Skype punches up Android app with visual refresh
Skype today rolled out a new, visually refreshed version of its Android app. Marked as version 5.6, it’s designed to give users a more intuitive user interface.
The updated app provides at-a-glance access to more chats in the Recent tab. Hopping back into a conversation, or starting a new one, should be much quicker.
Additionally, the new Skype app lets you see which of your contacts are online, regardless of where you are in the app. Avatar pictures have been given a tweak, too, and have a more consistent look and feel.
As for the actual chats, the color of bubbles have been adjusted for clarity. This should lead to an experience that easier on the eye, particularly when there’s multiple participants.
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Video Review: Catalyst’s Waterproof Case Keeps Your iPhone 6 Dry, but With Some Drawbacks
For our latest video review, we went hands-on with a waterproof iPhone 6 Plus case from Catalyst, which the company calls “the most protective case in the world.” It’s waterproof up to a depth of 5 meters (16.4 feet) and it’s also shock and drop resistant, made from polycarbonate with a rubber bumper and silicone seals.
In our testing, the Catalyst case lived up to its claims and kept our iPhone safe when we stuck it in a sink full of water, but in our opinion, this isn’t a case you’re going to want to use on a daily basis.
It’s protective, but that comes at the expense of the thin and svelte form of the iPhone. Catalyst’s case adds a lot of bulk, plus it makes the volume and the power buttons nearly impossible to use because the material it’s made of is so rigid. We also had a harder time using the iPhone’s touch screen due to the air gap between the protective cover and the display.
Catalyst’s waterproof case may not be ideal for every day use, but it’s a great option for situations where water protection is essential. You can use this case to take photos at the beach, in the pool, while snorkeling, and more, and your device will be protected from water, dust, dirt, and other elements.
The iPhone 6 Plus case is available in several different colors from the Catalyst website, and it’s priced at $74.99. There’s also an iPhone 6 version, which is priced at $69.99, and there are several accessories available for purchase like a floating lanyard, an audio adapter, and replacement parts.
Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.
Sonavation embeds fingerprint sensor under Gorilla Glass
Sonavation isn’t a house-hold name in the smartphone world, but they may soon gain popularity due to their fingerprint sensor work. They’ve recently hit a milestone in their research to bound an ultrasound fingerprint biometric sensor within Corning Gorilla Glass.
“This dramatic advancement in authentication technology will allow manufacturers to seamlessly integrate a 3D ultrasound biometric sensor into a smartphone or IoT device making it capable of capturing fingerprint data into the ridges and valleys.“
They add that the system will work despite moisture, dirt, or oil on your finger.
This technology can’t come soon enough in my opinion. We’ve been seeing OEM’s trying different ways to work the fingerprint scanner into their designs. Most recently, the One M9+ and OnePlus Two (if this leak is correct) have unfavorably borrowed the look from Samsung’s Galaxy home button.
It must be mentioned that this isn’t the first we’ve heard of 3D biometric fingerprint authentication. Qualcomm announced Sense ID back in March, which uses similar ultrasonic technology and can work through all kinds of materials (metal, plastic, glass). It is unsure which company is further along with it.
We can only hope that this technology will hit the market in a reasonable amount of time.
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Apple Releases Flash Storage Firmware Update for 2015 MacBook Pros
Apple today released MacBook Pro Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0 for the 2015 MacBook Pro, which fixes a storage firmware issue that could cause data corruption in rare cases.
Apple recommends that all customers who have a mid-2015 MacBook Pro download and install the update. It can be acquired from the Mac App Store on affected machines or directly from Apple’s support site.
Mid-2015 MacBook Pros include the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro released in March and the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro released in May.
Trring brings nostalgia to your lockscreen [App Review]
Want something different for a lockscreen? Look no further. Trring brings a rotary dial phone-type launcher right to your lock-screen, granted that you don’t care much about security.
Setup
Because of how simple it is, you really don’t need instructions on how to use it. Nevertheless, there is still a tutorial that shows you how to assign different apps to the different slots. I did experience lag, but that can be attributed to the fact that the app is in Beta.
Function
The obvious use of the app is to provide a unique lockscreen. It’s like a rotary-style phone except that instead of numbers you have your designated app. Pressing and dragging on the app icon like dialing on the phone unlocks and launches the chosen app. It’s a simple but effective way to have shortcuts on your lockscreen that cannot be accidentally launched while in your pocket. There is another icon at the bottom of the screen that will allow you to switch ‘phones’. Instead of having app shortcuts, you now have setting shortcuts, like WiFi toggle and Bluetooth on/off. This can of course be changed back by clicking on the same button. It’s a pity that I experienced lag, however this was mostly when using the actual application; and to be fair, the app is in beta testing.
Is it for me?
Unless you’re a big fan of unlock patterns and passcodes, it may not be a bad idea to check it. I myself enjoyed it, but, as it lacks any sort of security, I simply could not use it on a permanent basis.
What we liked:
- Original and nostalgic design
- Simple to use
- Easily customizable
- No adverts
And not so much:
- Lack of security
- Lag
It’s worth a shot if you don’t mind some occasional lag and lack of security. It’s worth mentioning that it’s also not great for daily use. Sure, we can all handle some unresponsiveness and lag, but when it’s the lockscreen… maybe not so much. If you love it there is a paid version available which will unlock some more features.
The post Trring brings nostalgia to your lockscreen [App Review] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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