Google updates Camera app to let you take photos while shooting videos

After releasing the standalone app for the stock Google Camera, Google released a small update for the app that would help endear it more to avid smartphone video takers. The new version 2.1.042 finally lets users take photos while filming clips. It’s not a big update but the feature has been available on other camera apps for a while that it’s good that Google has brought it to its stock Camera app. The update is rolling out at the moment but if you can’t wait, here’s a link to the APK file.

Source: Android Spin

Detailed look at the design process of the HTC One M8

Are you curious about the design process and philosophy behind the HTC One M8? Stuff got an exclusive interview with HTC’s Creative Director Daniel Hundt to talk about the One M8 and the future designs of HTC products. Hundt said they started with a chunk of metal and thought about what they wanted to do with that. He said he is a fan of a design approach “that’s not forced, that make you think that’s just what a phone or a chair is supposed to look like. It’s a natural result of the material, without technology being forced in just for technology’s sake.”

Hundt also said that they hope to make a phone that’s as close to 100% metal as possible. The M8 is currently 70% metal. Imagine what a full-metal phone would look like. We’re not sure about the possibility of this happening but we’d like to see HTC try.

Huawei brings LTE to the Ascend line with new Ascend P7

Huawei builds on last year’s P6 flagship to debut a new phone ready to take on other Android flagships. The Ascend P7 brings LTE capability to the Ascend name, 5-inch Full HD display, 1.8GHz quad-core processor, 2500mAh battery, and Gorilla Glass 3 housing for the front and black. It comes in at a thickness of 6.5mm and runs Android KitKat alongside Huawei’s Emotion user interface.

The Ascend P7 is also equipped with a Sony-made BSI 13-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 lens aperture and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.4 five-element aspherical lens. The company is also introducing a Selfie Panorama mode to perhaps make it easier to take group shots with the front camera. This new device will be sold worldwide but will first make its debut in dozens of Asian and European countries in June for around US$625.

Source: CNET + Engadget

Seagate introduces new storage capacities for Wireless Plus external hard drives

Lamenting the lack of storage expansion on your smartphone? Seagate recently announced more storage capacities for its Wireless Plus external hard drives. There is already a 1TB version available on the market for US$179.99. Now, you can get a cheaper 500GB model for $149.99 or a 2TB version for $199.99.

Wireless Plus mobile external HDs let you access files on the drive wirelessly from your Android devices, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, and Windows 8 computers and RT tablets. The drives come with a built-in battery said to last up to 10 hours of playback. It also supports HD video streaming for up to three devices at the same time. The drive also works as a Wi-Fi hub for a wireless network that seven devices can share. It can also sync content with Dropbox and Google Drive. The new Wireless Plus models are available for pre-order on their site.