The $299 Blu Life Pro is aimed at the selfie set with a 5-megapixel front cam

LIFE PRO by BLU.  (PRNewsFoto/BLU Products)

When we first spotted the decently spec'd Blu Life series, it seemed like a nice Android handset option for folks on a budget. However, the times they have a-changed, and the former KIRF company's latest device, the Blu Life Pro, is now looking decidedly less cheap. Spec-wise, it's packing a 720p screen, quad-core 1.5GHz MediaTek CPU, Android 4.2, HSPA+ 3G, 1GB RAM, 16GB of memory, 12-megapixel BSI camera with 1080p video and a standout 6.9 mm profile. At $299, it'll have to go up against plenty of similarly-priced and technologically superior rivals, but the key feature that distinguishes the Blu from the rest is its 5-megapixel, 1080p front-facing camera with a BSI sensor. Nevertheless, given the option between this and a much cheaper 720p phone like the spiffy Moto G, our vanity probably does know some bounds.

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Source: Blu Products

Fujitsu’s latest Arrows Tab packs a multi-user fingerprint reader

Fujitsu's latest Arrows Tab packs 2,560 x 1,600 display, fingerprint reader

For Fujitsu, fingerprint readers on smartphones are old hat; on Android tablets, however, they're still rare. The company should make those sensors easier to find with its latest Arrows Tab, the FJT21. The 10.1-inch slate uses its fingerprint reader to streamline Android 4.2's multi-user support, signing anyone in with a swipe. Families can also implement both a simple mode for newcomers and a content-restricted kids' mode. Fujitsu isn't leaning solely on sign-in technology to sell its tablet, though. The FJT21 centers on a 2,560 x 1,600 LCD with Gorilla Glass 3 protection; under the hood, there's a fast 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front camera and 64GB of expandable storage. Japan's KDDI will ship an LTE-equipped version of the new Arrows Tab in late November. Sadly, it's doubtful that we'll see an equivalent model reach the US.

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Via: Impress Watch (translated)

Source: KDDI (translated)

CyanogenMod 10.1.3 arrives with remote find and wipe capabilities

Good news is now at hand for CyanogenMod fans who like a bit of stability in their lives, because the general release builds of CyanogenMod 10.1.3 are now hitting server mirrors. As a nice bonus, support for CM Account is baked into this release (previously available only in the 10.2 nightlies), which allows users to locate and remotely wipe their missing devices -- a feature that's awfully similar to Android Device Manager. If all goes according to plans, CyanogenMod 10.1.3 will be the last of the Android 4.2-based builds, as the team is now investing the bulk of its work on CyanogenMod 10.2, which is based on Android 4.3. Once you have the latest version, perhaps you'll consider pairing it with the impressive Focal camera app.

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Source: CyanogenMod (Google+)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1 might get multi-user support

DNP Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 80 and 101 might get multiuser support

There's really not much you can do if your family sees your new Galaxy Tab 3.0 as a household tablet. Thankfully, it looks like Android's multi-user support might make its way to both the the 8.0 and the 10.1 variants to give you a bit of privacy -- at least according to a test firmware's screenshot. The feature will likely be included in a future software update, but before you jump on the couch à la Tom Cruise, know that it's not clear when or if it will actually roll out. We'll let you know when we find out -- until then, just accept that everyone will know you've downloaded the MyLittlePony app.

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Source: Sammobile

Huawei unveils outdoor-ready Honor 3 smartphone, MediaQM310 set-top box

Huawei unveils outdoorready Honor 3 smartphone, MediaQM310 settop box

Huawei's first two Honor smartphones were straightforward mid-range devices; with today's unveiling of the Honor 3, the company is going the semi-rugged route. The third-generation model is IP57-rated for resistance to dust and water, and its high-sensitivity touchscreen will recognize wet hands. There's also an HTC One-like infrared blaster to control TVs and home appliances. The Honor 3 is otherwise a modest upgrade, however -- it carries a slightly larger 4.7-inch 720p in-cell touch LCD, a mildly faster 1.5GHz K3V2 quad-core chip, a higher-resolution 13-megapixel rear camera, a 1-megapixel front camera and Android 4.2. The 2GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage haven't changed since last year, although they're acceptable when the Honor 3 is already on sale for just ¥1,888 ($309) in China.

The smartphone will soon have company. Huawei is teasing a new TV set-top box, the MediaQM310, that should offer both cloud services and China Network Television's online video. The media hub should be uncommonly powerful for its diminutive size with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip, Bluetooth and dual-band WiFi. There's no mention of a price just yet, although that should come when Huawei ships the MediaQM310 to China sometime in September. Check out a photo of the device after the break.

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Via: Engadget Chinese (translated)

Source: Huawei (translated)

Refresh Roundup: week of August 5th, 2013

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

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Unofficial Android update brings Bluetooth support to the HP TouchPad

HP might have abandoned ship long ago, but some developers are still trying to make the TouchPad happen. While successfully running Android on the discontinued tablet (which shipped with the ill-fated webOS) is old hat at this point, there are still a few obstacles standing in the way of achieving full functionality. For TouchPad owners yearning for Bluetooth support, hope has arrived in the form of developer James Sullins' unofficial Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 build. If you've already modified your tablet to work with Android, installing Sullins' Bluetooth addition seems to be a pretty straightforward process. Those of you who've stuck with your TouchPad this long (we commend your device loyalty) can download the update at the source link below.

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Via: Liliputing

Source: Goo.im

Refresh Roundup: week of July 29th, 2013

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

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Sony starts upgrading Xperia Z to Android 4.2.2

Xperia Z review

We dinged Sony for shipping the Xperia Z with an old version of Android, but the company is catching up today by posting an upgrade to Android 4.2.2. Most owners receiving the update are carrying unbranded HSPA+ and LTE models at this stage, although there are reports of at least a few carrier-specific phone variants getting the refresh. As with the Xperia ZL update, most of the user-facing changes are minor. The biggest addition is support for lock screen widgets; there's also slight (if noticeable) tweaks to the interface look and feel. If those revisions are still meaningful enough for you, we'd suggest a quick upgrade check through the usual desktop and OTA channels.

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Via: Xperia Blog, Phone Arena

Source: Sony Mobile forums

Samsung ATIV Q: hands-on with the company’s new Windows-Android slider (video)

Samsung ATIV Q: hands-on with Sammy's new Windows-Android slider

The products keep coming. The latest announcement from Samsung is a new addition to its ATIV range and it's a hybrid in more ways than one. Similar to the ASUS Transformer Book Trio, announced earlier this month at Computex, Samsung just introduced its own dual-OS portable. It's called the ATIV Q, and it combines Android 4.2 and Windows 8. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Haswell-series Intel Core i5 processor and manages to fit a 13.3-inch, 3,200 x 1,800 touchscreen into a 1.29kg package that measures just 13.9mm thick. Other notable specs include an S Pen with 1,024 degrees of sensitivity. There's space for the stylus to be stored in the bottom corner of the device. Hardware considerations have also been folded into the design, with the processor housed inside the ATIV Q's hinge. Samsung says that this ensures that heat dissipates from the back of the device.

A software highlight from this particular Windows 8-Android team-up is the ability to share files (photos, documents... seemingly anything that can be opened with programs on the other OS) and share folders across the operating system divide. We can certainly see the usefulness in this approach -- sharing images to your favorite Android social app and generally unifying how you use the hybrid, regardless of OS. The ATIV Q will launch globally in Q3, and we've been told "in time for the back-to-school season", which sounds like sooner rather than later. We've managed to spend a bit of time with the new multi-talented slider: check out some first impressions after the break.

Update: We just added some video.

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