Friday, April 10, 2015
Android Headliner: Mixed Apple Watch Reviews and a High Price Tag Could Help Android Wear
The Apple Watch arrived this week, and regardless of whether or not we want to admit it, it’s going to have a big effect on the smartwatch and wearable market as a whole. While most of us can see that it’s expensive, slow, not exactly what you’d call a timepiece and downright expensive there are many, many other users out there that will buy it just because it’s Apple. We can’t knock Apple for that, after all a brand cachet like that takes a long, long time to build. Lower price tags, more choice and a slightly more mature platform could work in Android Wear’s favor, though.
Okay, so let’s get this out of the way, the Apple Watch only works with an iPhone, but any Android Wear watch will work with any Android smartphone (running Android 4.3 and above, of course). That means that the Apple Watch will work with just one smartphone, where a Moto 360 will work with any Galaxy S, Motorola, Xperia or HTC One smartphone on the planet (within reason). I’m willing to bet that there are more users than we think out there that still don’t give a damn what operating system is running on their smartphone. After all, the majority of average consumers know their Samsung smartphone to be a “Galaxy” not an “Android phone”. If Apple were hoping that people who had owned an iPhone in the past were coming back because of the Apple Watch, then they might want to think again. The Apple Watch will become a desirable product, even if reviews have panned it as a product that needed a little more time in the oven, but where Google and Android Wear partners can win is on price and variety.
Mixed reviews for the Apple Watch – including the hilariously bias review from a certain site that scored the Moto 360 higher than the Apple Watch, yet calls the latter the most accomplished smartwatch yet – have all said that it’s not great value for money and it’s incredibly slow and notifications are more troublesome than they were without one. Android Wear watches like the Moto 360, G Watch R and Sony SmartWatch 3 are all less expensive, feature much better battery life and there’s a choice of different devices, rather than just different watch bands and a flat-out disgusting price for a lump of gold.
There are probably more users out there willing to jump from their Galaxy S4, LG G2, first-gen Moto X or even a Galaxy S5 or something newer to an iPhone to get the Apple Watch than we probably realize. These users are the ones that Google and co. should be targeting. The introduction of watch straps available to purchase directly from Google is a good start, but there’s more that can be done and if Google want Android Wear to be a success, they need to push things more with their marketing and if they don’t, this time next year things might be very different. Of course, there’s no telling the Apple Watch is even going to be a success, but 2015 is going to be a big year for wearable technology in general.
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Google reportedly working on better battery technology
We see improvements in all areas of tech each and every day, but the trickiest problem to tackle by far is that of the battery. Battery technology of today just isn’t keeping up with these fast iterations in tech, and while companies have resorted to fast charging technologies to make up for it, Google seemingly isn’t satisfied with that.
The company is reportedly exploring improved battery technology in the comfy confines of their X Labs department, according to the Wall Street Journal. Details from the report are scarce, though we do know the team is comprised of four engineers, including a former Apple expert on battery technology.
While we all simply want better batteries in our smartphones, Google’s end-game is to develop the technology for life-enhancing industries which are still growing such as robotics, medical accessories and driver-less vehicles.
As it stands, any improvement to battery technology will be good for anything that has anything to do with portable electronics, so we’re sure everyone the world over will be rooting Google on to see if they can make significant progress in a much lacking area. Fingers crossed that the brilliant minds at the Googleplex can come up with anything of substance.
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[Deal] Select Motorola Moto 360 models discounted through Best Buy, Amazon
Didn’t pre-order an Apple Watch? That’s probably because you don’t have an iPhone or you did not want to wait weeks or months to get a smartwatch. If you want one right now, maybe the Moto 360 is worth a look because both Best Buy and Amazon have select models discounted. The Motorola smartwatch, which is powered by Android Wear, can be purchased for as low as $179.
Check out the models listed in the links below. Let us know in the comments if you purchased one or already have a smartwatch on your wrist.
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Bing.com gets a makeover for Android phones
Just because you have an Android device doesn’t mean that you must use Google as the go-to search engine. There are plenty of options available and one of them just received a makeover. Today, Microsoft unveiled a new look for Bing that focuses on content consumption. Rather than being so straightforward and emphasizing search, Bing now serves popular content. Also, Bing Rewards has a new home on the homepage.
The team behind the changes highlighted these areas:
User interface redesign: Based on numerous A/B experiments, we’ve determined that users prefer a swipe-up card layout (~5-10 percent swipe-up rate), a translucent color scheme and ~50 px initial card peak height.
Image of the day (IOTD) card: While on the go, you can learn something new about today’s homepage image with our IOTD card. In addition, we shipped a new UX to help you learn even more about the topic.
Popular now card: News consumption is a common activity on mobile devices. We also know that on Bing.com desktop, the homepage news carousel at the bottom of the page is one of the most highly engaged features, connecting users to news stories across the web. With that in mind, we are bringing the desktop’s news carousel experience to mobile. We select the top trending stories for you and update them throughout the day. Moving forward, we will continue to make these stories even more relevant and personal.
Bing Rewards card: Many Bing Mobile users are also heavily engaged Bing Rewards users. To facilitate their experience, we created a new Rewards card and gave it prime real-estate. This card gives you a convenient entry point to Bing Rewards and a quick way to view your status.
Settings Card: Another common activity for users is to change their Safe Search settings. With this card, users can discover and take action quickly (see above.)
Footer Card: In the footer section, we have added “Send feedback” link. We would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and suggestions.
Source: Bing
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Some Owners Of Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 Devices Running Android 5.0.2 Report Significant Issues After Updating
Software updates are supposed to improve various aspects, however, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Android OS has been a controversial one. While it introduced a visual upgrade, with the new design language dubbed Material Design, it also faced criticism for removing some features that users are desperate to have back. A prime example of this being ‘silent mode’. There has also been criticism of manufacturers and carriers for not getting the update out to enough devices, quick enough. In terms of the numbers, at a recent count, Lollipop was said to be on roughly 5% of android devices.
Now it appears that some Nexus devices running Android 5.0.2 have just stopped working. It’s hard to blame the update, because the devices seem to be suffering from very different symptoms, but the amount of the devices being affected is quite alarming. Even Twitter is plagued with messages carrying the hashtag #nexus7bricked. Some devices just seem to get stuck on the Google logo boot screen, a behavior that would be expected if the update process was interrupted in some way, but other users report that the devices were successfully updated, they were working fine and then a few weeks later they had this issue. Different users again, state they are unable to boot into Recovery Mode, so this is not a solution.
One user said that he took his Nexus 7 to have it repaired and was told that they would have to replace the logic board, so the repair would cost around $200. Which seems excessive considering that a new 16 GB Nexus 7 can be picked up for less. This might suggest that there’s something in the update that slowly affects the hardware until it is unusable. Considering that the tablet was launched in 2013, the warranty most likely has already expired and neither Google, responsible for the software or Asus, the maker of the tablet are offering a solution. Google might be able to help if the tablet was purchased from the Play Store, but there haven’t been any reports to confirm this.
Additionally, some Nexus 5 users have been experiencing some issues too, so it is not clear if the update could eventually affect other devices in the future or if this has to do with only these two Nexus models.
The post Some Owners Of Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 Devices Running Android 5.0.2 Report Significant Issues After Updating appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
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Microsoft Gives The Bing Homepage On Mobile A New Design With Cards Layout
If you use Bing as your primary search engine, Microsoft has just revamped the mobile version of Bing with a new design and interface for Android users. Things should generally feel more fluid and easier to navigate, and with the redesign it adds to Microsoft’s list of changes they’re making to offer a more user friendly and open approach with their software for multiple platforms. While Bing has never been platform specific, the fact that Microsoft has taken the time to redesign the mobile version of Bing for those who browse the site on Android shows they’re committed to pleasing all of their users regardless of platform.
In the list of changes with the redesign, Microsoft gave the user interface of the Bing homepage a face lift, and have applied a “swipe-up card design” showing the snippets of information in a card like style similar to what you might find with Google Now, although the cards do look quite different from Google Now’s cards. In addition to placing things in a card style layout, the color scheme is translucent showing the card panels as a darker translucent set over the top of the image backdrop. Microsoft has also incorporated the image of the day, which changes daily and users can interact with it by tapping on the image to learn more details about the chose picture.
If you like keeping up on hot topics, the Bing homepage also now holds a “popular now” card in the set of things listed when you bring up the website, which you can tap on to find out more details and headlines about the most popular articles, topics, and pages being read, viewed, and discussed at that point in time. For example, topics like the supercollider coming back on, and Game Of Thrones. At the start of the day, Microsoft selects the top trending stories and places them under the popular now card, and they even update them throughout the course of the day so the stories are always fresh and you have something new to read. Microsoft also found that many users of Bing were also heavy users of Bing Rewards, which is why they chose to incorporate a brand new Bing Rewards card into the homepage that’s now available through Android browsers. The new layout and changes are live now, so you can check them out at any point in time just by directing your Android browser to Bing.com.
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Cricket Wireless now selling the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
Another device has joined the Galaxy S 5 and Galaxy S 4 as devices from Samsung sold by Cricket Wireless. The carrier is now offering the Galaxy Grand Prime to its customers. This entry-level handset, which has decent specifications for the price, comes in white only and costs $179 with a new activation.
Key specifications:
- 5-inch, 960×540 display
- Quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz
- 1 GB of RAM
- 8MP rear camera / 5MP front camera
- 2600mAh battery
- 8 GB of internal storage with microSD card slot
- Android 4.4 KitKat
[Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime – Cricket Wireless]
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Chromebook Pixel (2015) heads to the United Kingdom on April 21 for £799
At the end of this month, people in the United Kingdom can purchase the upcoming Chromebook Pixel (2015). Prospective buyers will be able to order the device from the online Google Store on April 21. Also, electronics retailer Dixons will carry the Chromebook Pixel (2015). The price to be paid in the United Kingdom is set at £799.
Via: TechCrunch
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Samsung hypes unboxing the Galaxy S6 with new ‘Anticipation’ commercial
Today, millions of people around the world will have a Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge in their hands for the first time. The feeling of unboxing either device, or any device for that matter, cannot be described any better than with the word “anticipation.” Samsung has decided to show that feeling in a new television commercial that captures all moments of anticipation. The commercial covers moments like blowing out a birthday cake or preparing to perform on stage. It closes with excitement all around and everyone interacting with their Samsung devices.
Hit the break for the commercial.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Amazon Reverses Decision: The Original 'Postal' Is Now Available On The Appstore For $1.99, Still MIA From The Google Play Store
Earlier this week we reported on Google's decision to refuse an Android port of the PC shooter Postal in the Google Play Store. Two days later, a representative of developer Running With Scissors told us that Amazon had done the same for the Amazon Appstore, and provided us with the rejection letters from both companies. Google refusing to allow the controversial shooter onto the Play Store is merely inconsistent; as we noted at the time, games with similar levels of violence like Grand Theft Auto III are easily available.
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Amazon Reverses Decision: The Original 'Postal' Is Now Available On The Appstore For $1.99, Still MIA From The Google Play Store was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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‘Postal’ admitted to Amazon Appstore, continues to be blocked from Google Play
This week, the game Postal was blocked from being distributed through the Amazon Appstore and Google Play. Why? The game, which is part of a series launched in 1997, features graphic content. Being blocked from the Amazon Appstore and Google Play is quite an issue considering the amount of users accessible through those digital storefronts.
Running with Scissors, the developer behind Postal, was served with notices from Amazon and Google that the game is too violent and thus does not meet their guidelines. Amazon’s rejection notice was not detailed, but Google specifically claimed that the game is “gratuitously violent.” Running with Scissors’ Mike Jaret-Schachter took to Twitter to voice his disappointment with the decision. He specifically noted games like Grand Theft Auto III being available to consumers.
Fortunately, Amazon did acknowledge that Postal should have a place in the Appstore and it is now available. Google, though, has not commented on the matter and Postal remains blocked from the Play Store.
Via: DroidGamers
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GPU Frame Rate Tests For The Sony Xperia Z4 And LG G4 Allegedly Show Up On Benchmark Site
Both the upcoming LG G4 and the Sony Xperia Z4 have recently been spotted on the GFX Bench website, showing off test results of the framrate capabilities of the GPU’s compared with other devices like the HTC One M9, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note Edge, Nexus 6, and others. These GPU framerate results are the latest details in a series of leaks for both phones leading up to their eventual launch, although so far there are no actual confirmed details about either device. So far the rumors have speculated various pieces of information about the specs and the release dates, with the LG G4 having an unveiling at the end of this month when LG holds their flagship event.
As for Sony, there has been no talk by Sony Mobile about an announcement event or an actual release, but there have been numerous image leaks and renders of what the device is believed to look like, as well as rumors about specifications. If the information on this GPU test from GFX Bench is correct, then the Sony Xperia Z4 would be equipped with an Adreno 420 GPU, and the LG G4 would be equipped with an Areno 418 GPU, which suggests both devices will be carrying Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. In the case of the LG this isn’t too hard to believe since the LG G Flex 2 already uses the latest available Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor.
While this is anything but an actual confirmation, the Adreno 420 GPU is paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, so the Sony Xperia Z4 could be following the rumors and be powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 810. As for the Adreno 418, this suggests the LG G4 will carry the Snapdragon 808 processor, which is a hexa-core CPU and was already a rumor prior to the GPU test results showing up. Based on the image, the Sony Xperia Z4 received a score of 1115 frames at 18.0 frames per second, while the LG G4 seems to have received a more modest score of 548 frames at 5.6 frames per second. It’s important to keep in mind that these test results could be based on early builds of the devices that are not meant for launch, and real world experience could vary.
The post GPU Frame Rate Tests For The Sony Xperia Z4 And LG G4 Allegedly Show Up On Benchmark Site appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
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Moto 360 is on sale at Amazon for just $179 [DEALS]
The tech world has been dominated by Apple Watch news this week, but we here in Android Land have been using smartwatches for a while. Long before Apple was selling overpriced watches we’ve been using some beautiful devices of our own. The Moto 360 was the first smartwatch that could pass as a fashionable “real” watch, and now it’s on sale for a great price.
Amazon is offering a couple of versions of the Moto 360 for just $179, which is $70 off the original price. The black version with black leather band and silver version with stone leather band are available at the discounted price. The champagne and dark metal versions are also on sale for $219. We’re starting to hear rumors about the next Moto 360, but it’s still a great time to buy the original.
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10 Tips every Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge owner should know
We’ve already shown you the first 13 things you should do when getting your Samsung Galaxy S6, and all of that is equally applicable to the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. If you picked up the Edge and were wondering about its unique features, though, look no further. Here’s a full rundown of everything you should know about the Edge display and all the options, features and settings at your disposal.
1. Set the device to light up the Edge screen when calls or messages are received
One of the main features of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge’s Edge display is to have it illuminate a certain color based on who’s calling or messaging you. You’ll probably want to get this setup as soon as you receive your phone. Simply head to Settings > Edge screen > Edge lighting and make sure the option is set to “On,” and you’re good to go!
2. Pick 5 of your most important people to light up your Edge display
Of course, setting up the Edge display isn’t worth much without actually specifying which contacts you want lighting up your desk. Going to Settings > Edge screen > People edge will allow you to do just that.
Alternatively, on the home-screen you can slide out the People edge user interface by swiping the transparent tab to the middle of the display, and use the “+” icon to add any contact you want.
Now you can set up to 5 contacts that will illuminate your Edge display whenever they call (as well as other Edge features which we’ll get to in a moment). You can pick from one of 5 colors for those contacts:
- Blue
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Purple
Setting up your people isn’t enough, though — you’ll need to make sure your phone knows which phone numbers and email addresses to look for whenever they reach out.
3. Set default contact information for People edge
Heading to Settings > Edge Screen > People edge will allow you to specify default contact options for each of your five contacts.
You won’t be able to get notifications from them until you set these up, so make sure you don’t skip this step! Setting an email address will naturally enable Edge notifications for when they send you email, while setting the default phone number enables them for both phone calls and messages. Note that this information will need to be entered into each contact’s listing in your Contacts app before it shows up as a default option in People edge, so be sure to double check that if you aren’t seeing the options you’re looking for.
Once you’ve gotten it all ready to go you’ll notice your Edge display glow in the color corresponding to each contact whenever they call or message you. Be sure to set your phone face down on the surface to get the most out of this cool effect!
4. Send Quick Replies to your Edge contacts using the heart rate sensor
You only get the most out of the Edge display notifications when your phone is face down, so how do you act on incoming calls and messages without having to pick the phone up? Simple: the Heart Rate sensor on the rear does more than just read your pulse — it can be used to send quick replies!
To enable the feature and set your message, go to Settings > Edge Settings > Quick Reply and make sure the option is set to “On.” After that, use the text box at the bottom to set a custom message you want to send to a contact whenever you can’t accept their call.
When you have an incoming call from an Edge contact and can’t be bothered to pick the phone up, simply touch the heart rate sensor with your finger for 2 seconds and it’ll dismiss the call and send your preset text message to let them know you aren’t able to come to the phone.
5. Pull on your contacts’ colors to see and respond to missed calls and messages
Once you’ve gotten your People Edge contacts setup, you’ll see little tabs with their colors when you miss a call or message from them on your home-screen. Pulling on these tabs will not only show you information about the event — such as the contents of the message or the time the missed call was placed — but also allow you to respond to them. Envelope icon is for email, phone icon is to call, and the chat bubble icon is to send a text message. Easy peasy.
6. Get news, weather and Twitter updates on the Edge display
The Edge screen is informative in more ways than one, including being your very own news ticker. The Information Stream can be customized by going to Settings > Edge Settings > Information Stream, and it’s here where you can sync your Twitter account to get updates when new Tweets come in, sports scores and news, weather information and stock quotes.
You can also use the “Manage Feeds” option to download more types of feeds. They’ll automatically display when new information comes in, though you can also force the feed to come up by swiping your finger to the left or right across the Edge display.
Here are the different types of streams you can setup by default:
- Briefing feed (standard device and app notifications)
- Yahoo! News
- Twitter trends
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Sports
There are also a number of additional types of feeds you can download:
- RSS Feeds for Edge
- Whoscall – Caller ID & Block
- BILD Newsticker
Be sure to explore each one and set them up to your own taste and liking!
7. Show a night clock on the Edge screen at night
One cool thing you might not know about the Edge display is that it’s possible to use it as a night clock! The time will display in low illumination at night, and thanks to the AMOLED display’s ability to turn on only the pixels it needs it sips next to nothing from the battery.
The only problem is you’ll need to enable this feature as it’s not enabled by default, though that’s no big task. Venture to Settings > Edge screen > Night clock and make sure the setting is set to “On.” From there, you can use the controls to specify a block of time when the night clock is enabled, up to a maximum of 12 hours.
8. Set a primary side for all your Edge display features to show on
We’re all different from head to toe, and that includes which hand we’re most comfortable using our phones with. If you don’t fancy your Edge features showing up on the righter-most edge, you can set it up on the left one. To do this, just go to Settings > Edge Screen > Edge Screen Position and select either Right Side or Left Side depending on what you fancy.
9. Have your Edge screen automatically shut off after a certain amount of time
As cool as the Edge display is, it can’t be on 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, lest you want your battery to run as dry as an overused well. While you can’t disable Edge screen timeout all together, you’ll be happy to know that you have some control over how long it takes for your display to shut off. Head to Settings > Edge Screen > Edge Screen Timeout and select from these preset options:
- 15 seconds
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute
- 2 minutes
- 5 minutes
- 15 minutes
We’d recommend only using the latter half of that list of options in the most extreme cases, but it’s yours to customize, so go nuts!
10. Get more help at the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge forums
So where to from here? Our Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge section at AndroidForums.com is a great destination for help, tips and trick and other helpful discussion, such as where to find the best cases, screen protectors, wireless chargers and other accessories. Here are just a few of the threads filled to the brim with conversation right now:
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge user manual
- Screen protectors for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- 4K video recording on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Cheap Qi wireless chargers for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
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Samsung bundled some minor extras with the Galaxy Note 4’s Lollipop update
The latest software update to reach the Galaxy Note 4 was seemingly all about Android 5.0 Lollipop. However, Samsung bundled some minor extras of its own. Nothing relates to the user interface, but users will have settings to take a look at.
Hit the break to see what is different.
Here are the changes and fixes as noted by SamMobile:
- Contacts app forced close error is fixed
- Side View Panel introduced with Home, Back, and Recents buttons
- Mute feature turns off vibration/sound
- Do Not Disturb replaces the All/Priority Only/No notifications option from Lollipop
Via: SamMobile
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[Deal Alert] Most Moto 360 Variants Reduced To $180 - $230 On Amazon And Best Buy
Motorola seems to be clearing stock. The company's Moto 360 is significantly marked down, and I'm not talking about just on one site, nor only one variant. You can currently get the device with leather or metal bands for prices ranging from $70 to $110 off on Amazon and Best Buy alike.
While the prices are largely identical across the two stores, there are a few discrepancies. Best Buy offers all of the metal variants for $10 less than Amazon.
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[Deal Alert] Most Moto 360 Variants Reduced To $180 - $230 On Amazon And Best Buy was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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