Android Phone Fans |
- Cerberus celebrates 3rd birthday by giving away free licenses for the next 30 hours
- OnePlus One ‘Smash the Past” contest sees hopefuls smashing their phones prematurely
- Moto X+1 possibly spotted in new benchmark, brings Snapdragon 800 along for the ride
- Lyft offering free rides for 2 weeks after launching in 24 new cities, now might be a good time to download the app
- IFTTT version 1.0 rolls into the Google Play Store
- [Update: no it didn't] Google Glass Explorers shop opens back up for all US residents
- Strangling the Internet: Government headed in disastrous direction [OPINION]
- Vic Gundotra, the man behind Google+ and Google I/O, is officially leaving Google
- Phan Favs: What is the best Messaging app? [VOTE]
- Big Android BBQ 2014 set for October 16-18
- PlayOn introduces Chromecast support
- United Airlines makes passenger remove Google Glass
- XCOM: Enemy Unknown now available for Android for just $10
- Report: Galaxy S5 outsold iPhone 5S on launch weekend (but does it mean anything?)
| Cerberus celebrates 3rd birthday by giving away free licenses for the next 30 hours Posted: 24 Apr 2014 06:29 PM PDT
Despite a little security snafu a few weeks back, we still think Cerberus is one of the better security applications on the Google Play Store. To celebrate their 3rd birthday — and their new 2.5 update — Cerberus is giving free licenses to users who install their app over the next 30 hours. Simply sign up for a new account, and you’ll receive an email notifying that the license for your account has been activated for free, for life. For those unaware, Cerberus offers a little more functionality than Android Device Manager alone. Here’s the feature list:
Remote control allows you to perform many operations on your device, like:
The application can be installed on up to 5 devices, and there’s even a client app should you need to locate your phone from another Android device. Root users enjoy the added benefit of the application surviving a full factory reset. If you care about your smartphone, you’d do well do give Cerberus a try. The promotion ends April 26th, at 6AM (GMT) so get to downloading while you can.
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| OnePlus One ‘Smash the Past” contest sees hopefuls smashing their phones prematurely Posted: 24 Apr 2014 04:38 PM PDT
You gotta give it to OnePlus. For being a newcomer to the industry, they’ve managed to make quite a name for themselves and it didn’t even take spending a sh*t ton of money to do it. There’s no question they’re offering a compelling product with the OnePlus One, undercutting the big dogs and still offering a phone with more bang for the buck. But it’s OnePlus’ grassroots marketing techniques that are raising eyebrows for some. Take their “Smash the Past” contest for instance. The promotion — which doesn’t officially kick off for another 12 more hours — offers the upcoming OnePlus One smartphone at an extremely discounted price of only $1. The catch? You’ll have to smash your old smartphone to get it. As we told you guys yesterday, you’ll first have to sign up for the chance to be randomly selected. Once chosen, you’ll then have the opportunity to prove your love for the OnePlus One by destroying your old smartphone via whatever means necessary. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re already seeing a few OnePlus One hopefuls jump the gun, smashing their smartphones without first reading the entry rules. It’s painful to watch, but you’ll find video proof below. Again, you’re supposed to sign up for an invite first, then smash your phone — not the other way around. Now, we’re sure a few of the people in these videos didn’t damage their primary phone, probably some dusty old ones they had laying around the house. That still doesn’t make it any less painful. And before you run over to their channels and leave them all kinds of nasty insults (seriously, don’t do that), we think OnePlus could have exercised a teensy bit more caution when advertising a promotion like this. We’re still waiting around for full entry rules which, according to the Smash the Past landing page, says will be revealed in 12 hours time. In the meantime, hang on before putting those old phones on the chopping block. Those looking to participate, you can sign up for the Smash the Past contest via the link below. [OnePlus Smash the Past signups | via Reddit] |
| Moto X+1 possibly spotted in new benchmark, brings Snapdragon 800 along for the ride Posted: 24 Apr 2014 02:46 PM PDT
The Motorola Moto X+1 is another highly anticipated Android flagship due out later this year. Up until now, we haven’t seen much from the device, other than a few rumors and a leaked logo from @evleaks. But today, a Motorola device going by the codename XT912A has popped up in a GFXBench benchmark, leading some to wonder if this could be the sequel to last year’s flagship. If that codename looks familiar to you, it’s because it’s the exact same one we saw last year which, as it turns out, was in fact the original Motorola Moto X. Motorola has also used this name for the Moto Droid Ultra, just without the “A” at the end. So while it could be a guise for a Motorola DROID Ultra sequel, we’re leaning more towards Moto X+1. Of course, this new XT912A differs from the original in that it features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor (the CPU most likely powering Motorola’s next–gen X8 chip), Adreno 330 GPU, 5.2-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, 24GB of storage, and running on Android 4.4.3 KitKat. It seems Motorola might be increasing the MP a bit as well, with the latest version reporting 12MP rear/2MP front facing cameras.
Pretty much what we’d expect from a Moto X followup. Honestly, if Motorola could find a way to cram these upgrades into the exact same shell as the original Moto X we’d bite. Hard. Throw in some denim for good measure and we’re sure the Motorola Moto X+1 will be an even bigger hit than the original. [GFXBench | via The Droid Guy] |
| Posted: 24 Apr 2014 01:15 PM PDT
Now might be time to download/install the Lyft app, available for free on Google Play. The company just announced on their blog that they’re officially launching Lyft in 24 new markets, bringing the grand total to 60 cities available that have access to Lyft’s ride-on-demand service. To help celebrate Lyft’s biggest launch day ever, they’re giving away free — yes, free — rides for the next 2 weeks (April 24th, to May 8th) in these newly launched cities. To get started, simply download the Android app and enter in your credit card info (you’ll need a Facebook account to complete registration). A list of the cities new to Lyft (and offering free rides) can be found below.
If you live outside of one of these areas, you’re still in a bit of luck. As part of a Spring promotion, Lyft is discounting rides even further than their initial 20%-off discount, to a whopping 30% off. Not only that, if you’re new to Lyft, you can still score a free ride (up to $10) by simply entering in the code: 95KCD3 in the “payment” section of the app. For a full list of currently available cities, head here. Enjoy!
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| IFTTT version 1.0 rolls into the Google Play Store Posted: 24 Apr 2014 11:56 AM PDT
Heads up, IFTTT fans — the app has exited beta and is now available to download free in the Google Play Store. In case you don’t know what it is, IFTTT stands for If This Then That, an acronym that the site’s very function is named for. If a certain action happens, such as Phandroid posting a news article, then post the title, an image and a link to that article on Phandroid’s Twitter account. That’s just one of many examples of things you can do with IFTTT recipes. IFTTT for Android is pretty nice because it hooks into Android’s various elements. It can automatically change your wallpaper based on some condition. You can have it send a text to your spouse whenever your location shows that you’ve made it to work or back home. And that’s on top of all the other stuff you can already do over at the IFTTT website. Think tasker, except it has the potential to be a lot more flexible. We’ve already discussed 9 other great things you can do with them with your phone (such as sending you a text if the CDC reports a zombie outbreak), so be sure to check that out and see if it’s something that could help enhance your life. If you’ve decided you want to give it a go then be sure to head to Google Play for the free download. |
| [Update: no it didn't] Google Glass Explorers shop opens back up for all US residents Posted: 24 Apr 2014 10:55 AM PDT
It looks like Google could have been trialing out a free-for-all sale model for the Glass Explorers program in their one day sale a couple of weeks ago. They’ve opened the purchase site back up for anyone in the United States to buy a pair of Google Glass without an invite. We’re not sure whether this was intentional. If it was, we’re also not sure if this will be a permanent offering until Google starts the consumer-focused Glass launch. Either way, we’re pinging them for comment and we’ll be looking to share anything we find. For now you can take $1,500 of your hard earned money and purchase one at Google’s site if you’re interested. [Update]: Google has clarified that the link went live to accommodate some folks who were still in the pipeline from last week’s sale, which sounds like they opened it up for those who had troubles submitting the order on that particular day. As such, this isn’t a permanent change — [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] |
| Strangling the Internet: Government headed in disastrous direction [OPINION] Posted: 24 Apr 2014 10:54 AM PDT You can help by signing the petition to save the internet! We may soon be entering an age of digital discrimination, where all websites are not created equal. The government is supporting a law to allow Internet Service Providers like Comcast to charge websites and companies fees to ensure their content is distributed with guaranteed speed to consumers.
Regardless of where you place “The Internet” on the list of greatest technological developments of the past century, it’s hard to argue that it hasn’t had the most profound global impact in the shortest period of time. Some of today’s most powerful companies – Google, Facebook, and Twitter – were built on the shoulders of the Internet. Hopeful entrepreneurs and innovators of the future may not have this same luxury: the US Government seems poised to section off the web into a VIP piggy back riding zone. When you buy internet service from the likes of Comcast and Time Warner Cable you’re essentially paying for access to bandwidth. Up until now, for the most part, all bandwidth is created equal. Whether you’re reading e-mail, watching videos on Youtube, browsing Facebook, or checking up on the latest Android News on Phandroid, you could expect the same consistent speed and levels of service. That could change. And if it does, it could be a devastating blow to this open and awesome thing we call the Internet. The United States Government, by way of the FCC, has announced that it supports “fast lanes” for the Internet where companies are able to pay service providers for more and faster bandwidth to consumers. For example, Netflix could work out a deal with Comcast to ensure their content is streamed quick enough to give users a good movie-watching experience. This helps absolutely nobody- except for the Internet service providers. This hurts innovators trying to make “the next big thing” who can’t be sure their service is being delivered quickly relative to huge corporate competitors. This hurts huge corporate competitors who can be price gauged by Internet Service Providers if they want to ensure the best possible experience for customers. And this hurts consumers who – when they go online – could get an uneven and unfair experience depending on which site or companies they patronize. This is bad. In some regards you can sympathize with with the Internet Service Providers who have to deliver exponentially more bandwidth than in years past. Ten years ago, nobody was streaming HD content to their TV through their Internet on a daily basis, yet these companies are shouldering the increased bandwidth costs.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler defended the stance, claiming the notion that they’re “gutting the Open Internet rule” is “flat out wrong”. But the stance is so open to interpretation that it can (and will) eventually be twisted by lobbyists and corporations. Here are his “I’m talking but not saying anything” assurances:
He also insisted companies would be forced to act in a “commercially reasonable manner.” If you ask me, commercially reasonable would mean keeping net neutrality… neutral… and finding other ways to correct the direction of their business that don’t violate Internet equality. Edward Wyatt of the New York Times weighed in saying, “big, rich companies with the money to pay large fees to Internet service providers would be favored over small start-ups with innovative business models — stifling the birth of the next Facebook or Twitter.” Perhaps Michael Weinberg of community advocacy group Public Knowledge said it best, “This standard allows Internet service providers to impose a new price of entry for innovation on the Internet.” And then once you make it, your newly great company will be “taxed” into the ground to ensure your content/service is properly delivered on the web. If you ask me, one of the most beautiful things of the Internet is the ridiculously low barrier to entry. Almost nothing. And the value to access is astronomical. Netflix responded to this development by issuing the following statement, “The proposed approach is the fastest lane to punish consumers and Internet innovators.”
The more appropriate avenue to address these industry concerns would be to tell Comcast and similar companies to adjust their business model. We’ve seen mobile network providers like Verizon and AT&T deal with the bandwidth burden by adjusting their service packages based on data consumption. It might not be a popular move, but it beats what they’re proposing by light years. I’d be happy to pay a higher price and keep net neutrality intact and I think other consumers would, too, if they knew the potential long-term implications. The government might think these “fast lanes” are a good idea to help the flow of traffic, but the only thing they’d be supporting is a highway to Internet hell. |
| Vic Gundotra, the man behind Google+ and Google I/O, is officially leaving Google Posted: 24 Apr 2014 10:37 AM PDT
After almost 8 years with the company, Vic Gundotra — the man behind Google+ — is leaving Google. Gundotra announced the news via his Google+ profile minutes ago and while we don’t know where Vic is headed, is appears Google+ engineer David Besbris has been chosen to be his replacement. Google’s Larry Page chimed in on Vic’s going away post, saying:
Gundotra’s exit is another recent high-level departure hitting Google in recent months. It wasn’t too long ago we saw Hugo Barra take a job offer in China to help with Xiamoi’s global division, and although he’s still with Google, Andy Rubin recently stepped down from his roll with Android. Restructuring and departures are normal for any company, and we wish Vic the best of luck in his future endeavors. |
| Phan Favs: What is the best Messaging app? [VOTE] Posted: 24 Apr 2014 10:04 AM PDT
Phan Favs is a recurring feature that turns the tables and asks you, the readers, about the best apps and games. It’s your turn to drop some knowledge on us! Read more. A couple of weeks ago in our inaugural Phan Favs poll we asked about the best weather apps for Android. After an impressive turnout the app that you picked as the best was 1Weather by OneLouder. This week we have another question for you, our insightful readers: what is the best messaging app for Android? A messaging app can be anything you use to communicate with people. It could be a 3rd-party SMS app, a proprietary messaging service, or even a voice calling app. Android has tons of great messaging apps available. However, the best messaging app is not always the favorite. We want to know which ones you think are the best. How to vote
It’s as simple as that. Next Thursday (May 1st) we will compile the results and release the top five apps according to your votes. In order to get a good sample size we need your help in sharing this poll. Click right here to tell your tweet about it, and also alert your favorite developers so they can vote!
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| Big Android BBQ 2014 set for October 16-18 Posted: 24 Apr 2014 09:49 AM PDT
Set your calendars, schedule time off from work and start saving for those hotel and airline tickets — the 2014 Big Android BBQ has officially been set for October 16th through the 18th. The fifth annual community BBQ is set in Hurst, Texas again, with the Hurst Conference Center playing host to this wonderful, geeky (or wonderfully geeky) affair. Beyond hanging out with people just as enthusiastic as you and eating good food, the Big Android BBQ is a productive time where people discuss the mobile industry, development, Android and technology through panels and events. Parties, giveaways and more also add to the whole “you need to be there” factor.
Speakers from deep within the industry such as Noble Ackerson and Steve Kondik tend to make their presence known at the #BBQ, and many more will surely be on tap to spread their wisdom and have a good time. Just take a look at our recollection of 2013′s shindig to see how much fun there is to be had. Much of the specifics about tickets, hotel and airline packages and more are still being worked out, but it shouldn’t be long before we hear about what 2014′s meetup will have to offer. [via Google+] |
| PlayOn introduces Chromecast support Posted: 24 Apr 2014 09:38 AM PDT
The growing number of apps to support Chromecast gets even bigger with a major addition today. PlayOn has announced an upgrade to their Android app that will allow you to beam content from over 100 different “channels” to the little $35 media streaming dongle that so many people have bought to date. Whether it’s video form ABC, NBC, CBS, Comedy Central, Hulu or even your own DVR content, PlayOn gives you access to all of it from one easy to use platform. Unfortunately you do need to have a PC to use its new Chromecast features, as it won’t work without both PlayOn for PC and for Android. It also costs $30 per year ($60 for a lifetime subscription) with no free trial, so be sure to look around for some reviews before diving in. If you’re already married into the PlayOn ecosystem you can find the latest updates over at Google Play. |
| United Airlines makes passenger remove Google Glass Posted: 24 Apr 2014 09:06 AM PDT Remember the girl who was given a ticket for driving with Google Glass? Ignorant observers have gotten the best of her again, this time in the world of aviation, where she got a less than pleasant greeting when boarding a United Airlines flight. The flight attendant made her remove Google Glass, citing “security concerns” as the reasoning, a misnomer from which we thought humanity had graduated. She then proceeded to take the same picture she was planning on taking with Google Glass with her smartphone:
It raises the question: what sort of “security” is being compromised by the use of Google Glass? (spoiler: none) Are they afraid that Mrs. Abadie is using her Glass’s front-facing camera to map out the innards of the airplane for use by some terrorist? Last we checked, airplane schematics were available online for anyone to view. Another question — if they have a problem with Glass, where’s the uproar about the tons of tablets, smartphones, laptops and cameras that are even more powerful with even more functionality than Google Glass that are already approved for in-flight use? And furthermore, now pre-approved for pre-flight use? It all sounds like another case of technophobia or ill-informed employees who are trained to exile anything that doesn’t resemble the shape of the aforementioned devices in their handbook. Come on, United, embrace technology… it’s all the rage. Furthermore, what will they say once Google Glass becomes a necessity for the vision-impaired? Many folks are planning to replace their typical frames with the Glass Titanium collection, and at that point you’d be asking a person to compromise their safety and well being for the sake of making sure they aren’t taking some silly picture to post on Google+. It doesn’t sound like all airlines are meeting Glass with as much resistance. In fact, a pilot from competitor US Airways was eager to try on Tim Moore of Rochester Optical’s pair just this morning:
And yes, he is holding that ancient corded telephone upside down. This isn’t the first time Abadie’s name has been in the news for so-called “illegal” use of Google Glass. Her well-documented case against the city of San Diego for a ticket she received for wearing Glass while driving ended with a minor victory in what’s turning out to be a long war.
Abadie’s ticket was thrown out because the judge ruled that Google Glass is legal to drive with as long as the user isn’t actually using it (something which would be hard for any officer to prove or disprove). It might not be the hard legislature we seek to make sure Glass has a rightful place in today’s tech, but every little bit matters.
Some state representatives have already started lending their name to the cause of banning Google Glass for public use, whether that be due to safety concerns, privacy concerns, or all of the above paranoia-induced reasons they spew. A choice quote from Wyoming Senator Floyd Esquibel:
Apparently, GPS units and in-dash computers suddenly don’t fit in this category, but Google Glass does. Sensible thinking there, Mr. Senator. Thankfully not all lawmakers feel this way, with one court ruling that using a monitor in the vehicle for purposes of GPS is not considered distracted driving and thus shouldn’t be considered an offense when citizens do it. Whether Google Glass fits into that category is still up in the air, and it’s something we hope will be worked out with an open mind in the months or years to come.
We also have to wonder what this will mean for smartwatches and other wearables. Most TSA agents and airline assistants probably wouldn’t take a second look at your smartwatch even though they have access to the same general features as your Google Glass, Android Phone, or Android Tablet. Perhaps it’s Google Glass’s “in your face” presence that adds an intimidation factor to the whole ordeal, but ignorance is not a good excuse for restricting what should be considered basic freedoms. Unfortunately this has been going on since the day people stepped foot into private and public establishments with Google Glass on, and things aren’t expected to slow down anytime soon. Google Glass is considered emerging tech, and much of the world is still trying to figure it out. A lot of people have welcomed the technology and have been open to learning more, but for every interested soul there’s another who is just as quick to banish it. That’s why we should be grateful for Glass Explorers like Cecilia Abadie and their willingness to evangelize, because it’s this early resistance that’s going to help Google break down these illogical taboos and continue moving technology forward. Keep fighting the good fight, Cecilia. [via Google+] |
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown now available for Android for just $10 Posted: 24 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT Yesterday, we reported a story regarding XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s forthcoming launch on Android. At that time we also learned that it might launch today thanks to word by the game’s designer, but 2K quickly put the lid on that rumor and passed it off as an error. Turns out they were just lying — it’s out now, and sitting in the Google Play Store.
Even better news? It’s only $10, which is half as much as we thought it’d launch for if going by iOS pricing. We can’t seem to find any difference between the two to justify the $10 price difference. The game seems just as rich in terms of graphics and content as the iOS version. Heck, the two even share nearly the exact same description on their respective app pages. Early reviews in the Google Play Store seem to be mostly positive, so that should quell any fears you have that this game is anything but full, complete and playable.
You might want to be cautious if you don’t have a mid-range or high-end smartphone or tablet that wasn’t released in the past year or two, but everything seems good otherwise. Give it a go in the Google Play Store if you dare, and be sure to read our post yesterday to see just what it is this turn-based strategy gme has to offer. |
| Report: Galaxy S5 outsold iPhone 5S on launch weekend (but does it mean anything?) Posted: 24 Apr 2014 05:30 AM PDT Word on the wire is that Samsung’s 2014 flagship did better on its opening weekend than Apple’s iPhone 5S did on its respective launch. That word comes from IQMetrix, whose study was based on sample data from over 15,000 retail locations in North America. According to them, the Samsung Galaxy S5 accounted for 25% and 18% of all total phones sold in the US and Canada respectively on its global launch weekend of April 11th through the 13th, 2014. The iPhone 5S, meanwhile, did 18% and 13% in those same areas.
One might quickly come to the conclusion that the Samsung Galaxy S5 completely “pwns” the iPhone 5S, but there’s a bit to be said about these numbers. For starters, the two devices launched six months apart. Six months is a long time in the consumer tech market, and with changing seasons come changing demands. Of course, the iPhone 5S launching at the edge of the start of the holiday season versus the Spring launch of the Galaxy S5 might lead you to believe that the iPhone 5S is simply weak — holiday sales should be stronger by default, no? This detour from typical trends could be explained by the upgrade cycles each fanbase is tied to. The feeling is that there are more iPhone owners on the original two-year upgrade path going from the original iPhone, to the iPhone 3G, to the iPhone 4, and then on to the iPhone 5.
Likewise, Samsung likely has more people on their original bi-yearly upgrade cycle, from the Samsung Galaxy S, to the Samsung Galaxy S3, then on to the Samsung Galaxy S5. Such a path would indicate more Samsung Galaxy fans were looking to upgrade to a Galaxy S5 this year vs more iPhone fans looking to go for a 5S. Of course, recent changes to carriers’ early upgrade options might have had a hand in changing the scale, but there’s no way to tell what the numbers look like without any hard data from carriers. Something else that could explain this victory for Samsung? Perhaps it’s because this is the first time they’ve had a true simultaneous global launch. Apple has been doing it since the beginning of time, but this is Samsung’s first time launching around the globe on the same day. Samsung hasn’t even been able to launch on all carriers in the US on the same exact day before the Galaxy S5, so one could argue they’ve had the potential to match or exceed iPhone’s opening day numbers all along. After all, Android devices have outsold iOS devices by a large number across the globe, and Samsung sits atop that Android totem pole with a lead wider than the Grand Canyon. Speculation is speculation, though, and numbers can tell any story you want them to if they aren’t backed up by hard data from the horses’ mouths. That said, we doubt Samsung is going to be pulling teeth trying to validate this success — they’re happy to have it no matter how they got it. Read the full infographic at the jump. [via IQMetrix] |
The ISPs need to be provided a competitive environment, but the FCC can not allow for net neutrality to be the basis on which that environment is delivered. In 20 years from now, where will the Internet be? If these “fast lanes” are created, I don’t want to know. The government is putting their toes on a slippery slope that could create a very unfortunate and entitled Internet ecosystem. The sense of entitlement should be on the side of consumers, not the corporations and not the government.
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