Sharp Aquos Crystal heading to Sprint on October 17, Boost Mobile carrying it today

Ready or not, here comes the Aquos Crystal. If you are a customer of either Sprint or Boost Mobile, you can get your hands on the Sharp device. The Aquos Crystal from Boost Mobile is available today for $150 with no contract to sign. The Boost Mobile version is also being sold through Best Buy.

Sprint customers have to wait one more week for the Aquos Crystal to arrive on October 17. Without going the prepaid route (starting October 21 for $150), the Sprint version’s cost is diced up into twenty-four monthly payments of $10.

Does the Sharp Aquos Crystal’s unique design catch your eye? Let us know in the comments.

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Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 4 available through Amazon

This fall, Samsung will be launching one of the most anticipated devices of the year. The Galaxy Note 4 will have a spot on each of the nation’s four major carriers. However, some consumers want an unlocked device. For those people, we have good news. Amazon is carrying the Galaxy Note 4 unlocked in black ($859), white ($869), and gold ($904). The only catch here is that there is no warranty included since the devices are unlocked.

These are all international models, so prospective buyers on Verizon or Sprint networks are unable to use this unlocked Galaxy Note 4.

Source: Amazon [Black Model Product Link] [White Model Product Link] [Gold Model Product Link]

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Squawkin is a new messaging app that lets you delete sent messages

There’s no shortage of messaging apps in the Google Play Store, but in case you were looking for another great option, newcomer Squawkin is definitely worth considering. While the name may sounds a little strange, the app is actually pretty solid.

A self proclaimed “next-generation communication platform,” Squawkin offers a variety of communication features that can either be done 1-on-1, all-to-all (group chat), or 1-to-all (a feature they call “Crowds” which has you talking, everyone else listening). Squawkin also puts privacy front and center with the ability to control how people find you, not reading your phone contacts, and our favorite: the ability to delete sent messages.

If you’re lookin’ to get Squawkin, you can find the free app available right now on the Google Play Store. Download link provided just after the video trailer below.

Squawkin (Playboard) | Squawkin (Play Store)

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HTC details its new “Eye Experience” software in new tutorial vids

Earlier this week HTC took the veil off the Desire Eye, HTC RE and a new Eye Experience software suite. The latter of which not only comes with the Desire Eye, but is also rolling out to existing HTC handsets and has even started rolling out already to HTC One M8 users in Europe.

While we already covered some of the main features found in the new “Eye experience”, if you still want an even better picture at what to expect, HTC has your back thanks to a set of 5 detailed tutorials that show off the various features involved such as face tracking screen share, front and back cam photo feature, and the list goes on.

Be warned some of the videos are a tiny bit creepy, but they still do a solid job of showcasing everything this update offers. What do you think of the new “Eye” features, nothing more than gimmicks or truly useful for enhancing your photography (and selfie) experience?

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Samsung’s Iconic UX exposed in new patent filing, looks like previously leaked UI

Earlier this year we got a sneak peek at what was supposed to be Samsung’s new UX for the Galaxy S5, courtesy of the now retired @evleaks. Although the Galaxy S5 did manage to bring a fresh coat of paint with a flatter, more minimal version of their now infamous TouchWiz custom Android interface, (blue greens everywhere), the home screen, widgets, and icons were nothing like what we saw in the above leak (and for some, that was a good thing).

But it may not have been the last we’ve seen of this florescent new user interface. Samsung recently filed a software patent with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (published only a few days ago) for what appears to be this very same UI. Dubbed Iconic UX, this new user experience looks nearly identical to the leaked Android screenshots from earlier this year.

Although the design sketches are in black and white, we can see the same use of these BlinkFeed-like homescreen widgets and even how Samsung allows users to interact with them, tapping and expanding using a 2-finger gestures. It’s drastically different from what we’re currently used to in Samsung smartphones, but too unlike Samsung tablets and their Magazine UX. You can check out some of the design sketches down below.

If this is, in fact, designed for Samsung’s Android devices (and not their own in-house Tizen OS), it’s possible we wont see a drastic user interface change like this until the Samsung Galaxy S6 launches next year. It simply doesn’t make much sense for an OEM to launch yet another entirely new user interface only a few months into the lifecycle of their current flagship, possibly confusing consumers in the process.

No matter what, it will be interesting to see where Samsung takes this, especially considering Google’s new licensing terms for Android OEMs looking to access the Google Play Store and their other suite of applications.

[Patent (PDF Download) | via GalaxyClub.nl]

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[Bonus Round] Make Them Fight, Sentinel 4: Dark Star, Super Party Sports: Football, And Caverns Of The Snow Witch

Welcome to the latest entry in our Bonus Round series, wherein we tell you all about the new Android games of the day that we couldn't get to during our regular news rounds. Consider this a quick update for the dedicated gamers who can't wait for our bi-weekly roundups, and don't want to wade through a whole day's worth of news just to get their pixelated fix. Today we've got a minimalist "multiplayer" twitch game, a sci-fi tower defense game, a strangely violent take on Angry Birds, and another Tin Man game book.

[Bonus Round] Make Them Fight, Sentinel 4: Dark Star, Super Party Sports: Football, And Caverns Of The Snow Witch was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

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Google testing doctor video chats with Search

Need a medical condition explained to you a little bit better? Or do you have a question? Google can help with that by providing professional help. A trial feature being discovered by some users of Google Search shows that Google is offering video chats with doctors. The button to engage in a video chat appears when looking up a medical condition. During the trial period, Google is covering all costs to video chat with a doctor. This is all connected to the Helpouts by Google service that connects curious people with professionals and experts.

Does being directed to a doctor for a video chat appeal to you? Let us know in the comments.

Source: /r/Google

Via: Phandroid

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Google Play Services Updated To 6.1.71 With New Google Settings Icon, UI Tweaks [APK Download]

Just over a week after its last update, it seems Google Play Services is receiving another bump - this time up to 6.1.71.

Of course, Google hasn't posted an official change log for the update quite yet, but we've already got the APK and can point out a few differences. The most obvious one is of course the new launcher icon for Google Settings, which follows Google's yet unspoken launcher icon design guidelines

^materiyolo?

Google Play Services Updated To 6.1.71 With New Google Settings Icon, UI Tweaks [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

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Google X boss acknowledges that “wearables are tough”

Nothing is easy in the tech business, but apparently wearables are even more difficult. When sitting down with Vanity Fair, Google X’s Astro Teller explained what he and the company has learned. The toughest part is getting people to change their habits in order to put on a wearable. Teller said that wearables will “eventually be a part our lives, but there’s this mantra that there’s no point wearing something on your body—because that’s a big ask.” It is just taking quite some time to get there.

Consumers have been noticeably slow in adopting things like Google Glass and Android Wear products. The price for Glass is certainly out of reach for many. For Android Wear, the hardware is hit-or-miss. The Moto 360 was expected to be the standout, which it arguably is, but the reaction upon release has been underwhelming. For now, Google can just look ahead to develop its existing software and hope hardware manufacturers put in the same effort.

You can watch the full interview at the New Establishment Summit by hitting the source link.

Source: Vanity Fair

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Verizon now rolling out Galaxy S4 stability update

Verizon has started rolling out a relatively minor over-the-air stability update to all its carrier-branded Galaxy S4 handsets currently located in the United States. Unfortunately, this upgrade doesn’t bring much in terms of added functionality, but it does include a plethora of much-needed bug fixes and speed optimizations.

The build VRUFNG6 update bundles support for Samsung’s Knox 2.0 Enterprise software, Kids Mode, Softcard (formerly ISIS wallet), My Verizon Diagnostics (MVD) and Side Sync Call Forwarding Framework. There’s also several improvements included in this upgrade, all of which can be seen in the full changelog below.

The following improvements have been made:

• Connectivity within messaging app


• Accuracy of AOL email count


• Voicemail reliability


• Bluetooth connectivity


• ‘Apply’ and ‘Cancel’ buttons are displayed in Home Screen Mode

The following issue has been resolved:

• Keyboard experiences a smoother transition when removed from desktop dock station

The following Apps/Services are now supported:

• Softcard


• My Verizon Diagnostics (MVD)


• Knox 2.0 for Enterprise support


• Side Sync Call Forwarding Framework


• Kids Mode

If you own a Verizon-branded Galaxy S4 and have not yet received the OTA update, you can head into “Settings,” then “About Device,” and select “Check for Updates” to manually scan for the upgrade. Alternatively, you can wait until you receive a push notification on your handset prompting you to download and install the update.

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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact lands on Sony’s official US site with ‘Buy Now’ button

Ever since the Sony Xperia Z3 was announced for T-Mobile (and more recently, the Sony Xperia Z3v for Verizon), we’ve been looking for any kind of information on US availability of the smaller — but still very capable — Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. So far we have hints that T-Mobile could carry it, but just in case, we’re ready to pull the trigger on Sony’s unlocked model for the US with T-Mobile and AT&T compatible bands. This is the route we took with the previous Sony Xperia Z2, and it worked out great.

If you needed any indication we were getting closer to its late October launch, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has recently popped up on Sony Mobile’s US site, complete with a “Buy Now” button. Unfortunately, hitting the button simply forwards you to a generic landing page on for their eshop and doesn’t actually let you purchase the phone (of course). But a sign up page or pre-order would have been nice.

It seems everyone is making a big hoopla over the larger Sony Xperia Z3 (and for good reason), but we didn’t want it to overshadow its smaller sibling. We’ll keep you posted.

[Sony Mobile | Sony eshop]

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Blackphone makers planning a tablet too

You might remember the Blackphone, built by Geeksphone and Silent Circle. The handset featured pretty mid-to-low-end specs considering its asking price of $629, but of course the selling point wasn’t the hardware — it was the OS. Running a modified version of Android called PrivatOS, the phone was loaded with security-minded features like encrypted text messaging, encrypting voice and video calling, private browsing, anonymous search and the list went on.

It seems that the Blackphone effort was enough of a success to trigger even more security-focused hardware from the companies, as Silent Circle’s co-founder Jon Callas recently revealed in an interview with BBC Newsbeat that they are working on a privacy tablet as a followup to the Blackphone. As Callas put it: “Blackphone as it is, is our first device not our last device”.

For those that feel the need for higher security and privacy, what do you think of Blackphone? Excited about the idea of it being extended into a range of various hardware products? Conversely do you feel such devices are overkill and unnecessary? Let us know in the comments.

Source: BBC;



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Android Forums: Scammy flashlight apps, Emoji on Android, and buying the Note 4

Do you use a flashlight app? Some of them may be doing scammy things in the background. Are all reviewers anti-Android? Should you buy the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4? What’s the best keyboard app with Emoji? All of these discussions, and more, can be found in the top posts from Android Forums this week!

Flashlight app woes

The makers of the flashlight app “Brightest Flashlight Free” recently settled in court after having sold user’s personal information to advertisers. Other flashlight apps have been accused of scammy practices in the past, too. Flashlight apps are extrememly common among Android users, but are they all safe? Discuss this scary topic in this thread.

Are most reviewers anti-Android?

Member “sreum” took to the forums to rant about device comparison reviews. He argues that whenever a comparison is done between an Android flagship and an Apple device the reviewer almost always gives the edge to Apple. Even if the Android device has better specs. Other forum members argue that opinions differ, and sometimes specs don’t matter as much. What do you think?

How to setup a new Android phone

A first time Android user asked for some help in setting up contacts for the first time, and general tips for Android devices. He wonders about creating a Google account to store contacts, and how to back them up. Forum members have also been giving the new users a bunch of great tips for what to do with a new Android device. Hop in and help out the newest member of the Android Army.

Emoji on Android

iPhone users like to brag about emoji, but they aren’t the only ones who can use those cute icons. A forum member asked if it was possible to get emoji on Android, and of course it is! Some users have recommended SwiftKey and the Google Keyboard to get the best emoji experience. If you have other suggestions be sure to chime in in this thread!

Galaxy Note 4 or Xperia Z3v?

Forum member “rushmore” is trying to decide if he should get the Galaxy Note 4. He already pre-ordered it from Best Buy, but is still debating the pros and cons. He’s also interested in the newly announced Sony Xperia Z3v. “rushmore” lays out some very good points for both arguments. If you have an opinion be sure to let him know!

That wraps things up from this week. There are always numerous great discussions happening in the forums. Remember to sign up for an account if you don’t have one already, and check back next week for more of the best from Android Forums!

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