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Thursday, August 20, 2015

It’s 2015, Why Do All Android Phones Still Include a “But”

The year is 2015 and we still don’t have a perfect smartphone. I’d argue that there isn’t even a phone that is all that close to being perfect. I’m not saying that all of today’s phones are bad, because most are very, very good and you will probably be satisfied with whatever you choose. But every single one of them includes a big “but.” Hear me out.

Over the past few years, we have seen display technology from Samsung that looks more life-like than your TV and is mindblowingly good. We have seen processors reach PC-like power and efficiency levels. RAM is insanely fast. The Galaxy Note 5 has 4GB of it, people. 4GB. Storage is also faster than ever before. We even have fast wireless charging now! Cameras are reaching point-and-shoot territory. No, smartphone cameras are coming close to eclipsing some point-and-shoots. Metals are being used. Glass is too. Phones look like high-end watches or jewelry, yet do more than a computer in many instances. Technology is, well, pure awesome right now. So why is it that every single Android manufacturer can’t make us the perfect phone.

Why isn’t there a perfect option right now? 

I bring this up because not only am I trying to figure out what my next phone should be, but I seem to have run into a number of friends over the last week that are looking for advice on their next smartphone purchase. What do I tell them? I tend to hesitate, toss out a phone or two based on my general thoughts about what they might want, and then finish each phone’s description with a “but” followed by an explanation of what’s wrong with it. That’s sort of sad. It seems like there should be a phone, in 2015, that doesn’t have any drawbacks. There should be a phone that I can emphatically say, “Buy this now and you will not regret it.” But, there isn’t.

Walk with me through these and tell me if I’m wrong.

galaxy s6 review---5

Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge:  Great phones with the highest-end specs, beautiful designs, class-leading cameras, and a list of features that almost no other phone can come close to comparing to! But, they have terrible battery life, have seen severe performance dips after recent updates, don’t have SD card slots or removable batteries, and aren’t waterproof or resistant. They also run Samsung’s mostly awful TouchWiz on top of Android.

Galaxy Note 5:  The best specs on the planet with an equally impressive design and some really nicely improved S Pen features. But, Samsung ditched the SD card slot, shrunk the battery while making it non-removable, killed the IR blaster, and forgot that people in countries outside of the US, might like this phone. Oh, it’s also huge.

Moto X Pure Edition:  It runs a “pure” Android experience along with Motorola’s awesome suite of software, can be customized to your liking, has an SD card slot, a camera that Motorola finally took seriously, and is going to be sold unlocked at a hell of a price! But, it’s huge, doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor, and is going to be sold unlocked and out of the eye (and reach) of typical US customers. I also don’t know if we can trust Motorola when they say its camera will finally be good. They’ve never made a phone with a decent camera, let alone a best-in-class shooter.

Moto X Play:  “Hey, Motorola here. We made this really sweet budget-friendly phone with mostly premium specs, but, this is us giving you the finger, US customers. You are never buying one.”

OnePlus 2:  The price is awesome, as are most of the specs and premium materials used in the build. But, OnePlus decided for you that you don’t need NFC or an SD card slot, plus you’ll never be able to buy one, thanks to a f*cking ridiculous invite system that is 4 million people deep.

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LG G4:  Pretty good specs for the most part and a really, really good camera. But, it’s made of cheap-feeling plastic and terrible faux leather, is a pretty big phone, has the worst Android skin in the business, and has the software support of LG, which is not something to brag about.

Nexus 6:  It runs Google’s vision for Android. But, it’s a whale, has an average camera for a 2015 smartphone, and…did I mention that it’s a whale?

Sony has phones that have some really good things going for them (like best-in-class battery life and smaller high-end models), but they aren’t ever available in the US, almost always have below-average or average cameras, and look like their predecessors from 3 years ago.

The next new Nexus phone or two could come with few compromises, but I would imagine they won’t have SD card slots, could be tough to get a hold of (unless Google goes the carrier route again), and will more than likely have piss poor cameras.

Now, as I mentioned in the opening, almost all of these phones are more than capable and are the best line of phones we have ever seen. Some of these phones are borderline great on a number of levels. But, they all have pretty serious flaws that I just mentioned. Some of these things are dealbreakers for our readers, myself, and my friends and family. And trust me, I’m not the only one thinking this. Every time a new phone is announced, our comment sections get filled with all of the items I mentioned here for each phone.

It’s 2015. Why don’t we have a perfect smartphone yet?

It’s 2015, Why Do All Android Phones Still Include a “But” is a post from: Droid Life



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Here are 21 Interactive Watch Faces to Get Your Android Wear Watch Ready

The next Android Wear update to hit your smartwatch will introduce interactive watch faces. These new faces will allow you to interact with your watch like never before, meaning you will be able to tap on them to quickly view the weather or your calendar or even launch an app. The watch faces could allow you to toggle between steps taken, calories burned, change dials that show, or tweak a watch face’s HUD, depending on the app.

To help get you ready for all that interactivity, Google has posted a collection of the watch face apps they partnered with to launch the new feature. There are 21 in total, but I’d imagine others will get their watch faces ready as quickly as possible now that the new API is available.

Keep in mind that none of the new interactive features work until you receive the next Android Wear update, which will slowly rollout over the coming weeks.

You’ll find all of the new watches and the link below.

Play Link

interactive watch faces

Here are 21 Interactive Watch Faces to Get Your Android Wear Watch Ready is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Photos Now Helps You “Rediscover Photos From the Past”

A new update to Google Photos is rolling out that should help you re-live your past through pictures. The update will notify you of moments or events from the past through cards in the app’s Assistant. The cards could be from a “trip this time last year” or as a collage of photos from a time long ago where you and bunch of friends shotgunned Busch Light at a gravel pit, around a fire of burning pallets, with Ruff Ryders Anthem playing out of Brett’s jacked up Chevy. Ahhh, youth. The feature is opt-in, so if you don’t want to rediscover the past, you don’t have to.  The update is rolling out slowly on Android, but should be available on the web and iOS immediately. Play Link

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Via: +Google Photos

Google Photos Now Helps You “Rediscover Photos From the Past” is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Adsense for Android Gets New Logo, Full Material Makeover

The Google Adsense application for Android just got its big update to Material Design. The app is now as “fresh” as can be with new logo and move away from the days of Jelly Bean hamburger menus.

Outside of the new look (which can be seen below), Google also added custom date ranges, a bunch of new reports, new metrics, and translations for Hindi and Malay.

For those grabbing pennies on the daily with Adsense, be sure to update. 

What’s New

  • New logo and fresh look with Google’s material design
  • Custom date ranges
  • New reports: ad sizes, types and networks, targeting and bid types
  • New metrics: impressions, impression RPM and CTR
  • Hindi and Malay translations
  • Bug fixes

Play Link

Screen Shot 2015-08-20 at 11.52.54 AM Screen Shot 2015-08-20 at 11.52.36 AM Screen Shot 2015-08-20 at 11.52.45 AM

Google Adsense for Android Gets New Logo, Full Material Makeover is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Translate Launches for Android Wear, Supports 44 Languages

Thanks to the new Android Wear update announced this morning, set to roll out in the coming weeks, all smartwatch owners will find Google Translate preinstalled on devices, even if you don’t have the app on your smartphone. 

With this addition, users can speak a phrase into the watch, then receive instant translation in 1 of 44 supported languages. To use Google Translate, speak your phrase into the watch, then flick your wrist over for the other party to read. Then, they can reply in their native tongue, with the watch showing you just what they said with another flick of the wrist. And don’t worry, the software can automatically detect which languages are being spoken, so no buttons need to be pressed during the conversation.

Since this is part of the Android Wear 1.3 update, don’t expect to see it until you receive the official OTA, set to launch in the coming weeks.

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Via: Google

Google Translate Launches for Android Wear, Supports 44 Languages is a post from: Droid Life



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Rumor: Samsung to Launch Galaxy Note 5 Active on AT&T in November

According to an unnamed source of PhoneArena, Samsung and AT&T are working together to launch a Galaxy Note 5 Active onto the network this November. We know, it sounds ridiculous. As most of you likely know, the Active moniker deployed by Samsung defines a device’s rugged and tough design, capable of taking drops and even going for a swim thanks to water resistance. 

Until today’s rumor surfaced, it was thought the Active lineup would stick to the Galaxy S series of phones, as no Note device has ever been turned into an Active before. However, if the rumor turns true, we are looking at a Note 5 that is substantially thicker — thanks to a reported 4,100mAh battery — and taller due the shock absorbent casing around the phone.

Now, before you brush this off as fan fiction, declaring to yourself that Samsung would not attempt to create this phone because there is no need for it, take a look at the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Was there a need for that phone to be created? Be honest with yourself. The answer is “no way.” Taking that into account, this is Samsung we are talking about, and if there is an avenue to increase sales of a device, you bet Samsung will strike at it. All other internals will likely be the same, just as they are on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Active. We will get the same display, processor, and camera.

galaxy s6 active-9

Some consumers love the Active lineup, as it truly grants you the ability to be rough with your phone. If your kid wants to play with it, bite it, or throw it, the device will be fine. You can snap underwater pictures, or go camping and leave it in the dirt. The idea of an Active lineup makes sense.

PhoneArena’s source states the device will be available starting November 8 on AT&T. No pricing was detailed by the source, though.

Now, if Samsung was to launch a Galaxy Note 5 Active this year, would you be interested? Share your opinion down below.

Via: PhoneArena

Rumor: Samsung to Launch Galaxy Note 5 Active on AT&T in November is a post from: Droid Life



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LG G Watch R Finally Gets WiFi Support in Latest Android Wear Update

Back in May when Google said that an update to Android Wear would introduce WiFi to almost all of your favorite smartwatches, there was plenty of excitement to be had at the added functionality in brought that no longer required a constant Bluetooth connection to a phone. Of course, LG G Watch R owners were not a part of the original WiFi party, as the watch was left off of the initial list of devices scheduled to receive WiFi. 

But LG did promise that an update would arrive at some point in Q3 with WiFi on board. As it turns out, they weren’t messing around. In today’s announcement from Google about interactive watch faces coming to Android Wear, they also announced that the G Watch R would finally get its WiFi.

Yay!

Via: Android Developers

LG G Watch R Finally Gets WiFi Support in Latest Android Wear Update is a post from: Droid Life



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Android Wear Update Introduces Interactive Watch Faces

This morning, the Android team announced a new update to their Android Wear platform that introduces interactive watch faces. An interactive watch faces gives developers the opportunity to bake in more advanced features and information to watch faces with fewer taps. Now, as Google points out, “with just a tap” your watch face can “change its design, reveal more information, or even launch a specific app.”

In the examples below, you can see how a watch face could have shortcuts to steps, weather, calendar, missed calls, etc., all that can be quickly launched with a tap. You could also use taps to toggle between items like calories burned, steps, or distance with a fitness watch face. 

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TogetherWatchFace

This update is also introducing device-to-device communication, with apps like Together (pictured above) that allow you to share pictures, emoji, and activities from one watch to another.

The update is rolling out to Android Wear watches in the coming weeks.

Developers, be sure to check out info on the new Interactive Watch Face API that launched today.

 

Via:  Android Blog

Android Wear Update Introduces Interactive Watch Faces is a post from: Droid Life



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Sony’s SmartBand 2 Features Advanced Heart Rate Sensor, Can Judge Stress Levels

Sony took the wraps off its new SmartBand 2 this morning, a health and lifestyle fitness band that will launch in September for around 119 EUR. The goal of the new SmartBand 2 is to not only look appealing with its variety of colors, but to provide “full-scale insights about your fitness, well-being, and stress levels.”

Sony included an accelerometer and heart rate sensor to monitor pulse and heart rate “variability,” which they think allows them to “gauge overall fitness, excitement and stress levels throughout the day.” That’s a pretty bold idea to grasp, but hey, the more data crunching in wearables we can do, the better, in my opinion. 

The new SmartBand 2 automatically tracks activities (walking, running and “other” workouts), keeps track of it all in the Lifelog companion app, and may even help you rest better with sleep insights. It will also vibrate your wrist and ping you with LEDs for calls, messages, Tweets, and emails.

You can fully charge the SmartBand 2 in around an hour. It should last around 2 days on a single charge.

Interested?

Via:  Sony

Sony’s SmartBand 2 Features Advanced Heart Rate Sensor, Can Judge Stress Levels is a post from: Droid Life



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Bing’s “Snapshots on Tap” is a Take on Google Now on Tap

Google Now on Tap is one of those features that can’t get here soon enough. As a refresher, Now on Tap makes Google Now smarter and more present by allowing Google to scan your screen to present you relevant information when you need it, without the need to leave that screen. It’s like an on demand service that could bring you movie show times when in an email string with a friend who wants to catch a flick or restaurant reviews after your sister mentions a specific lunch spot in a text conversation. Unfortunately, it’s still not here even though Google first announced it back in May at Google I/O. We are expecting it to launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow later this year. 

As we wait for that to arrive, Microsoft has snuck in with a similar release of its own through the official Bing app. An update today introduces “Snapshots” or “Snapshots on Tap,” which as the name suggests, is a lot like how Google’s Now on Tap should work.

With the new Bing app set as your default home long press or swipe up (replacing Google Now), you can now allow Bing to scan your screen and then attempt to present you with useful information. I’ve had it bring up Wiki pages for Instagram users, ask if I want to play music through Spotify from Eminem, and even brought up travel booking options.

It’s not 100% awesome, but it does get you into the idea of an on tap experience today.

Play Link

Bing’s “Snapshots on Tap” is a Take on Google Now on Tap is a post from: Droid Life



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