As we had been expecting to happen, the Kyocera Rise has come available with Virgin Mobile. The handset arrives with a contract-free price of $99.99 and with features to include a 3.5-inch HVGA display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Other goodies include a 3.2 megapixel camera, 1500 mAh battery, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, microSD card slot and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Those who make the purchase can expect to find a 2GB microSD card in the box and last but not least — Virgin Mobile has monthly plans beginning at $35 per month. Via [Virgin Mobile]  
Canonical switched from using the GNOME desktop to their Unity interface a few years back now. And while the Unity user interface is nicely done, some users prefer GNOME. Speaking personally while I am not an everyday Linux user, I do keep a box running and have not been as fond of Ubuntu since the switch. But that being said, it looks like there is some good news for Ubuntu fans that prefer the GNOME desktop — there will be a version available come this October. One point worth mentioning, the release is not an official Canonical release, which means it will be similar to other community offerings such as Kubuntu. That bit aside though, the project has a home over at gnomeubuntu.org where there is a coming soon style teaser page posted. Otherwise, aside from the GNOME interface, the release will include goodies such as Epiphany and Abiword in terms of a browser and office suite. Bottom line, look for more details as we get closer to October. Via [World Of Gnome] and [Ubuntu GNOME Edition] and [Liliputing]  
One of my personal favorite (and still underused) web tools has recently added support for a new service. The web tool is IFTTT and the newly added support is for App.net. For those not familiar with IFTTT, it is an automation tool that allows you to well, automate just about everything. For the most part — if you can dream it up — you can do it. In this case, the support for App.net means you can do things such as get emails when you get a new follower, send your App.net posts to Twitter, get notifications when you are mentioned on App.net, save your App.net posts to an Evernote account and many many more. Bottom line here, if you are an App.net user you may want to follow the via link below and check out some of the goodies. Otherwise, we suggest everyone that uses the web should check out IFTTT, regardless if you are an App.net user. A personal favorite use of mine — backing up my Instagram images. I have it set so all my Instagram images automatically go to my Evernote account. Via [IFTTT] and [TNW]  
Some new announcements coming in regards to Plex. Just to begin with, the Plex Media Server has been updated to version 0.9.6.8 and along with the new version number comes a long list of fixes and new additions. The complete list can be found here, but to name a few of those new features; those include support for the newly announced Plex Pass and Plex Web Client. In terms of the Plex Pass, this comes as a monthly subscription that will set you back $3.99 per month. As for what you will get for your money — that begins with early access to new features. In addition you will get free access to premium features while they are in testing, access to private Plex user forums and perhaps the nicest — discounts on those premium features once they leave the testing period. Moving over to the Plex Web Client. As the name would imply, this brings Plex to the web. Simply put, you can now ditch the desktop app and use the web client or choose to use both. Via [Plex Blog]  
Those looking for a Square Card Reader now have one additional place to consider — AT&T retail stores. The company has announced that the readers are now available at the more than 1,000 AT&T retail stores across the US. This brings the total retail availability up to more than 20,000 locations, some of which include Walgreens, Staples and Apple. That being said, the reader will set you back $9.95 a the time of purchase, however you will get a $10 credit back once you sign up with Square (assuming you are a new user). Via [Square]  
It was back in July when the Sparrow Google acquisition was announced. And well, at the time it was also stated that the Sparrow iPhone app would no longer be updated. Well, that is aside from updates that included necessary fixes. That being said, Sparrow for iPhone has recently been updated, the app has gone up to version 1.3.2 and while there was the “various bug fixes” — there was also some improvements as well as one new feature. The new feature adds a bit of Google to the app — you can now open links to webpages using Chrome (assuming you have Chrome installed on your iPhone). Otherwise, the update improved IMAP compatibility and the behavior of your avatars. Bottom line here, assuming you have not ditched Sparrow for iPhone, you can fire up the App Store and grab the latest. Via [iOS App Store]  
A wireless bathroom scale is definitely not a device that we would expect to be launched in a tablet and smartphone dominated event such as IFA in Berlin. But that doesn’t mean that a bathroom scale manufacturer is not allowed to demo its wares at the event, right. And so a company named Withings has just launched its Wireless Scale WS-30. What makes it worthy of some attention at IFA is the fact that this bathroom scale combines Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity to offer what the company calls as a — seamless, PC-free experience from the time you install the device until you get used to using it daily. What the scale does is to instantly recognize individual users and provides access to various services provided by the company. These have something to do with weight management, of course. The Withings Wireless Scale WS-30 features Position Control technology which gives you visual feedback while using it and suggest the proper position to achive high-accuracy weighing. It also gives you easy and secure access to weight and BMI data by way of a companion iPhone app and Android app (soon!). This app lets you set goals and use various coaching services. It also generates weight graphs and make them available when you need the data. Withings Wireless Scale WS-30 will be released sometime in September with a price tag of €119.95. And in all honesty, this scale is a pretty interesting tool especially if you are minding your weight. Via [Withings]  
Evernote for Android has once again been updated. This latest brings the app up to version 4.2. The app remains available for free, both to download and use and is compatible with devices running Android 1.6 or later. But more to the point here — what is included in this update. This is a good one all around, with some extra perks for those with a device running Jelly Bean. This update includes the following; Improved performance: - User interface refinements
- Notes containing images load faster
- Faster notebook scrolling
And moving over to those Jelly Bean specific goodies; Notifications improvement [Jelly Bean only] - Displays thumbnails and text snippets
- Share and edit the note from the notification
- Groups similar notifications
Finally, this update also included “numerous” bug fixes. Via [Google Play]  
Samsung announced the Galaxy Note II a few days back, and well, it looks like they have since released a hands-on video walkthrough. The video, which comes courtesy of the official Samsung Mobile YouTube channel gives a rather complete look — the video is slightly more than 13 minutes long. But that being said, if you are curious about the Galaxy Note II — this is probably the video you want to watch. Now if we could just get a bit more in terms of the release details.  
We recently mentioned the MediaPad 7 Lite tablet from Huawei and it looks like that was not their only announcement for the day. Another coming from Huawei was for the MediaPad 10 FHD. The MediaPad 10 FHD is an Android running quad-core tablet that can also function as an ultra-book courtesy of the keyboard dock. Beginning first with the pricing and availability — nothing yet on the price. Huawei did mention that those in China are already able to buy the Wi-Fi only model of the MediaPad 10 FHD and that those in Germany, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, Korea, Bahrain and Kuwait will have that ability next month — in September. And looking forward, Huawei noted that other markets will follow. With that out of the way, lets get into the specs because the MediaPad 10 FHD does seem to be an interesting device. The tablet will have a 10.1-inch (1920 x 1200) IPS display with an aspect ratio of 16:10, a quad-core 1.4GHz K3v2 Cortex A9 processor, 16-core GPU, 5.1 Dolby surround sound technology, 6600 mAh battery, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with the ability to record 1080p HD video. The MediaPad 10 FHD will have VGA out, HDMI out and come with options for LTE, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. There will also be a USB to Ethernet adapter for those looking for wired connectivity. Otherwise, the tablet will have an aluminum-alloy body that weighs 580 grams and measures in at just 8.8mm thick. Oh and, the tablet will be running Android 4.0 ICS. Via [Huawei]  | |
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