A new opportunity for developers arises as Android Wear enters the market. This wearable platform is to unify the smartwatch market, finally giving it uniformity and a common work table for manufacturers. It will do for smartwatches what Android did for smartphones.
There is one factor we must put attention to, though, and it is paramount. The amount of developer support the platform gets will go parallel with its success. Without real support no OS can take off, but is Google doing a good job at making things simple and enticing for developers?
Roman Nurik and Timothy Jordan are among the first to develop an Android Wear application and have taken us through a brief explanation of the process.
Of course, having a device to test the app on is a must. There is no way to build a good app without seeing it in action. You must take into account the general design, screen resolution, text readability, color and more.
Both developers have test Android Wear devices – one is using the LG G Watch while the other owns a Moto 360. The developers mention the device is very important, and making an app for it was like seeing their very first app in action all over again.
The fact their app was living right on their wrists was a different experience… a new form-factor and shape makes the experience all worth it. Not to mention, they got to test some pretty awesome smartwatches!
There is something I would like to point out, though. While I am a huge fan of the Moto 360 design, the unit just lost some points under my eyes. It looks quite huge in the developer’s wrist! I thought it would be much smaller and discrete. Now that I see them both in action, I am starting to lean towards the LG G Watch.
This is another big challenge we can see arising. We can compare it to the infamous Android fragmentation. Having multiple shapes and sizes makes it harder for developers to optimize their apps. With that in mind, will these different form factors make it difficult for developers to adapt their apps to both types of screens?
Yes, there will be a bit of extra work, but this doesn’t mean it will be a deal-breaker for most developers. In fact, Roman Nurik and Timothy Jordan swear it was dead simple to migrate their app to a circular design.
Because Android Wear focuses on simplicity and is limited to certain pixel counts, this forces the developer to make a less complex apps. At the end of the day, there will be less images to change. In addition, they didn’t really have to change the layouts, they only had to slightly edit the images to better fit the display.
Now let’s talk about the app these developers created. It seems rather fun and opens our eyes to the future of wearable technology. A future where devices will make our lives more enjoyable without giving us a headache first (something most current smartwatches do).
The app takes into account your location and offers you walking tours when you are close to an area worth admiring. A notification prompting you to start the walking tour will then show up in your screen as a “low priority notification”. This means it will be displayed after your messages and other more important notifications.
The interface should then give you directions and show you important landmarks. It’s really quite ingenious and should make long walks that much more interesting.
As you can see, there weren’t many challenges for these developers. It seems the process was quite enjoyable, even if this app is not completed yet. Of course, it all depends on the nature of the app, but it seems Google is making a remarkable job at making it as convenient to app makers as possible.
I can’t wait to give this app a test once available, and to see what else shows up. What kinds of apps would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below.
Verizon has announced the HTC One M8 is soon to become available in Glamour Red (which we saw from a previous leak) and Amber Gold. Both versions will be released online and in stores beginning June 5th, which is this Thursday.
This is one hell of a smartphone. The HTC One M8 comes equipped with the best of specs, along with a build quality that is unmatched by any of its competitors. I have been using it for some moths and must say I have no regrets. Here are the specs, just in case you need a reminder.
It’s also important to note Father’s day is approaching. It may be a good idea to get dad (or yourself) a brand-spanking new smartphone. Verizon is holding a sale in which any smartphone over $199.99 gets $100 off, including the HTC One M8. Maybe it’s about time you sign up!
Of course, the device is also available in its original colors, which are Gunmetal Gray and Glacial Silver. Go ahead and check out our review of the HTC One M8 to learn more. And while you are at it, you may also want to take a look at our favorite One M8 cases.
It didn’t take long for Android’s new update to start rolling out, after the release of the Android 4.4.3 factory images and many a rumor. The software update has been hitting Nexus devices, including the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7, and now we are getting news of some other phones getting the OTA update.
As it is to be expected, Google Play Edition devices are next in line. Reports of the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One M8 and HTC One M7 Google Play Edition smartphones getting the update are filling the blogosphere. Android 4.4.3 is spreading and you Google Play Edition phone may be next, so it might be smart to go and check for updates in the settings.
Also in line to get this update is Motorola’s lineup. Motorola has just announced its newest smartphones will get Android 4.4.3 this week, with some updates rolling out as soon as today. In the list of devices to be updated we can find the Moto X, Moto E and Moto G.
Motorola’s new UI is near-stock, making it rather simple for the manufacturer to update its devices. Such a quick update was unheard of in previous years, unless you had a Nexus device. Do keep in mind there are some exceptions, though.
Only Moto G and Moto E devices purchased in the US will get this update, as well as Moto G devices purchased in Brazil. And yes, the Moto G 4G LTE is included in this update! The Moto X update seems to be limited to T-Mobile users, but we can expect the update to hit other devices relatively soon.
This is all great news, but what is so special about this Android 4.4.3? Android 4.4.3 is not meant to be a huge update, but it does address some issues. Of course, as it goes with such upgrades, not everything was fixed and some other bugs were introduced.
The Dialer and People apps have also been improved with a Gmail-like design, but the changes are relatively small. Overall, this is still the same Android 4.4 KitKat we all know and love.
The latest version of Nova Launcher has arrived to Google Play bringing with it a few new improvements, chief among them is added support for the “Ok, Google” hotword.
Basically with the new “Ok, Google” hotword you’ll be able to launch Google Search from anywhere within the Nova homescreen. This works pretty much the same way as the Google Experience Launcher, but it’s a welcome addition for those that want hotword support but are also allured by some of Nova’s other features.
As you might guess, the Ok Google support won’t work with every device. You’ll need Android 4.1 or higher and a phone that supports low-power active listening. If you have a newer mid-range or high-end device, you probably won’t run into any problems here.
Wondering what else is new, aside from “Ok, Google” hotwording support? Here’s the full change-log:
To grab the latest Nova Launcher update, you’ll want to head over to Google Play. As always, using the app is free, although there is $4 premium version with a few extra features.
Instagram 6.0 has been officially announced, bringing dramatically improved photo editing functionality. While Instagram has always made it easy to apply filters to the photos you take, the new update allows you to adjust the filter strength, brightness and so much more.
Here’s the full list of new tools, giving us a better look at what to expect from the update:
Bottom-line, Instagram’s goal is to make it so folks don’t have to turn to other apps or services to edit their pics before uploading to Instagram. While these improvements certainly won’t match more expensive apps and software, the new tools will likely be more than enough to satisfy casual Instagram fans. Even better, these tools are all free to use.
The new update has yet to arrive to Google Play just yet, but should reportedly be rolling out sometime later today. We’ll update this post when it officially rolls out.
Beginning June 1, Verizon is changing their upgrade program, Edge, so that the number of monthly payments for a device changes from 24 months to 20 months. Verizon is also changing the percentage of a device’s costs that a customer will need to pay off before they can upgrade from 50% to 60%.
To nobody’s surprise, this plan mirrors AT&T’s Next plan, which uses a 20-month/60% ratio as well. AT&T and Verizon have a long history of mirroring each other. Two months ago, AT&T changed their Share Everything mobile data plans so that prices were reduced if you were buying data buckets of 10 GB or larger. Sooner thereafter, Verizon made changes by offering $25 off the cost of a smartphone line of service if a customer chooses a data bucket of 10 GB or more.
Several months ago, Dante D’Orazio at The Verge put together an analysis looking at the lack of cost savings for the upgrade plans. The analysis showed that carriers upgrade programs are slowly beginning to look somewhat reasonable than they did originally.
Ever since Google released the Chromecast SDK, we’ve seen a massive increase in the number of apps that support Google’s media dongle. While some of these apps are just from small developers adding support, Google has also partnered directly with several big name developers and companies to bring us more apps.
With that in mind, Google has now taken to its Chrome blog to formally introduce a few new apps. For sports fans, the big news here is that the WatchESPN app and Major League Soccer MatchDay app have both added support for Chromecast. Of course to use either app you’ll need to subscribe to their services directly or (in the case of WatchESPN) you’ll need your login credentials for your existing cable service.
For those that aren’t into sports, popular anime show app Crunchyroll has introduced support for the Chromecast as well. Last but not least, Google+ will add a Chromecast icon that allows you to beam over videos and photos.
While the Chromecast might not be as impressive as the Fire TV or as app-heavy as the Roku, it does seem to be the gift that keeps on giving as its functionality continues to evolve with nearly every passing day. Sure, the Chromecast isn’t perfect but it’s low price-tag and developer-friendly nature still makes it one of the best choices for those looking to bring smart TV-like functionality into their living rooms.
What do you think of the latest added apps, what else do you think Chromecast needs to bring before you are “truly satisfied” with the experience? Conversely, are all your favorite apps and services already onboard with Google’s streamer?
Motorola is introducing today an interesting new product that lets you turn just about any pair of speakers into wireless speakers.
The Moto Stream is a simple gadget that you can plug your speakers’ audio jack into. Power it up via microUSB and you’re good to go, you can now stream music wirelessly to you speakers via Bluetooth. Details are scarce for now, but the device can support up to 5 simultaneous Bluetooth connections, within a range of up to 300 feet.
The device features a funky polyhedral shape that lights up when powered up, and that’s about all we know for now about the device. The video above went live a few minutes ago and we expect more details about the Moto Stream, including price and availability, to go up any minute.
HTC has published its sales figures for the month of May, and it’s not exactly the good news we were hoping to hear.
At the beginning of last month, HTC forecasted a strong Q2 performance, and while that guidance is still on the table, it looks like May will actually bring a small decrease in sales compared to the previous month. HTC reported NT$21,065 in revenue, which is 4.59 percent lower than in April, and a whopping 27.37 lower than the same time last year.
So, what happened in May that caused a revenue dip? Theoretically, the month should have been a strong one for HTC, with the One (M8) and, to a lesser extent, the “premium mid-range” Desire 816, available for sale worldwide. It’s possible that most customers who wanted a One (M8) bought one in April, when it first went on sale. And we have to consider that April was a good month, with 36 percent increase over March. But it’s still a bit disheartening to see HTC losing steam so fast after the release of the One.
On the bright side, the positive guidance for Q3 remains in place, meaning that HTC expects good sales in June. The One Mini 2 will go on sale this month in Asia, Europe, Middle East, and North Africa, as a smaller variant of the flagship One (M8). And, by the end of June, the brand new One (E8), a plastic-clad M8 lookalike, will become available in China, another large and important market for HTC. Will HTC’s strategy to extend the One family pay off? We’ll find out in about a month.
One of the best ‘budget’ Android devices we have ever seen is on sale right now, for a limited time, the Moto G with Verizon badging is going for just $49.99 over at Best Buy. That’s a $50 savings off the normal price.
I have to assume you have heard of the Moto G by now. The phone that Motorola rocked the market with in the last six months. You know the one, it’s got a 4.5-inch display, only has 3G connectivity and a little Snapdragon 400 processor. Yes, that’s the one, the phone that people laughed at for having specs that drastically paled in comparison to the flagship devices on the market. But this little device came out of the gates swinging, and even managed to outperform some of the top dogs in user experience.
Now, aside from the same Android 4.3 that should update to 4.4 when you first turn on your new Moto G, the same Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities, the same 1.3MP front & 5MP rear shooters and more, you will notice that the Verizon Moto G only comes with 8GB internal storage and that it can only connect to the Verizon network. If you can live with this, this is the deal for you. If not, you’ll still have to dish out nearly $200 to get the unlocked 16GB version from Motorola, or Google, if you like the benefits of owning a Google Play Edition phone.
We do not want to jump to any conclusions, but this is possibly a move to clear up some inventory to make room for the next rendition of the Moto G. The second take on the Moto G, with LTE and microSD card slot, is just around the corner, but it is still only up for pre-order on Motorola’s website. Either way, at just $50, it is almost worth it to pick up a unit or two just to have kicking around for emergencies. Or to use for one of the many uses we’ve outlined for ‘old’ Android devices.
If you’ll excuse me, I have to go place my order now. What about you, is the Verizon Moto G on your list of devices you would like to own?
