Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- The FTC is suing AT&T for promising unlimited data, only to later slow speeds to a crawl
- You can now use your Google Play balance to pay for subscriptions to Music All Access and Newsstand
- Android Deals: Samsung tablets, hoverboards, and Halloween movies
- Obesity crisis be damned, slick new Taco Bell app lets you order food ahead of time
- Google posts Material Design checklist to help developers tick all the boxes
- Motorola DROID Turbo vs Nexus 6 [CHART]
- Google Fit is now available to download on Google Play, track fitness activity using nothing but your smartphone
- Discuss the DROID Turbo’s insane battery life and specs over at Android Forums right now!
- Hands-on: Motorola Droid Turbo
- New DROID Turbo gets 48 hours of battery life, launches October 30th on Verizon
- Google offering first minute free calling to 25 countries through 2014
- Samsung Galaxy Note Edge launched in South Korea
- Big Pushbullet update brings healthy load of Material Design
- QuickPic 3.8 update brings photo and video transfers over your WiFi network
| The FTC is suing AT&T for promising unlimited data, only to later slow speeds to a crawl Posted: 28 Oct 2014 05:13 PM PDT Concerned with deceptive and unfair data throttling, the Federal Trade Commission — who works for consumers to prevent fraudulent business practices — is suing AT&T for deceptive and unfair data throttling related to the company’s once advertised “unlimited data” data plans. According to the FTC, AT&T knowingly misled consumers by charging consumers for unlimited data, but later reducing these speeds by as much as 90% as a result. It’s really not too uncommon and we’ve seen T-Mobile and other carriers use a similar business tactic in regard to their “unlimited” data plans. The difference? Those are all tied to a guaranteed number of gigabytes consumers can expect to receive high-speed data. AT&T is a different case in that the FTC feels they never fully disclosed to those on unlimited data plans that they would be throttled into oblivion, reducing their service after as little as 2GB of usage. For some customers, it pushed them to the brink, eventually causing them to forfeit their lines of service and eating hefty early termination charges. Anyone who’s tried to use their Android device while on Edge (2G) knows how pull-your-hair-out frustrating this can be whether it’s loading a web page, streaming music or video, or just trying to load up GPS/navigation — it’s damn near impossible. For customers grandfathered into unlimited data (after AT&T made the move to tiered data), the FTC says AT&T didn’t do a good enough job at notifying these customers that service would be handicapped so severely, a process which saw upwards of 3.5 million AT&T customers being throttled more than 25 million times. In an official statement, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez made her position clear: you can’t promise unlimited data then later put a limit on speeds.
While it’s totally fine for AT&T to introduce new “unlimited” data plans and change their terms and definitions today — they aren’t allowed to redefine their terms for those still under contract, especially without adequately notifying them first. This, the FTC alleges, is in direct violation of the FTC Act. Of course, the whole matter will be settled in court (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division), so where it goes from here remains to be seen. [FTC] |
| You can now use your Google Play balance to pay for subscriptions to Music All Access and Newsstand Posted: 28 Oct 2014 02:33 PM PDT It’s a small change on paper, but one that could make a world of difference for those stock piling Play Store credit using Google Opinion Rewards. In an update to Google’s support page titled “Google Play balance uses and restrictions,” it seems Google has added the ability to use Google Play credit when paying for subscriptions to Google Play Music All Access, or Google Play Newsstand. And well — that’s pretty much the long and short of it. The Play credit is being restricted to just those two subscriptions for now and for anyone currently hanging onto Google Play Music All Access’ special introductory rate ($8), you should be able to cancel and reactivate again using your Google Play balance for the same lower rate. We’ve seen reports of this working out fine for many a folks, as long as they renewed before their service month had expired. While we’re not entirely sure when this change was made, it’s nice to see Google providing additional payment options. We know what’s going on our Christmas wishlist (hint: Google Play giftcards). Thanks, Crimzn! |
| Android Deals: Samsung tablets, hoverboards, and Halloween movies Posted: 28 Oct 2014 01:47 PM PDT This week we’ve got more great deals on Android devices, accessories, and Halloween favorites. You can get your start with 3D printing, travel back to the future with a hoverboard, play baseball on your phone, listen to some great classic tunes, and watch a scary movie. It’s all right here in our list of great deals, but act fast before they disappear! Happy Halloween! Hardware & AccessoriesSave $30 on the Samsung Galaxy S 8.4. Arguably the best Android tablet (before the Nexus 9 came around) can be yours for just $370 from Newegg. This is the white WiFi model with 16GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. [Newegg.com] 28 USB Ports & One Hub To Rule Them All. You probably have a ton of devices that can be charged with USB cables. This also means that you probably don’t have nearly enough USB ports to charge them all. Enter the MondoHub: 28 ports for all your charging needs, and it’s currently $40 off. [AndroidArea] Get 30% off a floating waterproof speaker. Bluetooth speakers are extremely handy if you don’t want to put your phone in harm’s way. A waterproof speaker is the perfect example of this. Why risk putting your smartphone near water when you can toss the Miccus Waterproof speaker right in? [Woot] Take 25% off your start to 3D printing. Everyone wants a 3D printer right now, but the prices are still pretty high. There are a few entry-level devices that can get your foot in the door for a relatively low price. The Portabee GO is one of those products. Right now you can get one for less than $1,000. Not a bad start. [AndroidArea] Go back to the future with hoverboard and Nike Air Mag. One of the coolest things to come from the Back to the Future trilogy is the iconic hoverboard. Several generations of kids have wished for this mythical toy. You can’t have the real thing yet, but this electric skateboard is pretty close. For good measure you’ll get a pair of 2015 Nike Air Mags. [AndroidArea] Apps & GamesApps
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| Obesity crisis be damned, slick new Taco Bell app lets you order food ahead of time Posted: 28 Oct 2014 12:57 PM PDT We warned you to stock up on toilet paper and you now can order food ahead of time using Taco Bell’s brand new app. Fresh off the Google Play Store, the new Taco Bell app allows you to skip the line and customize your orders with wherever you crave, straight from the couch/office/toilet. Taco Bell’s entire lineup of pseudo Mexican cuisine are all here, separated by category right inside the app which we have to admit, looks pretty damn slick. It’s not Material, but we dig it. After choosing your dish, you’ll have to pick your location (some items aren’t available at every location) and from there, you’ll be able to customize orders by seeing “what’s included.” Each individual ingredient can be swiped showing you pricing for things like extra sour cream, or removing something entirely (like guacamole). There’s also a tab for “add-ons” which gives you access to Taco Bell’s wide range of ingredients like onions, bacon, potatoes, or anything else your fatass is into (we usually go with a cup of nacho cheese sauce and just drink it out of a straw). It’s pretty robust and the fact that all this is possible without having to scream an order into a broken intercom system is the best idea we’ve seen in awhile. Once your done, you’ll be to see your total and can check out using either a reloadable Taco Bell card, or traditional credit/debit card. If you feel like you’ll be using this method or ordering frequently, you can save your card info or even view your order history for quick checkout. You can even choose how you’d like to pick up your food, via drive thru or inside the restaurant. Bloody hell, Taco Bell. You’ve just won my business. Check out the app already on the Google Play Store by hitting the link below. Now, if only the Taco Bell app took advantage of the newly launched Google Fit app to add 1 hour of extra activity for every burrito supreme ordered. Now there’s an idea. |
| Google posts Material Design checklist to help developers tick all the boxes Posted: 28 Oct 2014 11:33 AM PDT Material Design is the biggest design language shift we’ve had since the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich, so it’s understandable if some developers have a tough time making sure they’ve hit all their marks when updating their applications. As such, Google has released a handy checklist guide to make sure you’re setting up your elements, layers and goodies the way they should. Of course, guidelines are only guidelines and you don’t necessarily have to follow them to the letter, but users will appreciate familiar behavior when jumping from app to app so developers should definitely try and make sure they’re getting as close to Google’s suggestions as possible. The document goes over animations, shadows, context-sensitive elements and buttons, and more. This will be what all of Google’s material design apps go by going forward so you can be sure this is the way to go if you want to keep up. Be sure to give the guide a full look over at Google’s blog post on the subject and get started on implementing those changes as soon as humanly possible! |
| Motorola DROID Turbo vs Nexus 6 [CHART] Posted: 28 Oct 2014 10:33 AM PDT Verizon and Motorola just announced the DROID Turbo (hands-on), a powerful device with specs that can match the Nexus 6. These two devices are similar in almost every way, except for one key difference: size. The slightly more petite Motorola DROID Turbo will be very attractive to Verizon fans who want the Nexus 6, but just can’t stomach the gigantic size. Let’s compare the two even further. Cut from the same cloth As you can see in the chart above, these devices are identical when it comes to specs, except for display size, rear camera, and battery. The displays have the same 2560×1440 resolution, both are powered by the Snapdragon 805, both have 3GB of RAM, and both come in 32 and 64GB varieties. Of course they look different on the outside, but in terms of specs you can consider the Turbo a smaller variant of the Nexus 6. Battery prowess Besides the sheer size of these devices, the next major difference is battery life. Motorola and Verizon talked a lot about the battery during their presentation. They claim the 3900 mAh battery can last 48 hours, and can be charged for 8 hours of use in just 15 minutes with the Turbo Charger. Battery life may not be the most sexy feature of a smartphone, but it’s often overlooked. Two days of battery life is an awesome thing to have. Who wins? The camera on the Turbo has more megapixels, but as we know that doesn’t mean a whole lot. We’ll have to wait and see what photos look like before we can give the Turbo the edge. The Turbo comes in the standard DROID red and black, while the Nexus 6 comes in white and dark blue. If you’re on Verizon this is a tough decision to make. The Turbo will be available on the 30th, while the Nexus 6 goes up for pre-order on the 29th. Which do you prefer? |
| Posted: 28 Oct 2014 10:32 AM PDT After showing it off briefly onstage during this year’s Google I/O developer conference, the official Google Fit app is now available to download on Google Play. The app allows users to gather all sorts of data, straight from the many sensors already found in most Android smartphones. Whether it’s running, biking, or walking, you can set goals and track activity or have Google recommend something for you. Given that this is all custom tailored to you, all the data is linked to your Google account so it will always go with you, even if want to view it on your desktop web browser, smartphone, or smartwatch. There’s never a bad time to start getting fit.
Google Fit is also compatible with a wide range of fitness tracking accessories and apps like Strava, Withings, Runtastic, Runkeeper and Noom Coach, so now you’ll be able to view all that data straight inside Fit. Compatible with all Android 4.0+ (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices, you can find the Google Fit download link provided below. |
| Discuss the DROID Turbo’s insane battery life and specs over at Android Forums right now! Posted: 28 Oct 2014 10:08 AM PDT Verizon unleashed the Motorola DROID Turbo earlier today, and it turned out to be a pretty beastly phone. The thing is packed to the brim with class-leading specs at every category. Our announcement post has all the details you’ll crave, and we’ve even got hands-on for you to enjoy as we await the device’s October 30th launch date. But if you’re in need for some serious discussion then AndroidForums.com is the place you want to be. The DROID Turbo section is alive and kicking with some healthy conversation already going down. Folks have been comparing the device to the Nexus 6, and rightfully so being that they’re made by the same company. Considering the DROID Turbo is actually cheaper off-contract some folks are considering it to be a better deal over Google’s 2014 flagship Nexus handset. There’s also talk going on about the device’s massive 3,900mAh battery and the 48 hours Motorola promises to be able to deliver with that hefty pack of juice. It’s OK to be skeptical of their claims, though we imagine an accompanying Turbo Charger (which can get you 8 hours of juice with just 15 minutes of charging) will overshadow any lingering concerns about battery life. All of that and more is being discussed over at AndroidForums so head over, sign up and take part. We’ll be seeing you over there! |
| Hands-on: Motorola Droid Turbo Posted: 28 Oct 2014 09:41 AM PDT Another year, another Droid. Despite turbulent times at Motorola the company remains dedicated to churning out Droid devices via their partnership with Verizon, but their strategy has shifted slightly. While previous years have seen a plethora of Droid-branded devices, 2014 brings us only one. The Motorola Droid Turbo comes in as the lineup's new flagship. If first impressions mean anything, Moto and Verizon are off to a good start. On paper the Droid Turbo has every means to dominate:
As per that last spec, Motorola made a big point to emphasize the Turbo's big battery. It's not a spec we can truly test in our so-far limited hands-on time, but there are promises of 48 hours worth of battery life with an 8-hour boost attainable via only 15 minutes of charging thanks to Motorola's Turbo Charge technology. But I digress. The Droid Turbo lives up to the excellent build quality Motorola has come to be known for. Even better, the Turbo improves in some areas. A new ballistic nylon finish option makes for the most appealing version of the device (also available is a “metallized glass" finish in red or black). The fabric weave is this year's alternative to the kevlar construction of previous Droid handsets, and it promises a similar level of durability while offering a unique feel and visual texture. The device is by no means light in the hand, but it doesn't feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. It's a nice size and the weight is distributed evenly. Moto's bezel game is again strong with the Turbo, allowing the 5.2-inch display to take up the majority of the handset's front. We like what we've seen so far from that display. It's as crisp and clear as any other Quad HD we have experienced and capable of some deep and rich colors. The internal hardware of the Droid Turbo shouldn’t disappoint. Its Snapdragon 805 is the top of its class in terms of processing power and capabilities. The Droid Turbo will be among a select class of devices to feature the chip (the Nexus 6, a Motorola device that shares much of its DNA with the Turbo, also carries the Snapdragon 805 but won't make it market until after the Verizon-exclusive Droid).        
And it feels powerful flowing through homescreens and the usual sorts of surface-level tasks. It's helped along by a "pure" Android install — much like the Moto X. For those wondering, yes, Motorola is promising an upgrade to Lollipop when available. Although our first impressions of the Droid Turbo's hardware were positive overall, there is a bit of lag in some spots (notably the camera shutter). As for how capable that 21MP camera is? It's nice, for sure. Again, we need more time to throughly evaluate its potential, but a few initial shots in a well-lit NYC loft space came out on the higher end of the smartphone spectrum in terms of quality. The Droid Turbo has all the makings of a great Android device. For those considering the new Moto X and Motorola-made Nexus 6 as their next smartphone, it's worth tossing the Turbo into the conversation. It shares much in common and offers some compelling additions (the 21MP camera and massive battery perhaps the most), but one can't help but get the feeling that the Turbo will be overlooked in the conversation. Stay tuned for our full review for a more in-depth look at how the Droid Turbo stacks up to the competition. |
| New DROID Turbo gets 48 hours of battery life, launches October 30th on Verizon Posted: 28 Oct 2014 09:00 AM PDT Talk about the Motorola DROID Turbo at AndroidForums.com! Verizon has finally officially revealed the Motorola DROID Turbo. The company made it quite obvious that this is what they were announcing over the past few weeks. Earlier rumors told us to expect a phone that exceeded all expectations, and we’re happy to say that it totally does. The phone should be heralded as the beast of all beasts right now. It sports Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch 2560 x 1440 display, an insane 21 megapixel camera that can shoot 4K video, a 3,900mAh battery that delivers 48 hours of battery life and can be charged for 8 hours of use in 15 minutes with Motorola’s Turbo Charger. While it’ll be coming with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, Motorola and Verizon promise a guaranteed upgrade to Lollipop at some point after release (though we didn’t really need a promise to assume that would be the case). The duo were quite proud to announce that this would be a “pure” Android phone that doesn’t make use of any bloated user interface customizations or a ridiculous amount of pre-installed apps. This should make for faster upgrades to new software versions down the line as the Moto X and the DROID phones of yesteryear enjoyed. With that, you can expect Motorola’s light coat of paint in the form of Motorola Assist, Touchless Controls, Active Display and all the other useful software features they’ve become known for in the past year.   In typical Verizon fashion, the device will be available just two days after today’s announcement — that’s Thursday, October 30th if your calendar is broken. You’ll be able to choose from a 32GB option for $200 on a two-year agreement or get stepped up to a whopping 64GB of storage for just $50 more. The former can be had in either Metallic Black, Metallic Red or a new premium ballistic nylon material Motorola is using. Those opting for the $250 version will only have the option of going with ballistic nylon. Oh, and one more quick perk Verizon’s throwing in — you’ll get one free replacement/repair for a broken display in your contract period. Not a bad deal if you hate having to pay a hefty deductible because your phone took an unfortunate tumble one day. Sound off with your thoughts on this beast in the comments below and stay tuned for more coverage from Verizon’s announcement event, including hands-on video right from the shindig! |
| Google offering first minute free calling to 25 countries through 2014 Posted: 28 Oct 2014 08:14 AM PDT Normally making a call to a country abroad via Google Hangouts would have you cough up coin, but Google’s making it a bit cheaper for the duration of 2014. If, for whatever reason, you only want to talk to someone in another country for one minute you can get that phone call for absolutely free. After the first minute you will be charged for each consecutive minute for that phone call. You can call as many different times as you like, though, so don’t feel the need to be judicious about dialing it up a few times. We’re not sure why you’d want to talk to someone for just one minute. Perhaps there’s a family emergency and you need the most reliable way to reach them — place that call, then tell the other person to hop onto Hangouts for a free Hangouts-to-Hangouts voice or video call to continue the conversation. The catch is that this will only work for 25 countries, and here’s the full list of them:
You’ll have to add Google calling credit to your account before being eligible for free calling, mainly so that Google can charge you should you creep over that first minute mark. Google also reserves the right to curb your free calling if they feel you’re trying to abuse it, though, so don’t expect to be able to make 100 1-minute calls per day. (And, really, who’d want to put up with that headache, anyway?) Don’t forget that you’ll need both the Hangouts and Hangouts Dialer apps for Android in order to place calls from your phone. You can grab them here and here, respectively. Let us know if you’ll be taking advantage of this for whatever reason, and hit the source link for help on getting started with calling in Hangouts if you’re not already familiar. [via Google] |
| Samsung Galaxy Note Edge launched in South Korea Posted: 28 Oct 2014 06:49 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 might be Samsung’s flagship phablet, but the “experimental” Note Edge is still just as exciting. The device, which makes use of a curved AMOLED display to enable information and app controls independent of the main area of the display, is now available in South Korea. This kicks off what Samsung’s describes as a limited launch, with the company only expecting to ship about 1 million units globally. The initial launch plans from Samsung said to expect this in select and limited markets, so we wouldn’t be looking for this thing in 120 countries around the globe like a typical Samsung flagship. We do know Samsung is planning on launching the device on the United States’ four largest carriers as mentioned in their original press announcement, though there has been no further word on availability outside of South Korea at this time. With today’s launch it’s likely that we will be seeing the Note Edge seed into other markets by the end of the year. [via Samsung] |
| Big Pushbullet update brings healthy load of Material Design Posted: 28 Oct 2014 05:57 AM PDT Pushbullet, whose developers are seemingly the fastest on the face of the planet, has gotten another big upgrade today. The biggest highlight by far is the makeover it’s gotten — this thing is full-on Material Design, baby. The company has embraced Material Design down to the “T” as they’ve always looked to follow the latest design standards set by Google. Key visual upgrades include better use of white space, a card-like interface with floating action buttons, the new sliding hamburger drawer and lush animations. Here are some of the other changes included in today’s upgrade:
That sounds like it’s worthy of a few megabytes on your Android phone or tablet. Pushbullet notes that there are a couple of UI things that need cleaning up, though they’re already planning on a smaller house cleaning patch that should address most of the issues in one fell swoop. The issues aren’t big — just a couple of quirky kinks that need working out. Be sure to find the latest version of Pushbullet over at Google Play. [via Pushbullet] |
| QuickPic 3.8 update brings photo and video transfers over your WiFi network Posted: 27 Oct 2014 09:24 PM PDT For as long as anyone can remember, QuickPic has been the go-to gallery replacement app for Android devices. With its minimal, no fuss UI, we’ve been using it faithfully since the G1 days and never looked back. While gallery apps are great for viewing images stored on our phones and tablets, transferring photos and videos from one device to another has always been sorta tricky. With Android devices, this is typically accomplished 1 of 2 inefficient ways: you can either Android Beam photos and video 1-by-1 over Bluetooth (finicky), or upload photos/videos to a cloud storage account (more stable), only to then have to re-download everything onto another device. It’s tedious and often times more trouble than it’s worth. Surely there’s got to be a better way? There is. And it’s in QuickPic’s latest update. In QuickPic 3.8 (fresh off the Google Play Store), you can simply share photos and videos over a wireless network. This is done by either selecting photos beforehand, or by jumping into QuickPic’s new Transfer menu on both devices and selecting photos from there. Keep in mind both devices will need to be connected to the same wireless network in order to send/receive photos and videos — this is not WiFi direct. If for some reason a network isn’t present, you’ll have to enable WiFi hotspot on one of the devices, then connect to it with the other as a workaround. Transfers are lightning quick and stored in a new “Quick Transfer” folder for later viewing. We just tried it out on our Nexus 5 running Lollipop and Moto X (2nd Gen) on KitKat and everything worked without a hitch. It really is stupid easy and finally takes away some of the pains associated with photo and video transfers. Whether you’re looking to move photos over to a newly upgraded device, or share photos/videos between your smartphone or tablet — you’re going to want to give QuickPic a shot. As usual, QuickPic remains as robust a gallery app as ever and is free to download from the Google Play Store. Link provided below. |
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