Androidifying

We use so many applications nowadays, it can be hard to keep them all straight. Now Google is making it much easier to find specific content within each one of your apps. Today Google has unveiled a new search mode called In Apps, which will allow you to quickly find information within apps on your Android phone. To access it, just navigate to the Google app on your phone, tap the In Apps tab, then start searching. Here are a few examples of how the In Apps feature might be useful: Find your contacts and messages . Easily find the friend you want to catch up with, or the name of the new sushi place that your friend told you about last month — just search for [sushi] and find the message. Listen to your favorite running song or watch that sneezing panda video for the 15th time — all in one place. Stay organized with your tasks and notes. Want to check off items on your grocery list? No problem, just search for [groceries]. The new In Apps feature already works with Gmail,

Samsung has launched a new version of the Gear VR, but the first generation is still a great buy if you want to try out virtual reality on the cheap. Today, you can get it for even cheaper. Amazon has a Gold Box Deal of the Day on the Gear VR, that makes it available for just $59.99. That’s 40% off the list price, though since early August the headset has been hovering around $70 to $80 on Amazon. The first-gen Gear VR is compatible with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Galaxy S6, and Galaxy S6 Edge. As for the apps and games? It’s the same library and store you’d get with the newer model, powered by Oculus. That means you’re really not missing out on anything with the older model, though the field of view is a bit lower and the original Gear VR’s built-in controllers aren’t quite as refined. Gear VR FAQ Best Gear VR games What do you think, is this one worth picking up? For those that already own the Gear VR, would you recommend it to others?

Geekbench is one of the most popular benchmark tests around for mobile devices, and since it is a cross-platform test, Geekbench’s data base of results is quite impressive. Some may also know Geekbench as the home of many a leak, with many upcoming smartphones showing up on the data base, leading to a lot of speculation, and offering some key information on the specifications and performance of these unreleased devices. To keep up with the ever changing CPU and GPU technology, the developers of Geekbench have updated the app to include new CPU tests that model real-world tasks and applications. These updated tests are designed to accurately evaluate CPU performance, and every test is “multi-core aware,” allowing for the benchmark test to measure the full potential of the device CPU. Geekbench 4 also includes new GPU compute tests, that help you know the processing power of the GPU of your mobile device. From an aesthetic point of view, the app has also been updated and now features

ASUS is going nuts over at IFA 2016, in Berlin. Their Windows selection is stunning, but Android tablet lovers are getting some love too. Enter the ASUS ZenPad 3S 10, a 9.7-inch gadget that is meant for media consumption. But… isn’t every tablet pretty much built with media in mind? Well, the ZenPad 3S 10 has some tricks that will make it stand out from the competition. Let’s look at the specs first. ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 specs: 9.7-inch QXGA (2048 by 1536) display Hexa-core MediaTek 8176 processor 4 GB of RAM Up to 64 GB of internal storage (microSD support up to 128 GB) Fingerprint sensor 5,900 mAh battery Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 5.8mm of thickness We know some of you may not be huge fans of that MediaTek processor (I am not either), but the chip maker swears by it and claims it can get AnTuTu scores over 50,000. We will have to wait and see how it performs at the showfloor! Regardless, that is not really what ASUS is selling. Aside from sporting a gorgeous screen, ASUS T

The smartwatch market has seriously been heating up as of late. Just yesterday, wrist-wear staple Fossil just launched two devices poised to carve out a position in the US market. Not to be outdone, tech titan ASUS is launching their ZenWatch 3 , a slick Android Wear device that interacts neatly with both Android and iOS devices. The ZenWatch 3 picks up where it’s predecessors left off. It’s a round offering that’s built from solid 316L stainless steel, which gives it a luxurious heft and premium feel. This device neatly strides that balance between much-needed screen size and convenient wearability with it’s 1.39-inch AMOLED screen. ASUS is providing a number of strap choices, so whether you prefer leather or metal, you’ll be right at home. The best smartwatches The best Android Wear watches Under the hood, the ZenWatch 3 is no slouch. It runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, and boasts the patented “HyperCharge” technology that lets it recharge with surprising spe

The beta version of Google Maps , bringing it to version 9.36.0, has been updated with a few interesting and useful features, and those not signed up for the beta program can get some idea of what updates to expect with the stable version in the near future. These new features include an easier way to set up avoiding tolls, ferries, and highways on your route, nearby traffic notifications, and the ability to create custom lists if you are signed up as a Local Guide. Before the start of every road trip, you have to manually set the options for avoid tolls, highways, or ferries, on your route, and unfortunately, there is no way to save these settings for future trips. However, with the latest update, Google has made it a touch easier to set these options. Now, you will be able to tap on the microphone and say “avoid tolls,” and similarly for highways and ferries, to set them. Until an option to have them always saved appears, this is a nice way to make these selections faster. “Traf

At IFA in Berlin today, Acer announced its new Chromebook R13 model, which boasts both a touchscreen and a foldable design. Notably, this is the first 13-inch convertible Chromebook , which is sure to please those who have been waiting for a larger display size touchscreen. The hardware is pretty much what you would expect from a modern Chromebook. The R13 features a 13-inch 1080p LCD panel, 4GB of RAM, a USB Type-C port with USB 3.0 speeds, an HDMI output, Bluetooth, and a 720p webcam. The laptop is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT8173C and promises up to 12 hours of battery life. The Chromebook R13 will be available in 16, 32, and 64GB storage options. The R13’s display can be flipped around 360 degrees to transform the laptop into a tablet, or can be partially folded to act as a stand. The display panel features 10 point touch capabilities, which will be handy for pinching and swiping through apps. Touchscreens aren’t that important for Chrome OS just yet, but these f