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903 'update' stories May 2011 - January 2016
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YouTube now lets you enable playback looping with just a couple clicks

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 21 2016 - 1:07 pm PT
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YouTube now lets you click a convenient button to enable endless looping of videos. It’s not a feature that has been impossible to add without the help of a quick Chrome extension install, but now it’s accessible on YouTube’s site without needing to install any third-party software at all. Just right-click the YouTube viewer and click “Loop”…

Perhaps you just love that new Coldplay single, or you want to watch a funny 10 second clip on repeat. We’ve all had at least one moment that this feature would have come in handy, and now it’s here. Maybe you could head over to our YouTube channel and turn the feature on for a while? Or just watch our videos. Yeah, that would be great. Here’s a quick link.

CM13 comes to Wileyfox Swift & Storm and Moto RAZR, Droid RAZR, Droid Bionic, Droid 4

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 21 2016 - 8:45 am PT
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We’ve covered both the Wileyfox Swift and Wileyfox Storm in detail (read & watch our reviews here and here, respectively), and now the two phones—which by default run Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Android Lollipop—are getting CyanogenMod 13 nightlies (via Android Police). We’ve said that the British-made and well-specced handsets are a great deal for the price if you live in the UK, even though they may not have anywhere near the hype or brand recognition of OnePlus…

You can find CM13 download links for the two phones here:

In addition, it seems a few ancient handsets also just starting receiving their first CyanogenMod 13 nightlies. The Motorola RAZR, Motorola Droid RAZR,  Motorola Droid Bionic, and Motorola Droid 4 are all joining ranks among dozens of other handsets. Marshmallow builds for these phones and others have been popping up here and there, but if you’ve been waiting on the tried and true (although maybe not in this case, as these are nightlies after all) CyanogenMod, you’re in luck.

Be sure to watch our own Cam Bunton’s video reviews of the Swift and Storm, and subscribe to us on YouTube for even more Wileyfox content in the future.

PSA: Verizon’s LG G3 now receiving Android Marshmallow over-the-air

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 21 2016 - 8:25 am PT
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The LG G3 is a tank of a phone, and it still holds up pretty well in 2016 even as the Korean company is planning to unveil the LG G5. If you’re running a Verizon-branded LG G3 as your daily driver, I have some good news: Many people just like you are reporting (via Reddit) that the phone is getting its over-the-air update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

As is usually the case with phones any more than a year old, it’s really a gamble whether or not devices will get the latest version of sweet-and-secure Android. Owners of the LG G3 D855 model, F400L/K/S models, and now Verizon owners, have all hit the jackpot as of yet. You can read more about Marshmallow compatibility with the LG G3 here.

‘Documents for Android Wear’ lets you view Google Docs and PDFs on your watch [Video]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 19 2016 - 10:24 am PT
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A new app called Document Viewer for Android Wear was recently released by appfour, and you’re probably either excited or rolling your eyes. I’m definitely in the latter category. But then again, most times developers have tried to take apps that typically require a decently sized screen and shrink them to the size of teeny tiny Android Wear, the results haven’t been great. I’m looking at you, emulators that are definitely cool–proofs–of–concept-but-completely-impractical.

This one may not be as ridiculous as running a PSP game, but I’d say—and I mean absolutely no offense to appfour—it’s very unlikely to become an app you use daily…


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Facebook adds Tor support to its Android app via The Tor Project’s Orbot app

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 19 2016 - 7:44 am PT
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Today, Facebook announced that it is bringing Tor support to its Android app, a couple years after the company decided to make Facebook available directly over the Tor network in October of 2014. Facebook says that “a sizeable community of people” are using the site over Tor, so bringing the feature to mobile via Android seems like the next logical step…


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PSA: ASUS just pushed Android for Work support, bug fixes to the ZenFone 2

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 19 2016 - 6:33 am PT
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ASUS just pushed a maintenance release to the ZenFone 2, according to a thread posted by the company on its ZenTalk forum. The update fixes several issues as you can see below, as well as adds support for Android for Work and a new “Screenshot sound settings” menu.

Here’s the full change log:

1.Fixed video sound issue.
2.Fixed google play stop service .
3.Fixed SD cards issue.
4.Fixed SmartBox not read the phone issue.
5.Fixed can not control the volume of YouTube when using miracast.
6.Fixed the issue of displaying wrong operator name when roaming and searching network.
7.Fixed phone hang-up issue in Russia
8.Fixed PosteMobile NFC issue (ZE551ML only)
9.Support Android for Work
10.Improve ASUS ZenUI Launcher stability
11.Improve Cell Broadcast stability
12.Fix the failure to share Photo Collage picture via Email
13.Several Apps update
14.Improve power usage of Email App

#        New Features
1.Add Screenshot sound settings

As far as we can tell, the update is still Lollipop, and is only going out to the standard ZenFone 2 at the moment. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you’re already seeing the update—my handy ZenFone 2 is still update-less.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG Watch Urbane $200, Ooma VoIP Home Phone $75, Fitbit Aria $89, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 18 2016 - 9:52 am PT
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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:

LG Watch Urbane Android Wear Smartwatch: $200 shipped (Reg. $259)

Ditch your landline with Ooma’s Telo Home Phone Service for $75 shipped (Reg. $110)

Track your body fat percentage & BMI w/ Fitbit’s Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale: $89 shipped (Reg. $130)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Google Play albums from Zac Brown Band and more on sale for $0.99 each

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

USB Power: 5-Port QuickCharge 2.0 Charger $18 (Reg. $30), 5-pack microUSB cables $4

New 32GB Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge for $490 shipped (Reg. $715)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

This Nintendo-inspired Bluetooth speaker is just about perfect in every way

Phāz takes note of iPhone 7 rumors with new Lightning-connected headphones

Future versions of Chrome will have Chromecast support built-in

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 13 2016 - 2:57 pm PT
2 Comments

As of today, the ability to cast content to your Chromecast from the desktop comes in the form of a Chrome extension called Google Cast. As of the latest beta build of Chrome, though, you can now cast content from the web without said extension installed. All you have to do is right-click the content and use the “Cast…” menu…


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Google Play Books comes to Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and 5 more new countries

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 13 2016 - 10:34 am PT
1 Comment

This one’s a quick one. Google has today launched Google Play Books in 9 new countries, bringing the total number of locales that have access to the service to 75. Those residing in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates will find that they can use Play Books effective immediately.

On a related note, Google updated Play Books this time last month with a new Night Light mode that lets you read in the dark without killing your eyes. Hopefully they’ll bring this feature to the OS as a whole soon, just like Apple is planning to do with the launch of iOS 9.3. Most of us have been using this on our desktops with F.lux.

9to5Toys Last Call: LG G4 $350, LG G3 (refurb) $170, LG 34″ QHD Monitor $570, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 13 2016 - 10:33 am PT
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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:

Last Call Updates:

Samsung Gear S2 from $250 shipped w/ code 50OFFJAN, Gear S2 Classic from $300 shipped w/ code 50OFFJAN — If you don’t mind rebates, you can get an additional $50 off either model | Adorama

LG G4 w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (unlocked): $350 shipped (Reg. $600)

LG G3 D850 32 GB unlocked (refurb) 32 GB: $170 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

34-inch UltraWide Displays: LG w/ Thunderbolt $570 (Reg. $700+), Dell Curved $675 (Reg. $750)

It’s 2016, stop renting your cable modem: Motorola refurb DOCSIS 3.0 deals from $40 (Orig. up to $220)

LAST CHANCE!!! Giveaway: 1-yr. subscription to Apple Music, Beats Pill+ and Solo 2 Over-ear Headphones ($549 value)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Daily Deals: VIZIO 38-inch 2.1 Bluetooth Sound Bar w/ Wireless Subwoofer (refurb) $90, TOURO 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Drive $50, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Quick Review: SoundPEATS’ Q9A Bluetooth earbuds offer solid value at less than $20, exclusive discount

Motorola Nexus 6 factory unlocked 32GB in blue/white: $250 shipped (Reg. $330)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

LEGO did everything right with its new 2,500-piece vintage Batman set

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/685497066211176448 align=’center’]

Skype bringing free group video calling to Android

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jan 12 2016 - 12:22 pm PT
2 Comments

Skype today announced that it’s bringing free group video calling— a feature it’s long had available on the desktop—to mobile devices including Android users.

Yes, it really has been a decade since Skype changed the way people connect with their loved ones. 6 years ago, we innovated again with one-to-one video calling on mobile phones. Today, we are excited to announce the next evolution – group video calling on Android, iPhone, iPad and Windows 10 Mobile.

The feature will officially launch in the coming weeks, but you can pre-register through Skype’s website here starting today.

And keep an eye out for updates to the Skype for Android app. In the latest update to the app, Skype also introduced to the ability to “Send video messages to groups directly from group chats.”

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t20MzFcwWVM]

December’s self-driving car report from Google details rain encounters, zero new accidents

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 8 2016 - 4:07 pm PT
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Google has been releasing monthly reports about its self-driving car program for quite some time now, and now December’s report has hit the interwebs. This report was delayed due to the holidays (they usually hit around the 1st of the month), and it also just so happens to be one of the most bare-bones we’ve seen so far. The company does note what they’re doing to combat the rain in California (say what?), though…


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January security update for Nexus devices rolling out now, download factory images here

Avatar for Abner Li Jan 4 2016 - 11:08 am PT
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Google has been following through with its promise of providing monthly security patches for Nexus devices. Last month’s was bundled with Android 6.0.1 and the January security updates are arriving today. The updates are based on Android 6.0.1, so don’t expect any new user facing features or even other tweaks.


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UK Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge owners now receiving Android Marshmallow beta

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 23 2015 - 12:23 pm PT
1 Comment

It’s been a long time coming for owners of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but Samsung is now rolling out a beta of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Samsung recently started looking for testers of the new software, and now it appears that owners of Samsung’s latest flagship S-series phones in the UK (but only those that opted in to the program, of course), are now getting the beta firmware…


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Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out for unlocked HTC One M9 today, 6.0.1 for One A9

Avatar for Cam Bunton Dec 23 2015 - 2:39 am PT
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Earlier this month, a leaked roadmap suggested when each HTC device could expect to receive its update to Android Marshmallow. In it, the One A9 and One M9 were allegedly due to get their next updates in the first quarter of next year. While that may be true of some variants internationally, others should start seeing the update land today.

Mo Versi, the company’s US head of product management, tweeted to say that Android 6.0 for the unlocked HTC One M9 and 6.0.1 for the unlocked One A9 should be rolling out at some point over the next 24 hours. Being based in the States, we’re pretty confident this rollout only applies to the US models and — as always — those with carrier-locked, bloatware-laden versions will have to wait a little while longer before they see the newest software on their smartphones.

[tweet https://twitter.com/moversi/status/679481121604808704 align=’center’]

HTC’s One A9 was the first non-Nexus smartphone to launch with Android Marshmallow out of the box. Today’s update for users with that phone just brings some minor improvements, along with new emoji, to the Android-powered iPhone-lookalike.

For One M9 owners, this is the firs time they’ll be able to get a taste of the latest operating system from Google. Marshmallow brings a number of new features to the M9, most notable are the ‘Doze’ mode, which effectively stops the battery from running down during standby, plus the ability to ‘adopt’ a MicroSD card as internal storage.

Google explains why the new colorful hockey puck Chromecast looks so different

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 22 2015 - 1:41 pm PT
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When we first exclusively leaked the 2nd generation Chromecast, we were dumbfounded by its design. Ditching the dongle-like look of its predecessor (that many other streaming sticks have come to mimic), the new Chromecast is more like a miniature hockey puck with a long HDMI cord attached, and comes in three bright colors. Many asked why a streaming device that sits behind the TV would need three colors, and Google has come out to answer this question and many others in a new interview…


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Searching ‘bubble level’ in Google Search now presents you with an interactive level

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 22 2015 - 12:28 pm PT
1 Comment

One Googler took to Reddit last week to tell the world about a new feature that his team (presumably) added to Google search. Now, if you search for “bubble level” in search from the Google app or Chrome on your mobile device (yes, including the iPhone), you’ll get access to an interactive bubble level mini-app directly from the results page itself.

And that’s about it. This doesn’t need much explaining, does it? Personally, I think this is a pretty nifty little feature to have whenever I need it. That said, I wouldn’t use this for any professional jobs that need exact precision. At least in my experience, this little widget isn’t nearly as accurate as the standalone apps on the Play Store or the iOS Compass app.

PSA: First CyanogenMod 13 nightly for Nexus 4 released

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 22 2015 - 9:14 am PT
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CyanogenMod 13 nightlies — which are based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow — have been rolling out for a couple of months now, and now you can grab the custom Android ROM for the Nexus 4. While this may not be a vanilla build of Android Marshmallow, it is yet another method of bringing the latest that Android has to offer to a phone that’s more than three years old…


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Android 6.0 Marshmallow now rolling out to the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 21 2015 - 11:25 am PT
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NVIDIA released the refreshed SHIELD Tablet K1 last month, and now it’s getting a huge software update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The biggest additions here are nothing new — they’ve been hitting devices since Marshmallow first started rolling out to the Nexus line earlier this year — but there are a few things unique to the K1…


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Deal: Get a fully-capable Galaxy Gear Live Android Wear smartwatch for just $80

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 21 2015 - 9:49 am PT
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If you’re looking to grab a smartwatch for an Android lover this holiday season, but would prefer something closer to a stocking stuffer than jewelry, this is your chance. DailySteals is offering the Samsung Galaxy Gear Live Android Wear smartwatch for just $79.99, and shipping to get it to your doorstep before Christmas should only be a couple bucks more.

While some of the latest Android Wear hardware does add a speaker (which has yet to be actually enabled by the software), the experience on the latest devices isn’t much different than when the platform first launched. The Galaxy Gear Live debuted Android Wear alongside the LG G Watch R, and it’s still a fully-capable smartwatch for someone looking to dip their toes.

For more great deals in the days leading up to Christmas, be sure to check out our roundup of last-minute picks for the Android lover.

9to5Toys Last Call: FitBit Charge HR $110, Microsoft Band 2 $200, $50 off Nexus 6P, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 18 2015 - 3:03 pm PT
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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:

Fitness Trackers: Fitbit Charge HR $110 (Reg. $130+), The Microsoft Band 2 $200 (Reg. $250)

Nexus 6P is $50 off at the Google Store with free overnight shipping

 

 

Various Huawei Watch models are $50 off at Amazon and the Google Store

Games/Apps: Bastion for iOS $1 (Reg. $5), 50% off Final Fantasy 1-7, freebies, more

 

Gift Cards w/ Email Delivery: JCPenney $60 for $50, Toys R Us $100 for $90, more

 

9to5Google Gift Guides: Stephen, Abner, and Cam’s favorite Chrome and Android-powered products

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Linksys USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter: $14 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)

 

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Seagate Backup Plus USB 3.0 5TB Desktop External Hard Drive $115 (Orig. $180)

USB Chargers w/ Prime shipping: Imneed 10,000mah Slim power bank $12, Nylon Braided Lightning Cable $8, more

Anker USB Power Deals: Astro E7 26,800mAh Power Bank $40 (Reg. $60), Braided Nylon MFi Lightning Cables from $8, more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Tiny Arcade puts those 80’s gaming cabinets in the palm of your hand

Justin’s Holiday Gift Guide: speakers, Lightning mics, pocket synths & more to up your home recording set-up

Trevor’s Holiday Gift Guide: The perfect accessories for travel – backpacks, cord management, more

Dan’s Holiday Gift Guide: rare Apple collectibles & swag for the techie who has everything

Skip the holiday blues with these practical stocking stuffers

Top 10 holiday movies you can stream right now on Netflix

Get Canary’s all-in-one home security system + air quality/temperature sensor for $179 (Reg. $200)

Here’s how to manually access a public WiFi login page on Android

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 18 2015 - 9:48 am PT
4 Comments

If you’ve ever used public WiFi before, you’re probably familiar with one common problem that just about everyone runs into every once in a while. You’ve selected the theoretically open WiFi network that you want to join and your phone tells you that you’re successfully connected, but when you head to Chrome and try to load up a page, you get nothing. In the Android WiFi settings menu, you may see a message along the lines of “Connected. No internet”. I ran into this problem myself a few times just this week, but now I’ve found the solution…


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Google wants to make Hangouts better at Hangouts, planning to strip SMS support to do so

Avatar for Stephen Hall Dec 17 2015 - 2:52 pm PT
6 Comments

The well-connected Derek Ross took to his Google+ profile yesterday, sharing a post entitled “Things that’ll piss people off”. In said post, he details something that — indeed — will piss people off. According to Ross (who has a pretty good track record when it comes to Google software), the Mountain View company is planning to strip SMS support from Hangouts in an effort to make the app better at its job…
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