Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- Confirmed: Silver Moto 360 shipments previously delayed are now arriving on time
- Moto X (2nd Gen) coming to Verizon on September 26th with free Bamboo promotion
- Google approves the use of Google Glass in Canada
- From the Forums: Show us your Moto 360, Scottish independence, and more
- This hack allows you to run any Android app on Chromebooks
- Mobile Roar 62: Moto 360 Review, Android Silver, and U2 Virus
- Official: Android L will have encryption turned on by default
- PSA: Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 now
- TinyCam Monitor puts home surveillance on your wrist with Android Wear extension
- Study: Average Android gamer plays 37 minutes per day
- LG G3 ad named largest ever by Guinness World Records
- Photos of Samsung’s next Galaxy Alpha leak
| Confirmed: Silver Moto 360 shipments previously delayed are now arriving on time Posted: 19 Sep 2014 02:31 PM PDT Last week, we reported on an inventory mixup causing Motorola to delay shipments of the silver Moto 360 with grey watch band. I’m happy to report that Motorola seems to have fixed the problem: we’ve just received a shipment (ordered from Motorola.com) and to our surprise… it contained a silver Moto 360 with grey band. Motorola previously announced that this color selection would be delayed. It’s all a bit confusing though, as those who purchased from Motorola got an official e-mail with three options. They could:
I chose option #1 because I wanted it as quick as possible, but was delighted when the supposed “delayed” grey version arrived right on time. Did I get preferential treatment because I ordered two? Did they replenish inventory quicker than they thought possible? And what if I had actually wanted two black watches and bands (as their e-mail suggested I would be receiving based on my actions)? You won’t find me complaining – color me happy – I got the best of both worlds and I’m guessing many of you did, too. Be sure to check out our Moto 360 Forums when yours arrives.
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| Moto X (2nd Gen) coming to Verizon on September 26th with free Bamboo promotion Posted: 19 Sep 2014 01:54 PM PDT We’ve got some good news for our patient Verizon customers. The new Moto X will be arriving on Big Red exactly one week from today (Friday, September 26th). This information comes straight Verizon through an internal document. We’ve also learned that Verizon will have a special promotion to go along with the launch of the Moto X. For a limited time Verizon will be selling the White/Bamboo version for the base price of $99 with a new contract (it’s usually $25 extra). All other models are priced the same as we’ve seen on other carriers: $99 with a two-year contract for the black/resin model, and the same for the 16GB Moto Maker model. The 32GB Moto Maker model will cost you $150. If you’re on Edge you can get the back/resin for $25, white/bamboo for $27.49, 16GB Moto Maker for $25, and 32GB Moto Maker for $27.49. You have seven days to figure out what configuration to choose. What will it be? |
| Google approves the use of Google Glass in Canada Posted: 19 Sep 2014 01:26 PM PDT Good news for any Canucks who’ve been waiting for Google Glass. It appears Google has quietly approved the use of Glass in Canada. This news comes from Explorer Brian Buquoi who received a replacement Glass with an interesting card. The card has official regulatory information for Google Glass in Canada. As you can see on the card, Google Glass has been approved by Industry Canada. This is a big step in the process of getting Glass to Canada. Originally Glass was only available in the US, but slowly they been releasing it to more countries, like the UK. Hopefully we’ll hear official work soon. Do we have any Canadians ready to buy Google Glass? [via GoogleGlass Fans] |
| From the Forums: Show us your Moto 360, Scottish independence, and more Posted: 19 Sep 2014 01:02 PM PDT Will you give up you Android device in favor of a new iPhone? Will Scotland vote for independence? How's your Moto 360 style? All these questions and more answered in this week's edition of From the Forums.
Show us your Moto 360It's hard to argue that the Moto 360 is anything other than one damn good looking smartwatch. Even better, users can mix and match just about any regular watchband with a selection of digital watch faces to create a truly unique look. The Moto 360 fans at Android Forums have even started a thread dedicated to showing off their style. Those still waiting for a backordered 360 be warned: envy awaits. Is the iPhone 6 Plus tempting Note 4 buyers?Apple is anticipating plenty of Android owners will be keen to jump ship for their iPhone 6 Plus, but has the Galaxy Note contingent been swayed? With Galaxy Note 4 (not so coincidentally) available for pre-order today — the same day as Apple's new iPhone launch — the question is even more pertinent. External storage and Android LGoogle has been known to change the way its Android OS manages external data stored on a MicroSD card, so its reasonable to wonder if things will once again change with the impending launch of Android L. Will Google loosen the access restrictions that irked off so many users in the upgrade to KitKat? Scotland votes against independenceWhile folks all over line up for hours to fight over scarce iPhone stock, the real world keeps moving. While many will note today as the day Apple's latest mobile device launched, the folks in Scotland will remember it as the day they voted against independence from the United Kingdom. Much talk led up the decision, which saw record turnout from voters. While it seemed the country was poised to separate, it will remain tied to its southern neighbor. And more…What else will you find waiting for you at Android Forums? Head on over, sign up for an account, and find out. Perhaps you'll make it to the hallowed grounds known as From the Forums next week! |
| This hack allows you to run any Android app on Chromebooks Posted: 19 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT Last week Google opened the door for Android apps on Chrome OS. The first four apps arrived: Duolingo, Evernote, Vine, and Sight Words. Google promises that more apps will be on the way in the coming months, but until then we asked what apps you’d like to see. But why be limited to the apps Google chooses? Why not use all Android apps? That’s exactly what a new hack allows users to do. By using a small JavaScript you can side-load any Android app onto a Chromebook. The apps run under the Android App Runtime, which is the same exact way as the “official” apps. This script is not for the faint of heart, but can be done if you know your way around some code. The creator of this hack has provided a guide for anyone who wants to try it, but he says it’s more of a “proof-of-concept.” Hit the link below the video if you’re eager to use Android apps on your Chromebook. |
| Mobile Roar 62: Moto 360 Review, Android Silver, and U2 Virus Posted: 19 Sep 2014 12:05 PM PDT It’s still Motorola Mayhem™ around these parts. We share our final thoughts on the Moto 360 and Moto G after putting them through the paces in our full reviews. Apple news is still coming in hot and heavy after the release of iOS 8. Did you get the U2 virus on your device? We have the solution. Other topics this week include a sidewalk for phone zombies, Galaxy Not3 4 pre-orders, and much more! Thanks for watching/listening! Top Stories
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| Official: Android L will have encryption turned on by default Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:38 AM PDT Android is about to get a whole lot more secure. Google has told The Washington Post that Android L will automatically encrypt user data out of the box. This will make it much more difficult for law enforcement officials (a.k.a NSA) access your personal private data. Android has had the option to encrypt data for a while now, but this is the first time it will be on by default. No action required by users.
This announcement follows Apple’s own announcement that they don’t store or access personal data from iOS. The NSA scare is making companies address these issues out in the open to reassure users that their data is safe with them. The only downside to this default encryption is it could make certain crimes harder to solve. If a criminal’s phone is encrypted the law enforcement will have a hard time finding incriminating data. Is that a price you’re willing to pay for privacy? |
| PSA: Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 now Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:09 AM PDT Samsung is hoping real life imitates art today as they attempt to win over customers with a plot line that you might expect from one of their commercials. Picture it now: a casually dressed young man walks by a line of desperate hipsters waiting in line for the new iPhone 6. He is greeted by a multicultural gathering of friends at a table at an outdoor cafe across the street. He pops out his Galaxy Tab, scoffs at the Apple faithful, and pre-orders the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Or something like that. While the impact of Samsung and its carrier partners' decision to make the Note 4 available for purchase on iPhone launch day will be minimal — all things considered — if you want to live out your own fantasy Samsung commercial, you can head over to Verizon or AT&T now and reserve your very own. Both carriers have the Note 4 in white and black finish options starting at $299.99 on a new two-year contract. Those wishing to go with an installment plan can get Samsung's latest phablet for as low as $34.42 per month (18 -month plan via AT&T). We're assuming a large number of you likely didn't go out and buy an iPhone 6 today, but will you be pre-ordering the Galaxy Note 4? |
| TinyCam Monitor puts home surveillance on your wrist with Android Wear extension Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:24 AM PDT If you use an IP camera system for home surveillance and own an Android device, chances are you have used tinyCam Monitor. The software that brings live video feeds from supported cameras positioned around your home to your smartphone display can now do the same for your smartwatch. With tinyCam Monitor Pro for Android Wear (currently in beta) owners of any smartwatch running Google's OS for wearables can access their feeds anywhere, anytime, and it's as easy as checking the time. Simply launch the app to jump into a live stream of your most recently viewed feed. Tap the display to zoom in. Flick over to the right to cycle between cameras and choose a new feed. It's simple, intuitive, and a great example of catering an app to the smartwatch form factor. Check out the above video where Phandroid developer extraordinaire Steve Albright to get an idea of what it looks like in action. If you are a current tinyCam user you will need to join the tinyCam Monitor Pro Beta community on Google+ to access the latest build (version 5.6 Beta 8). No word on when the functionality will roll out to the main update tree on Google Play. |
| Study: Average Android gamer plays 37 minutes per day Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:59 AM PDT How much time per day do you spend playing games on your Android device? If you live in the US, you might say just shy of an hour. In Germany or Russia it might be somewhere between 40 and 50 minutes. In the UK, you are playing just a little over a half hour's worth of mobile games per day. Italians, though, spend about 38 minutes per day gaming on their phone. That figure isn't far off from the global average of 37 minutes, as determined by mobile app analytics firm Flurry.
Flurry based their calculations on data collected from 60,000 Android smartphones and tablets, determining that US gamers spend by far the most time playing on their mobile devices. Surprisingly, both South Korea and China, locales known for their large communities of gamers, came in below the global average. Crunching further data, Flurry shed some light on the types of games we like to play on our Androids, finding that Arcade/Action and Casual titles held the most appeal. Sports games and cards/casino titles tended to rank the lowest on a regional basis. The full report features several more interesting insights, further breaking down our regional gaming preferences. There is little doubt that gaming is a huge area of interest for mobile users and developers alike, and Flurry's data seems only to back up that notion. |
| LG G3 ad named largest ever by Guinness World Records Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:10 AM PDT How do you highlight the big, vibrant display of the LG G3? How about with an equally big and vibrant billboard? That's exactly what LG did with a new ad placed outside of Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport. But wait a minute, you say, why is a new billboard newsworthy? Ask the folks at Guinness World Records. They officially named LG's latest bit of G3 marketing the largest in the world. At close to 800 feet wide and 40 feet tall, the billboard has a total surface area of over 32,000 square feet. It's large size isn't the only thing it has going for it, either. LG did not simply make a giant billboard because they could. It is positioned in a way that will make it instantly visible to the passengers of arriving and departing flights. It is estimated that around 20 million people travel through the King Khalid Airport each year, and it's safe to assume this hard-to-miss billboard will be viewed by many of them. LG hopes the bold move could generate $25 million in additional revenue. While the LG is using the spacious advertising real estate to showcase their G3 smartphone at present, the company plans to use the record-holding sign to push other products in their home electronics lines in the future.
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| Photos of Samsung’s next Galaxy Alpha leak Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:20 AM PDT As soon as Samsung answered consumer demand by introducing a metal-clad smartphone, it seems the company is already on a path toward abandoning the build material. That's what is being suggested by the newly-leaked Samsung SM-A500, anyway. The SM-A500 is said to be the next model in Samsung's Galaxy Alpha line and could launch as the Samsung Galaxy A5. Those familiar with the original Galaxy Alpha, which debuted last month, will recall that the phone featured an aluminum frame as part of the "evolution of Galaxy design." Word is the Galaxy A5, however, will forego such materials in favor of ones the carry the premium feel of metal without the added production cost. Our hopes in that regard aren't especially high. The Galaxy A5 is being positioned as a mid-tier smartphone that would fall in line a notch or two below the original Alpha, which leaves some room for optimism. Samsung could again go with metal for future A-series devices targeting the higher end of the market. As for the A5, the rumored specs include:
As for how that faux-metal finish actually looks? From the pictures it's hard to spot a difference between the A5 and the original Galaxy Alpha. The design will likely carry over to two additional Alpha models that are supposedly slated to follow the SM-A500 out of the gate. No details on when a launch will occur are known at this time.
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