Galaxy Gear smartwatch hack lets you browse the web from your wrist

Galaxy Gear smartwatch hack lets you browse the web from your wrist

Acknowledged, a full web browser may not be the most useful thing to run on a 1.6-inch touchscreen, but that's almost not the point here. What matters is that Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch now has its own custom ROM, courtesy of an XDA member called fOmey. The modded software side-steps a number of the manufacturer's locks and limitations, letting the device run third-party apps, widgets, wallpapers and interfaces like Nova Launcher. Bluetooth tethering is enabled too, apparently allowing the watch to grab a web connection from any smartphone that supports the protocol. It's hard to say for sure how smoothly it all runs, due to a lack of feedback from Gear owners so far (or perhaps a lack of Gear owners, period), but you'll find full instructions at the source link if you want to give it a go.

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Source: XDA Developers (Forum)

Droid Ultra surfaces in leaked photo, model number hints at Maxx variant

Droid Ultra surfaces in leaked photo, model number hints at Maxx variant

If the signs of Motorola's upcoming Droid refresh weren't clear enough already, an in-the-flesh photo of what's said to be the Droid Ultra XT1080 has surfaced on the XDA Developers forum, courtesy of xavierk75. Not only do an FCC filing and accompanying rumors peg the XT1080 as a Maxx variant with a beefier battery, but the picture lines up with the kevlar enclosure and trio of capacitive buttons shown in a press shot posted by @evleaks. Thanks to the device's examination by Uncle Sam, we know that it carries radios for Verizon-friendly LTE, EV-DO Rev. A and WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100), in addition to NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi 802.11ac, to boot. Once again, specs are still MIA, but they -- or an official reveal -- can't be far off at this point.

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Source: XDA Developers Forum

HTC Droid DNA gets an early taste of Sense 5 thanks to beta ROM

HTC Droid DNA gets an early taste of Sense 5 thanks to beta ROM

While plenty of Android users prefer the vanilla OS experience, manufacturer-created skins persist, like HTC's updated Sense 5 UI debuting on the latest One flagship. HTC's Droid DNA will almost certainly receive this new version in the future -- the handset maker has confirmed it's coming to the Butterfly, a DNA variant -- but if you're partial to flashing, you can get your fingers on it right now. XDA Developers member newtoroot clearly isn't lacking the expertise their handle suggests, and has taken to the site's forum to offer a beta build of Sense 5 for the DNA. Bear in mind it's a beta, but everything is said to working bar MMS and the new Zoe camera mode. If you've got the hardware, know your way around a ROM and are up for toying with HTC's latest skin, head to the source link for the file and thread.

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Via: PhoneArena

Source: XDA Developers

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II now open to pleasures of the rooted kind

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II rooted

Shame you can't do anything about that obnoxious home button branding, but thanks to the folks over at XDA you can now squeeze some root juice onto your VZW Samsung Galaxy Note II. As per usual with Sammy's Android devices, the process involves the use of Odin to flash an image before you can enjoy the perks. Do note however, the hackery only gives you superuser access -- there's no way to cram in a custom ROM just yet. Early users have reported a few issues, including busted mics, broken signal strength indicators and general slow-coach behavior, but it sounds like updates have now plugged most of those holes. You'll find the payload and instructions waiting at the source link -- just be careful not to orphan that S Pen.

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Via: Pocketnow

Source: XDA Developers

Amazon’s new Kindle Fire tablets are likely to be hack-resistant

Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets are likely to be hackresistant

If you were counting on getting all imaginative with the firmware on a new Fire or 7-inch Fire HD, you might want to check out a recent forum post over at XDA. Written by user kinfauns with input from another XDA regular called pokey9000, it concerns evidence that -- unlike the original Kindle Fire -- both of these devices come with more sophisticated protection, including locked bootloaders and the use of "high security" features offered by Texas Instruments' OMAP processors. Such discoveries probably won't inspire the same degree of outrage as certain other locked devices, considering how Amazon is understandably focused on its own ecosystem and advertising, but they might still count as a disadvantage against the pure Android Nexus 7. The XDA thread ends with only the merest hint of hope -- the potential for a workaround similar to what's been used on the Nook Tablet -- but it's hope nonetheless.

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Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets are likely to be hack-resistant originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Were HTC One X+ specs just leaked anonymously by an XDA developer’s tweet?

HTC One X

For the second time, we're seeing specs leak out from what would no doubt be HTC's flagship phone, the One X+, but this time there's a lot more detail. An anonymous XDA developer called @Football4PDA, who has shown reliable form in the past by outing the HTC Accord Windows Phone, has tweeted the impressive specs for the possible HTC One X successor. He claims that the phone will be about 134 x 70 x 9.3 mm in size, weight in at 129 grams and pack the new Tegra 3+ AP37 1.6GHz quad-core / 1.7GHz single-core processor with 1GB of RAM and a 32GB ROM. The tipster also said it'll be skinned with HTC Sense 4.5 on top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, while still sporting the rather anemic One X 1800mAH battery. Naturally, a tweet out of the blue accompanied by no other proof shouldn't be taken as gospel, but it does reinforce another recent leak regarding the high-end device. Either way, we'll probably find out at HTC's big event on September 19th.

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Were HTC One X+ specs just leaked anonymously by an XDA developer's tweet? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video out enabled on Windows Phone 7, just not for you

Video out enabled on Windows Phone 7, just not for you

The video out feature in Windows Phone 7 is reserved for select Microsoft employees, and now one enterprising member of the XDA Developers forum. With certain files ripped from an LG Panther 7003 ROM, the help of someone on the inside and many months of work, forum member marsrogers succeeded in pushing video from his Samsung Focus to a companion PC app. Don't get too excited though -- this particular trick will not be released to the masses so the MS confidant involved is not exposed. However, it's not all bad news, as marsrogers' source reports that Windows Phone 8 will have remote desktop capability straight out of the box. Sadly, for those of you carrying around current-gen WP devices, there's still no hope.

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Video out enabled on Windows Phone 7, just not for you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Custom ROM brings Android 4.0.4 to the Desire HD, does what HTC wouldn’t

Custom ROM brings Android 4.0.4 to the Desire HD, does what HTC couldn't

HTC wasn't too popular when they denied Desire HD owners a hearty mouthful of Ice Cream Sandwich, but as usual, the community over at XDA Developers has stepped up to make it happen. Despite HTC claiming various technical issues as barriers for the upgrade, Team Blackout's Android 4.0.4 build (aka Blackout ICS Incredible) is said to work perfectly on the device. The complete ROM is based on an ICS build for the Incredible S, and it requires you sacrifice your data in a full wipe before you can enjoy that Sense 3.6 UI. However, if you've got the knowledge to take advantage of this gift, you probably know how to backup all those bytes anyway. Hungry? Then head over to the source for your desirable dessert.

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Custom ROM brings Android 4.0.4 to the Desire HD, does what HTC wouldn't originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s Galaxy S III gets global roaming workaround, packs its bags

Verizon's Galaxy S III gets global roaming workaround, packs its bags

What's the point of owning Samsung's shiny new flagship if you can't take it on tour? Well, prior to Verizon's Galaxy S III launch, customers were promised that global roaming would be enabled sometime in the future via an OTA update. That unspecified date has yet to come, but if it's something of a priority for you, XDA Developers forum member lair12 has discovered a way make it happen without Big Red's involvement. We feel we should add a warning here -- switching from LTE to GSM isn't a simple process and goes far beyond a basic rooting (which, of course, is required). It includes a fair amount of preparation, including manually adding GSM network identifiers, and several steps to switch allegiances once abroad. But if you're a jet-setting Android tinkerer interested in giving it a go (at your own peril), the step-by-step guide is just a source link away.

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Verizon's Galaxy S III gets global roaming workaround, packs its bags originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Now hits some rooted devices, adds topping to your Ice Cream Sandwich

Google Now hits rooted devices, adds extra topping to your Ice Cream Sandwich

If you can't wait to subject Google Now to an epic interrogation of your own but don't have access to Android's Jelly Bean-flavored OS, then you may want to check out what's cooking over at the XDA Developers forums. If you've got a rooted ARMv7 device with Ice Cream Sandwich and ClockWorkMod Recovery, it's actually possible to start enjoying Google's take on the virtual personal assistant on your smartphone right now. As usual, you'll need to download the requisite file and partake in some good, old flashing action. Folks who appreciate having options can also take their pick between a fuller Google Now experience or a more stripped down version by hitting the source link below.

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Google Now hits some rooted devices, adds topping to your Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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