APK BRO™ - Download APK Android Apps: 08/05/15

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Apple Needs Developers to Build “Exciting New Mobile Products” for Android

A fresh job posting from Apple potentially shows signs of Android life inside 1 Infinite Loop that doesn’t involve Apple Music. The job listing is for an “Applications SW Engineer” whose job is to help Apple “bring exciting new mobile products to the Android platform.” Ooooooh.

9to5Mac, who first noticed the posting, seems to believe this is for a position outside of the development of the Apple Music Android app, since development of that app should be well underway with its expected arrival time of this “Fall.” While no one knows for sure, there is always a chance that Apple has realized it can grow its brand by offering up some of its other ~~popular~~ house-made apps, like FaceTime, Apple Maps, its brand new News app on iOS 9, or Safari. Then again, Apple probably doesn’t care if you use their free services on Android, as they would rather you buy their devices and use them. Apple Music makes sense cross-platform because there is a cost associated with using it. Hmm.

What do you think? If Apple were to introduce other apps on Android, what would it be? Or better yet, are there any of Apple’s apps that you wish were on Android?

Via: Apple | 9to5Mac

Apple Needs Developers to Build “Exciting New Mobile Products” for Android is a post from: Droid Life

This Nexus 6 Prototype With Fingerprint Reader is Neat

If you own a Nexus 6, you are likely familiar with the dimple on its backside. We have known since this past January that this dimple was supposed to be a fingerprint reader, according to ex-Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside, and now (in August), we have a few pictures of what might have been, thanks to a leak from Weibo.

As we can see, the dimple would have housed a black or dark gray fingerprint reader, with the Motorola logo still appearing on its exterior. It is said that due to Apple’s purchase of AuthenTec, Motorola did not want to sacrifice user experience with a less-than-stellar fingerprint reader, so they opted to axe the idea altogether.

There is no doubt that fingerprint reading is becoming a big feature for new flagship devices, and it is reported we should see the feature on both of the upcoming Nexus devices later this year. After all, one of Android M’s key new features is native support of fingerprint scanning.

While fingerprint readers can be quite nice, they do need to be implemented correctly for users to actually benefit. For example, requiring a user to slide their finger across a strip is not fun. Instead, like on the Galaxy S6 and OnePlus 2, you should only need to place your finger down for a second, and the device will unlock. That’s the way it should be.

Are you excited for pretty much all new phones to come equipped with a fingerprint reader?

Via: G for Games

This Nexus 6 Prototype With Fingerprint Reader is Neat is a post from: Droid Life

Deal: Charge All Your Devices With the Exocharge 3-Port USB Car Charger for $15

In need of stepping up your in-vehicle device charging game? Thanks to the Exocharge 3-Port USB Charger, available on the DL Deals Store for just $15 with free shipping, you can charge up to three devices simultaneously.

According to the product’s description, this 3-port USB charger deploys “rapid charge” technology for ultra fast power. While we doubt it is anything like QuickCharge 2.0 from Qualcomm, you can probably rest assured knowing your devices will charge in a timely manner using this charger.

This deal ends in four days, so if you would like to take advantage, have at it.

Features

Charges any USB-powered mobile device
Powers three devices simultaneously
Employs rapid charge technology for ultra-fast power
Built w/ a sleek aluminum body

Deal Link

Deal: Charge All Your Devices With the Exocharge 3-Port USB Car Charger for $15 is a post from: Droid Life

Android 5.1.1 “LMY48I” Factory Images Arrive for Nexus 4, 5, 6, 7 (2013), 9, and 10

Moments after pushing Android 5.1.1 “LMY48I” to AOSP, Google went ahead and made factory images of the new build available as well. We are currently seeing factory images for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013) WiFi, Nexus 9 WiFi and LTE, and Nexus 10.

As a reminder, this update patches the Stagefright vulnerabilities made public last week and is a part of Google’s new monthly security update program.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates will likely start rolling out tonight, so stay tuned for those files. In the mean time, you can grab the factory images for your devices at the link below. To flash a factory image to a Nexus device, hit up this link.

Factory Images Link | Binaries

Android 5.1.1 “LMY48I” Factory Images Arrive for Nexus 4, 5, 6, 7 (2013), 9, and 10 is a post from: Droid Life

Google Fiber Officially Coming to San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio residents, your week is starting to look up. Today, Google announced that Google Fiber is officially headed to San Antonio, Texas, with Google currently in the Design stage of the process. Once Design is complete, Construction begins, followed by Sign-Up and Installation.

There is no timeline yet for when all of this will be said and done, with customers using their new Fiber service, but at least you all know it has begun. If you live in Portland, OR, then you will know the pain of Google taking its sweet time in the “Exploration” process.

For an in-depth look at Fiber and its pricing, see our post here.

Happy San Antonio, peeps?

Via: Google Fiber

Google Fiber Officially Coming to San Antonio, Texas is a post from: Droid Life

Does the OnePlus 2 Work on Verizon? No.

I know that most of you know/knew the answer to this question, but it’s become obvious to us over the past couple of weeks that not everyone is clear on the situation involving the OnePlus 2 and Verizon. Does it work on Verizon? Will it ever work on Verizon? Why doesn’t it work on Verizon?

The short answer is, no, the OnePlus 2 does not and will not ever work on Verizon. The phone doesn’t support the frequencies or network bands that would allow it to function on Big Red’s network.

Here are the official network bands supported by the OnePlus 2, pulled from their official specs list:

GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz
WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
FDD-LTE: Bands 1/2/4/5/7/8/12/17

See anything missing? (Feel free to reference our US wireless band cheat sheet.) First of all, there isn’t a mention of CDMA2000, which is the network technology that powers Verizon’s 3G network and is the backbone that allows you to make/receive phone calls. Outside of that missing tech, the phone is also missing Verizon’s LTE band 13. Now, Verizon does use band 4 in markets where they have deployed XLTE, but it is band 13 that has the LTE reach across the nation and that you typically connect to.

The OnePlus 2 is sold as an unlocked phone that is capable of connecting to GSM networks, which are typically thought of as the more “open” type of wireless network. Adding CDMA compatibility probably would have driven the cost of the phone up, as well as the testing time.

So there you have it. The OnePlus 2 does not and will not work on Verizon.

Does the OnePlus 2 Work on Verizon? No. is a post from: Droid Life

Samsung Will Also Start Issuing “Fast Tracked” Monthly Security Updates

Today has been all about security on Android. First, we saw Samsung and Google prepare “Stagefright” updates for a number of devices, followed by an announcement that Google would begin pushing monthly security updates to its Nexus line. Samsung, in a separate post, has announced a similar initiative.

The Korean electronics giant announced a new “Android security update process” that fast tracks known security patches over-the-air (OTA) to devices. The updates could rollout as often as each month, thanks to the help of carriers and other partners. For example, Samsung has fast tracked updates to a number of its Galaxy devices just a week after the Stagefright vulnerability was made public. Outside of Samsung, only Google has prepared updates that we know of.

This new process will take a bit of time to get fully accepted by all partners, but so far we have seen Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T on board.

Via: Samsung

Samsung Will Also Start Issuing “Fast Tracked” Monthly Security Updates is a post from: Droid Life

Runtastic Acquired by adidas Group in € 220 million Deal

A deal has been struck between adidas Group and Runtastic, with adidas acquiring the fitness-centered app for € 220 million. The acquisition will allow Runtastic to develop and introduce many new features for its users, a community with millions of people.

In a blog post announcing the deal, Runtastic’s CEO states, “With our new partner, we’ve found the perfect match when it comes to taking our business to the next level and ultimately serving our community members in even better and smarter ways.” Moving forward, not much will change for users, as the team will remain its own entity inside of adidas Group. Although, access to funds should allow for quicker development of new features.

Runtastic is one of the most popular apps downloaded on Google Play for running and tracking workouts, and with this announcement, you can expect it to only get better.

If you have not tried it out, give it a go.

Play Link

Via: Runtastic

Runtastic Acquired by adidas Group in € 220 million Deal is a post from: Droid Life

Google Adds Easy Notes Exporting From Keep to Docs on Android, Slides Sharing in Hangouts

Google is issuing a couple of updates today that involves Google Keep and Docs, along with Google Slides and Hangouts.

The Google Keep update is simple in that Android users will now be able to easily export (copy) any notes to Google Docs with the touch of a button or two. The GIF above demonstrates this, in case you were wondering how it’ll work. Basically, long-press on a couple of notes to select multiple, then look for the action overflow menu in the top right corner.

With Google Slides, Google has added in easy presenting to video calls through Hangouts on Android. By tapping on the “present” button in a Slides presentation, users should see an option to present to a video call. From your Android device, you can then advance slides, view speaker notes, and use the built-in timer.

Play Links: Google Keep | Google Slides

Present to anyone, from wherever you are.

Google Slides helps you share your big ideas with the world, but sometimes presenting these ideas can be challenging. Last month Slides added support for Chromecast and Airplay, which made it easier to project your slides on the big screen. Today, there’s another new way to share your work: easy presenting to video calls. Now teammates, partners and clients can see your ideas, even if they’re on the other side of the planet.

As you get ready for the big meeting, all you need is your Android phone or tablet. With one tap of the present button, you’ll see the option to present to a video call. Meetings that are scheduled on your calendar will automatically be listed, so you can be up and running in no time.

You’ll also get a handy look at who’s on the call before you start presenting. Once you’re ready to rock, you can use your mobile device to advance slides, view speaker notes and stay on track with a built-in timer.

Via: Google

Google Adds Easy Notes Exporting From Keep to Docs on Android, Slides Sharing in Hangouts is a post from: Droid Life

OpenSignal Posts 2015 Android Fragmentation Report

Note: Every year, OpenSignal publishes an Android Fragmentation Report, detailing a few conceptions about the relationship between how many different devices there are on the market to how this makes developing for Android more difficult. Everything from OS fragmentation to screen size fragmentation is measured, but in actuality, Google has released countless tools for developers to minimize any hardship there is to get an app working on any and all supported Android devices. Long story short, we enjoy these reports for the pretty graphs detailing all of the phones, not the misleading talk on how Android is a fragmented mess and is scaring developers away. Enjoy.

Fragmentation is an interesting word to Android users. It used to represent how bad Android was with regard to OS updates and app development, but it’s really just the nature of having a free OS available to any OEM that wants to use it. Yes, Google does its best at making updates readily available for OEMs who want to implement them, and powering developers with tools to create the best apps they can regardless of a device’s screen size, but according to the latest Android Fragmentation Report posted by OpenSignal, there is still a long ways to go.

Disclosed in their findings, over the span of a year from August 2014 to August 2015, over 24,000 different Android devices can access Google Play and download apps, making application optimization a possible struggle for developers. In 2013, there was only about 12,000 devices, meaning “fragmentation” has doubled in just two years. The above graph allows us to visualize just how complex of an ecosystem we are working with. At the top, we have Samsung with the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5 holding a substantial amount of the smartphone market. Currently, Samsung accounts for nearly 40% of the Android smartphone market.

Going beyond the device fragmentation, “Brand Fragmentation” is also a subject OpenSignal touches on. As detailed in the graph, there are nearly 1,300 distinct Android manufacturers, with Samsung owning the majority, and LG, Sony, Motorola, as well as HTC filling out the field. In 2012, Samsung held nearly 50% of the total market, but thanks to hundred of competitors now in emerging markets creating mid-range devices, Samsung’s number has been drawn back quite a bit to under 40%.

Of course, what good would an Android Fragmentation Report be if there was no detailed comparison to iOS. The iOS chart shows there is basically only two version of iOS to choose from, iOS 7 and iOS 8, while on the other hand, Android has nine versions currently running in the free world. Just as we saw in the latest Android Distribution numbers, Kit Kat remains on top, running on 39% of phones, with Lollipop (the latest and greatest version of Android), running on just 18% of phones.

These graphs may seem complex, and even a little scary, but as an Android fan, the one thing I enjoy most about Google’s mobile OS is the freedom of choice I have to choose whichever device suits me best. There are the high-end devices, mid-range devices, and entry-level phones, with every possible option in between, meaning that no matter your income level, where you live, or your lifestyle, there is an Android device that likely suits all of your needs and wants.

Via: OpenSignal

OpenSignal Posts 2015 Android Fragmentation Report is a post from: Droid Life

Going Forward, Nexus Devices Will See Monthly Security Updates – First Up are the Nexus 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10

Earlier this morning, we told you that Google would be pushing updates to its Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 phones in an attempt to patch the Stagefright flaw that became public knowledge a week ago. As it turns out, Google will actually begin pushing updates to the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, and Nexus 10 today, updates that are the first in an on-going monthly security update package that was just announced.

Google states via its official Android blog that this week on, Nexus devices will receive regular over-the-air (OTA) updates each month that are focused on security. These updates are in addition to the typical platform updates.

This month’s update contains security fixes for “issues in bulletins provided to partners through July 2015,” which of course, fixes the Stagefright issues.

Via: Android Blog

Going Forward, Nexus Devices Will See Monthly Security Updates – First Up are the Nexus 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 is a post from: Droid Life

AT&T Pushing Stagefright Update to Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Others

A gang of Samsung devices on Sprint, plus two Nexus devices are receiving Stagefright patches this morning, but the fun does not stop there. AT&T looks to be doing the same, pushing a “device security enhancement” update to the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S6 Active, Galaxy S5, and Galaxy S5 Active.

The updates are as follows:

Galaxy Note 4 (N910AUCU2COC6)
Galaxy S6 Active (G890AUCU2AU2AOF4)
Galaxy S5 (G900AUCU4BOF3)
Galaxy S5 Active (G870AUCU2BOF3)

To check for these updates, head into Settings>System update>Update now.

Via: AT&T [2] [3] [4]

AT&T Pushing Stagefright Update to Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Others is a post from: Droid Life

Deal: Refurbished Chromecast for Just $20 at Groupon

Google’s Chromecast is available from Groupon for the next couple of days at the low price of just $20. This is a “manufacturer” refurbished dongle, but do you really care? $20 for a device that attaches to the back of your TV for streaming of almost all the things is a heck of a deal.

We are expecting Google to bring us a new one this quarter, but still, this is a good deal if you don’t already own a Chromecast or need an extra for another TV.

Deal Link

Cheers DaMoJo!

Deal: Refurbished Chromecast for Just $20 at Groupon is a post from: Droid Life

Sprint Pushing Stagefright Patches to Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S5, and Note Edge

Not only is Google pushing out a Stagefright patch to its Nexus line today, but Sprint and Samsung are pushing out patches to four devices as well. The Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S5, and Galaxy Note Edge are all seeing updates today that should secure your phone from malicious MMS.

The updates are as follows:

Galaxy S6 (G920PVPU2BOGA)
Galaxy S6 Edge (G925PVPU2BOGA)
Galaxy S5 (G900PVPU3BOG1)
Galaxy Note Edge (N915PVPU4COG1)

To check for these updates, head into Settings>System update>Update now.

Via: Sprint [2] [3] [4]

Sprint Pushing Stagefright Patches to Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S5, and Note Edge is a post from: Droid Life

Nexus 6 and Nexus 5 Receiving Stagefright Patch Today as Build LMY48I

Google is pushing a patch for the Stagefright security flaw starting today to the Nexus 6 and Nexus 5, at least according to Sprint. The new version of Android will roll out as build LMY48I and appears to only be headed to phones to patch Stagefright.

As we have factory images, .zip files for the update, or more info, we’ll be sure to pass that along.

If the update pops up on your phone, be sure to grab that OTA URL by following these instructions.

Via: Sprint [2]

Nexus 6 and Nexus 5 Receiving Stagefright Patch Today as Build LMY48I is a post from: Droid Life

Here Come the Galaxy S6 Price Cuts: T-Mobile Drops $100 Off 32GB Models, $200 Off 128GB Models

After reporting another somewhat disappointing quarter, Samsung said that we could see price cuts to its flagship phones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Either the T-Mobile version is the first in line to receive those cuts or T-Mobile just feels like giving you and I solid discounts on a phone that is the best you can buy.

Last night, T-Mobile slashed $100 off the 32GB and 64GB models of both the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but took it a step further when they dropped $200 off the 128GB models. So you can buy a regular Galaxy S6 with 32GB of storage for as little as $579 or go bonkers on storage and grab 128GB for $659. The S6 Edge now starts at $679 for 32GB models and goes up to $759 for the 128GB model. Skip the 64GB, folks, the better deal is with 128GB.

We’ll monitor the other carriers and let you know if they follow suit.

T-Mobile Links: Galaxy S6 | Galaxy S6 Edge

Cheers Anthony!

Here Come the Galaxy S6 Price Cuts: T-Mobile Drops $100 Off 32GB Models, $200 Off 128GB Models is a post from: Droid Life

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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

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