Tuesday, February 25, 2014

update-moto-g-android-4-4-2-manually

Motorola’s Moto G is now available in various countries across the globe but it is being shipped with Android 4.3 out of the box. However, an update to Android 4.4.2 KitKat is already available which can be downloaded OTA by going to Settings>About Phone>System Updates. If you get to see something similar to what you see in the screenshot below, you know the update available for download is the 4.4.2 OTA.
Moto G Android 4.4.2 Manual Update How To Update Moto G To Android 4.4.2 Manually
There have been users reporting that the update leaves your dual SIM non functional when applied on a Moto G XT1033 dual SIM variant – the one available in India and Brazil. However, you can download the update on a PC and flash it manually on your device. This tutorial explains how to do that.
This tutorial is only for those users who haven’t unlocked the device bootloader and haven’t rooted their device yet. Updating your device using this tutorial does not void the warranty of your device anddoesn’t change the bootloader status either.

Downloads

Thanks to folks at XDA forums for these links.

Steps To Manually Update Moto G To Android 4.4.2 KitKat

  1. Download the zip file from links given above and place it in your device’s internal storage.
  2. Reboot the phone. While you reboot, you will be asked to update the phone. If not, proceed to step 2.
  3. Turn off the device. Press and hold Volume Down button and Power button. (Make sure you press the volume down button first).
  4. When you release the power button, you will be taken to a menu where you need to select recovery using the volume up button.
  5. When your device boots into recovery, select “apply update from SD card” and choose the zip file you placed in your device’s storage in Step 1.
  6. Sit back and relax for around 10 minutes while the update is flashed.
  7. Reboot your phone.

With this, your Moto G should be updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. In case you face any issues, feel free to comment below.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. iphone 5s Vs Nexus 5 Vs Nokia Lumia Icon

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S5 is official, it's time to see how it compares to some of the other flagship smartphones on the market.
We've compared the Galaxy S5 with the iPhone 5S, the Nexus 5 and the Nokia Lumia Icon.

Spec-wise, the Galaxy S5 is largely similar to its Android and Windows Phone competition. Its screen is 5.1 inches and has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, which in 2014 is almost standard.
Like the iPhone 5S, the Galaxy S5 has a fingerprint sensor. It's also dust- and water-resistant — similar to the Galaxy S4 Active we saw last year. Like the Nexus 5, the Samsung Galaxy S5 runs Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Galaxy S5
iPhone 5S
iPhone 5S
Nexus 5
Nexus 5
Lumia Icon
Lumia Icon
Screen Size
5.1 inches
4 inches
5 inches
5 inches
Resolution
1,920 x 1,080
1,136 x 640
1,920 x 1,080
1,920 x 1,080
Screen Type/ppi (pixels per inch)
Super AMOLED, 432 ppi
IPS LCD, 326 ppi
IPS LCD, 445 ppi
AMOLED, 441 ppi
Weight
5.1 oz
3.9 oz
4.59 oz
5.89 oz
Chipset
Quad-core 2.8GHz
A7 64-bit chip, M7 motion co-processor
Quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800
Quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800
Storage
16GB, 32GB, microSD up to 128GB
16GB, 32GB or 64GB, no card slot
16GB or 32GB, no card slot
32GB, no card slot
Connectors
USB 3.0
Apple Lightning
microUSB
microUSB, wireless charging
Operating System
Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)
iOS 7
Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)
Windows Phone 8
Battery (in milliamperes/hour)
2,800 mAh
1,434 mAh, LTE browsing time 10hrs
2,300 mAh
2,420 mAh
Camera
16MP rear camera, HDR photo and video, UHD at 30fps, phase-detection, selective focus, 2MP front-camera
8MP, True Tone dual LED flash, burst mode 10fps, auto image stabilization, 720p HD video at 120fps slow-mo, 1.2MP front-camera
8MP camera, burst-mode, BSI, 1080p video, 1.2MP front-camera
20MP, PureView, LED Flash, Carl Zeiss optics, 1080p video, 1.2MP front- camera
Networking
Wi-Fi 802.11ac, MIMO (2x2). 4G LTE Category 4
Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
Other Sensors
Finger scanner, heartate sensor, NFC, IR, Bluetooth 4.0
TouchID fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth 4.0, M7 motion coprocessor
Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, Miracast, step-counter/detector
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, DLNA, Qi wireless charging
U.S. Price (with 2-year contract)
$199 for 16G, $299 for 32GB
$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB
$349.99, contract-free
$199.99
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Samsung Galaxy S5 has tepid design, but plenty of specs appeal (hands-on)

Feb , 25 2014 01:00 AM kathmandu
February 24, 2014 11:02 AM PST
BARCELONA, Spain -- Metal body design? Nope. Eye-wateringly crisp 2K+ display? Nuh-uh. Overhauled Android interface? Only a little. After all the rumors and hype, the Samsung Galaxy S5 revealed with much fanfare at Mobile World Congress is more an iteration on the Galaxy S line than the fresh, whiz-bang package we'd all come to hope for and even expect.
Yes, it has a fingerprint scanner, and a heart rate sensor, too, not to mention Android 4.4 KitKat and a roster of muscular specs. From what I've seen, the Galaxy S5 shapes up to be an excellent device that will keep Samsung at or near the top of the smartphone heap. Yet the been-there, done-that design isn't novel enough to trample rivals the way Samsung might hope.
Samsung still has a ways to go to reinspire jaded followers and fans, and those who value luxury materials and crafted designs over Samsung's stamped-out phones should keep the door open for Apple's iPhone 6 and HTC's forthcoming sequel to the beautiful HTC One.

Galaxy S5: Check out Samsung's new superphone (photos)

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Design: More of the same
In designing the Galaxy S5, Samsung didn't go very far for inspiration. In fact, the Galaxy S5's body looks event more like the Galaxy S4 than the GS4 did the Galaxy S3. It has rounded edges, the same steep sides with shiny and ridged silvery trim, and a slightly more rounded central home button shape to the S4's more rectangular outline.
The back panel motif is different, I'll give Samsung that. Tiny dimples cover the rear, and in addition to white and black (oh excuse me, Charcoal Black and Shimmery White), the GS4 will also launch in enticing copper and bright blue. Not every market or carrier will sell each shade, but at least Samsung has decided to expand its color palette to some more lively hues.
At the end of the day, the phone still feels like it always has: like plastic. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if Samsung is at all striving for loftier ambitions, it hasn't reached those heights.
Samsung has also slightly redesigned the Micro-USB housing on the bottom of the phone; it now has a cover. Up top the IR blaster makes it triumphant return, and on the back, the heart rate monitor cleverly integrates with the camera's LED flash.
Samsung will initially launch the Galaxy S5 in four colors.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
The GS5 is only a fraction larger than the Galaxy S4 -- 5.1 inches versus the GS4's 5-inch display. This new phone, too, has a 1080p HD AMOLED display, so the screen's pixel density will be just a breath looser, though you'll never notice the difference.
In terms of dimensions, the Galaxy S5 measures 142mm by 72.5mm by 8.1mm -- or 5.59 inches tall by 2.85 inches wide by 0.32-inch deep -- and weighs 145 grams, or 5.1 ounces. It's taller and heavier than the Galaxy S4 as a result of its extra hardware.
Break out the supersoakers, kids. Feedback about the waterproof Galaxy S4 Active prompted Samsung to make the Galaxy S5 waterproof and dust-proof in alliance with military spec IP67, which means that it can take a bath for up to 30 minutes at about 3 feet down.
TouchWiz gets a face lift
We'd heard rumors that Samsung was overhauling the TouchWiz interface that rides over Android, something I've been wanting for a long time now. While the changes are't sweeping, there are some tweaks that freshen up the look and feel, and one area that gets a complete visual redo.
Samsung reskinned a few menus, like this Setting menu, for the Galaxy S5.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
First, though, you'll want to know that the GS5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat and has all the same functions as Android's OS. It also carries over Galaxy S4 elements like the expandable quick access settings in the notification tray.
What is different is mostly subtle, like a Google services folder loaded onto the home screen of the demo unit I saw, and new icons in the notifications panel, including new quick access buttons for Quick Connect and S Finder. Likewise, the homepage overview you see when pinching in on a home screen now appears as panels, not a grid.
You still swipe right in the app tray for your list of programs and widgets. Any rumors of Samsung cutting back on its own apps have been greatly exaggerated, at least in this phone.
Samsung Hub looks like it's changed names to Samsung apps, as has WatchOn to SmartRemote; my demo unit still has S Health, S Voice, S Planner, S Note, and the Knox security app.
One area was drastically altered: the Settings Menu. Instead of settings broken out into four tabs, you see a vertically scrolling menu of round icons that float over a black backdrop, organized by collapsable sub-categories. It's the boldest new design, but I find the infinitely scrolling list a lot more space-consuming and visually confusing than the GS4's tidy tabs.
Another new area is a Kid's Mode, which creates a sandbox for tykes to play with approved apps while keeping the rest of the phone's contents out of bounds.
Core components
Samsung has blessed its GS5 with top-of-the-line specs befitting a flagship device. There's the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset for a start, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera (up from 13-megapixels), and a 2-megapixel sensor on the front.
A 2,800mAh battery may not be the largest in all of smartphonedom, but it's a little larger than the Galaxy S4's 2,600mAh ticker. Then again, the new phone is a bit bigger, too. Samsung says that it's Ultra Power Saving Mode will double battery life when you're running low. It also promises 21 hours of talk time and over 16 days of standby time on a single charge.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung's Galaxy S5 looks a lot like the Galaxy S4. The real changes are inside.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
As in past years, there are 16GB and 32GB storage options, with an SD card that supports up to 128GB. Other incidentals include 2GB RAM, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB 3, Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy, and support for the fifth-generation Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard for faster Wi-Fi delivery.
In fact, Samsung says that its Galaxy S5 will combine Wi-Fi and LTE to download items even faster, theoretically up to 600-650Mbps (they're calling this marvel Download Booster.)
Fingerprint and heart rate scanners
Following in the footsteps of AppleHTC, and Motorola (wayyy distant footprints,) the Samsung Galaxy S5 has its own fingerprint scanner for unlocking privileges and mobile payments.
The scanner integrates into the home button, but you wouldn't know it by looking. I didn't have long enough with the phone to go through the setup and unlocking process, but I do know that you can add profiles for three fingerprints.
What I can say is that a partnership with PayPal means that Galaxy S5 owners will be able to authenticate transactions with the brief press of a finger after signing onto PayPal's program.
Fitness fiends get a friend in the heart rate monitor that's part and parcel with the camera flash. You hold your finger over it to take your pulse, but you don't have to press hard. The area glows red when activated and ties into the updated S Health 3.0 app. As a reminder, S Health gives you a pedometer, fitness coach, and exercise tracker.
Samsung Galaxy S5
You wouldn't know it, but there's a heart rate monitor built into that camera flash.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
Camera and video
Samsung's cameras are typically very good, especially outdoor shots. What hasn't typically been so great is low light. Samsung didn't address that in the briefing we got here at MWC, but the company did tout a whole mess of new fun performance boosts and software trinkets.
The one I care about most is the lickety-split autofocus, just 0.3 second, which Samsung cites as being three times faster than autofocus on the Galaxy S4. This is due to the addition of what Samsung calls Phase Detection autofocus, a feature usually found in DSLR cameras making its first appearance in a smartphone. That means you'll have a higher success rate capturing the moment with squirmy dogs and kids.
A new on-screen control comes to the camera app, and it's a pretty good one. Tap it and you're turning on real-time HDR, so you can preview the results before committing. It works for stills, video, and even burst mode pictures, thanks to an extra chip within. Samsung also notes that the GS5 uses a more sophisticated HDR technology that makes images look even better.
Selective focus is a post-editing trick that Samsung gives you, and on that you may find familiar if you've seen the Lytro and the Nokia Lumia 1020. With it, you'll set the area of focus after you take a photo, say for a shallow or long depth of field. There's also a new tool called Virtual Tour, which cobbles together a 360-degree view. It isn't clear yet how this might differ from Google's Photo Sphere.
It looks like Samsung took a hint from Windows Phone OS with this last highlight, the ability to download other modes to and through the native camera app.
Check out those dimples...on the Galaxy S5's back panel.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
When can I get it and how much does it cost?
Samsung will sell the Galaxy S5 on April 11 in over 150 countries. In the US, it'll come to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless; MetroPCS and U.S. Cellular. You'll also be able to pick it up at retail stores like Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Target, and Walmart.
We are still waiting on pricing details, which carriers and retailers will release on their own.
How does it stack up?
It may not be the most exciting new smartphone there is, but from what I've seen so far, the Galaxy S5 earns keeps Samsung's legacy of high-end Samsung smartphones strong. The specs are high end, and enough has changed on the hardware and software fronts to seem worthy of an upgrade when your contract runs its course.
However, those tiring of Samsung design sameness and looking for a radical new look and feel don't have as many reasons to stay if they aren't moved by the phone's fingerprint scanner or heart rate monitor. Samsung, perhaps a victim of its own hype machine, opens the door for phone buyers to hold off on making plans until HTC announces its One 2.
We'll keep you posted with what else we learn about the Galaxy S5. In the meantime, catch all the mobile news from Mobile World Congress 2014.