Movo Wave fitness and activity tracker, $25
Moving is a touchstone of keeping a healthy lifestyle. The problem is that we can sometimes lie to ourselves or have a misguided sense of our own physical activity level. If you’re the type …
3
Apr
Apple Announces Apple Watch Pre-Orders Will Kick Off at 12:01 AM PT on April 10
Apple today updated the Apple Watch page of its online store to note that online pre-orders for the Apple Watch will begin at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on Friday, April 10. Just after midnight on the West Coast is Apple’s typical time for pre-orders, and the company will likely take the store down beginning at 9PM to prepare for orders.
Apple will accept orders both through its website and through its Apple Store app on the iPhone. Placing an order through the app can often bypass some of the congestion that occurs when pre-orders first begin.
Pricing for the Apple Watch begins at $349 for the Apple Watch Sport, $549 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $10,000 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. Pre-orders will ship out to customers beginning on April 24, which is the device’s official launch date.
3
Apr
Samsung Q1 2015 results expected to show signs of recovery, due next week
Samsung didn’t have the best 2014, at least from a financial point of view. The company saw a sharp decline in revenues as its smartphone shipments and market shares took a dive from their previous yearly highs. However, this year could mark a revival for Samsung, with many analysts expecting the company’s first financial results this year will be positive.
The reason for the change in outlook comes almost entirely as a result of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphone launches, with sales expected end up somewhere around the 45-50 million mark this year. BNP Paribas analyst Peter Yu expects Samsung to ship 44 million Galaxy S6 phones this year, compared with an estimated 38 million Galaxy S5’s last year. The Galaxy S4 was Samsung’s previous best seller, which sold around 45 million units in its first year
“The lead that Samsung makes with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is likely to continue across several quarters. So we project that Samsung will sell more than 50 million units of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge combined this year,” -Counterpoint
Samsung had seen its share price slump to a three year low back in late October 2014, following a decline in sales, but has since seen its price rebound to a 21 month high in March. Investors believe that the two phones will sell well after a resoundingly positive reception by the industry, which should in turn provide a much needed boost to the company’s profit level.
That said, any recovery is expected to be gradual rather than sudden. It will take successive positive quarters before talk can begin about returning to the record profits generated in 2013. A Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S survey of 41 analysts forecasts a median first-quarter operating profit at around 5.3 trillion won ($4.82 billion), which is still 38 percent lower than the year before.
“This is a year of recovery for Samsung,” – Park Sung-jae, LS Asset Management
Of course, this figure will be released before the Galaxy S6 has had time to rollout out fully across the world, so we might expect stronger revenue figures in the second and third quarters of the year. The same survey of analysts expects profits to reach around 26.5 trillion won in 2015, slightly up from 25 trillion won in 2014. This would halt the downward trend started last year and would set Samsung up back on the path to growth for 2016.
Samsung will be releasing its Q1 2015 financial results next Tuesday, 7th April, just ahead of the Galaxy S6’s global launch on April 10th.
3
Apr
A look at the new Samsung Qi Wireless Charging Pad
Samsung needed a new wireless charger to pair up with the Galaxy S6, and it’s a pretty nice piece of gear.
Even though it didn’t actually offer a phone with Qi charging built-in, Samsung has previously sold a basic Qi charger for those who added it after the fact to their phone. Now that the Galaxy S6 has wireless charging from the start, it was as good a time as any for Samsung to refresh its wireless charger with a new design. The Wireless Charging Pad, as it’s simply known, now looks like it belongs in the same design category as the GS6 and will likely be added on to plenty of phone orders in the coming months.
3
Apr
Rogers and TELUS start rolling out Lollipop update for the Note 3
Canadian carriers Rogers and TELUS have now started pushing out the Lollipop update to all their carrier-branded variants of the Note 3. This upgrade brings the latest build of the Android operated system, in addition to a truckload of bug fixes and stability improvements.
In order to install the update, you will have to have 3GB of storage available. If you don’t have enough, we recommend transferring some your files to Google Drive or Dropbox. You’ll also need to be connected to an active Wi-Fi network and have 50% of juice.
If your handset meets all of the above criteria, simply head into Settings, followed by About Device and click Check for Software Update, to download and install the upgrade. Alternatively, you can wait until you receive a push notification prompting you to update.
Come comment on this article: Rogers and TELUS start rolling out Lollipop update for the Note 3
Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!
3
Apr
Android 5.0 Lollipop coming for the Verizon Galaxy Note 4
Well hello there Lollipop. Verizon hasn’t always had a very stellar track record when it comes to updating devices to the latest Android OS variant on devices. Often time they are way past fashionably late to the party. However, that isn’t the case with the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. […]
The post Android 5.0 Lollipop coming for the Verizon Galaxy Note 4 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
3
Apr
Mophie hops on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge with extended battery cases
For the gadgeteer on the go, the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are devices that might take some careful consideration. Sure, it has Fast Charge abilities and two wireless charging standards built-in, but the lack of a removable battery can still detour end users who use their devices on the go for […]
The post Mophie hops on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge with extended battery cases appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
3
Apr
Movo Wave fitness and activity tracker, $25
Moving is a touchstone of keeping a healthy lifestyle. The problem is that we can sometimes lie to ourselves or have a misguided sense of our own physical activity level. If you’re the type of individual that relies on hard data and empirical evidence to come to your conclusions, the Movo Wave fitness tracker is for you. It’s difficult to rationalize away your 8 hours of sitting when confronted with the numbers.
Eliminating the costly frills, Movo Wave tracks your calories burned, steps and distance traveled in an inexpensive wristband. Other fitness trackers try to sell you on their overblown features but often inflate the price to match. Movo Wave works for up to two and a half weeks on a single charge and easily syncs with the free Movo Wave app for assessing your statistics. The band can be customized with 5 color options and its water-resistant design ensures it can handle your sweatiest of workouts. While you may spend over a hundred bucks for other trackers, Movo Wave is available to AndroidGuys readers for just $25!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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Last chance: Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Giveaway
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The post Movo Wave fitness and activity tracker, $25 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
3
Apr
HTC One M9 teardown shows that a cracked screen may be tough to replace
The HTC One M9 is definitely one of the most well-designed smartphones of this year, so wouldn’t it be great if we could see what exactly goes in to making a phone like this? The folks at iFixit recently tore a One M9 to shreds, revealing tons of adhesives and a glued down motherboard.
Much like the One M8, the One M9 didn’t require any heating whatsoever to remove the back panel. But once they began digging in a bit more, they noticed that HTC actually glued the motherboard down, allowing the battery and motherboard to be sandwiched together. Why is this a bad idea? Toying with lithium-ion batteries is very dangerous. If you need to replace a piece that’s generally common to swap out such as the motherboard, you could run into some problems when trying to pry it out. The battery is also glued down, making it extra difficult to replace it, too.
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We’ve all been there – you’re outside of your one-year warranty and you drop your phone right on the screen. If you find the right person to replace it, the repairs can be relatively cheap and easy. But unfortunately for the One M9 it may be a little more difficult to replace than you might think. The display assembly is tough to replace without tunneling though the entire device, so even a cracked screen – one of the most common repairs – can be difficult to achieve. Hopefully you won’t have to take matters into your own hands thanks HTC’s Uh-Oh protection plan.
Learn more about the HTC One M9
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Since the One M9 and One M8 are very similar in build quality, it’s no surprise that iFixit scored the One M9 a 2 out of 10 (10 is the easiest to repair). For more images and details on the teardown, be sure to head to the source link below.
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3
Apr
5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly
[embedwidth=”710″]videourl[/embed]
Sponsored by: Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game is a game that has you shooting balls at other balls. The balls are magnetized which can have either untoward or unexpected benefits to each and every shot. It’s a colorful, fun game with power ups, many levels, and plenty of content to enjoy. There is even a color blind mode for you folks who have trouble seeing colors. It’s available in the Play Store right now for free and we’d like to thank them for sponsoring the Android Apps Weekly show.
Welcome back to the Android Apps Weekly show! Let’s take a look at the top headlines.
- Google released Arc Welder for Chrome browser and ChromeOS this last week. The extension allows you to run a limited number of Android apps straight from the browser which can be fun or even useful for some people. It’s not perfect but it’s getting there.
- As part of the April Fool’s Day festivities, Google turned Google Maps into a Pac-Man game. It was a goofy and fun little thing to experience. You just have to make sure you look at a place with enough roads or it won’t let you play.
- Developer HandyGames is celebrating their 15 year anniversary today by putting all of their titles on sale for $0.15. Follow the link to see the list in its entirety. Most of them are fairly well regarded and $0.15 is a steal for pretty much any paid game.
- WhatsApp announced a calling feature a while back but it was invite only. Now, there are reports that WhatsApp calling is rolling out to all users even without an invite. If you don’t have it yet, patience because it’s coming soon.
- A new Gmail update has included support for a unified inbox even for Yahoo and Outlook accounts. Other improvements include better auto-complete for keyword searching, larger attachment previews, and bug fixes along with performance improvements.
If you want to see all of the new releases, updates, and headlines, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter and while you’re there, bookmark it for later or use your email and sign up. We send one out every Friday and it’s a great way to stay up to date on the latest in Android apps news!
Subscribe to our Android Apps Weekly newsletter!
Goodreads
[Price: Free]
Goodreads is a sort of social network for readers that helps you find new books and novels to read based on the reviews left by friends. The app received a huge update this last week that includes a significant redesign. Most of the rest of the improvements are based around the redesign including easier to find features and a new Want To Read button to help you save stuff faster. If you like to read books, you should try this out.
Izanagi Online
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Izanagi Online is a new MMORPG designed by the same guy who did Afro Samurai. The game features over 100 quests, four classes, and even a story line that you can play through. The graphics aren’t half bad but there are some early release day bugs and issues so you may want to wait a couple of weeks for those to get worked out.
Marvel Mighty Heroes
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Marvel Mighty Heroes is a new online hack and slash game where you can play as your favorite Marvel characters online with up to four other real people. It’s a fun little time waster but like any new release, there are some issues here and there so proceed with caution.
Riff
[Price: Free]
Riff is a new video sharing app by Facebook that allows you to make video with friends. Here’s how it works. You post a video to the service, then friends can add to it. From there, the friends of your friends can add to it. It’s definitely something unique and worth trying out if you’re into this kind of thing.
Tomb Raider 1
[Price: $0.99]
The original Tomb Raider has been re-released to Android by Square Enix. The game has been lightly retouched for HD screens but otherwise contains pretty much all of the puzzles and fun of the original. Some have lamented the controls and there are some bugs here and there but it’s only $0.99 which is cheap for a Square Enix game.
Wrap up
Thanks for reading and watching the Android Apps Weekly show! If we missed any news, headlines, or releases, let us know in the comments!
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3
Apr
How to use emoji on OS X Yosemite
Having trouble figuring out how to use emoji on your Mac? Access the built-in emoji keyboard instantly with this tip!
Using emoticons (or emoji) to express emotions, ideas and thoughts is very popular on the iPhone and other mobile devices. A couple of quick taps on the keyboard button and you’ve got them ready. How do you do that on the Mac? Read on to find out.
Originally popularized by texting phone users in Japan, emoji are representations of facial expressions, objects and other ideas that use a combination of keyboard characters. For a while, actual emoji images have been built into the iOS and the Mac to make using them more expressive, fun and interesting.
It isn’t immediately obvious how to access them on the Mac, though, so I’m offering this quick tip to help you get there faster. This tip should work with either OS X 10.9 Mavericks or OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
To use emoji on the Mac
- Position the cursor in any text field you’d like to insert an emoji, like posting a tweet for example.
- Press the command and control keys on your keyboard. Then press the space bar.
- That will launch the Characters palette.
- Click on the Emoji icon in the sidebar.
- Emoji are divided into several categories: People, Nature, Food & Drink, Celebration, Activity, Travel & Places, and Objects & Symbols.
- Click on whichever emoji you’d like to use and they’ll be inserted where you left your cursor.
- When you’re done, click on the red circle in the upper left hand corner of the Characters palette to make it disappear.
If you’re having trouble seeing the emoji, click the popup menu with the gear inside of it and select
Bonus tip: Use the search field to find emoji you’d like to use. Type in the first few letters of the face, object or action you’d like to use.
Extra bonus tip: You can also add the Characters palette to your menu bar for quick visual access. To do so, open up the Keyboard system preference and check the box marked “Show Keyboard & Characters Viewer in menu bar.”
Do you like to use emoji? Have you found an easier way to use them on your Mac? Sound off in the comments!
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