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Textra update: customizable bubble color, Lollipop support

With free messaging apps on your smartphone becoming even more interactive and fun with stickers, video messages, etc, one of the original purposes of a cellphone is seemingly slowly getting lost or obsolete. You can probably count on your fingers how many times you actually send SMS messages in a day, preferring to use other apps like LINE, Viber, FB Messages, etc. But there are some SMS apps that are trying to bring back the "fun" in texting and one of them is Textra. The latest update will make your texting life more colorful and more Lollipop-y.



With Android Lollipop just around the corner (we sure hope so!), apps are scrambling to make sure they're ready. Design-wise, Textra was ahead of other messaging apps, adapting Google's now ubiquitous Material Design in an update last month, even before we knew it was not lemon merengue pie. Now, Version 2.13, which is already their third update just this month, brings more Android Lollipop support, although what that support exactly is, they did not enumerate in their change log.


But probably the most obvious difference in this update is that you can now customize the colors of your message bubbles, depending on which contact you're talking to. So if you feel like assigning pink to the bubbles in your message thread with your little sister, you just need to long press the convo from the inbox, click on the menu (those three dots on the upper right) and then customize the bubble colors.


The update should have rolled out by now to your smartphone. If you don't have Textra yet and want to see what the SMS fuss is about, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store.



Z-Charge is a bedside charging and storage solution for gadgets

Have you ever had those mornings where you almost step on the phone that you placed on the floor the night or when your gadget suddenly drained overnight and you really needed to use it that morning? Yes, probably most of us have had at least one of those ever since we started sleeping with our gadgets and since it's the first thing we look for when we regain waking consciousness in the morning. Z-Charge is an upcoming product that aims to solve all of those early-morning gadget problems.



Simply put, it is a charging and storage solution made from fabric which you can place under the mattress, across your bed and with pouches on either side. There are two pouches on either side that can hold up to 3 gadgets each and can charge 6 devices all at the same time. It can handle smartphones, tablets and even ebook readers and has a USB powering solution that can accommodate even iOS devices.


The fabric itself isn't the one charging (that would've been cooler, but alas, wireless charging it is not) but it has a single wire where the USB ports and multiple charging cables are attached to and it's that single wire which you plug into the wall socket. The storage pouches on the side are easily accessible and there's even a flap for securely storing tablets and e-readers. The product comes with the necessary power supply unit depending on where you're located.


The Z-Charge is currently raising funds on Kickstarter to make it a reality. The developers are trying to get €40,000 (around $50,000) and right now, they're not yet halfway towards their goal, but there are still 24 days left in the campaign. This product should interest those that have several devices beside them when sleeping. So if you belong to that category, head on over to their product page and make your pledge.


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SOURCE: Kickstarter


Amazon Appstore merged into main Android app

Your online shopping craving, whether they be for the digital kind or physical goods, can now be satisfied with more ease and convenience. Amazon has finally combined two of its shopping apps into one, putting the app-centric Appstore right inside the regular shopping app. Now you won't have to hunt down the APK for the Amazon Appstore just so that you can get your daily dose of Free App of the Day or access your Prime Instant Videos.



Previously, if you wanted to get access to Amazon's exclusive apps and deals, you'd have to install the Amazon Appstore separately from the main Amazon Android app. That wouldn't be much of an issue if the Appstore actually existed in Google Play Store but it doesn't, perhaps because of highly competitive and biased practices. You'd have to hunt down the APK from Amazon's website, which isn't always easy to find. Thankfully, Amazon has now incorporated that section of its retail empire into a single app.


Amazon didn't actually make a big splash about it, which it probably considers not newsworthy enough. In a sense, it is only a byproduct of another announcement, the availability of Prime Instant Video on Android smartphones via the Amazon Appstore. But in order to make that new experience easier and more seamless, it had to do something about the status quo. Hence the changes to the main Amazon Android app.


Android apps and games can now be accessed via the "Shop by Department" button on the Home screen or by drilling down to the Apps & Games section of the sidebar. This section, of course, complies with the main app's design, so you will be met with a dark on light color scheme instead of the original Appstore's dark aesthetic. Other than that change, however, users will have access to the exact same features of the standalone app, which means great news for shoppers and bad news for their wallets.


Download; Amazon on Google Play Store

VIA: phoneArena



New LG Octa-core SoC, Ubuntu 14.10 – XDA TV

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LG is set to release the Octa-Core “Nuclun” SoC on the LG G3 Screen! That and much more news is covered by Jordan when he reviews all the important stories from this weekend. Included in this weekend’s news is the announcement of the official release of Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn and be sure the check out the article talking about damping the thermal throttling on the LG G3! That’s not all that’s covered in today’s video!


Jordan talks about the other videos released this weekend on XDA TV. XDA TV Producer TK does an Android App Review of Google’s New Inbox. XDA TV Producer droidmodd3rx released a video talking about the Big Android Giveaway. And if you missed it be sure to check out Jordan’s Review of the Nvidia SHIELD Tablet. Pull up a chair and check out this video.



Links to stories mentioned:



Check out Jordan’s YouTube Channel and Jordan’s Gaming YouTube Channel


The post New LG Octa-core SoC, Ubuntu 14.10 – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


Alcatel Onetouch Pop 7 now available on MetroPCS

MetroPCS, one of the top providers of 4G wireless service in the country, has started to offer the Alcatel Onetouch Pop 7. The new Android tablet deal is prepaid, which means it doesn’t require any annual contract. T-Mobile’s flagship prepaid brand is bringing another option for those who want to get an affordable tablet.



The Onetouch Pop 7 comes equipped with a 7-inch display screen, 600 x 1024 pixel resolution, 1GB RAM, 8GB built-in storage, microSD card slot, Mali 400 graphics, and a Mediatek MT8312 dual-core 1.3GHz. Out of the box, it will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It’s not a high-end end Android tablet so don’t expect much. Other specs include a 2MP rear camera, 3240mAh battery, WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Tablet is good enough for your basic mobile computing needs: surfing the Web, watching videos, listening to audio, social media, etc.


Alcatel Onetouch Pop 7 is listed at $149 and is now available in any MetroPCS stores. You can also get it on any of three rate plans: $10/month for unlimited data with first 1GB of high-speed data, $20/month for unlimited data/first 3GB, and or $30/month for unlimited data/first 5GB. High-speed data of any plan can go up to 4G speeds according to MetroPCS, made possible by the Data Strong network of T-Mobile.


Alcatel Onetouch’s Senior Vice President of North America Steve Cistulli said



“We’re firm believers that mobile technology should be easy-to-use and priced to be accessible to all consumers, not just those with deep pockets. Both T-Mobile and MetroPCS continue to disrupt rate plan offerings for consumers – much in the same way ALCATEL ONETOUCH is disrupting what it means to have affordable, accessible technology – which is why the partnership between our brands is such a great value for our customers.”



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VIA: Slashgear


SOURCE: MetroPCS



Google Maps update: Hindi language, improves notifications

As a special Diwali gift for millions of mobile Android users who speak the language, Hindi has been added as an official language in the latest Google Maps update. Another segment of digital users that will be happy with this update are the Android Wear users, as it brings improved notifications for wearables that are on Google's platform. These seem like minor improvements, but of course, for apps, any updates, minor or otherwise are always welcome.



Hindi is the most widely-spoken language in the world's second-largest population, and so it is but logical for Google to add it to their ever-growing multi-lingual lexicon. The update includes voice navigation in Hindi as well. The other major improvement in the update is that the navigation notifications for Android Wear devices has been tweaked. Of course there aren't that many smartwatches yet using the platform, but it's good news for ASUS Zenwatch, LG G Watch, Moto 360, Samsung Gear Live and Sony Smartwatch 3 owners who like to run or are dependent on Google Maps for navigation.


While other map apps. specifically Nokia's HERE, have come up to challenge Google Maps' domination over the navigation market, it's still one of the most downloaded apps in history, with an estimated 1 billion Android users using it. A recent major update in Google Earth, which now has 3D rendering to enhance it, will make Maps an even better accompanying navigation app for those exploring an area for the first time.


If you're not yet part of the 1 billion using it, you can download Google Maps from the Google Play Store. The update should have rolled out to you by now, but in case it hasn't, you can update it from your Apps list and enjoy the added features and improvements, particularly if you speak Hindi or have an Android Wear device.



Nexus 6 drops at the FCC, should be shipping soon

The Nexus 6 – Google’s new flagship phone for Android that was built by Motorola – has finally made an appearance at the FCC, pointing to shipping dates most likely just around the corner. The appearance seems right on time for the year’s biggest gadget sale rush at the end of October, and the device should most likely be available for consumers to purchase pretty soon.



The Nexus 6 – known before its recent launch among tech blogs all over the world as “Shamu” or “Free Willy” – is a pretty big deal for the Android ecosystem, as it will be launching with a virtually new version of the operating system. Android 5.0 Lollipop will soon be coming out and the Nexus 6 will be the poster child for the spanking new OS.


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The FCC documents confirm that the Nexus 6 will be usable on at least ten LTE bands, including the ones used by most major mobile carriers in the US. There is also confirmation of another variant of the Nexus 6, which is probably the international version of the phone.


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If you’re the type who wants to dig into FCC documents, then hit the source link below. For most of us, we will be content knowing that the Nexus 6 will be launching soon.


SOURCE: Reddit / FCC