Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Camera test: Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 versus the iPhone 6 Plus
Samsung's new Galaxy S6 is the most impressive phone the company has ever made, and a large part of that is thanks to its new camera. It's fast, reliable, and takes great photos. It's easily the best camera on any Android phone ever. But how does it compare to the iPhone 6 Plus, the reigning champ of smartphone photography?
To find out, we put the S6 head to head with the iPhone 6 Plus to see how it fared in a variety of situations. As it turns out, the S6 can hang: it's very close to the iPhone in terms of image quality and detail. The S6 shots are a little warmer, but not offensively so, and the two phones handle low-light a bit differently.
On the whole, the S6 holds its own against the iPhone, and we wouldn't hesitate for a second...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1aeU146
Living life on the S6 Edge
Samsung is back atop the Android throne with its new Galaxy S6. The hotly contested title for Android’s best was more open than ever last year, with credible contenders from Sony, Motorola, and HTC, but 2015 is starting out with Samsung clearly in the ascendancy. And the Korean company is doing it with not one, but two phones: the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. The two share a nigh-identical spec sheet, a new (for Samsung) metal frame construction, and an all-glass back and front. However, they are definitely not the same. The Edge’s screen wraps around its sides, giving it an instantly recognizable, futuristic look and the potential to do a few things that flat-screened phones just can’t match.
For the comprehensive account of how and...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1NzBEmI
Samsung Galaxy S6 review
It’s not ok to make a cheap-looking phone anymore.
Now that Apple is finally making big phones, and even the cheapest Android phones feel nice, we all expect more from Samsung — and rightly so. A flagship phone has to be great or it’s going to get laughed out of the room. If the Galaxy S6 was another plasticky, boring phone like last year’s Galaxy S5 or if it merely introduced a few hardware tricks, it would have gotten laughed out of the entire neighborhood.
There is a version of the phone with a hardware trick, the Galaxy S6 Edge with a curved display. But that’s a distraction; the real story is that Samsung needed to learn that hardware prowess and software features are tools you use to build something great, not ends in...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1NDw0C0
WhatsApp voice calls now work on Android
If you've been sitting, wishing and waiting for your Android handset to let you make free data-based calls, then today's your lucky day. Our chums over at Engadget Spanish have discovered that WhatsApp's long-promised voice calling is now available t...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1Dlb3Zv
Friday Smart Lock offers more ways to match your decor
There's a growing number of smart locks out there, but if design's as important to you as feature set, this one could be of interest. The device is called Friday Smart Lock, and it can be unlocked remotely through its accompanying iOS or Android app....Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1NyPeqg
Where to buy HTC's One M9 in the UK
This year's MWC trade show was unquestionably headlined by mobile heavyweight duo HTC and Samsung. Not only did they both have fresh VR headwear to show off, but they arrived in Barcelona with new Android flagships in hand, too. Samsung's Galaxy S6 a...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1CHh5mv
Monday, March 30, 2015
Gmail for Android puts all your accounts in a single inbox
Flipping between your multiple email accounts in Gmail has always been a bit of a pain, especially on mobile devices but that changes today with the release of Google's new "All Inboxes" option for Gmail's Android app. It does exactly what it sounds ...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/19spuPo
Google Drive offers access to your Google+ photos
Google isn't wasting much time acting on its promise to divvy up Google+ into individual services. As hinted earlier, an updated version Google Drive on Android, iOS and the web now offers access to your Google+ photos. The unified cloud storage appr...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1ytKIm1
Finally, Gmail's Android App Can Show All Your Accounts In One Inbox
Gmail just got a lot better on Android devices. Finally, after years of gripes, you can finally look at all of your email accounts at once with a new unified inbox. It even looks prettier, too!
Source: Gizmodo http://j.mp/1NvwXKK
You can now view Google+ photos and videos in Drive
Starting today, Google is making it possible to view photos and videos backed up with the Google+ apps for iPhone and Android in Google Drive. Previously, the only way to view those photos and videos was within Google+ itself. The photos and images stored will be available in a new section of the Drive apps for iOS, Android, and the web.
This change is the first fruit of Google splitting Google+ up into various parts, which started earlier this month. Many have said that the best part of Google+ is its photo and video tools, which offer easy backups from mobile, powerful editing tools, and smart automatic enhancements. Making those photos and tools available in Google Drive, which is a much more broadly used app, will likely be...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1OQYslh
Review: HTC One M9
The new One looks the same as the last, but it has a new camera, some more intelligent software, and an incredible number of customization options.
The post Review: HTC One M9 appeared first on WIRED.
Source: WIRED » Reviews http://j.mp/1Mosr5h
Apple now lets you trade in old Android phones for credit toward an iPhone
Apple is making it a little bit easier to switch to an iPhone: with a change to its trade-in program today, customers will now be able to hand over old Android, BlackBerry, and Windows phones to receive a discount toward a new iPhone. Previously, Apple only accepted old iPhones. The program is starting at Apple Stores today in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, and Italy. As with other trade-in programs, a phone will still have to have some value to it in order to receive credit. There doesn't appear to be any hard and fast rules, but smartphones in good shape from the past couple of years are likely to qualify.
Apple began accepting trade-ins in 2013, though it's never completely operated the program on its own. The program is run...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1CDjX3Z
BET brings live broadcasts to its iOS and Android apps
Nowadays, most TV networks offer live and on-demand content through mobile apps, including their own and those from service providers like Time Warner Cable, Dish and DirecTV. Today, just as ABC and others have done, BET is set to start broadcasting ...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1NtYDiY
Friday, March 27, 2015
Vine now supports high-definition videos
Vines are about to start looking a bit nicer. Over the "coming days," the Vine app will start to roll out support for higher quality videos — Vine's blog post suggests that it's bumping the resolution of each video up from 480p to 720p, which is a decent improvement. Of course, the videos still look somewhat compressed so that they can be quickly loaded on mobile, but it's an important jump nonetheless. On iOS, it sounds like new Vines will immediately start uploading in high def. As for Android, you guessed it: the feature is coming "soon."
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1GxjUs4
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Google brings data compression from mobile Chrome to PCs
Google has offered an option to reduce the amount of data Chrome uses on Android and iOS for a while, and now it's rolled out an extension to do the same for desktop users. Just like the mobile option, it works by compressing the data on Google's ser...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1HQtlkD
Amazon Cloud Drive now stores unlimited files for $60 per year
Amazon thinks it has a way to entice you away from the likes of Dropbox or Google Drive: real, honest-to-goodness unlimited internet storage. It just launched two Cloud Drive plans that let you upload as much as you like, with the primary difference ...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1E6riuG
Beatport's streaming service for dance music arrives on iOS and Android
There are more music streaming apps than the world needs. But there hasn't really been a streamlined experience for electronic dance music listeners until now. Most of the popular apps -– Spotify, 8tracks and Pandora -– have a plethora of dance music...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1E64UBN
Google Keep makes to-do lists easier to find with labels
If you're the type who maintains a massive amount of to-do lists and notes, you likely need a system to organize the things that keep you, well, organized. That's probably why Google has introduced labels for its Keep note-taking app on Android. It's...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1HM5W3I
Google makes it easier for Android users to view custom maps
A custom map you've created for a trip is only useful if you can access it when you need it. Thankfully, Google's bringing back My Maps integration with Android, so it's now easier to view your personalized files on mobile. As you might know, you can...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1FJZvRh
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Bits Blog: Hackers Use an Android App for Sex Extortion
Source: NYT > Technology http://j.mp/1HAsyHK
Cats Using Instagram, and Everything Else You Missed Yesterday
Cats posting to Instagram, Microsoft invading Android tablets, LG's goes metal on the G4. This is all the news and rumors from the past 24 hours, all on BitStream.
Source: Gizmodo http://j.mp/1y0DFBh
Monday, March 23, 2015
Bits Blog: Microsoft Partners With Android Makers in Latest Mobile Push
Source: NYT > Technology http://j.mp/1xXwz0f
Facebook wants to replace your Android phone's dialer
Facebook isn't done trying to replace your Android phone's software just because Home fizzled out. Android Police tipsters have spotted the social network testing a dialer app that would not only show more info about who's calling, but stop calls fro...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1BaBaO4
Samsung will be bundling even more Microsoft apps on Android tablets
Only a few weeks after Samsung revealed it's preinstalling Microsoft's apps on the upcoming Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the two companies are getting even closer. Microsoft just announced that Samsung will also be bundling its Office apps, Skype, and OneD...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1DPt5nP
Instagram built a brand-new app to make photo collages
If you've spent any time on Instagram over the last few years, you've almost certainly noticed the proliferation of collage pictures — even though Instagram's default image size is rather small, users often take several photos and mash them together using third-party apps before posting them. Instagram has noticed this trend — the company says that one in five of the app's 300 million monthly active users post collages — and it led the company to build Layout, its second standalone app, which launches today for iOS. (An Android version is due in the next few months.)
Like Hyperlapse before it, Layout is focused on making one thing as simple as possible — in this case, building photo collages that are easily exported to Instagram. As...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1C4W0Ry
Dell Venue 8 7000 review: thin design, great screen, gimmicky camera
Engadget doesn't review many tablets anymore. When it comes to Android devices, we're far more likely to write about phablets, those supersized smartphones that for many people have eliminated the need for a dedicated slate. Meanwhile, iPad sales hav...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1Hqjjq0
The Perfect Android Keyboard for Just Barely Keeping in Touch
Cool. Nice. Damn. lollollollollollollollollol. ⊙_⊙ oh, hmm. ⊙﹏⊙. K, thks ツ ❤
Source: Gizmodo http://j.mp/1Ikoysi
Android's New Security Trick, and Everything Else You Missed Yesterday
Android gets more secure (kind of), Google builds an Ebola tablet, and OnePlus goes gaming, maybe. This is all the news and rumors you missed over the weekend, and it's all on BitStream.
Source: Gizmodo http://j.mp/1Ik2ZIw
Google's Nexus Player officially hits the UK on March 26th for £80
Google successfully invaded living rooms everywhere with its simple and cheap Chromecast dongle, and late last year announced its next product bound to the big screen: the Nexus Player. Running the TV-friendly version of Android OS, it does everythin...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1HrX46D
First Click: the new HTC is such a letdown
Reading reviews of the One M9 can be agonizing to anyone who fondly remembers HTC’s glory days. Here's Dan Seifert’s take on the company’s newest flagship: “For the third year in a row, it has show-stopping flaws, which bring the great experience you’re having to a screeching halt.” It's a view universally echoed by Android Central , Engadget , Gizmodo , AnandTech , and others. Ugh.
Pre-iPhone, HTC built some of the most compelling smartphones beyond the hallowed halls of Nokia. (Remember the HTC Wizard, Hermes, or Kaiser?) The industry greeted HTC handset announcements with the same attention afforded Apple today. Post-iPhone, it was HTC that provided a premium home to early versions of Android with devices like the Hero and Incredible,...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1N5HT1n
Sunday, March 22, 2015
HTC One M9 review
Déjà vu (noun): a feeling that one has seen or heard something before
I’ve spent the better part of the last two weeks with HTC’s new One M9. It’s the latest flagship from the once-powerful smartphone maker and the successor to last year’s One M8. The M9 is exceptionally similar to its forebear: it’s nearly all aluminum, has a 5-inch, 1080p screen, has really loud speakers above and below that screen, and is unmatched in build quality, craftsmanship, and design in the Android world.
The M8 was a great smartphone — it was beautiful and fast and featured inoffensive software, great sound, and a sharp screen. The M9 has all of those traits, but it’s also been specifically designed to right the M8’s two major faults: a finish that was too...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1CeS9CN
HTC One M9 Review: A Great Phone That Can't Keep Up
Everyone loves an underdog. They're new, exciting, and upset expectations. In 2013, the HTC One M7 brought that incredible disruptive energy to smartphones, and the following year's M8 ran neck and neck with the best you could buy. Now, with the M9, the One is no longer an underdog—but it's not exactly leading the Android pack, either.
Source: Gizmodo http://j.mp/1EBDA9u
Saturday, March 21, 2015
TuneIn brings internet radio to your Android Auto-ready car
If you're part of the fortunate group that can use Android Auto now that it's up and running on Pioneer head units, you may be looking for fresh internet audio sources to keep you entertained during your commute. Well, TuneIn is happy to oblige -- th...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1Bl9XHo
BBM Protected users can chat securely with friends on Android and iOS
While BBM Protected has been keeping enterprise users' chats secure since last year, it only used to work if it's installed on both parties' phones. Now, though, the feature can keep convos secure even if only one of the chatters has it. In fact, the...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1IbMSfV
Your Android phone will soon stay unlocked while you're holding it
If you're frustrated that your smartphone locks while it's still in your hands, Google may soon come to your rescue. A handful of Android Police readers report that their Lollipop-equipped phones' Smart Lock security now includes "on-body detection,"...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1AWOMMP
Friday, March 20, 2015
Vector smartwatches promise a 30-day battery life
Tag Heuer's Android Wear device wasn't the only smartwatch at this year's Baselworld. Other devices were also shown and launched during the annual luxury watch fair in Switzerland, including the new Vector Watch. It's slated to come out in two differ...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1CGv5yV
UN Women pulls out of Uber's million-woman employment scheme
The hits just keep coming for Uber this week, unfortunately they're mostly in the form of gut punches. First, police forces in both South Korea and France raided Uber offices in their respective countries. Then, later that same day, a Frankfurt court...Source: Engadget RSS Feed http://j.mp/1Bexyd1
10 Things You Can Do in Android 5.1 That You Couldn't Before
Android 5.1 isn't one of those massive life-changing releases that'll have you tapping the 'look for updates' button frenetically for days on end; but nor is it one of those minor upgrades with only bug fixes and technical improvements. Here are the cool new features you're going to get with the new Android—once it eventually arrives on your phone.
Source: Gizmodo http://j.mp/1xFZPsm
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Android Wear can now help you find your lost phone
Running around the house trying to find your phone is basically a thing of the past, at least if you have some battery life left. The same tools from Apple, Google, and Microsoft designed to curb theft can also make your phone ring, even if it's silenced. The only rub is having to make your way to a computer, or using someone else's phone to do it. Google's taken that extra step out of the equation as long as you have an Android Wear device. A new update introduced to Google's Android Device Manager app lets you say "Ok, Google. Start. Find my phone," into your Android Wear device and your Android phone will start ringing at full volume. You can also enable the tracker by tapping a new "Find my phone" option that shows up in the Start...
Source: The Verge - All Posts http://j.mp/1Gwxx8y
Bits Blog: Google and Intel to Team Up with TAG Heuer on a Luxury Smartwatch
Source: NYT > Technology http://j.mp/1DCYObI