Customized one-click Maps navigation using Zooper Widget – Android customization
I hope your device is running as smooth as ever with last week’s system checkup Android customization. Keeping tabs on your background data usage can have a significant impact on your device performance, and your wallet.
This week we quickly address a little problem I was having personally, and help you prep for your summer holidays with Maps navigation and Zooper Widget.
Before we begin
You will require both a recent version of Google Maps installed on your device, as well Zooper Widget. It’s been a while, so I’ll remind you that Zooper Widget has a free version, but you’ll probably want to drop the $2.99 to go Pro. Google Maps is completely free, it is likely that you already have it installed, but if not, grab it from the Google Play Store as well.
Finally, I’ve taken the time to find a few images, a background image and some icons, that I want for my widget, you should do the same at this time.
Why create one click navigation buttons?
You may be asking yourself why you would bother taking up valuable Homescreen real estate to create dedicated shortcuts to Maps navigation. I thought the same thing until a recent road trip to another state.
You’ve probably been there, you’re on a long road trip using Google Maps to find your way, all is going well until you pull off the highway to fuel or grab a snack. The moment you divert from the intended route, Google Maps gets a little flustered and re-routes you back to the highway or worse, attempts to change your route altogether, causing grief and confusion.
There are a number of other reasons that your navigation may hiccup and even turn off while you are on the road. It can be several clicks, including some typing, to get things back up and running again – which is not a great thing to be doing while driving. This happened to me often enough on my last trip, just a 12 hour drive, that I opted for the shortcuts, but not just any shortcuts, they needed some style, so I used Zooper Widget instead of the default shortcuts and icons.
The best part of using Zooper Widget to create Maps shortcuts is that you can condense them as much as your display will allow, otherwise, you are stuck with a full 1×1 Homescreen link per Maps shortcut. that can take up a lot of space.
Create Zooper Widget Maps shortcuts
Do you recall the basics of setting up a Zooper Widget widget? Hit one of our early tutorials if you desire a refresher.
Create your Zooper Widget widget, place it anywhere on your screen, and size it as you see fit. For our example we’ll be using a 1×1 widget that has been re-sized through the Launcher to 3×2, but again, any size will work.
Once sized, tap on the widget to get started.
I recommend creating an Empty widget.
Tap on Layouts. Or, if desired, clean up the Widget Background color first, don’t worry you can come back later.
Tap on the “+” icon in the top menu to add an element to the widget design.
Choose Bitmap.
Scroll down a bit and tap on Bitmap to choose an image stored on your device. Take the time to re-size and position the image as desired.
Tap on Module OnTap.
Swipe over to Shortcuts and choose Directions.
Choose your method of travel, enter the address and provide a shortcut name.
Hit Save to finish up the shortcut. Then tap the system Back button to save this bitmap element to the widget.
Repeat for each location desired.
If you have a good handful of locations, you may want to fill the Module Name field in each image, but that’s up to you.
When complete, just tap the system Back button until it saves and exits out of Zooper Widget.
Give it a try, tap on one of those icons and Maps will fire up to provide directions.
What’s next
As is almost always the case when building Zooper Widgets, you should expect to jump back into the editor more than once to make some fine-tuning edits. You can also re-use some of what you build now for later directions, just change the Module OnTap settings to a new Directions shortcut.
Zooper Widget is absolutely not required to get Maps shortcuts on your Homescreen. There is a built-in Maps Directions shortcut available through your Launcher, go ahead with that if you desire. As mentioned earlier, this shortcut is not very customizable, but it is there if you need it.
Next week
We hope we’ve helped you find your way with this week’s Maps navigation Android customization project with Zooper Widget. Next week may also relate to maps, specifically, offline use maps (I have another trip coming up.)
Do you use Google Maps for your navigation needs?
ASUS’ ZenWatch drops down to $150
With the recent announcement of the Asus ZenWatch 2 at Computex, Amazon and Best Buy have decided to lower the price of the first generation model down to $150. While it’s no longer the latest and greatest, the ZenWatch is still a solid piece of kit, powered by Android Wear and sporting a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 with 512MB RAM.
On the downside, the ZenWatch has been updated to Android 5.1.1 but isn’t capable of supporting Wi-Fi functionality, due to hardware restrictions. If you’re okay with having to carry your phone with you in order for the watch to work, then this is still a great deal if you’re wanting to jump onto the smartwatch bandwagon.
For those on the fence between picking up the ZenWatch over its successor, one of the biggest differences is the ZenWatch 2 has a revamped design and will come in two sizes, bringing a 37mm face in addition to the larger 41mm face. The IP certification has also been bumped up from IP55 to IP67, which means enhanced resistance to dust and water. In the hardware section, the ZenWatch 2 will come with a new magnetic charging system and a functional crown. The battery life is also expected to be improved dramatically over the previous model possibly making it last as long as 4 days.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
If you don’t care about having the newest model available, the specs of the ZenWatch should still be more than enough to handle Android Wear into the foreseeable future, though it might miss out on a few minor features here and there due to hardware limitations. And since most of us will be carrying our phones anyways, the lack of WiFi capabilities shouldn’t be a deal breaker. So will you stick with last year’s model and get a great deal or perhaps wait for some better hardware to come out before you buy a Smartwatch? Let us know down in the comments.
Cartoon Network’s Formula Cartoon All-Stars racing game launches on Play Store
Cartoon Network has launched a brand new racing game onto Google’s Play Store called Formula Cartoon All-Stars. The game features several characters and tons of tracks from Cartoon Network’s most popular franchises, including shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show, plus several others.
The gameplay offers a hectic cart-racing experience, not unlike Mario Kart. There are tons of boosts, items, and weapons to keep races exciting, and the control scheme is completely optimized for just one finger.
If you’re into chaotic racing games, this might be worth checking out. Unfortunately, the app does carry a $4 price tag and has in-game ads and in-app purchases, which is a pretty heavy handed approach to making money. But there is at least quite a bit of content, and the game does seem pretty entertaining, so it might be able to justify the high barrier of entry.
You can check out some screenshots and the game trailer below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Cartoon Network’s Formula Cartoon All-Stars racing game launches on Play Store
Finally: Spotify now has Android Wear functionality
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Apps with proper Android Wear functionality are far and few between at the moment, but thankfully, Spotify has finally joined those ranks. Spotify now has Android Wear functionality after an update was pushed out today, and it brings many requested functions to your wrist worn wearables. Along with the standard music player controls like skip track and volume controls, you’ll also be able to swipe and browse through your playlists as well as radio stations that you have saved to Your Music.
There are some quirks however: single tracks don’t seem to be able to be selected, and the Spotify app can’t be started from the watch itself – you’ll need to start it from your phone first before you can start interacting with it on your smartwatch. A few oversights, but we’re hoping they’ll be addressed in a future update. If you’re interested in checking out the update, it is available from the Play Store now:
What do you think about the new Spotify Android Wear update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Phandroid
The post Finally: Spotify now has Android Wear functionality appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Quick Tip: Triple click to turn on grayscale for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have more functions and features than many of us even know exist. We should all know that a double-click on the home button launches the camera. You should also know about Smart Stay and various other gesture supported features. After all, those are straight to the point inside the settings menu. If you don’t know what I am talking about you should head to settings, Device Motion and Gestures to take a look. There are some great ways to save power on the device as well. Under Settings, System, Battery you can select Ultra Power Savings mode which turns the screen into a grayscale and simplifies the apps available to use. I have never given it a full day use to see if it really pushes to the max time that it says it can, but I am sure it doesn’t hurt. We all know that blacks use the least amount of power, and a grayscale look can be easier on the eyes late at night, but the Ultra Power Savings mode is really just an emergency mode to survive a bit longer if necessary. There is also a standard grayscale toggle that can be easily found under Settings, Accessibility, Vision. While easily accessible, there is another way to make it available quickly and easily.
If you head into Settings, Accessibility, Direct Access and turn it on, you can set up a triple click on the home button to do a multitude of things. One of which is toggle the grayscale mode on and off. You can also set it for a magnifier window, Negative colors and a few other potentially useful features. I’d love to show you a screenshot, but when you take one it displays in color. Go figure. So here is a photo of the screen in grayscale mode.
The more I poke around this thing the more little tricks I discover. What is your favorite trick on the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge? Share them in the comments so others can learn things they might not have known.
The post Quick Tip: Triple click to turn on grayscale for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The Big Picture: Missouri Guardsmen go on virtual patrol
National Guard troops from the 35th Engineer Brigade take a breather during simulated patrol and building clearance at Fort Leonard Wood in the Missouri Ozarks. Part of the Dismounted Soldier Training System, VR practice is employed to integrate new squad members into their units more quickly and as well as maintain combat readiness for the squad as a whole.
[Image Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Samantha J. Whitehead]
Filed under: Science
This robotic bricklayer can build a house in two days
For all the modern tools and heavy machinery found on construction sites these days, one aspect has remained a decidedly manual labor: bricklaying. Just as they did 6000 years ago when masonry was first developed, today’s bricklayers still perform their backbreaking work almost exclusively by hand. But thanks to Australian engineer, Mark Pivac, that could soon change. Pivac has developed what he claims is the world’s first fully automated bricklaying robot, dubbed Hadrian (yes, like the wall).
“We’re at a technological nexus where a few different technologies have got to the level where it’s now possible to do it,” Pivac told PerthNow. “And that’s what we’ve done.” The system will first determine the location of every brick to be laid based on a 3D CAD design, then individually cuts and lays the bricks in sequence. Hadrian doesn’t even need to move during the laying process as its 28-foot long boom manipulator is dextrous enough to both set the brick and slather on mortar as well. It even leaves space for pipes and wiring.
The machine is reportedly capable of setting 1000 bricks an hour — roughly a home’s exterior frame every two days or about 150 homes a year — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Pivac hopes to further develop and then market Hadrian in Western Australia before expanding to the entire country and then the rest of the world.
Filed under: Science
Source: PerthNow
Benchmarks Show iPhone Performance Difference When iOS 9’s Low Power Mode is Activated
With iOS 9, Apple introduced a Low Power mode, designed to extend battery life when an iPhone’s power is running low. According to the feature’s description, Low Power mode works by reducing an iPhone’s performance and cutting down on background activity.
Geekbench 3 has just been updated to work with iOS 9, letting us get a more detailed look at how Low Power mode works and how much it throttles an iPhone’s CPU performance when activated.
Without Low Power mode activated, an iPhone 6 Plus scored 1606 on the single-core processor test and 2891 on the multi-core processor test. When Low Power mode was turned on, the same iPhone 6 Plus scored 1019 on the single-core test and 1751 on the multi-core test, suggesting there’s a significant performance reduction when Low Power mode is enabled to save as much battery as possible.
Results were similar on an iPhone 5s, with performance reduced by about 40 percent. We saw single/multi-core scores of 1386/2511 without Low Power mode and scores of 816/1405 with Low Power mode turned on.
Low Power mode activates when an iPhone is at 10 or 20 percent battery level, providing a popup that lets users toggle it on quickly. It can also be turned on via the new Battery section of the Settings app. When it’s turned on, in addition to lowering CPU speeds, Low Power mode also disables Mail Fetch, Background App Refresh, motion effects, and animated wallpapers.
Indicated by a yellow battery icon, by limiting performance and disabling battery draining features, Low Power mode can extend an iPhone’s battery life by up to three hours. Other performance improvements in iOS 9 extend the iPhone’s battery by an hour even when Low Power mode is not enabled.
iOS 9 is currently available to developers and will be released to the general public in the fall.
(Thanks, Brandon!)
OnePlus 2 launch to push the envelope with VR event
OnePlus has announced that they plan to push the envelope a bit, consistent with their goal of being on the cutting-edge of technology, by holding the OnePlus 2 launch event as a virtual reality event. The launch is scheduled to take place on July 27th at 7:00 pm PT and when it starts, viewers can fire up a special OnePlus Cardboard headset to get an insider’s view of the launch.
OnePlus says they did not want the launch event to be a “barrier” between users and the company by being the same old keynote in front of a seated audience. Instead, users will be able to access the VR stream for the unveiling and zoom around to look at what they are interested in checking out. OnePlus says there may even be some hidden Easter eggs to be discovered. They also plan to incorporate fan videos, stories and images collected as part of a special contest recently conducted.
To help make this VR launch event a reality, OnePlus decided to create their own OnePlus Cardboard headset that is designed to fit the OnePlus One. Although they say the “love” existing cardboard VR options, they wanted to put their own spin and improvements into a headset. It appears the OnePlus Cardboard will be free plus the cost of shipping, consistent with OnePlus’s claim that they will be losing money by making them available, a cost they obviously think is worth it. The units are not quite available, but you can sign up to be notified of updates and availability.
source: OnePlus
Come comment on this article: OnePlus 2 launch to push the envelope with VR event
Puppy wallpapers to fill your screen with cuteness
Who doesn’t love puppies? I adopted my Lab/Shepherd mix at 6 months old(featured image) and miss the days of when she was an adorable puppy. I have curated a bunch of very cute puppy wallpapers for your devices, check them out below.
Puppy Wallpapers
<strong>How to Save</strong>: If you find an image you’d like to save, simply right click and save to your local desktop. On a mobile device you can long press on…
The post Puppy wallpapers to fill your screen with cuteness appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 