Home Blog Page 1183

HTC One M10 launch date said to have slipped to finalize redesign

1

Time to churn that rumor mill. HTC has been on the news quite a bit lately, due to speculation that Google selected the Taiwanese manufacturer for not just one, but two Nexus phones this year. But in more relevant HTC news right now is the Spring 2016 refresh of its flagship, the One M10.

We’ve gotten our first report of what the specs might be. Not only that, but it appears that the M10 is not going to be ready for prime time by the usual time-frame near Mobile World Congress (the biggest mobile event of the year, held in Barcelona every February). A Chinese tech reporting site, IT Home, has said that the launch date has slipped slightly into April (with a March announcement) because of an ambitious redesign and unready prototypes.

Concept HTC One M10
Concept HTC One M10 (unofficial)

We don’t have any confirmation that this is truth, but it would make sense for HTC to be pushing a compelling design after its underwhelming delivery with the One M9 (and mediocre reception from the market). I, for one, cannot wait to see what the manufacturer is doing in order to stand out. Part of the redesign is said to do with IP78-grade water/dust-proofing of the new chassis.

As far as specs, the M10 is said to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 820 SoC (no surprise there). The primary camera will be a 23MP sensor (from 20MP on the M9) and the battery will also be bumped up, to 3,000mAh. And like the manufacturer’s recent One A9 midranger, the fingerprint scanner will be on the front (Home key).

Assuming these latest developments are the real deal, what do you think? I wouldn’t mind if HTC takes a little longer to iron things out, especially if the One M10 is going to be the comeback we’ve been waiting for. It’s only one month longer anyways.

ExpressVPN is the finest VPN out there (App Review)

If you’re constantly on the go and connecting to public WiFi hotspots, security should be of concern to you. Connecting to unknown networks can put you and your personal data at risk, as there may be malicious users intercepting your traffic. The best way to overcome this is to simply use a VPN, which redirects your connection through a different server, therefore making it virtually impossible to see what traffic is passing through.

One of these VPN services is ExpressVPN. With servers all over the world, they offer a secure connection no matter where you are. You can use it for several different reasons. In fact, I’m using it as I write this up to help alleviate Internet problems. How does it stack up?

Setup

Upon installing the app, you are required to either sign into an existing account or to create an account. Once past that, the nice gentle user interface greets you. After you select your server location (from over 100 cities worldwide), you’re swiftly connected to the VPN.

There’s a fair range of nifty settings thrown in, like the ability to auto-launch on boot.

ExpressVPN is not a free service, so it does makes sense to have a profile. Furthering on that, there is a three-day free trial period. If you do purchase a package, there is a 30-day money back process if you want your dollars back. However, it’s likely you would not want a refund in the first place.

Features

Previously when I used a VPN, my connection was noticeably slower with a long ping time. The experience wasn’t usually satisfactory. With ExpressVPN, however, I often forgot that I was even using it in the first place. I can partly owe this to the fact that I was using a local server about 400 miles away.

Fast, efficient and quietly running in the background: just how a VPN should be. No annoying adverts or constant notifications, either.

The app itself is rather pleasing. Nothing major, but clean, stable and easy to use.

The service is also available on iOS and Windows, where you can log into the same account and use your subscription. The iPad app is pretty sweet to be honest.

image

Final Thoughts

ExpressVPN is, in short, is one of the, if not the, best VPN available. Not just on Android, but on all platforms. I quite liked the simplicity of it, something that I’d like from an app of this nature.

It is a bummer that it is a premium service, but you get what you pay for. Which, in this case, is something really good. Three pricing tiers are available. You can check out their website here and download the app here.

Cricket tempts switchers by slashing phone prices

8

Cricket Wireless today announced its latest campaign designed to attract customers currently subscribed to other carriers.

Starting from January 22 and running for a limited time, the prepaid provider will slash prices on a number of its smartphones if you agree to port your number to Cricket. To qualify, customers must simply pick a rate plan at $40 per month or higher.

Although new subscribers get the benefit of a deeply discounted handset, current Cricket users can also score some pretty good prices on devices, too.

Pricing for current Cricket subscribers

  • Samsung Galaxy S6 – $500
  • Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 – $130
  • ZTE Grand X Max  – $150
  • HTC Desire 626s – $110
  • LG G Stylo – $160
  • HTC Desire 520 – $70
  • Kyocera Hydro View – $60
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime – $80
  • ZTE Overture 2 – $40
  • ZTE Sonata 2 – $20

Pricing for subscribers who port in phone to Cricket

  • Samsung Galaxy S6 – $400
  • Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 – $110
  • ZTE Grand X Max  – $100
  • HTC Desire 626s – $90
  • LG G Stylo – $60
  • HTC Desire 520 – $50
  • Kyocera Hydro View – $40
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime – $30
  • ZTE Overture 2 – $20
  • ZTE Sonata 2 – $1

Cricket Wireless is a prepaid service provider that utilizes AT&T’s network.

Here's how to bring Sony credentials to the Xperia Z5 with an unlocked bootloader

0

Sony has always made it pretty easy to unlock the bootloader of their Xperia devices to allow custom recovery and ROMs to be installed, but the act of doing so came at a cost. During the process of unlocking the bootloader, Sony’s DRM protected features were lost because the unlocking process deleted the keys to unlock the DRM.

Among those features lost at the cost of an unlocked bootloader included Sony’s X-Reality feature, noiseless camera algorithm, and audio noise cancelling feature, which would be disabled when the DRM keys were erased. The cost of losing these features was enough to deter many from leaving the Sony Xperia bootloader intact, especially on the newly released Xperia Z5.

Fortunately for Sony Xperia Z5 owners, XDA member tobias.waldvogel has found a way not to restore the keys, but simulate them to allow the features to think the keys are still present and unlock the DRM features. It has been confirmed by numerous users that this workaround is able to bring back Sony-specific apps to the Xperia Z5, including the camera algorithms on a custom ROM.

All you have to do to get this workaround is head on over to the source link and flash a ZIP file (at your own risk) and you’ll have those features back in no time. It’s available for the Sony Xperia Z5, Z5 Compact, and Z5 Premium.

SOURCE: XDA

Explore Mount Blanc with Google Street View

0

In Google’s quest to map the entire world with their street view technology to allow people sat at their computers to see the far ends of the globe, their latest achievement is mapping Mount Blanc.

It’s called the Monarch of Mountains and is one of Europe’s highest peaks, surrounded by cloud and snowfields, and now you can get a 360-degree look at Mount Blanc right in Google Maps.

[blockquote author=””]we partnered with world-renowned alpine photographers, skiers, mountaineers, climbers, and runners to collect Street View of Western Europe’s highest peak.[/blockquote]

The footage was captured whilst running the summit with Kilian Jornet, who holds the record for ascending and descending Mount Blanc in just 4 hours 57 minutes. Also accompanying the team were alpine-climber Ueli Steck, Laetitia Roux, and famed guide Patrick Gabarrou.

You can check out the street view here and read more about the journey right here.

Possible follow up to the popular Zenfone 2 tipped in benchmark scores

0

The Asus Zenfone 2 was one of the most popular budget phones released in 2015. It’s a staff favorite here at AndroidGuys for its price for performance ratio. There were plenty of variants of the original Zenfone 2 released like the Zenfone 2 Max, Zenfone 2 Lazer, Zenfone 2 Delux… And now we may be getting our first peek at what Asus has in store for us in 2016.

asus_zenfone_2

An Asus device with the model number Z012D has appeared on GFXBench and has revealed the hardware in what appears to be the Zenfone 3. The Z012D features what appears to be a Snapdragon 650 processor, which was previously known as the Snapdragon 620 processor before a name change. It’s a hexa-core chip clocked at 1.7GHz. Also on board are 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and a 1080P screen with Android 6.0 in tow.

Another device, this one with the model number Z010DD was also benchmarked, and appears to be the Zenfone 3’s little brother. This model will have a 5.9″ 720P screen, octa-core 1.5GHz processor, and Android 6.0.

We’re expecting to see Asus’ new lineup of phones in May and should see them stay in the same price bracket of between $150 – $300.

[graphiq id=”9Aa8U0N39Bj” title=”Asus ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML)” width=”600″ height=”403″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/9Aa8U0N39Bj” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/2573/Asus-ZenFone-2-ZE551ML” link_text=”Asus ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) | SpecOut”]

Source: PocketNow

Google App gets updated to version 5.8.50.16 APK Download

4

What is it?

Google has quietly pushed an update to their official Google App on Android to bring it to version 5.8.50.16. The Google App is the backbone on Android to bring the Google Now functionality to your device, so any update to the App is usually an enhancement to the service.

• Quickly search the web and your phone or tablet
• Use your voice to search and more
• Get personalized results based on your location

What it brings?

This particular update to the Google App doesn’t list a whole lot of new features, other than the usual speed and reliability improvements. Usually quiet updates like this introduce hidden features that are currently disabled and ready for future deployment. I’ve found through testing that this does seem to improve the battery drain of the Google App on the device, so it’s definitely worth grabbing.

How to get it?

For those new at installing apps and updates manually via APK files, it is very simple process. The benefits of installing manually include not having to wait for the automatic update to hit your phone via the Google Play Store. First, you’ll download the APK file by hitting the button below, and this will download the file to your phone. Once downloaded, tap the file to bring up the installation prompt. You can read the app permissions if applicable and then tap ‘Install’. The app is now ready to use!

Google App 5.8.50.19 Download

The super affordable 1byone Bluetooth 4.1 wireless in-ear headphones are worth every dollar(Accessory review)

I have been fortunate to work with 1byone and have reviewed quite a few of its products, and have even set up giveaways of those products for you readers. 1byone is based in China and mainly sells through Amazon.com, so the products aren’t what you would find on the shelves of Best Buy and Target. That does give it a leg up where 1byone can save money through spending less on advertisements, and that is reflected in the prices of all of the products they offer.

1byone recently sent me the latest Bluetooth wireless headphones they are offering and they have been nothing short of impressive.

1byone sport

1byone Bluetooth Sport Earphones design

1byone isn’t a brand you’ve seen in stores. They became more mainstream last year and have been on a growth tear since. 1byone’s latest offering in the Bluetooth Wireless Sport Earphones are another product in a long line of high quality, durable and reasonably priced items worth taking a look at.

The Bluetooth earbuds are exceptionally well built, a build quality that I’ve seen in other well established brands such as Jabra. Like most wireless earbuds, the 1byone Sport earphones are made from a glossy plastic with a flat, rubberized and anti-tangle cable that connects both earbuds. In line between the earbuds is a remote control and microphone built in. My version is also a bright green/yellow that makes my head a little more visible when I am out walking or jogging. It may be a feature that is overlooked by most, but I am usually out when it is dark in the morning and evenings. Any added visibility is a bonus for me.

Included in the box are three sets of super comfortable silicone ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes which should cover 99% of the population. There are also ear flanges that slide over the outside of the earbuds that keep them from falling out of your ears while working out. The battery housing is built into the headphones so there is nothing to hang on your neck. Overall the design is quite similar to wireless earbuds twice its price.

 

Usage

1byone sport (1)

I am a huge fans of anything audio related, especially headphones and earbuds. I have always loved music since the days I could make my own mix-tapes, and when mp3 players came out I have probably logged over 5k hours of listening to music through headphones and earbuds.

The 1byone Wireless Sport Earphones are noticeably a little on the large size. If you have small ears, you will not like these for they will not fit well. If you have normal to large ears the size shouldn’t cause an issue, but the design is more on par with wireless sets from 2014. In 2015 manufacturers worked out the comfort and form factors, but for $43 it’s hard to pick on 1byone for this enclosure size. I have used others in the same price range that are twice as large and twice as uncomfortable. Nonetheless, if you have small ears look for a different style wireless headset.

I could get the 1byone wireless earbuds to fit comfortably with the medium sized tips and ear fins which keep them in place versus using an ear hook. There are quite a few sport earbuds that use ear fins, and while they are comfortable, I prefer the ear hook style as that is simply what I am used to.

Once the earbuds were secure and properly fit, a must for any in-ear style headphones, I connected them to my LG V10 using Bluetooth. Pairing was simple and intuitive. A long press of the center button on the control turns the earbuds on and puts them into pairing mode. Over the past few months I have made the switch to TIDAL music which streams high-fidelity music. You can’t take full advantage of high-res audio over Bluetooth, but that doesn’t mean the 1byone Sport earbuds didn’t sound great. Because they do sound great.

For sport earbuds they isolate out the background noise and provide full balanced sound. Some wireless earbuds lack in loudness and bass, but these do not. They aren’t high fidelity but they do offer complete sound that is perfect for working out. Loudness is especially important if you have a lot of background noise and these are more than loud enough to drown that noise out.

Like other headphones and earbuds, the 1byone earbuds have a microphone built-in for taking calls. I did give these a whirl and they are good enough when taking calls. When I was in areas with high background noise, it picked up a little too much of it in my calls. But in quiet areas it performed fantastically and worked with the microphone behind my neck.

One of my favorite features from these earbuds was the battery life. I regularly got six to nine hours of listening time at about 70% volume. This battery life performance is far more than most wireless earbuds in its price range. And there’s nothing worse than getting to the gym with no battery life on the earbuds and the 1byone Wireless earbuds never let me down.

 

Specs/details from Amazon.com

  • With Bluetooth 4.1, supported by apt-X HD and 6th generation CVC tech, to ensure high-fidelity bilateral stereo sound and clear speech.
  • Smart indicator for battery level – when connected with iOS system, it will display the battery status of the headphone.
  • The ergonomic in-ears are very comfortable to wear and will remain in your ear at all levels of exercise.
  • Battery core from Panasonic, longer battery life, your training won’t be interrupted.
  • Most reliable Bluetooth connectivity and stable responsive ability, pairing two devices, freely switching without any challenge, always keeping pace with you.

Summary

Overall for $40-45, depending on the day with price fluctuations, the 1byone Wireless Sport earbuds are an incredible value. If you have small ears they most likely will cause fitment issues, but if you have normal and larger sized ears these are a bargain for the features you get in one package. Sound and call quality is fantastic, especially if you plan on using them in a gym or outdoor setting where you need noise isolation.

You can learn more at Amazon.com.

 

Your next phone needs to be a Nexus, and why that's a problem for Android

Android 6.0 (more commonly referred to as its more sugary name, Marshmallow) was announced back in May 2015 (as “Android M” at Google I/O). And as it typically goes, the new OS debuted in the real world with the launch of the Nexii this past Fall – the Nexus 5x and Nexus 6P.

The gold Huawei Nexus 6P
The gold Huawei Nexus 6P

For those Android fans not on a Nexus device (including myself), we’ve become accustomed to getting excited about the latest software from Google, but not too excited. Third-party Android phone manufacturers aren’t very expressive about when their current devices will be updated (if at all), and the adoption slowness of the new OS has yet to get better (it may actually be getting worse). Data collected by Google on Jan. 4th, 2016 says that Marshmallow is currently only on 0.7% of the Android devices out there.

Android distribution stats provided by developer.android.com
Android distribution stats provided by developer.android.com

This is a huge problem for Android.

It’s a disservice to both the customer and to Android when manufacturers let time pass by without acknowledging the update for their products and/or keep launching devices with the old OS. I hope I’m not the only one who cringes when I see new phones still coming out with Android 5.1.

I know what many folks say to this: “Most consumers don’t even track what version of Android they’re on, or care.” That’s certainly a good point, most consumers aren’t tech-savy enthusiasts. But this makes for a discontinuity. New devices always boast about cool, neat features and technical jargon (such as software tricks or chipset improvements). Why is it okay to tend to enthusiasts then? Many would say “Because they’re trying to sell the product.” Well then, isn’t it the enthusiast who would understand/care about these selling points?

Wouldn’t this same person care about new features that make the user experience better? Ah, I see now – the manufacturer already sold the device to you, so why do they need to do more work? This is where the problem lies with Android, and Marshmallow has shown that it’s not getting better.

This convolution unfortunately means that we should only be buying Nexus devices. It’s unfortunate because Android is supposed to mean choice. With this fragmentation left to run wild, the purpose is defeated.

be_together_phones

If you think I’m being dramatic, let’s recap all the features that many Android users should be benefiting from right now.

  • Now on Tap: Touch and hold the Home button to automatically ping information about content on your screen.
  • Doze: Device goes into a deep sleep over lengthy periods of standby, to conserve some serious battery life.
  • App Standby: Another battery saving feature – seldom used apps are limited on battery usage.
  • Improved Permissions: Apps only request permission(s) when it’s needed.
  • Fingerprint Security: Your fingerprint not only unlocks your device, but authorizes transactions in the Play Store or signing into third-party apps.
  • Android Runtime “ART”: Improved application and multi-tasking performance.
  • Improved Text Functionality: Smarter text selection and copy/paste, built-in undo/redo, and text selection actions (such as a Translate option).
  • Chrome Custom Tabs: More integrated/seamless retrieval of web content from within apps, because they use Chrome.

These are the highlights, there’s more to Marshmallow.

The argument can go further when talking about faster updates to the current OS and smoother experience in Google’s pure user interface. Also, Google’s Project Fi wireless network is locked down to just Nexus phones. I enjoy the “Be together. Not the same” philosophy as much as the next Android fan, but the only reality I see for a proper experience with Android is with a Nexus device.

There are some wild card exceptions out there that have Marshmallow on a non-Nexus device (i.e. the HTC One A9 or Nvidia Shield tablet), but a 0.7% adoption shows that they are way too few and far between. What do you think about the matter? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below!

Steal This Look: Give your Android a makeover in five minutes (AT-AT)

3

Give yourself a Star Wars-inspired home screen experience with a couple of apps and a few minutes of your time.