Editor’s Picks: 15 Android apps and games you should know (January 17)
The Editor’s Picks, formerly known as APPTEASERS, is a collection of apps and games that are new to Android, recently updated, discounted, etc. Whatever the case, we think they’re worth exploring and are willing to bet that many of you would enjoy a few of them. We understand that we won’t get every single app that crosses our path but we hope to filter things a bit and pass them along to you, dear reader. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ as we showcase different apps over on our social network streams. PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE IS SPREAD OVER THREE PAGES
AppDeals
Want to keep an eye on any savings or discounts happening in the Google Play Store? This app curates a list of daily deals and promotions in a clean, card-like manner. Optimized for tablet layouts, you’ll run into the occasional advertisement which can be removed with in-app purchase. From the developers behind Reddit Sync, we like the direction this one is headed.
Pyrography
Want to create some great art pieces but mom won’t let you get a pyrography kit? This one features two instruments, multiple wood types, and a pair of modes to keep you entertained. Once you’ve designed something cool (from a photo, no less), share that on social media or gift it to a friend.
Jelly
Ping your social network contacts for help in answering questions, using pictures if need be. Already off and doing well, it comes from the mind of Biz Stone (Twitter, Blogger) and helps people to help people. Get answers within the app itself or let it hunt outside of Jelly for those who have not signed up yet. Although not available for all devices yet we like the concept and think it has great potential.
Timera
Stand in the exact same spot as others before and match your photo up with something from days gone by. Contribute to the community with geotagged photos of your own, discover awesome new sights, or just use it to virtually visit other locations. See for yourself just how much those buildings on the corner have evolved over the years.
Next Launcher 3D Shell
One of the most beautiful takes on the launcher we’ve seen, there’s a ton of 3D elements and effects to play with. The sheer number of customization options, themes, widgets, and wallpapers is dizzying and it’s super easy to create a gorgeous layout. Like gestures? Like to adjust icons? Like shiny, futuristic effects? Check out this app and tweak till your heart’s content. Start with the trial version and see for yourself.
The post Editor’s Picks: 15 Android apps and games you should know (January 17) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Intel’s Bay Trail CPU will usher Android into the 64-bit era this spring
Sure, 64-bit support is all the rage nowadays in the mobile space, what with Apple setting off a trend with the introduction of the iPhone 5s. Now, according to Intel’s CEO, tablets running Google’s operating system are next and will soon be available with 64-bit compatibility. During an earnings call yesterday, Intel chief Brian Krzanich said that Android tablets using the company’s new Atom-based Bay Trail processor are set to hit the market as early as this spring, bringing along a technology which so far has been limited to Windows 8.1 devices. It’s also worth noting that while 64-bit slates may be arriving soon, the number of Android applications optimized to take advantage of the feature will be very low at first. Still, chances are developers will quickly take care of this as more and more 64-bit-ready phones and tablets start to become available.
Filed under: Tablets
Source: Ars Technica
The Internet of Things isn’t safe: thousands of smart gadgets hacked to send spam and phishing emails
Smart things are the future, or at least that’s how it appeared to those of us who attended CES 2014. And, while we’re excited about home automation and smart appliances, it turns out that those companies building the bits and pieces of the Internet of Things (IoT) need to beef up security. Proofpoint — a security service vendor that routinely researches large-scale spam and phishing campaigns — discovered that during the two-week period before CES, a global hacking campaign successfully targeted and manipulated more than 100,000 consumer gadgets, including smart appliances, routers and other devices, into sending out more than 750,000 malicious emails. Apparently, the attacks began on December 23rd and, while roughly three quarters of the emails were sent by traditional computers and mobile devices, more than 25 percent were doled out by gadgets from the IoT.
Most disconcerting is the fact that the smart appliances and such weren’t infected with a Trojan Horse or other remote-control software. Instead, security is so lax on those devices that the hackers were able to utilize the existing software running on the devices. Proofpoint believes that many of these gadgets “have open telnet, open SSH and an SMTP (aka “email”) servers,” which means that, rather than an exploit or viral infection, the hack was accomplished by cracking the default user and password login, then setting up “the existing emailer to send or relay malicious email.” In this case, owners of infected devices probably saw no degradation in the functioning of their devices, as firing off a bunch of emails isn’t so resource-intensive. Proofpoint pointed out, however, that should such devices be used in a DDoS attack, sluggish performance from your connected gadgets could very well result.
The worst part? All of the devices are still infected, and will remain so until they are taken offline or receive a security update from their manufacturers. Hear that OEMs? Time to step your security game up, for the future of the Internet of Things is at stake — Craig and Day-Day can probably help you with that.
Filed under: Household
Via: SlashGear
Source: Proofpoint
Panasonic intros CF-MX3 convertible laptop with Yoga-like design, built-in DVD drive
The category of laptop/tablet hybrids is one of the favorites among Windows PC manufacturers, including the Japan-based Panasonic. Accordingly, the Toughbook maker hosted a conference in the Land of the Rising Sun recently, where it took the time to reveal its new CF-MX3 convertible laptop. This adjustable machine comes with a 12.5-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 LCD, a removable battery that can last between 14 to 15 hours, Windows 8.1, pen support and a built-in DVD drive — yes, a DVD drive. The entry-level CF-MX3 features a 2.6GHz Core i5-4200U CPU, 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD, while there’s also an option with double the memory and storage, a 3.0GHz Core i7-4500U CPU and a Pro version of Microsoft’s OS. Furthermore, Panasonic loaded the MX3 with a ton of ports, such as two USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA and an SD card reader; all in all, it weighs in at roughly 2.65 pounds. Pricing details for Panasonic’s CF-MX3 convertible are still unknown, though we do know it’ll be available in Japan starting February 14th.
[Thanks, Siegfried]
Daily Roundup: Google’s smart contact lens, President Obama on the NSA and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Rumored HTC One sequel
Bloomberg sources claim that the follow-up to the HTC One, the M8, will be released in late March. Click on through for more information about the launch and its rumored double-camera setup.
Google’s smart contact lens
Google’s developing a smart contact lens that can measure glucose levels from your tears, offering diabetics a pain-free way to keep tabs on their health. Click through for more information.
Citation for driving with Glass dismissed
Google Glass early-adopter Cecilia Abadie received her second ticket for wearing the headset while driving, but this time it was dismissed because there was no evidence she was operating Glass during transit. Follow the link for the whole story.
President Obama speaks out on surveillance
In a speech today, President Obama addressed concerns surrounding the NSA’s data collection and surveillance programs. While the NSA won’t stop gathering private information anytime soon, Obama is putting a few restrictions in place to prevent governmental abuse. Click the link for all the details.
The Cogito Watch, A First Look At The Connected Smartwatch At CES 2014
If you followed any coverage of CES 2014, you would have heard that there was an incredible wave of wearable technologies at this year’s show, in particular in the fitness area as well as wrist-worn devices that begin to replicate the abilities of a smartphone. There will be continuing discussions and arguments as to whether this level of usability and connectedness is even required for wearable device, smartwatches and fitness devices alike, however the Cogito Watch is a device that goes back to the bare basics of what is required for a notification device. Much like the new Martian Notifier, the Cogito only notifies the user of a select few notifications that would ideally be the most useful throughout the day.
In fact, I wouldn’t even call the Cogito Watch a smartwatch, as such, because it is much more a ‘connected’ watch as all it does is give you notifications from your phone. The Cogito Original is able to show you call, message, email, battery, alarm and calendar notifications and additionally can also show you the caller ID or who is messaging you when you receive the notification. It’s all very simple, but it’s just enough to make your life easier without making your watch into a cacophony of technological exploits.
The Cogito Watch will be available in two variants, the aforementioned Cogito Original and a second, more fashionable offering, the Cogito Pop. The Cogito Pop comes in much more appealing colour schemes to younger audiences and is smaller, making it a more viable option for ladies to get in on the smartwatch action. Unlike the Original, however, the Pop is only able to show 4 notification types and cannot show the IDs of people calling or messaging.
Both Cogito Watches also come with the ability to be submerged at 100m under water as well as a one year battery life. Yes, you did read that correctly: one year. As Cogito is such a simple device, it uses a standard watch battery to get power and as such outlasts any other smartwatch or connected watch on the market at the moment. And the price? The Cogito Original retails for $179.95 and the Cogito Pop goes for $129.95, both available for preorder now from the Cogito website.
I know I’m pretty convinced that this is one of the best wearables I saw at CES 2014, and I know our resident Mandroid loves it as well, but what do you think? Let us know if you would get one of these Cogito Watches.
Gallery of photos
[RUMOUR] The LG G3, successor to the LG G2, could be coming as soon as May 2014
The LG G2 was met with mixed reviews when it was released late last year, though one thing is for sure: it was one of the most powerful devices at the end of 2013. Whether you love or hate the buttons on the back of the phone or the fact it came with only Android 4.2.2, LG certainly did a good job with the device and I have heard from countless happy owners. It is strange then that there are rumours coming out of Korea that LG is already planning the successor to the G2. This so-called LG G3 is apparently due in mid-May, and while the exact timing of the device can’t be pinpointed yet, it’s unusual that LG is planning to bring out another flagship so soon after the G2.
More than likely, this accelerated timetable while be aiming at combating the release of the Samsung Galaxy S5, expected at MWC 2014 next month, a fact which is apparently not lost on Sony either who has also accelerated its development cycle. Whatever the reason, more competition for the S5 is a good thing and we hope LG is able to create something new and innovative with the G3. The rumour also says that the G3 will likely have a 5.5-inch QHD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 (or 2K for all you HD aficionados), a 16MP camera and a LG Odin octa-core CPU. It’s interesting that LG wouldn’t go with the Snapdragon 805 for a processor, which is doing the rounds already, but it still is just rumours.
What do you think about LG launching another flagship so soon? Did you like the LG G2? Let us know what you think.
Adobe Lightroom for iPad Likely Coming Soon With Cloud Syncing and $99 Subscription Fee
Adobe’s professional editing software Lightroom may soon make its way to the iPad, according to a product listing on Adobe’s website that appeared briefly before being pulled. The mobile software was listed with a $99 cloud subscription, to be renewed on a yearly basis.
Originally discovered by 9to5Mac, Adobe’s tagline for Lightroom for mobile is “Take Lightroom anywhere,” and according to an Adobe support employee, the software has been designed for the iPad and includes many of the same features found in the desktop version of Lightroom.
Like Apple’s own Aperture software, Lightroom is designed for post production work, allowing its users to edit and manage high volumes of digital images.
Lightroom for mobile devices has been in the works for several months now, and back in May of 2013, Adobe demonstrated a concept for a Lightroom-style photo editing app for the iPad.
The app was cloud-based, and while it was designed to serve as a companion app to the full Lightroom software, it did offer features for on-the-go photo editing. In the demo, the app was able to edit raw photos imported from a camera, implementing changes to exposure, clarity, shadows, highlights, and white balance.
Adobe’s May 2013 demo of Lightroom on an iPad
Changes made within the app synced with the desktop version of Lightroom, allowing the same photos to be edited on desktop computers, laptops, and on the iPad. Based on the reoccurring subscription fees for Lightroom mobile listed above, it is likely that the finished product works in much the same way, storing photos and edits in the cloud.
In May of 2013, Adobe abandoned its standard Creative Suite of apps, electing instead to offer cloud-based versions of all its apps. Lightroom 5 was later released in June of 2013 and offered both standalone and as a part of the Creative Cloud service.
It is likely that the upcoming Lightroom for iPad will be able to sync with both versions of the software and it is possible that it will be included for free to Creative Cloud subscribers that pay for Adobe’s full suite of software.
Though it is unknown when Lightroom for iPad might launch, its brief appearance on the Adobe website suggests that a release is imminent.
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Real World Experience with the 32GB Leef Pro UHS-1 Micro SD Card
The super techy people know that high speed memory cards make a world of difference. The average consumer might not. While I am techy, I am also just another consumer looking for the best products at the best price possible. I heard it over and over again, “You need a Class 10 micro SD card” “Class 10 is too slow now, now you need a U1 (UHS-1)” Greek to many. If all I am doing is saving saving pictures, videos and the occasional album, why do I need to look beyond the budget class 4 SD cards? Simple answer, because it is worth it.
Prior to CES 2014 I was able to obtain a Leaf Pro 32GB UHS-1 (Ultra High Speed) micro SD card. It arrived in a nice little orange box and contained the card and a full size SD card adaptor. It is just an SD card so packaging isn’t really all that important to me personally, but the very clear “up to 45MB/s” right on the front is an eye catcher. That little extra is what really seems to set the card apart from the likes of the more popular SanDisk Ultra that makes its way around Amazon.
The specific card details are as follow:
- 16, 32, 64 GB models
- Operating Temps: -25 C to +85 C
- Up to 45 MB/s
- 5-year limited warranty
- Water and Shock Proof
- Optimized for HD videos and Photos
Leef Pro cards use an increased clock speed of 100MHz, four times faster than standard cards. This allows the cards to operate at up to 45MB per second in 4-bit transfer mode, which is found on many new devices.
Where will an average consumer see the benefits of the card? Easy. If you have one of the higher end Android devices with HD video capabilities and high resolution camera, like the Xperia Z, then the speed difference is pretty apparent when you open your gallery. If you take a lot of videos and photos with such a device and have them set to an SD card that is more standard, then you probably experience some slow loading and lag in thumbnails loading. With the Leef Pro, the gallery and thumbs loaded nearly instantly and just as fast as I could scroll I had images in the windows.
I have also noticed a dramatic improvement in transfer time when copying things to and from my device. While I did shoot quite a bit of video on my phone using the card, I am not expert at noticing where the benefits are at with it. When opening the video to play back though, it starts quicker than I remember. For those that move appstoSD, you will also see much better performance for those apps.
I do have a SanDisk U1 32GB card as well, and bouncing back to that for things really did show the superiority of the Leef Pro card. The gallery still loaded fairly quickly, and much quicker than with a regular class 4, but just wasn’t as seamless as with the Leef Pro. Being that the card can be used in any device that supports a Micro SD, or easily adapted to a full size SD card, having a Leef Pro available for various device use is a good idea. It will cost you a little bit more than a similar size and similar rated card, but the higher clock speed and the higher max transfer speed is worth it. Of course you will varying degrees of speed depending on you are placing the card in and exactly what the PC, camera or phone supports. It performed well in my Xperia Z and plan to keep it there and use the SanDisk else where personally.
So, what ARE you looking at in terms of price. Well, a 16GB Leef Pro will set you back $24.99, 32GB is $44.99 and a 64GB is $84.99.
On a side note, Leef also announced the new Leef Bridge 3.0 Mobile USB at CES. It is a device that bridges the gap between PC and Mobile transferable/portable storage. It is similar to the Imation 2-in-1 I showed you guys earlier. The Leef Bridge 30 is exclusively available at Radio Shack. Go take a look at some of the other products Leef has to offer. Or go ahead and order the Leef Pro through Amazon if you fancy.
Engadget HD Podcast 381 – 1.16.14
As the dust settles on the Las Vegas Convention Center, Richard and Ben regroup to take a brief look at the highlights from CES, but for the most part, there’s still fresh HD news to discuss. There’s been a storm brewing over at DirectTV and if you’re a subscriber, you’ll have to hear about it on a brand new channel, assuming you get your weather updates on TV. Netflix’s Lilyhammer nabs a third season and Ben has finally come around to John Fusco’s latest creation — let’s just hope it has more staying power than Young Guns II. We’ve got a great episode here, so find some time and dig into another informative episode of the Engadget HD Podcast.
Hosts: Richard Lawler, Ben Drawbaugh
Producer: Jon Turi
Hear the podcast:
01:24 – Aereo vs. TV networks case will be heard by the Supreme Court
05:28 – Appeals court strikes down key parts of the FCC’s net neutrality rules
09:47 – Charter makes a $61 billion bid for Time Warner Cable, could be the first of many
15:05 – CES 2014: HDTV & home theater roundup
22:46 – Samsung: cheap OLED TVs won’t be ready for three to four years
24:11 – iOS gets a Google Play Movies & TV streaming app, but it only works over WiFi
27:18 – Sky’s AdSmart brings targeted advertising to your TV
30:30 – BBC rolls out enhanced ‘Red Button’ features to major Smart TVs
33:01 – DirecTV drops The Weather Channel, accuses it of loading up on reality TV
38:17 – Michael Bay’s ‘Black Sails’ hits iTunes, Amazon and YouTube a week before TV premiere
39:55 – Neil deGrasse Tyson’s ‘Cosmos’ reboot hits FOX on March 9th
42:20 – Netflix plans season 3 of Lilyhammer, new show based on Marco Polo
47:20 – Must See HDTV for the week of January 13th: Archer, Sherlock and The Square
Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS – AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS – MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace.
Contact the podcast:
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