Android rugby

A beta version of CyanogenMod’s newly demoed Screencast app can be installed on Android devices directly from the Google Play Store, although certain prerequisites have to be met beforehand.

In order to use the screen-recording feature, you’ll have to be running CyanogenMod 11 nightlies or later on your device, join the CyanogenMod community and join the beta program (see Source links below).

Once that’s done, you can install the app and begin recording your screen. The actual recording can be started by simply pressing the power and volume up buttons at the same time (as shown in the video above).

We’ll remind you that Android 4.4 KitKat already comes with a screen-recording feature of its own, so in case you already own a KitKat-running device you can start using the feature without installing a custom ROM.

We’ll also note that the name of the app may be misleading for some people who may think the app will let them “cast” the recorded video to a different display connected to some sort of Chromecast-like smart device. Such a feature isn’t available yet, although it may arrive in the future – in any case, the same CyanogenMod developer has an AllCast beta app (also available via the Google Play Store) that will cast local content to a variety of devices, Chromecast excluded.

The Note 3 is now a member of the “the 10 million seller club”: Samsung just announced the stylus-equipped device hit the ten million units sold milestone.

Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 3 ahead of IFA Berlin in early September and made it available in stores in 58 countries on September 25. Since then, the device went on sale in another 82 markets around the world.

While the Galaxy S4 has reportedly missed Samsung’s expectations, the Note 3 remains a driving force for the Korean juggernaut. With 10 million units moved in 60 days, the Note 3 is selling twice as fast as its predecessor, while the original Note needed nine months to reach the same milestone. In the first 28 days of availability, the Note 3 sold 5 million units.

For those interested in the distinction between sales and shipments, Samsung generally reports the latter figure. In this case, however, Samsung is touting the actual sales of the Note 3.

To celebrate the induction of the Note 3 in the best sellers hall of fame, Samsung released an infographic showing all its phones that broke the 10 million barrier, starting with the venerable SGH-T100 clamshell model from 2002 and including the smartphone that ignited the explosion of Samsung’s mobile business, the original Galaxy S.

Click to expand.

Samsung recently announced two new color versions of the Note 3, Merlot Red and Rose Gold, bringing the number of available options to a total of five. The series may further expand in the future with a Lite version of the Note 3 that’s rumored to launch early next year.

Two-dimensional images are so last century. Researchers from Switzerland’s Federal Institute of Technology are working to add the third dimension to images taken with regular smartphone cameras.

The research team developed a technology that makes highly accurate 3D scanning as simple as recording a video. The user simply points the camera to the object, allowing the app to collect data points. The app taps into the phone’s motion sensors to determine when to collect new data points and where to place them in space. All the user needs to do is scan the object from various angles, no input required.

This isn’t the first technology that achieves a form of 3D scanning on mobile devices, but it’s probably the most accurate and powerful yet. Unlike other solutions that upload data to a server, the app processes data points on the device, making use of its GPU’s parallel computing capabilities. It all happens in real time, so users can see the areas where more data points are needed to complete the model.

According to the research team, the technology works well even in low-light and doesn’t require any special setup, unlike other 3D scanning tools.

Once the model is captured, it can be visualized in 3D or fed into a 3D printer to create a physical reproduction of the scanned object. The team used museum exhibits as examples, but the app can also be used to take 3D pics of human subjects. With an online service like Shapeways, you could even upload the model directly from the device and have a figurine delivered to your home in just a few days.

The patent-pending technology is still in an early stage, but with more processing power, more accurate sensors, and better cameras launching every day, it’s easy to conceive a future where mobile 3D scanning is a common feature on our smartphones.

Time to see if that device of yours is getting an update. Android 4.4.2 just got released to the Nexus family, and I do not think anyone saw that coming. If you have a Nexus, and want to give Android 4.4.2 a try, we have the downloads for you. Let us know how it is.

Device Updates

Android 4.4.2 for the Nexus family

Moto X bug fix update

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update

HTC DNA finally seeing Android 4.2.2 and Sense 5

Samsung updating mid-ranged devices with Android 4.4?

Samsung officially announced the Galaxy J in Taiwan, bringing the high-end phone to a second country outside of Japan for the first time.

The Samsung Galaxy J first came out in Japan a few months ago, but is now coming to Taiwan later this month. The phone will land on all of the three major carriers in the country, Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTon, and will cost about $740 (21,900 TWD) unlocked.

With it’s 5-inch 1080p display and rounded rectangular shape the Galaxy J looks like a somewhat smaller Galaxy Note 3 at first. But the white or pink plastic back and lack of a stylus prove the Galaxy J is more of an upgraded Galaxy S4 than a smaller Note 3. The Galaxy J sits somewhere between the two flagship phones.

Notably, the design of Galaxy J is closer to the Galaxy Note 3 than the Galaxy S4. While the phone still appears to be made out of plastic, it seems Samsung is committed to the rounded rectangle design of the Note 3. This could signal a new design trend from Samsung that will help distinguish the Galaxy line from other smartphones. Although Samsung did knock Apple in its ads for using the same designs for the iPhone 4 and 4S, so this could just be a design trend for the current generation of phones until the Galaxy S5 comes out.

Inside the Samsung Galaxy J is a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 3GB of RAM like the Galaxy Note 3. The phone has a 13MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera, the same as both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. Because the Galaxy J is closer in size to the Galaxy S4 it has a 2600 mAh battery as opposed to the massive 3200 mAh battery in the Galaxy Note 3. Check out the hands on video below, courtesy Engadget. Yes, it’s in Chinese.

Hands on Video

Of course, the Galaxy J supports LTE and NFC. It’s hard to say what storage capacity the phone has, but there is a microSD card slot for those who prefer expandable storage options.

While the Samsung Galaxy J is now available in a second country, it’s doubtful that we’ll ever see the phone in the U.S. Samsung produces myriad devices that never make it to the U.S. for a variety of reasons. This one could potentially cause some confusion with other high-end Galaxy devices, and would be hard for carriers to price with both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 already on the market.

Would you consider buying the Galaxy J if it did come to the U.S.?