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Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


How to run Android apps in any Chrome browser

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 12:46 PM PDT

android in chrome

One of the best reasons to use Chrome over any other browser is the wide variety of extensions and apps available. Google makes it so you can do everything you’d ever want right in the browser. For the things you still can’t do in Chrome Google is hoping Android apps will bridge the gap. A few weeks ago they released the first batch of apps, but we’re hungry for more.

Right now you can only run four Android apps and they only work with Chrome OS devices. What if you could run any Android app you wanted? And what if all you needed was a Chrome browser? That would be pretty awesome. Luckily it’s not just something we can dream about. Thanks to some clever hackers it’s really possible. Here’s how you can do it!

Why does this work?

android chrome

First, a little history lesson. The software that makes it possible for Android apps to run in Chrome is called the App Runtime for Chrome, or ARC. This software works in the same way that ART allows apps to run on Android phones or tablets. Using these two runtimes allows developers to make their apps available on Chrome without any rebuilding. A nifty trick.

ARC was designed to run only on Chrome OS. Developer vladikoff created something called ARChon Custom Runtime so it can be used in Chrome for Windows, Mac, and even Linux. In the process he also removed the limit on how many Android apps can be run in Chrome. So before we get started we must tip our caps to vladikoff for making this possible.

Install the ARChon Custom Runtime

The first thing we need to do is get the custom version of ARC installed in your browser. In order to do this you will need Chrome version 37 or higher.

  1. Download ARChon from here
  2. Unzip the archive
  3. Go to your extensions page in Chrome by going to Menu > Tools > Extensions
  4. Enable Developer mode in the top right corner
  5. Select “Load unpacked extension”
  6. Choose the folder where you unzipped ARChon

ARChon is now running as a Chrome extension. You will probably see the warning below, but it’s nothing to worry about. Let’s move on to the next step.

error

Install Android apps

flappy chrome

We’re ready to install some Android apps now. This is the real tricky part. Getting an Android app to work in Chrome is not as easy as using the Play Store on your Android device. Luckily the Android/Chrome community is already hard at work finding which apps can work in Chrome. This subreddit and Google Drive spreadsheet are a good place to start looking for apps.

But first, a disclaimer. The distribution of modified apps is not strictly speaking legal. Downloading APKs of free apps is probably not going to make the developer too upset, but paid apps are another story. Don’t use this as an opportunity to steal a bunch of Android apps. Only download APKs from free apps or apps that you already purchased.

Okay, once you have a .zip file containing the APK we are going to install it like we did with ARChon.

  1. Unzip the file and place the folder somewhere you will remember
  2. Go back to the Extensions page in Chrome
  3. Click “Load unpacked extensions”
  4. Select the folder with the modified APK you downloaded

The app should now appear in the app launcher in Chrome, with or without the correct app icon. You will likely see another error message on the extensions page, but it’s fine.

What if the app you want to use hasn’t already been modified for Chrome? It’s time to take matters into your own hands. Proceed with caution. These next steps are not for the faint of heart.

What if the app I want isn’t listed?

command

Getting an Android app to work in Chrome requires some modification. There is a handy tool that can do all of it for you, but first you will need to obtain the APK of the app you wish to modify. You can use Astro File Explorer to pull installed APKs from your device. Here’s how:

  • Open Astro
  • Slide open the menu from the left and tap the tools icon
  • Tap “App Mgr”
  • Tap on the apps you wish you pull
  • Select “Backup”
  • Go to the new “Backups” folder on your SD card and send the APK to your PC

Now it’s time to install the ChromeOS APK Tool to automatically modify the APK. Follow the instructions for the desktop OS you use.

Windows

  1. Download the node.js .msi file (not the .exe) from here.
  2. Install node.js.
  3. In a command prompt, run the command: npm install chromeos-apk -g

OS X/Linux

  1. In a terminal, run the command: sudo apt-get install npm
  2. (Ubuntu only): Run the command: sudo apt-get install lib32stdc++6
  3. Download node.js.
  4. Unzip the tar.gz file you downloaded
  5. Open a terminal to the unzipped folder containing node.js. Run these commands in order:
    1. ./configure
    2. make
    3. make install
  6. Run the command: sudo npm install chromeos-apk -g

The ChromeOS APK tool should be successfully installed on your PC. Now it’s time to use it!

  1. Open a command prompt or terminal in the folder where you saved the APK
  2. Run the command: chromeos-apk [NAME OF APK]
  3. Enter the package name of the app if prompted. You can find this in the URL of the Play Store listing. For example: “com.phandroid.droidpress”.

Wrap Up

yahoo

We can’t guarantee that every app you try will work flawlessly. This is a nifty way to bring some of your favorite Android apps to the desktop. Hopefully Google makes the process easier someday. How cool would it be if the Google Play web store could install apps to Chrome? The line between operating system and browser is getting thinner every day. What apps are you going to put on Chrome? Did you get this to work for you?

[via Lifehacker]

Android Deals: LG G Pad 8.3 for $199, name your own price gaming bundle, and more

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 12:29 PM PDT

deals

Better smartphone photos, wireless data on the go, perhaps even a new smartphone or tablet. If you are in search of any of these things, this week's  highlight reel of deals is for you. All deals were active at the time of posting, but they won't necessarily last long. Here's what we found.

Hardware & Accessories

lens-kit

Snap better smartphone photos with this universal 3-in-1 lens attachment for only $24.99. With fish-eye, wide angle, and macro options, this lens attachment fits a variety of Android devices and offers photographers options not normally found on a smartphone. The results are stunning. [AndroidArea]

Save big on Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S5 handsets thanks to eBay. With the Note 4 right around the corner, you can save over a hundred dollars on last year's edition (various sales include unlocked and carrier-branded editions). Those in the market for a Galaxy S5 can snag the flagship handset for as low as $429. [eBay: Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5]

Take 42% off an LG G Pad 8.3 and treat yourself to the Full HD beauty of this powerful, portable Android tablet. Normally priced at $349, the G Pad 8.3 is on sale for $199.99 via eBay. Free shipping included. [eBay]

Earn 200MB free data in addition to 33% off the upcoming Karma Go LTE HotspotFor $99, pre-order the upcoming pocket-sized hotspot at a reduced price and get wireless freedom on the move. When your 200MB of free data runs out, Karma's contract-free model offers data pricing starting at less than $10/GB. [AndroidArea]

Apps & Games

android bundle

Last chance: name your price for seven awesome Android games as part of the Handheld Hero Android Gamer Bundle. Titles include Bad Hotel, Waking Mars, and Incredipede. Pay the recommended price of $4.99 and still save over $10 for all of these great games. [AndroidArea]

Apps

Games

Music & Media

kiesza

Want to be able to say you heard the next big artist before she blew up? We recommend checking out "Hideaway” by Kiesza, which Amazon has on sale among the many other deals out there this week for music, movies, and more.

Albums

Singles

Compilations

Movies

TV

Verizon’s Motorola DROID Turbo leaked in new photos

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 12:13 PM PDT

droid turbo 1

We’ve been hearing murmurings that Motorola is working on a super powerful device for Verizon. It’s been given the name “Motorola DROID Turbo” for now, and aside from its impressive computing components (including a Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM) that name could be a nod to another neat feature — super fast charging.

Today we may have gotten our first clear look at the device. HelloMotoHK has leaked photos of the device showing a design that builds on the Kevlar-infused Motorola DROID Maxx from yesteryear (pictured on the right in the photo above). The design seems a lot more rounded than the DROID MAXX was, a move no doubt made to improve ergonomics.

droid turbo 2

droid turbo 3

The leak also gives us a look at the camera. We don’t know much about the sensor, but it will be donning two LED flashes instead of just a single one. The photo doesn’t show it well but the device is also supposed to sport front-facing speakers. Finally, we see that the capacitive buttons have made a return — no on-screen navigation here. Finally we’re told to expect wireless charging, 32GB of internal storage and a 5.2 inch display with 2560 x 1440 resolution.

Verizon’s DROID Landing Twitter account lit up a while ago, something that usually only happens when they’re getting ready to release a new DROID device or a contest. It’s been rather quiet since, but if the goal is to get this phone out before the end of the year then it should be booting back up in no time. We imagine Motorola’s quite busy with the launches of the Moto 360, Moto G and Moto X, but we’re just as excited to see this bad boy make its way to market.

droid turbo 4

Plex to increase prices next week, but you can sign up now to be grandfathered

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 10:31 AM PDT

plex banner

We all hate when prices for our favorite goods and services go up. Another big service is set to increase their prices soon. Plex, which allows you to stream multimedia content over your home network, will now be asking for a $5 monthly fee, up from its typical $4. Not too bad there. The annual fee is rising from $30 to $40. The biggest jump is the lifetime access option: it’ll be doubled from $75 to $150.

Thankfully you will have a chance to stay locked into these prices for as long as you’re a member. Folks already signed up for Plex will be able to stay locked into whichever option they chose, while new users (or existing users wanting to hop onto a different subscription type) will have until September 29, 2014 to get in on the fun.

Plex says this change didn’t come on a whim or for no reason, as they have many new updates and developments in the work that these changes will help support:

We're working harder than ever to bring more Plex goodness to all your favorite devices, and we're super excited about the things we're working on and can't wait to share them with you over the next few months! With premium features and content, sometimes come moderate cost increases.

They also left the door open to further price increases down the line, so you’ve been adequately warned. Be sure to head to Plex’s site today to sign up if you want to make sure you’re locked in before the cheaper gates close.

in before the lock

Report: iPhone 6 and 6+ success sparks acceleration on Galaxy Note 4 launch

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 08:07 AM PDT

galaxy-note-4-front

With news that Apple managed to sell over 10 million units of the new iPhone devices (those being the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+), Samsung is sweating a bit — so much so that they’ve reportedly brought the launch of the device up to a nearer date. According to the Korea Times, Samsung is now planning to launch the phone on major South Korean carriers this Friday, September 26th. The device was originally billed for an October release.

The timing for Samsung makes sense as Apple has not yet launched in all of their planned markets. The initial launch weekend only invited folks from the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK to the party.

Apple’s second phase — this Friday — takes place in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

iphone-6-plus

Beyond responding to Apple’s sudden launch of the latest iPhone units by adjusting their timing, Samsung also wants to undercut prices. Not only is their own phone being offered cheaper than any of the iPhone models, but it’s now being offered for less than any other Note device has debuted at:

In Korea, the suggested retail price for the Note 4 was set at 957,000 won without contracts ― the lowest price tag since Samsung opened its phablet chapter with the Note series in 2011. The Note 1 was priced at 999,000 won, while the Notes 2 and 3 were sold for 1.08 million won and 1.06 million won, respectively, to Korean consumers.

It’s clear Samsung has a lot riding on this launch. For years they’ve been marketing to what was largely seen as a niche audience of folks who desired huge, high resolution displays.

HTC and LG ultimately caught on and began to challenge Samsung in that particular space, but that wasn’t enough to keep each iteration of the Note line from reaching 10 million unit sales. With Apple into the mix, things just got a whole lot more interesting.

Now more than ever, Samsung has to work hard to convince consumers their “big phone” is more than just a “big phone.” Unique additions like the Wacom-powered S Pen experience and a superior multi-tasking system should give them enough to go toe-to-toe with Apple. Samsung’s also created a timely marketing campaign to help show folks that they’ve been at this phablet game for years, and they’ll need to make sure they capitalize on that with a launch sooner rather than later.

iphone-6-plus-vs-galaxy-note-split-screen

Samsung believes they can sell about 15 million units with its first 30 days of going on sale despite increased pressure from Apple. That would be a remarkable feat as it took them a couple of months to reach that mark for last year’s Galaxy Note 3.

It doesn’t sound like they’re expecting to reach Apple’s numbers within just 3 days, though you’ll have to remember that the Note 4 won’t be launching in nearly as many markets on day one as the iPhone 6 and 6+ did. Reaching even just 10 million sales within the first month would be huge for Samsung.

There’s still no clue when the rest of the world will be able to get their hands on the Galaxy Note 4, though their estimation makes it sound like they won’t be waiting far into October. Be sure to read our iPhone 6+ vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comparison for a better idea of how these two behemoths stack up to each other, and stay on the lookout for more coverage in the weeks to come!

T-Mobile Moto X gets Android 4.4.4 update

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 07:30 AM PDT

Moto X Touchless Control DSC00742

It took an unseemly amount of time, but the T-Mobile variant of last year’s Moto X has finally received an upgrade to Android 4.4. Aside from some minor bug fixes and security patches, the update brings enhancements to the camera’s picture snapping quality. You’ll also be able to pause and resume video while recording so you can piece together that home film exactly how you want to.

There isn’t much else coming along for the ride, though you’ll have to remember that many of the Moto X’s features come in the form of Google Play apps, and those have been getting updated quite frequently as of late. Be sure to head to the settings menu on your phone to check for the latest goods.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

AT&T to carry the LG G3 Vigor starting September 26th

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 07:01 AM PDT

lg g3 vigor att

AT&T’s launching another smartphone this Friday for those of you on a budget. The LG G3 Vigor will be available September 26th for $334.99 with no contract, $13.96 a month with Next 18, $16.75 a month with Next 12 or $49.99 with a new two-year contract. The LG G3 Vigor can be seen as the miniature version of LG’s 2014 flagship. Its size scales down to a 5-inch form factor, and many of the other specs are scaled down to match. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Display: 5.0-inch HD (1280 x 720) IPS Display
  • Battery Capacity: 2,540 mAh
  • Platform: Android 4.4 KitKat
  • Technology: GSM, LTE, HD Voice
  • Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 1.2 GHz Quad-Core
  • Camera: 8 megapixel rear camera with laser autofocus; 1.3 megapixel front camera
  • Network: GSM Quad Band / UMTS Tri Band / LTE
  • Frequencies: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; UMTS 850/1900/2100; LTE Bands 2/4/5/17, Roaming Bands 1/3/7; CA
  • Data Transmission: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA+, LTE
  • Dimensions: 5.42-inch (H) x 2.74-inch (W) x 0.39-inch (D)
  • Weight: 4.7 oz.
  • Talk Time: up to 17.5 hours8
  • Standby Time: up to 26 days and 11 hours8
  • Internal Memory: 8 GB (up to 3.70 GB usable memory); supports microSD™ card up to 32 GB9

You’ll no doubt be entitled to LG’s usual goods on top of that KitKat installation, including Knock Code, QuickMemo+ and QSlide. Not too shabby if you don’t quite have the budget to spring for the bigger, older brother. Let us know if you’ll be grabbing one once they’re on store shelves later this week.

New Google Now card can tip you off to flight prices

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 06:14 AM PDT

bg_now_flight_day

Google Now excels in trying to deliver information that might be relevant to you at any given time. It uses your Google Search history to determine what you might be interested in and tries to serve up whatever it is you might need, whether that be directions to a local burger joint or movie times for an upcoming blockbuster film.

That functionality seems to have expanded today. Google will now alert you to flight prices if they notice you searching for flights to and from a place. For instance, searching vacation spots in Spain would bring up the prices for a flight to and fro. Google takes things a step further by tracking pricing history and letting you know if the price has seen an increase or decrease since the last time you checked.

We imagine it’s all powered by Google Flights, Google’s online flight searching site to rope together flight information and pricing. The only issue we can see is that Google Flights doesn’t cover every airline out there, so you’ll still want to do your research when trying to snag an affordable plane ticket. That said, they do cover quite a bit and this could prove to be a great starting point for anyone needing to travel by air. Folks should start seeing the new card in action some point soon (if you’re actively searching for flights, that is).

[via Engadget]