MacBooks was found to lock up randomly. Some found a temporary fix by hard resetting the machine through the power button, but that’s obviously a nuisance particularly when you’re doing important work.*Apple has now published a new support article regarding this issue, saying that it is “aware” that the keyboard and trackpad might become unresponsive on Late 2013 Retina MacBook Pro. The company assures customers that it is working on a fix to “resolve this behavior.”

Until the fix comes out, probably through a software update, Apple recommends users to close their MacBook for one full minute before waking them up again. This is a temporary fix, obviously a chore in itself. Hopefully Apple will roll out the software update soon so that these issues are taken care of.

Source: Apple Support

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Retina iPad mini launch date might be Nov. 21, retailer's website hints

Apple is yet to announce when the Retina iPad mini launch is going to take place. Target, a major retailer, has pegged the launch date at November 21 on its website.

The other tablet that was announced alongside the Retina iPad mini on October 22 is the iPad Air, which is going to be launched tomorrow. Apple isn’t taking pre-orders for the iPad Air, but supplies of the tablet are expected to be strong. It is believed that Apple still hasn’t offered a concrete launch date for Retina iPad mini due to supply constraints, just recently Apple CEO Tim Cook himself said that the company is uncertain whether they’ll have enough supply to meet demand this quarter.

Target has listed the new iPad mini on its website, it is currently unavailable to purchase both online and retail stores, it will remain this way until the official launch day comes. However, in the product’s overview, Target lists the release date as November 21. Now other models of the tablet don’t mention this release date, so there’s a possibility that it might either be placeholder, or somebody published the launch date by accident.

Whatever the case may be, this is actually the first time that a release time frame for the Retina iPad mini has come up. Apple only said that it will launch the tablet “later this November,” it is yet to deviate from that statement. Rumor has it that pre-orders for Retina iPad mini might start tomorrow, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Source: Macrumors

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