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Monday, March 31, 2014
HTC One (M8) Review: The New Best Android Smartphone
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How to install Flash on an Android phone or tablet
When Google released its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system in July of 2012, Flash support on Android powered devices found itself on the cutting room floor, no longer downloadable in the Google Play Store. Convenient for watching TV on your phone or playing those addictive online games, Flash was an application that set Androids apart from the rival iPhone; for better and worse.
Yet, now that Android users must operate their phones out-of-the-box sans Flash, the want for a way to get the software again has been great. Luckily, Adobe realized this need and allows Android users to download its Flash player. To make things easier, Adobe made the download available straight from the website.
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Sunday, March 30, 2014
Five Best Android Home Screen Replacements
Anyone can just download a launcher, but when you want an experience that transforms how you interact with your Android phone—especially one that's context-aware and surfaces information you need when you need it, you have a few solid options to choose from. Here are five of the best.
Earlier in the week, we asked you to tell us which home screen replacements you thought were the absolute best. Note, we're not just talking about alternative Android launchers—we already have a list of the best launchers around (and we're planning on updating it very soon!) Today, we're talking about suites that customize your phone in a way that's truly personal, and useful to you, when you need it. Here's what you said, in no particular order:
Nexus 7 To Receive Android 4.4.3 Update; List of Top 10 Android 4.4.3 Fixes (New)
According to the recent report fromMyce, the latest Android 4.4.3 version with build number KTU83 has been sighted running on Nexus 5, which is code-named Hammerhead.
In addition, another Android 4.4.3 firmware with a build number KTU79 was spotted running on Nexus 7 (2013) model.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
New Android 4.4.3 Builds Spotted on Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013): Update Expected Soon
A couple of new Android 4.4.3 builds have reportedly been spotted running on Nexus devices, indicating the update roll-out is imminent.
A few days ago, a new Android version with build number KTU65 was spotted running on Nexus 5. Following this, recognised developer LlabTooFeR tweeted that Android 4.4.3 with build number KTU72B version is in testing phase. The new software is expected to fix a known camera bug issue.
Myce now reports that the latest Android 4.4.3 version with build number KTU83 has been spotted running on Nexus 5 codenamed Hammerhead.
Besides, another Android 4.4.3 firmware with build number KTU79, which was freshly created recently, was spotted running on Nexus 7 2013 model by a member of the Chromium team.
Android this week: Galaxy S5 v. HTC One M8; Google I/O dates; run Android on a Chromebook
A battle between Android flagships phones began in earnest this week as HTC launched the HTC One M8 just a few weeks after the Samsung Galaxy S5 was introduced. Both handsets use very similar internal components but the software and exteriors are very different. So which is better?
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Friday, March 28, 2014
Nexus 7 (2013) Review: Still The Best 7-Inch Android Tablet
So it's not exactly surprising that Google has decided to reboot the concept with the Nexus 7 2013 edition. The name may not have changed save for the timestamp on the end, but the important thing is that Google's gone back and checked over the original Nexus 7, figured out what worked and what didn't and has refined and distilled the concept into something even more impressive.
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After two months with Android, I'm going back to iPhone. Here's why.
I gave it the old college try.
After a long stint as an iPhone user, I decided I wanted something with a bigger screen. Apple failed to oblige last year, instead merely tacking letters onto the iPhone 5, so I made a move: I adopted a Motorola Moto X from Republic Wireless.
That was two months ago. Next week, I'm going back to iPhone.
Call me crazy, call me fickle, call me not smart enough to recognize the benefits of Android. I fully expect all those labels and more, to which I say "sticks and stones." However, I'm honestly not here to criticize the platform, and I'm far from what you'd call an Apple fanboy. (I won't touch a Mac, for example.)
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Millions of Android app downloads infected with cryptocoin-mining code
More than a million Android smartphones are mining cryptocoins without the owners' knowledge, via apps downloaded from Google Play which stealthily incorporate 'hashing' software.
Researchers at security company Trend Micro say they have found at least two apps on the Google Play store, Songs and "Prized", which contain code to join any phone that has them to a cryptocoin-mining "pool". Each app has had between 1m and 5m downloads, meaning that up to 10m phones might be affected. Songs was still available at the time of publication. An email to the developer had not been answered by time of publication.
The subverted apps seem to include a request to run the mining software within their terms and conditions - meaning that once the user clicks "OK" they have in effect given it permission to steal their processing time. Trend Micro criticised "the murky language and vague terminology" of the terms and conditions.
The company also discovered bitcoin-mining code hidden in repackaged versions of Football Manager Handheld and TuneIn Radio outside Google Play. There is no suggestion that the ones on the official store are affected.
Android 4.4 KitKat Update: AT&T Galaxy Note 3 Receives New OS; Rundown Of Galaxy Updates So Far
The Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 continues with the AT&T model now receiving the new operating system.
The AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is updating promptly after the mobile network announced its rollout on Thursday. The Galaxy S4 N900AUCUCNC2 build software 541.7MB is now available over the air and through manual prompt by accessing Settings > General > About device > Software update on the handset. Users will want to have their devices charged at least 50 percent before proceeding with Android 4.4 installation.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Why I Dumped My Android Phone
After four years with an Android phone, I switched back to iPhone this month. I liked my Android phone, but the smartphone experience is very much a matter of details, and diving into today’s iPhone makes me realize how great a job Apple AAPL -0.98% has done, and how strong its franchise truly is.
Details: I had three Android phones from January 2010 to March 2014, a NexusOne, a Galaxy Nexus, and a Galaxy S4, running Android 2.3 (Froyo) at first and 4.3 (Jelly Bean) at the end. The first two phones ran GoogleGOOG -2.31%-experience Android, and the S4 had Samsung’s user interface overlay. My new iPhone is a 5c running iOS 7.1. I originally moved to Android because I was professionally curious about it, and I decided to switch back when I bought a new car and discovered that the interoperability of my near-new Galaxy S4 with the car was miserable (more). Research indicated an iPhone would be much better, and in fact it is.
Coming Soon: Android Apps for Wearable Devices
The designers of the forthcoming Moto 360 hope they’ve passed a fashion test. In contrast to the often bulky and boxy smart watches released to date (see “Smart Watches Need a Makeover, and a Shrink Ray”), their device is sleek and perfectly round, evoking the style of a classic analog wristwatch.
But beneath the slick design lies even slicker software. A new version of Android, called Android Wear (see “New SDK Shows Google Really Wants to Get on Your Body”), allows apps for the watch to be created using simple tweaks to existing Android apps.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Sony won't use Android Wear, will stick with Smartwatch (for now)
ATLANTA--Sony will continue to strike its own path when it comes to its wearable products.
The company won't be using Google's recently unveiled Android Wear, a modified version of Androidspecifically designed for wearable products, as the basis for its own smartwatch, according to Ravi Nookala, head of Sony Mobile's US arm. Instead, he said they would stick with their own Android-based SmartWatch platform.
"We've already invested time and resources on this platform, and we will continue in that direction," Nookala told CNET in an interview in the unit's office here.
The comment seemingly dashed the hopes of people who had hoped that Sony would integrate its SmartWatch product with Android Wear. But Sony got back to CNET with a statement opening the door to working with Google.
Google Wearables 2.0: How Android Wear breaks from Glass
Wearable tech has been a big, messy patch of tech wilderness. Then along came Google, announcing Android Wear and a future developer SDK. Google's not the first major company to enter wearables (Samsung, Sony), but this is a big moment nonetheless. It's the first time any software manufacturer has attempted to enter the wearables landscape and attempt to lay down some sort of order.
It's also Google's second wearables endeavor after Glass. The differences between Glass and its launch and what we know about Android Wear so far are quite, quite different.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Android Wear vs. Pebble: The best watch today against the behemoth of tomorrow
Google has revealed Android Wear, the first operating system made exclusively for smartwatches. The OS was first hinted at last week at Google’s SXSW showcase. Now Google has released the software development kit. Along with the release, Google revealed that Android Wear will have multi-screen functionality, full Google Now integration, and health & fitness monitoring. Similar to current smartwatches, Android Wear devices will tell you when to get active and give you daily, weekly, and monthly fitness summaries.
We pitted what we know about Android Wear so far against the very real Pebble Steel Smartwatch, which offers a substantial collection of lifestyle and fitness apps. Read our review of the Pebble. Both Android Wear and Pebble offer a software development kit, which allow developers to create apps, and both are taking the smartwatch in completely new directions.
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Saturday, March 22, 2014
Apple said to be considering Spotify competitor, iTunes for Android
Apple's iTunes Radio could be just the start of the company's streaming music plans. According to Billboard, Apple is mulling an on-demand streaming service that would let people listen to particular tracks without buying them, all as part of a subscription the likes of Spotify. Citing sources, Billboard adds that the company is also considering the creation of an iTunes app for Android phones, something that would mark a dramatic departure to the way Apple's developed its mobile software for the past six years.
As it stands, Apple's iTunes Radio is a free, ad-supported service that lets people create stations based on songs, artists, or genres. Apple's also curated it with celebrity DJs, and around new album releases. Users can remove the ads if they pay for Apple's iTunes Match service, which costs $24.99 a year, though they still have to buy individual songs for full price through iTunes. Billboard describes the talks between Apple and record labels about the prospects of a paid streaming service as "early."
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As it stands, Apple's iTunes Radio is a free, ad-supported service that lets people create stations based on songs, artists, or genres. Apple's also curated it with celebrity DJs, and around new album releases. Users can remove the ads if they pay for Apple's iTunes Match service, which costs $24.99 a year, though they still have to buy individual songs for full price through iTunes. Billboard describes the talks between Apple and record labels about the prospects of a paid streaming service as "early."
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President Obama may ditch his BlackBerry for an Android phone (update)
President Obama has long complained that his job doesn't permit the luxury of carrying an iPhone. Prior to his election, Obama owned a personal BlackBerry that was replaced with a custom, highly-secure model once he reached office. But it seems Obama may have the chance to switch to Android before his term concludes. According to The Wall Street Journal, the White House is currently testing smartphones from Samsung and LG for internal, official use. The White House Communications Agency — which directly oversees Obama's communications — is taking part in the effort along with an "internal technology team."
These tests are still in the early phase, according to the Journal's source, so Obama won't be able to drop his longtime phone for "months." But seeing as Obama doesn't leave office until 2017, there's a chance BlackBerry may lose its most famous customer before he departs the White House. The US government was for years one of BlackBerry's most reliable sources of income, but as the company's struggles continue, many agencies have looked elsewhere (mainly iOS and Android) for their mobile needs.
Monday, March 17, 2014
What you need to know about Samsung’s Android 4.4 update for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3
After many months of suffering, Canadian Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 owners received an update to Android 4.4.2, bringing a number of new features and performance improvements. But the update is not entirely good news, especially for those people who rely on external storage via microSD.
While this guide mainly applies to the new Samsung update, some aspects apply to all devices running Android 4.4 KitKat. Let’s dive right in.
1. MicroSD cards are persona non grata
While Android 4.4 still supports the use of microSD cards, Google made an important and potentially alarming change to the way apps can use the extra storage.
In previous versions of Android, apps could create their own directories anywhere on the available microSD storage, splitting files into multiple destinations. In KitKat, Google has, for logistical and security reasons, cordoned off app files to a single directory of the SD card. BeyondPod, a popular free podcast app for Android, describes it thusly:
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Examining MicroSD changes in Android 4.4
While Samsung Galaxy devices had new restrictions on microSD read/write access, it was hard to say whether this was the start of a trend for all Android OEMs as restrictions on microSD were bypassed by most OEMs, as the vast majority of functionality such as moving apps to microSD were ported to Android 4.x builds. The story is more than just about Android 4.4 though, as the change in microSD functionality happened some time in the 3.x releases of Honeycomb.
Before Honeycomb, Android was heavily reliant upon microSD cards, as the vast majority of smartphones carried forward the storage model from the days of Windows Mobile, with very little internal storage for the OS and its applications. Everything else had to be placed on a microSD card, which meant the OS was useless if the microSD card was ejected. The same was true of most early Android smartphones. This is the model that most everyone is familiar with. Any application could read and write anywhere they wished on the microSD card with appropriate permissions.
Android 4.4 KitKat Update Is Here: Canadian Galaxy S4 Receives New OS On Rogers Network; Galaxy Note 3 Rollout Set For Late March
The Android 4.4 software is 414.46MB, and is the I337MVLUFNC1 build, according to the people at XDA Developers Forum. Users should be able to prompt the update manually by accessing Settings > General > About device > Software update on their T-Mobile Galaxy S4 handsets. Currently, there is no change log available, but users should expect the same Android 4.4 KitKat enhancements that have come to other Galaxy Note 4 models.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Android 4.4.2 KitKat Update: How To Root Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE SM-N9005 On The New XXUENB7 Firmware [Tutorial]
Samsung (KRX:005935) recently released the Android 4.4.2 KitKat firmware update -- build XXUENB7 -- for the international LTE variant for the Galaxy Note 3 with the model number SM-N9005. Users who have updated their handsets to the new firmware can now root their devices, which will allow them to flash custom ROMs in future.
Rooting a device allows users to completely utilize the device’s hardware resources and get rid of the limitations associated with stock firmware. After rooting the device, users can do many things with the device, such as accessing system files and using various apps that require root access among others.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Android 4.4 KitKat Review: The Good, The Bad & What’s Still Missing
Android 4.4 is here. But was it worth the wait? Damien tests out the new KitKat-branded update aboard the Nexus 5
With the Nexus 5 now firmly in the sweaty palms of thousands of Android lovers all over the world, Android 4.4 is no longer the mythical confectionery-branded software update it once was. It's finally hard reality, and we're here to break down what's so great about it, as well as touch upon the things we wish had been included but, sadly, weren't.
Android KitKat: Design
For the first time since its inception over five years ago, Android finally feels like it has found its visual identity. As a result, those expecting sweeping aesthetic alterations in 4.4 will be sorely disappointed. In fact, to the untrained eye there's very little difference between 4.4 and 4.3.
What we have here is an incremental improvement, with subtle visual upgrades that enrich the experience without being glaringly obvious. The removal of the black background on the notification bar is one such example.
Five reasons Microsoft could become a top Android smartphone company
Here's why.
1) Microsoft already makes major profits from Android.
How much? Thanks to its patent agreements, Microsoft may have made as much as $3.4 billion in 2013 from Android sales. Heck, if it wasn't for its Android patents, the analyst firm Nomura thinksMicrosoft's entertainment and devices division (EDD), which covers Xbox, Windows Phone and Skype would actually lose $2-billion dollars a year!
With its forthcoming Nokia acquisition, Microsoft could make ten times that much from its own Android smartphones. Also, unlike its potential Android competitors, Microsoft won't have to pay its own patent fees. That automatically makes each MS-Android phone more profitable for Microsoft than an equivalent device for say Samsung.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Report: Xbox Live coming to iOS and Android games
It looks like Microsoft is preparing a major Xbox Live cross-platform push that will bring the company's robust social gaming network to iOS and Android games. Basically, according to a report from The Verge, Microsoft wants to bring Xbox Live to all popular systems, extending the platform beyond Xbox consoles, Windows phones, and computers to iPhones and Android devices.
The plans were first hinted at by a Microsoft job listing that read: "We will create a modern framework that is open-source, lightweight, extensible, and scalable across various platforms including Windows Store, Windows Phone, iOS, and Android." The job posting has since been removed.
Microsoft Makes The Office 365 Android SDK Available For Download
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Shorten, track URLs on Android with Google URL Shortener
Early this week Google released an Androidapp for the service, taking link shrinking and tracking mobile.
The app is free and can be downloaded from the Google Play store here.
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