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Your Jeans May Be Changing The Color Of Your iPhone 6

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Many people are complaining that their new iPhone 6 is slowly changing color as the dye from their jeans is rubbing off on the plastic strips found on the reverse side of the phone. 

An investigation by BGR reveals that "Dyegate" is becoming a problem for iPhone 6 customers. People say their phones are turning blue after weeks of removing and inserting the phone into their jean pockets. 

BGR reports that it's difficult to get the blue stains off the plastic strips. However, we've heard that the blue coloring can be removed by wiping the phone down and that Apple hasn't received any formal complaints about the issue.

The iPhone has seen its share of controversy since it went on sale. First there was "Bendgate," in which people complained that the iPhone 6 would bend if stored in a pocket.

Apple moved quickly to dismiss the claims, playing down the number of people affected, but damning video evidence showed that the phone could indeed be bent if enough pressure were applied in the right place. 

There were also claims the iPhone 6 was ripping out the hair of its customers, after some people complained that the seam between the screen and the case would catch hair.

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Here's Why Your iPhone Photos Sometimes Appear Upside Down

Ever import or email a photo taken with your iPhone, only to find it upside down on your computer?

It's actually a common complaint that's been around ever since Apple made it possible to take photos using your iPhone's volume buttons in iOS 5.

But there's a reason for it.

Apple decided that when you capture a photo with the volume buttons facing skyward, like most people do since we're used to camera shutter buttons being on top, this is actually upside down.

Apple also wants to keep the process of capturing and saving a photo to be as fast as possible so you can keep snapping away. To keep things speedy, rather than re-orient the photo and devote processing time to that action, your iPhone actually just saves your photo and includes the correct orientation in the photo's EXIF metadata, according to iPhonePhotographySchool.

It may sound complicated, but basically your iPhone photos do contain information on the correct orientation, but it's recorded in the photo's metadata, which not all photo viewing programs recognize.

Luckily, if you're using one of Apple's programs to view your photo such as iPhoto or Preview, these programs will recognize the orientation metadata and you won't notice any issues. Most Mac programs are like this.

The issue arises once you email your photo or open it in Windows using something like Windows Photo Viewer, which won't always recognize the metadata.

There's been plenty of argument over who is truly at fault here. Is it Apple for failing to define the iPhone as "right-side up" when the volume buttons face upward (seriously, who takes pictures with the volume buttons facing down)? Or is it the fault of photo viewing programs that don't read the metadata?

Thankfully, it's becoming less of an issue thanks to Windows 8 and other Windows photo viewing applications now paying attention to the EXIF metadata.

If you're stuck with an earlier version of Windows or your favorite photo viewing program, there's a few fixes you can try.

The easiest is just to take pictures with the volume buttons facing downward, which sidesteps the problem entirely but is still plenty annoying. Another option is to use a third-party app like Camera+ that also records orientation so you don't have to worry about the EXIF metadata.

It's not a perfect fix, but hopefully these options will keep you sane while you wait for either Apple to change its definition of right-side up or the rest of your photo viewing programs to catch up.

HTC One M8 Android 5.0 Lollipop Update to Arrive in January – February 2015

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Back in June, when Android L was officially introduced, HTC was one of the first phone makers to announce they will be bringing the new update on their One M7 and One M8 flagships within 90 days after Google makes the final code available. Now, a report coming from LlabTooFeR reveals that the HTC One M8 Android 5.0 Lollipop update will be released sometime in January – February 2015.

Even though the information doesn’t come directly from Taiwanese company, LlabTooFeR has a straight record when it comes to reports about HTC devices. The report also reveals that the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for HTC One M7 will also arrive in January – February time frame, and that the Google Play Edition One M7 and One M8 will be the first HTC devices to get the update, sometime in November – December.

The aforementioned report also claims that the new Android 5.0 Lollipop update will also include HTC’s new Eye Experience software suite. As you may know, the Eye Experience suite debuted on the selfie-centric Desire EYE and it was already made available via a software update for the HTC One M8. There’s no mention

Unfortunately, LlabTooFeR doesn’t mention anything about the changes brought by the HTC One M8 Android 5.0 update, but, among others, you should expect the Lollipop-specific goodies. The new Android version arrives with a new design philosophy called Material Design that focuses on a more colorful and animated UI and realistic shadows and 3D effects, it brings a refreshed notifications panel, revamped Quick Settings menu, lock screen notifications, dynamic status bar, a new recents menu, battery saver mode, support for 64-bit processors, and Android Runtime (ART).

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Android 4.4.4 Update for HTC One M8 Developer Edition Now Rolling Out, Brings Eye Experience Suite

When HTC’s selfie-centric Desire EYE smartphone was announced, the Taiwanese company also introduced a new suite of camera-focused software features called Eye Experience. Users are now reporting that the HTC One M8 Android 4.4.4 update is rolling out for the Developer Edition model, bringing along the Eye Experience suite.

The new HTC One M8 DE Android 4.4.4 update is being rolled out OTA and it updates your software to version 3.28.1540.5. As I was mentioning above, the new update brings the Eye Experience software suite, besides other small improvements and bug fixes. Eye Experience includes features like Auto Selfie, Face Tracking, Split Capture, Live Makeup, and Face Fusion. As usual, the new firmware is being pushed to users in phases, which means that some of you might not be able to download and install it right away.

You probably know that once your HTC One M8 becomes eligible to receive the new Android 4.4.42 OTA update you should be able to see a system update message in the notifications panel. Tap on it, choose “Download now,” wait until the download is completed, then select “Install now.” Your smartphone should reboot and install  the new firmware. In case the system update notification failed to appear, you would also want to perform a manual check under Settings > About phone > Software updates > Check for software updates.

As you can see in the screenshot above, the new Android 4.4.4 update for HTC One M8 Developer Edition has a size of 235.92 MB. It’s recommended to use a stable WiFi network while downloading it in order to avoid unwanted data charges.

Are there any HTC One M8 Developer Edition owners reading this? Have you guys received the new Android 4.4.4 OTA update on your devices? Please let your fellow M8 owners know in the comments section below.

iPhone 6 vs. Nexus 6: 5 Things Buyers Need to Know

In this early iPhone 6 vs Nexus 6 comparison, we take an in-depth look at some of the key differences between the two new flagships and devices that will likely be at the top of consumer wish lists this holiday season.

Back in early September, after months and months of rumor, Apple took to the stage in Cupertino to announce its brand new iPhone dubbed iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 comes in two sizes, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and both are far bigger than the iPhones that came before them. In addition to these new displays, the new iPhones come loaded with powerful hardware, sleek iOS 8 software, and familiar price points.

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is the smaller of the two and it’s a device that we think ranks among the best smartphones on the market. And now that the iPhone 6 is in stores across the world, consumers are starting to weigh it against the top competition, competition that now includes a brand new Nexus 6 from Motorola and Google.

Earlier today, after months and months of rumor, Google announced the all new Nexus 6 from Motorola. Google did not take to the stage like Apple but it did outline many of the Nexus 6′s important features including hardware, software and more. Like the iPhone 6, the Nexus 6 comes with a massive display. It’s also going to find a home on a larger swath of carriers than last year’s Nexus 5, something that should help to make it more appealing to consumers in the U.S.

With an iPhone 6 now on shelves and a Nexus 6 release date on the way in November, we want to take an early look at the most important things buyers need to know, right now, about the match up between the iPhone 6 vs Nexus 6. Our goal is obviously to help send you down the right path if you’re in the market for a new smartphone.

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The Sony Z3 Compact Is Android's Best Kept Secret

Small and powerful smartphones are an endangered species, like the California Condor of the mobile world. If you want a top-tier phone that fits in a normal hand, the iPhone 6 is practically your only stateside option. But you know what? An exotic handset designed for Japan and Europe could have everything you've ever craved.

As increasingly larger Android devices fill up carrier stores, U.S. customers have been forced to adapt, accept, and forget about how phones used to be pleasingly small. But the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is the excellent exception to the rule. It's a small flagship smartphone that still manages to deliver on premium promises. But it isn't getting any attention from U.S. carriers, which, let me tell you, is a real bummer.

That's why last week, I snuck a 4.6-inch Z3 Compact into the United States. I've liked Sony's (albeit big) smartphones in years past, but I've never gotten my hands on a Compact before—and now I never want to go back.

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And it's because of — not in spite of — Sony's decision to tread lightly in the arms race for better smartphone specs. The U.S. is often perceived as a "supersize me" culture, and it's where phone makers strut out crazy new devices with ever more pixel-dense screens. Which in turn, make for crazy large phones to fit those displays. But instead of making the Sony Z3 Turbo Max Ultra 9000, with a battery-guzzling 2K screen and 4K capable SoC, Sony built the Z3 Compact. It only has a 720p screen. But I dare you to care after trying it.

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The great thing about 720p displays on small devices is per inch, you've still got a high quality screen. Images and icons are crisp and detailed, and white balance options let me adjust the Sony Triluminos panel's exact tint, avoiding the issue that marred the also-ran Samsung Galaxy Alpha. Just as importantly, fewer pixels means less power consumption. Combine that with a massive 2,600 mAh battery and the Z3 Compact suddenly has the best battery life I've ever seen. I've used this phone for four days now, and I've only charged it once, and even then it was still at 25 percent. Even as I write this very sentence, I still have one-third of my battery left.

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Everyone always asks for better battery life, and I'm now living the dream. When you actually get a phone that delivers that longevity, that allows you to confidently leave your cables at home, it feels so liberating. I only wish Sony had also managed to cram in wireless charging, like the larger Xperia Z3v for Verizon, so it didn't have tiny embedded charging pins breaking up the rim of its good-looking frame.

And with a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, the same you'll find in a Samsung Galaxy S5, an HTC One M8, a new Moto X or even a full-size Xperia Z3, it's powerful too. At no point during my European rendezvous did I feel the performance dip below flagship-grade.

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Then there's the camera, an oft-neglected piece of hardware whenever you're trying to shrink the size or the price of a smartphone. But that's what's so great about the Xperia Z3 Compact—small doesn't have to mean sacrifice. The Z3 Compact comes with a 20.7 megapixel camera (with no protruding lens!) with a full array of software tweaks if you like. The shutter speed is a little slow, and some of its more special features are more fun than function, but you'll get great images in well-lit scenes and even decent ones in low-light.

Oh, and this phone is waterproof down to 1.5 meters. Let that sink in. Two port covers protect the SIM and MicroSD cards along with the MicroUSB charging port. These covers can be a teensy bit annoying, but they help give your smartphone waterproof superpowers. I showered with the Z3 Compact just because I could, and I'm man enough to admit that I enjoyed it.

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Honestly, if I had to ascribe one weakness to the Z3 Compact, it would be the overall look of its UI. I'm not talking about its function or user-friendliness. The layout itself is very intuitive and clean compared to Samsung TouchWiz or even LG's Optimus UI. The problem is that Sony's apps really clash with what Google is trying to do with Android. The mix of flat icons and shimmering icons doesn't really gel with the Android aesthetic.

Sure, Sony's trying to maintain a unified look for all its software across PlayStation and Android (much like Xbox resembles Windows and Windows Phone) but it still looks a bit jumbled. Getting that look right will become even more important as Sony intertwines its mobile and gaming platforms, which is already happening right now. The entire Z3 family will be the first smartphones capable of PS4 Remote Play, allowing you to stream games from your console via Wi-Fi, and that's pretty cool.

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The bottom line

If you really want to buy an Xperia Z3 Compact in the United States, you can. It'll merely cost you $530 for the privilege. It should even support AT&T and T-Mobile's LTE networks, though not Verizon or Sprint. But make no mistake, the lack of actual carrier support has effectively doomed this fantastic handset. Sales success, in large part, is still measured by carriers offering your phones through subsidies, hardware loans, and close placement near Apple's latest and greatest. The Z3 Compact has none of that.

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This app makes it easier to type with one hand on the new iPhones

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus offer bigger screens, making it difficult for some to type with one hand.

Trade-offs are made when you switch to a device with a bigger screen. One such compromise you're forced to make is giving up one-handed use in certain situations. Apple did its best to alleviate any issues for users switching to the bigger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with its Reachability feature, but it doesn't help when it comes to entering text on the larger keyboards.

Now that iOS 8 allows third-party keyboards, it took very little time for a developer to introduce a keyboard attempting to make one-handed typing possible.

The aptly titled app, One Handed Keyboard, displays what it claims to be the same size of keyboard iPhone users had grown accustomed to over the years.

The keyboard is pretty bare-bones in its current state, offering only a smaller keyboard that docks to either side of the screen, with extra controls to adjust the theme or color of the keys.

Unfortunately, the app doesn't provide an auto-correct library, meaning that whatever you type is what's displayed, with no way for iOS to correct it. Though the App Store listing does mention that this is a feature coming in an update "soon."

Should you decide to purchase the app, you'll need to activate the keyboard in the iOS Settings app by going to General >Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > One Handed Keyboard.

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Windows Phone may join Android in a race to the bottom for cheap hardware

One reason that Android has spread so quickly is that Google allows anyone to use the bare bones of the platform for free. This has allowed venders in emerging markets such as Xiaomi and Micromax to crank out dirt-cheap Android handsets that have killer specs and that generate razor-thin margins for manufacturers. Of course, many of these cheapie handsets don’t have access to Android essentials such as the Google Play Store since Google actually does charge a licensing fee for manufacturers that want to use those features, but that doesn’t seem to matter to many buyers who just want an ultra-affordable smartphone.

Microsoft has observed how Android has thrived under these conditions and it’s apparently determined to win the race to the hardware bottom with new policies aimed at getting manufacturers to churn out cheap Windows-based smartphones, tablets and PCs. Paul Thurrott writes that “Microsoft’s real strategy to promote Windows going forward starts where it must, with the hardware makers,” a.k.a., “the companies that abandoned Windows in the smart phone market to focus on the cheaply-licensable (but not really free) Android OS from Google.”

This means that Microsoft has dumped licensing fees for all Windows devices with displays of 9 inches or lower, it’s “removed restrictions and requirements that made it difficult for Android device makers to use their handsets with Windows Phone too” and it’s made it possible to run Windows on low-end hardware.

While this has certainly help get more device manufacturers onboard with making Windows Phones, there are some questions whether this strategy will actually be successful. The biggest issue is whether consumers actually want to buy Windows Phones at all —Richard Yu, the head of Huawei’s consumer business group, said last month that his company has no choice but to stick with Android simply because it’s seen no evidence that there’s any demand for Windows Phone yet.

“We have tried using the Windows Phone OS,” Yu explained to The Wall Street Journal. “But it has been difficult to persuade consumers to buy a Windows phone. It wasn’t profitable for us.”

As we’ve observed in the past, while Windows Phone is a very nice operating system, Microsoft hasn’t really given people a reason to use it other than saying it’s an alternative to iOS and Android. Microsoft can flood the market with dirt-cheap Windows products all it wants but it might also want to think about giving more people a reason to buy into its ecosystem as well.

How to Install CyanogenMod Android 4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M10 Custom ROM on Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE

The prolific custom mobile software developers, CyanogenMod team, has released the new Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M10 to the Samsung's 2013 flagship phablet Galaxy Note 3 LTE (SM-N9005) model.

The new CM11 M10 custom ROM is based on the AOSP (Android Open Source Project) v4.4.4 KitKat OS and is said to bring customisation options to boost device performance, new visual interface, shortcut for easy access to key apps and loads of personalisation options such as:

• Settings: Add soft reboot option
• Settings: Add scramble pin feature
• General bug fixes (many)
• ANT+ Support for various hardware
• Privacy Guard: Control NFC permissions
• Theme Engine: Themes support for additional UI elements
• Frameworks & Core Apps: CAF and other upstream updates
• Frameworks: Long press recent apps to switch to last used app
• Add smart cover support
• Add glove mode support
• Add bug reporter and crash log uploader
• Multi-SIM updates
• Performance tweaks and many more improvements to enhance user experience

Prerequisites (things to remember before installing Custom ROM)

• Though installing custom ROM improves the device's performance and UI experiences, it makes the company warranty void and they will no longer be liable to provide updates in the future [users can restore warranty by flashing the device with stock-ROM].
• Make sure the device is rooted before going forward for custom ROM installation.
• This new CyanogenMod Android 4.4.4 KitKat firmware has to be installed on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N9005) LTE model only; if tried on other devices, it might get bricked [To check your device model: Go to Settings >> About phone >> model number]
• Installation of custom ROM requires clearing of memory in the smartphone, so make sure to back all the data by installing Clockwork Mod (CWM) Recovery/ TWRP in the smartphone.
• Users make sure they have installed USB drivers on the PC, or else your (Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE) smartphone will not be recognised by the computer.
• Make sure your device has more than 80% battery, or else there is chance of smartphone getting temporarily bricked if the installation process is interrupted mid-way.

[Disclaimer: This procedure is very technical and should be performed by a person with sound knowledge of rooting (or manual software installation) Android devices. If the step-by-step installation process is not followed properly, there are chances of the smartphone getting bricked or being permanently irreparable. International Business Times, India Edition cannot be held responsible for any damage or claims from readers if the procedure does not yield the required results or if the smartphone is bricked. Hence, users are advised to proceed with caution.]

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Xiaomi could topple the smartphone budget market in India

Xiaomi has caused a wave in the smartphone market in India. Ever since they have launched themselves in India, Xiaomi has already sold over 1.75 lakh units.

The Xiaomi Mi3 has made a mark in the Indian smartphone market with a high-end hardware under a budget price. The Mi 3 has a good performance and also features a great 13MP camera.

The next handset introduced by Xiaomi was the Redmi 1S. This is a super-budget handset with an above-average hardware. At just Rs 5,999, Xiaomi offers the Redmi 1S with a sufficiently large 4.7-inch Dragontrail display, a quad-core processor, 1GB or RAM, 8 GB internal storage (expandable) and a good 8MP rear camera and a 1.6MP front camera. The Redmi 1S directly competes with Motorola’s Moto E, which retails at Rs 6,999.

The Moto E is priced Rs 1,000 above the Redmi 1S. It offers only a dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch display, a dual-core processor, 4GB of internal storage (expandable) and just a 5MP camera with no front camera. Compared to the Redmi 1S, the Moto E fails to impress the money-conscious and budget smartphone fans. However, there are a few too many who believe in well-known brands that have existed for long. This is where a Motorola product stands strong, as compared to the Xiaomi. After all, Xiaomi is considered a new comer, and has the ‘Chinese’ tag to it.

Well, Xiaomi has already sold 80,000 units of the Redmi 1S in two weeks. On the 16th of September, Flipkart has another 40,000 handsets for the flash sale. Flipkart has posted on their website that 3,00,000 customers have already registered for the flash sale for the 15th of September. With only 40,000 handsets this time, the flash sale will last less than four seconds.

By selling handsets from a single website and manufacturing and shipping smartphones as per required, Xiaomi has a smart sense of marketing their products. Single point of sales makes it easier to track their sale and turnover and makes it easy to know the demand of the product. By knowing the demand, they manufacture only limited number of handsets. This reduces wastage of smartphones by overproducing. Shipping handsets immediately, when manufactured, also cuts down on storage and shipping costs. Lastly, least advertising or almost no advertising also increases the profits.

However, Xiaomi manages to keep the handset prices lower as they cut the profit margin down to a great extent. This is the main reason why Xiaomi handsets are cheaper than other brands who manufacture in bulk, spend on advertising and overcharge the customer by three to four times the original costs to cover up for unsold units.

Xiaomi has put up a tough competition for Indian smartphone manufacturers and branded budget smartphones in the Indian market. With above-average quality and performance from their low-priced handsets, they seem to win hands-down. Xiaomi has been applying this theory all around the world, making sufficient profits and selling huge number of handsets. This has made them the number five smartphone manufacturer in the world in just four years of existence.

So will you buy a Xiaomi or prefer to hold on to a branded smartphone? Do the after-sales really matter on low-priced smartphones? Are you actually happy with the service centres of other brands? With people usually upgrading their smartphones at least once a year, it looks like disposable smartphones are here to stay.

We want to know your comments.

Do let us know, which smartphone you presently own, how often do you upgrade your phone, did you ever visit a service centre for a smartphone problem and what would you rate the service centre you visited (give star ratings from 1 – 5). This would be a big help to those hunting for a good smartphone. 

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