Leaked Windows 8.1 Build Comes with Start Screen Changes

A brand new version of Windows 8.1 got leaked a few hours ago, revealing that we’re indeed getting very close to the moment when the operating system update is set to reach RTM.

No major visual improvements are made to Windows 8.1 build 9477, so it was most likely developed to fix bugs and other problems reported by users in the previous versions. This version does come, however, with some slight changes on the Start screen, including different colors and icons for the Mail and Help & Tips apps.

The font also appears to be bigger, but this could actually be a modification made to the Chinese version. Build 9477 is currently available in Chinese language only, but with a few tricks, switching to English is also possible. Otherwise, Windows 8.1 remains practically unchanged, as Microsoft probably spends a lot more time trying to improve the overall performance of the app.

The new build comes with some slight changes for the displayed live tiles
Image credits to Screenshot from Youtubevideo

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Galaxy Nexus Receives JWR66Y Update, Manual Download Available

A new software update is currently rolling out to yakju Galaxy Nexus devices out there, in the form of firmware JWR66Y, new reports claim.

The new software release lands on devices as a 2MB download, which suggests that it brings along only minor changes. In fact, Android Police suggests that it would include only a series of bug fixes inside, meant to improve the stability and performance of the Galaxy Nexus handsets. Users have already started to see the update on their smartphones, and the owners of the device should head over to Settings > About Phone > Software Updates to check on its availability for them.

Those unwilling to wait for Google to push the new release to their handsets can also download and install the update manually, as this thread on XDA-Developers unveils.

New update arrives on Galaxy Nexus
Image credits to Android Police

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Xiaomi Mi3 Leaks in New Photos

Chinese mobile phone maker Xiaomi is reportedly getting ready for the launch of a new flagship Android-based device, namely the Xiaomi Mi3, and some leaked photos with it are now available online.

Rumor has it that the company would be set to make the handset official on September 5, but others suggest that it could launch it as soon as tomorrow, as it has already teased a press event for August 22. The photos, available courtesy of cnbeta, were accompanied by a few details on the phone’s hardware specs, such as a Snapdragon 800 processor, a 13-megapixel photo snapper on the back, and a 5MP front camera.

The mobile phone was also rumored to arrive on shelves with a Tegra SoC inside, paired with a 3500 mAh battery. Hopefully, more info on the matter will be provided in the not too distant future, so stay tuned to learn the news.

Xiaomi Mi3
Image credits to ePrice via GSMdome

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Codenames of Future Nokia Devices Unveiled

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is expected to add some appealing new devices to its Lumia lineup in the not too distant future, and the codenames of some of these handsets have already emerged online.

According to a recent tweet from @evleaks, the company’s roadmap includes devices internally known as Bandit, Lanai, Orion, Pegasus, Rivendell, Shorty, and Siruis (though the last one might be Sirius). No specific info on what these devices will be all about has been provided, though some of these names did emerge before.

Bandit, for example, is expected to land on shelves with a large 6-inch full HD touchscreen display and with a Snapdragon 800 processor packed inside. Chances are that we’ll be seeing at least some of these devices made official before the end of this year, which means that more details on them will become available soon, so stay tuned.

Nokia logo
Image credits to Nokia

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Jolla’s First Batch of Sailfish Smartphones Now Fully Booked

Today, Jolla announced that the first production batch of Jolla smartphones, which are based on the Sailfish operating system, has been fully booked by the company’s customers and selected sales channels.

The first Sailfish OS-based handset was launched at the #JollaLoveDay event in May, when the online pre-order campaign for it also kicked off. According to the company, the campaign reached first batch limit sometime in mid-July, with pre-orders for the device placed from 136 countries around the world. However, considering the increased interest that the mobile operating system and devices powered by it enjoy, Jolla is set to kick off a new set of pre-orders this fall. “We are delighted to see this great worldwide interest towards our very first device. When you see someone wearing an ‘I am the First One’ T-shirt, you see a proud future owner of Jolla,” says Tomi Pienimäki, CEO of Jolla. “For those, who missed the first opportunity, we are now doing our best to offer a second chance, a new batch of Jolla smartphones later in the autumn.”

“I encourage everyone interested in Jolla to sign up at jolla.com and be the first to know about any new developments, such as the opening of the next pre-sales campaign,” he also said. According to Jolla, the first smartphone should start shipping to customers before the end of this year, and users in Europe will be the first to receive it. Furthermore, the company notes that the Jolla phone production program is advancing as planned, and that sales of the smartphone will kick off in Finland. There, the device will be available on the network of wireless carrier DNA, which was the very first operator in the world to announce plans to offer Jolla smartphones. However, as The Next Web notes, the company has not provided specific info on how many Sailfish handsets have been pre-ordered so far.

Jolla's Sailfish smartphone now fully booked
Image credits to Jolla

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