Early Android L tests show serious battery life improvement
One of the big reveals for Android 4.4 KitKat’s successor, Android L, was Project Volta — new tweaks to improve battery life. Those include a new API that schedules minor tasks better, a “battery historian” to track battery-sapping activities and ART, a more efficient runtime. There’s also a “battery saver” mode that kicks in aggressively when only 15 percent of the battery remains. Now that the developer preview has been in the wild, Ars Technica has put it through its paces, along with a number of users on the XDA developer forums. The results? So far so good, with some caveats. Under tightly controlled conditions, Ars Technica managed a whopping 36 percent better battery than KitKat, without even using the battery saver mode. Many XDA users saw comparable results, though battery life was actually worse than on Android 4.4 for some. However, that was likely influenced by apps and other factors — one user noticed WhatsApp sucking 15 percent of his battery life, likely a beta bug. We’ll be running our own battery of tests, as it were, but the takeaway for now? Hey, it’s still a developer preview — but we’re optimistic.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Ars Technica, XDA Developers
Third-person Oculus Rift hack delivers a true out-of-body experience
Who says VR needs to be experienced in the first-person? Using a stereo pair of GoPro cameras, mounted to a tall antenna carried in a backpack, some obscenely intelligent makers in Poland have discovered that it’s possible to enjoy an Oculus Rift experience from a third-person POV instead. The cameras don’t respond automatically to head movements just yet, so they have to be controlled by means of a small thumb stick, but they nevertheless augment the wearer’s 3D vision: By giving him a view of the real world as seen from a couple of feet above his head, he could scan a wider part of the horizon, or safely peer out from a sniper-infested trench (do we still have those?) or simply to enjoy the uncanny feeling of staring down at his own head and neck. Not bad for an amateur Intel competition entry that was apparently constructed in just a couple of days.
TimePIN: Keep your device secure
TimePIN is a security app for android devices, with the concept being that every minute, you have a new passcode. The application uses your system clock to change your passcode.
There are four options in this app. Offset PIN, Double PIN, Mirror PIN and Reverse PIN. Each one modifies the time to create a more secure PIN.
OFFSET PIN
An offset is a number added or subtracted to the TimePIN to generate a new PIN. If the resulting PIN is over 10000, then 10000 is subtracted from it. If the resulting PIN is negative, then 10000 is added to it. If the time is 11:33, the TimePIN is 1122. With an offset of -123 being applied to the PIN of 1133, the resulting PIN will 1010.
Double PIN
The TimePIN is repeated, doubling the length of the PIN. If the time is 8:30, the PIN would be 0830. With the double modifier the final PIN would be 08300830.
Mirror PIN
The TimePIN is repeated, with the second iteration being added in reverse. If the time is 12:34, the PIN would be 1234. With the mirror modifier the final PIN would be 12344321.
Reverse PIN
The TimePIN is reversed. If the time was 9:30, the PIN would [be] 0930, with the reverse modifier applied it would be 0390.
Now that you know what TimePIN does, how does it preform? After you enable it, there is an option called “Demo PIN”. When you select this in the menu, there a toast message pops up showing what your PIN would be at that particular time.
There is also a default PIN. This is to be used when you first start your device, or when you wish to change the settings of TimePIN. It is also used as a fail safe. If you find that you can not unlock your device, you can restart your phone and use the default PIN to get in. This is a neat little security that I will definitely be keeping on my device. This way, even that creep watching you put in your PIN over your shoulder won’t know your PIN because it will change the very next minute. Literally!
While this app is no longer on the Play Store, you can download the apk file from the XDA support thread. There are certain features that require an IAP of $1.99 to unlock, but they are no longer available because the app is no longer on the Play Store. Even without these added features, TimePIN still works as one of the best security apps I have seen in a long time, and doesn’t even require root access.
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Coolest Smartphone Features for Men
Mobile phones have already given way to the smarter capabilities and functionalities of the more innovative smartphones. These advanced functionalities introduce a whole new level of web browsing, multimedia entertainment and mobile gaming. With these smarter capabilities, your smartphones can be a pocket-sized version of your computer.
Indeed, two-way communication functions through calls and text messaging are already outdated. After the sneak peek that CES 2014 gave on this year’s new technologies and innovations, there is no denying that developments in the smartphone market will continue to roll. Surely, male tech junkies would be very thrilled to get their hands on these coolest smartphone features.
Flexible screens. Though smartphones are getting bigger and bigger, flexible screens will still make them cool and trendy. The first smartphone brand that has penetrated into this concept is LG with is G Flex that is scheduled to be launched in February. This curved smartphone from the Korean electronics giant runs on a quad-core 2.26GHz processor with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 and uses the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system. This smartphone also features impeccable front and rear camera resolutions and massive RAM and internal memory spaces. In addition, LG’s self-healing technology makes this curved gadget a really good buy.
Built-in projector. For sure, the limited screen size of smartphones robs off the excitement in watching videos with someone. Thankfully, men could get hold of a smartphone with a built-in projector feature. During the second half of 2010, Samsung welcomed Galaxy Beam with its projector feature integrated in the phone. This mobile-integrated projector could project images and videos of 50 inches, at 15 lumens. The projections are set in OHP or Ambience mode. Hopefully, more and more smartphone brands will offer this one-of-a-kind technology. Soon, you may bump into a smartphone that could function as a gaming console even without a television screen.
A6 chip. Without a doubt, Apple continues to wow gadget fans with its innovations such as the A6 chip featured in iPhone 5C. With this feature, fast and efficient running of the applications will not compromise the battery life. A6 chip allows iPhone users to do everything they want with their Apple gadget at a speed they never thought they would be able to enjoy. Your phone’s energy efficiency partner will allow you to enjoy and make the most of your gadget without getting low on battery. Surely, your fun and enjoyment will not be short-lived.
Ultrafast LTE technology. Long term evolution (LTE) is undeniably a much improved version of the earlier 3G technology. The latest smartphone models equipped with LTE technology allow the users to enjoy high-speed uploads and downloads. Apple’s iPhone 5C boasts of up to 13 LTE bands and a wide range of supported LTE carriers. Other leading smartphone models loaded with LTE capabilities include Sony Xperia Z, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Nokia Lumia 920.
Indeed, the future looks very promising and ingenious for the world of smartphones. By choosing a smartphone with these cool features, men will surely get a treat they would love to brag about. Do you often access Youtube to watch favorite music videos too? When you are mobile have no chance to share the focus, you need to use flvto YouTube Downloader. This program allows you to convert any format of videos into mp3 easily and quickly. With this downloader installed on your phone, you save the time for not transiting the music through the desktop. Learn the detail at flvto.com.
Russia forcing websites to store personal data within the country
The lower house of the Russian parliament (known as the State Duma) just passed a bill that could change the way the internet works within the country. If it becomes a law, websites and apps will be required to store Russian citizens’ personal data on servers within the Federation itself. In other words, Russians will only be able to use Facebook, Google, Twitter and most online services if these companies decide to build or rent infrastructure in the country for their sake. That’s not all, though: Russian website Lenta also reports that these companies won’t even be able to transmit data to the rest of the world from within the Federation without the government’s consent.
We’ve yet to know the exact reasoning behind this bill — it could be for the sake of national security, or it could be another attempt at controlling what people can access and say on the internet. A couple of months ago, the government started requiring bloggers to register their names and email addresses, and even adhere to a strict set of restrictions if their blogs get considerable traffic. President Putin has also amended Russia’s anti-extremist law to include punishment for people who post what the government deems as extremist views on blogs, social media and other online means of communication.
It could also be part of the country’s efforts to ditch Western tech in favor of homegrown ones. Just this June, a Russian newspaper reported that government agencies and state-run companies will no longer purchase computers built around Intel or AMD processors. They’ll be buying PCs that use a locally manufactured processor called “Baikal” instead.
Thankfully, online companies will have a bit of time to prepare, as the the bill still has to go through more stages before it becomes a law. In the event that it does pass, anyone who wants to continue operating within Russia will have to start migrating data before the law takes effect in September 2016.
Filed under: Misc
Via: TechCrunch, Geek
Source: Lenta
Samsung is closing its video store, but your purchases will survive
Samsung revealed that it was shuttering its book and music stores not long ago, and today it’s saying goodbye to its last paid content portal, the Video and Media Hub. The tech firm has announced that it’s closing the shop on August 1st to “focus on exciting new video products” — and, no doubt, to stay on Google’s good side. You won’t be left high and dry as a customer, unlike what we’ve seen with other recent service closures. Samsung has struck a deal with M-Go (one of its partners for 4K video) to let you transfer any purchases to M-Go for no extra charge; make the move and you’ll get both $5 in credit as well as 50 percent discounts on up to two movie rentals.
As M-Go chief John Batter explains to Recode, this all too rare handover wasn’t an altruistic gesture; the studios were aware of the backlash they’d face if legions of viewers lost their video collections. Shifting ownership, on the other hand, might just foster some goodwill. Whether or not there’s any sincere kindness involved, the offer is helpful if you’re a frequent shopper at Samsung’s store. In some ways, you won’t miss a beat.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Mobile, Samsung
Source: M-Go, Samsung Content & Services
Former researcher says Facebook’s behavioral experiments had ‘few limits’
Facebook’s still trying to brush off that whole psychological study with unaware users thing, but according to a former team member and outside researchers, the social network’s data science department has had (changes have been promised) surprisingly free rein over how it polled and tweaked the site. Andrew Ledvina, who worked as a Facebook data scientist from February 2012 to July 2013, told the WSJ: “Anyone on that team could run a test.”
In 2010, the research team gauged how “political mobilization messages” delivered to 61 million users affected voting in the US congressional elections that year, while in 2012, thousands of users received a warning that they were being locked out of Facebook. While the reason given was that it believed they were bots or using a fake name, the network already knew that the majority were real users — it was apparently all in aid of improving Facebook’s anti-fraud system.
Since its beginnings, Facebook’s data science team has apparently run hundreds of behavioral tests. As Ledvina put it: “They’re always trying to alter peoples’ behavior.” Other tests and research are apparently less invasive: less emotional button pushing, more button testing in an effort to click on more ads and generally waste more time on the site. As the WSJ notes, Facebook isn’t the only one: Twitter, Google, Microsoft et al. also research and monitor their users.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Science, Internet, Facebook
Source: WSJ
Android L Hits Nova Launcher Beta Update [Download]
Android L has been out for over a week, and developers are having fun with the Developer Preview, aas well as trying to get the apps we use to get that Android L Material Design. Nova Launcher Beta sees a nice update today, bringing in some of that Android L feeling to your device.
- ”L” Folder Preview (Nova Settings – Folder – Folder Preview – Line)
- -L” App Drawer Icon (Long-press app drawer – Edit – Tap Icon – All white icon under “Built-in”)
- ”L” App Animation (Nova Settings – Look and Feel – App Animation – Slide Up)
- Minor tuning for running on Android L Dev Preview
- Optimizations and bug fixes
So if you want to give the new Nova Launcher update a try, check the beta update within the launcher, or hit the link below for a direct download. Let us know how you like it.
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Get ready for Android Wear’s first round of apps
If you’ve pre-ordered an Android Wear watch and want to have everything ready for the very moment you slap that device on your wrist, Google is more than happy to help; the company has posted everything you’ll need on day one. To start, you can both grab the official Android Wear app (needed to link up) and look out for the automatic Google Play Services 5.0 upgrade that adds the underlying Wear framework. After that, you’ll want to check out Google Play’s new dedicated app section that highlights early titles with Wear support, including third-party tools like Allthecooks, Evernote and IFTTT. These apps aren’t going to make your wristwear arrive any sooner, but getting yourself ready could make the wait a little more bearable.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Via: Android Developers (Google+), Phandroid
Source: Google Play (1), (2), Android Developers Blog
Play Store gets Android Wear apps sections added, see what is already Supported
The Android Wear demo that Google put on during I/O was pretty cool. It showcased a number of Google centric apps, of course, but left many wondering what other apps would be compatible. That question can only be answered by the app developers of the world since Google has all the tools for them to make it work. The current list of apps is at 25 and include more that just Google apps. Apps like IFTTT, Banjo, Evernote Wear, Pinterest, American & Delta airlines and 1Weather: Widget Forecast Radar.
While these will only be good for those lucky few from Google I/O who have a Android Wear device, it is a good reference for those that are waiting on their orders. The LG G Watch states it is leaving the warehouse’s in 1 to 2 business days, while the Gear Live isn’t set to ship until July 8th. We have no doubt that the list will continue to grow fairly rapidly. I certainly hope Plex has an app in the works for Android Wear, don’t you? The only other question we have to wonder, is how these will play with the Moto 360. Scaling to slightly different square screens isn’t all that tricky, tossing in a round screen could pose a situation for some. Although, looking at the screenshots for the Android Wear aspects of these apps, it looks like most of them have their info fairly centered leaving plenty of room for a round version. We will just have to wait and see if they will need some tweaking or not.
Check them out for yourself on the Play Store.
Via AndroidPolice
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