Android Authority |
- LG announces plans to release a “thinking smartphone”
- Rumor: Sony working on an Xperia smartphone with a 4.3-inch AMOLED display
- Android Apps that will turn your Android into a TV
- Samsung Galaxy S2 vs Samsung Galaxy S3
- A look at Google Maps 6.5: HD graphics, ICS support, improved navigation, and more
- Killer non-Google Android smartphone to be released this year, could it come from Amazon?
- Apple’s new iPad is not selling like hotcakes
- $50 tablet? Why yes, i’ll take three
- You can now enjoy the Metro UI experience on your Android device
- AirCover: Tool for securing and optimizing your Android
| LG announces plans to release a “thinking smartphone” Posted: 09 Apr 2012 03:06 AM PDT
While LG currently sits in the shadow of local rival Samsung, it was not long ago that both tech mammoths were just starting to make an impact on the Android smartphone market. The only thing that kept LG from "booming" – as was the case with Samsung – was the lack of an innovating smartphone, something to differentiate LG from other manufacturers. Some may contradict the statement above and claim that the LG Optimus 2X was the first dual-core smartphone to ever reach the consumer market, but, unfortunately for LG, the Optimus 2X did not achieve the commercial success that stockholders probably expected. Apparently (and fortunately for all of you LG fans out there), innovation is the main thing that LG engineers will focus on in the future, as, according to Kwon Bong-suk (Managing Director of LG Mobile Communications), the second biggest smartphone manufacturer in South Korea plans to release "an thinking smartphone" at some point in the not-so-near future. Although smartphones are already supposed to be intelligent (hence the word smart), I'm sure a lot of you will agree that, given today's technology advancements, superphones could be a tad more intelligent. We're not sure what a "thinking smartphone" actually means, but here is one example on how smartphones could be smarter (as cited by Kwon): Ok, so let's say you have set your alarm clock for 6AM before going to bed. But at about 4AM, your smartphone detects that there's an increase in traffic on the way to work. To keep you from running late (and having to come up with an excuse to that bald, uptight boss of yours), the phone wakes you up at 5:30 AM, to compensate for the increase in traffic. Cool, huh? Obviously, the "thinking smartphone" would have to do a lot more than that in order to be a true evolutionary leap, but it's certainly an interesting starting point (not to mention a great mentality). Kwon Bong-suk was unable to tell when we should expect such a smartphone to be released, but hinted that we shouldn't expect it to arrive anytime soon. In his words: "preparations for the development of the thinking smartphone are underway”. In mine: "don't hold your breath". Granted, if LG manages to pull this one off, it will surely give them a big advantage over the current competition. On the other hand, I'm sure other smartphone manufacturers (especially Apple and Samsung) are also planning to make smartphones even smarter. The way I see it, the success of such endeavors depends on two main, equally important factors: quality and timing. One’ thing’s sure – we'll be here to report whenever new details about the first generation of thinking smartphones emerge. In the meantime, drop us a line and tell us what you would expect from a “thinking smartphone”! This article, LG announces plans to release a “thinking smartphone” , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Rumor: Sony working on an Xperia smartphone with a 4.3-inch AMOLED display Posted: 09 Apr 2012 02:43 AM PDT
Even though Sony isn’t exactly the most popular Android smartphone manufacturer on the market, the Japanese have always had a few things going for them. I, for one, have always liked the Xperia designs and especially their top-notch TFT displays. However, if we are to believe a rumor from a couple of days back, it seems that Sony will try to mix things up a little with at least one of their future Xperia smartphones. In spite of the fact that we have no idea when this new supposed Xperia would come and how it will be priced, it seems that the device will be Sony's first-ever smartphone to sport an AMOLED display. The gadget's display should measure 4.3 inches in diagonal, according to the same report, and could feature a pixel density of around 250-300 PPI. That sounds pretty cool, at least in theory, but it remains to be seen if Sony actually needed such a change. After all, like I said, their displays were one of the few features that many technology enthusiasts loved about the Xperia smartphones. The AMOLED panel set to be featured on Sony's future Xperia model will be manufactured by AU Optronics (AUO), a subsidiary of BenQ, which has supplied display panels for other giants, including Samsung, LG, Dell, Apple, or Acer. AUO should ship the AMOLED screens to Sony sometime in the second half of this year, which means that the new Xperia should hit the market before the end of 2012. My guess (a wild one, so it's not to be taken very seriously) is the first ever Sony smartphone to sport an AMOLED display is the gadget currently known by its Mint I codename and due for release in September. So, how about it, boys and girls? Are you excited about Sony's decision to mix things up and come with a smartphone sporting an AMOLED display? Or do you think, like me, that their TFT screens are nice enough and they shouldn't try to fix what’s not broken? Hit us back with a comment and please let us know! This article, Rumor: Sony working on an Xperia smartphone with a 4.3-inch AMOLED display , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Android Apps that will turn your Android into a TV Posted: 09 Apr 2012 02:09 AM PDT
Television – you either love it or hate it. Or love-hate it? Anyway, we all have a deep, if sometimes ambivalent relationship with our TV sets. We use TV to relax, to get informed, to stay in touch, to learn things, to lose time, to forget about problems, and the list can go on and on. It’s no wonder that many have tried (and mostly failed) to offer a truly portable TV-watching device. And then the smartphone came along, bringing the brains of silicon and the looks of hi-res screens to the mainstream consumer. The increasingly-large smartphones these days can double as TVs without problem, provided you have the right apps. So, for all of you TV maniacs, we bring you the best apps that will transform your Android device into a TV, so you can enjoy your favorite sitcom, ball game, or reality TV show wherever you are. SPB TV
SPB TV is a multi-platform app that lets you watch live TV shows from around the world, for free. With over 120 channels to choose from, this app is one of the best apps out there for watching your favorite TV shows. Navigating through the channels is simple and you can adjust the quality of the streams from high to low. SPB TV is also great for watching video on-demand TV shows. Other notable features include a wide selection of public channels, quick channel previews, fast channel switching, integrated TV guide, picture in picture mode, and on-screen controls. Crackle – Movies & TV
Another awesome Android app that will turn your Android into a TV is Crackle. Crackle – Movies & TV lets you watch full-length TV shows and movies on your Android smartphone and tablet for free. We love the fact that this app is capable of streaming high quality videos, with over 20 new TV episodes and movies added each month. And we are talking about unlimited on-demand videos across different genres. While some might complain about the occasional commercials, considering that it’s totally free, downloading the Crackle is well worth it. Crackle is currently available in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia. In2Streams – Streaming TV
Did you know that you can actually watch any TV show on your Android device? Thanks to the In2Streams – Streaming TV app for Android, you can now gain access to all of your favorite TV shows in a snap. The app has over 5000 TV episodes ready for your viewing pleasure. The only downside is that you will be required to subscribe to In2Streams’ service. The app, however, is free to download. If you’ve already tried the service on your computer, you’ll easily see the many advantages of utilizing this app. TV.com
You will love the cool TV.com app for Android. TV.com lets you access CBS TV channels like CNBC, CW, ET, CBS Showtime, CBS Sports, and CNET, without the painful subscription fees. The app essentially delivers the whole TV experience onto your Android smartphone or tablet. If you are looking for great shows including your favorite sitcoms, then the TV.com app is exactly what you need. The new version is now faster, with a newly improved layout design that provides easy access to a lot of your favorite TV episodes. And yes, the video quality is excellent as well. If you’ve got lots of time to kill, download the TV.com app for Android right now. TV Listings for Android
TV Listings for Android is a fast and easy app that will let you watch over 13,000 TV channels from the U.S. We love this app for its simple design and functionality. No complex UI here, only pure streaming. TV Listings for Android covers all types of shows – over the air, cable and satellite. Notable features include tabs, movie ratings, reminders, filtering, and searches. TV Listings for Android is a great app that will definitely turn your phone or tablet into a mobile TV. IMDb Movies & TV
Of course, we can’t forget about IMDb and its dedicated mobile app for Android. IMDb is the most reliable source of information when it comes to movies and TV shows. The IMDb Movies & TV app for Android allows you to search over 2 million movies and TV titles, complete with helpful reviews and ratings, to help you stay away from those boring duds. We personally love IMDb’s high quality movie trailers and movie showtime schedules. You can also view TV listings for your own local time zone and watch recaps from previous shows. You can even search for DVD and Blu-ray titles by scanning a barcode or by taking cover art pictures. Sounds good does it? World Streaming TV
The World Streaming TV app is sitting at the top spot on Google Play for the Video and Media apps category. The new version of the app has undergone multiple bug fixes and it should work smoothly on any Android smartphone and tablet. True to its name, the app has a huge list of channels for you to choose from, from more than 70 different countries. Now you can watch your favorite TV shows, matches, or world news, 24 hours a day. The user interface is simple enough to get used to in a matter of minutes. You can save your shows and channels by bookmarking them and you can also join the WSTV Community for suggestions and support. ShowTimes – Series Guide
Surely, you don’t want to miss a single episode of your favorite TV show. Whether it’s Game of Thrones or Big Bang Theory, you can keep up using your Android device and the ShowTimes app. So what makes this app special? While it’s not really an app that will allow you to stream shows, it’s perfect for staying updated with the latest episodes released on TV. We just love the simplicity of the app. Navigation is easy and the relevant results are delivered blazing fast via the search feature. The ShowTimes app for Android also features a widget that will display your shows and add a reminder to your calendar. There’s also a backup option to save your shows to your SD card. There you have it – our list of hand-picked best apps that let you enjoy TV on the go. Which one’s your favorite? Did we forget about a cool Android TV app? This article, Android Apps that will turn your Android into a TV , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung Galaxy S2 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 08 Apr 2012 09:40 PM PDT
Not everyone may like rumors, but when it’s a rumor about the Samsung Galaxy S3, we’re all ears. Samsung’s newest flagship has clocked in more than 10 million pre-ordered units, so it’s natural that everyone wants to know what this hype is about. Though these specs are just speculations, we’d like to see what these rumors might be like up against the extremely popular Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100. There’s no one definitive source but we’ve crawled the Internet to bring to you whatever we could find on Samsung’s new powerhouse. How much of a chance does the Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 stand against the Galaxy S3? Let’s take a look. Design and Display
We’re all familiar with the Galaxy S2 and we all know how people loved this phone. Let’s talk about its specs briefly. The Galaxy S2 has a screen size of 4.3″ and a resolution of 480×800 pixels on a Super AMOLED Plus screen. It’s crisp with 217 ppi. The Galaxy S2 packs dimensions of 66 x 125 x 8mm, which makes it a thin phone, though some users complained that it made it difficult to hold the Galaxy S2 if you had smaller hands.
The Galaxy S3, on the other hand, has a much higher resolution screen. Details are a little fuzzy, with some sources claiming it to have a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels and others saying 1280×720 pixels, to match the Galaxy Nexus. Regardless, it’s said to pack either 319 or 468 ppi, which means anything on its HD Super AMOLED Plus 4.6-inch screen will be vivid and gorgeous. Though the size is one that most rumors have agreed on, there are other rumors that speculate the Galaxy S3′s possible screen size to be even bigger, at anywhere between 4.7 to 5.0 inches. Whatever the size, we’re sure to be promised a stunning view. The Galaxy S3 isn’t just going for bolder, but it’s also going for sexier; the Galaxy S3 is rumored to be thinner than its predecessor at 7 mm. Interestingly, the Galaxy S3 has been said to be have a ceramic body, which would make it light and scratch-resistant but probably not too sturdy if dropped. Processor and Operating SystemThe Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 came out of the box with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, but the Galaxy S3 is said to run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. But, whether that is out of the box or something that the Galaxy S3 can upgrade to is still debatable. The Galaxy S3 however also comes with TouchWiz 5.0 UI and a different processor. The Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 wielded a dual-core 1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos processor, but the Galaxy S3 is said to be packing a quad-core ARM A9 Exynos 4212 chipset designed by Samsung itself. Rumors differ, with some saying that the Galaxy S3 can clock in at 1.5 GHz while others say that the Exynos 4212 may help the Galaxy S3 clock in at 1.8 GHz. Whichever way you look at it, the Galaxy S3 is already shaping up to be a powerhouse in the palm of your hand. StorageThe Galaxy S2 packed an internal memory of 32 GB and 1 GB of RAM. It’s expandable up to 32 GB through microSD. The Galaxy S3 is generous with its internal memory of 32 GB. We are not sure yet if it’s expandable, but bets are on that it is. Some sources say that it’ll be packing 2 GB RAM, double the size of what the Galaxy S2 has to offer. Camera
The Galaxy S2 packs an 8 MP rear-facing camera and a front-facing 2 MP camera. Some conservative rumors peg the Galaxy S3′s camera at 8 MP, not unlike the Galaxy S2′s camera, but other rumors say that it might be packing 12 MP instead. A secondary 2 MP front-facing camera will also be available for video chats on the Galaxy S3. Battery
The Galaxy S2 may have packed a 1650 mAh battery, which provides talk time of about 18.30 hours and standby time of about 710 hours, but the Galaxy S3 is said to be equipped with something with more punch, an “all day battery.” Rumors waffle between 1750 mAh and 2250 mAh, but regardless of which one you believe and which one actually shows up on the market, a more powerful battery is a great idea. With how much power the Galaxy S3 is packing, we’d certainly need an equally powerful battery to keep up with. VerdictOverall, the rumors sound extremely appealing. The Galaxy S3 is not only more powerful, it’s also got a larger screen and more battery life. It goes without saying that it outshines its predecessor, the Galaxy S2, but until we get our hands on an actual Galaxy S3, rumors are just rumors. But, with its release so close, sometime in April or in May (the rumor mills still haven’t really agreed on that), there’s still a window of time for people to add more gossip to the rumor mill or for Samsung to actually throw us a bone with solid, honest-to-goodness specs. This article, Samsung Galaxy S2 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| A look at Google Maps 6.5: HD graphics, ICS support, improved navigation, and more Posted: 08 Apr 2012 09:11 PM PDT
When you need to get somewhere, knowing how to get there is your top priority. But what can you do when that new place your friends want to meet you at isn’t on the map yet? Nowadays, we can no longer rely on physical maps when a new shop and a new business crops up every day. A physical map can get outdated really quickly in this day and age. We can always Google the establishment’s address, but if you’re not familiar with the area it’s in, you’ll still get lost. Thankfully, with how easy it is to be connected, we also have access to Google Maps. With a slogan like, “whether you need directions to your destination, the closest good place for a bite to eat, or just a sense of where you are, Google Maps for Android can help,” Google Maps 6.5 for Android definitely delivers. What makes this version really stand out is its crisp maps that show up gorgeously on high-pixel density screens, like the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S2, and the Droid Razr. This means that Google also rearranged map labels and reduced their sizes so that your view of the map is a lot less cluttered.
Google Maps 6.5′s interface has also been tweaked for those running Ice Cream Sandwich on their mobile devices, which means that you’ll find a new Navigation home screen. On top of that, Google Maps 6.5 even includes preferred public transit mode, as well as routes. You’ll never need to rely on an outdated physical map. One of the main features Google Maps 6.5 comes with is its ability to understand what you’re saying. Say you need to go somewhere and you’re not sure what route to take or even where it’s located. Simply ask Google Maps 6.5 through the Speak Destination function for where an establishment is and it’ll pull up a map to get there. Alternatively, you can use the Type Destination function–you’d get the same results. If you’re a visual learner and you navigate best with landmarks, Google Maps 6.5 comes equipped with detailed maps complete with 3D buildings. Once you’ve got your destination and the route to get there, your hands are probably full with the steering wheel. Worry not, because Google Maps 6.5 also comes with voice-guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation. You won’t have to worry about getting stuck in a traffic jam because you’ll be provided with live traffic information, especially handy during rush hour and those surprise snags in traffic flow.
If you don’t have a car, Google Maps 6.5 also provides public transit, biking, and walking directions. Before you pull up directions, you can specify that you prefer a route with less transfers and less walking.
Even if you don’t have a specific place to be, and you’d like to try a new restaurant or a shop you’ve never visited before, Google Maps 6.5 also comes with a local search and business reviews. Once you get there, you won’t have to wander around to find your way around the place. For select airports, hotels, and retail stores, Google Maps 6.5 provides you indoor maps. Though, some users have complained that Google Maps 6.5 has been erroneous in determining their location, while others say that the app spontaneously crashes. Other users also complained about how large the app is and how long it takes to launch. Despite these issues, a number of other users have been pleased with the new Google Map 6.5′s performance. If you’re dying to navigate your way around your city, or to the nearest restaurant with the best dish in town, download Google Maps 6.5 from the Google Play Store today. This article, A look at Google Maps 6.5: HD graphics, ICS support, improved navigation, and more , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Killer non-Google Android smartphone to be released this year, could it come from Amazon? Posted: 08 Apr 2012 11:35 AM PDT
Despite the fact that most technology experts were skeptical of the Kindle Fire's success in a tablet market so heavily dominated by Apple's iPads, the guys at Amazon seem to have hit the jackpot with the 7-incher released last fall. While it is yet to truly challenge the iPads, the Kindle Fire, with its killer price and great app support, has managed to be second-best in a very crowded and extremely competitive market. The Fire will most likely get a rehashed version during 2012 and, according to recent reports, Amazon might also be prepping the release of a couple other tablets. However, it appears that Amazon is not yet satisfied. If we are to believe some speculations that have recently surfaced a couple of days ago, they might launch an Android-based smartphone of their own as well. To make this rumor all-the-more juicy is the fact that speculation has been initiated by Ted Morgan, CEO at Skyhook Wireless. Skyhook is a technology company involved in a couple of legal battles with Google for the past few years. According to Morgan, the Kindle Fire's success has emboldened several Android device makers to seriously consider the possibility of manufacturing their own devices, running "forked" versions of Android. As you may or may not know, Amazon's Kindle Fire runs a modified and heavily skinned version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The Fire's software doesn't give users direct access to Google Play, but instead reroutes user’s app desire to Amazon's own Appstore. Getting back to Ted Morgan's recent statements, we have to stress the fact that he doesn't clearly say at any time that Amazon is working towards the manufacturing of an Android-based super-phone (or “major” phone, as he calls it), but he is obviously implying it. "Everyone's emboldened by the success of Amazon. Everyone's saying 'we need to go our own way’", said Morgan, who also "confessed" that he's been spending a lot of time recently with companies that are forking and tweaking Android. "[Google] really [does] restrict anything a device maker can do to stand out, for their own purposes… Nobody wants to just be a manufacturer for Google. You see that with what Amazon has done, where they made it their own, and you also see a whole host of manufacturers taking Android down their own path," added Skyhook’s CEO, painting a pretty dark picture for Larry Page’s and Sergey Brin’s search giant. An Amazon super-phone? That sounds awesome!Even though we are basing pretty much this entire article on rumors and speculations that might seem far-fetched for most of you, it is still worth mentioning. If what Mr. Morgan says is true, then the Android we know now could be a radically different (and substantially more fragmented) beast in the near future.
Right after the Fire's release in November last year we were almost sure that Amazon would be bringing to market the "Kindle Phone". The gadget was supposed to be priced around 200 dollars or less and be powered by a TI OMAP4 processor. Of course, the rumors proved to be (partially) bogus, as there's still no sign of such a device on the market, but that doesn't mean Amazon didn’t consider releasing such a device. Due to time passing and technology evolving, if today's speculations prove to be accurate, we could be seeing an even more exciting gadget from Amazon soon. Still, while I hate to be a buzz kill, it’s important we stay grounded. We’ve all gone down rumor creek before. We know where it can go. Keeping in mind Ted Morgan’s bias against Google with their ongoing legal feuds, we should probably take these rumors with a pound of salt or so. Also, he doesn't clearly say that Amazon is the company behind the "major" forked Android smartphone that is to be released by the end of the year, so we might be seeing someone else trying to strike out on there own. That would be fine by me though, as I personally think that competition never hurts, and will never hurt the technology market and its enthusiasts. Amazon Phone? Kindle Phone? Fire Phone? Fire sale? Good for Android? This article, Killer non-Google Android smartphone to be released this year, could it come from Amazon? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Apple’s new iPad is not selling like hotcakes Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:44 AM PDT
I'm sure that even the most hardcore Android fans will agree that Apple’s original iPad created the tablet market from scratch. Since Android manufacturers were caught slightly off guard by the success of the original iPad, it should come as no surprise that Apple has basically owned the tablet market since it first debuted its profitable darling. Fast forward to today, and you'll find that while the third incarnation of the Apple tablet is an impressive piece of hardware, it turns out that sales are sluggish at best, despite Apple's announcement of a record breaking first weekend. While Apple evangelists would perhaps like to believe differently, Android will soon top iOS as the most popular tablet OS in the world.
According to a recent report from Want China Times, Foxconn employees are reporting of a sharp decline in the number of iPads assembled each day at the company's assembly line in Shenzhen, which is likely where most of your modern technology comes from, in Southern China. In his words:
The employee went on to state that he had had 10 days off during March due to the sales decline, with three of the 20 independent assembly lines being stopped to make way for other products to be produced.
Elsewhere in the world, a similar theme is emerging too. Scalpers in Hong Kong typically used to getting a healthy 30% margin on Apple products are reporting disappointing demand, and are ‘feeling overstocked’ and are failing to make the juicy margins they have managed in the past. Whether this should serve as a bellwether of declining demand for Apple’s new iPad remains to be seen. What is likely though is that consumers are waking up to the dizzying array of competitively priced alternatives. Of course, we are essentially talking about three (one) devices competing with every Android tablet on the market, so it’s easy to see how Android has the upper hand. Regardless, this is unprecedented. Virtually ever device Apple has created has gone on to sell extremely well, but it looks like the tide is finally shifting. Any thoughts? Is Android on the right track, or does Apple have it right with its strategy? What tablet are you most excited about? This article, Apple’s new iPad is not selling like hotcakes , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| $50 tablet? Why yes, i’ll take three Posted: 08 Apr 2012 09:59 AM PDT
Better than 1080p displays. Quad core processors. Ultra thin. Yes indeed, we’re living in a brave new world. Anyone with more than $500 can purchase a very mobile and extremely powerful quad core device, which really is an unprecedented thing. But things cost money, right? Some of the higher end tablets go for upwards of $600 these days. While buttery smooth 1080p graphics are nice, are they important enough for you to throw your wallet in the fire? A company named ESER has just produced a tablet for $50. Well, it is really $51. Let me say that again – $51. Now, of course with a $51 tablet you cannot expect it to pack the latest and greatest innovations inside, but the specs are actually pretty decent.
Dubbed the A10, it sports a 1.2GHz BoxChip CPU, along with a 7-inch 800×480 resolution display. You will also get 4GB of internal storage and additional SD card slot for even more storage. Not everyone is going "cloud" these days folks, particularly if you living in a van down by the river. But in all seriousness, The ESER A10 significantly raises the bar for budget tablets as a whole. In terms of additional specs, it’s packing Android 2.3 on board, HDMI out, Wi-Fi, and a front-facing camera for chatting with folks around the world. If you are really a traveler, you can get 3G connectivity with a USB dongle. What I do find fascinating about this device however, is that the A10 has the ability to decode 2160p videos. Not the largest screen for family viewing and the picture quality is questionable, but, who cares? Anyway, what do you think of the latest budget tablet to hit the market? Would you rather see ICS? I would love to hear your comments. How low can the prices go? What’s the lowest you’d pay for a tablet? This article, $50 tablet? Why yes, i’ll take three , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| You can now enjoy the Metro UI experience on your Android device Posted: 08 Apr 2012 09:17 AM PDT
Microsoft’s Metro UI for Windows 8 PCs. tablets, and Windows Phone 7 has certainly been creating waves in the tech world. The complete re-imagining of the UI is more than just an aesthetic overhaul, bringing the OS up-to-date with the touch-centric world we now live in. The User Interface features a series of tiles which offer straightforward access to apps and hubs along with live widgets that provide access to real time information to weather, social hubs and more. The Metro UI has received positive reviews from critics across the board. That being said, it is difficult to imagine Android loyalists leaving behind their trusty Android devices in favor of a WP7 device. Thankfully, you are not limited with Android, and f you would like to sample what Microsoft’s latest has to offer, there is a solution for you.
We have already seen the Metro UI ported to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 created by senior XDA developer BroBot175. Thanks to the efforts of another developer nicknamed mrevankyle, in collaboration with Brobot175, this custom ROM is now also available for ASUS Transformer owners too. While most of the features work properly, as with any new custom release, there are some bugs and glitches. While the ROM operates quite well, there have been some complaints regarding some of the widgets such as the music widget which has a tendency to not work correctly, but and a fix is being promised with future updates. Check out the ROM on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 below. VideoYou can now get the Metro UI for your Android handset now too, with the release of the WP7 ROM. The custom ROM follows the form of the Metro UI for WP7 , but seemingly without the same smoothness as the original. It is also not available for most Android devices yet, but that is likely to change as we go along. It does do a good job of mimicking the WP7 launcher which, most will agree, is the most appealing feature of the OS. Flashing your device with a custom ROM comes with a standard set of warnings. There is always a risk of something going wrong and you being left holding a very expensive rock. Go ahead with this only if you have a rooted device and, more importantly, are somewhat familiar with the flashing process. Always backup your device before attempting such an installation. You can check for device compatibility and install instructions here. If you are unsure about going through with flashing your device with a custom ROM, you can try the safer Metro UI app available on the Google Play Store here. While not as flashy as the custom ROM, this launcher gives you a similar experience to what you can expect from Metro UI. Will you be trying the WP7 ROM on your Android device? Let us know in the comments section below. This article, You can now enjoy the Metro UI experience on your Android device , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| AirCover: Tool for securing and optimizing your Android Posted: 08 Apr 2012 04:45 AM PDT
Do you think the security application that you are using in your Android device is good enough? Think again. There’s a new app that claims to solve all your security needs. AirCover is fully equipped to protect your device from all types of malicious content and has lots of additional features, too. This app has it all. It serves as an antivirus, a tracking tool for your device in case you lose it, a utility for remotely wiping data to prevent your device from being used by another, an app for controlling for individual apps and advanced system access, cloud-based storage to back up your important data, and many more other features. All CoveredAirCover is just one of the few comprehensive applications that give you overall protection, as well as optimization of your system and other applications. Speaking of system optimization, AirCover includes tools to optimize your system. It includes a task killer, a one-click memory optimizer, cache cleaner, and a battery life enhancement tool. In most cases, you’d need to download several different apps individually just to have those features, but AirCover has covered it all for you. Aside from protection and system optimization features, the app also gives you additional features that will surely come in handy. Some of these features include sending emergency text messages or emails to people who are close to you, automatically uploading mobile data to the cloud, checking the coordinates of your friends on a map, automatically closing opened apps at a specific time, checking the battery status and other extended stats, and providing some tips on how to save battery power. There are other handy features in AirCover and it would be very cumbersome to describe them all in detail in this article, but one thing is for sure, they are all working great for the app and you can surely use them with ease. Using AirCoverOnce you launch the app, you are then introduced to its homescreen where you can find buttons for its respective features, namely Mobile Security, Family Safety, Cloud Backup, Device Found, System Tuneup, and Battery Doctor.
When you tap the Mobile Security button, you trigger the individual guarding mechanism for apps that are running, as well as those that you downloaded. You can also run a complete scan of the system and check all the other apps on your device.
The Family Safety button lets you send an emergency text message or email to a family member, as well as track the location of your family members. When locating your family members on the map, you can also pinpoint the Safe Regions for you to know if they are in a safe place. From the Cloud backup button, there is a More Option button where you can see details about your cloud storage such as space used and other backup/restore options.
There is also Device found button where you can turn on/off the remote device tracking feature. In case your device is lost, you can log in to the official Bluesprig website to try to find your phone. The System Tuneup button is where you can access numerous useful system tools. Last, but not the least, is the Battery Doctor button where you will find a dashboard for checking your battery details like battery health/status and stats. AirCover really is truly full-packed with security and optimization features. If you want to check it out, download AirCover free from the Google Play Store. This article, AirCover: Tool for securing and optimizing your Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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