AndroidGuys |
- Sliding Messaging review: A simple take on messaging
- T-Mobile holding a Valentine’s Day promo, rumor suggests (BRIEF)
- Nemo’s Reef app review
- Google Handwrite updated with improved recognition, multi-character input, and more
- Samsung Xcover 2 leaked, to be announced at MWC 2013?
- LG Optimus G Pro outed with 5-inch 1080p display
- Samsung confirms Jelly Bean updates for Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 series
- LG Optimus G crosses 1 million sold threshold
- Samsung tied to rumors of 5.8-inch Galaxy Fonblet
| Sliding Messaging review: A simple take on messaging Posted: 18 Jan 2013 01:39 PM PST
The app itself is an interesting take on the stock Android messaging app, in that users can simply swipe left or right to move from one conversation to another. It’s an incredibly simple idea, but Sliding Messaging doesn’t stop there. Sliding from the far left to the right reveals a complete list of conversations, and sliding from the far right to the left brings up a new message. It’s a bit awkward at first to learn where to swipe from to get these actions, but I quickly got the hang of it. The basic idea is that sliding to the left or right from the center of the screen will go from conversation to conversation. Sliding from one edge of the screen to the opposite edge will give you the conversation list or new message layout, depending on which direction you swipe. There’s a slight learning curve, but it’s well worth it. The development of Sliding Messaging is very progressive. One of the most recent updates added emojis, and we’re told that MMS support is also in the works. Keep in mind that it’s only a week old, so bugs are still being squashed. With that being said, I’ve been very happy with the overall performance of Sliding Messaging.
There’s a very minimalist feel throughout the app, which may be due to the fact that it’s in its infancy. In any case, the app possesses this calm, subtle feel, and users aren’t bombarded with tons of buttons. Hopefully this doesn’t change too much when more features are added.
The settings are somewhat barebones for now, although more updates are literally being pushed out by the day. Users have the option to change the theme of the app, as well as customize the color of the title bar. There are a few other settings, including standard notification options, and pop-up reply. For the moment, it’s a very simple app with a great foundation. I spoke via email with Jacob, the app’s creator and developer, and asked him what his inspiration was for Sliding Messaging. In his own words, Jacob had this to say: “I really made this app because I love the look of the stock messaging app, but I knew I could add a better feel to it. That was my motivation.” Sliding Messaging is still in the very early stages of development, but Jacob is working tirelessly to improve it every day. I’m excited to see where this app goes in the near future, and what Jacob comes up with next. Sliding Messaging can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for free. There’s also a donate version for $0.99. Links to both can be found below. What We Liked
Room for Improvement
Download Sliding Messaging (Google Play) Download Sliding Messaging Donate (Google Play) Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| T-Mobile holding a Valentine’s Day promo, rumor suggests (BRIEF) Posted: 18 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST They say:
We Say: Worst case scenario they give us a bunch of discounted handsets and help usher in the full switch over to the rate plans. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Posted: 18 Jan 2013 01:18 PM PST
Disney released its latest Android game earlier this month, but you’d be forgiven if you didn’t hear about it yet. Not to worry, though, we didn’t either. No, for whatever the reasons may be, Disney’s new Nemo’s Reef was dropped in the Google Play store rather unceremoniously. That’s a bummer because I’ve played with for a while now and think it’s a great game. From the moment you open the game you realize this is a polished Disney experience and that there is no corner-cutting. Graphics are vibrant and color and the detail is sharp. This is what you expect for a game that is designed to pick up where the movie leaves off.
Your job is to help create a fancy reef for your friends and new acquaintances to stop by and feel at home. It isn’t immediately clear what your role is or how you go about handling things but it becomes more obvious in the first 10-15 minutes of playing. The music and sound effects are a nice touch however we ended up turning the music off as it felt repetitive. Tapping on menu and having a look-see tells you there are all sorts of wonderful plants, and underwater decorations to play with.If there’s any advice we can give to new players it is to tap away and explore the different buttons and items. There’s nothing you’re going to do that ruins the game so feel free to look around and examine the options. Also, keep an eye on the Nemo icon on the left as he tells you what you need to do to achieve the next feat and level up.
The game might best be described as a time management style of play as you spend time returning to the same plants and creatures to collect coins, pearls, and other fun stuff. Nemo will tell you this, but you might also get the feeling that you’re using a bit of alchemy to help create the best experience. Certain fish like to see red coral next to flowering plants while Dory wants to see her tiki heads. Don’t worry about trying to concoct certain things out of the gate, it unfolds nice and slow. Be advised, however, there are elements to this game that will require you to think fast and maybe fast-forward growth. Note that the game is free to play and that you can make in-app purchases for other elements in the game. Want to skip ahead and score some goodies without waiting? You can buy them in the Google Play store. Also, because of TapJoy integration, you can download and play other games to earn credits in this one. We’re really liking the way Nemo’s Reef plays and think it’s a great game for children and adults alike. If you’re the type who likes to visit a casual game once in a while or tend crops in Farmville then this is up your alley. Or is it down your drain? Whatever, it’s a fun one that is worthy of high marks. What We Liked
Room for Improvement
Download Nemo’s Reef (Google Play) Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Google Handwrite updated with improved recognition, multi-character input, and more Posted: 18 Jan 2013 12:20 PM PST
The new recognition for similar characters is said to help define between similar characters like, “I”, “1″, and “L”. This update will allow you to choose the correct character with the space bar if Google does not pick up it up correctly. With the new overlapping feature, you can save room when writing longer words, allowing you to write multiple letters on top of each other.
While Google previously capped Chinese input to one character at a time, users can now write multiple characters within the same search sequence. Doing so should improve the speed of typing without having to compensate for undefined characters. These new features are available right now. If you’ve never used Google Handwrite, you can enable it by visiting Google.com (on your phone) and checking “Enable Handwrite” in the settings menu. So, who’s enjoying the updates to Google Handwrite? Is there anything it’s still missing? Drop a comment below! Source Google Inside Search Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Samsung Xcover 2 leaked, to be announced at MWC 2013? Posted: 18 Jan 2013 11:41 AM PST
Samsung introduced a rugged Android powered phone last year that they dubbed the Galaxy Xcover. It was a decent Android phone with a good set of specs, and now it seems that Samsung is getting ready to launch its successor at Mobile World Congress 2013. The guys at SAMMOBILE got their hands on specifications and a leaked shot of the Galaxy Xcover 2 (codename “Skomer”). Let’s take a quick look at the detailed specs:
The device will come in two colors, Titan Gray and Black/Red. It’s unclear what kind of processor the Xcover 2 will bring to the table, but we’re not expecting a top of the line CPU. No word on pricing or a specific release date, so we’ll have to wait for MWC in February. With that being said, do you think Samsung’s rugged Android phone would be a good choice for you? Should Samsung avoid making ruggedized devices? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below! Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| LG Optimus G Pro outed with 5-inch 1080p display Posted: 18 Jan 2013 06:32 AM PST
We may have to wait until fall to see an Optimus G2 announcement but that doesn’t mean LG is sitting around twiddling their thumbs. Word of an Optimus G Pro has made its way online, hinting that a big, beautiful smartphone experience could be right around the corner. Details picked up by a number of sources include the following:
Seeing as how the Optimus G Pro is already tied to NTT DoCoMo, the phone includes One-Seg and NOTTV support. This is the sort of handset that we’d like to see LG announce at Mobile World Congress, a bigger refresh of its current flagship. We’ll find out in a few weeks if this is going to be the on company’s agenda in Barcelona. For what it’s worth, the details here closely match up with the stuff in earlier Optimus G2 rumors. Perhaps that one will be even more special, eh? Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Samsung confirms Jelly Bean updates for Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 series Posted: 18 Jan 2013 06:16 AM PST
Available immediately, the Galaxy Tab 2 Jelly Bean update also adds the Samsung Premium Suite, a collection of features that brings enhanced multi-function and productivity. In addition to improved S Pen support, users should also notice the ability to easily open and resize multiple apps, as well as view them across the screen layered on top of each other. Samsung Releases Android Jelly Bean Upgrades for Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 Premium Suite Upgrade for Galaxy Note 10.1 Delivers Improved Performance, Enhanced S Pen Functionality and Fully Resizable Apps RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., January 16, 2013– Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the availability of updates to Android 4.1™, Jelly Bean for both its award-winning Galaxy Note™ 10.1 and its popular Galaxy Tab 2 devices for the Wi-Fi versions. Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 upgrade includes all the performance benefits of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as well as Premium Suite, a collection of new features that further upgrades multi-tasking and productivity, while enhancing personalization and offering new levels of creativity. Users will enjoy improved S Pen support and the ability to easily open and resize multiple apps, then view them across the screen layered on top of each other. "Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 created a new category by delivering content creation capabilities in addition to content consumption," said Mike Abary, senior vice president of consumer IT product marketing, Samsung Electronics America. "However, we always strive to deliver unexpected value to our customers. By providing not just Jelly Bean, but dramatic improvements to the multitasking and S Pen features on the devices, we're ensuring that the Galaxy Note 10.1 remains at the forefront of innovation." A range of features have been introduced which aim to further boost the capabilities of Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 including: Multi-tasking & Productivity: Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 pioneered the innovative Multi Window feature which lets consumers experience a dual view, running two apps side-by-side on the screen. The new, updated Galaxy Note 10.1 enhances the experience further in a variety of ways: Cascade View: The feature allows users to freely resize, move and pin selected applications in multiple views, running them simultaneously or while operating the home-screen. This PC-like feature will help users to be more productive, and actually do multiple tasks at one time. Air View: Allows users to use S Pen to conveniently and quickly preview content without having to open it. This feature allows user to preview video while scrubbing, preview email attachments without opening, preview photos without opening the album, and more. Quick Command: With Quick Command, the S Pen quickly activates applications and services that are used most often by allowing you to write command shortcuts using customized and preset S Pen strokes. Enhanced Personalization: Enhanced handwriting: Users can quickly and easily send personalized handwritten notes and memos to friends and family via email, as well as hand-write directly into their S Planner Enhanced S Note: S Note now features additional ready-to-use templates; allows users to add effects to their digital content with Idea Sketch; and enables the insertion of video directly into not only Note templates but also other templates. Users can also launch S Note directly from their home-screen for added convenience. Easy Clip: Allows users to select and clip content to save, paste or share in seconds. Photo Note: Add personalized handwritten notes on the back of your photos to help capture the moment. Creativity: Paper Artist: Besides enabling users to enliven sketches or content with different color or pencil styles, Paper Artist enables over 30 artistic effects that can be applied to images or media. Users can also draw or write onto the content and share it with others. A smarter S Pen: The S Pen now allows users to select writing or color modes at the touch of a button, or unlock the home-screen simply by removing the S Pen. Both the Wi-Fi versions of Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1 and 7.0) will benefit from the core improvements of Android 4.1 which features a more intuitive user interface, faster performance and response times across applications, and an overall smoother user experience. This is also complemented by an enhanced user interface optimized for the 10.1-inch screen. For images and more detailed information, please visit http://www.samsung.com/us/ About Samsung Electronics America Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for information. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| LG Optimus G crosses 1 million sold threshold Posted: 18 Jan 2013 06:15 AM PST
The LG Optimus G flagship handset has crossed the 1 million sold mark, according to the smartphone maker. Available in a number of markets around the globe since September, the phone is set to arrive in Europe and China later this month where it should pick up momentum. As a refresher, the Optimus G can be paired with either AT&T or Sprint here in the United States. While the 1 million figure is nothing to sneeze at, it does not stack up the likes of Apple and Samsung. Samsung’s Galaxy S III, available since May 2012, has amassed 40 million in sales while the iPhone 5 scored 2 million transactions in the first weekend alone. With that said, we like the direction in which LG seems to be heading and think they could make some movement in the new year. Mobile World Congress is around the corner and that likely means a new line of device announcements. Via: The Next Web Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
| Samsung tied to rumors of 5.8-inch Galaxy Fonblet Posted: 18 Jan 2013 06:02 AM PST
Samsung will introduce a new 5.8-inch Android device for the European market, reports SamMobile. Known by a name of Galaxy Fonblet (yuck), it is allegedly built with a design similar to that of the Galaxy Player 5.8 media player. Details for the large GT-I9152 smartphone include dual-SIM support and Pure White color. Sounds pretty large, doesn’t it? Well, if the rumors are true, there’s a bigger Galaxy Note III coming later this year and it could boast a 6.3-inch display size. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! |
My name is Justin, and I’m a messaging app junkie. I constantly change messaging apps, test new ones for fun, and I’m never completely satisfied. I’ve somewhat settled on Handcent SMS over the last month or so, but I’m always open to trying out something new, which is why I recently downloaded a fun little app called Sliding Messaging.
| You are subscribed to email updates from AndroidGuys To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment