I’m a writer for 9to5Google with a background in IT and Android development. While I have a soft spot for stock Android, I’m typically juggling two to three devices at once running both Android and iOS. My previous work can be seen on Phandroid, Android Central, and AndroidMeter. Email me at justin@jaduino.com. Tips are always welcome.
Back in early May, a widespread phishing scam started to spread among Gmail users. The email, which looked realistic to many users, had people grant OAuth access to a web application that was pretending to be Docs. Google quickly killed the web application, but it showed that the company needed to take additional steps to help protect its customers…
RED, a company that produces high-end cinema cameras that are used to shoot major motion pictures, has just announced a new smartphone running Android. Aiming to ship early next year, the biggest issue with the Hydrogen One phone is that its press release is filled with a bunch of marketing speak that doesn’t actually go into detail about the handset itself…
When it comes to Android, customization is one the operating system’s key features. Something that isn’t quite unique to Android anymore but is still a core feature is the ability to change keyboards. One of the most popular, Google’s own Gboard, is now the subject of discussion on Reddit because some have been experiencing issues.
If you’re using Gboard on your Android devices, have you experienced the keyboard becoming less stable over the last couple of months?
Since launching late last year on the Google Home and Pixel handsets, the Google Assistant has gotten smarter and has gained more functionality. Unfortunately, there have been some bugs along the way. The latest issue that is currently plaguing the virtual assistant is the ability to accurately tell the time in Arizona, in which Assistant believes the state to be on the East Coast…
OnePlus has just released the OnePlus 5, the company’s flagship smartphone for 2017. This year, the company decided to change up its hardware design language but didn’t change much in the software department. One thing OnePlus did do is add some functionality to the handset’s screenshot functionality…
As we reported earlier today, the latest version of Google Play Music (7.9.4920) started rolling out yesterday and once installed, many users are seeing the app crashes when the phone or tablet is connected to a Bluetooth device. Thankfully, there is an easy but tedious temporary fix until Google pushes a new build of Play Music that has fixed this problem…
OnePlus held a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) yesterday as a way to answer questions from Android enthusiasts about its newest flagship: the OnePlus 5. While many inquired about the phone, others asked questions about when older devices would get upgraded. In response, a OnePlus representative has promised that the 3 and 3T will be updated to Android O “within this year.”
Over the weekend, a new leak surfaced that reportedly sheds more light on the upcoming Walleye and Taimen devices. The leak hints at both of the devices’ specs, hardware design, and IO. Based off of these leaks, which of the two new upcoming Google smartphones are you most interested in?
Google is unique in that it allows its employees to spend 20% of their time working on personal projects on top of their daily tasks. To help employees, Google has an incubator called Area 120 where projects can come to life. One of the latest apps to come out of Area 120 is called Uptime, and it allows friends to watch, comment, and react to YouTube videos in real-time. Previously in an invite-only beta, Uptime is now available to all on iOS…
One of the highlight features coming to Android 8.0 is support for picture-in-picture. Although Android O is still being beta tested and isn’t expected to be fully released until later this year, it hasn’t stopped developers from building the functionality into their apps. The latest app to get updated with PiP is Google’s very own Chrome web browser…
Over the last several years, HTC has lost most of its Android market share, especially in the US. Even though the phones that the company produces have been high quality and have top of the line specs, many have just lost interest. This year, though, HTC is shaking things up with a new design and a new feature called Edge Sense.
Are you interested at all in the upcoming Edge Sense features? If so, which ones?
In this day and age, almost everyone has a smartphone. It’s easy to see this because no matter where you go, everyone has a small rectangular device in their hands. And no matter what smartphone you pick up, they almost all look identical. Thankfully, some companies like Samsung make flip phones from the good ol’ days that have been updated to be a bit smarter.
Would you ever replace your current smartphone for a smart flip phone?
Mozilla, a non-profit foundation that created the Firefox web browser, created a new mobile browser for iOS devices that allowed users to anonymously browse the world wide web. Today, Mozilla is finally bringing Firefox Focus to Android, introducing three new features to make the browser even more useful for users…
The OnePlus 5 was announced today, and while many appreciated the company’s decision to build a more premium handset, others were upset at the increased cost of the smartphone. As someone who dislikes the OnePlus 5’s price tag, what features would you have happily given up if it meant a less expensive cell phone?
When OnePlus released its first smartphone in 2014, the company called it the “flagship killer.” This was because it packed powerful flagship-level specs, and instead of charging customers an arm and a leg for the handset, the OnePlus One cost as little as $300 unlocked. This year, though, OnePlus released its newest flagship with a $539 price tag. It sounds steep, but I think it’s a good thing…
This morning we got our first hands-on look at the OnePlus 5 and most importantly, its camera. In addition to the flagship’s design change, the biggest addition is a dual camera setup for taking portrait-style photographs and the ability to zoom in without actually cropping down on the image. What is your favorite dual-camera smartphone feature?
If there is one thing that Twitter users have been begging for, it’s the ability to edit tweets. In response, Twitter has instead decided to introduce a brand new design in its mobile and desktop applications. All jokes aside, do you like the new design that features a round interface or was the old look better?
Most consumer electronics, including smartphones, come with a limited one-year warranty. LG is stepping it up a notch today by announcing something that it calls the Second Year Promise. Now, instead of your G6 only being covered for a single year, it will be covered by LG for two…
Samsung, being the world leader in the number of phones sold, has to maintain hundreds of web domains that are tied to its different applications and services. Recently, the company accidentally let the domain linked to the S Suggest app expire. According to a security researcher who purchased the domain, this could have led to malicious attacks on millions of devices…
Custom launchers are one of the best ways that users can take full advantage of Android’s open ecosystem. Without having to modify their smartphones, users can simply install a third-party launcher and change up the look of their device. Today, Nova Launcher received an update which makes it even better with native Google Now built-in. What other launchers should have this functionality?
Home automation is an idea straight out of an 80’s sci-fi TV show. Now, with Google Assistant, we can simply ask our phones or Google Home to turn on the lights or turn off a fan. The biggest issue with smarthome products, though, has long been their upfront cost. Thanks to the intelliPlug, a product currently being funded on Indiegogo, this might not be as much of a problem going forward…
Although we are still several months out from an official announcement, yesterday we got news that “muskie,” believed to be the Pixel XL 2, was being shelved. Then we found information that suggests that “taimen,” a larger smartphone being developed, is being manufactured by LG. Would you purchase the second generation Pixel XL if it were being made by LG?
A report emerged yesterday claiming that Sprint would be the exclusive carrier for the Essential Phone, a move that was confirmed by Sprint this morning. What this means for customers in the US is that Andy Rubin’s brand new smartphone can only be bought unlocked for full price or through a single carrier. Will the prospects of you purchasing the Essential Phone be diminished if you can’t buy it from a different cellular carrier?
There is a hidden section within Android that provides developers with different tools to help them debug apps and so much more. Regular users tend to enable these Developer options so that they can turn on USB debugging, allowing them to control the device using a computer. If you’ve ever enabled the Developer options but now want to hide then, the steps below will show you how to easily do so.