Oppo Reverses Decision to Cease R819 Firmware Updates

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

Oppo found itself in a bit of a sticky situation earlier this week when it announced it would stop providing ColorOS (Oppo’s custom Android ROM) updates for its R819 phone. Of course, all phones go to a proverbial update graveyard eventually, with most major manufacturers ending support for once-popular handsets after interest has moved onto new devices. The problem here is that the R819 isn’t an old device – far from it, in fact, as the Oppo R819 was only released in September 2013.

Making matters worse is the fact that Oppo advertised frequent updates for the R819. So, not only did the company announce that it would cease firmware updates for a phone that’s just eight months old, but the phone in question was sold on the pretense that it would be updated frequently. R819 users were understandably upset with this development, taking to the internet to voice their discontent. The outrage hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with Oppo originally offering an apology in an attempt to quell the unrest among its R819 users.

Unsurprisingly, many users didn’t buy it and weren’t interested in hearing an apology. With the outrage continuing, Oppo has announced that it will reverse the decision to cease firmware updates for the R819. That’s great news for people who thought they’d be stuck dealing with ColorOS bugs on their Oppo R819, with the company promising that bug fixes will be coming with the now-continued updates.

Even users who weren’t experiencing bugs still have some valid complaints here. It isn’t often we see support for a device ended so quickly, much less when one of the selling points of the phone was that it would get frequent updates. Some users are still feeling a little cool toward Oppo, even after the reversal, but the company has managed to make a name for itself by treating its community well. There are plenty of users who are willing to give Oppo another chance, but let’s hope that it doesn’t try to pull something like this again – we have a feeling Oppo fans won’t be so forgiving next time around.

The post Oppo Reverses Decision to Cease R819 Firmware Updates appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1oV98F8

Featured Review: Phonejoy Game Controller

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

There’s a plethora of Bluetooth game controllers out there for use with your Android smartphones and tablets, but sometimes it can be a tough decision to weigh down your options. I own a few different gamepads myself and while I love them all, each has it’s pros and cons. In this review I’ll attempt to breakdown just about every important aspect of the controller, from weight,(comfort) to responsiveness of the buttons, to battery life, and everything in between. With that in mind, lets get to it. This review is about the brand new Phonejoy controller, which not only had a successful kickstarter, but has already begun shipping to backers and officially started the pre-orders for consumers.

Design

First off, lets start with the design. Compared to other gamepads out there, the Phonejoy actually has quite a unique design that seems a little weird at first but once you hold it in your hands it seems more natural than one might think. The controller is made of a nice soft-touch plastic that feels nice in the hand, and each individual button has a soft rubberized top layer. The controller is more compact than others, which for the most part is a huge benefit. The controller houses your standard A,B,X,Y buttons, a D-Pad, two joysticks, start button, back button, your power on/off switch, and a set of left and right bumper and trigger buttons up top. The buttons all fit nicely in their respective locations and the design placement is rather pleasing to the eye and feels comfortable when in use. On top next to the right bumper and trigger you have your micro USB port where you plug in the controller to charge. The controller splits apart to hold your phone in the middle, so unlike having a top-heavy arm/clamp like with the MOGA, the Phonejoy houses your device right in between the left and right sides of the controller, just like you’re using a portable gaming device. Think SEGA Game Gear. On the back, you’ll notice a nice little depression in the controller where your fingers tend to sit, I find that this gives you a nice little grip on the back of the controller for a more secure fit in the hand. You can see the Phonejoy monkey face mascot imprinted on the back right where the depression is, providing a nice little bit of aesthetic. Overall the design is great and looks better than just about every other controller out there, the compact design also makes it easy to tote around.

Comfort

The controller is fairly light weight, so using it to play for extended periods of time shouldn’t get uncomfortable for the most part, but that will honestly depend on the user. For me I found it to be rather comfortable to hold for hours at a time. As I stated above each button on the controller has a nice soft rubberized top layer, so pressing them continuously doesn’t rub your fingers raw or leave them feeling sore. Once again, this may change depending on the user. Normally when holding a controller of Phonejoys compact size when out of use, it almost feels too small. This isn’t a problem of course when not using it, but it can feel a bit cramped as this is how you use it with devices that don’t fit in the middle like a tablet.(My nexus 7 will fit in the middle when in portrait mode, but not in landscape which is how I play most games on it) The workaround I have found to this issue is just to take my Nexus 4 and place it in the middle of the controller to hold it in place while in portrait mode, so it actually spaces the controller sides apart a nice distance and I can play games on my Nexus 7 more comfortably. It also serves as a nice and easy way to see anything that happens on my device should I get any incoming notifications, as I can quickly pause the game on my tablet, and interact with the phone that is essentially already in my hands.

Functionality

The controller actually functions quite well. The pairing and connection process for devices is easy, and remains this way. The slide mechanism opens without much effort, and on the inner edge of each side of where the controller splits, there are little rubber pads that span the height of the controller to help keep your device in place. It also has interlocking teeth of sorts on the front that sit just above the edges of your device on both sides, so the phone can only be removed from the top where you slid it in or the bottom and not backward or forward, making it near impossible for your device to fall out accidentally. All of the buttons respond well and have great feedback, and even though some reviews have been less than fond of the feedback response from the D-Pad saying you have to press too hard, I have found that using the D-Pad is pretty easy and I don’t have to press down with excessive force to make it work. The joysticks work great. I do wish they were just a tiny bit more raised, but even sitting almost flat like they do they work wonderfully. The top bumper and trigger buttons can feel a little out of place depending on how big or small your hands are, but overall they are easy to press.

Battery Life

Battery life is listed as being somewhere between 8 and 12 hours, depending on individual use. I have found it to be closer to 8 than 12, but it did last longer than 8 hours for me personally which is great, and seems like better battery life than both my Nyko PlayPad Pro controller and my MOGA Hero Power. Once the battery dies, you can simply plug it in to charge with the included USB power cable,(no a/c adapter included) and juice it up. If you’re a heavy gamer you might see the battery life die faster than others, but you should get at least 8 hours out of it.

Build Quality

The build quality of the controller seems extremely solid. The material used to make the controller and the buttons seems sturdy enough to withstand a very long life of use by even the most hardcore gamers. The sliding spring mechanism in the middle where you place your phone seems like it’ll hold for a long life as well. Nothing on the controller feels cheap, which is something you absolutely don’t want with a gamepad. Even the accessories feel premium. Phonejoy definitely pulled out all the stops.

Accessories And Extras

This is where the Phonejoy shines a little bit more than other offerings. There are three different bundles you can buy: The Basic bundle, the Advanced bundle, and the Pro Gamer bundle. For the purpose of this review though we’ll focus on the bundle that I personally have which is the Pro Gamer. This bundle includes the USB charging cable to plug your controller in and charge it back up. The cable is fairly long and has the flat tangle resistant design which is a huge plus. You’ll also get a soft pouch to carry the controller, the cable and anything else you could need like a set of headphones. The pouch feels nice and premium and has a draw string like closure. Since the phones headset jack and charging port will be covered up when using the Phonejoy, should you want the ability to charge your controller or plug in headphones for a more immersive experience with your games, you’ll get the headphone and charging adapters which you plug into those ports before you slide the phone into the controller.

The adapters have connection ports for each on one end so you can plug in both things if needed. There are two downsides for me personally here. The adapters have a rectangular form factor, so they are supposed to sit flat against your phones edges when plugged in. Since I’m using a Nexus 4, the headphone jack adapter doesn’t sit flat like it’s supposed to because of the rounded edges of the device and placement of where the headset jack on the phone is. This wouldn’t be a problem for devices that have a flat top edge though, so most phones should be able to use it just fine. This can cause a problem it seems when the Nexus 4 is placed inside the controller if too much pressure is applied, and the possibility of the headset jack bending or breaking can’t be ruled out.(I’m afraid to try using it for this reason) The charger adapter works as intended and fits in place great. The two last accessories you get with the Pro Gamer bundle are the tablet kickstand, and the travel case. I myself did not receive the kickstand, which I believe is because it was one of the different kickstarter versions of the product. The original Pro Gamer bundle you pre-order from retailers will have it though. I can’t speak to how it works myself, but it looks solid in design and functionality and will be great for propping up your tablet for a better angle while playing. The travel case is a real gem and a pure joy to have, as it’s made from a hard material with a soft micro-fiber or velvety interior to keep from scuffing your controller. It also has a little mesh pocket on the inside of the lid to hold the accessories and headphones. It has a zipper enclosure so it stays closed tightly and securely. It even has a nice little plate emblem on the top of the lid with the Phonejoy branding which looks nice.

Pros And Cons

While there were a few cons to this controller, they were far outweighed by all the great things that any gamer should love about it which makes this a really great product and a must have for any android gamer. The only cons I found with it are that, while you can charge your phone while you are gaming with the Phonejoy, you can’t charge your phones battery directly from the Phonejoy, you’ll have to use a separate power source along with the included USB that you get with the bundle, or your own cable if you buy the Basic bundle. The other downside is not a reflection of the Phonejoy controller itself as it has to do with my phones design and not the controller or its accessories, and I’m talking about the headphone adapter. Since I can’t use it, it is a slight disappointment but easily overcome for me because I can just connect my Bluetooth stereo earbuds. This is because the Nexus 4 supports multiple Bluetooth connections to the device simultaneously as do many other devices. The controller basically shines on all other fronts. It’s the best controller I have used of the four or so others I have tried while gaming with my phone and tablet.

Overall

In the end, the Phonejoy is hands down the best Bluetooth gamepad that I have used. It has great battery life, a premium feel to it that overshadows all others and is really comfortable to hold for extended gaming sessions. The included accessories are a huge plus if you spring for the Advanced or Pro Gamer bundles, and the design makes for a better and more natural feel for gaming with your mobile device. It’s also extremely portable, and with the included travel case to keep it and the accessories protected, you can take it with you anywhere as the case will easily fit in a small bag pocket. Without a doubt, the Phonejoy is the absolute best android controller you can buy. You can pick up the Phonejoy Gaming Controller on Amazon starting at just $69.99 for the Basic bundle, or step it up to either the Advanced bundle for $79.99, or go all out on the Pro Gamer bundle for $89.99. When you compare the Pro Gamer bundle to what you get from the MOGA Power Pro, the Phonejoy is easily the better deal and feels like a better product.

The post Featured Review: Phonejoy Game Controller appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1hrY25y

Razer Delays The Launch Of The Nabu Smartband To make Sure It’s Hypoallergenic

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

With all the wearables available out there today one of the more interesting ones has got to be the Razer Nabu. We know that it isn’t as equipped with features as any of the smartwatches, but it has two things going for it that just might make it a contender-at least we’re hoping so-which is the fact that it might immediately have a presence as the leading for gamers, and its subtle functionality and elegant design are completely understated. While some are seeking a wearable that not only looks great but can provide them with a ton of features, other simply want a smartband that can notify them of incoming messages and calls, and log activities and other aspects of their everyday life. This is the Razer Nabu.

The smartband from the gaming accessory behemoth was due for a scheduled launch last month, but reports are surfacing that state Razer wanted to make sure that they didn’t run into the same issues as Fitbit who had to recall their Fitbit Force band. Razer is simply trying to avoid causing consumers who purchase the Nabu smartband skin irritation when worn, which we have to applaud them for even if it means a longer wait for a product we were generally interested in. This is only a minor setback as though, as Razer takes the time to make sure that they do things right and launch a product that doesn’t have any health risks, sources are saying that they have only pushed the launch date back a little with the Razer Nabu smartband now scheduled for a release sometime in late May or early June.

If this is the case, we think it’s perfect as the Razer Nabu will be arriving just in time for summer, when we can out and be active in the sun and get some exercise while it’s warm. If you already pre-ordered a Razer Nabu yourself you’ll have to wait a bit longer but thankfully that wait is only a couple months it looks like. We’re looking forward to getting our hands on one of these and living life with it on our wrist for a good few weeks.

The post Razer Delays The Launch Of The Nabu Smartband To make Sure It’s Hypoallergenic appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1qKhAm1

Samsung Calls Up VP Of Android Engineering As Their First Defense Witness

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

The latest trial between Apple and Samsung is of course still ongoing, as it’s scheduled to go all month long at the least. While this particular trial isn’t directed at Google and more so at Samsung for patent infringement with various software related features like auto completion of text, a Google executive took the stand today to answer some questions regarding the situation. The executive cited that Android too was the result of long hours of hard labor during long nights through out its early development, and continues to be a challenging project even today. While the Android operating system has come a long way since its early days, Hiroshi Lockheimer who is the Vice President of Android Engineering testified today that Android and the team that has made the operating system so robust and popular, like to have their own identity.

Hiroshi also testified that those long nights of grueling work haven’t ended, and that they continue to be a part of the hard work the team puts in to better the mobile OS, even today. We don’t think anyone but Apple would dispute the fact that many long hard hours were completed to bring Android to where it is today, and he intended to make that very clear as he took the stand as Samsung’s first witness as part of their defense. Up until now Samsung had been preparing for its defensive side of the case, and as part of calling up Google executives, Samsung is sticking to its claims that Apple’s patents were invalid, and there was no infringement committed.

In total there are 5 features that Apple is claiming that Samsung had infringed upon and is seeking more than $2 billion in damages. Apple’s last testimony was earlier today before Samsung called Hiroshi Lockheimer up as part of the defense plan, and we’d suspect that they have more than just the VP of Android engineering to call on for questioning. Lockheimer testified that the first time he saw a working demo of the Android OS was back in January of 2006, and he was so blown away by what he saw that by April he had joined Google to work on the project.

The post Samsung Calls Up VP Of Android Engineering As Their First Defense Witness appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1eteJOB

Lookout’s Got Your Heart, Check For The Heartbleed Bug With Their Free App

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

The details about the massive OpenSSL security flaw known as Heartbleed have been making the rounds through the web the past few days, and if you haven’t heard about what it is or what it does, the breakdown is that it affects a major security protocol known as OpenSSL which is used to encrypt web traffic. While all of this sounds alarming and in time affected websites will end up patching this bug, for now you can at least get a little piece of mind while browsing the web via your android devices. To do so all you’ll need to do is head over to the play Store and grab the app called Heartbleed Detector from Lookout Labs-the same developer who makes the popular virus scanner/security app for android devices-and let the app run its course.

It doesn’t do much but it also doesn’t cost anything, as Lookout wants to do users a solid and help them determine whether or not their web browsing habits are safe or not. The app helps you detect which OpenSSL you’re running and whether or not it’s been affected by the Heartbleed bug. The unfortunate downside is that the app only serves a purpose of notifying the user of whether or not the bug has affected your system, and does nothing to be able to give it a clean slate. That part of the battle is being taken on by Google, who is reportedly working as we speak to get rid of the bug by sending out updates which have patched the bug.

Basically, the app will just make you more aware of what’s going on and can help you to avoid excessive web usage if you’re worried about it. The app does however do one more thing than letting you know if your device is affected by Heartbleed or not, and that’s informing you of whether or not the vulnerable behavior is enabled. Updates are sure to start hitting carriers as soon as possible we imagine, and for those on wifi only tablets the updates will be coming straight from Google and the OEM. You know where to check for updates to the OS, so make sure to tap in there often and update as soon as you can.

The post Lookout’s Got Your Heart, Check For The Heartbleed Bug With Their Free App appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1gjL4G1

The Gold HTC One M8 Does Exist, And It’s A Shiny One

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

Is HTC worth its weight in Gold? T-Mobile CEO John Legere seems to think so, which is proven by his tweet showing off a brand new HTC One M8 that is plated in 24K gold. I’m not a huge fan of the gold colored phones myself, but this device finish looks awesome, which Legere points out in his Twitter post. Last years HTC One also came with a gold plated model, so we’d be foolish to think that HTC wouldn’t take the opportunity to make the same thing happen this year. The downside for anyone who might be looking to try and get their hands on one of these is that it is reportedly bound for the middle east only, so unless you plan on making a trip there to pick one up or try to have it imported-undoubtedly raising the already high cost- you’ll have to settle for just looking.

If you happen to be the rockstar of the US wireless industry however that seems to net you your very own gold model as a gift. While the gold is borderline too flashy for most, it does have a certain quality about it that makes it stand out and garner some looks of astonishment. At least that’s what we’d expect if we were holding this thing in our hands while walking down the street. other than the gold plating on this device, it has virtually all the same things as the original color models of the HTC One M8.

We’ere sure that we’ll see more photos of the gold M8 to come as they get their release in the region they’re meant for, and we wouldn’t put it past John Legere to tweet some more pics of his own. This is one color of the M8 that you wouldn’t want to cover up with a case, although if you find yourself to be rather clumsy with your stuff a nice gold case could keep the color theme going while still protecting that beautiful gold finish. You definitely don’t want scuffs on this bad boy. We’ve heard that if you stare long enough into the gold plating that something magical happens.

The post The Gold HTC One M8 Does Exist, And It’s A Shiny One appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1kDbLJM

Rumor: Amazon Smartphone Slated For Fall Release With Early Summer Official Announcement

via AndroidHeadlines.com |

With the recent release of the Amazon Fire TV and it’s already stellar reputation so far, Amazon has no plans of slowing down their momentum as it would appear that they are taking steps to announce their fabled smartphone sometime this summer around June. If that were the only rumor detail that we knew about the Amazon smartphone then we’d be happy, but there is another rumor surfacing that cites Amazon is not only planning on announcing the phone in June, but planning to release the phone in the fall in the month of September. This rumor also states that the Amazon smartphone will come carrying a display that has a type of 3D technology that users wouldn’t have the need for glasses to enjoy. This wouldn’t be the first device to try and implement this technology, but lets hope that Amazon can do it right as none of the previous offerings have done an amazing job with it.

According to the sources that are familiar with the matter, Amazon has been doing more than just telling people about its plans for official announcements and release dates. They have apparently been making their rounds in Seattle and San Francisco showing off what sounds like working prototypes of the device to developers, which if true could suggest they’re on track to meet the time frames we listed above. If the phone gets a launch in the fall, it’ll be arriving just in time for the biggest shopping day of the year, where Amazon likely sees a huge drive forward in sales from their site.

According to the same sources who listed off the window of the launch date, the 3D technology is said to be made up of retina tracking technology to make images appear like they are actually 3D. There aren’t any sort of confirmed details coming from Amazon, but as far as specs go the device is rumored to be carrying a display size of 5-inches, and come powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. It’s also rumored to have six cameras total on the device, one of which would be the rear camera used to take pictures and one front one aimed at video chat, with the remaining four dedicated to creating the 3D effect discussed above.

The post Rumor: Amazon Smartphone Slated For Fall Release With Early Summer Official Announcement appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

http://bit.ly/1hrpOz8