Official estimate from HTC UK Twitter account

HTC One devices across the U.S. and Canada have been receiving updates to Android 4.3 over the past several weeks, but so far we've yet to hear anything official on release timing for the European version of the device. Today, however, the official HTC UK Twitter account has given us our clearest indication yet as to when we can expect the update on UK devices  and unfortunately there's still a bit of waiting to be done.

"We are expecting to release #JellyBean 4.3 update in the UK in 35 weeks," tweets @HTC_UK. That'll be mid-to-late November, then.

Android Central understands that when the update arrives it'll bring with it HTC's latest Sense 5.5 UI  as opposed to the Sense 5.0-based software rolling out to U.S. devices  which might explain the additional time required to get everything finalized. So HTC One owners in Europe might have to hold on just a little longer, but the update should be worth the wait in the end.

Source: @HTC_UK

Posted via Android Central App

In just a day Apple will take the stage for a fall 2013 event where we expect to see the new iPad mini 2 and the iPad 5, as well as a collection of other Apple announcements.

The Apple 2013 fall event should specifically usher in a new iPad 5 with a thinner and lighter design and according to latest information an iPad mini 2 with a new higher-resolution Retina Display.

New iPad rumors offered contradicting opinions on the inclusion of a Retina Display on the iPad mini 2 as Apple reportedly dealt with supply and power usage issues for this new part, and some questioned whether Apple could keep a Retina iPad mini 2 priced at $329 given the companys high profit margins and higher cost for the Retina Display.

Read: iPad mini 2 vs. iPad 5 Key Tips for Buyers

Apple is not commenting on the new iPads, but two new reports from established sources point to an iPad mini 2 with a Retina Display on Tuesday.

Rumors suggest the iPad mini 2 will feature a Retina Display and outline the upgrades for the iPad mini 2 and iPad 5.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple will announce an iPad mini 2 with a Retina Display at the October 22nd event, citing parts suppliers as the source of the rumor.

It's not just you. Facebook's having issues this morning, returning any number of errors on mobile as well as the old-fashioned World Wide Web.

Our suggestion? Hit us up on Google+. Or, alternatively, go outside, or read a book. Have a real conversation with an actual person. Ahhhhh, those were the days, right?

Nokia is just hours away from taking the stage as its press event in Abu Dhabi, but if the trend of recent leaks continue it wont have anything surprising to announce. Leaks over the last few days have detailed the Lumia 1520 phablet and the previously unseen Nokia Guru music accessory.

Known reliable source Evleaks revealed what he believes to be the final specifications for the Nokia Lumia 1520 late last week. According to his tweet, users should expect the Lumia 1520 to feature a current-generation Snapdragon 800 processor, a 6-inch display with a resolution of 1080p, 2GB of RAM and a 20 megapixel rear-facing camera that uses the Nokia PureView imaging technology first seen in the Nokia Lumia 920. Allegedly, the device wont support wireless charging out of the box. Users will have the option to add wireless charging to the device with a cover that Nokia will sell separately.

Pictures of the Nokia Lumia 1520 were leaked by @Evleaks earlier this year.

Users may get their choice of storage sizes too. Evleaks expects Nokia to announce that the Lumia 1620 will come with 16GB or 32GB of on-board storage in black, white and yellow. That is great news for users as many of Nokias high-end devices only come with a single storage configuration in most countries. For example, the Nokia Lumia 925 only has 16GB of storage in most countries despite Nokia positioning it as its high-end device.

All of these details match the information thats already been leaked about the device. A source inside AT&T who spoke with GottaBeMobile confirmed that Nokia had plans to create a smartphone with a large display in September. That source also indicated that Nokia would launch a Windows-powered tablet on the carrier sometime soon.

The Oct. 21 Deal of the Day is the Samsung S-View Flip Cover for Galaxy S4. This case combines the fashion and privacy of a flip cover with the convenience of a screen window that allows view-through access to alerts, status and vital information. The back easily snaps on, replacing the phones standard battery cover, without making the phone bulky. Comes in black or white.

The Samsung S-View Flip Cover is available for just $39.75, 34% off today. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping.

Deal also available in the Canada store

Check out our entire selection of Samsung Galaxy S4 cases at ShopAndroid.com!

Its official: Nintendo has halted production of its Wii gaming console after almost seven years on the market. The companys Japanese website lists the Wii console as shussan shuuryou (or ), which means production ended. The Wii had a good run while it lasted, and while it slowly started to lose steam after a few years, it completely changed the way people play video games, even if that meant throwing around a controller to get your character to move.

Since releasing in 2006, the Wii has been the best-selling console overall, selling over 100 million units globally. To compare, the Xbox 360 just recently reached the 80 million mark last month. Microsofts console has been the best-selling gaming system for the last two and a half years in the US, but the Wii has sold more units overall, making it the unsung hero of the gaming world.

Veteran games publisher SEGA has announced its winter line-up of mobile titles, which includes a remastered version of fan-favorite Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Android. Like the original Sonic and Sonic CD, the remastered Sonic 2 will feature upgraded audio and visuals, and 60fps gameplay. Release is scheduled for sometime in November.

Four other SEGA titles are coming to mobile this winter, though three Demon Tribe, Go Dance and Rhythm Thief & The Paris Caper will be skipping Android and heading to iOS only. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed brings transformable vehicles and four-player online and local multiplayer to the kart-racing series. The title will be heading to both Android and iOS, though there's no firm release window just yet.

Presser's after the break.

Only days after it began offering the free Windows 8.1 update to users through the Windows Store, Microsoft has pulled Windows RT 8.1 for Windows RT users and released a software download designed to recover Surface RTs that wont start after being upgraded.

Microsoft informally announced that itd pulled Windows 8.1 for Windows RT users over the weekend on its Microsoft Answers community. According to a forum moderator for the site, the company pulled the update saying [Microsoft] is investigating a situation affecting a limited number of users updating their Windows devices to Windows RT 8.1.

While the Windows 8.1 update has gone pretty smoothly for users with devices running Windows 8, the results have been decidedly mixed for Windows RT users. Unlike Windows 8, Windows RT devices are powered by ARM processors and technology that makes those devices much more like an iPad than a typical Windows device. Although the two versions of Windows look the same, users cant install desktop applications on Windows RT devices. Its Windows RT that powers Microsofts Surface RT tablet.

Big update for HTC One owners on T-Mobile US

Right on schedule, the Android 4.3 update for the HTC One on T-Mobile US has begun rolling out, bringing T-Mo's version of HTC's flagship up to the latest platform version. The update also brings some extra features to HTC's Sense 5 UI, including new video highlight themes, Instagram support in BlinkFeed and greater control over the way "home" and "menu" button functionality works.

If you're rocking an HTC One on T-Mobile, hit the comments and let us know how you're getting on. Next up is Verizon's HTC One, which launched with Android 4.2 and already has many of the new Sense features. That device is due to get Android 4.3 around the end of the month.

Source: Android Central forums

Boost Mobile has announced that it will begin offering the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c starting on November 8. This marks the first time that the Sprint-owned Boost Mobile will sell iPhones to its customers. Previously, you could buy an iPhone from another source and use it on Boost Mobile, but the carrier will now be able to sell customers iPhones directly.

Boost Mobiles plans are some of the best in town, and you can get unlimited talk and text with 2.5GB data for just $55 a month no contract required. Of course, this isnt the best deal around if youre simply looking for the cheapest plan: Virgin Mobile has $30 per month plans that gets limited talk, text and data for those who dont use their phones as much as others.

Rumors about the iPhone coming to Boost Mobile began earlier this year, when it was reported that we would see them arrive sometime during the fall. It looks like that report is true, and we even heard late last month about more evidence of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c coming to Boost Mobile, thanks to a couple of advertisements that were leaked, showing off the new devices with Boost Mobile marketing.

Samsung is hosting its inaugural Developers Conference  and Android Central will be on location in full force. We're always a fan of firsts, so in addition to our standard event coverage, we're taking Android Central's presence to a whole new level for this one with the introduction of the Android Central Live show.

As the Official Community Partner of the Samsung Developers Conference, we'll have dedicated space within the "Hacker's Lounge," where myself and Andrew Martonik will fire up the live stream each day for three hours of Android Central Live action.  We'll be interviewing plenty of guests, from Samsung engineers to app developers showing off demos of their latest apps (if you're interested in joining us on the show, email sdc13@androidcentral.com). We'll follow up soon with more details on schedule and guests, but the page you'll want to bookmark to take it all in is androidcentral.com/sdc13.

In addition to the Android Central Live show, we'll also be putting our livestreaming gear to use to bring you Samsung's opening keynote session, which kicks the event off at 11 a.m. PDT Oct. 28. You'll be able to watch the keynote both here on Android Central, and on the www.samsungdevcon.com website. 

And if you can be in San Francisco next week but haven't registered to attend yet, get on it! Tickets are only $299. We'll have some limited edition Android Central gear with us to give away, which beyond everything else makes the price of admission worth it. We hope to see you there!

Source: Marketwired

Multiple sources point to a new MacBook Pro Retina update this week, but the more affordable MacBook Pro models are not as certain as the fate of the device remains in question.

For the past several months rumors of new MacBook Pro models pointed to a fall refresh with the latest Haswell chips inside, offering a boost in power, battery life and graphics, but rumors were not specific about which models would receive the updates.

At this point we are only waiting for Apple to formally announce the new MacBook Pro Retina late-2013 update on Tuesday and offer the device for sale to eager shoppers.

Read: New MacBook Pro Release Date What to Expect

Several new reports shed light on the possible new MacBook Pro Retina updates, and leave an update to the MacBook Pro model up in the air. Heres what the latest leaks indicate is in store for the new MacBook pro announcement and release.

While the Apple Store refers to four models as MacBook Pros, there is a distinction between the offerings. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display features a higher resolution display, but thats not all. This model also does not let users upgrade the RAM or storage as it is soldered to the motherboard like on the MacBook Air. The MacBook Pro models without a Retina Display are slightly larger, and let users upgrade the RAM and storage on their own. This key difference has many buyers looking for a new MacBook Pro non Retina update.

All signs point to a new MacBook Pro Retina update this week.

Ming-Chi Kuo is an analyst with KGI Securities and with a good track record for Apple information. Kuo shares his expectations for the new MacBook Pro models in a note to investors, shared by MacRumors. This report focuses on the MacBook Pro Retina, pointing to the newest Intel Haswell processors which should deliver better battery life and computing power. The note also points to a new FaceTime HD camera capable of 1080P video chat.

T-Mobile subscribers with the HTC One can now update their devices to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the latest version of Googles Android operating system.

T-Mobile formally began the roll out of the Android 4.3 update to users today. While the update comes about a week after Android 4.3 began going out to users of the HTC One on AT&T, it does mesh with the time-table that HTCs Jason Mackenzie announced on Twitter last week.

Users can download the update over their wireless data connection, however its probably not a good idea to do so if they are already close to surpassing their allotment of data. Users should connect to a strong Wi-Fi signal and leave the device alone to run the update for an hour at least. It is also a good idea to plug the device in. That way it doesnt lose power while downloading or installing the update.

As for new features, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean for the HTC One includes the ability to add an Instagram account to the HTC Ones Blinkfeed news and social network reader and the ability to add widgets to the HTC Ones lock screen.

Update: OK, folks. The app is (mostly) live. Go ahead and get on the list.

OK, folks. Here's the deal. BBM for Android  that's BlackBerry's proprietary messaging system  is finally going to be publicly available later today, BlackBerry announced in a blog post.

Only, things aren't quite that simple.

Here's the deal: BlackBerry is going to release it in Google Play and in Samsung's own app store in a few select locations. (Yes, Samsung has its own app store.) If you've already registered with BlackBerry somehow, you'll be good to go and BBM should work. If you've yet to sign up, you'll be able to today  and you'll be placed in waiting list. No telling how long that list will be.

The official word looks like this:

The demand for BBM on Android and BBM on iPhone continues to be amazing. About six million people signed up for information about BBM at BBM.com. As you know, in just seven hours, about one million Android users were using the unreleased version of BBM for Android. What you dont know is that more than one million people have found creative ways to side load BBM on their iPhone. This is incredible.

To help manage this unprecedented pent up demand for BBM, we are implementing a simple line-up system to ensure a smooth roll out. Heres how it is going to work

BBM Roll Out Details:

1. Download BBM the easiest way is to visit BBM.com from your Android or iPhone browser*
2. Once you install the app, open it, and enter your email address to hold your spot in line
3. We will email you as soon as you reach the front of the line and can start using BBM

So. BBM's coming. Probably this afternoon.

Stand by for proper links when we've got 'em.

Newer, faster, thinner better? One technology follows another in dizzying cycles. But how is it that something that was once an amazing engineering marvel ceases to be so? If it really works as a musical instrument, how could it be less of a musical instrument than it was before?

Palm Sounds Ashley Elsdon was talking about music making in the palm of your hand before anyone had ever seen an iPhone. So I had to smile when I saw him connecting an old Palm to our MeeBlip synth. It wasnt just a novelty the synth was ticking along with this vintage technology in a way that looked generally cool, drool-worthy somehow, new.

So I asked Ashley to do a special story for CDM to explore what you can do with vintage pocket music making to revisit what was possible through modern eyes, and see what you can still use today. What we get is both history lesson, for those who stick with their newest product, and a practical guide to making use of devices you can now often find nearly free. (Hint: you can even emulate Palm on new devices, too.)

Its not just a story for the sake of it. These gadgets are the product of a massive expenditure of energy, packed with toxic chemicals. This could be what saves them from the landfill and what creates new music instead of new waste. But there is still a reason you bought that new iPhone. So lets let Ashley explain just how useful this retro gadgetry may be. -PK

Palm Sounds: Palm OS and Windows Mobile Music Making

The world of mobile music making has grown beyond all expectations over the last few years, and its only fair to say that iOS is now king in that world. So, why make music on old PDAs? Theyre slower. Theres virtually no new development. Yet there are still some areas where an aged PDA can make a shiny new iDevice look dumb. For a start, you can access to the file system, and expanded storage, too. Ed.: Okay, I have to whince a little bit at the fact that this isnt true on newer gear, but yes. True.

If that wasnt enough, theres some amazing software for older devices that is completely free.

So, Im going to make the assumption that youre interested in getting to know a little more detail about these devices and what they can do. Im going to cover two operating systems and the hardware that they run on. There will be more focus on the Palm OS over Windows Mobile, but both have unique software available that in some cases goes beyond what is possible on iOS at the moment.

Palm OS
Palm in its various guises over the years were probably the best-known manufacturer of PDAs in the 1990s. They made the hardware, they made the OS, they made peripherals. Sound like a familiar model? Palms early hardware used serial connections to connect to the desktop, which made them excellent for MIDI applications, and many developers made great use of this facility. However, from version 5 of their OS and a simultaneous move to ARM-based hardware, the serial connection was lost and MIDI along with it. Ed.: Doubly absurd: theres no reason you cant do serial and MIDI from an ARM chip. But I digress.

The upside of this move was more processing power, and along with that some of the best-loved and most innovative software to hit a handheld in decades. More of that a bit later. As Palm was the main manufacturer of their own hardware, the majority of models that are still available and useful for music. Ill mention the best models for music making at the end.

Windows Mobile
In some ways, Windows Mobile were ahead of the game here. To be clear, Im talking about the OS up to version 6.5 and before it morphed into Windows Phone (which made a lot of developers very angry, and none of the music developers ported their code to the new OS).

Windows Mobile has had some amazing music software developed for it, some of which is still available today, but sadly, not all. There were a huge number of different Windows Mobile devices on the market, and you can still find lots of these on auction sites today. In terms of which devices are / were best for music, thats debatable. However, processor speed and memory are the two major factors as always in considering a device.

Palm OS: An ahead-of-its-time embarassment of riches

As with lots of platforms, Palm OS music making started off with the simplest of apps. I dont intend to cover those, as many have vanished now. However, a few applications that started off in those early days were developed further and are still available now.

Applications from miniMusic (minimusic.com) fall into this category. miniMusic were pioneers of Palm OS music apps, and their offering covered a huge range of different musical needs. Heres a quick run down:

• BeatPad: A drum machine and simple pattern sequencer. It handles 4 banks of 8 patterns and allows you control pitch, velocity and note length on every note in the sequencer. It has MIDI out and also can use sounds created in SoundPad.
• NotePad: A fully-fledged Notation application for Palm. This is a truly amazing app. MIDI-capable, and can access GM sounds on a device with a GM chip or use the SoundPad FM sound banks.
• SoundPad: This is the app that makes the sound files that everything else can use. SoundPad uses 4 oscillators for FM synthesis.
• AxisPad: An XY pad instrument. As before it uses SoundPad for its sources and can house multiple slates for various performance types.
• MixPad: Is a MIDI file player. The pro version was to have a lot more editing and even recording capabilities, but it is very unlikely that this will come about now.

If that wasnt enough, miniMusic also had musical learning applications (BugBand and EarTrain), and early demos of apps that sadly didnt get developed further, SpinPad and WavePad.

and then came Chocopoolp!

Ok, its a strange name. Chocopoolp made two apps for the Palm OS. Bhajis Loops is by far the best known, but before I talk about that, I need to mention its predecessor, Microbe. Whilst Microbe is essentially a sequencer with two synth parts and a drum machine, it was a huge step forward in mobile music making on the Palm OS. Microbes synths offered amazing sound control on a tiny device and export to a .wav file onto your SD card. As Microbe developed it added a song editor, the ability to export a whole song into Bhajis Loops and more.

And then there was Bhajis Loops. Bhajis Loops did for music making on the Palm OS what NanoStudio and BeatMaker 1 and 2 did for iOS music making. Bhajis Loops did everything short of audio tracks on a Palm PDA. It allowed up to 64 instruments (depending on how powerful your device is), four FX buses, plus accommodating a plug-in architecture (with a great range of plug-ins still available), a master bus, and full automation of instrument and effect parameters. All this before the iPhone even arrived.

As if that werent enough, Bhajis can also export to MIDI or .WAV file,s and best of all, its available for free now.

Ive really only touched the surface of what Bhajis can do, and if youre even remotely interested you should find out more by visiting www.chocopoolp.com.

But before we leave the Palm OS music making world

Theres just one more thing I should mention. Back in the days before Bhajis, one truly interesting development in the Palm world caught my attention. It was called Capers. The idea was to replace the Palm OS with a new operating system for music only. What a great idea, I thought. The people behind Capers started to releases apps, or as they called them, applets for Capers which were largely MIDI-related, but were quite impressive in their own right.

Sadly, the replacement OS never came about, and in fact, theres precious little trace of Capers left on the Internet now, but I still think it was a great idea. In fact, Ive often pestered the developers of Capers to release the code so that someone could take it further. However, to date whilst its been promised, its never come about. Maybe one day.

Making music with Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile was always one of the biggest competitors for Palm, if not the biggest, and it, too, had some pretty amazing music software. Some of thats still available today. Heres a few of the highlights from the Windows Mobile world:

• Griff: Arguably the best Windows Mobile music making software available ever. In fact in some ways it rivalled Bhajis Loops. Griff sported an amazing plug-in architecture which supported plug-in instruments and effects too. And the plug-ins available crossed a wide range, from a drawbar organ to network MIDI (although this was somewhat experimental in its implementation). Griff allowed a huge amount of automation of every parameter you could think of, and exported to .WAV, as youd expect. At its peak, you could expect to pay well over £100 for the software and all the plug-ins, but now the app itself and a selection of plug-ins are available for free. Sadly, some of the 3rd party plug-ins are no longer available anywhere.
• Mixtikl (miniMIXA++): A generative music app that has its roots in Koan Pro. Mixtikl is now on iOS and Android, but started as miniMIXA++ on Windows Mobile and has grown and grown ever since.
• MeTeoR: Stands for Multi-Track Recorder. This app was then ported over to iOS and has continued to be developed there. However, it was the first multi-track available for Windows Mobile, and probably the only one as well.
• Sunvox: Another app thats now available for iOS, and Android, but still has a Windows Mobile and a Palm OS version too. Sunvox is an incredible mobile app by any standards and is truly cross platform.

That was then, how about now?

So, I think its only fair to say that there were some amazing applications for these older devices, and many are still available either very cheaply, or for free. Thats great if you want to run these apps on older device, but what if you dont, or cant? Well there are a few ways.

If youre running iOS and are happy to jailbreak your device, you can run the Palm OS apps on iOS. StyleTap produce a Palm OS emulator that runs for iOS (and also for Android) allowing you to install Palm apps to your iDevice. The same solution works for Android, although you dont need to jailbreak.

Sadly, to the best of my knowledge theres no way of emulating Windows Mobile on another mobile platform, so if you want to sample the delights of Griff youll need to have something to run it on.

As for new development for Palm OS or Windows Mobile, well, thats a short conversation. There really isnt any.
So, theres a relatively brief tour of what you can do with older devices and software and also how you can still use some of these on iOS and Android. There are still a lot of resources available for these devices, but its only fair to say that theyre dwindling away day by day. Hopefully it might inspire you to try out some Bhajis or Griff music making.

Find the latest in mobile music making news at Ashleys enduring site:

http://www.palmsounds.net/

and yet more fine English geekery (Doctor Who! Daphne Oram!) at:

http://www.ashleyelsdon.com/

Last week, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update rolled out to select owners around the world. The update, which will continue to roll out in the weeks ahead, is thought to have arrived ahead of two other Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates, updates for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2. And while Samsung hasnt confirmed anything yet, a Galaxy Gear manual and a carrier in Australia have confirmed the updates for arrival in the weeks ahead.

At the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch event, Samsung announced that it would be rolling out a software update to the Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 that would bring support for the Galaxy Gear, Samsungs new watch accessory. While the company didnt call it Android 4.3 Jelly Bean by name, it was assumed that it would be Android 4.3.

Those suspicions were confirmed last week, at least for the Samsung Galaxy S4, as Samsung began the Android 4.3 roll out for the Galaxy S4. The update, which hasnt yet rolled out in the United States, brings a number of upgrades to the table including support for the Galaxy Gear. While it has been assumed that the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 updates are next, Samsung hasnt said anything. Thanks to a Galaxy Gear manual and Telstra Australia though, we now know the Android 4.3 updates are on their way.

A spendy accessory aimed at corporate users on the go

Logitech is hoping to capitalize on the increasingly mobile workforce's needs for quality speakerphone audio with its latest Bluetooth speaker, the P710e. Built to be used with any phone or tablet over Bluetooth as well as your laptop over USB, the P710e brings enterprise-level speakerphone quality to any device that you connect it to.

On the mobile side, the P710e offers Bluetooth pairing over NFC, as well as a device dock in the top of the speaker for making video calls. When working wirelessly, Logitech is quoting 15 hours of battery life for the device, which should get you through even the longest conference calls with ease.

Logitech pegs the price of the P710e at a cool $169.99, but there isn't any easy way to buy one just yet  being that this is a enterprise-focused device we may be waiting a little while before anyone can buy them directly. This certainly isn't your average consumer-focused Bluetooth speaker.

Source: Logitech; (2)

Got BBM on Android? Here are the basics.

BBM is starting to get (kinda-sorta) rolled out today on Android, and to get folks acclimatized, BlackBerry has posted a few how-to videos on their YouTube channel. Videos show how to manage groups, how read/delivered receipts work, handling multi-person chat, checking status updates, sharing files, and adding contacts.

You'd think for the occasion they'd shoot these on an Android or iOS device of some kind, but the overall UI doesn't change much platform to platform. It's all pretty straightforward, though potentially useful for those of you that managed to get in line for BBM early. 

How many of you guys are going to be trying it out? Those that aren't, are you happy with your existing instant messaging options, or is there room for some competition? 

For more on BBM for Android, check out Adam's run-down on CrackBerry.

Windows 8.1, the free update for users running Windows 8, is now in the Windows Store. With the update, users can customize their Start Screens background, resize Live Tiles and share settings between different machines that also use their Microsoft Account.

Windows 8.1 also includes a number of design changes for users who like to use applications from the Windows Store. With that in mind, here are the 11 essential applications for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users to download on their new laptop, desktop or tablet.

Once installed, these applications will travel with the users Microsoft Account and sync on each PC that account is used on.

Facebook

Windows 8 users are no longer forced to go to the web browser to send messages to friends on Facebook. Microsoft formally announced a native version of the application with the launch of Windows 8.1. This app includes support for notifications and Live Tiles. Even if you have a desktop and normally use a web browser its still well worth the free download. [Download Facebook free from the Windows Store].

ESPN

For sports fans, theres nothing like being plugged into an instant stream of football, basketball and soccer news. Luckily for Windows users, ESPN for Windows fits that criteria. Users can also check out recent highlights and clips from the networks commentators. [Download ESPN free from the Windows Store].

Netflix

Any platform worth the price tag of its hardware has to have a fully featured Netflix application. Windows 8 does and Netflix for Windows includes support for multitasking, a Live Tiles and search integration. [Download Netflix free from the Windows Store].

Photoshop Express

While the Photos application for Windows 8.1 includes a few light photo editing tools, its no replacement for the free Adobe Photoshop Express app that users can download from the Windows Store. Users can crop, adjust, and upload photos to Adobes Revel service to the iPhone or other Windows devices. They can also purchase different filter packs and introduce a little style to their photos too. [Download Photoshop Express for free from the Windows Store].

Twitter

Just like Facebook, a native Twitter application is essential for any platform. Twitter for Windows isnt the most robust application, but it performs well and includes multiple account support and notifications. [Download Twitter for free from the Windows Store].

Hulu Plus

Its only October and already, Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors are swirling around, hinting at whats to come next year. The latest whispers suggest that Samsung may not offer a metal design for the Galaxy S5 but could include a powerful 16MP camera that could employ ISOCELL technology for much better photos and video.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 isnt even close to a year old yet and already, there is talk of its possible successor, a device that is being dubbed Samsung Galaxy S5. Rumors have suggested a number of different features including a new metal design, a brand new powerful camera, a new processor that could be a part of the Exynos 6 series and come with 64-bit support, and a launch date in January with a possible release date in February.

Nothing is confirmed yet of course but Galaxy S5 rumors are leaking much earlier than Galaxy S4 rumors did, a sign that we could see the device arrive much earlier this time around.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is rumored for February.

A new Shield with an even more powerful chip means game developers can go even further  and we can't wait to see what they come up with

The NVIDIA Shield is one of those niche devices that never made it big. Having had one for a long while, I can tell you that there is no better way to play the highest-end games built for mobile (on any platform, sorry Infinity Blade series, but it's true) and extras like PC game streaming make for a great little gadget for the serious gamer. The device just didn't garner much enthusiasm with the mainstream Android user.

The good news for fans of the handheld console is that NVIDIA has no plans to abandon it, and are actively developing the next version  which may have the insanely-powerful Logan chip at its heart. CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has said as much in an interview with Engadget at their big event in Montreal.

To us, the reason why Android is such an important platform is, we want to do for Android what GeForce did for PCs

There was no hint on when anything would be available, or any pricing, but we're excited to see what game developers can do with an even more powerful chip to push to the limit. Be sure to visit the source link to watch the full 10-minute interview.

Source: Engadget

What once was in the hands of a few early adopter Lemur owners and technologists is now available to the masses: most musicians own some kind of touch device, capable of spawning faders and X/Y controls and buttons and layouts for just about anything they can imagine.

And the app that is perhaps best known for that, TouchOSC, gets a major update this week. What it means depends on what you own.

Android owners, at last you have a proper touch app thats more or less on par with what iPhone and iPad owners have. Sure, there have been a handful of Android apps for touch control, but none with stability or flexibility to match the iOS offerings. In fact, one of the worst was an experimental, hobbled Android port of TouchOSC. This isnt that: its as close as you can get to feature parity with iOS. You miss out on Apples built-in support for MIDI (wired, wireless, and inter-app), as nothing in wide use exists on Android. But in exchange, you get the ability to run on the countless Android phones and tablets out there. And I can imagine even some iOS owners might grab an extra cheap tablet to add more control space.

New iOS owners will want to upgrade, as youll get expanded controller features (see below) and, if you own an iPhone 5, proper use of your phones elongated 4 Retina Display.

Owners of legacy hardware will want to make sure they dont upgrade. Back up, save, etc. TouchOSC, by necessity, drops support for older operating systems and devices, the victim of Apple mandates to keep up with the latest and greatest. Also lost is the old MIDIMobilizer Mk I. I would love to see a jailbreak version of the legacy app, somehow, unsupported.

On the fence about Lemur versus TouchOSC?

There are loads of iOS controllers out there, but for maximum control, TouchOSC and Lemur are the clear front-runners. Im glad to have both on my devices, but if youre trying to choose, here are some quick reflections, having used both over the years.

In TouchOSCs favor:
TouchOSC is the clear value buy. In fact, even if you own Lemur, its worth grabbing TouchOSC now as its on sale in celebration of the release half off the usual US$5, across all platforms. Lemur is US$50.

You also get more controller support via TouchOSC. Nothing else can match the number of templates for TouchOSC, covering everything from DIY creative code environments to VJ apps to plug-ins and everything in between.

Speaking of controller support, TouchOSC is a natural if youre a user of Apple Logic. While many of us expected Apple to make its own Logic companion for iPad, they did quietly add native support for TouchOSC in the app. (Video below).

And you still get extensive MIDI support (networked, wired, wireless) and versatile control layouts, just as in Lemur.

Now, TouchOSC is also the clear winner if you run Android, as Lemur is still iOS-only.

In Lemurs favor:

Lemur has controls that TouchOSC cant match, with a wider selection of widgets and lots of nifty physics features and the like. To me, its still the only mobile controller app that really feels native and natural on a touch device, not only simulating real-world faders and knobs, but taking advantage of touch gestures. (In fact, its about time that we saw more innovation in this area, particularly with Windows touch gizmos on the horizon.)

Lemur also has extensive scriptability for advanced, interactive layouts.

You do still get loads of compelling controller layouts enough that its worth spending the $55 bucks to get both apps so you can run all the intriguing user creations the community has created.

Lemur also has on-device control editing, so you can create controls without having to open up an editor app.

My feeling is this: if youve spend a couple hundred dollars or more on a tablet, odds are you wont regret the additional, rather paltry investment in these two apps.

New in TouchOSC

+ Support for iPhone5
+ Support for custom layout sizes
+ Support for more MIDI message types (All controls now support Control Change, Note, Program Change, Poly Pressure, Channel Pressure and Pitch Bend messages)
+ Added XY control MIDI mapping mode (Placing 2 or 3 fingers on the control will send only x or y messages)
+ New iPhone5 layout: Automat5
+ Fixed handling of UTF-8 encoded strings in both application and editor
+ Fixed naming issues with virtual CoreMIDI connections (iOS)
- Removed support for MIDIMobilizer Mk I (Please use a CoreMIDI compatible accessory, i.e. MIDIMobilizer Mk II, instead)

Its worth a read of hexlers developer travails, and how he managed to cope with both Androids fragmentation and iOS lack of backwards compatibility. (Phew!)

TouchOSC 1.9.0 for Android and iOS out today!

He is a developer I really respect. Less known: hes got a nifty VJ app called TouchVIZ, also for the iPad.

In action, in videos

Two great examples of what you can do with TouchOSC. First, with Twisted Tools Scape:

Second, a look at that native Logic support. (Logic.. speaking of back from the dead, Im not so surprised when one independent developer like hexler isnt releasing something every few months. But, uh, I hear Apple has, like, a number of programmers.)

http://hexler.net/software/touchosc

A huge update hit the Google Hangouts app this weekend on iOS. The messaging app received Google Voice integration with the ability to make and receive phone calls. It does include SMS, MMS or voicemail capabilities (were guessing thatll stay with only the actual Google Voice app), but those using Hangouts will be able to make phone calls right from the app.

As far as what the changelog says, Hangouts users can now see which of their friends are using Hangouts, and who can currently be reached. This update even gives iPod Touch users the ability to make and receive phone calls right from Hangouts, which are free if placed inside the US and Canada. And of course, calls placed will use your Google Voice number, and theres no need to set up the integration; itll automatically detect your Google Voice number from your Google account.

We live in a world of multiple screens. Some of us use more than one phone. More likely, however, is the combination of using a phone and a tablet. Being able to access your data anywhere is the crux of everything Google  and therefore Android  does. Apple's stumbled with iCloud, but damned if it's not trying. And for all its faults in the past, even Microsoft had this one figured out long ago with its "Three screens and the cloud" strategy. 

And then there's BlackBerry. BBM  BlackBerry Messenger  is finally available for iOS and Android. Sort of. You can download the app, then get on a waiting list, as BlackBerry's ramping things up slowly. But know this: You can only use one BBM ID on one device at a time. One ID, one phone. Or one tablet. 

And not at all (yet it's coming) on a desktop or laptop computer.

Anyhoo. This isn't a surprise to anyone who's used BBM before. (Or the popular WhatsApp, for that matter.) But for those of us used to accessing our conversations on any connected device, it's a bit of a shock.

And it's really not how things work in 2013. 

Saying your device isnt as responsive to sound as youd want is a bit like saying youre feeling sick to your stomach. The symptom is easy to describe, and everyone would agree its not a desirable state. But the fix can be rather complex.

And when it comes to engineers who care about music and sound, experiencing latency or its equally evil mirror cousin, crackles-and-pops will make you sick to your stomach.

Google I believe is deserving of some criticism over this issue. Years of subsequent updates saw the company largely silent or unresponsive about critical audio issues. It took some time before even basic APIs were reliable and on par with other platforms. At the same time, I dont believe even all developers let alone users appreciate the challenges of making music-quality low latency performance work. Theres no silver bullet: any number of issues with drivers and firmware and battery management can cause things to go wrong, and only a delicate combination of ingredients will make it go right. Indeed, thats part of why Apple deserves some credit. Being the company making both hardware and software is a big boon, no question, but even that is no guarantee youll get results.

One year ago now, we first saw signs that Android would see higher performance audio. This included some general improvements for all newer devices, which my friend Peter Brinkmann quickly baked into the open source libpd library. Low latency audio was promised initially for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, as I reported, as well, in June.

At this years Google I/O, we finally get a presentation from people who really understand the issues involved and explain in atypically-candid detail how you go about solving them.

If you care about this, too, you owe it to yourself to sit through the whole video, as theres a whole lot of technical detail here. Its also worth noting that some of the things you think might fix audio actually dont. Sure, its easy for developers to gripe that a platform doesnt magically give them low latency audio, particularly if theyre familiar with desktop Linux. But on mobile platforms, a number of variables come into play. Some of the obvious fixes can then conflict with battery life, or simply dont work.

The full video, featuring Glenn Kasten, Ian Ni-Lewis, and Raph Levien:

Its a pleasure to see engineers who really get this stuff talk about this rather than higher-level managers; this is the sort of conversation I have over beers with people who know what theyre doing far more than I do.

A key slide:

The left-hand column, what the Android team needs to do, is summed up in two areas. One is improvements to the platform, and the other has to do with working with hardware partners, whose drivers and hardware and well-meaning battery conversation features and the like are often the source of problems. Most tellingly, while its long overdue, its good to know that Google is at last adding proper APIs for configuring audio (augh), and being trying more adventurous paths to lower latency as have been found more commonly on desktop systems.

But developers can make headway, too. As evidenced by the availability of software like FL Studio showing up on Android, programming techniques and the use of OpenSL can mean better performance on the platform, as well.

Ive endorsed it before, but even if you dont intend to use the free libpd library, you can check out the repository for the latest best-practices code for you to copy and paste in your own Android audio apps:

github.com/libpd

Check out the OpenSL branch.

So, which Android should you get (if any)?

This time last year, we heard about low latency support for specific devices on Android. How are they doing?

Well, frankly, not great. There are three devices that support the low latency profile, up from one device at Google I/O last year:

1. Galaxy Nexus (Samsung)
2. Nexus 4 (LG)
3. Nexus 10 (Samsung)

Certainly, I would only recommend these three Android devices to anyone interested in music or development. Other Android gadgets will perform more poorly with audio latency, including popular devices like the Galaxy S series. Youll also want a Nexus device in order to have unfettered access to OS updates from Google useful to developers, but also to anyone wanting to keep pace with improvements.

And of these three, the Galaxy Nexus remains the best choice. Sources tell CDM that the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 dont perform as well as the original Galaxy Nexus because of battery conservation concerns.

I still strongly recommend iOS for developers and end users, however. For now, Android cant match app selection, API quality, availability of MIDI support and wired connections to instruments, or audio performance and flexibility available on iOS.

That said, a Galaxy Nexus could be a great buy for people willing to tinker a bit. Oh, yeah, and theres the fact that you can get it unlocked for a fraction of the price of a new iPhone.

CDM will have more on these issues over the summer, so stay tuned.

Developers, details from this presentation:
https://code.google.com/p/high-performance-audio/

Just 20 channels available for streaming when outside your home network, however

Building on the announcement earlier this month that it would be bringing live TV streaming to mobile devices, AT&T U-verse has just announced that Android users now have access to over 100 channels in its app. The service lets U-verse TV subscribers authenticate within its app on either a phone or tablet and have access to live TV along with On Demand programming and the ability to manage your DVR remotely.

There is a caveat, however. The quoted 100 live TV channels are only available when streaming on your home network, and the number of available channels dips to about 20 when you're out-and-about. We can likely blame this on media rights holders, but it still stinks to see such a pared-down offering out of the house where you're most likely to take advantage of such a service.

At any rate, U-verse customers can grab a download of the app from the Play Store at the link above, authenticate and get to catching up on TV even when someone in your house has monopolized use of the cable box. A full list of live channels can be found on U-verse's site, but include many of the popular networks such as A&E, Animal Planet, ESPN, Food Network, HBO, History, MTV, Syfy and many, many more. 

Source: AT&T

Project Ophelia, the Dell-made HDMI dongle that allows users to turn their displays and televisions into Android-powered devices, has surfaced at the FCC. That could mean the company is preparing to launch the device any day now.

According to the paperwork filed with the United States Federal Communications Commission, users can look forward to Project Ophelia, or what these documents refer to as the Dell Wyse Cloud Connect, having support for Bluetooth wireless connections and Wi-Fi standards when it launches. The two technologies should allow users to connect to the internet and wireless accessories like Bluetooth keyboards and mice.

These documents also indicate that Dell has packed in more than a few features that allow users to treat the Wyse Cloud Connect like any other computing device. These features include a microSD card slot that users can add more storage to the device over time and USB ports so that it can draw power from any television set that already has a USB port.

Pictures of the Dell Wyse Cloud Connect taken by the FCC.

Users looking to get their hands on the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 can head to their local Microsoft Store to pick up the device at midnight tonight.

Microsoft own retail stores and Best Buy are just one of the many places where users can pick up the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 beginning today. Users looking to purchase one of Microsofts upgraded tablets from Best Buy and Staples will have to wait until their local store opens at its regular time.

However, many of Microsofts stores are honoring the occasion by holding midnight launch parties, complete with giveaways and the chance to see recording Artist Pitbull give a concert at the grand opening for the Microsoft Store in Orlando, Florida.

Read: Microsoft Stores Opening at 12 a.m. for Surface 2 Launches

While devices wont go on sale at the Microsoft Store until Midnight, Microsoft says that festivities and trivia quizzes will begin at 10 p.m. at many but not all of its locations.

The Surface 2 with a Type Cover 2

That persistent icon is there for a very good reason, and it's not going to get 'fixed' any time soon

One of the biggest gripes from people who tried BBM during the original failed launch was that you had to live with a persistent notification in your status bar. BlackBerry responded with a setting in the beta version  which found its way into today's actual launch  that allows you to turn off that nagging notification in your status bar.

But you probably want to leave it alone  if you actually want to get messages, that is.

Google, in its effort to fight apps that suck down battery or stay alive to watch you without you knowing, now requires any application that wants to stay alive at all times to place a persistent icon in your notifications. When this is done, and that icon is showing, that particular app won't get closed, no matter how much RAM active applications are using. It's treated as a foreground application, even though not it's actually open on your screen.

When memory does drop below a certain threshold on our Androids (that level is determined by the people who built your particular version of the OS), apps not being actively used start to get shut down. If you've disabled the persistent notification in BBM and forced it to act like a normal app instead of one that's always running, it can and will get closed when memory is needed elsewhere.

Because BBM doesn't use Google Cloud Messaging (GCM), you won't get chat notifications when it's not awake and listening. When there is enough free RAM for it to restart (it tries to run all the time per the app's permissions) you'll get the notifications then, after it restarts.

There's no real way to fix this, because BlackBerry isn't going to ever use GCM and Android is never going to allow apps to run willy-nilly without the user knowing.

So if you want to use BBM, just leave that nagging notification alone.

No secret KitKat changes came with today's Google Play store update

You may have noticed a new look in your Google Play app this evening, as the 4.4 update is rolling out to users. There's not a lot to talk about with changes, because the only thing we're able to see different is the new hamburger menu is now implemented in the app, leading to a more consistent feel across Google's closed and proprietary applications.

This does affect users who still have a menu button on their device, as now instead of opening the overflow the menu button only opens a window with a "settings" and "help" entry, while the rest of the shortcuts are in the drawer. Other than that, it's the same Play store app you're used to, with the same wish list screen, my apps pages, and shopping menu as always.

If you haven't received the update, there are a couple things you can try. There are (as always) mirrors floating around out there, but if you're not keen on trusting a file that updates a system app when you don;t know where ti comes from, we found a few ways that ended up forcing the updates here.

• Just reboot. That's how Andrew was able to get the update pushed to him.
• Uninstall updates for Google play in settings > applications. This worked for Alex.
• Clear cache and data for Google Services Framework in your settings, then reboot (advanced). This is what I had to do.

Or just wait it out, because you're not really missing anything except a cleaner app navigation system. We've got a handful of screenshots after the break.

When the new HTC One Max was announced last week many were concerned over the lack of details regarding US carriers offering the handset, but over the weekend we received a few more tips. Aside from Sprint confirming the device, and Verizon tweeting a picture of the 5.9-inch smartphone, thats all weve heard.

For those anxious to get their hands on the huge Galaxy Note 3 competitor made of aluminum and bumping front facing speakers, we have good news for AT&T customers. The famed leakster @evleaks confirmed the One Max is headed to AT&T by sharing an official press photo of the new smartphone branded with AT&Ts logo, along with the already confirmed Verizon image. While nothing has been confirmed by AT&T thus far, his leaks are usually spot on when it comes to accuracy.

Replacing the usual HTC logo front and center is the AT&T Globe (aka Death Star) symbol, confirming theyll not only be branding it with their own logo, but it should be arriving sometime soon for the carrier. Verizons model will be doing the same, so its no surprise that AT&T also opted to remove the HTC logo from the front. If the date in the clock and weather widget is accurate, we could see it launch on AT&T come Friday, November 1st, or possibly on the 8th.

Conductr is a newcomer on the scene from Barcelona. Still in development, a release is expected this summer. It already sports an aesthetically-pleasing design and clever gestural modes that make it easier to quickly get access to parameters you need. But it faces a tight field of entrants.

The live in Ableton Live suggests making musical decisions in real time not slowly with painstaking editing, stopping and editing and drawing, but as you listen and work. But while the onscreen interface is built around the mouse, and the precision of the mouse, focusing on those settings in performance, DJing, or studio work really wants something else. So, you have two choices. One is to use external physical control, like a conventional MIDI controller or the just-released Ableton Push. And that works very well for many people.

Or, you can use a touchscreen. The advantages of the screen approach: you can easily see clip names (either impossible on external hardware or limited to a slim display), and you can more flexibly navigate lots of different parameters.

Theres an extraordinary range of apps vying to be your Live remote control of choice, and the competition just keeps getting tighter. Last month, we saw a major new release out of the collaboration of two originators of the field:

Touch Ableton Live: LiveControl 2 Brings Finger Controls to iPad; Griid Discontinued

That software brings Lemur-style custom controllers, pattern editing, and more to the table. Its the work of Liine and ST8. I left out ST8s site in our previous story; check it out it was a terrific collaboration with someone from the Live community that resulted in the app:

http://roygbiv.org.uk/

But theres more. In Barcelona, Conductr made its first public debut, offering its own take on usability and with some interesting ideas about how to make controllers more accessible and playable. Long-time favorite touchAble, popular for its extensive controls for Live, is working on a feature that will allow you to edit your own controls. And LivKontrol, early out of the gate with pattern editing, is now the first major controller to be specifically designed for Android-using Ableton Live musicians.

LivKontrol for Android is available now; the other two are nearing release. Lets have a look at what they offer.

Conductr

Conductrs layout is semi-modular, like some of its rivals.

Custom group configuration is one of the selling points behind Conductr, letting you grab parameters from anywhere in a set and focus exclusively on those.

Being able to focus on just a few parameters, each covering a lot of screen area, could make Conductr a solution for live performance where others have failed. (Ever struggled to tap the right control on a cluttered screen?)

Special gestures mean you can select one parameter without even looking at the screen two fingers give you the second fader, for instance.

Conductr is an upstart would-be rival to existing Live controllers on the app markets. Developed in Barcelona, Conductr does a lot of the things the others do it has minimal, geometric colored graphics, focuses on the Session View portions of Live, and uses a semi-modular layout to divide sections of the screen into layouts (like, notably, touchAble has). But as I got to try it in a hands-on session at SONAR, a number of unique features came out.

I remember seeing The Glitch Mob with their Lemur controllers onstage. One thing this band did juggling percussion and other instruments was to reduce their Lemur layouts to just a few controls on screen. They opted for oversized buttons and faders in place of lots of delicate, fiddly controls. Here was this advanced hardware, doing as little as possible.

But theres some sense to that. If you are playing another instrument, if you are working feverishly onstage, you dont want the kitchen sink controls you might use in the studio. You want to be able to make a big gesture and know itll work.

Thats where Conductr excels. It can easily grab parameters from across a session, using intuitive editing functions or a learn feature. Then, using its modular layout, you can put just a handful of controls on your iPad even just three giant faders, if you so choose. Going one step further, if you still think you might hit the wrong fader, you can use multi-finger gestures to swipe onto a specific parameter. (The mode is optional, but could be worth trying.)

Fingers-on test of Conductr. Multi-finger gestures give you control over specific faders in an optional mode and it works well enough that its one of the only times you can use an iPad without looking at it.

This feature alone I think could make Conductr worth loading onto an iPad. But in other regards, the Conductr team will have some catching up to do with a crowded field. The modular features are nice; itll be interesting to watch as they refine these and the look and feel over coming weeks. The developers talked about being interested in adjusting things like how faders respond in touch behavior. (Id love something that smooths over settings or at least adds a friction/physics option; too many touch controllers are far too sensitive, resulting in herky-jerky fades.)

They also say they envision Conductr as a platform; in-app purchases will unlock other, purpose-specific modules. That seems reasonable; apps often languish in the long run economically without a reason for developers to continue investing. If Conductr can offer enough functionality out of the box, doing specialized modules could help the app grow and grow in usefulness with time.

If you sign up for their newsletter now, you have a chance for a free license:

http://conductr.net/

touchAble

New editing modes in an upcoming touchAble upgrade.

touchAble won converts early on for providing access to more extensive parts of Live first. The next chapter for the app, a long-awaited v2 landmark release, takes the next logical step, allowing editable controls. As they posted recently to their Facebook page:

Weve promised some information about our upcoming v2 of touchAble so here we go!
We happily present you the new Edit Module:

The Edit Module will allow you to create your own interfaces using XYPads, Sliders and Buttons. Select any parameter of the current Live Set or choose any MIDI CC or Note for your Control, label & color it as you wish and use it in combination with any other module as a half or fullscreen view.

Your interfaces can consist of as many pages as you wish and can easily be saved, loaded or created!

Sorry it is taking so long guys but we promise the update will pay you all back for your waiting time!

http://touch-able.com/

LivKontrol

LivKontrol is perhaps a lesser-known option in this market, but its unique design approach makes it worth a look. Whereas other apps tend to be inflexible when switching screen sizes or orientation, LivKontrol lets you set up universal layouts you can use anywhere.

Controls are more minimal, but thats a selling point, I think; the layout is atypically clean and friendly.

LivKontrol also debuted the ability to edit patterns directly, with a view that looks quite like the one you see onscreen in Ableton.

And now, its done something no other app has: theres an Android version (see photo, below). If youre an Android user or even if you have a mix of gadgets, that could be the only selling point you need.

http://www.livkontrol.com/

This is, naturally, not an exhaustive list of the tools you can use to control Ableton. Wed love to hear your current favorite and what you feel is missing. (My vote for whats lacking: almost nothing can help you in Arrange View, though that is partly to do with the way Ableton has set up arrangement workflows and UI assignments.)

In fact, the one conspicuous absence remains Ableton themselves. But with so many different tools, its easy to expect the third-party market will continue to serve their users in some capacity.

So, faderboxes, apps, what do you use?