Smart Unlock Bypasses Lockscreen Security on Trusted Wi-Fi

During this year’s Google I/O Keynote, Dave Burke introduced a new concept for handling lock screen security. Lollipop’s new API allows using smartwatches or different portable devices as trusted devices to determine whether lock screen security is needed or not. In practice, this works by disabling lock screen protection when your phone is within range of your smartwatch or other trusted device such as your home Wi-Fi network–simple but efficient.

Unfortunately for many users, this functionality is only available on Lollipop, so KitKat and Jelly Bean devices have been left in the cold. This doesn’t have to be the case, however, as XDA Recognized Developer hazex created an application that lest you disable lock screen protection while your phone is within range of certain Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth devices, and so on. Options to unlock via NFC or per location will be added in upcoming releases.

Essentially, this functions just like trusted devices on Lollipop, but for older versions of Android. As such, the most important aspect of this application is its ability to work with Android 4.1+. This means that you can use enjoy smarter lock screen security, even if your OEM has decided to abandon support for your device.

While the application itself is normally a paid app, the developer has created a special XDA community version that doesn’t need to be purchased in order to have full functionality. It’s a nice gift from the developer to all of the XDA community.

Don’t waste your time entering your lock screen pattern all the time. Download SMART UNLOCK from the application thread and bypass your lock screen security when on your trusted networks.

The post Smart Unlock Bypasses Lockscreen Security on Trusted Wi-Fi appeared first on xda-developers.

Pre-holiday apps and games sales

Many in the world are just counting down the days, for one reason or another. But rather than just doing nothing while waiting, you can start your holiday shopping with a selection of apps and games that are already shaving off a few dollars from their price tags to beat the maddening holiday rush. Here's just the tip of the iceberg, with many more surely to come in the days ahead.

Apps

• Moon+ Reader Pro - -50% off $2.49 ($4.99)

• PlayerPro Music Player - -51% off $1.95 ($3.95)

• Sloth Launcher Premium - -50% off $0.99 ($1.99)

• SafeInCloud Password Manager - -50% off $3.99 ($7.99)

• Touch Calendar - -75% off $0.99 ($3.95)

• Jota+ PRO-KEY - -50% off $2.98 ($5.98)

• C Locker Pro - -60% off $0.99 ($2.49)

• WeatherPro HD for Tablet - -74% off $1.02 ($3.99)

• Essential Anatomy 3 - -52% off $11.99 ($24.99)

• Runtastic PRO - -40% off $2.99 ($4.99)

• AIDE Premium Key - -50% off $4.99 ($9.99)

Games

• THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 - -67% off $0.99 ($2.99)

• Hitman GO - -80% off $0.99 ($4.99)

• Deus Ex: The Fall - -86% off $0.99 ($6.99)

• Leo's Fortune - -80% off $0.99 ($4.99)

• Goat Simulator - -81% off $0.95 ($4.99)

• Anomaly Defenders - -87% off $0.50 ($3.99)

• Anomaly Korea - -75% off $0.99 ($3.99)

• Anomaly 2 - -80% off $0.99 ($4.99)

• Anomaly Warzone Earth HD - -75% off $0.99 ($3.99)

• Rayman Fiesta Run - -83% off $0.50 ($2.99)

• Rayman Jungle Run - -97% off $0.10 ($2.99)

• GTA: Chinatown Wars - -40% off $2.99 ($4.99)

• Game Dev Story - -60% off $0.99 ($2.50)

• Pixel Defenders Puzzle -37% off $1.25 ($1.99)

• The Shadow Sun - -80% off $0.99 ($4.99)

• Knights of Pen & Paper +1 -50% off $2.50 ($4.99)

• Magicka - -50% off $2.00 ($3.99)

• Modern Combat 5: Blackout - -43% off $3.99 ($6.99)

• The Room Two - -67% off $0.99 ($2.99)

• Angry Birds Star Wars HD - -73% off $0.99 ($3.72)

• Doodle Devil™ - -50% off $0.99 ($1.99)

SQUARE ENIX

• DRAGON QUEST - -67% off $0.99 ($2.99)

• CHAOS RINGS II - -56% off $6.99 ($15.99)

• DRAKERIDER - -60% off $5.89 ($14.73)

• CHAOS RINGS Ω - -56% off $3.99 ($8.99)

• CHAOS RINGS - -50% off $3.99 ($7.99)

• Crystal Defenders - -57% off $2.99 ($6.99)

• Secret of Mana - -56% off $3.99 ($9.00)

• FINAL FANTASY II - -50% off $3.99 ($7.99)

• FINAL FANTASY DIMENSIONS - -53% off $7.99 ($16.99)

• FINAL FANTASY IV: AFTER YEARS - -50% off $7.99 ($15.99)

• FINAL FANTASY V - -50% off $7.99 ($15.99)

• FINAL FANTASY III - -50% off $7.99 ($15.99)

• CHRONO TRIGGER - -50% off $4.99 ($9.99)

• DRAGON QUEST II - -40% off $2.99 ($4.99)

• DRAGON QUEST VIII - -35% off $12.99 ($19.99)

• FINAL FANTASY - -50% off $3.99 ($7.99)

• FINAL FANTASY VI - -50% off $7.99 ($15.99)

• FINAL FANTASY IV - -50% off $7.99 ($15.99)

VIA: App Sales

TWRP 2.8.3.0 Available for Supported Devices

The TeamWin Recovery Project (or TWRP, for short) has quickly become one of the most popular custom recoveries for Android. Without this fully touch-friendly recovery, it’s really hard to imagine flashing custom ROMs, kernels, or mods. Not only does TWRP recovery allow you to flash without using tools like fastboot, but it even gives you a great, skinnable UI and plenty of gratuitous features to make the experience better. Over a month ago, XDA Senior Developer Dees_Troy announced version 2.8.2.0 for the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9. Today, TWRP was updated to 2.8.3.0, which is officially available for most currently supported devices.

This update brings loads of fixes to the MTP, AArch64, and True Type Font support. You can find an official changelog below.

• MTP will now report the correct max file size based on the file system in use to the host PC (may fix transfer of large files)


• Update and improve fix permissions and make fixing contexts optional


• Update SuperSU in TWRP to 2.40 and update install process


• Make TWRP work properly on AArch64 (Nexus 9 is now built in true 64-bit binaries and libraries)


• Attempt to set correct permissions and contexts on all files placed in storage so backups will show in Android


• Fix kernel panic during MTP start on some devices


• Support unicode fonts on devices with True Type Font support


• Fix slider value not showing sometimes (vibration settings page)


• Toggle MTP off during adb sideload to set correct USB IDs


• Reduce library requirements for 5.0 L decrypt


• Other minor fixes and improvements

Starting with TWRP 2.8.2.0, the recovery uses the new sideload method from AOSP. Updates are no longer stored on the NAND, and are streamed directly onto device using a fuse file created in RAM. To use this feature, you must update the ADB binary to the latest 1.0.32 version.

You can check if the recovery for your de vice has been updated by visiting your home forum or by visiting the official TWRP page.

The post TWRP 2.8.3.0 Available for Supported Devices appeared first on xda-developers.

Flowy Beta game helps reduce anxiety and panic attacks

There have been numerous studies saying that constantly using your mobile phone is bad for your physical, mental, and emotional health. But there are also times when using certain apps and even games can actually be a good for you. A new app called Flowy (still in the Beta stage) is a game but was actually created to help people deal with anxiety and panic attacks through puzzle games that will help you breathe deeply and normally.

It of course will not cure you of those attacks or replace medical treatments, but it will teach you (or reteach) you how to breathe properly and get you to focus on the puzzle games to distract you from whatever is triggering your panic attack. The game's story is that Aegir, the god of the seas (and apparently, the god of parties as well) has neglected his ship. Now with the help of Thor (yes, that Thor, but not the Marvel version) he needs to repair his ship in order to journey back to Asgard "to put on the party to end all parties."

The puzzles you will encounter are controlled by your breath. Well, actually, you touch the screen when you breathe in and then let go when you breathe out. You are recommended to play it for at least three minutes everyday in order to get your attacks under control. In the studies the developers conducted with the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine earlier this year, Flowy decreased the symptoms of anxiety, panic and hyperventilation with the subjects in just a four week period.

Flowy is still in the beta stage so it might not yet work perfectly as expected. But if you want to try it out, especially if you suffer from constant attacks, and give your feedback, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store.

Viewbox VR Headset is designed for smartphones

We have seen a number of VR headsets that are basically holders for smartphones in the past. One of the more interesting and cheap VR headsets out there came from Google in the form of Google Cardboard. Another new VR headset has been unveiled and this time it's from a company called Evomade.

The Evomade unit is called the Viewbox and it looks to be much more comfortable than wearing a cardboard box on your head. Viewbox is a headset that is made from a neoprene type material and is meant to hold you smartphone in front of your face to make it seem like a larger screen.

The device works for both Android and iOS smartphones and supports any 2D or 3D movie. The head straps and housing of the device are one piece and phones up to 3.5" x 6.7" will fit inside the headset. The fabric the headset is made from is breathable to help prevent fogging.

The lenses inside the headset give a 90-degree field of view. Viewbox was designed to allow people who need glasses to wear it comfortably. The project is on Kickstarter seeking 80,000 SEK ($10,280) and has racked up over SEK 149,200 ($19,180) at the time of writing. A pledge of 200 SEK ($25) or more will get you a headset by April 2015.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

Lazy Swipe makes it easy to reach all your icons with one hand

If you are the sort who often uses your smartphone with one hand, you know that it can be hard to reach some of those icons on the screen. This is especial true if you have smaller hands. A new app has landed on Google Play called Lazy Swipe that is designed to make it as easy as possible to reach your entire screen with one hand.

Lazy Swipe deploys from the left or right bottom corner of your screen in any situation. You can use it or a number of things including opening frequently accessed apps. It can be used to find and open newly installed apps or a recently used app.

Lazy Swipe can also turn settings like WiFi and Bluetooth on and off. The app was updated recently and gained some new features and tweaks. It was optimized for memory consumption and a bug affecting the launcher and non-full screen apps was fixed.

A repeated icon bug was also fixed and the transparency of the notification bar was optimized. The update also tweaked and optimized the UI. The app is only 613k in size and has as many as 500,000 installs. Android 4.0 or higher is required.

SOURCE: Google

Power Pen is a stylus, pen and battery charger in one

In an era where mostly everyone is mobile and digital, (insert your preferred number)-in-1 gadgets are always welcome and sometimes necessary. Didn't you ever wish for a battery charger as small as a pen or a stylus that also doubles as an actual pen or a stylus that can charge your device? Fortunately, there are some smart developers out there who have come up with a nifty gadget that meets all three requirements with the brand new Power Pen.

First off, the pen-like gadget is a brushed-aluminum stylus that can be used to draw on your tablet or to write notes on your smartphone. But when you swivel it, it will turn into an actual ballpoint pen. Yes, there are people who still use real pens to write on real paper. So if you prefer both the digital and actual style of writing, then the Power Pen may seem like a dream come true.

But when you look at the other end, it gets even better. Just twist off the cap and you'll see that it is actually a charger that has tips compatible with both lightning (for new Apple devices) and microUSB (the rest of the world) tips for charging. However, don't expect it to be able to fully charge your device. It only has 700mAh capacity so it will just be able to give your phone a battery jumpstart. But that should be enough in emergency situations when your phone is about to die but you need to send an all-important email or message or Tweet.

The Power Pen is available in classic black and gold colors and is now available for pre-order from Firebox. It will cost you $39.19 which might be pretty steep for a stylus or a portable charger (and especially a pen) if taken separately. But put them all together, it might be a little more reasonable. Shipment is expected to start by December 29.

SOURCE: Firebox