Paranoid Android 4.6 Beta 2 polishes colorful system bars

After a few weeks of silence, Paranoid Android is back with a long delayed beta number 2 of their upcoming PA 4.6 release. As with previous beta release for the PA 4.5 series, this one gives due emphasis to one thing: getting the new and colorful Dynamic System Bars in tip-top shape.

Paranoid Android introduced the new feature, abbreviated to DSB, early this month. This is part of Paranoid Android's attempt to bring a pinch of Material Design to its users even before Android L takes flight. The DSBs change the colors of the status bar and the navigation panel to match that of the app's color scheme, blending seamlessly into the app and presenting a stronger "paper-like" aesthetic.

Pretty as that may seem, the first iteration of the feature was unsurprisingly rough around the edges and consumed too much battery and resources. Beta 2 addresses some of those concerns, particularly the jittery animation and lag that users might experience when enabling DSB. That said, the developers note that there is still some battery drain, but not as bad as Beta 1's consumption. Hopefully they will be able to iron that out completely as well in future releases.

Unfortunately, those future releases might start to come a bit slower. Seasons are changing and developers are starting to get bogged down by life. In particular, the summer development craziness we have enjoyed previously is practically over. Of course, PA development will go on but fans and curious observers might have to practice a bit of patience when waiting for what will happen next and when.

SOURCE: +Paranoid Android

Story Timeline

• Paranoid Android 4.5 Beta 1: new Recents ready to go


• Paranoid Android 4.5 Beta 2 gives Recents a bit more polish


• Paranoid Android 4.6 Beta 1 now available

Chrome APK Packager can run Chrome packages right on your phone

Chrome ARChon Custom Runtime packages can be produced right from your phone, thanks to the Chrome APK Packager. This program is a special and convenient way to generate chrome packages from apps already installed or from APKs found on the phone.

The Chrome APK Packager will pull the APK, run it, and place into a manifest.json file. The contents generated will be zipped together and saved in a folder named “ChromeAPK” which will automatically be created on the storage of your smartphone.

The manifest.json file can be tweaked like apps can be sorted alphabetically. A popup can also be added to notify the user that Chrome App is ready. Of course, this is recommended only for those who understand the code and know how to develop apps. Android app developers and coders should find this very easy to edit and change for different purposes.

This app requires ARChon Custom Runtime running on your Android phone to allow the user to install unlimited number of apps. Usually, Google Runtime is limited to four apps so the ARChon is needed. But with the ARChon Custom Runtime, the phone is allowed more apps to be installed.

Chrome APK Packager also allows orientation or mode to be changed. You can use the app on landscape or tablet mode. It features a better UI and allows easy-sharing of generated zip files via email or on to Google Drive.

Download Chrome APK Packer HERE and HERE

VIA: XDA Developers

Story Timeline

• Chromecast support for Sling app debuts


• Google Chrome hack allows Android apps to run on any desktop


• Chrome Apps for Mobile: Chromium Webview, more Google services

Wear Tip Calculator uses round-face smartwatches to the max

Round-faced smartwatches like the Moto 360 and the soon-to-come LG G Watch R may look pretty, but aside from its shape, not much differentiates it from the more common square-faced ones. But of course developers would have to eventually create apps that would specifically look good and be functional as well on round smartwatches. Wear Tip Calculator may be one of the first to do so, and while its function is simple enough, it is pretty useful if you dine out often and have trouble computing tips.

Based on its name, what the app is used for is pretty self-explanatory. Yes, there are people who have a hard time computing what amount of tip should be left, even more so, when there are several of you splitting the bill. Wear Tip Calculator just has two-three simple steps for you. First, you input the total bill of your meal. Then, you add the tip, by choosing which percent of the bill you want to leave for your server. A bonus function is if you’re dining with friends or colleagues. Indicate how many of you are splitting the tip so it will compute how much each one of you have to contribute.

Aside from its functionality, the app truly takes advantage of the circular design for the Moto 360 and the G Watch R, as you swipe through the steps. The app will also work with the more common square Android Wear devices, but of course it would look a bit different and not as cute.

Wear Tip Calculator is free from the Google Play Store. But if you want that added function of dividing the tip, you would have to make a one-time in-app purchase of $1.

Survivor Tools helps trekkers,travellers,outdoor enthusiasts

Even nature enthusiasts are allowed to go digital sometime. While true-blue survivalists might balk at using their smartphone to get out of a sticky situation, if you’re just new to this whole outdoor exploration thing, then you’d find comfort in the fact that there’s an app to help you when you get lost or when you’re bitten by an unknown insect. The Survivor Tools app in Beta mode will become your best friend as you trek through that figurative (or literal) jungle out there.

The main purpose in using the app is (if you don’t have an actual one) it is an accurate compass with different modes, like Normal, Satellite, Hybrid and Terrain. You can even save some specific places, for example your campsite, the main entrance to the humongous park, or your sources of food and water for your entire stay. If for some reason your flashlight stopped working, you can use the app’s flashlight mode and if it’s an emergency, you can use the S.O.S flashlight for faster response.

It’s not just useful in the mountains or the woods, but even in urban settings, you can use the app to navigate your way across the city. You can also contact emergency local services and they’ll find your exact location if you don’t know where you are. You can even broadcast to all your contacts where you are exactly and based on your longitude and longitude, they can track you on Google Maps.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a survivor tool if the app doesn’t have a survival manual, and it is the latest and updated version of the US Army Survival Manual. So before going off on a new outdoor adventure, you can download the Survivor Tools Beta for free from the Google Play Store.

Android M Mentions Spotted in Android Code Review

While we are still waiting for Android L to be officially released, the first mentions of Android M have been spotted in the Android Code review discussion group. Google looks to be continuing its Android naming scheme, and M seems to be the future successor for the yet unnamed Android L.

Android L was officially announced at the Google I/O 2014 Keynote, which took place back in June. The official release date and even the full codename remain unknown, but multiple reports claim that we should expect Android L in less than one month.

The functionality discussed in the code review link above may be useful for developers. Google developers have been discussing the possibility of adding the colored output for Logcat, which is an experimental Android M feature and won’t be cherry-picked into lmp-dev branch. Also talked about is a data exchange format that will be used by developers to communicate with Google servers.

Following the Google’s release schedule, Android M should be expected to in the fourth quarter of 2015 or even beginning of 2016. Android M might be the codename for Android 6.0, and the letter “M” is rumored to stand for Milkshake. But as usual, we should be prepared to see Google do a barrel roll and choose a totally different name.

[via Myce via Phone Arena]

The post Android M Mentions Spotted in Android Code Review appeared first on xda-developers.

Samsung Power Sharing cable lets you spread the love

Have you ever suffered from battery envy? That’s when your friend or colleague still has his device fully charged or with high battery levels while yours is slowly petering out. Now if your friend is really nice, and you don’t have a power bank or any other way to charge your device, then Samsung’s newest accessory would come in handy. The Power Sharing cable lets you do exactly what its name suggests: share power between Samsung devices.

The accessory works simply enough: it shares power directly from one Samsung device to another that is needing a quick charge. So whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, Bluetooth headset or a wearable that’s needing a boost, you can now do so with the power of this cable. Not all devices however will be able to share their power. As of now, it’s just the following: Galaxy S 5, Galaxy Tab S 10.5, Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Avant, and the Galaxy Note 4. But as to which can receive battery life, it’s actually any device that has a micro USB. So even non-Samsung devices can technically receive a power boost with this cable.

The cable has arrows to indicate which way the power will flow from one device to another. To be able to control the amount of power that you want to share, you need to download the Power Sharing app. It monitors the progress of the power sharing as well as the aforementioned option as to how much power your device should share. After all, you need to also ensure your device will not run out of juice.

You can download the app from the Google Play Store or the Samsung App Store. The Power Sharing cable is available for $19.99 through the Samsung online store, but may also be ordered through other online stores.

SOURCE: Samsung (1), (2)

Anomaly Defenders: proper tower defense game with a twist

Fans of the Anomaly "reverse tower defense" franchise might feel a bit sad that this will be the last title in that series. Worry not, though, as it will be going out with a bang. Or actually multiple bangs. Surprisingly, 11 bit studios made this last installment into a "real" tower defense game, but still managed to put an interesting twist: this time, you get to fight for the enemy.

The previous Anomaly titles put you in the middle of an earth besieged by an alien attack. Anomaly turned the Tower Defense tables around by going on Tower Offense, with players controlling the human units that try to make it through the alien towers and defense. For its last hurrah, Anomaly Defenders is turning the tables around again. Twice! Now the game is back to a true Tower Defense mode, with player controlling the towers. But whose towers you ask? This time you get to see the battle from the alien's perspective. Yes, you get to fight for the very race that you were fighting against in the previous installments. Apparently the humans have gone overboard, as they are wont to do, and have launched a genocide mission to the alien homeworld. You, who still play as a human, disagree with the madness and have been recruited to help the aliens ward off the attack until they are able to escape.

Interesting plot twist aside, Anomaly Defenders still possesses the equally interesting gameplay mechanics that have endeared the franchise to Android gamers. Of course, you have the towers, 8 kinds of them, each with 3 possible upgrades and 6 functions. Unlike most tower defense games where enemy (which, again, are humans) units travel in a fixed fashion, your defenses can actually force the invading hordes to change course and lead them to a trap. There are also dynamic and changing environment conditions, like meteor showers and electromagnetic storms, that can turn the tide of battle for or against you. These definitely make for a fitting conclusion to this humans vs aliens saga.

Anomaly Defenders is now available on Google Play Store for a meaty price of $3.99. That said, the game is also part of the newly launched Humble Bundle for PC and Android 11. Although you will have to put out a higher $11 (minimum) payment, it does give you access to both Android and PC versions of the game plus a whole bunch of other games as well, including Surgeon Simulator. Not a bad deal for the price.

Download: Anomaly Defenders on Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• Anomaly Warzone Earth HD "Tower Offense" game lands on Android


• Weekend Gaming: Anomaly Korea and more on sale from Google Play


• Anomaly 2 now marching into Android