Android Authority |
- Huawei Ascend P1 TV commercial released
- Kobo eBooks for Android receives revamped UI and extra features in latest update
- Day 2 keynote from Google I/O available online
- Best Android apps for privacy protection and security
- Google Sound Search: “What’s this song?” now available for ICS
- Google+ Events spam fix incoming, temporary unsatisfactory fixes available meanwhile
- Amazing Alex coming in July to Android, first non Angry Birds game from Rovio
| Huawei Ascend P1 TV commercial released Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:54 AM PDT
Chinese device manufacturers such as Huawei and ZTE are very popular in their home market and now vying for a piece of the Android smartphone pie on the world stage. Huawei in particula had a great showing at this year’s CES and MWC, where they featured devices such as the Ascend P1, the Ascend P1S, which for a while held the title of the world’s thinnest smartphone, and the Ascend D quad, which the company claims is the world’s fastest smartphone. Unfortunately, Huawei isn’t well known in the world market, a market already saturated with amazing devices like the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3. What’s the best way to become a house-hold name? With some good old marketing, of course! In its bid to gain some popularity among smartphone-buying consumers, Huawei has released a TV ad for the Ascend P1. Like almost every smartphone related ad that we’ve seen recently, the video doesn’t feature the phone at all, at least until the last few seconds. Instead, it aims to get the message across, about what Huawei’s smartphone lineup represents a meeting of beauty and brains. You can take a look at the commercial below. Since we haven’t heard about the Huawei Ascend P1 for a while, here is a quick recap of the specifications:
In an effort to keep the “beauty” aspect of the device, which is very very thin, Huawei made some compromises, like the measly 4GB of storage on-board, making the use of a microSD card a must. Granted, this will also likely help to keep the price of the device more than competitive, against similarly speced smartphones. What are your thoughts? What did you think of the commercial? Is the Huawei Ascend P1 the perfect combination of beauty and brains? Will you be looking to buy the Ascend P1? Let us know in the comments section below. This article, Huawei Ascend P1 TV commercial released , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Kobo eBooks for Android receives revamped UI and extra features in latest update Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:43 AM PDT
Our smartphones and tablets have been responsible for making obsolete a lot of electronics, such as MP3 players and point-and-shoot cameras. Looks like books are the latest casualty in the path to electronic dominance by our handheld devices. Does that mean we’ve stopped reading? Not even close! We are now seeing an increasing trend of consumers turning to eBooks and eReaders to get their literary fix. Gone are the days of papercuts from turning a page. Swiping across a screen is so much easier. There is not shortage of good eReader apps on the Google Play Store, and Kobo eBooks has been one of the more popular ones. Kobo boasts an extensive collection of free and affordable books, while also making reading fun with “Reading Life,” which tracks your reading habits with interesting stats. The Kobo eBooks app for Android has now received an update. The update that takes the app to version 4.1 includes:
If you love to read and are looking for a good eBook application, Kobo could be the answer for you. You can download the Kobo eBooks app from the Google Play Store here. What are your thoughts? Are you an avid reader? Do you use Kobo eBooks? If you’ve received the latest update, let us know your experience in the comments section below. This article, Kobo eBooks for Android receives revamped UI and extra features in latest update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Day 2 keynote from Google I/O available online Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:41 AM PDT
Day 1 of Google I/O featured all the “cool” announcements, with the introduction of Android 4.1 Jellybean, the Google Nexus 7 tablet, and the Nexus Q. The long keynote ended with a live demo of Google Glasses, which included skydivers jumping of a blimp. So, how do you top that? By showing a behind-the-scenes look at how the live demo of “Project Glass” was put together. That’s how the keynote address of Day 2 ended, but not before a slew of announcements and information was discussed. This time, the keynote was focused more on the software side of things, which included various Google applications such as Chrome, Google Drive, Gmail, etc. Here are some of the highlights.
You can watch a video of the keynote from Day 2 of Google I/O here. Only if you have an extra hour and twenty minutes that is. Don’t forget to catch the behind-the-scenes footage of the live Google Glasses demo, at the end of the video. This article, Day 2 keynote from Google I/O available online , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Best Android apps for privacy protection and security Posted: 01 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Privacy has always been an issue, even long before the Android platform was invented. Since time immemorial, people have always been trying to protect their privacy and personal data from both public and private threats. As technology grows each day, so do the number of scams, thefts, hacks, and malicious attacks. Smartphones, being bearers of your personal data, are also delicious targets for privacy intrusions. A lot of Android apps exist to help secure your phone and safeguard your privacy. In this post, we feature some of the best apps for securing your phone and protecting your privacy. Lookout Mobile Security One of the most popular security applications is Lookout Mobile Security. The app features all the basic smartphone protection methods, absolutely free of charge, with more available options if you buy the premium version. Lookout will perform a full scan on your phone for malicious apps and will automatically back up your data. In case you’ve lost your phone, Lookout will help you track you device. Another advantage of buying the premium version is that you will also get Lookout's Secure Browsing feature that protects your phone from virus or malicious sites that intend to get around your phone's security. The premium version, however, will need a subscription plan of US$3.00 per month. If you’re concerned about securing your personal data from prying eyes, then Lookout Mobile Security might just help you in filling those security loopholes. Webroot Security and Antivirus Webroot Security and Antivirus offers a unique package that most big-name antivirus companies failed to include in their features. Just like Lookout, Webroot Mobile Security offers a subscription package to users who avail of their premium service, which includes features for completely wiping all data from the subscriber’s phone. It also includes an App Inspector that functions and behaves much like Privacy Inspector. By using the app's web portal, users can track down their phone in case it is missing or stolen. Other features of Webroot include secure web browsing that automatically scans web links and URLs to block phishing and other malicious sites that may be harmful to your phone. The app also includes remote access, SIM card lock, device lock and wipe, SMS blocking, and an antivirus tool that continuously scans and monitors your phone. If you are looking for security on your phone, then Web Root Security and Antivirus is a great choice. NQ Mobile Security and Antivirus Here's an interesting application that is not just an ordinary virus scanner but also serves as a baseline of defense from malware and other intrusions. NQ Mobile Security will back up your contacts so you can always recover them on a separate device. It will also track how much data you are using so you won't go over the bar with your data plan. On top of that, it lets you manage your applications, optimize your phone to run efficiently, manage your network, backup and restore, and monitors your privacy protection. NetQin Mobile Security is packed with lots of features that protect your phone, and anyone who has a sluggish phone can take advantage of the app’s special features. Overall, NetQin Mobile Security is a wonderful app to secure your personal data. Norton Mobile Security Lite Norton Mobile Security Lite offers both anti-theft and antivirus features that will certainly keep your privacy intact and away from prying eyes. One of the most well-known names when it comes to antivirus software, Norton Mobile Security Lite for Android devices still lives up to its name from its older brother. The lite version offers free anti-malware protection that eliminates viruses and malware before they start infecting your phone. The app is also easy to use and after users have finished downloading the application, it will automatically set itself up in just a few taps. Even better, it features anti-theft and anti-loss protection that allows users to locate their phone remotely and even lock and wipe their phone data. Another feature worth mentioning is the Web Protection feature that protects your personal information and blocks malicious websites and cybercriminals trying to hack into your phone. SeekDroid AntiTheft and Security If you are looking for something simple yet deadly effective in keeping your phone's data secured then SeekDroid is all you need. Once you sign up for an account, SeekDroid will automatically hide itself to avoid detection from applications. In case your phone gets lost or stolen, just log into the SeekDroid website and from there you can track down your phone’s location. Aside from locating your phone, it also lets you keep track of the calling activities of the person who found your phone. You can also remotely wipe your phone if you think that your security is compromised. Other features that SeekDroid includes are tracking your device using breadcrumbs, an audible alarm, text message support, and retrieving SIM ID and IMEI. SeekDroid is available on the Google Play Store for a small fee of US$2.99. Plan B Here's an interesting application that will help you save your phone from potential thieves. Your best chance of securing your phone is to remotely install Plan B from Lookout. Once the app is installed using the Web-based Android market, Plan B will automatically work and send users email alerts with regards to their phone's approximate location. The app uses GPS locations and will constantly update you with information every 10 minutes. Each location update will be emailed to the phone owner, with accuracy of just a few meters. Just recently, the app proved its worth when it helped Jon Barrow, an Ars Technica writer who lost his phone in a taxicab. He installed the application remotely and managed to locate and recover his lost phone shortly after. What's even more amazing is that Plan B is absolutely free to download from the Google Play Store. WaveSecure Mobile Security WaveSecure Mobile Security from McAfee offers users many security and privacy options for their phone. Unlike its competitors that are offering their applications for free, WaveSecure on the other hand requires a US$20.00 yearly subscription fee to use all of the services it has. Like Norton, WaveSecure will give users the option to wipe and lock down their phone automatically. However, the app doesn't do a clean scan for malware; instead, it backs your phone data and allows you to restore it using another device. In case your phone gets stolen or dies, users can simply restore their files easily. In case you fear that the thief will eventually uninstall the application, then you can install WaveSecure Uninstall Protection that prevents any user from uninstalling the app without first entering a unique password. LBE Privacy Guard Want to protect your privacy? Then all you need is LBE Privacy Guard, a powerful privacy protection tool that is tailored specially for the Android platform. The app features state-of-the-art API interception technology that provides enhancements to the Android permissions system. The only catch is that LBE Privacy Guard requires you to have a rooted phone. If you don't, then it is pretty much useless. LBE Privacy Guard lets users protect their applications by controlling each application when accessing important data. Not only that, it also blocks malicious operations such as trojans and malware. The app can also block network traffic even if you don't have an unlimited data plan. This is definitely an application that you don't want to miss out on. Try it today, absolutely free of charge. Gallery Lock Hide your pictures and videos with Gallery Lock. Chosen as one of the best applications by Times Magazine, Gallery Lock does everything to carefully hide away your photos and videos from unwanted eyes. From the name itself, Gallery Lock is a managing tool that lets you hide your gallery photos and videos individually when you want a little bit of privacy. The management options of Gallery Lock allow sorting of individual folders, a stealth mode that hides the app’s icon, and protecting your multimedia files with a pattern lock. Gallery Lock also features a beautiful user interface that is easy to navigate. App Defender App Defender is a simple locking application that prevents chosen applications from running without explicit permission, thus protecting your privacy. Whenever you start a protected application, App Defender always asks for a password so other people using your phone cannot get information such as browser history, emails, and personal data. For tighter security, you can also set a specific passcode for every application. Every time a wrong passcode is entered, the app will show you the number of failed attempts, so you’ll be notified that someone attempted to release the lock on your phone. Lock down your phone against malicious sites, malware, and prying eyes with these apps. If your phone gets stolen, easily locate it or wipe your data to protect yourself against thieves abusing your personal information. Which one of these security and privacy apps do you have on your phone? If your favorite privacy protection app didn’t make it to our list, let us know what it is by leaving us a comment below. No related posts. This article, Best Android apps for privacy protection and security , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google Sound Search: “What’s this song?” now available for ICS Posted: 01 Jul 2012 07:56 PM PDT
“Google Ears” or Google Sound Search is one of the new features of Android Jelly Bean. Google Sound Search isn’t a launchable application, but a home screen widget that helps you identify songs. Identifying songs you aren’t familiar with isn’t anything new to Android. If you’re familiar with Shazam or SoundHound, you know exactly what these types of applications do. However, Shazam and SoundHound don’t allow you to purchase music directly from the Google Play Store after it’s been identified, Google Sound Search does. Thanks to XDA Android hacker asdfzz, owners of devices running Android 4.0 can take advantage of this Jelly Bean feature. How does it work? Simply add the widget to one of your home screens.
Then, when you find a song you’re not really sure what it is, just flip over to the home screen containing the widget and let the magic begin.
After your song has been identified, you can then visit the Google Play Store to buy your new found song by tapping the price tag.
To get started, download the Google Sound Search APK and install it as you would any other third party application. Once installed, don’t forget to add it to one of your home screens. Happy sound searching! This article, Google Sound Search: “What’s this song?” now available for ICS , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google+ Events spam fix incoming, temporary unsatisfactory fixes available meanwhile Posted: 01 Jul 2012 09:10 AM PDT
One of the new Google+ features announced during Google I/O is called "Events" and it's supposed to be a neat addition for active Google+ users that will let them share event invitations with friends and family and integrate them directly in Google's Calendar app. That's how the app should work in theory, but in practice Google pretty much blew it and a fix is required by users that have been annoyed by this unexpected spam source. Google has thoroughly explained Google+ Events during the event, and it's understandable why it's important for the company. With Events heavily integrated in Google+, and considering that there are over 425 million Gmail registered accounts – most of Gmail users probably use other services like Google Calendar, but aren't necessarily Google+ active users – Google may be aiming to convert more people to actually using Google+. In addition to support for custom invitations that "would stand out," the Events feature offers a Party Mode that allows users to share images with everyone attending at event in real time, right from a mobile device. But apparently Google made Events work in such a manner that the new Events you're creating, or are invited to, are automatically added to your Calendar. Neat, right? But what if you have a few thousand followers that spam your Calendar – without them knowing – with all sorts of events that you're never going to attend to? That's the problem. Google's Vic Gundotra said that a fix is coming soon but we have no idea when it's going to be pushed out. In the mean time you can somewhat fix the problem yourself by turning off "Show events you've declined" in your Calendar and the "Automatically add invitations to my calendar" option, to prevent unwanted spam. This article, Google+ Events spam fix incoming, temporary unsatisfactory fixes available meanwhile , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Amazing Alex coming in July to Android, first non Angry Birds game from Rovio Posted: 01 Jul 2012 08:27 AM PDT
Rovio may have cashed in on its very addictive Angry Birds franchise, but the company is determined to impress its customers with other games as well. One such game is Amazing Alex, also a physics puzzler, which will be available on Android and iOS devices starting with July. Alex is a kid that likes to "turn everything into adventure," and adventure you shall experience on your Android device. The game will pack "100 challenging levels" and users will be able to create their own levels and share them with friends, thus challenging everyone else to solve even more mysteries. Unfortunately we don't have a firm release date for the game, and we have no idea what Android devices will support it initially – hopefully the game will work on most devices – so we'll just have to wait for the company to release more details about Amazing Alex. Pricing details for the game are also unavailable at this time, but we'll find out more details in just a few days. It will definitely be interesting to see whether the new franchise will be at least as popular as Angry Birds, a game that's available across a variety of platforms, including Android mobile devices, and a game that has been downloaded over 1 billion times across all platforms (counting all game versions). We can at least enjoy the first Amazing Alex trailer while we wait for Rovio to reveal more details about Amazing Alex. Anyone excited? No related posts. This article, Amazing Alex coming in July to Android, first non Angry Birds game from Rovio , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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