‘Move to iOS’ App Allows for No Hassle Android-to-iOS Data Transfer [iOS Blog]
A somewhat hidden feature not spoken of directly during today’s WWDC keynote is a new app for iOS 9 called “Move to iOS,” which will allow current Android users a hassle-free migration experience from their Android phone to the iOS ecosystem.
Once downloaded on each phone, the app will help users securely transfer all of their important data: contacts, message history, camera photos and videos, web bookmarks, mail accounts, calendars, wallpaper, and DRM-free songs and books.
In addition, Apple claims the app will “help rebuild your app library, too,” siphoning through any free apps used on Android and suggesting them as downloads on the iOS App Store. Simultaneously, any paid Android apps are immediately added to each user’s iTunes Wish List as future reminders.
Dedicated iCloud Drive App Included Within Settings of iOS 9 [iOS Blog]
Hidden in the settings menu of the just-unveiled iOS 9, today it was found that iCloud Drive will be getting its own dedicated app experience with the newest iteration of iOS.
The app, hidden by a “Show on Home Screen” command in the iCloud Drive section of settings, will allow users to interact and manage all of their saved files within iCloud inside of the app.
The specific setting for turning on the hidden app lies in Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive. Once users decide to turn on the “Show on Home Screen”, the app will show up on their home screen alongside their previously downloaded apps.
Apple Confirms Activation Lock Safety Feature for watchOS 2 [iOS Blog]
Following today’s big WWDC keynote address in San Francisco, a few new details and confirmations have been made about the Apple Watch, specifically regarding a crucial security feature for the wearable. Activation Lock, previously available for iPhones and iPads, was confirmed to be coming to Apple Watch with watchOS 2. The feature lets users secure their Apple Watch with their Apple ID, preventing malicious users from wiping or activating the wearable device if it gets lost or stolen.
In the days and weeks following the Apple Watch launch, many users questioned the device’s security due to its inherent requiring of the iPhone to perform most of its tasks. With only a simple four-digit passcode protecting the wearable, it was discovered in early May that that code could be entirely bypassed with a simple settings wipe able to be performed by anyone who came into contact with your personal Apple Watch.
With today’s confirmation of Activation Lock for the Apple Watch, users concerned about losing or having the new Apple wearable stolen from them can no doubt feel a bit more at ease with the security of the device. Registered developers will be able to gain access to watchOS 2 starting today, with a wide public release coming sometime this fall.
The LG G4 receives a great repairability score from iFixit
iFixit has long been tearing apart our beloved devices to reveal how manufacturers thought up to puzzle-piece together every feature. In the end, the device is given a repairability score out of 10 (10 being the easiest to take apart and replace components). Their most recent teardown was for the LG G4, which scored an impressive 8 out of 10!
How did LG manage this? For one, the back cover and battery are easily removable without any tools, a capability that has been disappearing from modern devices. From there, they merely used a Phillips #0 screwdriver and a little prying to get access to the motherboard:
And once iFixit got down to the nitty-gritty (and took some really cool X-ray shots of tiny component mechanics!), they were fortunate to find that “Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.” Be sure to hit up the source link below for more images and details.
To compare, the Samsung Galaxy S6 received a mediocre repairability score of 4 out of 10 and the HTC M9 barely made it out alive with a score of 2 out of 10. So there you go. If something breaks on your shiny new G4, you have a reason not to freak out so much. Seriously, calm down.
The post The LG G4 receives a great repairability score from iFixit appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Oppo announces 2015 gen Neo 5 and Neo 5s
The Chinese tech giant has just taken the wraps off the Neo 5 and its sibling Neo 5s. These handsets will target the mid-ranged marked and will compete alongside Xiaomi and Huawei. The all new 2015 Neo 5 offers a minimal upgrade over last year’s Neo 5. On the other hand, the Neo 5s offers pretty decent specifications for a budget-oriented smartphone.
Both the Neo 5 (2015) and Neo 5s have almost identical specifications. The Neo 5 (2015) and Neo 5s both have a 4.5 inch screen with a density of 218ppi. Both phones have 1GB of RAM and a 2000 mAh battery which should be sufficient enough to get a day’s usage.
Now the main difference between these two is the different processor. The Neo 5 (2015) is powered by Mediatek’s quad-core MT6582 SoC along with dual-core Mali-400MP2 GPU. While the Neo 5s is powered by Qualcomm’s 64-bit Snapdragon 410 SoC along with an Adreno 306 GPU. Now the presence of Mediatek’s chipset makes the Neo 5 (2015) incompatible with LTE support. On the other hand, the Neo 5s is LTE compatible thanks to the Snapdragon chipset. Both the phones have 8GB of internal storage and can be further expanded with the help of a micro-SD slot. But here is the catch, even with the presence of micro-SD slot, the memory of the Neo 5 (2015) can only be expanded up to 32GB while, on the other hand, the memory of Neo 5s can be expanded up to 128GB. Thought the added memory support comes at the cost of a higher price.
Now in the optics department, both phones include 8-megapixel rear facing cameras with an aperture of f/2.2 and 5-megapixel front facing cameras for all selfie lovers out there.
In the software department, the smartphones are both running Android Kitkat 4.4.2 with Color-OS with no official word on an Android lollipop update. Oppo also cares for the health of its users and that’s why the company is also including an eye-protection feature embedded into Color-OS, which filters out all the harmful blue light that will allow you to use your phone for a longer period of time.
These two handsets have only just been announced by the company with no official word on release dates or prices yet. But it’s safe to assume that Neo 5s will cost a bit more than the Neo 5 (2015). In my opinion, the specs for both handsets are outdated, even for the mid-range category. If Oppo aims to be in the competition, it has to learn from other companies, which are doing great in the tech industry.
Are you willing to buy an Oppo device? Let us know in the comment section down below!
The post Oppo announces 2015 gen Neo 5 and Neo 5s appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC slide continues after sales forecast cut becomes official
Last week HTC’s stock price hit a new low when news leaked that supply chain companies had been advised that HTC was cutting their sales forecast for 2015. The stock market continued to punish the company after HTC officially announced on Friday they were cutting quarterly sales projections by as much as 35 percent. This triggered a new dip in the stock price to NT$83.60 ($2.69 USD) on Monday.
According to HTC’s latest guidance, they now expect second quarter revenues to total NT$33-36 billion ($1.06 – 1.16 billion USD) which is a major reduction from their previous guidance of NT$46.5 -51 billion ($1.49 – $1.64 billion USD). HTC also revised gross margin down from 23.0 – 23.5 percent to only 19.0 – 19.5 percent.
Perhaps most stunning and distressful for investors is HTC’s announcement that it now expects to post a net loss of NT$9.70 – 9.94 per share instead of slight earnings of NT$0.06 – 0.34 per share. Part of this loss will be driven by one-time charges to account for idle assets and prepaid expenses.
HTC says the reductions are due to a softening market for high-end Android smartphones and weaker than expected sales in China. Analysts have described HTC’s position as a “nightmare.” Calvin Huang with Sinopac Financial Holdings Co. says,
“HTC will keep losing share in the smartphone market and will keep losing money in the coming quarters.”
Currently, 65% of analysts being tracked are recommending investors sell HTC stock. Jasmine Lu with Morgan Stanley, who has analyzed book value for the company, has cut her price target and predicts HTC may slump as far as NT$57 per share.
Do you think HTC can save itself or will we be reading about its sale to another company soon?
Come comment on this article: HTC slide continues after sales forecast cut becomes official
Samsung Galaxy S6 Active official, slated for June 12th release
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It isn’t like we all didn’t know that Samsung and AT&T were close to bringing us the Galaxy S6 Active. After numerous rumors and leaked renders, we now have the official announcement rolling out of AT&T directly.
Starting June 12th users will be able to pick up the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Active on AT&T in the usual payment options. Those who wish to grab it on the NEXT 24, you will be looking at spending $23.17 per month for 30 months. NEXT 18 will run you $28.96 for 24 months and NEXT 12 will run you $34.75 per month for 20 months.
The S6 Active carries all the same great features, functions and hardware of the current Galaxy S6 like the Exynos 8-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 16MP camera. However, the size of the device was increased for the external shell that wraps around it to give it the IPX68 water and dust resistant rating. The rating gives the Galaxy S6 Active the ability to be submerged in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes safely which beats out the Galaxy S5 Active which was 1 meter for 30 minutes. Making the device slightly larger, they were also able to stick a larger battery inside, bumping it to a 3,500 mAh battery. They also added in a few bits of software they call Active Zone, which gives you quick access to a compass, flashlight, stop watch and more.
The press release on the AT&T website only lists the device as coming in a 32GB configuration and with the lack of a SD card slot, could turn a few people away who are a bit more storage demanding with active lifestyles.
Anyone going to be holding out until June 12th to pick up a Galaxy S6 Active?
Source: AT&T | Galaxy S6 Active Coming Soon page
The post Samsung Galaxy S6 Active official, slated for June 12th release appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Apple Music vs the competition: A streaming music cheat sheet
The past few years have seen a shift from owning music to accessing as much as you want on various streaming services. Why pay $9.99 for a new album each month when you can get a firehose of content for the same price? Now Apple looks to get in on the action with its newest offering, Apple Music. They made a big splash with the introduction of the iTunes store in 2003 but here in 2015 there’s a lot more competition for your listening attention. Does Apple Music have what it takes to stand out from its more established rivals? We’ve stacked up some of the bigger names to see which one can give you the most for your money.
| Apple Music | Spotify | Rdio | Google Play Music | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Individual: $9.99 Family: $14.99 |
Premium: $9.99 Family: $14.99 and up |
Select: $3.99 Unlimited: $9.99 Family: $14.99 and up |
Unlimited: $9.99 |
| Free version available | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Number of songs | Over 30 million | Over 30 million | Over 32 million | Over 30 million |
| Audio quality | NA | 320kbps | 320kbps | Up to 320kbps |
| Radio | Yes (human-driven) | Yes (automated) | Yes (automated) | Yes (automated) |
| Video content | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Exclusive content | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Curated playlists | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline listening | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online media storage | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Social features | NA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac | Web only |
| Mobile apps | iOS, Android (coming fall 2015) | iOS, Android, Windows Phone | iOS, Android, Windows Phone | iOS, Android |
Filed under: Apple
President Obama calls for stronger American cybersecurity
Citing a series of embarrassing, high profile incursions against US computer networks in recent months, President Obama called for “much more aggressive” efforts to shore up the government’s vulnerable cyber-infrastructure. “This problem is not going to go away,” the President told reporters at a G7 press conference in Germany. “It is going to accelerate. And that means that we have to be as nimble, as aggressive and as well-resourced as those who are trying to break into these systems.” As such, he urged Congress to pass its pending cybersecurity legislation, such as the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Internet
Source: Reuters
Zane Lowe traded Radio 1 for Apple’s Beats 1
When Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe announced he was leaving the BBC to join Apple, it was clear that he’d been lured away from the bright lights of London to help launch a new music platform. The logical assumption was that he’d help create curated playlists for a service formed from the acquisition of Beats Music, but as it turns out, he’s sticking with what he knows: radio. At its annual developer conference, Apple unveiled a new service called Beats 1, its first ever-live radio station. It’ll broadcast music 24/7 to over 100 countries from June 30th, with Zane Lowe fronting the show in Los Angeles, Ebro Darden in New York and Julie Adenuga in London. All for free.
Sure, Lowe is sharing the spotlight with two other DJs, but make no mistake, he is Beats 1’s top dog. Apple describes him as the “world’s foremost authority on emerging music” and he also detailed how the new radio service would operate during Apple’s keynote. It makes sense: In the 12 years Lowe spent at Radio 1, he gained exclusive interviews with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem and music producer Rick Rubin. He’s also credited with helping to bring acts like the Arctic Monkeys, Adele and Ed Sheeran into the public eye. Apple will hope he can do the same while heading up Beats 1, but influence many more listeners in the process.
http://www.engadget.com/embed-5min/?sid=577&playList=518873079&responsive=false
Beats 1 comes as part of Apple Music, but won’t be put behind a subscription paywall. It means that iOS and Android device owners the world over will be introduced to Lowe for the first time (for better or worse, depending on your opinion of him), giving him, and his co-hosts, the chance to share exclusive music from big name artists, but also acquaint people with up-and-coming acts representing all genres. In the UK at least, Radio 1 fans still mourning Lowe’s departure will have the chance to reconnect with him, for others it’s a complementary chance to learn about what’s new in the world of music.
[Image credit: Chris Thompson, Flickr]
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