refresh
Latest
Daily App: Refresh will coach you on the people involved in your next meeting
Refresh is the digital equivalent of the rolodex with a whole bunch of extra features that help you know someone before you actually meet them. An advanced contacts manager, Refresh lets you get insights on other people in just a few seconds. Refresh is your social network curator, contacts manager, and calendar assistant all rolled into one. The app taps into your contacts list, your calendar and all your social networks (the more, the better) to create profiles of the people you have in your address book. It also pulls your calendar events and aggregates the profiles of people who are attending your next meeting. Refresh is designed to help you avoid those awkward moments of silence by giving you talking points about people including their mutual acquaintances, their work history, their outside interests and personal details such as birthday and hometown. The amount of personal, work and social information available at your fingertips is impressive. Instead of building a dry, data-driven profile, Refresh uses this social information to offer tips about a contact. You will find relevant information about the person's employer, such as stock prices, that you can use to kick off a conversation. You also will see hints like "Congratulate Charles on his post: Just got promoted to regional manager" or "Mention you saw Charles' status post: Hiked a section of the Appalachian trail this week." Much like the rolodex of the past, Refresh also lets you add custom notes about a contact that you glean from a face-to-face meeting. The app's information gathering is useful for someone who interacts with a large number of people. There is a lot of detailed information that'll help you prepare for interviews and business meetings. Some of the information, though, borders on the very personal and may not be as useful in early conversations. You have browse through the details and find the information most appropriate for your next encounter. Be warned that the amount of information available to Refresh can be an eye-opener, especially when you realize a similar profile can be built about you. Used appropriately, the compiled data can help you know some salient facts about a person before you actually meet them. You just have to use caution as you don't want to mention a photo from a recent Caribbean cruise the first time you shake someone's hand. Refresh is available for free from the iOS App Store. It works on the iPhone and requires iOS 7.
AT&T begins updating the Galaxy S4 Active with Android 4.3
Nope, it's not KitKat, but hey, beggars owners of older Android handsets can't be choosers. If you've been using AT&T's version of the Samsung's waterproof Galaxy S4 Active, you're in luck: Android 4.3 is starting to roll out in the form of an over-the-air update. As you're probably aware by now, the update keeps the phone in Jelly Bean territory, but brings a good deal of improvements, including OpenGL ES 3.0 support, Bluetooth Smart technology, enhanced notifications and 1080p Netflix streaming. Good luck with that 772MB download, and do let us know how it goes.
Google: Samsung Galaxy Nexus won't get updated to Android 4.4 KitKat (updated)
From the horse's mouth, we're hearing some unfortunate news: Google has taken to its Spanish support pages to announce that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is not on the list of devices to receive Android 4.4 KitKat. This seems a bit odd, given the new update's focus on "the next billion" and offering solid performance to other budget devices, but at the moment things aren't looking up for owners of the phone -- or any older Nexus devices, for that matter. We've reached out to Google for clarification on this and will update you if and when we hear back. Update: There's still no official word on why this is the case, but sources close to the company have pointed the finger at a different hardware issue on the Galaxy Nexus: its Texas Instruments-built chipset. The company is out of the mobile business and as such isn't in a great position to give the support necessary for continuing OS upgrades -- presumably some of those 1,700 employees let go in the shift away from mobile could have helped. Now we'll have to see if the community can pick up where the corporations left off or if this is the end of the road for the Gnex and its other OMAP-based kin like last year's Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD and Droid Bionic.
Microsoft announces Windows Phone GDR3 update, adds 1080p and large screen support
It's autumn, which means it's time for Microsoft to come out with its latest and greatest update for Windows Phone. This year, however, the company isn't pushing anything as drastic or significant as WP8, and it even shows in the name of the refresh itself: GDR3. (GDR stands for General Distribution Release.) The update, which will begin rolling out in the coming weeks and "will continue over several months," doesn't feature any improvements to the notification experience, but it delivers on a few important enhancements that are sorely needed -- especially when it comes to hardware support. First, GDR3 will now offer Start screen support for screens between 5 and 7 inches, with resolution support now set at a maximum of 1080p (both of which lend credence to the leaks we've seen of the Lumia 1520, Nokia's upcoming 6-inch device). As an aside, we've confirmed with a Microsoft rep that this update won't be adding support for full-on tablets, though we can't rule out that possibility in a future refresh. Future Windows Phones can become much more powerful as well, now that the update adds support for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 quad-core SoC. On the software side, Microsoft is throwing in Driving Mode, which limits notifications on the lock screen and can be set to trigger whenever you connect a Bluetooth device. You can also close individual apps in the multitasking menu, lock your screen orientation and assign custom ringtones for text messages. Also, remember that annoyingly vague "other" category in the storage settings? GDR3 now breaks it down into more specific categories and lets you manage each one (excepting the system storage). Aside from these enhancements, Microsoft claims "hundreds" of other tweaks and fixes, many of which are under the hood. For a few more details, head below the break to look at the official blog post in its entirety.
Samsung refreshes NX300M mirrorless camera with 180 degree rotatable display
Samsung's original NX300 mirrorless camera came with little to shout about beyond its gimmicky 3D capability. This refreshed NX300M brings something more useful to the table, however: a 3.31-inch AMOLED touch display that can now flip around 180 degrees instead of just 90, making it possible to easily frame up your selfies. Other features remain unchanged from the original, like the 20.3-megapixel APS-C sensor, 100-25,600 ISO range, 8.6fps continuous shooting, dual-channel WiFi with SmartShare and NFC capability. Users in Korea will be able to grab one now in white, black and brown with an 18-55mm kit lens for 890,000 won (about $839). There's no word on US pricing or availability, but that shouldn't be too far behind.
Dell refreshes the XPS 13 and 15 with Haswell, the 15 has a 3,200 x 1,800 display
Dell's XPS 11 might be all new and foldable, but the company hasn't forgotten its old workhorses, the XPS 13 and 15, both of which are receiving refreshes. Having already received a sharper display option earlier this year, the XPS 13 is now getting a 1080p touchscreen covered in Gorilla Glass NBT. And -- surprise, surprise -- Intel's Haswell processors (Core i3 / i5 / i7) are now part of the package, with battery life rated at up to 10 hours. As you'd expect too, the graphics have also received a bump: moving to Haswell also means stepping up to Intel's HD 4400 chipset. The XPS 15 (pictured above) has received an even more dramatic upgrade: it now sports a seriously pixel-dense 3,200 x 1,800 touch display "based on IGZO technology." You have the option of either Core i5 or i7 Haswell chips, "next-gen" NVIDIA graphics and up to 1TB of hard drive space, along with a 32GB SSD. You could just opt for a single 512GB solid-state drive instead, budget permitting, and you'll also have a choice of "voice and NFC options" (not that Dell was very specific about the voice part). The XPS 15 will arrive first, on October 15th, with a starting price of $1,500 (hey, 3,200 x 1,800 displays don't come cheap). If it's the XPS 13 you're after, that will go on sale sometime in November, starting at $1,000. Dana Wollman contributed to this report.
T-Mobile Moto X gets updated with significant camera enhancements
In our review of the Moto X, we determined that while its ClearPixel camera was decent, its performance was hit or miss. Fortunately, Motorola has taken a lot of feedback and has cranked out a software update with improvements to the camera's performance, specifically in the areas of exposure, color accuracy and focus speed. The refresh, which is so far getting pushed out to T-Mobile phones -- we expect it to roll out to other carriers as soon as each one is done testing the new firmware, though nothing is currently confirmed -- appears to make a rather substantial difference in several scenarios, such as reducing noise in low-light and eliminating haze in outdoor shots. Anandtech's Brian Klug had the opportunity to take the updated shooter for a test run and declared it to be "nothing short of the biggest [improvement] I've ever seen come across in an OTA update." In addition to the camera improvements, Motorola also threw in a few other enhancements as well. Users who have downloaded the update should expect increased Touchless Control accuracy, a fix for the choppy audio issue some have experienced in voice calls and an improvement to Moto Assist as well.
ATD: Apple TV software refresh arrives with iOS 7 on September 18th
Though it was all about the iPhones during Apple's big event yesterday, Apple TV is about to receive an overhaul soon as well, according to AllThingsD. It'll arrive on September 18th, the same day as iOS 7, according to sources familiar with Apple's plans. There's no mention of what changes are in store, although the same source believes that Apple TVs will be able to play other users' content via AirPlay. You'd think such change would have been mentioned by the company last night, but as with all rumors, we'll believe it when we see it.
HTC confirms Android 4.2 is still coming to the One, despite rumors to the contrary
HTC has been relatively quiet with its plans to push Android 4.2 to the One (aside from a few unofficial leaks), but Three UK is hoping to start the conversation. In a recent tweet, the mobile operator answered a customer's query regarding the update, stating that HTC pulled the firmware, with no specific details on when (or if) the new version of Android will arrive. We reached out to HTC and received confirmation that Android 4.2 is in fact still coming, although users may need to wait a little longer before it becomes available. We'll continue to update as soon as we hear more official news from the manufacturer, but at least we know it's still in the plans. [Thanks, Josh]
Gmail updated on iOS to support new inbox, more notification options
Desktop? Check. Android? Check. iOS? Check that one off too. The refreshed Gmail design is now officially available on the App Store for both iPad and iPhone. The update not only brings the new category-based, multiple-tab inbox -- bringing it in line with Google's new interface on other platforms -- but throws in the ability to set notification options for individual accounts. According to the change log, you'll now get "notified for all messages, only important messages, or none at all, on a per account basis." You'll also be able to view YouTube videos and Google Maps links through the appropriate app, rather than the browser. Lastly, you can turn off the multiple tab interface if you're not a fan, but unfortunately Google has restricted the new notification options so they'll only work with the new inbox. Just as we noticed with Android, we wouldn't be surprised if it's not available to everyone yet -- it likely is undergoing a similar rollout effort. Either way, it doesn't hurt to click the source link to see if you can grab the update sooner rather than later.
Acer upgrades its PCs with Haswell, new models include the Aspire V7 Ultrabook
This is hardly the biggest Acer news of the week (that would be this, this and this), but it's worth a PSA nonetheless. Now that Intel's formally unveiled Haswell, Acer announced it'll be refreshing much of its PC lineup with those fourth-generation chips -- 23 notebooks and six desktops, to be exact. Obviously, that includes too many models and configurations for us to discuss today, but Acer did say the updates will span the S7, M, V3, V5, V7 and E Series laptop lines, with prices ranging from $600 to $1,600. On the desktop side, the changes are limited to AT3-605 series and the Predator AG3-605 series, with prices running the gamut from $700 to $1,500. If there's one model that caught our eye, though, it would be an Ultrabook from Acer's recently announced Aspire V7 series. The V7-482PG-9884-U (how's that for a name?) has 14-inch IPS display, a Core i7-4500U processor, a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GT750M GPU, 12GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD. That'll be available this month for $1,300, putting it squarely at the high end of what Acer has to offer.
Dell's Alienware X51 desktop gets Haswell, NVIDIA GTX 670 graphics
For the most part, Dell's using this week at Computex to talk up its various XPS products, though its Alienware division is also getting a little love. The company just announced that the pint-size X51 desktop has been refreshed with Haswell processors (up to a quad-core Core i7-4770) and an optional 2GB NVIDIA GTX 670 GPU. The design hasn't changed at all, as you can see, but the price has: it now starts at $900 with Haswell. If you're on a budget, though, and willing to settle for last year's chips, the Ivy Bridge models will still be available for $699 and up. Now all we need are some fresh gaming laptops. How 'bout it, Dell?
Dell refreshes its XPS 12 Ultrabook, XPS 27 all-in-one and XPS 8500 desktop
Now that it's unveiled its next-gen Ultrabook, Dell's taking the opportunity to refresh the machines it's already got. Starting with the XPS 12 convertible Ultrabook, the company is adding an NFC chip, Haswell processors and a bigger battery (50Wh, up from 47Wh). Between that CPU change and the enlarged power pack, Dell says the system will now last up to 9.5 hours on a charge -- more than three hours longer than the OG version. Fortunately for you, the starting price is staying put at $1,200, with shipments beginning July 9th in most regions. Moving on, the XPS 27 all-in-one is stepping up to a 2,560 x 1,440 screen with improved brightness (350 nits vs. 300) and a wider color gamut (99 percent, up from 72). As you'd expect, Dell also swapped in fresh Haswell processors and a 2GB, next-gen NVIDIA GPU, along with a Thunderbolt port, TPM and Dell's ProSupport service offering. Finally, the machine's getting a bigger storage option: a 2TB 7,200RPM HDD paired with a 256GB SSD. That's available today for $1,600 and up -- the same price you would've paid for the last-gen model with a touchscreen. Finally, Dell replaced the XPS 8500 desktop tower with the XPS 8700, which brings Haswell, along with four HDD bays, up to 4TB of storage and up to 32GB of RAM. Additionally, the SSDs offered now include Intel's Smart Response Technology. That's available today too for $700 and up. Happy shopping!
Google Play Store 4.0 redesign rolling out to Android phones and tablets today
Would news of an upcoming Google Play Store redesign completely blindside you? Of course not, but it's great to see it come to fruition sooner rather than later. The oft-whispered 4.0 update has now been officially acknowledged by Google and is ready for digital distribution starting today. What exactly is fresh and exciting about the new look? According to a blog post written by Play group product manager Michael Siliski, it focuses on bigger images, grouping together similarly themed content and offering new recommendations as you move down the page. Checkout has also been simplified just a tad. The update will be available for any phone or tablet running Android 2.2 or better, and it will begin rolling out today worldwide -- with such a hefty drain on Google's servers, however, the company warns that it may be a few weeks before it arrives on your particular device.
Android 4.0 officially rolls out to HTC Thunderbolt
Hades hath frozen over, folks: after nearly two years on the market, Verizon's very first LTE-capable smartphone, the HTC Thunderbolt, has made the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.4) with Sense 3.6 in tow. The update, which was first discovered a few days ago, is finally rolling out in phases beginning today. Of course, this also means that many owners may not experience the joys of ICS for yet a few days (or weeks) to come, but it's at least now officially rocking handsets across the nation. Just in time for many of those users to look into renewing their contracts. Better late than never, we suppose.
Dell refreshes its mainstream Inspiron R laptops with optional touchscreens
So far at CES, Dell has announced that its XPS 13 Ultrabook will finally get a higher-res screen. Now it's shifting its attention to the lower end: the company just refreshed its mainstream Inspiron R line with optional touchscreens and a slimmed-down form factor. All told, the line includes three screen sizes: 14, 15 and 17 inches. Now that they've all gotten a bit of a makeover, the smaller two measure about an inch thick and weigh in at less than five pounds. Still, they're all just thick enough to accommodate a tray-loading optical drive, and the 15R and 17R also have enough room for a numpad on the keyboard. Spec-wise, you can trick them out with Core i7 processors, up to 8GB of RAM, Intel Wireless Display and discrete graphics (either a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT640M or a 2GB AMD Radeon HD 8730M). Still, there's a considerable gulf between the top-end options and the base specs. Though you can choose a Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU, for instance, they actually start with Celeron. Ditto for storage: you could get 1TB, but you'll get just 320 gigs at the entry level. The 14R and 15R top out at 1,366 x 768, while the 17-incher comes standard with 1,600 x 900 resolution. 1080p displays are also available for the 15- and 17-inch models. Sounds reasonable to us: these systems are mid-range at best. Speaking of the sort, prices start at $430 for the Inspiron 15R and $500 for the 17R. However, if you want that touchscreen, the prices start at $650 for both the 14R and 15R.
AT&T to update Samsung Galaxy Note II with Multi-Window tomorrow
Most US models of the Samsung Galaxy Note II have already been updated with Multi-Window -- a split-screen feature that allows users to view two apps at once -- but AT&T is the last of the four national powers that hasn't pushed the feature out to its customers. That will change tomorrow, as AT&T has confirmed to us in an email that it will roll out the new build over the air at some point during the day. We're happy that users won't have to rely on Samsung's proprietary Kies desktop software to update their devices, but minor downloads like this are typically facilitated OTA. There's no word on if the ROM will be pushed out in phases to minimalize the impact on AT&T's servers, but don't be terribly worried if you don't get notified right away. Continue below to read the carrier's official statement on the matter.
Sprint updates Samsung Galaxy Note II with Multi-Window feature
Multi-Window is a key feature for the Samsung Galaxy Note II because it adds split-screen functionality to the device's 5.5-inch display -- allowing you to run two apps at the same time -- but unfortunately it has been noticeably absent on the phone's US versions. Until today, the carriers have remained oddly silent about if or when their model would even receive it. Two weeks after its initial release, Sprint's Note II will receive an update (L900VPALJC) that enables the missing feature, in addition to some minor enhancements to GPS, email and SMS. We're expecting to see the rollout start today, but Sprint advises us that it may take up to five days before it hits your particular unit. It's about time -- and we can only hope that the other carriers will follow up with updates fairly quickly. Head to the source link to find out how to install the update, as well as full details on the other fixes in the new build.
iTunes refresh delayed till 'end of November'
We were all a little shocked when Apple failed to deliver a redesigned iTunes at its last keynote. The company promised a major revamp of the service would land in October yet, here we are with one day left in the month, and no iTunes overhaul in sight. Today Tom Neumayr, a spokesperson for the Cupertino firm, confirmed to AllThingsD that the software release had indeed been pushed back by a month. Only a few short days ago CFO Peter Oppenheimer was touting the refresh during the company's earnings call saying, "We look forward to looking to launching a redesigned iTunes. The new iTunes has a dramatically simpler and cleaner interface." But he made no mention of a delay. Neumayr says the goal now is to release the update before the end of November stating that development is "taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right." While the issue primarily cited in Neumayr's statement is "seamless integration with iCloud" we wouldn't be shocked if it's rumored internet radio service also is playing a role in the delay. Read the complete statement below. "The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right. We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface, and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November."
Samsung TecTiles 3.0 update offers more options for NFC tagging, now available in Play Store
Samsung's NFC tagging app -- known as TecTiles -- made its official debut in June, but the company isn't putting a halt to its progression anytime soon. This morning Sammy announced version 3.0 of the app, which includes various enhancements that allow for better customization. Among the new features, you can choose from a larger selection of settings that can be programmed into the tags, and you'll also have the ability to send pre-written emails to a specified address, update your Google+ status, store a history of your profiles, customize preloaded profiles and create private tags that can only be read by your phone. The new refresh is ready to go in the Play Store, so head on over to download it for free -- provided, of course, you've forked over $15 for a pack of five tags. The press release, along with a full list of supported devices, can be found past the break.
