Microsoft said to enter the smartwatch wars, won’t be leaving Android users behind

Today’s mobile industry is more demanding than ever. Those who don’t rush to the market will be left behind. We can take Windows Phone as the perfect example, a platform that is still struggling to get apps on board, while the others are growing exponentially. They may have trusted the computer market too much, but Microsoft is set on never making the same mistake again.

The rumor mill is at it again, this time with news of Microsoft possibly re-entering the smartwatch market soon. Sources “with knowledge of the company’s plans” state the upcoming smartwatch will be very similar to Samsung’s Gear Fit, which is a rather unconventional design to go with.

It’s also said to include sensors and technology that assimilates that of the Kinect. It will detect motion and heart-rate information, making for what seems to be a health-focused wearable. This all makes sense, but it seems Microsoft is taking design another route.

Aside from it being similar to the Gear Fit, this “Surface” smartwatch will also have an LCD display oriented towards the lower side of your wrist. I have seen this in many watches before (usually for women), but this would be the first time this style comes to a smartwatch. I am wondering one thing, though: would you be able to just turn it around and use it normally?

The golden factor

All of that sounds great and all, but why would we, an Android-dedicated website, cover this rumor? Well, the trick here is that Microsoft is not only targeting their own users with this smartwatch. The rumored device is said to work with Android, as well as Windows Phone and iOS!

And this makes total sense. Let’s be honest – do you think Microsoft can survive in the smartwatch market only selling units to Windows Phone users? It would be a great idea for the Redmond giant to go cross-platform, at least at first.

I certainly can’t wait to see what Microsoft could have under its sleeve, but we are still rooting for Android wear at this point (of course!). Do remember this is a rumor, though. We wouldn’t hold our breath on this until more details emerge.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1hEiDjE

Angry Birds Go! v1.3 Mod Money Apk

Welcome to downhill racing on Piggy Island! Feel the rush as you fling those freewheeling birds and piggies down the track at breakneck speed – with plenty of twists and turns in a thrilling race to the finish line! But beware! Look out for hazardous roads, mischievous opponents riding your tail and special powers to […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

LG G Watch shows up in hands-on video for the first time

We have seen countless photos and GIF images of the LG G Watch, and even some official videos, but the Android Wear pioneer has been successful at staying away from the press’ cameras. Today marks a historic day for Android Wear and LG G Watch fans, as the first hands-on video and impressions hits the inter webs.

In fewer words, this is the first time we see the device in action! The guys at AppDated, a German technology website, managed to be “one of the few” to get some hands-on coverage with the LG G Watch. They happen to be the very first to publish a hands-on post on the device, and they even show us a bit of what the G Watch is capable of!

Performance and software

The whole video is in German, but we can get the gist of things with some patience. The host mostly talks about the device – not so much the experience. To be fair, he does mention this features a very early pre-release software. This makes the device very limited, but we can’t deny it looks mighty smooth for such a “beta” version of the smart watch.

The host even mentions this, stating processing power is surprisingly good. Regardless, this is probably the reason AppDated was only able to show us quick glimpses of the device in use. At this point, we will really take anything.

They were also shown a feature in which the user can simply take a look at the LG G Watch (rotating the arm) and the device would show the time. This ensures you have the time at your disposal at all times, without pressing buttons.

Design and build quality

From what we can take, the guys at AppDated are not huge fans of the LG G Watch’s design and build quality. It’s mentioned this is mostly due to the polarizing colors, which may or may not be liked by the user.

It’s also stated the rubber has a very “beta” feeling to it. This will probably be improved over time, along with everything else. It seems to have a very nice weight to it, though, which makes it feel a bit more solid.

Wrap up

We are all over Android Wear and these devices, so be sure we will be bringing you more details in due time. For now, we can only wonder if the LG G Watch is worth your money. Rumors say it might be priced at 200 Euros, which is not quite a horrible price, but it’s also not affordable.

We also have to take the Moto 360 into account, which does seem to take the longer end of the stick in terms of build quality and design, at least.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1gGst9B

Adobe Photoshop Touch v1.6.1 Apk

Transform your images with core Adobe Photoshop features in an app designed for tablets. Combine images, apply professional effects, share results with friends and family through Facebook and Twitter – all from the convenience of your tablet. • Use popular Photoshop features designed for the tablet such as layers, selection tools, adjustments, and filters to […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

Fleksy Keyboard – Happy Typing v2.5.4 Apk

Fleksy just broke the World Record for Fastest Texting! Fleksy is a new, revolutionary keyboard, powered by patent pending technology that makes typing on any device fast, accurate and so easy you can type without even looking. MOVE BEYOND PREDICTION The power behind Fleksy is its unique technology based on Geometric Intelligence. Imprecise? Sloppy typing? […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

Photoshop Touch for phone v1.2.1 Apk

Bring the fun and creative possibilities of Adobe® Photoshop® software to your phone with Adobe Photoshop Touch for phone. Transform your images with core Photoshop features. Combine images, apply professional effects, and share results with friends and family through Facebook and Twitter — all from the convenience of your phone. Enjoy most of the same […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

Poweramp Music Player (Full) v2.0.9-build-556 Apk

Poweramp is a powerful music player for Android. Please check Common Questions/Answers below in the description. Key Features: - plays mp3, mp4/m4a (incl. alac), ogg, wma*, flac, wav, ape, wv, tta, mpc, aiff (* some wma pro files may require NEON support) - 10 band optimized graphical equalizer for all supported formats, presets, custom presets […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

aTorrent PRO – Torrent App v2.2.0.2 Apk

aTorrent PRO – Native P2P BitTorrent Software for Android devices. Download files with ease right to your phone or tablet! Professional (Ad-free) version. Features: * Dark and Light themes * Torrent search dialog * Open torrents right from browser * Magnet links support * Add torrent from file * Choose download folder * Partial download […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

Animated Widget Contact Pro v2.0.0 Apk

Bundle of Contact, Contact Group, Apps Launcher Widgets. Contact, Group Contact widgets shows photo of the contact(s), have quick dial, SMS, chat and email options. App Launcer widget shows selected by you apps at one icon, so you can group your apps for example: Games, Office, etc. PRO version has no limitations on widgets count. […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

1Tap Cleaner Pro v2.31 Apk

1-Tap to clean all cache, search histories and calls log. A defaults cleaner is also included. Are you running out of application storage? You now can get more available storage space by clearing apps created cache/data files. ★ Cache Cleaner ★ History Cleaner ★ Call/Text log Cleaner ★ Defaults Cleaner There are four cleaners included […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

BSPlayer v1.15.168 Apk

This is full version of BSPlayer for Android multimedia player with full functionallity. BSPlayer is media player for Android devices: smartphones and tablet PC’s, supporting hardware accelerated video decoding, automatic subtitle search and buffered network playback from SMB shares. Main features: - ONLY in full version: experimental support for Chromecast (most mp4′s are supported) - […]

by APKgalaxy via APKgalaxy.Com

Verizon continues pushing back the ability for simultaneous talk and data

Back in 2011, Verizon was telling investors that by the end of 2013, their network would be completely LTE and that all voice calls would be on their Voice over LTE (VoLTE) network. This will allow Verizon customers to browse the internet while calling someone on the phone.

Now, Verizon is getting ever so close to offering the service for compatible devices. As iPhoneFAQ states:

The next iPhone is expected to launch with iOS 8, which will include VoLTE capabilities. Verizon has been implementing the network upgrade nationwide, which will also bring improved HD Voice quality to compatible devices. The iPhone 5 and 5s are both designed to take advantage of HD Voice, and other carriers are working on deploying the technology.

With that said, when customers do have the ability to use the VoLTE network, they will be required to have a specific phone for the VoLTE network and will need to be talking to someone that is in a VoLTE network and has a specific phone that is VoLTE enabled. VoLTE will allow clearer calls with fewer dropouts and the ability to use voice and data services simultaneously and will give carriers the ability to use their allocated radio spectrum more efficiently.

Unfortunately, Verizon has continued to tell people that specifically the VoLTE network will roll out later this year with no specific date.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1lUwu6x

Google Maps 8.1 for Android brings back the terrain view!

Google released several big updates this week, and the update for Maps went a little under the radar. But there’s one feature in the new Maps 8.1 that totally makes it worth it, if you frequently spend time outdoors, that is – yes, terrain view is back in Google Maps.

Google removed the terrain view feature from Maps when it updated it to version 7 in July 2013, without explaining why it removed it or if it’s ever coming back. As it turns out, we just had to be patient (really patient), as the version rolling out towards you right now has the feature.

If you only drive or walk through your town, you might not care at all about this feature. But terrain view was useful for people travelling off-road, like mountain bikers, hikers, or dirt bikers. In its current implementation, the feature is very simple – you just see the contour lines for each elevation, so Maps won’t give you any information on the elevation change of a route. Even so, just by looking at the lines, you can better plan your trip and avoid getting in rough spots.

You can wait for the update to come your way over the next couple of days, but if you want to grab it before the weekend, the folks at XDA secured an APK file.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1gEerFx

Refurbished HP Pavilion Chromebook 14 for just $180 shipped

If you’re looking for a low-cost laptop for basic productivity and entertainment, Google’s Chromebooks can certainly prove to be the perfect match. With price tags that are often hundreds less than similar “conventional” Windows laptops, Chromebooks work wonderfully for folks that primarily use the PC for typing or as a gateway to the web.

Still not sure if you want to make the jump over to a Chromebook? Thanks to Top Rated Plus seller DrivenGPS you can pick up an HP Pavilion 14” Chromebook for only $179.95 with free shipping — that’s $120 less than the device’s already low retail price. With such a steep discount, it’s hard not to at least consider picking up this deal, though as you might expect there is a catch: this is a manufacturer refurbished model.

What this means is that it isn’t brand new but HP certified that it is running to their specifications and still includes a 90-day warranty.

For those wondering about the specs, the Pavilion Chromebook is powered by a 1.4GHz Intel Celeron CPU with 2GB RAM. There’s also a 16GB SSD, a media reader, 2 USB 3 ports, 1 USB 2 port, wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, 1366 by 768 resolution on a 14-inch display and, of course, Chrome OS.

HP Pavilion Chromebook 14 on ebay

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1o06Obq

Verizon and Sprint roll out Sense 6 to the HTC One M7

Earlier this month, the HTC One M7 started to receive a Sense 6 upgrade for those with unlocked and developer edition devices in the United States. Shortly after this the update also started pushing out to T-Mobile.

Now it looks like the same update is making its way over to some of the remaining carrier-branded devices.Yesterday Sprint started rolling out the update, and now Verizon has followed suit as well.

The Sense 6 interface first debuted with the HTC One M8, and for the M7 upgrade quite a few of these features transfer over including a newly updated user interface, an updated camera app, improved Blinkfeed and new motion controls. Even more importantly, HTC has started to push several of its apps to Google Play for those with Sense 6 or higher, so that means you can receive HTC app updates in the future without having to wait for HTC and your carrier to push out a traditional update to your device.

Have you received Sense 6 for your Sprint or Verizon HTC One M7 yet? If so, what do you think of the changes so far?

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1tqLtco

New HTC M8 Ace renders show off handset in multiple colors: blue, red, white and gray

If the rumor mill is to be believed, HTC has big plans ahead for the M8 series going well beyond the HTC One with devices including the M8 Plus, M8 Advance and M8 Ace. Speaking of the latter device, HTC may have already released a teaser suggesting its existence and it is very possible the Ace could arrive as early as June 3rd.

Now several new images have surfaced giving us a better idea of what the phone will look like. While we had already seen images of the handset in previous leaks, these new images confirm the M8 Ace will be available in multiple colors: red, blue, gray and white.

As for the specs? Today’s leak gives us no new details on this front, though past reports suggest the handset will have a dual-front speakers, a 13MP single-lens cam, a Snapdragon 801 CPU, and a 4.7-inch 1080p display.

Bottom-line, the HTC One M8 is essentially just a One M8 with plastic clothing and a single-lens cam instead of the UltraPixel Duo setup. What’s unclear is whether the M8 Ace will be released internationally or if it is destined for Asia only as a HTC Butterfly replacement.

Would you be interested in the M8 Ace if it comes to your region, especially if it manages to price below other 2014 flagship devices from Samsung, LG and others?

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1oNOWSq

KitKat hitting Sprint Galaxy Note 2 and international Mega 6.3

Samsung is busy pushing updates to many of its recent devices, and today we have a double feature for you, comprising of KitKat servings for Sprint’s venerable Galaxy Note 2 and the international version of the Galaxy Mega 6.3.

Starting with the Note 2, according to Sprint’s update status page, software update L900VPUBNE2 will bring Android 4.4 KitKat and nothing else. While the changelog is cryptic, we know from updates to other models, that the Note 2 will gain features like support for cloud printing, NFC tap-to-pay support, all white icons in the status bar, full-screen album art, and the ability to put a camera shortcut on the lockscreen. There’s also the promise of improved performance and reduced battery consumption, as well as various stability fixes.

Sprint Note 2 users should get an update notification soon, but you can always try your luck with a manual check from Settings > About Phone > Software Updates.

Moving on to the aptly named Galaxy Mega 6.3, users in Russia report (model GT-I9200) that they are now able to update their phone/tablet to Android 4.4.2 KitKat via the Kies companion software. There are no reports of OTAs just yet, but those shouldn’t be far behind. Changes should be similar to those listed above for the Note 2. The update brings firmware number to I9200XXUDNE4.

Now that the update wave for the Mega 6.3 has started, expect more countries to get it, with unlocked models getting first dibs, followed by carrier models down the road. And, considering how similar the “smaller” Mega 5.8 is to the 6.3, its KitKat update shouldn’t be far behind either.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1lTHelM

Android Device Manager now has a guest mode

Find-my-phone apps are one of those things that you tend to forget about until you really need them. So it’s good that Google introduced its own solution, Android Device Manager, giving all Android users a modicum of protection in case of device loss or theft.

Now Google is adding a small feature to Android Device Manager, that should make it a tad easier to locate and manage your misplaced device. As spotted by the folks at Android Police , starting with version 1.2.12, you can log into ADM as a guest, by choosing Guest from the list of available accounts.

While in this mode, there’s a prominent Sign Out button at the top of the app for when you’re done. Guest users will have to enter their email and password, and, in case they set up two-factor authentication, a verification code.

The default for the verification code is to send it to the user’s primary phone number via SMS, which is pointless in case you lost your primary phone. But you can also choose to have the code sent to a backup number or you can enter one of the default codes (that you presumably saved and kept in a safe location – seriously, you should do that.)

You were always able to access the web version of ADM from any device, so adding the guest mode to the Android app is largely just a convenience. But in those stressful situations when you can’t find your device, it helps to be able to quickly and cleanly log in to ADM instead of having to mess with browsers on a stranger’s device.

Besides the new guest mode, there don’t seem to be other changes, and the changelog is, in typical Google fashion, empty. The update should hit your device over the next few hours.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1lTH8dW

Google Camera updated: cropping improved, timer added and more panorama options

The Google Camera app was an instant hit, with 5-10 million downloads reached since its release, last April. We have a review of the camera app and must say it is a very solid and full-featured option.

Google has taken this app and improved upon it with today’s update.

Users across the web are reporting the rollout of update version 2.2.024, which comes with a very healthy set of improvements. The Google Camera experience continues to be clean and sleek, while its features keep extending past the popular Lens Blur feature.

Though the new Google Camera app has started rolling out, the Google Play Store page hasn’t been updated to show the new improvements. We have been digging around and curated a list of the noticeable additions. Let’s take a look:

Cropping is improved – or is it?

You always get more options when you take photos at the standard 3×4 ratio. In fact, pictures are losing quality when they are cropped to 16×9, but those do look better in smartphone screens. This is why Google is now allowing Nexus 5 users to crop images to the average display’s 16×9 ratio. In addition, video on the Nexus 5 has also been cropped a bit.

The timer is back!

Those who have been putting attention noticed the Google Camera has been missing the timer function. It is simply unacceptable to see such basic feature missing. Google has finally taken care of the missing link between well-timed photos and blurry, crooked messes.

The user can choose between a 3 or 10 second timer. Not many options, but it’s better than nothing, which is what we had before.

New panorama options

Google’s camera app now takes advantage of two new types of panorama mode – fisheye and wide angle. These modes simply create new patterns in which the user must move the camera, in order to create the desired effect.

If you are like me and don’t really have a rush for these features, simply waiting for the update to roll out is your best bet. You can also download this update and side load it, though. Just in case you are in a rush.

• Download Google Camera from the Google Play Store


• Download Google Camera from Media Fire

Enjoy!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1pmx83a

AllCast Receiver for Chrome lets you stream media to any desktop Chrome browser

ClockwordMod’s Koushik Dutta has taken streaming to the next level with AllCast. It has been associated to the popular Chromecast dongle because both became popular at around the same time, but there is much more to AllCast than just Cast support. This is the epitome of local streaming services.

AllCast supports streaming to other smart TV devices, consoles, Blu-ray players and more. In fact, they recently added support for streaming to any other Android device, and today Koushik Dutta is taking on another platform by securing its presence in Chrome for desktop (on any device that can support full Chrome).

AllCast Receiver for Chrome supports anything the Android app can throw at it, including audio, video, closed captions, music, mirroring and more. Really, it is only limited to what the app can do. This includes size limitations if you are using the trial version.

How to use AllCast for Chrome

Simply go and download AllCast for Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. After it’s installed, run it and the app will appear on a separate window. Open the AllCast app (which you can download from the Google Play Store), select your Chrome browser as a receiver and stream away!

It’s really that simple. Do keep in mind AllCast for Chrome requires the newest AllCast app version. This update has started rolling out, so make sure you get it from the Google Play Store if you haven’t yet.

Just in case a written explanation doesn’t cut it, we have also embedded Koush’s demo right above. He tests the main features, so give it a look and enjoy!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1gCK425