Sprint Updates Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to Add WiFi Calling Feature

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Sprint customers were very happy to hear that Sprint was going to start offering WiFi calling back in February 2014. Especially since the one thing every Sprint customer knows, is that they have spotty coverage to say the least. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is slowly getting an update that adds WiFi calling to the device.

T-Mobile has offered WiFi calling for a quite some time now, and Sprint is joining that party. Back in February, Sprint announced the offering of WiFi calling and how they expect it to improve coverage, especially indoors. However when they announced the service, it was only available on the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, and the Galaxy Mega. The idea behind Sprint offering this service, was to improve coverage. If a consumer was nowhere near, Sprint’s reach, than at least they could use existing WiFi that already surrounded them instead. However, as you may have noticed, the option was initially only available on two devices.

Now Sprint will be adding the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to that lineup. Current users of the device will be noticing the update OTA over the next couple of days or so. The update will bring your software version to N900PVPUCNC5, again it will take sometime before everyone receives this update, but all Galaxy Note 3 users will eventually get the update.

If you are on Sprint with a different device, and not the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Mega, and Galaxy S4 mini, don’t worry just yet. Sprint is working to bring this option to more Android devices in their lineup. Hopefully this feature will come on newer devices being released already by Sprint, and they will only have to catch up on devices currently available from the provider. Sprint hopes to have the feature completely up and spread out by the end of the year. We expect that other carriers will soon be adopting this as well. If you ask some T-Mobile consumers, they will certainly tell you that they love this feature. It will come as no surprise that other carriers offer this service, what could be left unknown is if they find ways to improve upon the WiFi calling that we already know and love. What do you think, can WiFi calling save the reputation of Sprint’s coverage? Or is it too late for that at this point? Speak up down there or on our G+ page.

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According to HTC Exec, the Logo Space on the HTC One (M8) isn’t Wasted Space at All

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When HTC announced their latest and greatest in with the HTC One (M8), we were all pretty impressed with the design, even though it’s pretty similar to last year’s effort. With subtle changes to how the metal feels in your hand and an overall more welcoming, more curvy feel to it. I have an M8 on my desk right now for review (coming soon!) and it definitely feels a lot more comfortable than last year’s model. One of the bigger departures from lat year’s design is with the buttons on the M8. Whereas last year’s HTC One featured two (yeah, we still can’t believe they did that, either) capacitive buttons on the front of the device, this year’s model features the standard onscreen buttons you’d find on any Android device. So then, with space needed for the buttons gone, what’s that black bar with a logo doing there?

A lot of people have been complaining that the logo bar is simply wasted space on the HTC One (M8) and we can certainly see why people would think that. At first glance, there seems to be absolutely no need for such a thing on the front of this device. However, a lot of folks know better and for those that don’t, HTC’s Jeff Gordon has taken to Twitter to explain just why that bar is there. Speaking about the “empty space” on the M8 Gordon says “That black area with the HTC logo on M8? Underneath is a huge amount of circuitry, antennae, etc. It’s not “empty” by any means.” The M8 is a taller device than a lot of phones with a 5-inch display, and for good reason. The Duo Camera, BoomSound speakers and other technology all take up space inside the chassis, and we’re sure that the bar above the bottom speaker isn’t wasted space.

One thing that I have personally never likes about smartphones today, is that logos simply have to be on the front on the device, it’s pretty annoying. The design of the One (M8) would look much better in my opinion without the logo in that bar. Still, the design language used here is nice and clean and I can find very little else to complain about. Our review will be hitting the site very soon, so stay tuned for more coverage on the M8!

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New Trend in Wearable Technology Suggest a Gloomy End to The Market

Xiaomi Launches Redmi in White, Doesn’t Change a Thing on The Inside

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In the ranks of Chinese OEMs Xiaomi is definitely one to keep an eye on, and one of the devices that seems to get a lot of attention is the Redmi. Though the device is talked about as a great option for those looking to save money in China, the device has not picked up much speed. That very well may change with the release of some color options that have some have been waiting for since before the official release.

Before Xiaomi’s Redmi was launched in China, there were some leaked images of the device that depicted a white option. When Xiaomi finally launched the Redmi, there was no white option available. Finally, we have official announcement that the white Redmi is available for purchase. However there is a catch, it is only available in China.

The celebration being held by Xiaomi is not only bringing us a white Redmi device, we are also hearing word of a gold Xiaomi Mi3, and a red Xiaomi TV. Though there is still some questions you may have if you have been paying attention to the Redmi. Somewhere around March, CEO Lei Jun posted some images of the Redmi device on Weibo. These images were of the device in a pink and a yellow option, Jun asked if consumers liked these images. There is no word if these device colors are coming or if they didn’t get quite the response Jun was looking for, but it was speculated that it is too late for them to launch new colors.

The Xiaomi Redmi has been around for about a year now, so why wait this long to launch the same device in new colors? One reason could be that they have no intention of releasing an updated version of the device this year, so to keep things somewhat fresh, they could just launch new colors. Things like this is what will surely set Chinese OEMs up for failure in the US, since we always want better. There is also no word if there will be an international version of the Xiaomi Redmi in white ever launched. The problem with that is currently it only supports TD-SCDMA, so they may very well just not launch an international version. Not to mention, again, that the device is last year’s model with a color change.

If a company launched last years model in the US, and just changed the color options, would you buy it, or would you either stick with what you have or buy from a different OEM?

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Intel Announces 64-bit Android KitKat 4.4 and Other Chips and Partnerships

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Intel has had a very busy day in China recently, making numerous announcements during a conference there. Those announcements range from new chips to a media box, but where we come in is the Android KitKat 4.4 64 bit kernel. So let’s go ahead and take a look at everything they had to announce while in China on Wednesday.

The media box is from QVOD Technology, and is powered by Intel’s BayTrail processors. The media box will be coming out later this year, but it won’t be the only one that Intel has had a hand in developing. Kirk Skaugen, senior vice president at Intel also noted that they are working with Xiaomi to produce another media set-top box. Though the QVOD has a currently available Intel chip inside, that doesn’t mean that Intel isn’t working on new chips.

Currently, according to Skaugen, Intel is working on an SoC or System on a Chip. Intel has codenamed this Soc “Braswell” and it is to be a follow-up to a Bay Trail processor. Though it is expected to be a bit smaller, it is also expected to be more powerful. Braswell will surely add performance and efficiency to that of the Bay Trail line. The target market of the Braswell chips will be Chromebooks and cheaper desktop PCs as well. In addition to Braswell, Intel had a few other things they wanted to announce.

The Android KitKat 4.4 with a 64-bit kernel optimized for Intel Architecture. The goal here is to make things easier for developers on future devices. Intel was quoted saying, “With this release, the company ported, validated and tested the Android Open Source code on IA, taking on the work that developers typically would need to do on their own. This release will provide the ecosystem with 64-bit kernel support for development of next-generation devices.”

Intel’s general manager of their Mobile and Communications Group, Hermann Eul also announced some details about the company’s SoFIA chip project. SoFIA 3G is a dual chip SoC that is due to be released later this year. SoFia will also more than likely be seen on tablets and smartphones sometime around the end of this year, to next year. However Eul also talked about the moves they are making to become more present in China. Since China is becoming the largest PC market in the world. So to grow their presence there Intel is working on a new LTE platform that supports S-CDMA and TD-LTE.

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Rumor: Pantech Just Might Be The First To Release A Phone With Snapdragon 805

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The fabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset. We have yet to see it in any handset to date, although there were many predictions about a few different smartphones being powered by the processor this year, yet they all came up short and have ended up being manufactured with other various chips from Qualcomm like the 801 or the 800. Of any flagship we might have expected to see it inside the Samsung Galaxy S5, but contrary to our hopes and beliefs, no snapdragon 805 chip. Even the HTC One m8 and Oppo Find 7 would have been likely candidates for the processor, or at least expected by consumers that follow the wireless tech industry. Surprisingly, Pantech who is another Korean manufacturer(although less known when compared to Samsung and LG)just might be the first OEM to land a smartphone on the market that has the chipset inside.

The rumors that are circulating state that Pantech’s Vega Iron 2 could be the first device to actually be powered by the processor, but those rumors also state that the phone might only be launched in Pantech’s home market of Korea. There are reportedly four different models of the device expected to launch, one of which also stands a good chance at being an unlocked phone, which points to the possibility of releasing the device in other regions, and that Pantech may not be looking to just keep this device close to home. The Snapdragon 805 processor is comprise of a quad-core CPU that is clocked at 2.5 GHz, and covering the graphics portion of the processors job is an Adreno 420 graphics chip.

The Pantech Vega Iron 2 is actually a fairly decent looking device, and we certainly hope that one will be made available to purchase for those of us that live in the US. Accompanying the rumored Snapdragon 805 chip, could be a 5.-inch display with 1080p resolution and a 13MP rear camera, and a 3MP front facing camera. The processor is just one piece to the puzzle for performance, as the other half is handled by RAM, which the Vega Iron 2 is said to have 2GB for use. Storage wise we could be looking at both 32GB and 64GB models, LTE support and a 2,800 mAh battery to keep your device powered up. If Pantech releases this phone with the Snapdragon 805 before any other OEM, we have to wonder who will be the next manufacturer to do so.

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Featured Review: RAVPower RP-WCN12 Qi Wireless Charging Puck

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I’ve used some great wireless chargers in the past, and I’ve used some so that are not so hot. The RAVPower RP-WCN12 is different in its form, even though it functions the same as other Qi wireless chargers. It’s shaped like a hockey puck. As a hockey fan, I was immediately drawn to it. But how does it stack up in a world full of Qi wireless chargers?

RAVPower did a fine job with the packaging. When you first slide open the RP-WCN12 box, you noticed that the device itself is nestled in soft foam padding. It’s snug so you know that the unit was safe in transit. Removing the charging puck, we find a manual and a wall adapter. I was pleasantly surprised to find that RAVPower includes a charging adapter. Quite a few companies are failing to include this crucial piece of the puzzle. I guess they assume you have plenty of wall chargers lying around. Something that was noticeably missing was a micro USB charging cable, but we’ll get into that in a little bit.

The circular puck itself is small, at only 7cm in diameter. This form factor is perfect for travel or just keeping out of sight until you need it. I have a Qi wireless charging plate from another company that is fine on my nightstand, but it’s a bit big to leave out on the counter or shelf. It’s certainly easier to tuck the RP-WCN12 into a backpack or travel bag when you’re on the go. The micro USB cable that I thought was missing is actually attached to the unit itself. It wraps around the outside of the charger and the USB plug tucks into a slot on the bottom. Again, this makes the charger very easy to store and travel with. The downside to having the charging cable hardwired to the unit is that if the cable goes bad, you’ll have to replace the whole device. This wireless charger seems well built, but we all know how finicky these cables can be sometimes.

As for actual performance, the RP-WCN12 was just as good as any wireless charger I’ve used. The top of the unit has a rubber ring on it, preventing your device from sliding off while charging. Two things I absolutely loved were the sound and light indicators. When you first place your device on the charger, it will beep once the coils are lined up properly. This is a genius way to let you know that your device is properly charging. RAVPower backs this up with a light that glows red when the unit isn’t charging your device, and flashes red and green when it is charging. This flashing light was a bit annoying at night when I was trying to go to sleep, but it’s one of the few times that I’ve used a Qi wireless charger and been absolutely sure that the charging coils were lined up properly. Sometimes there can be a question. I like having that extra piece of mind.

The RAVPower RP-WCN12 suffers from the same slow charging issue that all wireless chargers seem to struggle with. It has a 1A output, which when compared to a newer 2A wired charger, seems like it takes a really long time to charge your device. This is a limitation of the Qi wireless charging standard, and it’s something you’ll want to keep in mind when you step into the world of wireless charging. It’s not a fault of RAVPower or the RP-WCN12.

Overall, this is a great wireless charger. It may be too small for use with a larger device like a tablet, but it’s perfect for use with your smartphone. It’s also easy to stow and easy to take with you when you’re on the go. I do wish that the charging cable were detachable, however. A simple micro USB port on the side of the puck would enable you to easily replace the cable if it ever goes bad. I really like that RAVPower includes a wall adapter with the RP-WCN12, and I love the sound and LED charging indicators. This is well worth the $29.99 you’ll spend for it on Amazon. Go get one.

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