Slacker Radio revamps look, adds ringtone option (for Verizon only)

In case you've forgotten that it exists, in the wake of Spotify, Pandora, and even Jay-Z's attempt at music streaming (Tidal), Slacker Radio is still alive and kicking, and apparently, not slacking off. They have just updated their Android app with a newly-refreshed look, and with some new features to boot. It's about time for a revamp in order to keep up with the competition and also differentiate itself from the others.

For the unfamiliar, Slacker is a music streaming service that is somewhere in between Spotify and Pandora. You can stream music through stations that you can create and customize. The stations are curated by an "expert team" when you start using it. But as you continue to customize your preferences, and you "heart" or "ban" the songs that you come across, the stations will eventually adjust to your musical tastes. Another added bonus to this service is that you also have non-music offerings from stations like ESPN, ABC, Disney Radio, Nerdist, etc.

Among the many new features in the update is the "Today on Slacker" feed which will give you artist, album and station recommendations, as well as curated news stories and even relevant social media posts from the artists or programs recommended. There is also a "Fine Tune" feature where you can move the sliders on different variables like song popularity, release year, and listener favorites to further customize your stations. You can also now use any of the songs, stations, playlists or allbums as your personal ringtone. However, this is only exclusive for Verizon users.

The Slacker Radio update has already rolled out to users, but if you don't have it yet, you can download the app for free and start exploring a whole new music library. You can subscribe for $3.99 per month for unlimited song skips, offline listening, and become ad-free at that. For $9.99, you get all those perks plus on-demand listening as well. The Slacker Radio Tones will cost Verizon users an additional $2 per month. Slacker Radio is available for US territories only.

SOURCE: Slacker

Cynaps Bluetooth bone conduction speaker hat

There are plenty of ways for you to listen to music from your smartphone and take calls without having to pull your device out of your pocket or purse. A wide range of headphones and earbuds are out there with or without wires. What they all have in common is that you have to put something on or in your ears to listen to tunes or talk on the phone.

A device has turned up on Indiegogo called the Cynaps Bluetooth bone conduction headset in a hat that allows you to hear phone calls and listen to music without having to wear earphones or ear buds. If this product sounds familiar, it was on Indiegogo back in 2013 for initial funding and its back again for more.

While the Cynaps looks like a normal hat, it has tech inside that allows audio to be carried using the bones in your skull. The system has an 800 mAh internal battery good for up to ten hours of talk and an integrated mic.

Buyers can choose from 11 different hat styles including visors. The project has raised over $90,000 so far and you can get any style you want for $54 as long as early bird pricing is in place.

SOURCE: Indiegogo

Track your phone without Bluetooth or GPS with iTraq

By now, you've probably heard of the American digital journalist who lost his iPhone then became an instant celebrity in China when people started following his story and eventually tracked down the man who inadvertently became the new owner of his smartphone. But not all of us who misplace our phones will have that kind of luck. A new IndieGoGo campaign gives you the power to track your lost or stolen gadgets (and people too!), even if they're brough to another country or continent, as long as there are cell towers.

iTraq is a product that forgetful people will be able to find useful, and you don't even need to use GPS or Bluetooth to be able to track your lost object. The cellular tracker instead uses the power of the cell towers where your object is currently located. We all know that Bluetooth only has a limited range and that the GPS quickly drains any device that uses it. At least as long as there are cell towers near it, then you'll be able to find out where your smartphone is or practically anything that you attach the tracker to (bag, laptop, yes, even a human being).

The device itself is also pretty handy. It's as small as a credit card, but just a little bit thicker. You can place it in your car's glove compartment or under the seat of your bike. You can put it on a strap or tape it to an object. You can insert it into your smartphone or tablet's casing. You can set it to sleep to minimize energy consumption, and then set a time when it will wake up. The location of what you're tracking will then be displayed on the app or on its website (which will be protected by your log-in details of course).

The original campaign has already been funded 752% as of April 4. This goes to show how much people believe they need a product like this. You can still support it though, for as low as $49 for one iTraq. But hey, you know you don't need just one right?

SOURCE: IndieGoGo

This is a crowdfunded project, and as such may not deliver what its creators initially promise. Most crowdfunding sites, like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, have policies about what happens to your money if the project fails to deliver on its goals, but choosing to back a project is inevitably a risk. Android Community's reporting on crowdfunded projects should in no way be seen as an endorsement, unless specifically stated, and we recommend closely examining the terms and conditions to understand your individual rights as a backer before making a pledge.

1Password update: custom keyboard, auto-fills, TOTPs

1Password has been a heaven sent app for those who are either too forgetful to remember their digital passwords (or any password for that matter) or too paranoid that you need to change your passwords every week (as maybe we should). The latest update to their Android app, version 4.2, brings even more features, including a custom keyboard that you can use as your default or as a back-up, auto-fill for the times when you're just too lazy to fill up forms from scratch. It even gives you a time-based, one-time password for sites that have a two-step verification process.

The 1Password keyboard now eliminates the need for copy pasting passwords and usernames, or getting locked out of accounts because of typos. It will automatically or manually fill up your log-ins in other apps or web browsers on your Android smartphone or tablet. Or if you already have your preferred keyboard, you can just use it when you want to fill in usernames and passwords and then switch back to your regular keyboard.

Another important feature included in this update is the time-based, one-time passowrds (TOTPs). The name is pretty self-explanatory but we'll still explain it just to be clear. These passwords are only for one-time use and is usually used for apps or sites that have a two-step verification process for added security, mostly involving financial transactions or those with sensitive information. Once you've activated this feature, it will then generate these one-time passwords which you'll use to log-in, aside from your existing username and password. It will also be displayed in your login item's details so you (but hopefully not other people) will easily see it.

The update has also brought an improved help system and the usual bug fixes and improvements. It has rolled out to users on Android through Google Play Store.

SOURCE: 1Password

Story Timeline

• 1Password for Android, hands-on with the cross-platform champ


• 1Password to release new update, extends free trial


• 1Password for Android update: freemium model, new features

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Things are moving slowly in the monthly Android Distribution

Things seems to have slowed to almost a standstill in the Android world, at least as far as version adoption is concerned. After an initial growth burst for Android 5.0 Lollipop, things seem to be business as usual, with OEMs getting some of their devices up to date on the more recent Android versions. There are, however, some that seem unwilling to give up the ghost and to go silently into the 0.1 percent night of the Android Distribution chart, lingering around as long as they can.

It is quite interesting that Android 2.2 Froyo refuses to budge. For three months straight it has remain at 0.4 percent. If it had gone below 0.1, it would have been removed from the pie chart completely, leaving even fewer left to show evidence of that dreaded Android fragmentation. The rest of the gang, except for Lollipop of course, have gone down, but only ever so slightly. The good news is that any version earlier than Jelly Bean are limited to single digit parts.

Jelly Bean is also interesting. For the first time, Android 4.4 KitKat has actually surpassed its predecessor. Even the combined numbers of the three Jelly Beans, which total 40.7 percent, wasn't enough. That said, KitKat isn't really that far ahead with only a 0.4 percent lead. The only other growth here is, of course, Lollipop, though now Google has branched it off into two, for 5.0 and 5.1 API levels.

With big device events over and OEMs starting to mellow down on their updates for flagships, things have somewhat started to plateau. Not unexpected but somewhat disappointing for those pushing to get older version down to very small numbers. We are still hoping that KitKat and Lollipop will get another growth spurt, if not via official OEM updates for older devices, then through after-market ROMs that are already ramping up development on Android 5.0 releases.

SOURCE: Google

Story Timeline

• Android distribution for January is still missing a Lollipop


• Android 5.0 finally reaches the Android Distribution chart


• Android Lollipop catches up in latest distribution chart

Create your own avatar and virtual world retro-style in Habbo

If you're bored with your current life, one of the ways to make it more exciting would be playing in a virtual world, where you can be anyone you want and do anything (well, almost anything) you want, without leaving the comfort of your chair. There are a lot of RPG worlds out there, but if you're looking for something retro and pixel, Habbo for Android is now ready to be explored and invaded by your imagination.

Habbo is a virtual world where you can create your own avatar and customize it the way you want to be seen in this digital universe. You can choose various physical attributes, dress him/her/it up, and get accessories for your character as well. You can also create and customize various rooms and invite new pixel-art friends to interact with your very own retro avatar. You can also go out and visit millions of other rooms and spaces created by other players from all over the world. To also strengthen your "position" in this world, you can even join other community groups like armies and mafias.

In order to earn money in Haboo, you can collect items, trade it with other players and even run a business using a trading pass. There are also various events in the world, like quizzes, quests, games, where you can compete in and win points and items.

You can download Habbo for free from the Google Play Store. There are also in-app purchases available and the game requires you to have Internet connectivity to be able to play it.