On October 29, Google will hold its own launch event, conveniently placed around the same time Apple is said to be unveiling an iPad Mini and Microsoft will share details about the future of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

Google has traditionally let loose some Nexus news around this time, but it seems likely an Android 4.2 update will be detailed as well. Despite it being an incremental update, a leaked system dump teases quite a few exciting features. None of these are surefire additions, but all are definite possibilities.

One of the most obvious, but still very welcome, inclusions is a quick settings section in the notification bar. The quick settings would allegedly be activated with a double-swipe mechanism that would bring down a block of settings. We assume the quick settings refer to toggles for things like GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth, a feature currently available via many third-party applications.

Another exciting, and much-anticipated, addition to Android is multiple user accounts — especially with tablets being purchased for the whole family to use. Android Police isn’t convinced this feature will make it to Android 4.2 (it may turn up in a later version), but it seems to be very close to completion. Each user will have a user name and photo, you can add and delete users at will, fairly basic stuff. Apps will be kept track of through the Play Store so each app list will be customized based on the corresponding user’s chosen applications.

Account-specific parental controls will also be supported, allowing the lock down of Play Store purchases or limiting downloads based on content ratings. For this to work Android 4.2 would need to be some sort of lockscreen interface, but there doesn’t seem to be any evidence to suggest exactly how to switch between users. It would be really nice to see face unlock be implemented across accounts, as well as separate Google, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts and saved passwords.

Finally, the Gallery app is being redesigned to more closely resemble the photostream of Google+, bringing even more of a unified look to Google’s various software products. The photo above shows the revamped Gallery app in action, courtesy of Android Police. Some of you may notice a new icon for the app, but this is apparently just a placeholder and will be replaced by the different icon in the final build.

As Google’s announcement draws closer we find ourselves becoming more and more excited for Nexus news. Too bad we have Apple and Microsoft’s own announcements forcing us to divide our attention between three compelling events. Needless to say, next week is going to be epic. 

Like its Japanese counterpart, the HTC J Butterfly, the DLX is HTC's first extra large smartphone and is headed for Verizon. The DLX will ship with Android 4.1.1 and sports a quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.

HTC seems to be growing restless with its One devices, recently showing off the impressive One X+ and now a new device called the HTC DLX.

Previously, we brought you news of the HTC J Butterfly, a 1080p, 5-inch smartphone that would only be available in Japan. According to Android Central, the DLX will come with similar specifications but be made available in North America. Verizon is the lucky carrier that will be offering HTC’s newest flagship device, a first for the United States’ largest carrier. Verizon originally shunned the HTC One line so it’s about time HTC returned to the service provider. The DLX (apparently pronounced “deluxe”) also physically resembles its Japanese counterpart.

The HTC J Butterfly and HTC DLX are the manufacturer’s first super-sized devices, boasting a 1080p 5-inch display with an incredible 440ppi pixel density. The DLX will pack either an 8MP or 12MP rear shooter (obviously we’re hoping for the latter) with a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. The processor is most likely the 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro. As for battery, there’s a non-removable 2500 mAh on board. Android Central’s sources say the casing is similar to the Droid Incredible 2, meaning soft-touch rather than polycarbonate.

Verizon’s branding shows up in the usual way, with red accents on the bezel, volume rocker, and rear camera. There’s also the expected 4G LTE logo on the back. The DLX has nixed software buttons for physical ones here and they’re laid out in the typical HTC fashion as back, home, and recent apps. Rear speaker keeps the same design as the One X, and by the looks of the photo will continue to feature Beats Audio.

The DLX will ship with Android 4.1.1 even though 4.1.2 is already out in the wild — still better than Ice Cream Sandwich — but feature Sense 4+ because manufacturers still won’t let go of Android skins.

Hopefully this will be HTC’s last deviation from the One moniker. HTC’s been doing so well in keeping its products streamlined and easier to understand when compared to previous years when it was nearly impossible to tell HTC’s flagships from the mid and lower-range phones. It’s important to keep in mind as well, that there has been no official word from either Verizon or HTC as of yet but the sources are pointing to a November launch.

More than 450 million people around the world use Firefox, but how many have read the popular browser's lengthy privacy policy? We're guessing not many. Fortunately, we've done the work for you. Here are the key things you need to know.

What are you really agreeing to when you click that fateful “agree button? Terms & Conditions cuts out the legal lingo to spell it out in plain English.

If you ask any “in the know” Web users, there are really only two browsers to choose from: Chrome or Firefox. (Yes, Internet Explorer is the most-used browser in the U.S., but that’s mostly due to its default status on the most-used operating system: Windows.) While Chrome has been on the rise, having jumped past IE as the most-used browser in the world earlier this year, Mozilla’s Firefox remains a solid third, according to StatCounter, with approximately 450 million users worldwide.

And yet, we would guess the number of people who’ve read the Firefox privacy policy is much closer to zero — which is a shame, because it’s quite well done. Let’s take a look at the few bits of info that every Firefox user should know.

Firefox Privacy Policy

Like all browsers, Firefox is literally the connection between your computer and the Internet at large. That said, Firefox is only legally responsible for a very small amount of the data that is transferred from you to the websites you visit. And it is the privacy policies and terms of service for each and every website you visit that you really need to worry about.

This is especially true because Mozilla is extremely careful to explain when and what data are transferred from your copy of Firefox to Mozilla. I really wish all companies were required to be as clear and thorough as Firefox is. The only downside to this is how long it ends up being as a result. So here is the most condensed version possible.

Data collection

Firefox itself transmits only a limited amount of data to websites (which may or may not include other tracking or data-collection mechanisms themselves). This “non-persona” and “potentially personal” data includes: IP address (which is linked to location data), device type, referring website (the site you visited before going to another site), and language preferences.

This data is simply what is conveyed to other websites. Mozilla itself “does not collect or track any Personal Information or any information about the websites you visit, and Mozilla does not release the raw information we obtain from these Firefox features to the public.”

Add-ons

Firefox automatically checks to see which add-ons you have installed as a way to keep you up-to-date on updates. If this features annoys or worries you, follow these instructions to turn it off.

Also, Firefox will check once a day to see if any of the add-ons you have installed are problematic for whatever reason (e.g. they pose a security risk). All bad add-ons end up on the Blocklist. Mozilla does not offer a simply way to turn off the Blocklist feature. But if your browser making a connection with Mozilla’s servers freaks you out, you can see how to disable it here. (Warning: Doing so is extremely complicated, and probably not worth your time.)

Firefox Syn

Firefox Sync is a feature that started with Firefox 4, and has been available in every version since. As the name implies, Sync allows you to — you guessed it — sync your Firefox history, bookmarks, and other settings between different computers. Mozilla says explicitly that none of this information is transmitted in a readable format, so don’t worry about Mozilla finding out which porn websites you’ve saved. Mozilla only saves the number of bookmarks you have, and the number of websites in your history — not what they actually are.

Location-Aware

All versions of Firefox mobile include the Location-Aware feature, which allows websites to access your geographic location in order to serve you location-specific advertising and services. Firefox will ask each time if you want to share your location data when you visit a website that wants to access it. If you say no, your location remains secret.

If you do allow Location-Aware, Mozilla requires that all third-parties that access this data through Firefox keep the data out of public view. Any personal or potentially personal data (like IP address) third-parties collect may only be used to provide the service they are offering. If third parties want to use your data for something else, they have to strip all the personal data out.

Security

Firefox implements a number of highly technical security features to help keep your computer protected from the big bad Web, including checking security certificates and scanning for URLs that may contain malicious code. If Firefox does detect such a site, it will store a bit of information about the URL on your hard drive, which can then be accessed for comparison against other URLs you visit, so just heads up that that’s happening.

That said, Firefox should not be your last line of defense against viruses and phishing attacks — you’re much better off with a robust anti-virus program.

EA and Danger Close release their second Medal of Honor collaboration, Medal of Honor: Warfighter this Tuesday on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 (and eventually Wii U). We have all the news you need to prepare you for the launch of one of the biggest games of the year.

There is no question that Call of Duty is the current undisputed king of the first-person shooters — and all games for that matter if you are count these things by sales figures – but there aren’t many franchises that can claim the same level of history that the Medal of Honor brand features.

Originally debuting in 1999, the WWII-themed series has influenced all first-person shooters in one form or another, but somewhere along the way the franchise lost its way. The property was shelved, and during its absence Call of Duty broke from its own WWII era mold with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and went on to create the first consistent billion dollar franchise.

Then in 2010 the brand made its return with a new, modern setting, and a multiplayer component designed by the DICE team, developers with a proven track record for multiplayer thanks to the Battlefield games. Of course, if you are even passingly familiar with the series you already know all that, just like you know that this Tuesday marks the release of the second Medal of Honor game set in modern times, Medal of Honor: Warfighter.

Can it topple the reigning king and surpass Call of Duty in sales? Maybe, maybe not, but even if it doesn’t touch the billion dollar milestone the game is almost certainly going to be a hit. So with that in mind, we offer you a quick preview of the 14th offering in the series, Medal of Honor: Warfighter.

Check back this week for our full review, but for now click the image below for all the Warfighter new you need to prepare for one of the year’s biggest releases.

AMD's new "Never Settle" bundle which includes up to three free games and 20 percent off Medal Of Honor Warfighter.

AMD is hitting the ground running this holiday season by taking the wraps off some new bundles for select video cards that include up to three recently released games for free. The company is also announcing a major driver update that is available immediately.

The bundles are available on AMD Radeon HD 7900, 7800 and HD 7770 GHz Edition video cards. The more expensive cards predictably receive more games. Here’s how it breaks down.

• HD 7900 Series – Far Cry 3, Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs for free. 20 percent off Medal of Honor Warfighter Deluxe Edition.
• 2x HD 7800 Series or 2x HD 7770 GHz Edition – Far Cry 3, Hitman Absolution for free. 20 percent off Medal of Honor Warfighter Deluxe Edition.
• HD 7800 Series or HD 7770 GHZ edition – Far Cry 3 for free. 20 percent off Medal of Honor Warfighter Deluxe Edition.

These bundles are available immediately via participating retailers. An end date for the promotion was not provided, but the company said that this promotion will exist in conjunction with Black Friday sales and other holiday discounts. This suggests the bundle will be valid for most of the holiday shopping season.

AMD’s driver announcement is focused on what it calls the Never Settle driver, also known as Catalyst 12.11. The company claims that installing this driver will improve performance of its video cards by up to 15 percent in many games including hits such as Battlefield 3 and Dirt Showdown. It should also provide better performance in the upcoming Medal Of Honor Warfighter.

Today’s announcements are just the latest shot in an ongoing bundle battle fought between AMD and Nvidia, which is currently offering a free copy of Assassin’s Creed 3 with every GTX 650 Ti graphics card.