Posts

Showing posts from July, 2016

Crowdfunding project of the week: The Superbook turns your smartphone into a laptop

Image
Sunday is upon us and we are ready to feature a brand new ‘Crowdfunding project of the week’! In this article series we showcase some of the best crowdfunding campaigns from sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo , so let’s dig right into the goods. Other featured crowdfunding campaigns: Modobag is a luggage bag you can ride! Omnicharge battery pack Solos Smart Cycling Glasses This week we are taking a look at the Superbook, a laptop dock that aims to turn any Android smartphone into a full-fledged computer. But does it? Let’s start by saying this computer experience is built on Android, which will be a limitation to many. While Android has plenty of powerful applications, it doesn’t really work seamlessly as a desktop PC alternative. But if you can live with some sacrifices and need a truly mobile laptop, this may be a great option; as long as you’re not restricted to certain software and PC capabilities. In a nutshell… it is a nutshell. What I mean is that the Superbook works

SwiftKey suspends cloud syncing after data leak

Image
Reddit Talk about autocorrect fails: most of them are meant to be funny and awkward, but perhaps that’s not the case with the recent SwiftKey glitch. Earlier this week, some SwiftKey users started reporting that their keyboard was suggesting random foreign words and even unfamiliar email addresses. Awkward indeed. In response to the leak SwiftKey has suspended cloud syncing temporarily. Last weekend, a Reddit user posted a series of screenshots showing his SwiftKey keyboard doing something odd: despite being set to English, the keyboard was suggesting random German word predictions as well as a completely unfamiliar email address. Judging by the comments on this thread, this Reddit user wasn’t the only one plagued by the glitch. With personal words and phrases, email addresses, and phone numbers being synced to a stranger’s phone half-way across the world, this seemingly harmless bug potentially meant a huge security issue. See also: The best Android keyboards 178 SwiftKey r

Must read: top 10 Android stories

Image
This week we reviewed the ZTE Axon 7, talked about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, rounded up the best new Android apps and games, and much more. Here’s the news of the week. Who wants to win a Nexus 6P? The Nexus 6P is still one of the best Android phones on the market. Here’s how you can win one . 10 Android stories we handpicked for you ZTE Axon 7 review  A year after the mysterious Axon Pro, ZTE have launched the Axon 7 with a lot of upgrades and a $400 price tag. Is it the best affordable flagship around? BlackBerry DTEK50 hands-on: the Priv minus the keyboard, essentially  It’s been nearly a year since BlackBerry launched the PRIV running Android and now, they’re back again with the DTEK50. Is the phone as lame as its name? Moto Mods review: blast, power and project in a snap  Modularity is the name of the game and Josh takes a closer look at the Moto Mods – great ways to add more capabilities to the Moto Z range… at a price. The most iconic phone from each manufacturer  It

5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly

Image
Sponsored by: FreeMo [Price: Free] This week’s episode of the Android Apps Weekly show is brought to you by FreeMo! This is nifty little application that gives you credits that you can then use to lower your monthly cell phone payment. The process is pretty easy. You sign up for an account, engage with the surveys, videos, or other marketing stuff, and then you get credits. Once you earn so many credits, you can cash out and get a voucher for use on your cell phone plan. The app should work for all cell phone carriers as well as on prepaid and postpaid accounts. Earning credits really isn’t that difficult because most of the activities don’t require a ton of time. You’ll mostly be doing stuff like watching videos, download apps, and taking surveys. It’s a free download so give it a shot and show your support for Android Apps Weekly! Get it now on Google Play! Welcome to the 151st episode of the Android Apps Weekly show! Here are the headlines for this week: Facebook announced

Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – July 30, 2016

Image
The week is over and you can bet we’ve been keeping busy. But we know you can’t always be on the lookout for new videos, so every weekend we put together a list with the hottest ones. So what’s all new? The Android Authority team has updated the best apps and games lists. In addition, we had the opportunity to review the ZTE Axon 7, BLU R1 HD and even the all-new Segway miniPRO. We even had a chance to check out a brand new BlackBerry phone! There’s a lot to see, so let’s jump right in and show you this week’s videos. In the news: Nintendo shares plummet? Note 7 Leaks & Samsung responds to failed S7 Active Looking to catch up on the news? Jayce has put together a video talking about the hottest topics of the week. Maybe you would like to start there! He covers the craze on Nintendo not making Pokemon Go, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 leaks and more. Sit back and catch up on what matters. Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air: What You Need to Know Xiaomi is known for making great smartphones

Nexus 6P CaliCase International Giveaway!

Image
Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or  tablet each and every Sunday! A big congratulations to last week’s winners of the OnePlus 3 Giveaway: Chris S.  (Greece). This week we have teamed up with CaliCase to giveaway a  Nexus 6P  & 25 CaliCase Waterproof pouches ! Phones and water don’t mix well together and CaliCase is here to help keep you protected. With CaliCase you get: 2x protection – Double protection thanks to the 2 layers of PVC Plastic, most competitors use just 1. Floating –  No need to worry about your phone sinking to the bottom of the ocean. 16 fun colors –  Including the American Flag, Camo & glow in the dark. Available exclusively at Amazon you can pickup a CaliCase for $14.95. To celebrate the giveaway CaliCase is offering a 10% off coupon this week only, enter promo code: CALI1010 at checkout. Buy at Amazon Enter giveaway Nexus 6P CaliCase International Giveaway! Recent Winners Terms & Condition

Waze will soon remind you not to forget your kid in the car

Image
Drivers lose track of a lot of things, but it’s always hard to believe people are forgetting kids in their cars. One would think walking away from a baby you are always with would feel like walking outside with no shoes. You would instantly notice something is missing, right? It seems this issue is more common than one would think. According to San Jose State University’s  Department of Meteorology & Climate Science , kids forgotten in vehicles has been the cause of 23 infant deaths in the USA this year. It’s kind of a big deal, especially as the summer heat creeps up on us. This is why Waze wants to help a bit. The popular navigation app is getting ready to launch a feature that would remind users not to forget their kids every time they reach their destinations. These notifications can be personalized and are now available in Waze’s beta app. But of course, if people are forgetting their kids, nothing can assure they will be paying attention to their notifications. This is a

The Akyumen Holophone Phablet dual-boots Android and Windows 10, features a projector

Image
There’s no shortage of good smartphones in the market, but there is definitely a need for more unique devices. This is why our heads always turn when we see gadgets like the Akyumen Holophone Phablet (yes… they literally put the word “phablet” in the name). But that moniker is about the only bad thing this device seems to have. This phone is a one-of-a-kind in multiple ways, and it happens to be pretty powerful. For starters, it is bigger than even the biggest smartphones at 7 inches. It’s pretty much a tablet with cellphone capabilities. But that is only part of what makes this phone odd. This device can dual-boot both Android and Windows 10. No, not the mobile or simplified versions of Windows 10; full-on Windows 10. And you definitely don’t want to be using Windows 10 on  7-inch screen, so the manufacturer has added a 35-lumen, 720p pico projector that can display at up to 100 inches. Other specs include the following:  Windows 10 and Android Lollipop 7-inch 1080p display 72

Pokemon Go update: footprints gone, customizable avatars and more

Image
Tired of all those Pokemon Go bugs? Things are getting a little better with the latest update to version 0.31.0, which comes with a plethora of fixes and improvements. Some changes may be more welcomed than others, but at least we know Niantic Labs is working on improving the app. Here is the full change log:  Avatars can now be re-customized from the Trainer profile screen Adjusted battle move damage values for some Pokémon Refined certain Gym animations Improved memory issues Removed footprints of nearby Pokémon Modified battle damage calculation Various bug fixes during wild Pokémon encounter Updated Pokémon details screen Updated achievement medal images Fixed issues with displaying certain map features Minor text fixes Definitely one of the coolest changes is that we are now able to customize our avatars whenever we want. This was something we could only do when creating a profile, which meant users had to stick to their avatar and regret their decisions later. Now

Android 7.0 Nougat final release reportedly coming this August

Image
We’ve seen a lot of changes in the Android Developer Preview program since its inception in 2014 with Android L. While Lollipop only saw one developer preview, Android M would end up offering  three previews. With Android N , Google has upped its game even further, with the fifth and final preview of Android 7.0 Nougat arriving earlier this month . So what’s next for Android 7.0 and its release cycle? Typically final versions of Android don’t arrive until October, but with the aggressive development schedule we’ve seen with Nougat, we can’t help but wonder if the update will arrive a bit earlier this year. If Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) proves correct, the answer is “yes, it’s coming next month”. Android 7.0 releases next month, with the 8/5 security patch. Sorry Nexus 5 owners, no Nougat for you 😢 — Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 30, 2016 Further backing up Evan’s claims, a recent post on reddit claims one Nexus 6P user was accidentally pushed to Android 7.0 build NRD90M when a

Did Samsung get lazy with the Galaxy Note 7?

Image
When it comes to smartphone generations, history has proven that sticking to a tried-and-true formula doesn’t work. Consumers expect improvements on almost every front and there’s a huge backlash when these expectations are not met. Even when they are not even possible, the unwavering demand for the new, the improved, the better, is constant. With this in mind, and in the light of the extensive information we now have on the Galaxy Note 7  ahead of its official unveil, has Samsung reverted to its old ways? Is Samsung in for a painful reminder that last year’s design, yesterday’s specs and an outgrown approach to features are a recipe for disaster? See also: Another Galaxy Note 7 leak: iris scanner setup, S Pen and edge features 221 To give you the back story, the Galaxy Note 7 as it has been leaked is exceedingly – and problematically – familiar. It looks near identical to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which themselves look a lot like the Note 5 and Galaxy S6. Most of the features

10 best new Android games of June 2016!

Image
Android gaming is getting bigger and better every month it seems and there is always a slew of new titles coming to Google Play. Whether you’re a casual gamer or you want something with a beat more meat on its bones, there’s usually a game coming out to suit everyone’s taste. Let’s take a look at the best new Android games from the last month! Best New Android apps from the last month Best Android games of 2016 Borderlands 2 [Price: $14.99] Borderlands 2 was released for Android this month but it should be noted that it was released solely for Android TV and the Nvidia Shield Console. In this port, you’ll get the classic Borderlands 2 experience in every way and the port is fairly faithful. On top of the regular game, this port also includes new characters, new classes, new areas to explore, and more additional content. It’s a bit lame that it’s only for Android TV or the Shield Console, but if you have one of those, this is probably worth the $14.99 price tag. Get it now on G

10 best new Android apps of June 2016

Image
App developers are pushing the envelope on a daily basis trying to improve and enhance our smartphone and tablet experiences. In fact, so many Android apps come out every day that it’s difficult to keep track of them all. It’s difficult to usurp the best of the best but if you’re getting bored with what you’ve got and want to try something new, check out the best new Android apps from the last month! Best New Android games from the last month! Best Android apps, ever! Bitly [Price: Free] Bitly, one of the most popular link-shortening websites on the Internet, released their official application this month. With it, you can shorten links quickly straight from your mobile device and share them easily wherever you need to. The app also includes various analytics so you can see how many clicks your links get, who is clicking them, and more. It’s wrapped up in Material Design, it’s easy to use, and it’s completely free. The only downside is that you have to make an account to use i