Xperia X & Xperia Z, Sony's Flagships to Show up at 2013 CES or MWC

Sony Xperia X, as known as Odin

Based on SlashGear's report, Sony is predicted to unveil a smartphone called C650X Odin during 2013 CES or MWC. Previously the company had leaked another handset named C660X Yuga, finally altered it to Xperia Z. And now, Odin, the 5'' 1080p quad-core gadget with BRAVIA engine, will be also introduced in the name of Xperia X.

It's said the Xperia X is powered by a Qualcomm 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro, same as LG Optimus G and Google Nexus 4. Anyway, both Xperia X and Z are expected to appearing at CES or later MWC. The main difference between both phones is the internal connectivity components that make them able to work with networks in different regions. The Xperia X may be sold in the USA while the Xperia Z is probably for Asian markets.

Sony Xperia X

Unconfirmed specs of Sony Xperia X:

• 5'' LCD screen with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution
• 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU
• 2 GB of RAM
• 32 GB of internal memory
• 13 MP rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Supports MicroSD
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• 4G LTE

5 Free SWF Players That Help You Play Flash on Android Devices

How to play flash on Android devices?

SWF is an Adobe Flash file format used for multimedia, vector graphics and ActionScript. Though this kind of format may be replaced by HTML5 sooner or later, it's still a must-have tool for one to install SWF player on Windows based computers. It's also quite convenient to download flash files and play them on computer. 

For mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, one may also need to install a SWF player in order to play flash files. Here I'll introduce 5 FREE SWF players for Android devices. All of them can be found and download from Google Play.

1. Smart SWF Player- Flash Viewer
Introduction: This app is able to play flash files (.swf) stored locally on the device (including SD card). It's easy to play and run swf files (flash animations,games,apps,etc) with this tool.
Average rating: 4.3 points, 14,375 votes
Features:

• Plays flash animations
• Plays flash games
• Plays flash apps 
• Supports play control
• Supports landscape full-screen mode
• Supports portrait full-screen mode
• Small program size

2. SWF Player - Flash ®FileViewer

Introduction: This multi-functional app can help play swf files on Android devices.

Average rating: 4.4 points, 12,369 votes

Features:

• Plays swf file
• Supports Zoom in/out
• Supports play/stop controller
• Supports fullscreen 
• Supports multi touch virtual keypad.
• Supports Virtual Mouse
• Supports file browser
• Supports advanced settings (wmode, background color, wake-lock, rotation, quality, scale, etc)
• Supports swf file sharing
• Supports Gmail file attach
• Supports honeycomb device

3. Mobo Video Player Pro
Introduction: This app is one of the best video player to play all the most popular video formats (include swf, flv) in Android phone.
Average rating: 4.5 points, 60,537 votes
Features:

• Supports all video formats
• Supports SRT, SMI plug-in subtitle and MKV embedded subtitle videos
• Multi-audio streams and multi-subtitles videos
• Playlists and continuous play 
• Advanced media libraries and sort videos by type 
• Thumbnail displays of videos
• Supports flash formats video - swf, flv videos
• HD video playing memory optimization
• Playing gesture
• Codec Plugin

4. Flash Player Loader (contains ads)

Introduction: This app can browse the flash files (.swf and .flv) on Android phones, load and play them on the phones.

Average rating: 4.3 points, 10,193 votes

5. SWF Player (contains ads)

Introduction: This app is a flash file viewer that plays flash files ( .swf ) from SD card.

Average rating: 4.4 points, 3,689 votes

Features:

• Play flash files ( .swf ) from SD card
• No need to install Flash® Player Plugin, Adobe AIR® or any other plugin
• Play flash animations, apps and games

6 Expected Gadget Gifts in Boxing Day 2012

A Boxing Day?!

Merry Christmas! Do you enjoy happy hours with your family last night? Have you watched some Christmas movies, or had delicious Christmas recipe? Well, today is December 26, the "Boxing Day". Sorry but I'm not familiar with history. In my memory, boxing day is a day for opening gift boxes and finding out what in the world are inside the boxes.

When I was a little boy, I hoped my father would sent me a Nintendo Game Boy as holiday present. Unfortunately this wish had never come true in my childhood. Smartphones, tablets, game consoles, these gadgets are widely welcomed by kids and adults nowadays. Since there are too many good gadgets for Christmas gifts, and different people may have different choices on their wish lists. Here I only mention 6 of my expected ones in Boxing Day 2012.

1. iPhone 5

What are the main differences between newest iPhone 5 and previous iPhone 4S? Well, just a larger screen, a faster processor and a lightning connector. That's it. Compared to previous generations,apple brings no big surprise for the fans. But this handset still becomes the most popular smartphone in 2012.

Have you already sent this phone to your family? Or just received one as Christmas gift? Remember to get a cool iPhone shell to avoid scratching.

2. iPad mini

"7-inch tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a smartphone and too small to compete with the iPad. ….7-inch tablets are dead on arrival."                                               --- Steve Jobs

Do you remember the above quote? One year after Job's death, apple launches a 7.9-inch mini version of iPad tablet. And now it's reported that the company is about to ship 12 million units during this year. Was Steve Job wrong? At least he was partly wrong because iPad mini comes up with a 7.9-inch display, not a 7-inch one.

Why do people love iPad mini? It's smaller, lighter, cheaper and more portable than a full-sized one. The only weakness of the tablet is the lack of a Retina display. Now it's rumored that the iPad mini 2 is in the works, if true, this new thingy will be announced in a few months.

3. Samsung Galaxy S III

Who is currently the largest competitor of apple in smartphone and tablet market? Google? No. The answer is Samsung. As the largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world, Samsung has successfully launched 2 flagships during this year: Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II.

For the Galaxy S III, this device comes up with a 4.8-inch AMOLED display in 1280 * 720 resolution. It has a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 or 32 GB internal storage and a 8 MP rear camera. Now this handset is confirmed to update OS to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

4. Google Nexus 7

Looking for a budget tablet other than iPads for family or yourself? Then Nexus 7 is your first choice. Designed by Google, made by Asus and equipped with a quad-core processor, this 7-inch tablet is excellent for watching movies and doing office job.

As the very first tablet from Google, Nexus 7 runs the latest Android Jelly Bean OS and supports more than 700 thousand apps on Google Play.

The price of Nexus 7 starts at $199 with WiFi and 16 GB internal storage on Google Play. There’s no way of expanding the memory so customers need to choose among 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB versions. 

5. Sony PlayStation Vita

When talking about mobile gaming on the go, it seems we have only two choices on portable devices: Nintendo and Sony. When the Nintendo Game Boy evolves to 3DS, Sony's PSP also turns into PS Vita.

The PS Vita is Launched in USA since early 2012, this powerful and portable gaming device has a 5-inch AMOLED display and an ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core processor. Games are stored on a flash memory card called "PlayStation Vita game card", quite different from PSD's UMD.

6. Touchscreen gloves

Touchscreen devices are so popular that even my grandfather has one. Here comes a problem: capacitive touch tech doesn’t work with gloved hands. In this case people may need a pair of  touchscreen-friendly gloves. These products can conduct your body’s natural electricity and let you tap away merrily without having to expose your hands to the frigid outdoor air.

Here are some good touchscreen gloves for your reference.

Nokia's 10.1'' Windows RT Tablet to be Announced Next February

According to The Verge's report, Nokia is about to announce a Windows RT tablet at MWC next February. This would be Nokia's very first tablet and a competitor of Microsoft's Surface tablets.

It's said this tablet will come up with a 10.1'' screen, an ARM processor and newest Windows RT OS from Microsoft. Similar to Surface RT, Nokia will release a special cover for its tablet. Besides normal features such as protection and kickstand, the cover provides a keyboard and a battery for the tablet. Usually the tablet will have a 10-hour battery life and supports fast charging in a short period of time.

Additionally, the Nokia tablet has a HDMI port, 2 USB ports and supports cellular connectivity. AT&T would be one of the first carriers in USA.

Huawei's 6.1-Inch Ascend Mate Phablet Leaked, Probably Announced at 2013 CES

Huawei Ascend Mate and Richard Yu

What's the size of your smartphone's display? Well, I still remember that the Nokia N8 with 3.5'' display in 640 x 360 resolution could be called a "flagship" 2 year ago. With technology and trends develop, smartphone screen is getting larger and larger. Nowadays even common low-end smartphones are equipped with a 4'' screen, let along some high-end "phablets", such as the 5.5'' Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

So what's the limit of display size? Huawei, one of the largest phone manufacturer in China, tells you that it could be as large as 6.1-inch. According to Android Community's report, the company is about to introduce a 6.1'' 1080p Android smartphone on 2013 CES. Two weeks before the show, some pics of this beastly device were leaked by Richard Yu, Huawei's chairman, who went ahead with the phone at a Huawei store in Guangzhou yesterday.

Based on previous rumors, this giant phone, officially named Huawei Ascend Mate, will come up with a 6.1'' LTPS display in 1920 x 1080 resolution and 361 ppi. The LTPS display has following advantages: slim, light, low power consumption and self illuminate.

The phone is powered by a 1.8 GHz HiSilicon K3V3 Quad-Core processor and a 4,000 mAh battery. It's 9.9 mm in thickness and priced at less than ¥3,000 (about $480).

Thought the specs have been basically confirmed, Yu wrote on his Weibo and said there would be some differences for the final specs.

The Huawei Ascend Mate will be unveiled on 2013 CES with Ascend W1 and Ascend D2. Besides Huawei, Samsung may also announce a large screen (6.3'') version of Galaxy Note 2, in order to fill the blank between Note 1 and 7'' tablets.

Free Download Christmas Flash Game: Gibbets Santa In Trouble

Gibbets Santa in Trouble flash game

Gibbets Santa in Trouble is a popular Christmas flash game on many websites. This game needs players to shoot the ropes to save Santa and his helpers before they run out of breath. Players should be careful not to accidentally hit Santa instead.

The Gibbets game is also available on apple's App Store. Named Gibbets 2, it seems this version has no "Santa" or "Christmas" themes, it's still a good game for playing on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (rated 12+, priced $0.99).

Gibbet 2 on the App Store

Screenshots of Gibbets Santa In Trouble flash game

Play Gibbets Santa In Trouble online
Control angle and force of the arrows with mouse. Shoot the rope ASAP and avoid hurting Santa or his friends. You can also shoot items (first aid box, gift, etc) at the stage to recover Santa's health or get more scores. Here is also a walkthrough for your reference.

Download flash game for free
There are two methods for downloading this flash game to computer.The first one is provided by Not Doppler. When you're on the main menu, click "host the game" option. The website allows you to download flash game files for free.

Download the game directly

For some other websites that do not provide .swf files for downloading, we need a tool to deal with the problem. With the help of FREE SWF Downloader, you can grab any flash files from any websites as you like. These flash files are playable with web browsers, flash players on computer. If you wanna play flash files on Android devices, just download some swf players of Android.

Free Flash Downloader

2013 CES: Smartphone Rumors on HTC, LG & Samsung

The 2013 International CES will be held in Las Vegas from January 8 to 11. Along with time files, kinds of rumors on new devices spread everywhere. Pics and specs of next generation Android flagships had leaked one by one since last week. However, none of them have been confirmed by officials. Now let's have a look at these likely or unlikely rumors.

HTC M7

Rumored specs of HTC M7

News spread that HTC is going to launch 4 or 5 million kits of its new model, M7, during Q1 2013. It also said this handset will have an all-in-one aluminium case, a 13 MP rear camera, a Qualcomm Quad-Core CPU and a 4.7'' 1080p Full-HD display. Here we found another specs chart of the phone from Underwired View. If rumors turn out to be true, The M7 will become  HTC's second smartphone with 1080p display, other than Droid DNA.

Successor of LG Optimus G

When will the success of LG Optimus G appear?

News also leaked that a successor of LG's Optimus G will be unveiled in 2013. This phone, probably called E940, may absent from CES but appear on the later MWC 2013. 

Based on the result of benchmark tests, this mysterious successor may be equipped with a 1080p Full-HD screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and an Adreno 320 GPU. Although the E940 is finally confirmed to be a customized model for AT&T, its International version, F240, is also possible to launch on South Korea market in advance.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Any new phablets from Samsung?

Discussions on Galaxy S3's successor will spread rapidly  on the Internet in upcoming month. A few days ago, Samsung uploaded an official teaser and hints "a new product" in the future, makes people associate it to Galaxy S4. But when in the world will the Galaxy S4 be announced? Nobody knows excepts Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Galaxy Note phablet series help Samsung reach a balance point between tablets and smartphones. Currently news claims that the company may launch a 6.3'' super sized smartphone "Note 3". That's exactly what was The Korea Times reporting: a new device between 10.1 '' tablet and 5.5 Galaxy Not 2 in dimensions.

Samsung Grand Duos GT-I8092
Samsung is likely developing a new phone similar to Galaxy Note 2 without S Pen. From what we’ve heard, this model may also be a large screen smartphone, probably named "Grand Duos GT-I8092". As to the hardware, it may come up with a 4.4 GHz Quad-Core Exynos processor, a 2100 mAh battery, and a mid-end display in WVGA resolution. We also guess from the name that the machine would have dual SIM card slots. No matter if the specs are true or fake, we don't think customers would show interest in a 5'' phone with a WVGA display.

Samsung's Flexible Screen

Samsung's flexible screen

News about Samsung not only focus on its new gadgets but also include technical innovation, such as the screen. According to a report from Reuters, Samsung is developing a kind of unbreakable screen and planning to equip it with Galaxy S4 or further Galaxy S5 smartphone. 

On the 2013 CES show, attendees can see a 5.5'' flexible screen for smartphone , with a 1,280 x 720 pixel HD resolution and a 267 pixel density. reported by CNET.

5 Useful Christmas Recipes Apps on apple App Store

There's less than a week until Christmas Day. If you're a housewife or "master chef" of the family, Christmas would be your busy days for cooking delicious holiday recipes. Here I've found some useful Christmas Recipes apps from apple's App Store. Hope some of them can help you. Enjoy peaceful holidays.

No.1 Good Food Festive Recipes
Price: £1.99
Rated: 4+
Requirements: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Introduction: Developed by BBC, this app provides more than 180 triple-tested recipes for Christmas and new year.
Features:

• Recipes for holidays and advice for every course, plus drinks, canapés and a diverse selection of vegetarian options. 
• Recipes with clear instructions and a stunning photograph.
• Video selection to help users improve basic skills. It also shows how to choose and prepare seasonal and luxurious ingredients.
• Essential cooking tips to help users roast turkey to perfection.
• Find recipes by course, ingredient and type.
• Save recipes to favourites for easy access when you’re mid-cook. Send recipes to friends.

Screenshots:

No.2 Christmas Muffins & Holiday Cupcakes - Festive Recipes

Price: $0.99

Rated: 12+

Requirements: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Introduction: An app that introduces great tasting cupcakes and holiday muffins recipes.

Features:

• More than 14 cupcake and muffin recipes for Christmas.
• All cookies are selected and prepared with an eye for detail by food experts.
• Each recipe comes with atmospheric images and ingredients list.
• Step-by-step instructions.
• Add the recipes to the app's shopping list and cross off the ingredients while shopping.
• Save all favourite recipes in integrated personal baking book.

Screenshots:

No.3 Christmas Recipes - Winter Drinks for Christmas & Holiday Season

Price: $0.99

Rated: 17+

Requirements: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Introduction: Spoil yourself and your beloved ones with drinks that warm you up this winter! This app has best winter drinks recipes for Christmas.

Features:

• More than 14 winter drinks recipes include coffee, wine, hot chocolate, etc.
• Shopping list
• Save favorites
• Full text search

Screenshots:

No.4 Christmas Cookie Recipes

Price: $0.99

Rated: 4+

Requirements: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Introduction: This Christmas cookie recipe app is packed with more than four hundred recipes for colossal cookie creations.

Features:

• Over 400 time-tested Christmas cookie recipes in different styles.
• User friendly navigation. Easy-to-follow directions, helpful hints and bakers' secrets.
• Share any Recipes to family and friends.
• No Internet connection required.

Screenshots:

No.5 Appy Christmas Recipes

Price: $1.99

Rated: 4+

Requirements: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Introduction: An easy-to-use app with festive recipes, cooking tips and menu planners.

Features:

• Recipes for starters, sides, accompaniments, main courses, drinks, desserts and vegetarian options for your Christmas meal
• Save ingredients to a shopping list that you can email to yourself.
• Top Tips include tricks for properly thawing a turkey, keeping custard from splitting and sprucing up shop-bought cranberry sauce.
• Enter the weight of up to six different meats for the Meat Roasting Timer to calculate the cooking time required.
• Quick ‘How-To’ videos for the basics of Christmas cooking. 
• Festive carols to listen to while cook away.
• save all favourite recipes to ‘My Menu’. 
• Easy-to-use search facility.

Screenshots: