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Rico smart-home security device uses old smartphone for brains

I'd wager that most of us have at least one old smartphone sitting in the house somewhere unused. A new product has turned up that is called Rico and looks a bit like Wall-E's girlfriend from the animated film. Rico is designed to be a home security device and it can use an old smartphone for its eyes and brain.

The device will work with iPhone or Android smartphones. Rico does have some capabilities without having a smartphone brain. It can detect motion, temperature, carbon monoxide, smoke, humidity, and control smart sockets.

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With a smartphone inside Rico, the camera and processor can be utilized to allow you to view what is going on in your home in real-time. The smartsockets are available with the bot to allow users to control appliances and anything else plugged into the smart-sockets from the app on your smartphone.

Rico is on Kickstarter right now seeking $100,000 and has raised nearly $16,000 at the time of writing. The project has 27 days to go and a pledge of $100 or more will get you a Rico and a smartsocket. Delivery is expected to begin in November 2015.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

Logitech Arx control brings PC gaming info to Android

Logitech has been making gaming keyboards for PC gamers for years that have screens that show data from compatible games right on the keyboard. That data included things like ammo and other details of the game. The screen could also be used to show PC performance information like CPU usage and more.

Logitech has an app for Android smartphones called Logitech Arx Control that was updated this month. Arx Control lets gamers using Android phones see similar data about compatible games and PC functions on their device.

Arx Control also allows the gamer to check PC performance and system stats from their phone. PC games have to be compatible with Arx control to show stats using the app. Logitech's G series of gaming peripherals also interface with the app allowing gamers to do things like control mouse sensitivity from the app in real-time.

The app will function on Android tablets or smartphones and some Logitech keyboards have the ability to support the smartphone or tablet like a stand. The app is available to download now on Google Play.

SOURCE: Google Play Store

Put Your Key Apps on the Android Lock Screen for Easy Access

Lock screen widgets have been around since Android 4.2, but it's not always easy to find apps that can take advantage of the feature, and many users simply forget that it's there. But lock screen widgets are great! You can check them without the hassle of keying in passcodes or drawing out a pattern, and there are more useful ones available than you might realize.

Dropbox now allows exporting of files to SD card

If you use more than one Android device, there are times when you wish that cloud services give you the option to export important files not just to your smartphone or tablet's internal storage, but to an SD card. Well, Dropbox has probably heard of that need and is now allowing you to do so with their newest update.

While it is handy to have important documents like trip itineraries, vacation photos and crucial office documents on the cloud, there are still times when you want them on a physical drive so it would be easy to transfer from one device to another. This was the job of flash drives, and a long time ago, floppy drives (you do remember that right?). But now, SD cards are the most convenient way to transfer a file from your smartphone to a tablet or laptop and vice versa.

Dropbox makes it easy. Just tap on the Quick Action button beside your file, choose the more button, then export then save to device. It will then give you the option as to save it in your internal storage or on your SD card. If you don't see an option for an SD card, go to the menu on your save to screen, click settings then display advanced options. Try the save to device step again and you'll see your SD card there now.

dropbox

Aside from this new option, version 2.4.5.10 has also improved search options as well as improved support for the upcoming Android L (we still have no idea what dessert it will finally be). The update is currently rolling out but if you still haven't received it, you can manually update by going to your Google Play Store.

SOURCE: Dropbox

Streamline Android Theming with Graphic Porter

I don’t have a custom theme on my Android phone, and the reason for this is because I am too busy picky (and perhaps lazy) to go through the countless fantastic custom themes that have been created and made available here on XDA and in the Play Store. And I’m sure that many folks here are in the same situation. Because despite the vast selection of themes, we all find ourselves a little bit too picky about something specific –perhaps it’s the icons, the accent colors, or the switches. And this is where Graphic Porter comes in.

Developed by XDA Senior Member br.ruan, Graphic Porter is a tool which simplifies the process of modifying and porting existing custom themes. Running on PC, it enables you to change every aspect of the theme throughout the Android system, such as check boxes, background images, radio buttons, and IM emoticons. If there’s something you’re not happy with, just select the UI element you want to change, and the tool will automatically find and bring to you the specific files you have to change.

Graphic Porter’s porting feature is just as easy to use. The tool will automatically find the theme’s files and resize anything to suite your device’s screen resolution. Because of this method however, it should be noted that it might be a bad idea to port themes made for devices with lower dpi than your own.

Graphic Porter will definitely be a welcomed tool for anyone who likes to ensure that their Android device looks just the way they want it to look. If you would like to check this out, head over to the Graphic Porter thread for more information.

The post Streamline Android Theming with Graphic Porter appeared first on xda-developers.

The Moto 360's Battery Life Has Gotten Way Better

The Moto 360 is the best Android Wear watch , and it just got better. A recent update has done wonders for its battery life, which had been the biggest knock against it.

Wunderlist’s new update brings Dropbox integration

Haven't you ever wished that two of your favorite apps would just talk to each other to make your life easier? Well, two of the most popular productivity apps in the market have done just that as Wunderlist announced their first integration, and it is with cloud storage heavyweight Dropbox. We can just hear the collective happy sigh of productivity junkies out there.

With this new update, Wunderlist users can now assign, comment and prioritize the Dropbox files that you need within the to-do list app. If you're working on a file, whether it's a document or an image or a video, and it needs a detailed action point, just add a task on Wunderlist, expand the detailed view option and then choose the paperclip or Dropbox icon to choose your file. It will then be linked to your task item and you can share it with those on your Shared List who also need to be updated or work on something regarding that file. You can add who is the SPOC (single point of contact), their responsibilities, and also deadlines.

Another great thing about is that whatever changes or updates you make in your file will be automatically synced in both Wunderlist and Dropbox. This removes the step of having to reattach files whenever you change something in it. It will also be synced across the accounts and devices of the people you shared the task and files with.

While you can connect apps through some work-arounds like IFTTT, nothing beats official integration like this. The update has rolled out to Wunderlist users by this time. But if you still don't have the app, you can download it for free (you can upgrade in-app for even more features) through Google Play Store.

SOURCE: Wunderlist

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