Android 4.4 KitKat Contest Now Live! You Can Win The New Nexus 7 And Play Store Credit, Here Are The Details

As most of you will know by now, the next version of Android is to be called KitKat, and the maker of the popular sweet snack has just unwrapped its contest as part of the promotional collaboration. Hitherto, the landing page has simply displayed a KitKat themed page, but now, the competition is very much up and running. With one thousand Nexus 7 2013 tablets to be won, and a plethora of other prizes including Google Play Store credit and KitKats, it’s definitely not a competition to be missed.

To get involved, competitors must purchase KitKat bars featuring the Android mascot (as pictured below), inside which will be a special code. By entering the code into the special landing page over on the Hershey’s Web site, entrants then find out if they have won something.

Of course, most will be looking to grab the new Nexus 7, which is by far the most appealing prize on offer. But still, $5 of Google Play credit is not to be baulked at, and with some 150,000 lots of credit available to competition winners, you could tot up quite a handsome sum for use to purchase apps, games, music, and other such niceties found over at the Big G’s content portal.

The decision to name the next version of Goolge’s mobile OS as Android 4.4 KitKat is rather bizarre, to say the least, and with the mobile industry completely fooled into thinking it was about to tuck into some Key Lime Pie, Android KitKat represents another bump containing perhaps rudimentary updates. At this point, Google hasn’t released any details aside from the release bracket, but it will certainly be interesting to see what the search giant has in store – especially so soon after the roll out of Android Jelly Bean 4.3.

The Nexus 5 is also the subject of much coverage at the moment, and is expected to be announced very soon, but until we hear anything official, you’re best off picking up few KitKat bars and hoping to get in among some of the good prizes available. Plus, KitKats are good. Not as good as the all-new Nexus 7 with its uber-sharp display, I grant you that, but still delicious nonetheless!

Coming back to the contest; once you’ve grabbed hold of the aforementioned Android-themed KitKat bar, head over to: hersheys.com/kitkat/android/ and enter your code to see if you’ve won anything or not.

Good luck!

Nexus 5 Render Based On Recent Video Leak Makes Us Want One Right Now! [IMAGES]

The hype surrounding the Google Nexus 5 is pretty immense right now, and after a recently-leaked images, Redit user Vovicon has upped a bunch of rather beautiful renderings. Maintaining a similar look to the Nexus 4 – a device manufactured by LG as the next one will be – it brings a slicker general aesthetic than its would-be predecessor, and although we’ll need to wait for the device’s official unveiling before we get too excited, the renderings are definitely worth checking out after the break.

Android 4.4 KitKat has just been officially announced, and the Nexus 5 will likely be the first to ship with the new software out of the box. We don’t yet know when this may be, but with the wave of leaks and information exchanging hands at this point in time, we’d hazard a guess that it 

will be sometime soon.

Google’s Nexus brand not only allows consumers to enjoy that pure Android experience and the frequent, delay-free updates this entails, but also offers mid to high-end smartphones and tablets at agreeable prices. The new Nexus 7 tablet has once again proven popular among consumers, and with the Nexus 7 now becoming rather antiquated after more than a year as the flagship Nexus smartphone, the Android community is more than ready for the Nexus 5.

We’ve heard numerous reports regarding the Nexus 5 specs, most of which have pointed to a 5-inch display with the full 1080p experience. This is only a meager bump from the 4.7-inch offering with the Nexus 4, but so long as the panel is a little more vibrant than the notoriously dull Nexus 4 display, there shouldn’t be too many complaints.

The Nexus 5 will certainly pack a decent processor, with the Snapdragon 800 SoC looking the overwhelming favorite to play the role of workhorse, and with the new Android 4.4 KitKat to boot, will certainly entice many consumers into making the purchase.

Nexus 5 (render) vs. Nexus 4 vs. Galaxy Nexus

With so many new devices being released and rumored to be arriving in the next few weeks, it’s going to face plenty of stiff competition, but if it looks anything like these sumptuous renders, should have no problem in holding its own.

We’ll keep you posted on any more Nexus 5-related tidbits, so stay tuned!

(Source: Reddit)

Nexus 5 Specs Leak Through FCC: 5-inch Display, LTE, Snapdragon 800 And More

Nexus lineup of devices is the prime of Android, being the first in line for any updates and generally spelling out a smartphone or tablet that will receive the maximum love from the Mountain View-based Google. In the recent days, Nexus 5 has become a very shady subject over the blogosphere rumor mill, and now it seems to have made an appearance in the FCC with a few interesting updates.

According to reports, a new smartphone, manufactured by LG (again), has been approved by the FCC and dubbed D820 for the model version. Not that every LG phone is bound to be the new Nexus 5, but certain indicators do point in that direction. For one, the FCC approval documents show that the device will have Qi Wireless Charging, which indicates a high-end device. Then, there is 7-band LTE support, showing compatibility with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint etc. The leaks also show CDMA/EVDO support, pentaband DC-HSPA+ and quadband GSM/EDGE network support.

On the connectivity front, the package further contains Bluetooth 4.0, Near Field Communication and WiFi module with dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac. On top of that, the device seems to be running on a Snapdragon 800 SoC, with a screen measuring up to 4.96 inches to be exact. The firmware version appears to be M8974A, while software is listed as “aosp_hammerhead-userdebugKyeLimePieFACTORYeng.sangjoon84.lee.20130618.015154.”

While not conclusive of anything, such high specs generally spell out a Nexus device, especially if it’s coming from LG again, and the fact that the device in question seems to corroborate with the leaked video that we saw earlier, depicting a Google employee taking photos with an unseen smartphone. Should all this turn out to be true, it will surely be a phone worthy of anticipating.

There are also some other interesting things to note in this whole story. The software version spells “KyeLimePie” which was the former name of Android 4.4 KitKat. The odd spellings for “Key” might be a typo, but it can also indicate a prototype firmware that the company might be playing around with. Either way, it is most certain that this device will be a massive flagship, even if it doesn’t turn out to be the original Nexus 5.

(via: Engadget) (Image credit: BBC)

PayPal v5 For iOS And Android Released: Brand New Design And Impressive New Payment Features [VIDEO]

PayPal is a great service itself and is remarkable to use, but their mobile apps for both iOS and Android, unfortunately aren’t – or maybe wasn’t, taking into account version 5.0 that has been rolled out today for both the smartphone platforms. The new and improved app brings much needed changes to the online payment portal on your phone or tablet, and we’ll be taking a look at the new offerings right after the break.

On the iPhone, the newly designed app borrows heavily from iOS 7 human interface guidelines, and looks and feels loads better than what it used to be earlier. A “Shop” feature has been introduced which basically serves as a portal to locate nearby outlets that support payments via PayPal. Should you happen to be in the vicinity of such a place, you can pay directly making use of the app rather than fishing out cash or credit card.

Next up, you get choice of different payment methods, including multiple credit and debit cards. You may also now apply for a line of credit with PayPal from within the app, thanks to the new Bill Me Later feature for smartphones. Payment transfers are there, too, while PayPal partners can now offer coupons and discounts within the mobile app, making it even easier to manage your PayPal financings without the need for a computer.

On the Android front, the app has improved even further, with v5.0 being more of a rewrite rather than just an interface uplift. First off, you now get the “Hamburger” menu with four distinct options: Shop, Wallet, Activity and Transfer. Shop is exactly what the iOS variant is offering, providing location-aware PayPal support alerts. Wallet is your card and payment method management interface, while Activity provides an overview of what’s been happening in your PayPal account. Transfer is a no-brainer, allowing money transfers to and from other PayPal users.

Comparing both the updates to the previous versions of the app, the Android one appears considerably more significant, offering a much polished interface and usability experience than the clumsy app that PayPal used to be. The updates are rolling out to iTunes App Store and Google Play Store gradually, so if you haven’t received the alert yet, hold on tight – it’s headed your way.

(Download: PayPal for iPhone / Android)

Google & KitKat – Four Fingers, Two Videos And One Nexus 5 Leak

It’s been a pretty big day for Google. It all kicked off when the Android maker announced via Google+ that the next version of Android would be called Android 4.4 KitKat. The first time that a brand name has been used for one of Google’s famous sweet inspired version names, KitKat is more than just a title.

As the day has progressed it has become clear that Google and KitKat have entered into a partnership that will help the confectionary brand as much as it will Google with special limited edition chocolates being sold giving buyers the chance to win Google Play credit or a shiny new Nexus 7. Is this the start of a new era in product branding?

But things haven’t stopped there. KitKat has since posted a video, and it’s a doozy.

Extolling the virtues of ‘KitKat 4.4,’ the ad does what is fast becoming the norm for anyone that isn’t Apple – it pokes fun at the iPhone maker.

Following the now infamous video techniques of the boys and girls from Cupertino, KitKat even got their own British man to take the place of Jony Ive, and if we’re honest he does a pretty good job of it. The impostor explains how KitKats work perfectly in both landscape and portrait as well as many other Apple-isms. It’s probably the best spoof ad we’ve seen, so top marks to KitKat for that, even if the idea of cloning Apple ads is getting a little long in the tooth at this point.

The video releases didn’t stop there though, and the second to appear is rather more important. This time Google wanted to show off its new KitKat-shaped figure that has been installed outside the search giant’s offices. Every time a big new release of Android comes along, a new figure comes with it. This time though, Google looks like it may have slipped up.

Towards the end of the short video, which involves lots of Googlers looking far too excited about a large KitKat-shaped model, one person is seen taking a photo of the object. While that’s nothing to write home about, it’s the phone that he is using that has caught everyone’s attention.

With a ‘Nexus’ logo running vertically down the middle of the device’s rear and a larger camera lens than we have previously seen on a Nexus device, the internet is abuzz with the suggestion that Google has accidentally leaked its own Nexus 5 device.

Assuming Google didn’t do it on purpose – and we wouldn’t be surprised either way – this could be rather embarrassing for the company. Still, at this point it can’t be too long before the new Nexus handset is announced, and with Apple announcing its new iPhones next week, Google has done a stellar job of stealing the news cycle on the same day that Apple sent out invites for its September 10th iPhone event.

Let the battle commence!

(image credit: BBC)

Android 4.4 KitKat Is The Next Version Of Google’s Mobile OS

The naming convention for major Android operating system releases doesn’t take a genius to figure out. With each new big release getting a name based on popular sweets, and those names following the alphabet series, the next release after Jelly Bean was believed to be called Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Now, after an announcement by Google itself, it’s clear that isn’t quite accurate.

Announced via a photo posted to Twitter by Android SVP Sundar Pichai, the next release of Android will be version 4.4 and not 5.0, and rather than being called Key Lime Pie it’s actually going to go by the name of KitKat. That’s right, the four-fingered chocolate treat is now part of the growing Android family of sugary goodness.

Google has already erected a new statue outside the Google offices in celebration of the announcement, and it has to be said it looks pretty darn awesome – if a little scary! If that thing’s eyes glow red, we’re outta here!

If the naming of a new version of Android isn’t interesting enough, the fact that Google has used a name that is used by a company should be. We’re told that KitKat is getting in on the action too, with special edition KitKats being sold with the chance of picking up free Google Play credit or even a free Nexus 7 if you happen to buy the right one. We never seem to win anything like that, but we’re happy to eat as many KitKats as it takes to win on this occasion! There’s no word whether the special edition KitKats will be shaped like Google’s new robot, but if they are then the awesome meter just went up to 11. Maybe even 12!

There are no details beyond the name and version number right now, but expect things to get bigger, shinier and faster than before with some additional bells and whistles thrown in depending on how iOS 7 goes over with the public when it is released later this month.

There is also no timeframe for when KitKat will be available, so don’t start hammering that update button just yet.

If you want more information regarding the release – which is scarce by the way – then head on over to: Android.com/KitKat

BBM For Android Gets A Hands-On Video Demo

It’s no secret that things could be better over at BlackBerry. New men in charge at the top and dwindling sales and market share have been the story of the last few years for one of Canada’s most famous exports. And things don’t show any great sign of settling down just yet.

In what is a nod to the fact that BlackBerry’s hardware may not be as marketable as its software and services, the company is already well on the way to making BBM to both the iOS and Android platforms, removing what was arguably the biggest reason to get a BlackBerry handset instead of, say, an iPhone 5 or a Galaxy S4. Removing unique selling points may not seem like the best idea, but sometimes needs must, and at the moment BBM is one of the few things that BlackBerry can be proud of.

Both the iOS and Android versions of BBM are tipped for an October-time release to the public, but apart from that there has been little news or leaks claiming to purport to offer an insight into what is around the corner for BBM. That hasn’t stopped video appearing online that seemed to show BBM running on Android. We say that it seemed to, because the video has since been made private, which means nobody can actually watch it. Still, it’s the thought that counts!

BBM on the iPhone and Android devices is a big leap for BlackBerry, and with WhatsApp and Apple’s own iMessage already very well established it’s going to be an interesting time to see whether BBM can compete, especially now that the maker’s handsets are much less in vogue than they used to be.

We know we’re less than thrilled at the idea of having yet another messaging account, but we know some are tied to the BBM world. How good the experience will be remains to be seen, but if you’ve been waiting for your BBM fix on non-BlackBerry devices, then it may be just a few short weeks until you’re golden.

UPDATE x1: Looks like the video is back up!

(source: BlackBerryOS)

How To Get Android Notifications On External Bluetooth Hardware

Driving comes with enough possible distractions without throwing a smartphone into the equation, but unless you turn the thing off then there’s a pretty good possibility that you’ll get a few alerts through when you’re driving. With Twitter, Facebook and other apps constantly pushing alerts to us alongside good old fashioned text messages and phone calls, there’s never any shortage of things trying to grab our attention. When you’re behind the wheel though, it’s not the kind of thing you want!

If your smartphone of choice happens to sport a recent version of Android – 4.3 only – then you might want to give Botifier a whirl. It’s free, and if you have the required hardware to make it work, then it’s possibly one of the coolest ideas we’ve seen in a while.

Dubbed as push notifications for Bluetooth devices, Botifier will send notifications from your smartphone to a device that supports AVRCP 1.3, such as a Bluetooth-enabled car sound system. The result is notifications being pushed to that system with the app name showing as the artist, the summary as the album name and the notification text being displayed as the track title. That text can also be split across multiple track names, too.

Users can control the notifications using their sound system’s next/previous track controls to navigate through notifications as well as the play/pause buttons to remove them.

The app, created by XDA-Developer forum member Grimpy is completely free and, importantly, open source. If anyone has the means or the interest to fork Botifier they can do so via Grimpy’s Github page.

Little apps like this are the kind of thing that Android is known for, and it’s certainly not an app that would, or indeed could be made to work on iOS. That is, unless we’re talking about jailbroken devices, that is.

Still, if you fulfill the requirements of running the app – Android 4.3 in particular – and supporting hardware, then it’s highly recommended that you give the app a shot. Face it, it’s never any harm to try out free software, now is it? There really isn’t, so head over to the source link below and get started!

(Source: XDA-Developers forum thread)

Make sure to check out our Android Apps gallery to explore more apps for your Android device.

How To Enhance Display Quality Of Nexus 4 [VIDEO]

Despite being relatively old when compared to many devices currently on the market, the LG-made Google Nexus 4 continues to sell in strong numbers. Moreover, the recent price-drop, which saw significant amounts slashed from the cost of the Big G’s already cheap-and-cheerful device, will have done its popularity no harm at all. But due to its age, the technology is not quite as fledgling as this time last year, and if you’ve checked the displays of devices like the Galaxy S4 or the HTC One, you’ll know that the Nexus 4′s screen looks a little washy by comparison. Thanks to the work of the guys over at XDA-Developers, notably memberfranciscofranco, you can inject a little much-needed life into your Nexus 4′s display.

The root-only app, which is appropriately entitled Nexus 4 Display Control, lets you tweak such elements as gamma and color, helping you bring a healthy glow back to what is looking an increasingly tired panel. Of course, it’s not going to bring the crisp liveliness offered by the aforementioned, but as far as helping you continue to love your Nexus 4 without looking too longingly at some of its more recent competitors, it does a good job.

At I/O this year, the search giant unveiled the all-new Nexus 7, which once again delivers on the Nexus ethos to bring strong features, a pure Android experience, and a reasonable price. But a mention of the Nexus 4′s successor never came, and while rumors of a “Nexus 5″ have been aplenty, there’s still no sign of the device. Thus, Nexus 4 owners will simply have to make do with their current side-kick, and while the likes of Nexus 4 Display Control are still available, the wait for the next edition mightn’t seem so tantalizing.

While the app costs a cent shy of two bucks over at the Google Play Store, it can be had from the XDA-Developers forums free of charge, for a limited time only. So if your Nexus 4′s display is in need of a little lift, be sure to hit up the source link below and give it a try.

Please remember, however, that you will need root access in order to proceed.

(Download: Nexus 4 Display Control for Android on the Play Store)

Make sure to check out our Android Apps gallery to explore more apps for your Android device.

Google plunges deeper into smartwatch wars with WIMM

(Credit: Sarah Tews/CNET)

Google, oft rumored to be working on a smartwatch, quietly bought WIMM Labs last year to light a fire under the effort.

A Google spokeswoman confirmed to CNET that Google has acquired smartwatch maker WIMM. The takeover was first reported by GigaOm.

Smartwatch maker WIMM went dark last year, posting a cryptic thank-you message on its Web site citing "an exclusive, confidential relationship" for its technology.

Similar to previous reports of a coming Google smartwatch, the latest says the company has the work on the product -- including WIMM's employees -- centered in the Android unit, rather than its X Lab. That could mean a Google watch comes to market faster than the wearable Google has been trumpeting all year, Google Glass, which was a product of X Lab.

Though upstart tech companies have already introduced a slew of watches, giants are lumbering into the field too. Samsung is expected to unveil a smartwatch on September 4 calledGalaxy Gear, and Apple has been rumored to be coming out with one.

How To Get Stock Android Look On Any Android Device Without Root [VIDEO]

Android is a fantastic mobile operating system, and continues to become one of the biggest forces in mobile software out on the market. As is the nature of Android, everybody seems to want a slice. Whilst this means that we, as consumers, have a large product base to choose from, it also means we get lumbered with a huge amount of manufacturer bloatware. Without a doubt the worst feature of the Samsung Galaxy S4, in my opinion at least, happens to be the user experience that Samsung TouchWiz provides. HTC Sense 5 isn’t any better either, and don’t even get me started on Motorola’s MOTOBLUR from some years back.

But, this happens to be Android. And what’s the best thing about Android? We can change things. There are of course tons and tons of custom ROMs available that can get you true stock Android experience on your device, with the most popular ones now being the ROMs which are ported from Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 and HTC One devices. But of course not everyone likes to go hard way of rooting and unlocking bootloader to play around with these custom ROMs. What not many know is that you can get almost stock Android look and feel even without rooting your device. With only a small selection of apps available from the Google Play Store, you can make almost any device that happens to be running Android, look and feel like it’s running a stock version of Google’s software.

This is a workaround, a very good one at least, but a workaround all the same. Again, if you’re looking for the true stock Android experience, you may want to check out a Nexus device or a Google Play Store Edition flagship phone. But if you’re boasting an Android smartphone apart from the aforementioned ones, then simply follow our guide on how to get the stock Android experience on any device right now – without rooting.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos.

The apps and software that I used during the making of this video can all be downloaded from Google Play Store:

• Home launcher: Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher 2.0 APK.
• Lock screen: WidgetLocker Lockscreen or Holo Locker.
• Live Wallpapers: Mix it up. Try Nexus 4 Dots Live Wallpaper or Jelly Bean Live Wallpaper.
• Keyboard: Google Keyboard for Android.

If you’re having a bad time with TouchWiz or HTC Sense, simply installing a custom launcher and throwing an icon pack onto your device can just work wonders. It may be as simple as adding a few new transition animations, or slightly more complex where you need to change the home screen structure and icon layout. With these changes, you can do all of that with ease, resulting in improved usability of your device tailored to your usage.

Android is fantastic, I just wonder how long it will be until Samsung or other OEMs take the plunge and stop shipping all of their devices with excessive amounts of bloatware which clearly do more harm than good.

BBM For Android And iPhone Landing Page Is Now Live [Update x1]

Despite the fact that BlackBerry looks in more than a spot of bother just now, the planned effort to bring the famed BlackBerry Messenger service, or BBM, to Android and iOS is still going ahead as planned. Whether owners of said devices actually require this impromptu resurrection of a dying brand – particularly in light of services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger – remains to be seen, but by the looks of a new landing page on the Canadian arm of the company’s website, the wait is almost over.

In light of BlackBerry’s recent move to sell up, the arrival of BBM for iOS and Android reeks of desperation. Back when the decision to launch BBM on both iOS and Android was announced, the recent cited at the time was that the company believed in the strength of BB10, and thus did not need to keep BlackBerry Messenger as an exclusive means of trying to wrangle new customers.

The claim, at the time, looked dubious at best, and in light of recent events, it’s clear that BlackBerry has descended to the point of simply throwing ideas against the wall, and hoping something sticks enough to help lift from its current slump. The signs of BlackBerry’s decline have been clear for all to see for some time now, but with the company failing to adapt to changing mobile industry quickly enough, the release of BBM for iOS and Android is looking like a last hope of exposure for a brand so strong prior to the iPhone.

With most settled into a routine of using Facebook Messenger, iMessage, WhatsApp and others, BlackBerry Messenger faces a tumultuous battle to win over consumers, but it’s worth remembering that, in terms of security and general usability, BBM is still very much up there. Additionally, since a large portion of smartphone users will, at some point, have owned a BlackBerry device, there’s likely to be an initial rush as intrigued consumers flock to check it out.

The new apps are expected by the end of the summer, and with the new landing page now allowing interested parties to check out FAQ section on how to get started using BBM on iPhone and Android, it could be just a couple of weeks away at max.

If you haven’t already signed up when the service was first announced for iOS and Android, you can do so by pointing your browser to: us.blackberry.com/bbm.html

Update x1: The landing page has now been taken offline. This is what it looked like in full before being taken down: http://i.imgur.com/UvOF1LO.jpg

(source: CrackBerry Forums)

You may also like to check out:

• BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) For iOS & Android Download Rolls Out On Beta Zone, First Screenshots Emerge

How To Fully Optimize Android Devices For Speedy Performance And Extended Battery Life [VIDEO]

Although smartphones are getting progressively better in all departments including power, performance and battery life, one must still take care in order to maximize the lifespan and so general daily operations are carried out without hitch. After all, technology is still far from perfect at times, and if you’re in ownership of a mobile device, you will have encountered dwindling battery life and performance at some point. But with an app like Super Optimize for Android, you can keep your device in good health for as long as possible, and if your device is currently struggling to cope with the daily grind, this one is for you.

Whether you’re running out of storage space, or your device just feels a little lethargic and in need of a belated Spring Clean, Super Optimize for Android has the tool set required to get your smartphone or tablet firing on all cylinders once more. Set in a Holo-eseque interface, it’s very easy to navigate through the various options, and once you have applied the tweaks, your device should be left feeling a lot slicker and ready for action.

You can readily check which apps are commanding the most juice, and if you don’t see the app as entirely necessary, you can simply strike them off. Although we all have a rough idea of which apps drain battery the quickest, you may be surprised about some lurking apps silently siphoning off those precious droplets, so the battery management aspect of the app is incredibly useful.

You can also easily uninstall apps, a process that also allows you to remove those space-hogging temporary files. From a privacy aspect, Super Optimize also allows you to clear away your call history, email search history and message drafts, meaning you can remove, for good, your personal data if need be.

With a neat, intuitive interface and a multitude of options, Super Optimize is the easy way to free up space and fine-tune your device in general. Grab it via the link below – it is free, after all – and be sure to leave your comments below.

(Download: Super Optimize for Android on the Play Store)

Make sure to check out our Android Apps gallery to explore more apps for your Android device.

Nexus 7 2013 Now Available Internationally In The Following Countries

The Nexus 7 tablet made waves around this time last year when it was first released to market, and the announcement of its successor just a short while ago caused a similar stir in tech circles. As well as offering an upgraded processor and more RAM than its predecessor, the second-gen ASUS creation also boasts a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, something that was sorely missed last time around. After a successful Stateside launch, the Nexus 7 2013 has now been made available to other markets, including the UK, Japan, France, Germany and Spain.

The tablet market is still dominated by Apple’s iPad, and at the moment, everything else is playing catch-up. The release of the iPad mini late last year helped consolidate the Cupertino’s status as industry leader, but that hasn’t stopped the Nexus 7 from selling in strong numbers.

The last Nexus 7 was the very first to ship with the buttery-smooth Android Jelly Bean 4.1 right out of the box, and the second iteration follows a similar pattern, offering Android 4.3 off the bat. Those in the UK looking to get their hands on the 16GB model can expect to pay £199.99, while the 32GB version will cost £239.99 over at the British wing of the Google Play Store. Considering these are the same prices charged last year for 8 and 16GB respectively, it’s a nice increase, and those looking for a solid, reasonably-priced slate will do well to find better for the money.

Those residing in France, Germany and Spain will have to dish out €229 for the 16GB model and €269 for the 32GB model.

In Japan, the 16GB version costs 27,800 yen for the 16GB version, which is a bit of a hike on the previous model, but considering what the Nexus 7 offers compared to other, similarly-stocked tablets, it’s still not a bad deal.

As well as the newly-added nations, Google has also promised a release for those in Korea and Australia, and while there’s still no sign of either seeing the Nexus 7 just yet, it’s likely to begin trickling out to both in the next couple of weeks.

We’ll keep an eye out for the Korean and Australian launches of the Nexus 7, so make sure you stay tuned to our coverage. Those in the aforementioned countries can now go ahead and get their very own Nexus 7 by heading over to the Google Play Store.

Unlock Bootloader And Root Nexus 7 2013 On Android 4.3 [How-To Tutorial]

With any new Android device – smartphones and tablets alike – the first thing that people are on a lookout for is ways to customize it even deeper. Now, in the world of Google’s open source operating system, root access is usually the first base that you have to cover to reach somewhere on that front, and that’s exactly what we’re going to teach you to do in this post for the new Nexus 7, also labeled Nexus 7 2013.

In order to root the new Nexus 7 tablet, the procedure can be divided into three major areas, although with great simplicity attached. For the first step, you have to unlock your device’s bootloader, followed by installing a custom recovery in the second step (TWRP in this case). The final step involves pushing the actual superuser binaries to the system to get rooted.

Before we begin, please note that while this method is safe and tested, you follow these instructions at your own risk. We cannot be held liable for any damage to your device as a result of following these instructions.

Prerequisites:

• Fastboot (download from here)
• TWRP recovery image (WiFi or LTE, depending on your tablet’s version)
• SuperSU binaries from: download.chainfire.eu/supersu
• ADB installed and configured on your Windows PC. Follow our guide on how to set upAndroid ADB and fastboot on Windows for instructions.
• Android USB driver for Nexus 7 installed on you computer.
• Backup your data. Follow our: How to completely backup your Android device on PC without root access guide to make a full backup.

Unlocking Nexus 7 2013 Bootloader:

Step 1: Extract the fastboot file and place it in the same location where ADB is installed.

Step 2: Turn on USB Debugging on your Nexus 7 and connect it to the PC using USB cable.

Step 3: Open a command prompt where you had placed the fastboot file, and run the following command:

adb reboot bootloader

Step 4: Once the device has rebooted into bootloader mode, run this command in command prompt:

fastboot oem unlock

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions, and once those are complete, reboot the device. The bootloader is unlocked.

Install TWRP Recovery on Nexus 7 2013:

Step 1: Extract the appropriate recovery.img file for your device to the same location where you placed fastboot, and launch a command prompt window again.

Step 2: Ensure that USB Debugging is enabled, and that your new Nexus 7 is connected to the PC via USB cable.

Step 3: Launch a command prompt window at the same location where you have placed recovery.img, and reboot into bootloader mode using:

adb reboot bootloader

Step 4: Now run the following command, replacing recovery.img with the actual name of the recovery file:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

Step 5: Once flashing is complete, reboot Nexus 7 again.

Rooting Nexus 7 2013:

Step 1: Place the SuperSU ZIP file at the root of your device’s internal memory/SD card, and reboot it into recovery using the volume down + power button combo.

Step 2: Hit Install and navigate to where you placed the SuperSU binary.

Step 3: Flash the ZIP file, which should take merely a few seconds.

Step 4: Post flashing, reboot the device.

That’s it – you’ve successfully unlocked the bootloader and gained root access on your new Nexus 7 2013 running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Enjoy!

Nexus 4 Sees Significant Price Drop: $199 For 8GB, $249 For 16GB Model

The LG-manufactured, Google-branded Nexus 4 smartphone has proved popular with consumers thanks to its relatively low price allied to a fairly impressive list of hardware specs. Today, the Big G has lowered the price some more, with the device now retailing in the sub-$200 category for the 8GB model.

As per a tweet from the official Google Play Twitter page, the handset is now cheaper in a number of countries, with the likes of Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Korea, the US and the UK all enjoying 25% off or more. In the US, the price drop is a rather tasty $100, so if you thought the price was appealing enough before, you’ll surely now struggle to find a reason not to make the purchase.

The Nexus 4 is becoming somewhat antiquated, at least in smartphone terms, but its 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor alongside 2GB of RAM will still offer a very solid level of performance. Since the Nexus 4 is officially released by Google, you get stock Android right out of the box, and when the updates, such as Android 4.3 come along, you don’t have to wait around too long for the OTA.

Such a significant price drop paves the way for a new flagship Nexus smartphone, which we expect to arrive at some point later on this year. The Nexus 4 has been a great servant to both Google and the consumers who’ve picked one up, and although the design, in my opinion, falls short of the standards set by the interior components, it’s now arguably the best budget handset on the market.

As for the next installment, some have suggested that Motorola will be behind the manufacturing process. Google has made a habit of chopping and changing the vendors of its Nexus releases, with both Samsung and ASUS having a hand in some releases from the famed range. But with Motorola now a Google subsidiary, and the Moto X phone having just been unleashed to mostly rave reviews, a long-standing collaborative effort between Google and Motorola would seem a sensible move.

So, if you’re looking for a new smartphone and do not wish to spend copious amounts of money, head over to the Google Play Store now and grab yourself a Nexus 4!