Android distribution: KitKat now over 20%

As a monthly 7-day data collection on Android platform distribution statistic, Google has published the August number – with Android KitKat 4.4 passes 20 percent, now at 20.9 percent. The gain in Android KitKat version is not because of the older Froyo or Gingerbread, but from the reduction of Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwich version.

Google did not reveal how many devices it has tracked, while Android Froyo 2.2 continue to maintain at 0.7 percent like last month, its market share should be slowly reduced with more Android smartphones running on KitKat available in the market. Surprisingly, Gingerbread (2.3.3 – 2.3.7) market share has increased 0.1% at 13.6 percent, probably due to more Gingerbread devices "checked in" to Play Store this month.

Android KitKat 4.4 gets a nice 3 percent increase this month to 20.9 percent, although it is not its biggest jump (up 5.2 percent in June). With more Android KitKat devices are available in the market and more Android KitKat updates are rolled out by manufacturers, Android KitKat will continue to gain more market share.

Since September 2013, Google will not include Android version with less than 0.1 percent market share. Android devices before Android Froyo 2.2 are not detectable too due to the old Google Play Store app. So far, only Android 3.x Honeycomb is eliminated from the list. It looks like Android Froyo 2.2 will be the next Android version that we will be missing, but probably not before we welcome Android L in the market share distribution chart – which will be rolling out in the next 3 months.

Box app updated with Box Notes and other enhancements

Productivity apps are a dime a dozen in an app-crazy market and it would have to take something special to make yourself stand out among all of them. For note-taking apps in particular, Evernote, Simple Note and OneNote have been dominant, so is there room for some other apps? Productivity app Box has a new update and its Box Notes features may actually give the aforementioned note-taking apps a run for their money.

Box Notes has tons of new features to make it easier (and maybe even fun?) to use for taking notes at school, meetings at the office or just your own personal diary. It has seamless integration with the web version and you’ll be able to use the app just like you would on your desktop. Some new features for the latest version includes having checkboxes instead of just the normal bullets, because organised people really love checking off tasks that they’ve already accomplished. They’ve also translated the user interface so it would work in all the supported languages available, so you could collaborate and share notes with people from different parts of the world.

In terms of enterprise productivity, there were also a few enhancements added. You now have one-click access to the last 25 files you’ve recently opened to give you easier access to notes that you may want to edit or share. You can also now control the settings for links you want to share, like setting an expiration date for until when they can view it or preventing them from downloading the file from the app. For advanced security settings, you can block the files from being opened in third-party apps, from copy-pasting text on their phone’s clipboard and also blocking uploads from the app.

Box Notes has a minimalist design that will appeal to some, but as of now, it really does not have something that would make it comparable or even better to other note-taking apps available. But if you’d want to give it a try, it’s available when you update your Box app from the Google Play Store.

SOURCE: Box (1,2)

Story Timeline

• Box for Android users updated to version 2.1.5


• Box for Android update brings multi-account switching and more


• Box reportedly files for IPO

TapPath lets you control where your links will lead to

While you most likely have a default browser with which to open the links that you click on wherever you are on your smartphone, there are times when you wish you had more options right? Well of course there’s an app for that and TapPath wants to be your app of choice for that kind of problem. It gives you the ability to control where yuou would like the add to lead to when you tap it once, twice or thrice.

TapPath’s function is simple: it just wants you to have an easier time when clicking on links, no matter what app you’re on, like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Tumblr. It’s like the right-click function when you’re on a desktop, but of course since you’re mobile, it has to be through tapping. The app lets you set up which 3rd-party app the link will lead to when you single tap, double tap and triple tap (maybe frantic tapping could also be an option in the future?)

So for example, you’re going through Facebook and you want to open a link that caught your interest. A single tap can lead you to your default browser, for example, Google Chrome. Two taps will then open the link in Pocket, since you want to save it for later reading. And if you triple tap it, it can open in Evernote, if you want to save the link’s content directly on your note-keeping app. All you have to do is set up those options on TapPath’s settings and you can tap your links away.

TapPath is brought to you by the same developer who made other helpful apps like Link Bubble and Action Launcher. It’s available at just $0.99 at the Google Play Store.

SOURCE: +ChrisLacy

Sony Lifelog update: power enhancements, notifications for goals

Activity-tracking application Lifelog, developed by Sony originally for its Xperia devices but now available for other Android phones, has now been updated with a few new enhancements and of course the usual bugfixing. The update includes power consumption enhancements as well as receiving notifications every time you accomplish one of the goals that you set.

One of the problems that apps like Lifelog, which keeps track of your daily activities, has is that it consumes so much of your battery life. And of course since you also use a lot of other apps, the battery drain is a pain (rhyme intended), especially if you’re always mobile. Lifelog’s update ensures that the app consumers less power than its previous version so you could enjoy both the app and your phone more.

You can also now receive notifications on your smartphone whenever you’ve successfully completed goals that you’ve set for yourself. So if you've reached a running milestone or lost a certain number of calories through your activities, your smartphone will be there to congratulate and commend you. Other minor updates include extending support to your Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) account and a few bug fixes for the product support for the life-logging accessory, the SmartBand.

As we mentioned earlier, the Lifelog app has been made available for non-Xperia devices and as long as you have an Android device, you can download it from the Google Play Store. It does have some features that would only work on Xperia, like recognising your transportation and bicycle activities as well as changing the activity type on the app. But otherwise, it should look good on any smartphone or tablet running on Android 4.4 and up.

Story Timeline

• Sony SmartBand and Lifelog Camera: hands-on from MWC 2014


• Sony Lifelog app launched for Xperia devices


• Lifelog gets update, some features for Xperia devices only

Humble Mobile Bundle 6 adds three more games to collection

If you’re a mobile games addict and you still haven’t heard of or bought the Humble Mobile Bundle 6, then you would have to read on or miss on a crazy deal. They have even added 3 more games to the collection, which includes kicking llamas, an alien surfing through space and a psychotic car race. This brings a total of 9 games that can be yours if you pay more than the average, with three of them in a pay what you want format.

Humble Bundle has been keeping gamers happy with their unique format of bundling together several games and letting users dictate how much everyone else should pay for the games. From the 6 games we previously reported on, there are now 3 more additions to relieve you of your boredom (and your battery). Carmageddon will let your inner demon driver free as the game sets you lose on an unsuspecting city where no car or human or cows are safe from freeform drivers. You can even use multiple Android devices to play this game. However, it is kind of ultraviolent (the Mac and PC versions were banned in some countries after all) so you might want to keep this away from the kids.

Less violent but maybe just a little bit disturbing as swell is Llamas with Hats: Cruise Catastrophe where you are Carl the Llama who goes on a cruise and enjoys kicking the passengers overboard. As to why this is, we’ll never know (maybe a childhood trauma or something). A more age-appropriate game would be Time Surfer, an endless runner set in space. As your alien avatar surfs through obstacles like asteroids, spikes and other space debris, you also have the ability to rewind time if you’re about to die or you’ve made some mistakes you’d like to correct.

Humble Mobile Bundle lets you pay what you want for three games (Eliss Infinity, Duet Premium and Combo Crew Special). But if you want to get these three games, plus the three others in the combo, you need to pay the average which right now is at $4.51. You have six more days to get this deal as it expires by August 19.

SOURCE: Humble Bundle

Story Timeline

• Humble Mobile Bundle 5 arrives with six new games


• Humble Mobile Bundle 5 sweetens the deal with three more titles


• Humble Mobile Bundle 6 brings 6 into the fold

Galaxy Alpha announced with new metal frame that you wanted

The August 13 launch date for the new Samsung Galaxy Alpha is real, the new smartphone with Android 4.4.4 KitKat is just announced today, said to be "new design approach" with metal frame around the side of the phone. The back cover remains in plastic like other Galaxy series.

The Galaxy Alpha is a mid-to-high-end model, powered by a Exynos 5433 Octa Core (Quad 1.8GHz + Quad 1.3GHz) processor and paired with a 4.7-inch 720p Super AMOLED display. There is a 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage but for the first time, this Galaxy model does not come with a microSD card slot – probably due to the restriction of the external storage in Android KitKat. Samsung did not list a 64GB version for more storage space, although it was mentioned in the past rumors.

At 6.7mm thickness, the 4.7-inch size and 115g weight will fit nicely for one-hand operation compare to other 5.x-inch smartphones. Other specs include a 12 megapixel camera, 2.1 megapixel front facing camera, 4K video recording @ 30fps, WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and 1860 mAh battery. Like the Galaxy S5, finger print sensor is integrated on the home button, with another heart rate sensor at the back.

Available in early September, the Galaxy Alpha will launch with Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, Frosted Gold, Sleek Silver, and Scuba Blue colors – depends on your region.

Story Timeline

• New photos, UAProf of Samsung Galaxy Alpha leaked


• Samsung Galaxy Alpha shows up at FCC, launch imminent


• New leaked photo shows Samsung Galaxy Alpha full specs

Sony Underwater apps lets you play with your phone in water

If it’s always been your dream to play with your smartphone while it is (or you are) submerged in water, then you better get yourself an Xperia Z1s or Xperia Z from T-Mobile. Sony has introduced 6 silly but fun underwater apps for when you are scuba-diving and have the urge to play games in the water or for when you just want to dunk your phone in the water then use it.

The Xperia phones are famous for their water-resistant features (although it is not exactly built for living underwater) and now they’ve also added the fact that the phone itself can detect when it’s underwater through spectrograms. And now the developers over at Sony have also added 6 underwater apps so you can do fun things while it’s wet.

Four of the apps are just for silly fun. Goldie is like a tamagochi, but the fish needs to be submerged in water to make it happy (and alive). Plantimal meanwhile is as it name says, a weird combination of plant and animal that grows when you “water” it and sends notifications when it has reached its peak and needs to be watered again. Sink Sunk is simply a submarine game for when you’re at the pool and bored out of your mind. Tiny Umbrella is for when you need for the top of your head to be protected from the rain by your smartphone (okay, it’s cute but come on).

The other two apps in the underwater suite may have a bit more purpose. If you and your friends are trapped in a storm or bored at the beach, you can do an instant karaoke session with the Rainy-Oke app. However it just has 10 songs right now and you may not be able to use it when you’re on dry land. Now if you miss the days of developing photos the old-school way, the Photo Lab app lets you submerge digital photos in water to apply a chemical bath or a filter and you can even tilt your phone just like you would an actual photo in an actual chemical bath.

The apps may seem silly or you wouldn’t really want your phone to get wet often, but come on, if you had the chance to play with your phone while either you or it is submerged, why not right? Unfortunately the apps are only available for the Xperia Z1s or Z and if you live in the US. But who knows it might expand to other Sony Xperia devices in other countries as well.

VIA: XperiaBlog