Airbnb updates Android app interface, adds calendar availability and guest preapproval

Airbnb's Android app just scored a significant refresh, including some major design tweaks and additional tools for hosts. Version 2.0 adds two features that should make it easier for property managers to interact with guests efficiently, including the ability to update calendar availability and pre-approve users from any compatible Android handset -- that latter feature hit the iOS app in December. There are also quite a few bug fixes in tow, according to the release notes -- push notifications should now be working, for example. The focus here is on host usability, however. According to a TechCrunch report, only five percent of hosts current use the Android app, and while these additions should streamline operation, they're unlikely to account for a major shift from the web interface.

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Nokia Lumia 925 leaked in lowres press shot

If you're looking for details, you might be disappointed. We don't know much about the alleged Nokia Lumia 925 pictured above, other than its rumored codename: Catwalk. We probably don't have too much longer to wait for a full spec list, however, with the company hosting a launch event in London tomorrow. The relatively low-resolution press shot posted by @evleaks on Twitter shows a Windows phone with styling typical of the Lumia series. There does seem to be a slight taper toward the face of the device and we can report the headphone jack appears to be on the top edge. And that edge does have a slightly metallic look to it, not unlike the integrated antenna on another high-profile device. Otherwise, we're as in the dark as you are. But just stay patient -- all will be revealed tomorrow.

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DNP Zact debuts 'Smart Mobile Service,' aims to offer true carrier alternative

Choosing a cell phone carrier in the US can be a nightmare. Plans and packages vary from network to network, and you often have to deal with that tiresome two-year contract. Even as we applaud T-Mobile for going the way of the "uncarrier," it too falls trap to inflexible plans; you still have to pay a minimum of $50 for minutes and data you might not use. Going prepaid is certainly an option for those who need less, but even then expiring minutes and unexpected fees can be an issue.

Zact, which launches today, aims to change all that. Touting itself as the industry's "first smart mobile provider," Zact takes an entirely different tact to cell phone service, offering the consumer total control over voice, text and data plans, even across multiple devices. There's no minimum service, customers are allowed to change their plans on the fly, and there's even a handy parental control mode that lets concerned caretakers set curfews and app restrictions on their kid's phones. How does it do all that? Join us after the break where we outline what Zact is, and how it could change the way carriers work.

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Amazon Coins

Forget Bitcoin: Amazon's got a digital currency of its own, known as Coins, coming to the Kindle Fire right on schedule. The virtual money, which was originally announced back in February, is now ready to go for anyone who frequents the Amazon Appstore or uses a Kindle Fire to purchase apps and games. Bezos & Co. is willing to throw in a bit of an investment to get you started, as the online retailer will hook up existing and new users with 500 free coins -- a value of $5. Need more than that? Head to the More Coverage link below to grab as many coins as fits your fancy. A 10 percent discount awaits those who purchase in bulk, which adds a tad more incentive to go all-in on the new service.

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Sony S39h leaked photos point to a slightly tweaked Xperia L

An unannounced Sony phone with the model number S39h has been spotted by Xperia Blog. There are no specs or launch details to share, but Engadget China has it pegged as a dual-SIM phone. It's similar to the Xperia L (S36h), albeit with some small differences like a relocated front-facing camera. Not as glamorous as a dual-SIM Galaxy S 4, perhaps, but two signal bars are always nice to see.

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BT hopes to launch ownbrand 4G mobile service in 2014

When BT purchased nearly £200 million worth of 4G spectrum, the prevailing opinion was that it would remain a behind-the-scenes player. CEO Ian Livingston, however, might have grander aspirations for his company's 2.6GHz property. In an interview with The Telegraph, he said that it was "highly possible" that we'd see BT-branded 4G SIM cards next year, bundled along with the company's TV and broadband services. He also spoke of upgrading existing BT WiFi hotspots to provide 4G access, which would reduce the cost of 4G compared to its premium-priced rivals.

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Google Sundar Pichai D10

Sundar Pichai, Andy Rubin's replacement as Android chief, has been talking to Wired about his new job. He poured ice water on the idea that we'll see a raft of new hardware at Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference. Instead, he said that this year's show will focus on "all of the kinds of things we're doing for developers, so that they can write better things" for Android and Chrome OS. He also let slip that his daily driver is a Galaxy S 4, but that he's never even used the flagship's much-hyped eye-tracking feature -- an admission which'll surely go down well with HTC One fans.

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Scentee ChartPerf lets you send odors by smartphone

The dubious ability to send odors to your pals just became a distinct possibility thanks to the Scentee app and hardware from a company called ChatPerf. Seen in Japan, it works by letting you load a liquid refill into the device, which is then mixed and dispersed into the air at the command of an included app. The company noted a few of the myriad possible uses, like sending a smell to a friend who also has the device, perking up a yoga session, helping you wake up or making a shoot 'em up video game more lively with the odor of, say, gunpowder. It's still a prototype, but the company hopes to bring it to market with a variety of different odors, and launch it for iPhone or Android devices. Meanwhile, you can sniff it out in the video after the break.

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Nokia's Verizon-bound Lumia 928 may already be a reality, but there's still more to reveal, with the company's London-based Lumia event set to start Tuesday morning. We'll be there from the keen 10AM BST kickoff, so be sure to bookmark our liveblog page to ensure you get all the news. Wondering how that works in your particular time-zone? Consult the magic time bubble below and add your Lumia hopes and dreams in the comments below.

May 14, 2013 5:00 AM EDT

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Samsung's rumored dust and waterproof Galaxy S 4 Active shows up in Bluetooth certification

Samsung's Galaxy S 4 Active -- a dust and waterproof version of the company's flagship -- is currently just a rumor, but documentation has started popping up online to lend some corroboration. A handset going by the handle GT-I9295, which SamMobile has linked to the S 4 Active, has shown up in a Bluetooth SIG filing. Furthermore, a user agent profile for the same model lists the display resolution as 1080p, matching that of the standard GS4. With all these small clues pointing in the same direction, the existence of an S 4 for outdoorsy types is starting to look more like a dead cert.

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Samsung's Galaxy S 4 gets 'blue arctic' paintjob for NTT DoCoMo

Samsung can add "mist" and "frost" to its color names, but deep down we know the Galaxy S 4 only comes in black or white. That is, unless you're one of NTT DoCoMo's customers, who can expect the Korean flagship to arrive in blue arctic as well. A leaked pamphlet reveals that the third shade will be announced when the quad-core handset is announced on May 15th -- confirming once and for all that Japanese mobile users get all the fun.

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Sony's ratcheted up its water-resistant device tech a notch with the launch of the Xperia ZR, a new 4.6-inch, 720p Android smartphone that's waterproof to 1.5 meters (5 feet). Sony boasts that its new device will let you film your snorkeling adventures in full HD quality, with HDR in both video or 13-megapixel stills thanks to the Exmor RS image sensor -- there's also a dedicated camera button like the one on the Xperia ZL. The handset packs a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GH CPU, 2GB RAM, LTE, NFC, Sony's Walkman album and movie apps and a notable OptiContrast OLED screen with Bravia tech to reduce glare "even in bright sunlight." There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but as soon as we hear more, we'll try to prep you ahead of that next beach-bound holiday. Meanwhile, you can check the galleries, PR and video after the break for more.

Update: As Xperia Blog found out, the Xperia ZR is actually the international version of Japan's upcoming Xperia A SO-04E -- the one we saw popping up in the FCC database.

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Google SMS Search disappears

If you're still wielding a basic feature phone, you may be familiar with Google SMS Search: it's a handy tool that lets you text a search query and get a quick result. Or rather, it was a handy tool. Google now confirms that it quietly dropped the service within the past few days, delivering an automated shutdown warning to anyone messaging the short code. A Google employee explains the closure as a simple "streamlining" effort, although we've reached out for greater detail. It makes sense that Google would drop SMS Search when basic phones are quickly becoming the minority in a world full of web-friendly smartphones. However, the lack of advance notice could have some in that group upgrading their devices sooner than expected -- if that's even an option in the first place.

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Refresh Roundup week of May 6th, 2013

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

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Nokia reveal new Lumia smartphone in the UK ad, teases 'more than your eyes can see' video

We're still days away from Nokia's London media event, but the company has apparently got a real taste for teasers. A new 20-second promo clip aired today in the UK, and although it doesn't outline any outright specs or model numbers, we get a (very) up-close look at a dual-flash arrangement (unlike the xenon flash seen on Verizon's Lumia 928), a glossy white shell and some metal detailing. We're relieved that Nokia has something new to unveil in the UK next week, but we're now itching to hear exactly how this Windows Phone will differ from the now-public Lumia 928. We'll have all the details on Tuesday morning.

Update: The Verge has managed to upload a digital copy of the ad. See it for yourself right after the break.

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