Android

In addition to updating its iOS app, Imgur this morning has also unveiled an entirely new version of its Android app. Imgur says that this is its first ever fully native app for Android users and was built completely from scratch. The app features a redesigned card-based gallery that offers large and easily viewable images. Users can navigate throughout the interface by swiping left or right to view more content.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy Note 3 (unlocked) $265, Acer Chromebook 15 $336, Chromecast $24, more

Stephen Hall Jun 1 2015 - 12:47 pm PT

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 32GB (unlocked): $265 shipped (Reg. $500)

Acer Chromebook 15 C910-C37P 16-Inch Chromebook: $337 shipped (Reg. $400)

Google Chromecast (refurb) $24 shipped (Reg. $35) + free movie rental, UFC Fight Pass, and more

Samsung Class 10 microSD Flash Memory Cards w/ Prime shipping: 16GB EVO $7 (Reg. $15), 32GB Pro $18 (Reg. $37)

Kindle for Kids Bundle: Kindle e-reader + kid friendly cover + 2yr. warranty $99 shipped ($140 value)

GoPro’s new HERO+ LCD brings a touch display to its entry-level action camera

Father’s Day Gift Guide: top picks, exclusive discounts and a $482 giveaway

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Samsung 55″ Smart HDTV $800, Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard $27, more

New! Games/Apps: Mortal Kombat X $39, Final Fantasy Type-0 $28, more
New! Headphones: Jabra Move Bluetooth on-ears $70 (Reg. $100), more
New! Samsung microSD cards: 16GB EVO $7 (Reg. $15), 32GB Pro $18 (Reg. $37)

More deals still alive:

PlayStation Plus free games for Junes: Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes, more

Xbox Live free games for June: Massive Chalice, Just Cause 2, Thief, more

App Store Free App of the Week: Hyper Square puzzle game ($2 value)
Lenmar’s ChugPlug gets you 4 hours of MacBook battery life: $68 shipped (Reg. $130)
Classical music albums $0.99 ea: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, many more
Multi-year magazine subs from $4.75/yr: ESPN, Wired, Men’s Health, many more
Pioneer speakers: SP-BS21 Bookshelfs $50 shipped (Orig. $100), more
Headphones: Philips Bluetooth $31, Audio-Technica (refurb) $39, more
TP-LINK 150Mbps wireless N portable travel router $15 shipped (Orig. $30)
Harman Kardon & JBL Factory Recertified up to 80% off
Get a month of geek and gaming gear from Loot Crate for $17 shipped (15% savings)
Complete Arduino Starter Kit & 3-Course Bundle: $76 (Orig. $520, CA Tax Only)
Get a minimum of $175 towards a PlayStation 4 with an eligible PS3 or Xbox 360 trade
AirPlay content from your iOS devices to your Mac w/ Airserver: $10 (Orig. $15)
HUSKK Quickdraw iPhone 6/6+ Leather Wallet Case: Shipped $25 (Orig. $49)

New products & more:

Splatoon for Wii U inks the scene with colorful gameplay and an exclusive bundle

Bluelounge’s new extension cord brings style and USB power
Amazon Prime adds free same day delivery in select markets across the United States
WD upgrades its popular My Passport Ultra portable HD
New game from former BioShock devs puts players in the shoes of a blind protagonist
Neato’s next gen robotic vacuums might be its quietest and best looking yet
SanDisk’s new SSDs offer improved performance at a “cost-effective” price
Screentendo can turn any part of your screen into a playable Super Mario Bros. level
This retro style amiibo display is going to give you flashbacks
OXBOARD blends a skateboard and Segway for a unique rechargeable transportation option
The new Yeair quadcopter can go as fast as your car for 60 minutes without landing

Android Lollipop adoption inches past 12% in May, KitKat and Jelly Bean still holding strong

Stephen Hall Jun 1 2015 - 11:55 am PT

2 Comments

It’s the top of the month, and that means it’s time for another update from Google on Android’s adoption numbers. Lollipop, the latest release, has just in the last 30 days crept up to pass 12% adoption, following an overall market share of 9.7% that 5.0 and later had at the beginning of last month. Specifically, Android Lollipop now has 12.4% of the Android market.
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Microsoft reportedly buying cross-platform to-do list app Wunderlist

Zac Hall Jun 1 2015 - 11:26 am PT

You can now add the German mobile app firm 6Wunderkinder GmbH to the growing list of companies with Android apps that Microsoft has bought in recent months. 6Wunderkinder makes the popular cross-platform Wunderlist task manager for Android. According to The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft has spent somewhere in the ballpark of $100-$200 million for the firm.
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Verizon’s Galaxy Tab S 8.4 LTE receiving OTA update to Lollipop

Tom Maxwell Jun 1 2015 - 9:56 am PT

As first reported by Android Police and listed on a Samsung support page for the Galaxy Tab S 8.4, it seems that Verizon’s variant of the tablet is now receiving an OTA update to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

The software version for the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 becomes T707VVRU1BOD4, and to check if the Lollipop update has reached your device you need to open your Settings app and select About device.

We would’ve hoped this update would be to 5.1.1, as earlier 5.0 versions have been known to cause a bevy of problems for many devices, but alas we can only hope that Samsung did extensive enough testing to fish out any significant problems.

Pro tip: Chrome already has similar granular permission controls to Android M

Tom Maxwell Jun 1 2015 - 9:36 am PT

One of the big additions to Android with the unveiling of Android M last week is more granular permission controls, allowing developers to ask for access to things like the microphone or GPS only once they need them, and for users to be able to revoke one or all of these permissions when they’d like. What wasn’t discussed on the keynote stage, however, is that the Chrome browser already has these features. Here’s how to use them:

OnePlus One drops to $249 this week with flash sales

Tom Maxwell Jun 1 2015 - 8:25 am PT

We can’t be sure whether or not this was what OnePlus meant when they said they’d “shake up the industry” on June 1st, but either way the company is holding flash sales on the OnePlus One at different times today through this Sunday, June 7th.

Here’s the full schedule of the next times the sale will go live:

June 2 – 2:00 GMT (10 pm EST -1 day)
June 3 – 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)
June 4 – 2:00 GMT (10 pm EST -1 day)
June 5 – 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)
June 6 – 2:00 GMT (10 pm EST -1 day)
June 7 – 12:00 GMT (8 am EST)

During the flash sales (devices may go fast, so you’ll have to be quick) OnePlus is offering the 16GB Silk White OnePlus One for $249 and the 64GB Sandstone Black model for $299. That’s a pretty good steal for a solid alternative to the Nexus 6, which was priced unusually higher than its Nexus predecessors.

OnePlus long ago confirmed that they were working on the OnePlus 2 and said it was slated for “sometime in 2015,” but that’s all we know about that device.

How to install Android M developer preview factory image on Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player

Stephen Hall Jun 1 2015 - 7:44 am PT

2 Comments

Google finally introduced to the world the next version of Android, dubbed Android M for the moment, at its Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. And while the currently-available version may be a developer preview (and those who are developers likely wouldn’t need this guide), many who aren’t as familiar with how to flash factory images might want to try the latest build of the mobile OS as well.

That’s why we made this guide. If you have the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, or Nexus Player (and possibly others in the future), there’s a build of Android M available for you to install prior to the update’s official unveiling later this year. Be warned however, as this is a very early build of the OS and is riddled with bugs, glitches, and overall performance jankiness. If that doesn’t sway you, though, keep reading…
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Report: Nintendo’s next-generation NX games console may run Android [Update: Nintendo denies]

Ben Lovejoy Jun 1 2015 - 7:17 am PT

Update: The WSJ is reporting that Nintendo has denied the suggestion:

There is no truth to the report saying that we are planning to adopt Android for NX

Nintendo has been keeping quiet about its plans for its NX games console, due to launch next year, but a report in Nikkei claims that the system will run Android.

The report suggests Nintendo is planning the shift away from its own operating system as a means of bringing more games developers on board after the Wii U was left with almost no non-Nintendo titles available for it …
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Asus adds high-end 8-inch model to its tablet range, now branded ZenPad – and the ZenPhone Selfie

Ben Lovejoy Jun 1 2015 - 5:30 am PT

Alongside the ZenWatch 2, Asus has also announced a flurry of new tablets – now using the Zen branding – and a new ZenPhone.

The highlight, and the only tablet Asus talked about in any detail, is the ZenPad S 8.0, an 8-inch model with impressive specs. The metal body contains a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 4GB RAM, hi-res 2048×1536 IPS display in 4:3 ratio, up to 64GB storage – and a shiny new USB Type C connector …
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Asus gives us our first look at the ZenWatch 2 – but no specs, price or availability yet (Video)

Ben Lovejoy Jun 1 2015 - 4:21 am PT

Asus confirmed last month that its next-generation ZenWatch was on the way, and would be released in Q3 this year. It has now shown off the Asus ZenWatch 2 for the first time – though not told us very much about it beyond the looks.

It will be available in two sizes, 49mm or 45mm, and offer a total of 18 different looks via three color choices for the watch itself and a range of straps. You can choose between silver, gunmetal and rose gold casings, each with matching stainless steel link bracelets, with leather and rubber strap options too …
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Google Play Store now displaying age-based ratings

Tom Maxwell May 29 2015 - 11:00 pm PT

We reported back in May that Google was adding age-based ratings to all apps in the Play Store as determined by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), and now it seems those ratings are starting to appear like in the example above.

Some apps display “Unrated” where the rating should be, which either means the developer didn’t complete the surveys Google asked them to by the beginning of May, or the IARC hasn’t finished rating all apps in the store yet. Google warned in the announcement of age-based that by not completing these simple surveys about their apps by May, developers would risk having their apps blocked in some territories.

The IARC ratings will vary by region, as different territories like the EU and United States have their own participating bodies in the IARC who set their own standards – the ESRB in the US, for example –but they shouldn’t vary too widely. Below are the ratings for the United States.

E: Suitable for all ages but “May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.”
E10: Suitable for everyone age 10 and up.
T: Suitable for teens age 13 and up, may include crude humor and minimal blood, simulated gambling and the possibility of strong language.
M: For age 17 and up, may include intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and strong language.
AO: Adults only, ages 18 and up. Intense violence, graphic sex and gambling with real money.

Google says age-based ratings “will give developers an easy way to communicate familiar and locally relevant content ratings to their users and help improve app discovery and engagement by letting people choose content that is right for them.“

The new ‘Google Photos’ is a convincing reason to give Google your entire photo library

Stephen Hall May 29 2015 - 4:53 pm PT

5 Comments

Google Photos was just announced this week, and—assuming you’re okay with Google having all of your photos on their servers—it’s a great new way to keep all of your life moments safely stored in one place. This isn’t just a redesigned mobile app. It’s a complete rethinking of how Google approaches its photo storage offerings, and it already has me convinced to just throw every picture I’ve ever taken to their cloud…
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Hands-on with Google ATAP’s Project Jacquard (Video)

Stephen Hall May 29 2015 - 3:50 pm PT

ATAP’s Project Soli and Project Jacquard are two of the more exciting announcements to come out of Google I/O, and while Soli didn’t have any impressive demos on the show floor, Google’s advanced technology and projects group had some touch-able fabric out for us to give Project Jacquard a test run. So we did, and we grabbed a quick video…
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Qualcomm announces Project Tango smartphone platform powered by Snapdragon 810 processor

Chance Miller May 29 2015 - 3:29 pm PT

Google’s Tango tablet

Earlier this week, Google made its Project Tango tablet available to everyone via the Google Store for $512. While many expected this price drop and public availability to lead to a successor at Google I/O, the company kept quiet and didn’t address its Tango initiative. Nevertheless, Qualcomm this evening has taken the wraps off of its own Tango smartphone platform powered by the Snapdragon 810.

Google Cast has received new APIs for second-screen functionality, autoplay, queuing, more

Tom Maxwell May 29 2015 - 2:12 pm PT

Google’s Chromecast dongle for pushing digital content from ones phone, tablet, or laptop to a TV screen isn’t exactly a high-end device – the full retail price is $35, and it’s on sale constantly – but its unexpected to many been a huge success for the company. Over 17 million of the dongles have been sold, the Cast button has been pushed over 1.5 billion times, and Google says Chromecast users consume 66% more content per day than when the device launch in 2013. To push the network of Cast buttons and supported content even further, Google has released some new APIs for developers to build richer experiences.

Google ATAP hopes its Project Soli and Project Jacquard will change how we interact with wearables

Stephen Hall May 29 2015 - 12:49 pm PT

We told you yesterday that Google’s ATAP team is working on a couple new projects dubbed Soli and Jacquard, and today the group of self-proclaimed “pirates” came out to officially announce (and demo) them both on stage at their much-anticipated Google I/O session. They’re both about reimagining how we interact with technology, but both projects attempt to do so in different ways…
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Smart Lock Passwords is hitting pre-Android M devices now, web interface live

Tom Maxwell May 29 2015 - 11:49 am PT

We reported earlier today that support for Smart Lock Passwords, a new cross-platform password manager tool for Android and Chrome/OS, was already beginning to hit major apps including Netflix. Now it seems that the greater rollout is pushing on quickly, with the web interface now live and reports spreading that Smart Lock Passwords is showing up in the Settings app of Android 5.1 Lollipop devices for some owners.

By visiting passwords.google.com you can toggle Smart Lock for Passwords on and off depending on whether or not you want to save app and website passwords to your Google account. The benefit of using Smart Lock for Passwords, especially if you’re a Google loyalist, is that it’s a simple, clean way to save login credentials for all the apps and websites you visit using Chrome and Android and log in automatically. I also imagine it’s a scary addition for apps like 1Password which, while now have many other features to differentiate themselves, initially built their businesses off saving login credentials in one place. Saving login credentials and not other things like credit card details and drivers license info is probably enough for the average person, too.

As mentioned above there have also been reports of Smart Lock Passwords hitting the Settings area of some Android phones running newer versions of Android 5.0 and Google Play Services. This would lead us to believe that it’s either a server-side change or Google had hidden Smart Lock Passwords in a recent version of Play Services, but it’s probably the former. Here is what that looks like courtesy of AndroidPolice:

Be sure to watch out for the change and let us know if Smart Lock Passwords hits your device.

Google’s quietly announced ‘Hands Free’ app is Android Pay without taking out your phone

Tom Maxwell May 29 2015 - 11:04 am PT

The newly-announced Android Pay is pretty cool – it allows you to pay at retail stores and inside mobile apps without having to take out your wallet or punch a bunch of card details into your glass-screened phone. But the logical conclusion to reducing the friction of paying for things is not tapping my phone against an NFC reader, but rather just not having to take out my phone at all! Well, without the same fanfare that was given to Android Pay, Google said they’ll have a solution for just that.

Google has partnered with Udacity to offer a nanodegree in Android development (Update: live June 3 Q&A)

Tom Maxwell May 29 2015 - 10:14 am PT

Update: Google is holding an “Ask the Experts” session today, June 3rd, at 2PM PDT where Sebastian Thrun, Peter Lubbers, and Jocelyn Becker from Udacity and Google will be answering user-submitted questions about the Android Nanodegree program. The Q&A session will be live-streamed on YouTube and there’s also a form where you can submit any questions you may have.

Yesterday Google’s Sundar Pichai said on stage at the company’s I/O conference that 8 out of every 10 phones that shipped worldwide last year were running Android, and that 600 million new smartphone users came online over the past year. That’s a lot of devices running the company’s smartphone OS, and they really want developers to realize the potential of their apps reaching that many people. So much so that they spent over $4 million developing an extensive Android development course in partnership with Udacity.

Google highlights best-in-class app designs with Material Design Showcase & Awards

Zac Hall May 29 2015 - 9:40 am PT

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtu7ZOQScrI]

As part of Google I/O week, the company is highlighting a number of Play Store apps that use Material Design in different ways. To do this, Google is launching the Material Design Showcase on the Play Store and issuing Material Design Awards to select apps for the first time.
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Thanks to USB Type-C support in Android M, you’ll soon be able to send power in both directions

Tom Maxwell May 29 2015 - 9:06 am PT

Android VP of Engineering Dave Burke’s presentation on Android M yesterday saw quite a few huge new additions coming to the OS from granular app permissions to improved battery standby management and, of course, Android Pay (check out our roundup). But one thing that might have got lost in the noise for some of you was Google’s newfound embrace of the USB Type-C standard and what it will actually do for you in practice.

USB Type-C is both flippable and bi-directional. That first attribute means that you won’t have to fiddle in the dark with plugging the USB cable connector into your phone the right-side up, because there isn’t a right-side up with Type-C.

More interesting, though, is the bi-directional ability of USB Type-C and Android M’s new interface support for it. What this means in theory is that, while this wouldn’t be practical, you could connect your Android phone to your laptop and charge your laptop with your phone instead of the other way around. You can also send files in either direction as was obviously possible before, but the new interface you see above for managing all these abilities in one place looks quite convenient.

Finally as you might be able to make out from the image above, Google is ready to welcome in more musicians with the warm embrace of MIDI support. This is big because while because 5.0 Lollipop brought support for some audio devices like USB microphones and amplifiers, it left out a lot of musical instruments that use the MIDI standard to send data back and forth between other devices. Maybe this will encourage more musicians and music app developers to consider Android again.

Netflix Android app adds support for Google’s new Smart Lock password manager

Jordan Kahn May 29 2015 - 8:22 am PT