4 year premium VPN subscription, $59
There are plenty of reasons for one to want to keep their internet connection private. It’s possible that you have a dose of distrust for your government and want to ensure your sense of privacy …
9
Apr
Snapseed 2.0 adds new filters, tools, and non-destructive editing
Photo editing app Snapseed has hit version 2.0, adding a number of new editing tools to help you get the most out of your photos.
Snapseed received its last major update in October 2013. Version 2.0 adds a number of new tools, including a non-destructive editing feature called Stacks.
9
Apr
EasyAcc Gen2 6400mAh battery pack review
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I got the chance to take this portable battery pack from EasyAcc for a test drive this past weekend and working 14 hour days on a film set, without a place to plug in a phone charger, was the perfect environment for putting it through its paces. If you’re looking for the TL;DR, this is absolutely worth picking up.
This model is equipped with a 6400mAh battery and boasts the ability to charge an S5 one and a half times on a single charge. I found the claim to be accurate and got almost two complete charges out of my Galaxy S4. The speed of the charge was comparable to a wall unit. Where this unit really shined was it’s form factor. With dimensions of 4.09×1.77×0.87 inches, it’s shorter and more narrow than most cellphones and only about double the thickness. This means that it fits easily into any coat or pants pocket. The weight of the unit is about on par with an S5, if not a bit lighter (4.66 oz). It feels well-made and has a very comfortable finish. I didn’t drop my review unit but everything about the construction leads me to believe this thing could take a real beating and keep chugging right along. The blue ring battery indicator works alright but would be easier to read as a numbered percentage. The built-in flashlight, however, leaves quite a bit to be desired and I can’t imagine a situation in which you wouldn’t just use your phone’s far superior flashlight app but it’s a fine perk to have. Its USB port accommodates almost every device on the market. I even charged my Playstation 4 controller, for the lulz, and it worked swimmingly.
If you’re looking for a flashlight, you’ll want to keep shopping but if you’re in the market for an excellent source of power, EasyAcc Gen2 6400mAh is a dynamite choice. If you can find a better solution for under $20, let me know because I haven’t. I’ll be keeping mine and using it regularly for, hopefully, years to come.
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9
Apr
4 year premium VPN subscription, $59
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There are plenty of reasons for one to want to keep their internet connection private. It’s possible that you have a dose of distrust for your government and want to ensure your sense of privacy while online. Maybe you’ve made enemies or inadvertently endeared yourself to some over-infatuated stalker and want to safeguard your activities. Perhaps you travel frequently for business and spend a significant amount of time connected to unsecured public Wi-Fi and want to immunize yourself from the painful experience of being targeted by a hacker. Whatever your reasons, demanding a private and secure internet connection no longer means you’re some sketchy weirdo; it’s quickly becoming the new norm. ibVPN would love to be your trusted source with this 4-year comprehensive VPN package subscription!
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9
Apr
EasyAcc Gen2 6400mAh battery pack review
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I got the chance to take this portable battery pack from EasyAcc for a test drive this past weekend and working 14 hour days on a film set, without a place to plug in a phone charger, was the perfect environment for putting it through its paces. If you’re looking for the TL;DR, this is absolutely worth picking up.
This model is equipped with a 6400mAh battery and boasts the ability to charge an S5 one and a half times on a single charge. I found the claim to be accurate and got almost two complete charges out of my Galaxy S4. The speed of the charge was comparable to a wall unit. Where this unit really shined was it’s form factor. With dimensions of 4.09×1.77×0.87 inches, it’s shorter and more narrow than most cellphones and only about double the thickness. This means that it fits easily into any coat or pants pocket. The weight of the unit is about on par with an S5, if not a bit lighter (4.66 oz). It feels well-made and has a very comfortable finish. I didn’t drop my review unit but everything about the construction leads me to believe this thing could take a real beating and keep chugging right along. The blue ring battery indicator works alright but would be easier to read as a numbered percentage. The built-in flashlight, however, leaves quite a bit to be desired and I can’t imagine a situation in which you wouldn’t just use your phone’s far superior flashlight app but it’s a fine perk to have. Its USB port accommodates almost every device on the market. I even charged my Playstation 4 controller, for the lulz, and it worked swimmingly.
If you’re looking for a flashlight, you’ll want to keep shopping but if you’re in the market for an excellent source of power, EasyAcc Gen2 6400mAh is a dynamite choice. If you can find a better solution for under $20, let me know because I haven’t. I’ll be keeping mine and using it regularly for, hopefully, years to come.
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9
Apr
Dunkin’ Donuts and Google partner to bring seamless integration with Google Wallet
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A confession of mine, I have never eaten at Dunkin’ Donuts. I have heard great things about them, and I love donuts, I just happen to live in a city where there are just a few Dunkin’ Donut restaurants. My brother, on the other hand lived in Boston, and told me Bostonians love their Dunkin’ Donuts and they are everywhere. Today Google and Dunkin’ Donuts partnered up to make your purchases easier by integrating Google Wallet with their mobile Dunkin’ Donut cards.
Instead of typing in credit card information to recharge the cards, users can now purchase recharges through Google Wallet. Google Wallet works for Dunkin’ Donuts, just like buying a movie from the google Play store would work. All you have to do is key in your password and the payment will be processed.
Dunkin’ Donuts, if you read this, I wouldn’t mind a free sample or two of your donuts and coffee.
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9
Apr
List of Apple Stores That Will Carry the Apple Watch Edition at Launch
Following reports that Apple Watch Edition stock will be limited to select Apple Stores in the United States and other launch countries, MacRumors has discovered that Apple’s Find Locations tool enables prospective buyers to search their local area to check for Apple Watch Edition availability. Below, we have identified some of the major cities and metropolitan areas in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan that will carry the Edition.
To check Apple Watch Edition availability in your local area, navigate to Apple’s Find Locations website, click on Sales, use your current GPS-based location or enter another one, select Watch Edition from the list of all products, and click on the Go button. A map will then display nearby Apple Store locations that will be carrying the Edition. If you live outside the United States, you will need to change the country flag in the top right first.
United States
— New York City: Fifth Avenue, SoHo, Upper West Side
— Boston: Boylston Street
— Chicago: North Michigan Avenue, Lincoln Park
— Philadelphia: Walnut Street
— Washington DC: Georgetown
— Atlanta: Lenox Square
— Miami: Lincoln Road
— Virginia: Tyson’s Corner Center
— Newark, Delaware: Christiana Mall
— Bay Area: San Francisco, Stanford
— Los Angeles: The Grove, Third St. (Santa Monica), South Coast (Costa Mesa)
— Houston: Highland Village
— Dallas: Northpark Center
— Seattle: Bellevue Square
Canada
— Toronto: Eaton Centre
— Montreal: Sainte-Catherine
United Kingdom
— London: Covent Garden, Regent Street, Selfridges
Australia
— Sydney: George Street
— Brisbane: MacArthur Chambers
— Melbourne: Southland (Cheltenham)
France
— Paris: Carrousel du Louvre, Opera, Galeries Lafayette
Germany
— Berlin: Kurfurstendamm
— Munich: Rosenstrasse
Hong Kong
— Festival Walk
— International Finance Centre (IFC)
— Causeway Bay
Japan
— Tokyo: Isetan, Ginza, Omotesando
— Osaka: Shinsaibashi
Apple Watch pre-orders begin April 10, and the device goes on sale April 24.
9
Apr
Top Android alternatives to the Apple Watch
Smartwatches are a hot topic right now, and even more so with the impending launch of the Apple Watch, which is set to arrive April 24th. The Apple Watch was one of Apple’s most rumored devices before it was announced last October and the interest has only risen as Apple has slowly released more info about its wearable.
Now – just a couple of weeks ahead of the launch and two days before pre-orders open – the reviews are in and the world’s technology press have had their say. At first glance the review seem positive but dig into them and one thing is clear, the reviews are brutal and the Apple Watch takes a beating.
Android Wear vs Apple Watch: The Key Differences
We’ve already gone into a lot of detail about how Android Wear and the Apple Watch compare but summarizing, the key differences are around input and artificial intelligence (AI) of the platform.
Android Wear relies on Google voice input for actions and to respond to messages while the Apple Watch uses AI to predict your next response. Both methods have their limitations but the key is that Google Now on Android Wear relies upon Google recognizing your accent, which has proven troublesome for many users.
In comparison, the Apple Watch relies on pre-populated answers or Digital Touch; the pre-populated answers are tailored based on the Watch’s knowledge of you and the more you use it, the more tailored and accurate the answers will become. Digital Touch is a rather handy feature that allows you to sketch or tap a pattern and as long as your recipient has an Apple Watch, they’ll be able to respond in-kind.
Not for novices, apps don’t work well and you have to use Siri, which still stinks.
All of this AI does come at a price though, as initial reviews of the Apple Watch have found it to be slow and the AI to be somewhat unintuitive. The Verge’s Nilay Patel called the Apple Watch “kind of slow” as it stutters when loading notifications while Farhad Manjoo of the New York Times says that the Watch is “not for novices” (unlike every other Apple device), “Apps don’t work well” and “you have to use Siri, which still stinks.”
The biggest challenge to Android Wear comes from the Apple Watch’s artificial intelligence and its ability to predict your likely response. Android Wear relies on voice input and although Google doesn’t offer AI-based responses yet, it’s only a matter of time until a similar feature rolls out to Android Wear.
If you’ve been waiting for a new smartwatch and the Apple Watch reviews have turned you off Apple’s first wearable, here’s a few tasty Android alternatives to the Apple Watch:
Specs Comparison:
We’ve hand picked a few of our favourite Android Wear watches and we’ll go through how they compare to the Apple Watch below. First, let’s look at how the specs compare:
| Apple Watch | Sony Smartwatch 3 | Asus Zenwatch | Moto 360 | Huawei Watch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 340 x 272 or 390 x 312 | 1.6″ 320×320 Transflective LCD | 1.63″ 320×320 AMOLED | 1.56″ 320×290 LCD | 1.4 inch Full Circle 400×400 AMOLED Sapphire Crystal |
| SoC | Apple S1 | 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 | 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 | TI OMAP 3 | 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 |
| RAM | unknown | 512MB | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512MB |
| Storage | unknown | 4GB | 4 GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Battery | unknown (18 hours) | 420 mAh (2 days) | 360 mAh (2 days) | 320 mAh (12 hours) | 300 mAh (~2 days) |
| Size | 42mm or 38mm (height) | 51 x 36 x 10 mm | 51 x 39.9 x 7.9 ~ 9.4 mm | 46mm diameter x 11.5mm | 42mm diameter x 11.3mm |
| Weight | unknown | 38g | 50g | 49g | unknown |
| Resistance | no | IP68 | IP55 | IP67 | unknown |
| Extras | pedometer, heart rate monitor, GPS | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, GPS | pedometer, heart rate monitor | pedometer, heart rate monitor | Gyroscope, Accelerometer, PPG, Barometer, Heart Rate Monitor |
| Charging | MagSafe Wireless | microUSB | Dock | Wireless | Dock |
| Price | $349 or $399 | $249 | $199.99 | $250 | TBC |
Sony SmartWatch 3
The Sony Smartwatch 3 shares many characteristics with the Apple Watch including a square display and a button on the side (though it’s a traditional quartz crown on the Apple Watch).
Running on Android Wear, the SmartWatch 3 is fully waterproof while the Apple Watch is only splash resistant, meaning it’ll work in the shower but you won’t be taking it diving with you. Like the Apple Watch, the SmartWatch 3 is available with multiple band options but unlike Apple, there’s not a lot of price difference between them. The regular Apple Watch starts at $349 while the stainless steel version starts at $549 (rising to $1079 depending on the band and size you choose). The Sony SmartWatch 3 costs $249 and is expected to rise to around $349 for the stainless steel version.
The key difference between the SmartWatch 3 and the Apple Watch is in the fitness arena. The SmartWatch 3 comes with a GPS chip and accelerometer to provide accurate fitness data, while the Apple Watch is definitely lacking. In fact, Nilay Patel says that the “Apple Watch is a very expensive, barebones fitness tracker.”
Asus ZenWatch
Asus’ first smartwatch aims to offer something that many Android Wear devices don’t – a stylish design with a regular rectangular display. It has a two tone body and a standard-sized leather watch strap that’s interchangeable.
The Asus ZenWatch looks the closest match to the Apple Watch in terms of design and feature sets are rather similar as well. While the Apple Watch focuses on using the crown to interact with the watch, Asus have added several software enhancements including some nice watch faces and the ability to double tap to launch a particular feature.
The Asus ZenWatch retails at $199 including the leather strap, making it significantly cheaper than the Apple Watch. With the style of an Apple designed product and the Android Wear platform, the Asus ZenWatch is arguably the closest competitor to the Apple Watch.
Rectangular vs Round:
The decision on whether to go for a square or round smartwatch display is a debate that never seems to end. While the Apple Watch features a rectangular display, there’s definitely a case for round displays, so let’s take a look at the best round Android Wear smartwatches and how they compare to the Apple Watch:
Motorola Moto 360
The Moto 360 was one of the first Android Wear devices to be announced and although it took several months to come to market, it is one of the most stylish Android Wear devices to date. Featuring a circular display with the infamous “flat tire” cutout at the bottom, the Moto 360 has a brushed metal build and several interchangeable bands.
In comparison to the Apple Watch, the Moto 360 embodies the style that Apple have attempted with the more pricey Apple Watch Edition. One of the biggest criticisms of the Apple Watch is the lackluster battery life and sadly this is a condition afflicted upon the Moto 360 as well, thanks to its outdated internals.
The Moto 360 retails at $250, complete with leather strap, which is less than half the cost of the Apple Watch with Leather strap that starts at $579. If you’re looking for a round watch that has a stylish appearance, look no further than the Moto 360.
Huawei Watch
The last wearable on our list is arguably the greatest Android Wear watch to date. Announced back at MWC in February, Huawei’s first Android smartwatch is certainly late to the party but arrives with a bang. From a Sapphire Crystal display to a stainless steel body and an array of features, the Huawei Watch is the most feature packed Wear watch to date.
Side by side, the Huawei Watch and Apple Watch share many similarities but the key difference is value for money. While the most comparable Apple Watch will cost $999, the stainless steel version of the Huawei Watch is expected to cost a mere fraction of this at approximately $399 (price to be confirmed) and has a much larger feature set than Apple’s wearable.
If you’re looking for the best value-for-money Android smartwatch (and arguably on any platform) that you can buy, look no further than Huawei’s first attempt. It’s stunning in person, feature-rich and Huawei’s accompanying app means it will sync with third party fitness apps.
What’s next for Android Wear?
The concept of a smartwatch is ever evolving as technology moves on and manufacturers are able to pack more into smaller devices. The key to smartwatches, and wearables in general, is user experience which is largely set by the software and for Google, Android Wear needs to evolve.
When Android Wear was unveiled at I/O 2014, it offered the best software experience available at the time, but it only had to compete with proprietary platforms on the Pebble, Sony SmartWatch and Samsung Gear range. Since then, Apple have introduced a credible alternative and going forward, Android Wear needs to evolve.
Some of the ways Google could improve and differentiate from the competition is by optimizing the software to offer better battery life, offer native support for 3G data, voice & WiFI, and introduce alternative input methods. Currently Google Voice Input works well but does struggle with accents and dialects. Offering a discrete alternative would allow Android Wear devices to become more integral to our lives.
As Android has become the dominant smartphone platform, its rivals have looked to other forms of technology to steal a march and while Apple Watch hasn’t quite achieved this, it does indicate that Google’s rivals are ready to do battle in the wearables market.
More Android Wear watches
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Wrap Up
The Apple Watch has been one of the most anticipated wearables ever announced but while initial reviews of most Apple products are largely positive, the Apple Watch seems to be missing that certain something. The advantages over Android Wear are minimal and the key differences are software-based, allowing Google to offer similar features at a later date.
Somewhat inferior to that of a traditional wristwatch
Both Android Wear and Apple Watch are designed to complement your smartphone but while the former can be used one-handed without paying too much attention, Nilay Patel found “you have to use both hands to use [Apple Watch], and you have to actually look at it to make sure you’re hitting the right parts of the screen.” Joshua Topolsky of Bloomberg says the experience is “somewhat inferior to that of a traditional wristwatch” due to the size, whereas the watch faces on Android Wear do come much closer to a traditional wristwatch.
Out of all the Android Wear alternatives, which on our list takes your fancy? Have we missed out your favorite Android smartwatch? Let us know in the comments below.
9
Apr
Motorola is rewarding dedicated fans with invites to its Moto Makers fan club
Many of us have a soft spot for a certain company, following it through both thick and thin. Sometimes the company you are loyal to recognizes your dedication and does something to reward you for your efforts. This is what Motorola aims to do with its newly minted Moto Maker program: to reward its die-hard fans loyalty.
Dedicated Motorola fans invited to take part in the Moto Maker program will be able to join behind-the-scenes Google Hangouts as well as test drive new products before release. Another perk will be getting invited to attend Motorola’s product launches and press events.
If eligible, you’ll receive an email (image above) asking you to take part. As yet there are no official instructions on how to become a member of the Moto Maker program as it has not been officially unveiled. You don’t need to be the proverbial rocket scientist though to figure out that spreading the word about Motorola’s products would aid your cause exponentially. Motorola has set up Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter pages as well as a website (although it’s allegedly for sale at the moment) to promote the Moto Maker program, although not much is happening at present. I’m sure we won’t have long to wait until Motorola make it all official.
Source: Phandroid
Come comment on this article: Motorola is rewarding dedicated fans with invites to its Moto Makers fan club
Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!
9
Apr
LG screen software left Windows PCs open to malware
Taking a shortcut to make your software work properly is a bit like walking across a frozen lake: it saves plenty of time until the ice starts to crack. LG’s currently suffering from a similar sort of oh shit moment as it learns that one of its display utilities may have exposed countless PCs to malware. In a piece for Developers Couch, Christopher Bachner has alleged that the Screen Split utility that ships with LG’s ultra wide monitors breaks your computer’s most basic security provisions.
The problem surrounds the Windows utility UAC, which is short for User Account Control. The feature is designed to defend your PC against hackers and malware by asking you for permission when your software makes a change. That way, only programs that you’re actually installing can be added to the system.
Bachner alleges that, instead of programming Split Screen to work with UAC, the company disables the feature so that it can function without restriction. The move also gives administrator privileges to any user, a nightmare for network admins or concerned parents. We’ve contacted LG to ask if they agree with Bachner’s findings and what, if anything, it’s going to do about it. In the meantime, you’re probably better off uninstalling the utility and re-enabling UAC from the control panel.
Update: An LG spokesperson reached out to let us know that the company is “aware of the problem that Mr. Bachner wrote about and will look into this immediately.” The full statement follows:
“We are aware of the problem that Mr. Bachner wrote about and will look into this immediately. We appreciate Mr. Bachner bringing this to our attention and expect to have a response shortly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Filed under: Displays, Software, LG
Via: The Register
Source: Developers Couch
9
Apr
Amazon files lawsuit against fake review providers
Amazon has had enough of fake reviews that skew its products’ ratings, so it’s reportedly taking the issue to court. According to GeekWire, the e-commerce giant has filed a lawsuit against a man known as Jay Gentile from California, who was identified as the operator of several websites that peddle product reviews, including bayreviews.net, buyreviewsnow.com, buyazonreviews.com and buyamazonreviews.com. The Seattle TImes, however, notes that while the last two are included in the lawsuit, they are owned by different people, and that buyamazonreviews.com belongs to someone named Mark Collins.
The lawsuit accuses Gentile of offering fake verified reviews for a price and of telling potential customers that they can just ship empty boxes to his writers for the website to recognize the purchase. These sham endorsements are typically posted by established accounts, which you’d think twice of associating with sketchy practices. It accuses Collins’ website of running the same scheme, as well, though he denied the charge to Seattle Times. He told the publication that he just acts as a middleman between shop owners and customers willing to write reviews.
If you visit Collins’ website, however, you’ll find that it clearly states that “A purchase of [the seller’s] product is not required for [buyamazonreviews.com] to post a review.” It also notes that each piece will be written by someone “who specializes in writing testimonials for products and services.” While Amazon hasn’t issued an official statement yet, the sources say it has charged all the aforementioned providers with copyright infringement (for using its logo), deceptive acts and violation of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act and the Washington Consumer Protection Act, among others.
This might be the first time the company has filed a case against fake review providers, but the practice has been going on for a long, long time. If you recall, Belkin had to issue an apology in 2009 after it was discovered that one of its employees solicited fake positive testimonials. A tablet-maker’s Managing Director was also forced to resign in 2011, after he was caught posting five-star reviews under fake names.
Source: Geekwire
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