Tuesday 10 June 2014

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Full specs of the LG G Watch leak ahead of launch

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 01:00 PM PDT

LG G Watch Gold voice

Earlier today we heard that the LG G Watch will be given away at Google I/O as a reference device. That’s just the most recent of a long list of things we’ve heard about this upcoming smartwatch. One thing that has evaded us is the actual specs of the device. Thankfully today we finally have some information on what makes up this wearable.

The G Watch has a 1.65-inch TFT LCD display, 4GB of storage, and weighs 61 grams. Sensors include ambient light, touchscreen, pedometer, and accelerometer. The big question many people have with these devices is how good the battery life will be. The G Watch boasts 36 hours of standby time with a 400mAh battery. Will that be enough to make most people happy? We will soon find out.

We imagine most of the first few Android Wear devices will boast similar specs. The G Watch and Moto 360 will be shown off at Google I/O, and there is a very real possibility of seeing more. Do these specs meet your approval? Are you interested in the G Watch or some other smartwatch?

[via @upleaks]

Thanks Mark!

Amazon Kindle app for Android gets Audible integration

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 11:53 AM PDT

kindle-for-android

With everything Amazon is doing these days it’s easy to forget that they got their start with books. Kindle e-book readers and apps are still their bread and butter. Today they updated their Kindle app for Android with an awesome new feature. Amazon is putting their ownership of Audible to good use by finally integrating it into the Kindle reading app. Users can now seamlessly switch between reading and listening to their favorite books.

Whispersync now works for voice as well, which means you can pick up an audio book right where you left off across devices. It also means your audio and text will always be in sync. Switching between the audio and text happens right inside the Kindle app. You can read while you’re relaxing at home and listen while you’re on the train. The only downside is not every book in Amazon’s library has an audio version, but it’s getting better every day. Do you use audio books more than actual books? How often do you read?

Amazon Kindle (Playboard) | Amazon Kindle (Play Store)

‘WakeUp’ unlocks your Android phone when you pick it up

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 10:25 AM PDT

Nexus 5 Phandrizzle

Picking up your phone and turning the screen on can be a real pain in the #firstworldproblems. Who has the time for that? If you pick up your phone and hold it at a certain angle it should just know that you want the screen unlocked. Right? That is exactly what a new app called “WakeUp” does, and it doesn’t require root access.

If you’re not concerned about keeping strangers out of your phone, this is a simple way to automate unlocking your device. Simply install “WakeUp” from the Play Store, activate device administrator in the app, and then tap “Activate” and “Automatically Monitoring.” When you pick up your phone and hold it at a certain angle it will be unlocked. The sensitivity of the angle can be adjusted in the settings. The app will also automatically lock your phone when you set it down.

Apps like these are what make Android so awesome. If this sounds like something you need you can download it below for free.

WakeUp (Playboard) | WakeUp (Play Store)

LG G Watch will be given away to Google I/O attendees [Rumor]

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 09:57 AM PDT

lg watch

The most exciting thing in the word of Android these days is arguably the upcoming smartwatches. Motorola and LG both have Android Wear devices on the horizon, but it looks like one could be here sooner rather than later. If the latest rumor is true, Google I/O attendees may want to leave some extra room in their suitcase.

Sources familiar with the situation have said the Moto 360 will be shown off at the event, but that is not the best news. The LG G Watch will also be shown off and given away to everyone in attendance. The G Watch will be a reference device for developers of Android Wear. The report goes on to say that manufactures other than Motorola and LG will also show off Android Wear devices.

The dawn of the Android smartwatches is truly upon us now. Google I/O 2014 is just 15 days away. We can’t wait to see what else will be shown off at the show. Are any of you going to I/O? Are you excited about getting a G Watch?

[via AA]

OnePlus One delayed yet again due to software issues

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 09:10 AM PDT

OnePlus One hands-on wm_17

After creating a lot of hype for themselves, and showing off an exciting device, the tide has shifted for OnePlus. They have had countless issues and delays with the OnePlus One. Prospective customers are getting impatient and upset. Unfortunately for OnePlus, yet another issue has delayed the phone again. This time it has to do with CyanogenMod and the software.

Invites for the device were supposed to go out in May, but software bugs held them back. The most recent delay is also due to software problems. It recently recieved a major software update, and now CyanogenMod and OnePlus are working on perfecting it. OnePlus says:

“we can't yet confirm the exact date that the phone will ship. We are tirelessly working to make the One the phone you've been waiting for and so we're going to hold off until we know that everything runs smoothly before sending them off.”

Before we all rush to bash OnePlus again let’s remember that CyanogenMod is in this too. They are responsible for the software on the OnePlus One, which has been causing delays. With all the hypebeasting that OnePlus did on social media it’s easy to backlash. They are still a small start-up company that has never released a phone before. Problems are inevitable.

Have your thoughts on the OnePlus One changed at all?

[via Google+]

Several chain restaurants are replacing paper menus with Android tablets

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 08:19 AM PDT

chili_tablet

We live in a digital age. Everything around is slowly being converted and upgraded. Nothing is off-limits. Even something as simple as a menu at a chain restaurant is not safe. Chili’s (I want my baby back baby back) has announced that it has finished installing tablets at 823 locations in the U.S. These tablets are mounted at tables as a replacement for menus.

These tablets run Android and are made by Ziosk especially for restaurants. They run custom software and are ruggedized to withstand food spills. Customers can order food, drinks, and even pay their bill with the machine. No more waiting around for slow wait staff. Of course, this is both a good and bad thing. These tablets are making the ordering process easier, but also eliminating jobs.

Applebee’s and Buffalo Wild Wings are also making the change to tablets at their respective restaurants. What do you think about these tablets? Are you concerned with companies cutting costs by eliminating employees and replacing them with technology? Do you just want to get your food faster? Have you seen these tablets at any restaurants yet?

[via Gigaom]

Lytro said to be developing an Android-powered light field camera

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 07:55 AM PDT

lytro-camera-650x377

There are plenty of great cameras on Android devices, but if the latest rumor is true they are about to get even better. Lytro, the creator of the crazy cool light field camera, is said to be developing an Android-powered camera. This rumor comes from the reliable @evleaks.

What exactly is a light field camera? Lytro’s cameras capture all of the available light in a scene when you take a photo. This means you don’t have to worry about focusing because everything is in focus. After you have taken the photo you can adjust what you want to have in focus, and even slightly adjust the angle of the shot. The photo can be edited as many times as you want. It takes the pressure off getting a shot perfect the first time.

Several Android OEMs have attempted to mimic this feature in their latest devices, but it’s not the same. They use software to take several photos at different depths, and then you basically choose which one has the right focus. The HTC One M8 is closest to the Lytro with its dedicated depth sensor. Still, nothing on the market has come close to what Lytro is doing. An Android powered camera with this technology would be awesome.

The image below was taken with a Lytro camera. Click anywhere to focus, or click and drag to adjust the angles.

Honeywell announces Nest-like smart thermostat with Android app

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 07:28 AM PDT

honeywell lyric

It looks like the Google-owned Nest smart thermostat is finally getting some real competition. Honeywell has announced a new smart thermostat called “Lyric.” This is not their first smart thermostat, but the Lyric looks vastly different from their previous offerings. It’s obvious that the Nest has been a big influence.

Like the Nest, the Lyric is round with a circular display and the temperature can be changed by turning the device like a wheel. It also has an extra display and a couple of buttons on the face. Honeywell has named the device “Lyric” because it is supposed to keep your temperature “in tune.” How does it do this?

lyric-orange

The big feature of Lyric is geofencing. Through the Android and iOS apps it knows when you leave the house and when you are close to home. It can adjust the temperature to save energy while you’re gone, and then go back to comfort for when you get back. Your home radius can be adjusted in the settings. Lyric will be available in August from Lowe’s for $279. Are you getting one? Do you already have a Nest?

[Honeywell via Verge]

Samsung patent shows off tablet that can fold into a phone

Posted: 10 Jun 2014 06:25 AM PDT

Samsung-foldable-display

Tablets have quickly become a normal thing to carry around in our every day lives. They come in handy on planes, the subway, and at home on the couch. The only problem with tablets is that they add yet another device to your collection. Most people now have a phone, a tablet, and some sort of PC. What if the tablet and phone could be the same device

Asus has tried to solve this problem with their PadFone devices. They allow you to dock the phone into a tablet and see all of your stuff on a bigger display. Samsung is trying to solve this problem in a completely different way. Instead of docking two devices together, they want the phone to be two devices at once. It sounds crazy, but the latest patent from Sammy shows how it could be done.

As you can see in the image above, the device has three displays that can fold out to the size of a tablet. When the displays are folded, like a tri-fold wallet, the device is a more pocketable phone size. You may think something like this is still far from becoming a reality, but news out of South Korea suggests that Samsung has a few prototypes. They also mention that the device will allegedly launch in 2015.

Would you be interested in a device like this? The potential is phenomenal. One device that can expand into a bigger device, yet still fit in your pocket. If that isn’t futuristic we don’t know what is. Who is ready to line up?

[via SamMobile]
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