Android Phone Fans

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• 7 Funniest iPhone 6 Bend Jokes, Pictures, and Videos
• First 10 things every new Moto X (2nd Gen) owner should do
• From the Forums: who’s laughing at plastic phones now, guilty pleasure songs, and more
• Sony getting serious about America? US event scheduled for October 9th
• Mobile Roar 63: Moto X review, #bendgate, Nexus 6 leaks, and more!
• Madden Mobile update lets you create a league with your friends
• HTC M8 EYE said to launch next month with a 13MP Duo Camera [RUMOR]
• Deal: Amazon offering more than 2 dozen premium Android apps worth $135… for free!
• FCC filing suggests standalone 3G LG smart watch could be on its way
• Conan O’Brien brings his comedic genius to #BendGate with hilarious new skit [VIDEO]
• Moto X (2nd Gen) now available from Verizon Wireless

7 Funniest iPhone 6 Bend Jokes, Pictures, and Videos Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT The iPhone 6 Bend problem may be slightly blown out of proportion (things bend if you bend them) but lets put the murky details aside for a moment and revel in the hilarity that BendGate has inspired. Here are our 7 favorite responses, pictures, videos, and memes to come from Apple’s latest drama… share your favorites in the comments! #7 Kit Kat: Gimme a break The official @KitKat twitter account gave 4.4 out of 5 droids of support by letting Apple know the deal, complete with their memorable company slogan. #6 Tim Cook Fashion Line Rather than fix the iPhone’s woes, some users suggested Apple’s Tim Cook could succeed by using it’s marketing prowess to popularize former fashion fads. I’m not sure if the iPhone is 2 Legit 2 Bend, but whenever I see another “durability” test I think to myself “Please hammer don’t hurt ‘em”. #5 Conan O’Brien imagines Samsung Ad It didn’t take long for late night comedians to get in on the action – and we expect it to continue. Here was Conan’s first bend, er… stab at it. #4 Galaxy Note 3 Ad This fan-made print advertisement for the Galaxy Note 3 shows the iPhone 6 literally bowing at the feet of its rival, with the help of some strategically placed joints. Man… that new iPhone must have gone through Yoga training! #3 LG Doesn’t bend, it flexes The gorgeous new curved screen on the LG G Flex gave the company the perfect opportunity to toss it right in Apple’s face. Because, you know, their screen bends on purpose. #2 iPhone 6 Repair Kit Get bit by the iPhone 6 bend bug? Mobile Fun has just the accessory you need to straighten it out! #1 iPhone 6 Dali Edition This one, from @PhoneDesigner, is my personal favorite. It’s a hilarious concept, incorporates another cultural icon, the picture is beautifully composed, and it’s tastefully done. Great job, PhoneDesigner! Everyone has their favorite… what’s yours? If you don’t see it above, share it with us below!

First 10 things every new Moto X (2nd Gen) owner should do Posted: 26 Sep 2014 05:00 PM PDT If you’re in the market for a great new Android device, hands-down, the Moto X (2014) deserves your attention. Earlier this week we detailed many of the flagship phone’s hardware and software features in our full review, making a case for why we believe the all new Moto X could be the best Android smartphone on the market. With an overall score of 4.6 out of 5, we’re sure many of you know a good thing when you see it and pulled the trigger on a custom Moto X through Motorola’s site. One thing we didn’t have time to cram into our full review was a quick list of the first things you should upon powering up the Moto X for the first time. With devices landing on doorsteps as early as today (and available at Verizon locations), your friends at Phandroid.com got ya covered. 1. Make or login with a Google account This one is a bit obvious, but if you’re new to this whole Android thing, you’re going to need to make a Google account to take advantage of all the apps and services your phone has to offer. You know, like having universal sign if for Google apps, tracking your phone if it gets lost, or simply downloading applications to your device (unless you go the Amazon route, which is a whole different story). First things first: make a Google account here. After that, once you’ve powered up your brand new Moto X, you’ll be taken through the setup wizard which will eventually ask you to sign into your existing Google account, or ask you to make a new one. This can be skipped, but it’s better to do it right now. Once signed in, depending on your model Moto X, you’ll be asked to set up Google Now, which we’d also recommend accepting right there and then. Soon after, you’ll find a notification asking you to set up a Motorola account. We’d recommend skipping it because many of the benefits of having a Motorola account mimic features of having a Google account. It’s needless and you wont be missing out on anything. 2. Update system apps on Google Play / Adjust Play Store settings Now that you’ve successfully made it to your home screen, the first order of business is to update all the Google and Motorola apps that came pre-installed by diving into the Google Play Store. Since Google and Motorola have been so busy lately, there’s a good chance more than a few of them are out of date. When open the Play Store, swipe from the left edge of the screen to open up the sidebar menu. From there select “My apps” to see all the apps installed on your Moto X, as well as the ones that are in need of updating. Before selecting “Update all,” you may want to make sure you’re connected to WiFi. While those are all busy updating, you may want to strongly consider jumping into the Play Store settings (located by swiping the sidebar menu again) and turn off app auto updates. At the very least, you can set it to only update when connected to WiFi (recommended), or if you have an unlimited, uncapped data plan, you can always auto-update apps at any time. As for us, we prefer being in full control and love seeing when new updates are available, checking out “what’s new” in the app’s listing, then clicking update. While you’re in your Google Play Store settings, now would also be a good time to change the duration of how often you have to enter your password when downloading paid apps from the Google Play Store located under “Require password for purchases.” If you have kids who are always on your phone, we’d recommend selecting the option “for all purchases through Google Play on this device.” 3. Setup lock screen with security and contact info With that out of the way, we can now get into securing your device. Your Moto X has a variety of ways of pulling this off, whether it be by password (most secure), PIN code (moderately secure), pattern lock, or Face unlock (low security). You can see exactly how to enable lock screen security in the screenshots above. No matter your preference, you might also want to consider putting your contact info on the lock screen in the event a good Samaritan actually wants to return your smartphone (and not keep it for themselves). It only makes sense to make this as easy for them as possible. Should you forgo all the above mentioned methods of securing your smartphone and end up losing it somewhere down the road, don’t worry. You can still lock your device by visiting the Google’s Android Device Manager from any computer, or downloading the app on to someone else’s phone here. Simply click the “lock” button and you’re good to go. You can even add a full recovery message begging for the safe return of your phone and a number they can call you from straight from your lost phone. Awesome. 4. Setup trusted Bluetooth devices We get it — having to unlock your device every single time you want to use it for a few seconds is a huge inconvenience. This is reason many users don’t secure their phones with a lock screen to begin with. Wouldn’t it be great if your phone knew when it was near you or someplace “safe,” and would only use passwords or patterns when you’re out and about or away from you? With the Moto X, this isn’t future stuff — it’s a reality. In your Moto X’s security settings, you can actually setup “trusted” Bluetooth devices. This means whenever you are connected to these devices, your phone will remain unlocked. It could be anything from a Bluetooth speaker you have in your home, or that fancy new Android Wear smartwatch you have on your wrist. When your phone is no longer connected to the devices you specify, it will remain locked and secure. 5. Turn on (or off) Attentive Display Your Moto X has been equipped with low power IR sensors on the front that, aside from detecting your when your hand is near, can also detect your face. That’s right, using a new feature called Attentive Display, the new Moto X is “smart” enough to know when the screen should be on, and when it shouldn’t — simply by checking to see if you’re looking at it. Attentive Display has 2 options, the first — “stay on while I’m looking” — will keep the display on for as long as you’re looking at the phone. This is independent of your screen timeout settings. Hypothetically, this means your screen timeout can be set to something small like 15 seconds, but your phone’s display wont turn off if you’re reading an article, or watching a video. The other mode — Battery saver mode — can also detect your looking at the phone, turning off the display quicker when it doesn’t see you. This should help battery savings given a powered on display can suck up a lot of your smartphone’s juice. While it hasn’t been tested, having IR sensors constantly looking at your mug is sure to have some impact on battery life, no matter how minimal. Even if it’ll only get you an extra 5 minutes of battery life, you should at least know where to go to turn these features off. 6. Set up the Moto app to unlock new features Some of the most helpful features of the Moto X are located in the new Moto app. When opened, Moto will give you a quick rundown of its abilities and seeing as how it needs permission special access to your phones hardware and data, will require you to opt in first. Once you select “Yes, I’m in,” you’re on your way to unlocking your Moto X’s true potential. Once you’ve agreed to the terms, the first thing the app will do is ask you to set up voice commands. Just find a very quiet place and follow the onscreen directions. After that, opening the Moto will always pull up the Moto Voice function right off the bat (like S Voice or Siri), but the app also acts as a hub for Motorola's other contextual apps, found after clicking the small gear icon in the upper corner. There are four main apps that you’ll need to set up, with their names and descriptions down below. Moto Actions: Utilizing the IR sensors located on the front of the device, Actions allows users to interact with the new Moto X using simple gestures (I guess this is why they ditched the name of the Touchless Control app). Wave a hand above the new Moto X to silence calls and/or alarms. You can even launch the camera when the phone is sleeping by flicking your wrist twice. Moto Voice: Essentially audio monitoring for your smartphone, Moto Voice gives users the ability to wake their devices using a simple voice command — totally hands free. New for the Moto X (2nd Gen), you can now create your own custom voice prompt. Anything from "Hi-Yo, Silver. Away!" to "OK, Jarvis." There's new actions too, with the ability to post a status updates to Facebook, messages in Whatsapp, or even check your <insert carrier here> usage. It's limited, but we expect more apps will be supported in the future. Moto Assist: It's one of those handy features that sounds like it would have found itself already baked into Android by now. Whether you're driving, in a meeting or back home, Moto Assist can change your phone's behavior to do your bidding automagically. Driving? Assist will read your text messages aloud. In a meeting? Assist will mute the ringer so you're not interrupted. Set up your own quiet hours and you can even whitelist certain callers (or anyone calling in rapid succession) for emergency situations. Moto Display: For the all new Moto X, Motorola has rebranded their Active Display app as Moto Display. Like a smart lock screen on top of the normal Android lock screen, Display will "breathe" notifications as they arrive, allowing you to peek at them using only a finger. An improved version of last year's Active Display, Moto Display can even detect when your hand is near (IR sensors), activating before you even touch it. One of the best parts about all of these applications is that they're found in the Google Play Store, so make sure you’re regularly checking for new updates as they can occasionally bring new features and/or bug fixes. 7. Download/activate Google Wallet Sure iPhone users are all excited about finally making mobile payments and they should be. It’s a feature Android users have been enjoying for years now and while there are a variety of mobile wallet apps you can find on the Google Play Store that allow this, we recommend going with Google Wallet. If you’re buying apps and games on the Play Store already, chances are it has all your info ready to go and set up is a breeze. Simply search for “Google Wallet” in the Play Store app (or click here) and download. Once installed, open the Google Wallet app and set a PIN code. Then you’ll be taken to the My Wallet section of the app where you’ll see “Set up tap and pay.” Once selected, you’ll have to accept the terms of use and once done, you should now see a card (section) telling you tap and pay is ready to rock n’ roll. Now, jump into your Settings app, scroll down and select “Tap & pay” and choose Google Wallet. If you’re using a carrier branded Moto X (from AT&T or Verizon or wherever), you’ll notice it came pre-installed with Softcard (previously Isis Mobile Wallet). Just ignore it because nobody wants to mess with that. 8. Use all black wallpaper for battery savings The Moto X comes equipped with a beautiful AMOLED display that, not only produces more vibrant colors and higher contrast, but brings with it an added power draw benefit as well. Different from traditional LCD displays, AMOLED doesn’t need light up individual pixels when displaying black images, saving some precious battery life as a result. This is a reason why the Moto Display lock screen feature is supposed to be so battery friendly. To further extend this to your home screen, you can choose to either use extremely dark wallpapers, or if you wanna get real crazy, just go with a completely blacked out one. Since the Moto X doesn’t make any available, you can download a pure black wallpaper for your Android here or check out our post with a handful of dark wallpapers for AMOLED devices. Once downloaded, you can set a wallpaper by long pressing a blank area of your home screen, then choosing Wallpapers > Pick image > and selecting that dark or pure black wallpaper you just downloaded. Easy peasy. 9. Speed up animations There’s no denying the new Moto X is one of the fastest smartphones on the market. Heck, we’d even go as far as saying in terms of real world speed, there isn’t a faster smartphone on the market (for now). Even then, did you know there’s a way you can make the phone feel even snappier and more responsive? Trust us, you’ll want to try out this next trick. All you have to do this is to enable super top secret "Developer options" hidden in the Moto X Settings app. Simply open the app, scrolling down to "About device," then pressing on “Build Number” a total of 7 times (you’ll see a countdown). Once finished, you'll see a toast appear letting you know that you are now a “developer.” Okay, not really but you now have access to a few new hidden settings. Return to the main Settings area and scroll down to the bottom where you’ll find a new option for “Developer options.” It’s not as scary as it sounds, we promise. Once inside, locate the window animation scale, transition animation scale, and animator duration scale, settings and set all of them to 5.x to speed everything up, or animation off if you’re feeling really balsy. Make sure Developer options are turned “On” at the top of the screen, exit and you’re all set. 10. Apps to get you started We went ahead and compiled a quick list of some of our “must-have” applications we download to every single Android device we ever purchased. Most of these are simply replacing some of the stock Google or Motorola apps already found on the device (like that awful camera), but because we like these better, we think they’re worth checking out. MyRoll (Gallery replacement) Google Camera (Camera replacement) Nova Launcher (Home screen replacement) Noyze (Volume controls) My Paid Apps (View paid app purchase history) Push Bullet (Get Android notifications on your computer) Viral Lite (Floating YouTube player) That’s all, folks! And that should pretty much cover everything you should do as a brand new Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) owner. Of course, this is not an end-all-be-all list, but we think it should cover, at the very least, some of the more important stuff. Should you have any more questions, feel free to drop a comment and/or check out our brand new Moto X (2014) forums on AndroidForums.com.  It’s there you're sure to find people always willing to lend a helping hand with any questions, issues or just general chatter you have about your shiny new Moto X. Cheers.

From the Forums: who’s laughing at plastic phones now, guilty pleasure songs, and more Posted: 26 Sep 2014 01:06 PM PDT What is the best streaming music app to listen to your favorite guilt pleasure songs on an Android phone fool-proofed for use by even your luddite parents? If you check out some of the best threads from Android Forums this week you just might have an answer. Let's do this. After bent iPhone debacle, who wants a metal phone? He who laughs last laughs the loudest, or at least that's what they say. It might just be true given the latest iPhone launch dilemma to strike Apple. Reports of bent iPhones have Samsung fans cherishing their plastic devices. Have the masses calling for metal Samsung phones been wrong all along? Did Samsung realize big metal phones are prone to bending long ago? Even given current circumstances the debate rages on. Google Play Music or Slacker Radio? It's an age-old question for smartphone users: which streaming music service is worth my money? A current Slacker user has been tempted by a free trial for Google Play Music. At a similar monthly cost, which is the better buy? Some might even say another streaming service is the better option altogether. Weigh in with your own thoughts. Parent-proofing an Android phone We've all heard of child-proofing a house. To some extent we've also heard of child-proofing our smartphones and tablets. But what about parent-proofing? How do you make an Android phone as approachable as possible for the older (and sometimes tech illiterate) folks in our lives? Tips for outfitting and Android device for AARP cardholders are welcomed. Your guilty pleasure songs What's the one song you absolutely love but would be mortified if someone caught you in public humming along? The song you can't help but like. For miseryguts the tune happens to be "I'll Find My Way Home" by Jon and Vangelis. For us it's probably anything by Katy Perry. What about you? And more… Moto 360 Tips & Tricks Resisting the iPhone 6 Do QR codes still have a place? And that about wraps this puppy up. Enjoy your weekend, but if you have some downtime be sure to visit Android Forums. Sign up for an account, post away, and perhaps you will find your thread among those featured in next week's From the Forums.

Sony getting serious about America? US event scheduled for October 9th Posted: 26 Sep 2014 12:34 PM PDT Sony could be looking to make a statement about their intentions to have a bigger presence here in the United States. The company has scheduled an October 9th event where they’ve invited folks to “demand great.” Anyone paying attention to Xperia Z3 marketing knows that is the main tagline being used for the device. We already know the phone is headed to at least T-Mobile, which is a very good start if they want to start to gain some penetration in the United States. Unfortunately we aren’t exactly sure what they’ll be showing. This could be a reintroduction, of sorts, for the Xperia Z3 here in the United States, and there’s a chance it could even come with an announcement of availability on more carriers. Another possibility is that we see a new phone altogether. Sony hasn’t quite been able to gain traction along the lines of LG, Samsung, Motorola and HTC, but they’re going to need it if they want their mobile division to stay afloat. Recent reports suggest Sony is still bleeding a ton of money from that division — so much so that they expect it to contribute to a loss of around $2 billion. That’s not chump change for a company of Sony’s size, so they’ll need to turn things around in a hurry if they want to prevent having to sell the division off. Let’s hope this event puts them on the right path to future success. [via GSM Arena]

Mobile Roar 63: Moto X review, #bendgate, Nexus 6 leaks, and more! Posted: 26 Sep 2014 11:48 AM PDT This week the mobile world was saturated with Apple drama, and it even seeped into our podcast. #bendgate is real, but does it matter, and should Apple even care? The iOS 8.0.1 update was a disaster, and Chris had major issues with his iPhone 6 and Macbook. In non-Apple news we finally posted our Moto X review, the gigantic Nexus 6 has leaked again, and DROID is making a comeback. Thanks for watching/listening! Big News Moto X Review #bendgate craziness Quick Hits Giant Nexus 6 specs leak DROID Turbo leaks iOS 8.0.1 update problems HTC's RECamera iPhone 6 vs GS5 camera comparison Wins/Fails Joe: Pebble / Kyocera Brigadier Chris: Google Play IAP pricing disclosure / Broke my iPhone 6, MacBook hard resetted App Picks Joe: Flipboard for Windows Phone (UPDATE: pre-mature release) Chris: Spider-Man Unlimited Follow Us Joe Fedewa (@tallshmo) Chris Chavez (@gamercore) Kevin Krause (@youdontknowkev) Subscribe Hear us on Stitcher Radio Subscribe on iTunes Add RSS feed Download MP3 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Madden Mobile update lets you create a league with your friends Posted: 26 Sep 2014 11:18 AM PDT We’d gushed about Madden Mobile ahead of NFL’s opening kickoff despite feeling a bit slighted about the microtransaction-heavy game, but it’s still shone through as an addictive time passer that football fans should enjoy. We’re about four weeks into the NFL season and the first major upgrade has come to the game — leagues! In lieu of a traditional franchise mode, leagues allow you and your friends to compete with each other to see who can stay atop the leaderboard by winning games. Game mechanics remain identical to head to head where you and an opponent take turns on offense playing against computer-controlled defenses. Unfortunately it looks like you have to pay in-game gold to start a league — 5,000, to be exact — and the system to invite friends to join the fun could do with some work. The main element leagues introduces is “contributions,” which is basically “how much money have you spent on in-app purchases?” The more contributions one makes, the better badge they receive. These badges ultimately don’t mean much except to say “I’ve bought a crap ton of stuff,” though it’s worth noting that members of your league do receive a small gift whenever someone makes an in-app purchase. Rob Jackson received a meager 10 gold coins for the $1 I spent, and if you know anything about Madden Mobile you know 10 gold coins isn’t getting you anything. We’re not sure if bigger purchases grant bigger rewards for league members, but we suppose something is better than nothing at all. There wasn’t much else to be had in the update, though EA did mention that they polished a few areas to make the experience that much tighter. The upgrade is free from Google Play so get over there to check it out, and be sure to read our review of Madden Mobile if you’re wondering whether this mobile gridiron experience is worth your time and, potentially, your dollars. And while you’re at it, why not join our league? Just search for “Ruler of the World” with the logo you see in the image above and request to join. Let us know your username in the comments section so we can accept you!

HTC M8 EYE said to launch next month with a 13MP Duo Camera [RUMOR] Posted: 26 Sep 2014 10:33 AM PDT It took awhile, but it seems HTC may have finally gotten wind that their 4MP UltraPixel camera in the HTC One M8 wasn’t quite the selling point they had hoped. Despite performing better than most cameras in low-light, a dip in resolution was simply unacceptable to some. We’ve already seen HTC gradually make the move away from UltraPixels with the Sprint HTC One E8, a plastic-clad version of the M8 only ditching the Duo camera system in favor of a single 13MP. Because you gotta have at least one gimmick to sell people on, HTC is now rumored to building an HTC One M8 with a 13MP Duo camera. The phone — known as the HTC One M8 EYE — was originally tipped by @upleaks on Twitter (the spiritual successor to @evleaks) and today, Android hacker/modder/developer LlabTooFeR confirmed on Twitter the device will launch next month with Android 4.4.4 and Sense 6.0. No word on exactly which markets we can expect the phone to launch first. You can expect many a One M8 fan to get their feathers ruffled if an arguably “better” model launches only a few months after the original. Tis the way of the world, we suppose. So long, UltraPixels, we hardly knew you.

Deal: Amazon offering more than 2 dozen premium Android apps worth $135… for free! Posted: 26 Sep 2014 09:50 AM PDT Amazon has put on one of its best free apps deals yet. The company has listed 27 different paid apps for the low, low cost of zero. The cost of buying all these apps sums up to around $135, which we’d say is a pretty big discount if you were to grab the whole lot of them. Even if you are only interested in a few it should still be a good opportunity to save some money. Here’s the full list of what’s available for download: Merriam-Webster’s Third New International Pro Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 2 Perfectly Clear Riptide GP2 Paper Camera Quell Momento mSecure Password Manager Skethbook Pro Alarm Clock+ OfficeSuite Pro 7 Sworkit Pro Relax Melodies Premium Swype Heroes of Steel RPG Elite Mahjong Artifacts Genius Scan+ PrinterShare City Maps 2Go Pro Knots 3D Earth and Moon in HD Gyro 3D Pro My Diet Coach Pro Another World Schedule Planner Pro Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden Air Harp (Kindle Fire) MetaMoJi Note (Kindle Fire) Whew, that’s a tall list. You can check out full details for each title over at Amazon’s site, where you’ll also be able to download any of these apps. Don’t forget you’ll need to install the Amazon Appstore APK in order to download them so be sure to take care of that ahead of all else.

FCC filing suggests standalone 3G LG smart watch could be on its way Posted: 26 Sep 2014 07:55 AM PDT With Samsung launching their Gear S standalone smart watch, other competitors could be ready to join the fray. An LG smart watch has recently passed FCC certification, and details on the filing suggest it could be a 3G-equipped smart watch — that is, it won’t require tethering to a smartphone in order to receive data. The filing doesn’t tell us much, though the device’s model number suggests it could make its way to Verizon or Sprint in a CDMA variant. There may be a GSM variant on the loose as well, but this particular filing doesn’t mention any such thing. From what we can tell from the sketching of this thing, the device will don a rectangular shape, though it will still maintain some curves around its corners. The dimensions say it should be smaller than the original Samsung Gear Live was, so we expect a decreased amount of bezel to make for a much more stylish-looking watch. Beyond all that, though, there’s nothing else we know about the thing — we’re not even sure if it runs Android Wear. I suppose we’ll have to wait for further evidence or official information from LG before we learn more about their next plans in the smart watch space. In the meantime, we’re still waiting on the opportunity to get our hands on the LG G Watch R — let’s hope that chance comes along soon. [via G for Games]

Conan O’Brien brings his comedic genius to #BendGate with hilarious new skit [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Sep 2014 06:58 AM PDT With all the doom and gloom surrounding the iPhone 6+’s bend issues, it’s sometimes important to step back and make light of the situation. No one knows how to make light out of any situation quite like Conan can. The late night star put together his own skit by introducing a new “competitor” to the iPhone 6 — the super straight “Samsung Galaxy.” We won’t spoil too much of the phone, but we will warn you that plenty of sexual innuendos are waiting for you (so make sure your work area is secure before hitting that play button).

Moto X (2nd Gen) now available from Verizon Wireless Posted: 26 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT Verizon told us their version of the Moto X was going on sale today, but in case you weren’t around to hear the news here it is: you can buy it right now! The device begins at $99.99 with a two-year contract, which will give you either the black base 16GB version for $99.99, or a white version with a wooden back cover for the same price (though we’re expecting Verizon to increase the price on the latter in due time). Not good with either of those? You’ll also be able to order Verizon’s version through Moto Maker. $99.99 will get you the 16GB in whichever fashion you desire, while you’ll need to pay an extra $50 for double the storage. Not too bad if you don’t mind mind signing two years of your life away. Of course, you always have the option of going the off-contract route for a reasonable $550, or you can split those payments up through Verizon Edge for just $27.49 per month for 20 months. Be sure to head over there and order yours now, and read our Moto X review to see if it’s worth any of those price tags mentioned above. Let us know if you’ll be grabbing one!

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Dear buntheun keun,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 26, 2014:


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Spotlight Stories Headlines
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NEW TECHNOLOGY MAY LEAD TO PROLONGED POWER IN MOBILE DEVICES
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-technology-prolonged-power-mobile-devices.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
WEDG WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PERSONAL CLOUD PRIVACY
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-wedg-difference-personal-cloud-privacy.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
HUBBLE TEAM FINDS MALE LED TEAMS STILL GETTING MORE TELESCOPE TIME THAN THOSE LED BY FEMALES
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-hubble-team-male-teams-telescope.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
MICROSOFT EVENT TO TALK ABOUT FRESH-START WINDOWS 9
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-microsoft-event-fresh-start-windows.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
ARGENTINA UAVS SPOT POOLS AND MANSIONS, NOT EMPTY LOTS
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-argentina-uavs-pools-mansions-lots.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
GREEN LIGHT FOR CLEVER ALGAE
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-green-clever-algae.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
EXPERIMENT MAKES SCHRODINGER'S CAT CHOOSE—THINGS CAN BE REAL, OR CERTAIN, BUT NOT BOTH
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-schrodinger-cat-choosethings-real.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
HARD FACTS LEAD TO 'GREEN' CONCRETE
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-hard-facts-green-concrete.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
COLOUR VARIABILITY IN CRIMSON ROSELLAS IS LINKED TO A VIRUS
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-colour-variability-crimson-rosellas-linked.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
IF TREES COULD TALK: FOREST RESEARCH NETWORK REVEALS GLOBAL CHANGE EFFECTS
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-trees-forest-network-reveals-global.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
SCIENTISTS REVOLUTIONIZE SOLAR POWER WITH NEW "GOLD NANOCLUSTER" TECHNOLOGY
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-scientists-revolutionize-solar-power-gold.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
RESEARCHERS ELUCIDATE HOW A NITROGEN-FIXING ENZYME ALSO PRODUCES HYDROCARBONS
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-elucidate-nitrogen-fixing-enzyme-hydrocarbons.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
PROTEIN 'MAP' COULD LEAD TO POTENT NEW CANCER DRUGS
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-protein-potent-cancer-drugs.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
LATEST RESULTS FROM EUROPEAN BLUEPRINT INITIATIVE SHED LIGHT ON EPIGENETIC EFFECTS
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-latest-results-european-blueprint-epigenetic.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
PENN TEAM STUDIES NANOCRYSTALS BY PASSING THEM THROUGH TINY PORES
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-penn-team-nanocrystals-tiny-pores.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=splt-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter


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Latest News On TECHNOLOGY:
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WEDG WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PERSONAL CLOUD PRIVACY
Shehbaz Afzal, CEO of WEDG, is ready to share what he and his group have been working on for the past months, and he has taken to Indiegogo to raise funding. WEDG is promoted as "a revolutionary cloud email and storage solution with 512-bit encryption, 1TB of storage," and not carrying monthly fees.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-wedg-difference-personal-cloud-privacy.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

ARGENTINA UAVS SPOT POOLS AND MANSIONS, NOT EMPTY LOTS
Officials in Argentina have used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to locate undeclared mansions in a crackdown on rich tax evaders. The roots of their suspicions that something was amiss were in properties registered as empty lots in a wealthy Buenos Aires area, about 10 miles south of the city, according to a report in The Telegraph, and they sent out $10,000 drones equipped with cameras to take pictures of the properties. Resulting snapshots were of luxurious houses and swimming pools. The Telegraph reported that all in all, tax inspectors found 200 mansions and 100 swimming pools that had not been declared. The missing taxes amount to over $2 million from the hidden mansions and the owners face big fines.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-argentina-uavs-pools-mansions-lots.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

MICROSOFT EVENT TO TALK ABOUT FRESH-START WINDOWS 9
Microsoft is about to introduce Windows 9 next week at an event, ahead of its widespread release in 2015. The project for the next Windows operating system has been given the internal code name as Threshold.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-microsoft-event-fresh-start-windows.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

SECURITY ROBOT CAN SKIM DISCREETLY ALONG A SHIP'S HULL TO SEEK HOLLOW COMPARTMENTS CONCEALING CONTRABAND
Last week, at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, MIT researchers unveiled an oval-shaped submersible robot, a little smaller than a football, with a flattened panel on one side that it can slide along an underwater surface to perform ultrasound scans.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-robot-skim-discreetly-ship-hull.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

FIVE WAYS THE SUPERINTELLIGENCE REVOLUTION MIGHT HAPPEN
Biological brains are unlikely to be the final stage of intelligence. Machines already have superhuman strength, speed and stamina – and one day they will have superhuman intelligence. This is of course not certain to occur – it is possible that we will develop some other dangerous technology first that destroys us, or otherwise fall victim to some existential risk.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-ways-superintelligence-revolution.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

HARD FACTS LEAD TO 'GREEN' CONCRETE
The international team of scientists has created computational models to help concrete manufacturers fine-tune mixes for general applications.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-hard-facts-green-concrete.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

APPLE SAYS MAC USERS MOSTLY SAFE FROM 'BASH' BUG
Apple said Friday that its Macintosh PCs are unlikely to be affected by the recently discovered "Bash" bug that could hit millions of computers and other devices connected to the Internet.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-apple-mac-users-safe-bash.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

US VOWS TO FIGHT NEW EFFORT FOR UN CONTROL OF INTERNET
US officials are pledging to fight a fresh effort to give a UN agency authority to regulate the Internet, two years after a huge diplomatic battle over the issue.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-vows-effort-internet.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

FBI HEAD CRITICIZES APPLE, GOOGLE OVER DATA ENCRYPTION
Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey hit out at Apple and Google on Thursday over new data-security measures designed to reassure customers wary of government prying.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-fbi-criticizes-apple-google-encryption.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

STUDENT SCRATCHES OUT AN IDEA FOR APP
Tired of buying scratch lottery tickets, only to come up empty handed? Chris Lange is confident his latest app will give you the "best bang for your buck" next time you get lotto fever.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-student-idea-app.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

IT STUDENT SEEKS TO HELP MITIGATE RISKS OF GOOGLE GLASS
As online data breaches continue to challenge companies' and consumers' trust in cybersecurity, UC information-technology major Marina Grebenshchikova is exploring the risks associated with ever-evolving technology advances. Currently, she is applying what she has learned to conducting research with Google Glass, a wearable computer built into eye glasses. The project will expose her to the different types of IT-related questions and challenges that she may encounter in the industry upon graduation in 2017, especially if she pursues a career in software development, working on products or applications from conception to testing to market entry.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-student-mitigate-google-glass.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

SOLO HYBRID DRIVERS IN CARPOOL LANES AMPLIFY GRIDLOCK
Allowing single-occupant hybrid cars to use carpool lanes – on some of Los Angeles' busiest highways during rush hour, no less – creates crushing congestion and about $4,500 per car in adverse social costs annually. That includes increased commute times and carbon dioxide emissions, says a new study in the August edition of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-solo-hybrid-drivers-carpool-lanes.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

RESEARCHER IS WORKING TO PREDICT ELECTRIC POWER BLACKOUTS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN
The largest power outage in United States history, the 2003 Northeast blackout, began with one power line in Ohio going offline and ended with more than 50 million people without power throughout the Northeast and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-electric-power-blackouts.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

PREJUDICES AND DISCRIMINATION THREAT FOR EFFICIENT FINANCIAL MARKET
Prejudices about ethnicity and culture influence how and why financial markets respond to the initial public offering for companies and the valuation of the shares. In her thesis, Ivana Naumovska from the Erasmus Research Institute of Management reveals how investors allow themselves to be led by their prejudices during the initial public offering of Chinese companies, for example. Naumovska's research was funded by a Mosaic grant from NWO.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-prejudices-discrimination-threat-efficient-financial.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

DEVICE MONITOR APP FOR MONITORING AND REPORTING MALICIOUS EVENTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID
ACDC's partner, XLAB, has released the Device Monitor application to provide more mobile network security by monitoring and reporting malicious events on Android devices
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-device-app-malicious-events-android.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

EUROPE UNION OKS CONSTANT CHATTING ON FLIGHTS
(AP)—European skies may soon be alive with the sound of small talk with new safety guidance allowing the use of all portable electronics, including cell phones, at any time during flights.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-european-flight-safety-regs-electronics.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

CAN CARTOONS BE USED TO TEACH MACHINES TO UNDERSTAND THE VISUAL WORLD?
An enormous gap exists between human abilities and machine performance when it comes to understanding the visual world from images and videos. Humans are still way out in front.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-cartoons-machines-visual-world.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

GERMAN MILITARY STRUGGLES WITH HARDWARE PROBLEMS
(AP)—First a group of German army instructors got stranded in Bulgaria en route to Iraq when their plane malfunctioned.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-german-military-struggles-hardware-problems.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

ACTIVIST INVESTOR PUSHES YAHOO TO BUY RIVAL AOL
(AP)—An activist investor is urging Yahoo to buy rival AOL to give the long-struggling Internet companies a better chance to compete against Google and Facebook in the digital advertising market.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-activist-investor-yahoo-rival-aol.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

GAMESTOP HIRES 25,000 SEASONAL WORKERS, UP 47 PCT
(AP)—Gamers rejoice: GameStop is almost doubling its number of seasonal workers this holiday season as it prepares to deal with strong demand for new video games and the new iPhone.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-gamestop-hires-seasonal-workers-pct.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

SAVING ENERGY IN SOCIAL HOUSING
Landlords should be helping their social-housing tenants improve the energy efficiency of their homes, according to research published in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development. Given that warmth is commonly the greatest need for such tenant, habit the greatest barrier and money the greatest motivator improvements to heating systems and advice on how to use them most efficiently and effectively are needed.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-energy-social-housing.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

SHIFT TOWARDS RENEWABLE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY FOR A SMARTER GRID
The partners in the FI-PPP FINESCE project are developing solutions to optimize the interoperability of the grid and manage variations of wind and solar power. The shift towards renewable energy imposes challenges on the supply and demand side.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-shift-renewable-energy-technology-smarter.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

INTEL INVESTS UP TO $1.5B IN CHINA MOBILE VENTURE
(AP)—Intel will pay up to $1.5 billion for a 20 percent stake in a Chinese venture that will design and make Intel-branded chips for mobile phones and other electronics.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-intel-invests-15b-china-mobile.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

MORE LEGAL WOES FOR RIDESHARE APP UBER IN GERMANY
(AP)—Popular ridesharing service Uber is facing more legal issues in Germany after a Berlin court upheld the capital's ban on the app.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-legal-woes-rideshare-app-uber.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

BLACKBERRY POSTS $207 MILLION LOSS
(AP)—BlackBerry posted a loss of $207 million in the second quarter on Friday just days after the embattled company launched a new phone.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-blackberry-million-loss.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES MAKES $335M UK PURCHASE
(AP)—Hospital operator Universal Health Services said Friday it acquired Cygnet Health Care of the U.K. for $335 million.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-universal-health-335m-uk.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter

PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE: NEW WORK ON FRICTION STIR WELDING
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have collaborated with a colleague at a leading Chinese university to produce a detailed appraisal of a complex new welding technique that could be increasingly valuable to modern industry.
Full story at http://phys.org/news/2014-09-materials-science-friction-welding.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter




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Android Phone Fans

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• Motorola Shamu (Nexus 6) photographed alongside the LG G3
• “Stone Leather” Moto 360 quietly creeps into Best Buy
• Moto X available tomorrow at Verizon, shipping begins for Pure Edition pre-orders
• Report: Samsung Galaxy Note Edge to be produced in limited quantities
• Droidcon NYC 2014 Recap: A developers paradise
• Deal: get a factory refurbished Chromecast for $15 via Groupon
• Samsung moving 500 engineers out of their mobile division to work on Tizen
• iOS gets two-week exclusive on Angry Birds Transformers

Motorola Shamu (Nexus 6) photographed alongside the LG G3 Posted: 25 Sep 2014 02:10 PM PDT It was only yesterday we saw a few noteworthy specs from the upcoming Motorola-made Nexus 6 (Nexus X) outlined in a new report. To help illustrate what we could be looking at when the device is officially unveiled later this year (nothing has been confirmed, of course) a quick mockup was made showcasing a really stretched out Moto X.  Having seen a Motorola phablet ourselves, we confirmed that the mockup was, for the most part, accurate. Today, the rumored Motorola Shamu — aka Nexus 6, Nexus X — seems to have made a physical appearance next to an LG G3 in a quick size comparison. The photo, posted on XDA, lines up with what we’ve seen of the device (only the one we peeped was all silver) and with a rumored 5.92-inch display, will look like an extremely tall version of the Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen). We told you more leaks would begin coming out of the woodwork as we approach the anniversary of the Nexus 5. Expect more to be revealed in the coming weeks.

“Stone Leather” Moto 360 quietly creeps into Best Buy Posted: 25 Sep 2014 12:04 PM PDT A new color option for the Moto 360 seems to have found its way to Best Buy’s store shelves. You can now order the Stone Leather version of the watch, which is a few shades of grey lighter than the original grey model. Everything else should be just as it’s always been on the Moto 360 — a circular smart watch with some questionable hardware inside. But oh, does it look so good. You can buy one from Best Buy’s site for the standard going price of about $250, and don’t forget to read our review to see whether or not it’s worth the money.

Moto X available tomorrow at Verizon, shipping begins for Pure Edition pre-orders Posted: 25 Sep 2014 11:06 AM PDT Looks like the Motorola Moto X is launching a lot sooner than expected. After we received evidence of a September 26th arrival, Verizon has officially announced that their version of Motorola’s 2014 flagship will be launching tomorrow. You’ll be able to snap up a 16GB Black XLTE model for just $99 on a new two-year contract, or — for a limited time — the white version with bamboo backing for the same price (that typically comes with a premium so it’s a pretty nice deal). Of course, you can always go through Moto Maker and customize your own 16GB or 32GB device for $99 or $149, respectively. Those prices all come with new two-year contracts, though you’re free to go the Verizon Edge or full off-contract route if you want. The Moto X is a very exciting device that Motorola hopes will get people excited about their name again. Yesteryear’s model of the same name was a bit lackluster in the specs department, though it provided a solid foundation for what you see today. We touched on all of that in our review, with Chris Chavez giving it a very nice 4.6/5 rating for keeping things simple, powerful, quick, easy and customizable. Be sure to give that a read and decide whether or not you want one when they become available tomorrow. Oh, and for those who pre-ordered the Pure Edition through Moto Maker? Those are beginning to ship out too, which is over two weeks ahead of Motorola’s original estimate. Be on the lookout for them starting as early as today. [via Verizon]

Report: Samsung Galaxy Note Edge to be produced in limited quantities Posted: 25 Sep 2014 09:55 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is one of Samsung’s most innovative ideas this year, but the company doesn’t want to go all in on an idea that might not pan out. According to ZDNet Korea, Samsung is considering the Note Edge a “limited edition release,” and as such they won’t be producing nearly as many units as they would for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. We’d already had suspicion that Samsung wasn’t going to look to produce this thing at the same rate as their two big yearly flagships despite heading to all four major United States carriers. It’s understandable of Samsung to approach this new lineup with caution. Not only is it unclear how the market will respond to this new idea, they probably don’t want to take any of the limelight away from the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the eve of its release. The timing of the latter situation is especially important considering they have a lot to respond to with Apple’s stellar iPhone 6 and 6+ launch. The launch pressured them so much that they decided to move the Note 4′s release date to tomorrow in South Korea, and promised to be in over 140 countries by the end of October. We can’t imagine it’ll be terribly hard to get your hands on a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge once they finally make their way to retail, but you’d better not lollygag too long or you might miss out. [via Neowin]

Droidcon NYC 2014 Recap: A developers paradise Posted: 25 Sep 2014 09:53 AM PDT So why the hell am I, Phandroid's Lead Android Developer, writing an article?  Some of you may not know this but I have a hidden talent writing technical documentation and spreading my passions through words.  In the future when I have something awesome to share with you; expect some erotic love novels featuring Android. Droidcon Droidcon is a global developer conference series and a network focusing on the best of Android.  Since 2009 I have been envious about Droidcon events taking place in other countries, which are just not practical for me to attend.  I love reading about the events and I am sure that this Phandroid Army — yes; that is a thing and you're enlisted — does as well.  So let's talk about this years phenomenal event, Droidcon NYC 2014 which was organized by Kevin Galligan and his company Touch Lab. This year was not only the first Droidcon NYC conference, but also the first major Android event that was able to take place in New York City.  To afford a venue that is located in the center of Manhattan, it requires a lot of money along with some "Platinum" sponsors.  Of course you can probably guess that Google is indeed a platinum sponsor but something that may take a lot of you by surprise, is the fact that Microsoft is as well.  If you visit Droidcon NYC, you will also see Gold, Silver, and bronze sponsors of familiar names such as Yahoo!, Sony, Etsy, along with some other big names. So many great speakers, company booths and free swag at this event; you could almost say it's like a mini Google I/O.  I gained more knowledge about Android Development this year by attending Droidcon NYC than when I attended Google I/O.  What???  Yes, it's true! Let me break it out for you… Google I/O has become /r/androidcirclejerk as to Droidcon is /r/androiddev.  I won’t include /r/Android since I managed to get banned for submitting too many Phandroid articles — sigh — but that could be another article that I will not even entertain the idea of writing. Inspiration The Keynote on the first day was a pretty awesome pep talk to start off the conference. Chris Haseman and Kevin Grant from Tumblr expressed some of their experiences with the development of the Tumbler app and how to create software with soul.  Creating software with soul is important for Android's future.  If you scratching your heads, let me explain a little what this means.  Rather than developers creating Android apps that provide a function, we also need to create apps that are polished.  It's those small features and unexpected UX pleasures that will make your apps stand out from the rest. Soul goes hand and hand with one of the most talked about topics right now; Material Design.  Material Design plays a huge role in the future of Android.  We all love to hear about Google’s new design language and I took advantage of sitting in on two different talks covering this topic alone. One of the Material Design talks was presented by Roman Nurik, a well known Android Developer Advocate at Google and recently my new buddy.  You can find most of what he covered at Google Design but I believe he provided a few more exciting details for us developers as well as answered some one on one questions.  Keep your eyes out for his slides as he told me he is currently working on getting them released.  I also believe TouchLab will be providing videos for some of the talks and I am confident this would be one of them. As I mentioned earlier, Yahoo was a sponsor this year and even provided a talk with the one and only Jean-Baptiste "JBQ" Quéru.  His talk was excellent as I learned a lot about Yahoo's inside decisions on how their products got to the point of where they are at today. JBQ also gave the hint that over the next few months we can expect to see a lot more getting published from Yahoo, which has me a little excited to check out.  I talked quite a bit with JBQ and he is an all around stellar dude.  I can’t even begin to express the inspiration you get from just a few hours hanging around these Android all stars.  I’m glowing, aren’t I?  Well, JBQ and I hit up the club at the after party; having an amazing time as you can see below. Photo Credit: Patrick Hill One company that stands out and I feel that I need to give a shout out to, is Square.  You won’t find Square listed on the sponsor list but you should in my opinion because they had a total of four different Android developers giving talks.  This included Jesse Wilson, Ray Ryan, Dimitris Koutsogiorgas and the amazing Jake Wharton.  Jake gets amazing because this guy is probably the most important contributor to open source libraries for Android. His claim to fame before Square was ActionBarSherlock, which you can still find in dozens of apps on Google Play.  If you are a developer or an Android Fanboy, you may already know Square from their superb contribution to open source.  The beauty of all their talks is the fact that they all complimented each other and lead right back to sharing everything with you as open source libraries.  They honestly have solutions for almost every needed angle that developers spend countless hours banging their heads trying to support. Summary In summary each and every speaker this year had great and resourceful information to share.  Keep in mind these events are not just for developers, but also designers. Designers play an important role in the finalized product that the developer creates. Google I/O I feel has too much non developer drama these days and I can’t thank Kevin Galligan and Touch Lab enough for organizing this amazing NYC event. If you missed the event you can find some of these presentation slides over at Speaker Deck and stay tuned to DroidCon NYC to find more pictures and videos of the events.

Deal: get a factory refurbished Chromecast for $15 via Groupon Posted: 25 Sep 2014 07:56 AM PDT Chromecast is already an incredibly cheap accessory that helps you watch content from your mobile phone or tablet on the big screen, and today you can have it for about as cheap as you’re ever going to find it. Groupon is selling refurbished Chromecast units for $25, and you can take an extra $10 off using the coupon code HAPPY10. The price is likely to come out to about $16 after taxes and all that jazz have been figured in, but it’s still a pretty nice deal for such a useful device. The “refurbished” tag might put some of you off, but there is a fair return policy and a standard one year warranty. And if all that fails? Well, it’s $15 — pretty much water under the bridge. Head to Groupon now to take advantage.

Samsung moving 500 engineers out of their mobile division to work on Tizen Posted: 25 Sep 2014 06:53 AM PDT Looks like Samsung is getting serious about the Internet of Things — that is, engineering consumer electronics that can work and communicate with each other through the glorious use of internet. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company has made the decision to move over 500 engineers out of their mobile division and into other areas of the company, including consumer electronics,  TVs, network, printers and enterprise software. What does this mean for their mobile software? We’re not entirely sure, but the move is being made to bolster their “competitive edge in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry and increase synergies for the Tizen platform.” That line initially makes it sound like they want to focus on Tizen more than Android, but what it really means is that they want to help grow Tizen into a central operating system that they can use on all their smart products going forward. We’ve seen them make the transition to the operating system for most of their smart watches so we’re not surprised they want to explore other areas for its use. As for the implications this move may have on their smartphone business? There might be none — Samsung’s Tizen efforts on smartphones simply aren’t going well. The Samsung Z, Samsung’s first Tizen phone, was delayed indefinitely after lack of consumer and developer interest, and there’s no telling if Samsung will ever look to explore the platform’s viability on smartphones down the line. We wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Samsung isn’t willing to make a drastic move and drift away from using the world’s most popular operating system for their flagship phones and tablets. That said, there’s no reason not to continue to build Tizen up by using it on products where the operating system used doesn’t make a clear difference.

iOS gets two-week exclusive on Angry Birds Transformers Posted: 25 Sep 2014 05:32 AM PDT We’re not surprised by now, but Rovio has announced that the Android version of Angry Birds Transformers won’t be hitting Google Play until October 30th. Why’s that bad news? Because the iOS version will be made available October 15th, a full 2 weeks in advance. Rovio would have you believe that this is due to them needing to optimize the game for tons of different Android devices compared to a few iOS devices, and while it may be true that Android games need more tender love and care due to the vast array of hardware, no other company of Rovio’s size seems to have any issues with simultaneous launches. I find it odd that Android has stormed in to become the most dominant mobile operating system over the last few years, yet it continues to be treated like a second-rate afterthought. Of course, if money (read: exclusivity deals) was the motive behind it then Rovio’s just being Rovio and Apple’s just being Apple: two big companies with the desire to make money and the willingness to do anything to make said money. If that’s not the case, well, Rovio needs to step into the current times and start treating Android like the leading OS it is. You can find the newly launched gameplay trailer up above as we await the game’s arrival. [via Rovio]

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