Subscribe:

Ads 468x60px

Labels

Theftie Helps You Find Your Stolen Device

10527813_620725008035095_4988073253120499692_n

When a phone or tablet gets stolen, not much can be done. Such situations should not occur, but the world isn’t perfect and some people want things for free. When this happens, there are some tools that help you protect your private data and wipe as a last resort.


Wiping data and locating your device is not everything that can be done remotely, however. XDA Senior Member leducbao has gone further and created an app that also can be used as an Xposed Framework module, to take a selfie of thief using front camera of your device. The photo is sent to a predefined Email afterwards. This data can help you and police gather evidence to catch the thief


Theftie works in three modes: Prevent protects the device from unauthorized access by locking it and making a selfie of the thief. Catch allows communication with the device. Finally, rescue data – retrieve your personal data like SMS, photos and documents and save them to Google Drive.


Just like Android Device Manager, Theftie can wipe the SD card and phone data. While activated, app can’t be uninstalled which makes your phone protected.


Don’t allow your device to be stolen without hope of rescuing your data. Head over to the application thread and give Theftie a shot.


Apps like Android Device Manager or Theftie don’t guarantee your device’s safety, so if your phone gets stolen, don’t hesitate to inform the local police.


The post Theftie Helps You Find Your Stolen Device appeared first on xda-developers.


Microsoft starts beta test for Office on Android tablets

Microsoft is reportedly working on an Office beta program for Android tablets, after meeting with relative success in their iOS foray. While there are still no clear details on how this will be different from the existing mobile version, it is expected that it will work just like its iOS version, with Word, Excel and Powerpoint sure to be part of this working suite.



Their new CEO, Satya Nadella, has promised that Microsoft will become much more than just a hardware company, but a software provider that will support different platforms, not just its native one. This move to create a program for Android as well as the aforementioned venture into iOS territory is a step towards fulfilling that commitment.


Just like the iOS version, the Beta program for Android will be focusing on tablets, as most document processing occurs in that arena, more than the mobile phone versions. Those who want to check out this very early version can test it out as early as now in a private beta. This early version already features the new touch-friendly UI that Microsoft has been working on, to fit the phablet and tablet devices that they are targeting. They are also working on a Windows version of the Office suite that is more touch-friendly and it is expected to be released by 2015.


Microsoft building on their iOS and Android suites comes at a time when Google is trying to turn Android users away from the traditional Microsoft Office use by integrating Office functionalities into its own apps Docs, Sheets and Slides. Just this week, they updated Docs and Sheets to allow users to create and edit Word and Excel documents within the apps, without needing to convert them before and after. They also announced last week that they are removing Quickoffice from the Play Store since there’s no need for a separate app suite since you can do everything within the Google Office Suite apps.


VIA: Slashgear





Samsung shuts down Video and Music Hub, Music, Books

In the latest in a series of changes that Samsung is making to its multimedia apps, they announced today that they are shutting down their Music and Video Hub, effective August 1, 2014. Just a few weeks ago, they also let users know that Samsung Music and Samsung Books will no longer be around by July 1. Instead, they are offering alternative apps courtesy of new partnerships that Samsung has entered into.



For Samsung Music and Video Hub, users will be able to transfer content that they have previously bought from the store to M-GO, a new video app that is a joint venture between Dreamworks Animation and Technicolor. There will be no additional cost when you transfer the purchased content. Moreover, Samsung customers will receive an exclusive Welcome Offer from M-GO that costs around $13. While the Music and Video Hub will still be up until August 1, you will not be able to buy or rent videos from it but can still access your library to be able to retrieve and transfer it.


Samsung had previously announced that Samsung Hub Music will cease to be available by July 1. So hopefully, by now, you were able to download and transfer all the music that you purchased from the app. Milk Music and Google Play Music are the two alternatives offered to seamlessly transfer your music. Milk Music is an online radio service that boasts it has no ads to interrupt your listening pleasure. But if you want three months of free subscription, then you’d want to transfer to Google Play Music, which offers just that for Samsung customers. It also lets you add your own music to the cloud for free.


Lastly, as of July 1 as well, Samsung Books no longer exists. They made the announcement two months before, so hopefully, you were able to transfer your purchased books to the Kindle for Samsung app. The great news about the new books app is that it gives you a free ebook every month from among 4-6 choices. This is a great way to not just get free books but also discover new authors and even new genres.


SOURCE: Samsung (1), (2), (3)





Your Android May Be Broadcasting Your Location (and How to Stop It)

Your Android May Be Broadcasting Your Location (and How to Stop It)


Do you own an Android device? Is it less than three years old? If so, then when your phone's screen is off and it's not connected to a Wi-Fi network, there's a high risk that it is broadcasting your location history to anyone within Wi-Fi range that wants to listen.


Read more...
















Todoist location-based reminders coming to Android this week

Premium users of task managing app Todoist will be enjoying a new feature to raise their productivity levels even higher. You can now use your location to trigger reminders for your to-do list, based on the places that you frequent the most, as well as what type of task you need to do.



The process is really simple. Todoist is already integrated with Google Maps, so it will detect which places you frequent the most, provided of course that you turn your location services on. You can also manually add locations by searching Google Maps and then adding specific places to your favourites. The app will show you your last 10 identified locations so it will also be easier for you to add them to your favourites.


When you create your task reminders, instead of setting a specific time to remind you, you can now choose from your favourited locations and when you enter or leave those places, it will trigger a notification from Todoist. For example, you set your “Submit liquidation forms” reminder for when you enter your office or your “Call dentist to set-up appointment” just when you leave your place of work.


However, the location reminders feature is only available for premium subscribers. But the good news for free users is that they are offering a 30-day free trial for Todoist Premium, if you sign up until Sunday, July 6th. The Android update for the app will be available later this week, while web and iOS users can already enjoy the location-based reminders. While you can manage it from any platform, like Gmail or Outlook, the location reminders will only work on iOS and Android devices.




SOURCE: Todoist





Civilization Revolution 2: no multiplayer, no IAP

Delivering on its promise, 2K Games has made Civilization Revolution 2 available on iOS today and, based on early runs and reviews, Android gamers might be both pleased and disappointed by what's coming to the platform soon. There is word that there will be no in-app purchases, but there will also be no chance to compete with friends either.



Civilization Revolution 2 basically takes the same game that was not available on Android previously and takes it up a notch. Developed this time exclusively for mobile devices, the developers have been able to focus on maximizing and optimizing for mobile hardware. In short, the game promises to look stunning on your smartphone. And the controls are completely touch-friendly as well. In fact, it seems that the developers have even put a safeguard to prevent users from accidentally ending their turn by a misplaced tap. Now they will have to swipe a slider to indicate the end of their round.


One thing, however, that will be missing in this exclusively mobile incarnation is multiplayer support. It almost feels natural, if not tempting, to compete with your friends handling different civilizations, or civs in the game's parlance. However, without having to wrestle with the messy details of multiplayer support, the game developers would have had more time to focus on perfecting the single player campaigns. At least in theory. It remains to be seen whether those campaigns, which now include modern day technologies such as Modern Warfare and Information Technology as well as unlockable leaders like John F. Kennedy and Churchill, will match expectations.


civ-rev2-1 civ-rev2-2 civ-rev2-3 civ-rev2-4


The price, however, might not. On iTunes Appstore, Civilization Revolution 2 costs $14.99, and the Android price tag is likely to be the same. Definitely a bit pricey, though it seems to be the trend for high-profile or popular titles these days. Hopefully, there will indeed be no in-app purchases required to finish this game to the end.


VIA: DroidGamers, 148Apps


Project Ara loses design chief, welcomes 100 beta testers

At the height of Project Ara's popularity, it has lost a key member of its team. Dan Makoski, credited for the design not only of Project Ara but also of the successful Moto X, is leaving Project Ara and Google for good. And instead, he will be working for credit firm Capital One.



It might be a strange change of careers, but Makoski will still be donning a designer's hat at Capital One. But instead of leading a team of smartphone engineers and designers, he will be heading what he calls a "money team". This team is charged with designing "bold, breakthrough transformations" in how people connect with their money. And that last part is really what drove Makoski to make the switch. It's all about connecting humans with objects, or humanizing things. He said that "there are few spaces as ripe for technology and human-inspired re-imagination as how people relate to their money".


It feels almost ironic that just as Project Ara's design head leaves, the project welcomes a fresh batch of "mini-designers". December last year, Motorola reached out to the populace to help design Project Ara, employing the dscout app and service to harness the wisdom of the masses. According to Google, over 90,000 have answered the call of duty and today, they have picked the 100 most active "scouts" of the bunch. As a reward, these hundred will be the first to receive a free Ara smartphone. Of course, they are being asked to help again by giving feedback. Curiously, dscout says that Google will be shipping the prototypes over the next 8 months, confirming the earlier schedule of a beta by the first quarter of 2015.


Herding a hundred testers, much less thousands of voices, will definitely be a full time job, one that will require a designer's vision and iron fist. Unfortunately, for now that vision has shifted away towards a financial institution and Google has yet to reveal who will be fated to fill in the rather large shoes left by the veteran designer.


SOURCE: Dan Makoski, dscout





Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)