Android Phone Fans |
- Google Glass update transfers photos to your smartphone and brings new Google Now cards
- Court rules it’s illegal for the police to track your cellphone location without a warrant
- Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2, AT&T Galaxy Mega now receiving KitKat, here’s the full changelog
- LG G3 release date tipped for Verizon with pre-orders opening July 10th [RUMOR]
- Which smartwatch shape is best: Round or Square? [POLL]
- Gameloft announces new titles for E3 2014: Asphalt Overdrive, Spider-Man Unlimited, Modern Combat 5 Blackout, and more
- Report: LG G Watch will cost less than $200
- Google I/0 2014 app now available to be your wingman
- Candy Crush Soda Saga is your next addiction from the makers of Candy Crush
- Get Samsung’s Smart Alert feature on all phones with Vibify
- Popular Android keyboard SwiftKey is now free with paid themes
- Reply to SMS from your desktop with Pushbullet and EvolveSMS
| Google Glass update transfers photos to your smartphone and brings new Google Now cards Posted: 11 Jun 2014 04:47 PM PDT
After receiving XE17.3 only last week, the Project Glass team is back again releasing, not only another small update for the Google Glass Explorer Edition, but the MyGlass companion app as well. Why both? That’s because of a new feature hitting Glass that will finally introduce a feature I’ve been requesting from the headset since day 1: the ability to transfer pics directly from Glass to your smartphone.
It’s safe to say we all know about Glass’ hands-free photo capturing capabilities and despite only shooting at 5MP, the built in HDR makes for some amazing looking snapshots. The problem was (up until this new update rolling out later this week) you’d have to either plug your Glass in to an outlet before all the images would sync to your Google+ account, or you’d have to upload each pic individually by sharing it with someone. Only then could you use your smartphone to dive into Google+ and download to your device. Needless to say, this was incredibly troublesome and resulted in a ton of great photos never seeing the light of day on other social accounts like Instagram or Twitter.
The Google Glass team also mentions a few new Google Now features will also be arriving on the headset, with the scores of your favorite World Cup teams now displaying as a card (this will need to be configured in the Google Now app on your smartphone). Also new is the inclusion of Google Now’s handy parking locator card, as well as package shipping notifications. In a smaller tweak, the MyGlass app will also now notify you when your Glass battery drops below 20% which is typically after 2 hours of use (we kid, but seriously… it’s rough). According to the screenshots, looks like this will be XE18.1. |
| Court rules it’s illegal for the police to track your cellphone location without a warrant Posted: 11 Jun 2014 03:01 PM PDT
Call it a landmark victory or whatever you’d like, but a US appeals court has just ruled that police must now have a warrant to track your cellular location. According to the 11th Circuit, “cell site location information” is within everyone’s reasonable expectation of privacy and thus, a 4th amendment right.
While this ruling wont overturn last year’s completely opposite 5th Circuit ruling (separate districts you see), it’s a start. If nothing else, this goes to show you the the uncertainty that still exists with 21st century privacy, an issue far from being defined. In a statement, the ACLU said about the ruling:
We should also note that this is only regarding cellular location information and not that of GPS satellites. We hope this is only the the start of much broader phone location information privacy, cellular, GPS, or otherwise. What are you guys’ thoughts on the matter? |
| Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2, AT&T Galaxy Mega now receiving KitKat, here’s the full changelog Posted: 11 Jun 2014 02:01 PM PDT
It’s happening, folks. After sitting back and watching as countless other devices received their coveted firmware updates to Android 4.4.2 KitKat, owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on Verizon are now finally on that list. The Verizon version of the phablet is now officially receiving KitKat in the form of build number KOT49H.I605VRUFND7. There’s a bunch of new goodies including a revamped keyboard (pictured above), UI tweaks to the lockscreen and notification area, and the inclusion of new enterprise security software thanks to Samsung Knox 2.0. Here’s the quick list:
Because the update was only just approved by Verizon, don’t freak out if you don’t see the update on your phone right away. Rollout should be commencing shortly and as always, you can manually check for the update by jumping into your Settings > About phone > System updates. Cheers!
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| LG G3 release date tipped for Verizon with pre-orders opening July 10th [RUMOR] Posted: 11 Jun 2014 01:03 PM PDT
Last week we got our first solid release date for the LG G3 in the UK, with retailer Carphone Warehouse confirming a July 1st release date. Today, the world renowned @evleaks could have gotten his hands on a US launch, with the phone making a brief appearance in a Verizon computer system. According to the tip, those with their hearts set on the beefy LG G3 may want to mark July 10th on their calendar, that’s the day when G3 pre-orders are expected to open. As for expected launch date, the phone is said to release only a few short days later, hitting stores on July 17th. Given @evleak’s track record, we’d take him at his word but like most things of this nature, take it with a grain of salt. No word on other details about the device, like whether or not wireless charging will be another Verizon exclusive for the LG G3. But for everyone else’s sake, let’s hope not. [Evleaks] |
| Which smartwatch shape is best: Round or Square? [POLL] Posted: 11 Jun 2014 12:35 PM PDT
We’ve been talking a lot about smartwatches lately. Google I/O is just around the corner, and both the Moto 360 and LG G Watch are expected to be shown off. These are the first devices to run Android Wear. That is where most of the similarities end, because these two devices could not look any more different. The LG G Watch looks like the typical 2013 smartwatch. It’s square, blocky, and not terribly attractive. Some people like the non-tradition square look. It screams “this is not a regular watch.” The Moto 360, on the other hand, is meant to blend in with the world. It has a more tradition round design that looks more like a regular watch. The 360 also seems to be made of more premium-looking materials. These two devices will likely come out at around the same time, and they could be priced relatively close together as well. The big question for consumers will be “round or square?” What side of the fence are you on? Traditional or different? Sharp or soft? Which shape is the best for a smartwatch going forward? Do you want to see more round devices or square? Let us know in the poll and comments below! |
| Posted: 11 Jun 2014 12:16 PM PDT
E3 2014 is off in full swing and along with big name game studios announcing their latest titles for our home consoles, Gameloft is doing the same with mobile. The mobile games publisher had a few new games to announce at the show, starting with Asphalt Overdrive, their newest take on the arcade racer. Asphalt OverdriveDon’t call it Asphalt 9 — Asphalt Overdrive is a completely different fish (more of a spin-off). With gameplay that closely mimics endless runners, the game is not only played in portrait mode, but features swipe-able controls similar to titles like Subway Surfers. Again, this is not a race. Instead, Overdrive will have you completing missions, running from the cops, taking down other cars, and performing stunts — all with iconic cars from your favorite 80′s shows (A-Team van, Magnum PI’s Ferrari, Knight Riders’ black Trans Am). Modern Combat 5Another iteration of Gameloft’s widely popular Modern Combat franchise is making its debut with Modern Combat 5 Blackout, coming soon to mobile devices. MC5 will feature… well, more of everything you love about the FPS genre, only shrunken down for your Android smartphone or tablet. The game’s main draw is the 4 new character classes: heavy, recon, assault, and sniper. Modern Combat 5 will have a multiplayer mode for gaming with friends and arguably the best part about the new title is that it will be a paid premium title, none of that freemium stuff. Modern Combat 5 Blackout will hit app stores for around $7 when it debuts later this year. Spider-Man UnlimitedAnd if endless running is your thing, you’re in luck. Gameloft’s Spider-Man Unlimited combines that tried-and-true classic gameplay with your favorite Marvel franchise. SMU features Spidey in a variety of his iconic suits — Iron Spider, Spider-Man Noir, Ends of the Earth — as he faces off against his usual foes. Gameloft shows us the Green Goblin and Vulture at the end of their new trailer. Along with the aforementioned titles, Ice Age Adventures, Rival Knights: Cars, and Dungeon Gems were also announced at E3, although there wasn’t much information about those titles currently. Gameloft is streaming a variety of these new titles live via their Twitch account, so check that out if you have a chance. |
| Report: LG G Watch will cost less than $200 Posted: 11 Jun 2014 10:58 AM PDT
The LG G Watch has been a popular topic in the Android world these last few days. We’ve heard rumors that it will be shown off and given away at I/O, plus we got a detailed look at its specs. The one thing that we haven’t heard much about is pricing and release date. A new rumor has shed some light on both of those subjects. Paul O’Brien from MoDaCo says the G Watch will be priced below the Samsung Gear 2 Neo and Pebble Steel smartwatches. The Neo is currently available for $199 while the Steel costs $249. He goes on to say the G Watch will be released on July 7th in the UK. If true, this pricing and release would be incredible. Many people have speculated that the G Watch would be the cheap Android Wear device. An easy entry level smartwatch to get newcomers interested in the platform. The Moto 360 will likely come at a more premium price tag. If the G Watch does indeed come with a sub-$200 price tag it will be a compelling device. Will you be getting the LG G Watch or holding out for the Moto 360? What price would be too much for you to get the 360? [via MoDaCo] |
| Google I/0 2014 app now available to be your wingman Posted: 11 Jun 2014 10:14 AM PDT
Google I/O is quickly approaching as we get closer to the end of the month. As per usual, Google has released their official Android app for the show. This app will be crucial in helping you navigate the show and attend events. If you’re heading to San Fransisco for the big event you will want to download his app. The app has schedules, a show floor map, keynote live streams, event reminders, and social conversation from Google+. You can filter sessions by what you’re interested in, such as design or wearables. Check out the full list of features below, and download the app from the Play Store for free.
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| Candy Crush Soda Saga is your next addiction from the makers of Candy Crush Posted: 11 Jun 2014 09:06 AM PDT
They’re back. The makers of Candy Crush Saga, King Entertainment, has released their sequel to the super-addictive candy matching game. They call it “Candy Crush Soda Saga,” and it’s largely the same as the original. This time instead of hard candy and chocolate you have to match soda drinks and gummies. What will they come up with next. This new game has soft-launched outside of the US, but it should be available here soon. It’s jam-packed with in-app purchases like you would expect from a King game, and an energy system that will annoy you to no end. If you loved the first game you will surely love this one too. If you live outside of the US you can download Candy Crush Soda Saga below for free from the Play Store. Just try not to send us too many requests on Facebook. [via PocketGamer] |
| Get Samsung’s Smart Alert feature on all phones with Vibify Posted: 11 Jun 2014 07:56 AM PDT
When you’re in a hurry you don’t have time to wade through notifications from apps you don’t care about. You just want to know if there is anything important that needs your attention. Samsung phones come with a feature called “Smart Alert” that vibrates when you pick up your phone if there is a notification from an important app. This feature is very handy because it lets users know if they should delve deeper into their phone. Vibify is an app that brings this same functionality to all Android phones. It only works if you phone remains locked and still. Upon picking you phone up you will feel a small vibration if one of your selected apps has a notification. For example, you can have it so when you pick up your phone it gives you a little buzz if you have a missed call or SMS message. New Facebook comments or other non-important things will be ignored. Vibify can also turn the screen on for you when you pick up your phone, granted there is a notification from one of the apps you selected. The app consumes battery (using wakelock) only if screen is off and still for more than 7 seconds, and it does not run when the battery is low. Head on over to XDA to download the APK on your phone. Requires Android 4.3 and above. [via Lifehacker] |
| Popular Android keyboard SwiftKey is now free with paid themes Posted: 11 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT
One of the most popular paid apps for Android is now free. The super popular keyboard replacement, SwiftKey, has dropped from $3.99 to free for version 5. This is not a celebratory deal either. SwiftKey will be free permanently, and there are some other new features included as well. Let’s take a closer look at SwiftKey 5. For free you still get the great prediction engine SwiftKey Cloud synchronization, and the ability to learn from Google, Twitter, and Facebook. You might be asking “so where are they making money now?” The answer to that question is new theme packs. Now, instead of paying for the app and getting the themes for free, you get the app for free and pay for the themes. Themes cost $0.99, or $3 for a pack of five. If you already purchased SwiftKey you get 10 themes for free. SwiftKey 5 has also added support for emoji if you’re running Android 4.1 or above. Lastly, you can add a dedicated number row to the keyboard from the settings. If you’ve been waiting to give SwiftKey a try this is the time. Thousands of users swear by this keyboard. It has prevented many people from switching away from Android. Give it a shot.
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| Reply to SMS from your desktop with Pushbullet and EvolveSMS Posted: 11 Jun 2014 06:57 AM PDT
The folks at Pushbullet are doing some of the coolest things on Android right now. If you’re unfamiliar with the app check out “5 cool things you should be doing with Pushbullet.” The basic function of Pushbullet is allow you to “push” things to any connected device, but it can also do something called “Notification Mirroring.” This allows you to see Android notifications across devices, including your desktop computer. Today they are making that feature even more handy. The developer behind EvolveSMS, a popular SMS replacement, has announced a partnership with Pushbullet. This partnership will allow EvolveSMS users to receive, view, and now reply to SMS messages from their desktop PC. Before it was only possible to see that you received a SMS, but you had to grab your phone to take action on it. Check out the video below to see it in action. In order to use this feature you need to be a member of the EvolveSMS and Pushbullet beta communities, and have the Pushbullet Chrome extension. You can find links to all of those below. Hopefully we see more partnerships with Pushbullet like this. Imagine being able to take action on more notifications right from your desktop. Are you using Pushbullet or EvolveSMS? EvolveSMS beta community [via Google+] |
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