The AirPlay wireless streaming system makes sharing stuff between your phone and TV incredibly easy—but only if stick with Apple gadgets. Try to share content from an Android and suddenly you're out of luck. But with these third-party streaming apps, Airplay and Android can finally speak the same language.
After much teasing and countdowns, GO Launcher has finally unveiled the latest version of this popular homescreen replacement. With GO Launcher EX 5, the app switches over to the flatter aesthetic of KitKat and the buttery smoothness of its own 3D graphics core.
More than anything else, GO Launcher 5 is a visual refresh, bringing its own widgets, icons, and design to match the flat, minimalist, and colorful tastes of Android 4.4. This is, of course most evident in the icons that GO Launcher uses for its settings, but it can also be felt all throughout the home screen and the app grid. Even the widgets that officially ship with GO Launcher have been updated to that same visual identity. Of course, there are other behavioral new features as well, like the side navigation panel in the Apps grid, which gives users access to Widgets, GO Launcher's own App Manager, and a new Hide App section.
When it teased its upcoming version upgrade, GO Launcher mentioned bringing in some smarts. This, however, apparently didn't mean the same level of intelligence as other "smart" learning homescreens. It mostly came in the form of Smart Cards, basically just tips that popped from below here and there to offer timely and relevant tips.
In almost everything else, GO Launcher remains the same, only better. You get the same penchant for sometimes over the top transition animations. You also have access to GO Launcher's own market ecosystem, which covers everything from widgets, themes, and even apps. All in all, you still get everything you may have enjoyed in GO Launcher, the freedom to configure and customize your homescreen just the way you like it. Only now everything is prettier to look at, at least by default.
There are actually many more new features, but most of them are hidden behind the paid Prime version. This includes things like ad removal, new transition animations, more gestures, a side dock, and even a very useful security lock to keep some apps private. The Prime version will cost you $5.99, either from Google Play Store directly or via in-app purchases. If, however, you do not need any of those features, then the free GO Launcher EX 5 might be enough for you.
Download: GO Launcher EX (Free), (Prime)
Designer Jay Machalani just posted a concept that explores how iOS could be vastly improved if app icons weren't just static blobs. Instead, they could be dynamic UI objects that behaved more like widgets in Android or Live Tiles in Windows Phone.
Things have been rather silent on the BBM front lately, but that's supposed to change today with the rolllout of the next version of its Android app. In version 2.2, BlackBerry is making it easier for more people to join in on the BBM fun.
They say that one of the best ways to get people to, sometimes mindlessly, sign up for a service is to make it feel or look like they don't need to sign up at all. This is one of the key points behind single sign-on features like Google or Facebook on some sites and apps. But since BlackBerry obviously can't resort to that, it is doing the next best thing: reducing the requirements. Now anyone who wants to become a certified BBM user only need to provide a name, an email address, and a password. Of course, later on you might be required to open up an email to verify the account, but as far as getting started is concerned, that's all there is to it. BlackBerry is also making it a lot easier to add friends by throwing away the need for a PIN. Simply click on the link in the email request and you're BBM buddies instantly. Cue privacy and security worries.
The 2.2 update will also be bringing in some interface changes. This includes the very simple but meaningful relabeling of the "Updates" tab to "Feeds", to make it jive more with common parlance that refers to social networking posts from friends. There is also a new batch of emoticons, 16 in total, including those iconic see, hear, nor speak no evil monkeys.
BBM version 2.2 for Android is now rolling out. Since the update makes use of Google Play Store's staged rollout, arrival time will, of course, vary between markets and regions.
Download: BBM on Google Play Store
SOURCE: BlackBerry
HTC is having a one-day sale on the Amber Gold One (M8). The discounted handset is available direct from HTC and those considering a purchase will be able to pick from three carrier branded models. Those three carriers include AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
This deal is available for today (May 30, 2014) only and means a 50 percent drop in price. The handset is selling for $99. And to clarify -- that is $99 on a two-year agreement. Also included is the Google Drive storage offer which gives 65GB of Drive storage free for two-years.
Aside from the drop in price, and the Amber Gold color -- this is the same HTC One (M8) that you are likely already familiar with. Basically, that is to say the handset sports a 5-inch Full HD 1080p display and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with the Duo Camera setup. The One (M8) is running Kit Kat with HTC's Sense 6 user interface.
The HTC Advantage plan is also being offered here. The Advantage plan covers the first 6-months of device ownership. There are a handful of perks associated with the Advantage plan, however one that seems to stand out is the free (one-time) replacement for a cracked screen.
Those considering the HTC One (M8) and looking for more information should make sure to check our earlier coverage which included some hands-on time as well as some tips and tricks.
SOURCE: HTC
When Google announced its Android Wear smartwatch program, we got some slick little teasers detailing how it might look. We've seen bits of the interface and close-ups of hardware mock-ups. But never all the pieces at once, until now.
The LG G Watch, which can be claimed as the first Android Wear device, was recently run through its paces in London. Via a German website, we get our first look at the G Watch. Up close, personal, and working, the G Watch is detailed below, so check it out!
We’ll first say that neither the hardware or software can be counted on as final, so take that into consideration before judging to harshly. What we do find is a watch with a very square design, that has some sharp lines and distinct styling. The band merges seamlessly into the body, and those components making up the body fit together quite nicely. From a hardware perspective, it’s polarizing, but nice.
Software is the real attraction for an Android Wear device, and the G Watch gives us a look at it. As expected, Google Now makes a prominent appearance, essentially providing a home base for the platform. Aside from voice control, it looks to have a very crude card-based interface. Scrolling looks to be a bit jerky, but again — this is a beta product, so we won’t be too unkind.
It’s a sharp handset, with little breaking up design but the pin charger under the body. We’re curious what you think, though: are you excited for this one, or waiting to see what Motorola has up their sleeve (pun intended)? Le us know in the comments section below!
Source: AppDated
The HTC One (M8) Ace we’ve been seeing around has been officially unveiled, and is known as the One E8 in China. using plastic rather than the metal unibody construction, HTC aims to offer a more budget-friendly flagship to the Chinese market. In doing so, they may have undercut the competition, giving the emerging Chinese market one important feature others aren’t.
The spec sheet for the HTC One E8 reads like any other modern flagship, housing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 and Android 4.4. Sense 6.0 makes an apprearance, naturally, and a 5MP camera sits up front. Those Boomsound front facing speakers we love so much also pop up, and the device is LTE compatible.
What the device lacks versus its metal big brother is the Dual Camera. It also forgoes the Ultrapixel offering, instead opting for a 13MP shooter in the back. The flash sits where the secondary camera on the One (M8) is, leading us to believe the overall dimensions are just about the same.
The website doesn’t list the screen size, but it’s likely the same 5-inch display we find on the One (M8). Pricing is also a mystery at this point, but the plastic shell should jettison more than weight — the price should be a touch lower than the One (M8), which would undercut the competition severely. Right now, it’s not known if this device will make its way outside of China, so we’ll patiently wait on word of the US variant.
Source: HTC China
ASUS has released its second teaser video leading up to Computex 2014 next week. This time, the hints are somewhat more obvious, which could be pointing to a new PadFone that comes complete with a keyboard dock.
Will it blend? Or perhaps ASUS really meant "will it mix?" It does and it actually has. There was a time when ASUS' PadFone came not just with a tablet dock but a keyboard dock as well, giving users practically three devices in one: a smartphone, a tablet, and a laptop. Those days seemed to be over, until a recent sighting at FCC seemed to imply otherwise.
There, a somewhat large phablet was seen hanging around not just with a tablet but also with a keyboard. This gave rise to hopes of the official return of the accessory, though there were indicators that this could be a bit different from previous generations of PadFone devices and their keyboard companions. If the speculation holds, the keyboard would not have any battery to supplement that of the phone's or the tablet's and would actually communicate via Bluetooth instead of physical interfaces. Depending on your opinion of Bluetooth keyboards, that could be a good or a bad thing.
It's still not clear how the first teaser connects with this, which could be a totally different device. Fans and aspiring PadFone owners would have to keep their eyes peeled once Computex starts rolling next week on June 2. As for that other PadFone model, AT&T has already revealed that the PadFone X will be available for pre-order next week as well.
If you’re not a fan of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, this news may not make you happy. Reuters is reporting that T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom has agreed to terms with Sprint parent company Softbank to sell T-Mobile. This would move Sprint and T-Mobile closer together, likely merging the two US carriers.
This news comes to Reuters via Japanese news agency Kyodo, who are citing “industry sources”. They’re reporting that sometime in mid-May, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son proposed his terms to Deutsche Telekom, and was received favorably. T-Mobile’s parent company has been actively pursuing a sale of the company they hold a 67% interest in, and have been outspoken about the need for carrier consolidation in the US.
At the Code conference, this week, Softbank’s Son praised T-Mobile CEO John Legere’s efforts to shake the industry up. Legere is believed to be the frontrunner for the CEO spot if the two companies merge, where current Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has said he’d gladly step down to let Legere rule. Son and Legere are also similar men with swashbuckling ambition.
Though the merger may have been hammered out, the FCC still has the final say. They’ve recently made moves to allow smaller carriers like Sprint and T-Mobile equity in spectrum auctions, a move believed to stop this merger short. The FCC is outspoken about their desire to have four major carriers in the US, so it seems push may have come to shove.
There is no indication at this time any finalized paperwork has been filed, or any agreement committed to. The deal is believed to be upwards of $40-50 billion, roughly double what Softbank paid for Sprint two years ago.
Source: Reuters
Here is yet another floating icon, multitasking app that shows a bit of promise. Search Now puts the ability to do web or even app searches right under your fingertips, no matter what app you're in. And it's even quite configurable.
Search Now uses the same Facebook chat heads floating icon mechanism that seems to be showing up quite a lot of late. Like Inapp Translator, which we took for a quick test a few days ago, you can relocate the circle or even hide it completely with a tap and hold gesture. Unlike Inapp Translator, however, you don't need to leave your current app and go to the main app just to bring it back up. Search Now lets you bring back the search window by tapping on its Notification panel entry, which is a configurable setting.
Tapping on the icon or the notification will bring up a window with a search bar. What makes Search Now a bit special is that it doesn't just do web searches. It goes through you contacts, apps, bookmarks, media, calendars, and even settings, to bring up relevant results. Even better, it lets you choose which search engine to use. Supported ones include Google, Yahoo, Bing, and, for the privacy-conscious, DuckDuckGo. Search Now has settings that let you control the size of the floating icon, which it calls the "Point", and its translucency.
Search Now does have its own set of quirks. For one, the settings can be a bit confusing. The "Stay in notification" option, when enabled, will put a notification entry for Search Now whether or not the floating icon is visible. If disabled, the notification only appears if the icon is hidden. However, if you disable the floating icon, it will also disable Stay in notification, so you can't have a notification without permanently hiding the icon. This is a bit annoying because if the icon is hidden and you tap on the notification, it becomes visible again. The second issue is a random one, that of performance. Search Now tries to present real-time search suggestions, which could bog down the app when using some search engines. Unfortunately, this has the effect of also temporarily freezing up the whole device.
Still, perhaps with a bit more polish, Search Now can be a formidable tool in the multitasker's belt. It's free to download from Google Play Store and, best of all, doesn't have any in-app purchases.
Download: Search Now on Google Play Store
VIA: XDA
While Google is making Android Wear the software platform for the next wave of wearables, Samsung is doing its own thing on the hardware side. It is putting forth SIMBAND as an open sensor platform that can be used to usher in a new generation of wearables that focus on health.
Let's get this out of the way first. SIMBAND isn't a consumer device. It is quite simply a platform that could be used to develop consumer devices. Samsung calls it an "Investigational Device", really meant more for research and development. As a development platform, Samsung wants to leverage the power of the community by making every part open. The hardware is open, the software is open, the mechanical design is open. The open reference sensor module, which is the size of an SD card and is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core Cortex A7 chip, can work with any advanced sensors, either from Samsung or from other vendors. The key point is to get as much people working towards the same goal.
And Samsung has a rather ambitious vision for that goal, one that is probably shared by any wearable device manufacturer. It envisions a health-centric wearable device that can give users the deepest and most accurate insight into their health, without sacrificing privacy and security, and without having to charge every half day or so. For the battery and charging, Samsung is planning something rather special called a Shuttle Battery. Instead of charging the smartwatch, or any wearable, directly, you instead charge the battery charger which you then plug into the smartwatch, without having to remove it from your wrist.
When it comes to the software side of the platform, Samsung isn't exactly being talkative. While there is mention of open software, that pretty much covers both Android and Tizen, the latter of which is its latest darling for its wearables. Then there is also Android Wear, based on Android but more formally designed for such devices, though Samsung hasn't exactly expressed or hinted at any interest in the new platform.
VIA: SlashGear
The Samsung Galaxy S III is far from the newest device in the US Cellular lineup. But despite having a pair of successors (Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5) enter the lineup, it seems US Cellular is giving the Galaxy S III some attention. Simply put -- the handset is getting an update.
US Cellular users carrying a Galaxy S III are getting Kit Kat. The update is arriving as Android 4.4.2 and will bump the baseband version to R530UVXCND4. You'll be able to grab the update over-the-air (if connected to WiFi), or by connecting your device to a computer using a USB connection.
The former (WiFi option) is the easier of the two, however Samsung does have a detailed set of directions available for those looking to update through USB and a computer. And to clarify, the computer update process works on Windows 7, Vista or XP. Mac users will have to stick to the over-the-air option.
Perhaps key here -- this update brings improvements with the Phone Dialer, Hangouts and the Camera app. Users will notice how contacts will now be prioritized based on how often you use them. The camera improvement means a new 'touch to focus' with the option to adjust the focus and exposure.
Anyway, those carrying a US Cellular branded Galaxy S III will want to keep an eye out for an update notification.
SOURCE: US Cellular
Samsung's next AMOLED tablet might still be a good week or two away, but the firmware for the Galaxy Tab S is now already available online. And thanks to some sleuthing by the folks at SamMobile, we're getting a peek at some of the features in this device, including a fingerprint scanner.
The manufacturer already made it known that it wants to bring the its biometrics-based security technology to more of its Galaxy line in the future. For now, that has so far been limited to a fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5. An inspection of the firmware for the upcoming Galaxy Tab S, however, revealed instructions on how to use a fingerprint scanner, which pretty much confirms the presence of that feature in the tablet as well.
Also interesting is the presence of Ultra Power Saving Mode, a feature again so far only found on the Galaxy S5. This special mode tries to conserve battery by muting colors on the screen and turning completely black and white. Considering how this feature works only or most efficiently with AMOLED displays, which uses no power to display a black pixel, this also confirms the rumors and leaks of AMOLED technology being used for this tablet. The firmware also has other interesting tidbits, like the camera app interface and the new Magazine UX that debuted with the Galaxy Pro tablet line.
The firmware for the WiFi-only model of the Galaxy Tab S, namely the SM-T800, is already up, but mostly for the purposes of reflashing to stock ROM. The existence of this 10.5-inch tablet isn't expected to be formally acknowledge until around June 12.
OnePlus caused a bit of controversy when they announced the "Smash the Past" marketing stunt for users to get invitations to buy the One smartphone. The company later switched things up and decided to let users donate their old phone, as opposed to smash it.
It seems 86 of those 100 winners chose to donate to Medic Mobile. That company refurbishes the phones then sends them out to be used by healthcare workers in impoverished regions of the world. That aside, it seems OnePlus is going to continue on the path of giving back.
The company has recently announced the "Invites For A Cause" initiative. This is a setup where OnePlus will be auctioning off a "super pack" of invites. The highest bidder will get 15 invitations, which sort of opens things up quite a bit.
One person could bid, win and then give the invitations away. Or alternatively, a group of people could get in on the action for one large bid. The 'for a cause' aspect comes in with what OnePlus will be doing with the money from the winning bid.
You may have guessed it -- they will be making a charitable donation. They are allowing forum members to choose who gets the donation, and users can choose to vote for Water.org, Unicef, WWF or 1% for the Planet.
SOURCE: OnePlus
Mobile security firm Lookout is offering a new feature that brings it up to par with many security apps and services now on Android. Using a combination of mobile technologies and snooping, Theft Alerts can help you locate your stolen device or, in the worst case scenario, remotely secure and wipe out your data.
Theft Alerts is practically composed of two parts, triggers and the email report resulting from them. Triggers are actions that smartphone thieves usually take upon acquiring a stolen device according to Lookout's research. These include actions like turning off the device, removing the SIM card, entering the passcode incorrectly a number of times, and even removing Lookout itself from the list of device administrators. Any of these events can be set as a trigger for the Theft Alert system, though users will have to pick out which ones are valid and which ones they usually tend to do themselves a lot.
When a trigger has been tripped, Lookout will send out an email to the registered owner that includes relevant information to locate the stolen device. This includes a photo of the perpetrator silently taken using the front-facing camera and a map of the current location of the device, or at least the last known one before the trigger action happened. The email will also include options to lock the device remotely, send a threatening message to be displayed on the device's screen, or, as a last resort, wipe the device completely to protect sensitive information.
Lookout Theft Alerts come with a price, however. It is only available for premium subscribers to the service, which incurs a monthly payment of $2.99 or $29.99 per annum. However, Lookout does have a special treat for older users of its free service, letting them try out Theft Alerts for free until September 31 this year. This, however, only applies to those who already have an account before this announcement was made, so new users won't be getting the same deal.
Google has rolled out the latest update for the Android Device Manager app. This update brings the app to v1.2.12 and while there has yet to be any changelog posted -- the update is in the process of rolling out through the Play Store.
There doesn't appear to be much in the way of differences, however the folks at Android Police have spotted one key change. Google has added a Guest Mode option. Simply put, you can now choose the Guest option from the account name drop down menu on the main launch screen.
Once you select the guest option you'll be able to enter your personal Google credentials (email and password). This isn't what we would consider a huge update, but this does appear to be a welcomed change given you can now login easily (on a friends device) and not have to worry about whether or not that device will store your account details.
When using the Android Device Manager app in Guest Mode you'll be listed as "Guest" in the upper left hand corner. You should also take some comfort in the easy access to log out once you are done. Just look for the Sign Out option in the upper right corner. Otherwise, Guest Mode will still allow you to remotely track your device, as well as ring the device, lock the device and wipe the device.
T-Mobile has announced the latest in the Uncarrier series of events. This next one will be highlighting Uncarrier 5.0 and it will take place in Los Angeles, California on June 18th. There hasn't been much in the way of hints, however T-Mobile did make it clear they "don't play it safe and sound."
Of course, not playing it safe and sound could have been fitting for most (if not all) of the previous Uncarrier events. Time will tell what the carrier has planned this time around. Looking back to January, the Uncarrier 4.0 tackled early termination fees (ETF).
This was when T-Mobile first announced they would pay any ETF that you may get charged as a result of switching. The process seemed simple enough, though we would suggest reading all the fine print before making any sudden moves. Having said that, T-Mobile mentioned they would give users up to $650 to switch.
That $650 would come as a mix of up to $350 for any ETF and up to $300 for a device trade-in. Otherwise, some of the earlier Uncarrier moves included free data for your tablets, free international roaming and the ending of overage charges. So, any guesses as to what T-Mobile has planned for Uncarrier 5.0?
Koushik "Koush" Dutta has just made an announcement that brings his AllCast streaming system beyond its usual target devices. Now any computer can become a recipient of streaming media thanks to the new AllCast Receiver Chrome web browser extension.
AllCast streaming already works with a variety of target devices, usually multimedia boxes or dongles like the Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku box, and, most recently, the Amazon Fire TV. Last week, however, Koush released the AllCast Receiver app on Google Play Store, practically turning any compatible Android device into a receiver.
Now, any computer can be one too. The AllCast Receiver Chrome extension works on PCs running Windows or Linux as well as on Macs. All supported streaming formats have been noted as working, including even mirroring, though Koush comments that its not ideal considering it uses the WebRTC route also used by Chromecast. The short video below demonstrates the extension action.
This Chrome browser extension works only with a new version of the AllCast sender that Koush has also released today. He also teases that a Chrome extension for an AllCast sender will be coming soon, which will turn the tables and turn any computer into a broadcaster for any supported AllCast Receiver.
Download: AllCast Receiver on Chrome Web Store
SOURCE: +Koush
It was inevitable and now Pocket, formerly known as Read It Later, has joined the army of free services with paid premium offerings. But while two of three features focus particularly on convenience, one in particular is probably worth the subscription fee.
Pocket is one of the Android Community team's must-have apps, but, if left unchecked, it can grow into an unwieldy, unread. forgotten, and most likely unorganized mass of links, articles and whatnot. To help make sense of it all, Pocket is now offering a premium subscription that adds features that can help you better organize, or at least dig through, your collected articles. Pocket will suggest tags, which you can apply with a single click or tap, to relieve you of having to determine and think of the most appropriate tag for a piece. Of course, it will only be able to suggest the right ones after learning from your own habits, so the more you use, the smarter it will become. Premium users will also be able to enjoy a more powerful search, which can sift through not just titles or links but also through content, tags, author, keywords, and more.
But perhaps the most interesting premium feature for the online archivist is the Permanent Library. Pocket will save a copy of the an article for posterity's sake and that copy will be kept in that original condition forever. Or as long as Pocket remains in business. This means that even if the original article changes, or disappears from the face of the Internet, your copy in your Pocket will remain safe. It's like your own personal Wayback Machine.
Truth be told, these premium features will only make sense for those that use Pocket less as a transient repository of links and more as a dumping ground and filing cabinet of anything and everything. Like an Evernote of sorts, but for articles on the web. For this type of user, a $4.99 monthly subscription might indeed be worth the price. But if you can really dig into your pocket, pun intended, you can opt for a $44.99 yearly fee instead.
As promised, Verizon is now making available the latest HTC Sense UI version for owners of last year's HTC One under its care. With Sense 6.0, the HTC One M7 gets a number of update apps and improvements to the user interface to match that of the HTC One M8.
Primary among the changes is the new Blinkfeed, which now lets user add and remove content. Viewing those content has also changed a bit now that it uses continuous vertical scrolling. Blinkfeed has also added support for social networking sites, even including Foursquare restaurant recommendations. The overall user interface has also been freshened up a bit with the use of large swathes of solid colors that has become a KitKat thing. Customizing the homescreen has also been made easier, allowing users to do almost everything right then and there without having to dig through the Settings app.
In terms of non-visual changes, the update also brings in improvements to WiFi connectivity, fixes for several outstanding bugs, update of pre-installed apps like SSO and Audible, as well as the addition of a new baked-in app in the form of Emergency Alerts.
Verizon estimates that downloading the update will take at most 30 minutes, while installing it incurs and additional 10 to 20 minute tops. During the installation of the update, the HTC One will be practically unusable. Should there be an error in installing the update, users are advised to remove and re-insert the battery and power the device back on, at which point they will be prompted to install the update again.
SOURCE: Verizon
To keep your Xperia Z2 smartphone looking stylish even while charging, Sony is making available two new wireless charging accessories designed for it. The Wireless Charging Cover WCR12 and Charging Plate WCH10 will let you refuel the smartphone's battery without being entangled by wires. And they look nice, too!
The WCR12 is a stylish flip style cover designed specifically for the Sony Xperia Z2. While it's selling point is its wireless charging capabilities, the cover also functions as a protective accessory to keep objects away from your screen while the device stays in your bag or in your pocket. In addition, the cover allows the Xperia Z2 to be propped up in a landscape orientation for the best viewing experience.
With the WCH10 charging plate, Sony has moved away from the usual drab, rectangular or square form of most wireless charging plates. Instead, it employs a circular disk design that makes the plate look both stylish and interesting on any table. The plate gives out a charge of 5 watts to charge the Xperia Z2 or other compatible devices.
Though these accessories are sold separately, you will probably need both in order to have a wireless charging system. However, both the cover and the charging plate adhere to the Qi wireless charging standard and are therefore compatible with other similar accessories in the market. The Wireless Charging Cover WCR12 will come in black and white color options while the Wireless Charging Plate WCH10 only comes in black. Sony has not yet disclosed when and where these accessories will come to market or for what price.
SOURCE: Sony