Get the Windows Taskbar and Start Menu on Android OS

A lot of users of Windows 8 were angry when they took away the classic Start Menu and replaced it with the more touchscreen friendly “Modern UI” start screen. Demand for the return of the Start Menu has been so strong that there are numerous programs out there that recaptures this element of the UI, and in fact, has forced Microsoft to bring it back in a future Windows OS update. Now it seems like there are some folks who like it so much that they’ve brought it over to Android.

XDA Senior Member leducbao has managed to develop an Xposed module called TaskBar that enables a task bar and start menu very much like those seen in Windows OS to run on your Android device. Once downloaded and enabled, the module inserts a hovering Start button on your screen, which once tapped, brings up a taskbar and a Start Menu. The taskbar displays tabs of all your running apps, and can be customized with three preset themes, and can have its position and notification icon changed. The Start Menu displays all your apps, and have a couple quick settings which you can toggle and change if you wish. Customization options further include editing start menu items, layout and button among others.

TaskBar is quite a nifty app serving as a sidebar with a very familiar and much adored interface. If this sounds like something you want to try out, you can find out more at the TaskBar Xposed Module thread.

The post Get the Windows Taskbar and Start Menu on Android OS appeared first on xda-developers.

Cicret brings Android goodness onto your skin

The Cicret bracelet won’t be a secret once you use it. People will know that you have it.It’s a simple wearable bracelet alright but you’re projecting the display screen right on your arm.

Impressive? This smart wearable features a pico projector to display a user interface similar to what you see on a tablet or smartphone. It’s neither a smartphone nor a tablet as it is a mobile device on its own. It also comes with 8 long range sensors and all the specs required to run Android OS and the compatible apps.

Watch the video below and you’ll be amazed at how this works.

Tap the wrist and a touchscreen user interface will show up. The projected image from the pico projector is good as the same thing you see on mobile devices. You can tap, click, and slide on the screen to do many things. It still is in its prototype stage but the concept is just promising.

The team behind Cicret isn’t gathering funds through crowdfunding but is accepting donations. You can directly send any amount through Cicret’s webpage. The team doesn’t want crowdfunding ventures because they cannot give any guarantee to the consumers. Cicret has not been put up for production yet so don’t believe people who say they have the wearable bracelet in stock before launch.

The maker of Cicret also developed an app called Cicret. It's not related in any way to the wearable bracelet but it's a messaging app made for a more secure data transfer. You can download the Cicret app from the Google Play Store.

VIA: Slashgear

Story Timeline

• Reign fitness tracking wearable available by October 26


• Razer outs Nabu apps ahead of launch of fitness wearable


• GoGlove wearable remote controls your phone

Red Bull Racer goes winter in newest game update

For the past few years, the Red Bull brand has evolved from being just a high energy brand to a full-out media entity, from racing events to magazines, short films and even a record label. What may not be that well known yet is that they have also been developing apps and games for the mobile market with Red Bull TV, Red Bull Kart Fighter and Red Bull Air Racer.

Another game that they have developed and have now updated is Red Bull Racer, an arcade racing game (obviously) where you can choose to race with motorbikes or cars, using the personas of actual Red Bull racers, but with even wilder and more challenging race tracks. The game has over 100 Offroad, Formula or Street-Track events and you also get the chance to pimp up or upgrade your bikes and cars.

The latest game update is just apt for the season as the winter theme gets in high gear. Winter tracks have been added and you can race the cold away with three new vehicles. The KTM X-Bow Winter Concept concentrates on horsepower; the Peugeout 2008 DKR does well on snow; and if you want things simple, you can always use a snowmobile. And don't forget that snow might look fun, but it also makes things more slippery and difficult with its icy roads and snowy turns and loops.

Red Bull Racer is available for free from the Google Play Store. There are in-app purchases as well, so if you don't want to spend more than you should, don't activate the one-click purchase option, if you know what's good for you.

Puzzle Phone another Project Ara competitor in modular phones

First it was Vsenn, that mysterious new entry into the modular phone development scene that is preeminently dominated by Google (initially Motorola’s) Project Ara, who also took up the call to produce a modular smartphone. Now, a new project with a decidedly Finnish DNA called Puzzlephone is also making its entry into the modular phone business.

Puzzlephone is a project by an international team of hardware developers calling themselves Circular Devices. The company was founded by Spanish engineer Alejandro Santacreu and is now currently developing a new approach to the modular phone. The main objective is still the same – to reduce electronic waste and prolong device life through upgrading, minimizing replacements of new devices altogether.

But Santacreu’s approach is made up of 3 major modules which he calls the Brain, the Heart and the Spine. The Brain module contains all the processing electronics elements. The display, speakers, microphones go to the Spine module. The battery and other power-related elements go to the Heart module.

The company’s vision is to create a modular smartphone that can be sustainable ecologically and socially. This is the primary reason why the Puzzlephone’s materials are recyclable, and have low environmental impact. The team will initially use Android as the OS, but they say that other open source operating systems would be supported moving forward.

What do you think? Tell us about it in the comments section.

SOURCE: Phonebloks

Story Timeline

• Project Ara modules to be hot swappable


• Project Ara boots up! DevCon2 set for 14 January 2015


• Vsenn is a Project Ara competitor in modular phones

Humble Crescent Moon Mobile Bundle adds three more games, unlocked bonuses

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be over but there is still the Humble Bundle. In fact, more have been added to the Humble Crescent Moon Mobile Bundle. Three more unlocked bonuses have been added as well so everyone is happy.

We announced this last month and now the bundle is finally available for the Android gamers’ consumption. Game developer Crescent Moon may not be that popular but it has produced some notable RPG games like the Ravensword: Shadowlands, Shadow Blade, and Mines of Mars. If you get the bundle, you’ll get four games. If you pay some more, you’ll get more games.

The Humble Bundle is a limited promotion that will run until Monday, December 8. As of this writing, more than 31,000 bundles have already been sold. A lot of gamers are grabbing this deal fast. I'm not familiar with most of the games but a good deal is a good deal. What's better is that developer supports charity so your purchase of awesome games are also for a good cause.

Here are some of the games you can choose: Space Chicks, @-Bit Cowboy, Neon Shadow, The Deer God, Exiles: Far Colony, Topia World, Blocky Roads, Slingshot Racing, Clash of Puppets, and Aralon: Sword and Shadow.

You can purchase the Humble Mobile Bundle HERE

SOURCE: Humble Bundle

Ignite app allows bloatware installation without your permission

Ok, so mobile carriers want to earn a little extra off you from apps and other installable programs – you can hardly fault them for that, as they are businesses in need of profit anyways. But to sneakily install bloatware (the not-so-endearing term for carrier-sponsored software) without the users’ permission is crossing some sort of a line, and yes, Digital Turbine’s Ignite app allows carriers to do just that.

Digital Turbine is a developer of app management, search, and shopping app solutions for carriers – which include Vodafone, Verizon, Telefónica, T-Mobile, SingTel, Smart, Telstra, and Cricket among others. The Ignite app is its biggest moneymaker – which ostensibly is an app that will allow developers to speed up the roll-out of apps and updates for smartphones. The video below will show you what’s up.

Sounds good so far? Now, Verizon and T-Mobile are clients of Digital Turbine – and the Ignite app has reportedly been installed rather quietly onto T-Mobile devices under the package of a “performance enhancement” update. Here’s where the problem starts.

Reddit user “Real666_” has spoken out that the DT Ignite app on his Galaxy Note 4 has allowed the installation of 3 apps – Cookie Jam, Drippler, and RetailMeNot – without even getting his permission. This means that the DT Ignite app has bypassed Google’s app permission requests, which were put there for this very reason.

How does one resolve this issue? Well, if you find the DT Ignite app in your list of installed apps – you can disable it and it should not be a problem anymore. You can only uninstall the app if you have a rooted device – another reason why you should root your phone and another reason why mobile carriers frown on the process.

VIA: Android Authority / Reddit

Story Timeline

• TrulyClean script removes GALAXY S 4 bloatware


• South Korea set to allow consumers to remove bloatware from mobile devices


• LG G3 with Verizon lets you remove carrier "bloatware"

Hex:99 Android game: when something simple is really hard

It seems that the credo of a lot of new mobile games these days is simple is the new hard. Games that are easy to explain and understand (some even minimalist) are suddenly extremely difficult to play. But hey, we're not really complaining because if all games were easy to play, then it would be boring.

Entering the realm of these types of games is Hex:99, an action game that feels like an endless runner at times. The objective of the game is to not let your silver hexagon ball die. But the developer assures you that you will be "dying very often". And they admit that only 3% of those who start playing the game will actually finish it. So why even bother? Well, if you're the type who relishes challenges and wants to challenge that percentage, then you definitely will want to.

It is easy to play the game on paper, as the controls are pretty simple. The music will actually keep you in the mood as it is fast-paced and highly energetic. The visuals, while simple and minimalist, are actually pretty well made and adds to the appeal of the game. But make no mistake, this twitch-controlled running game is still pretty difficult, and getting through the checkpoints and zones until you reach 1999 is really challenging.

Hex:99 is available to download for free from the Google Play Store. There are some in-app purchases so make sure your permissions are protected so that no unwanted or unnecessary purchases can be made from your device. We can't guarantee that you won't buy lives or bonus items just to be able to finish this game.