Google introduces a new central location for Hangouts on the web
Today Google has introduced a new way to launch Hangouts on the web. Previously, if you wanted to launch Hangouts from your desktop, you’d need to access the service through Gmail, Inbox, Google+, or through a Chrome extension or Chrome application. Now Google has created a webpage for Hangouts, which can be found at hangouts.google.com. The new site gives you quick access to your contacts and communication options.
Once you navigate to the webpage, simply click on one of the big circles in the center to start a video call, phone call or Hangouts message. You’ll see a list of your Google contacts on the left side of the screen, which makes it easy to quickly jump to a particular person. The slide-out menu on the left side also houses links to the Hangouts applications for both Android and iOS, as well as the Hangouts Dialer app for Android and Chrome app.
Don’t miss: Hangouts 4.0 begins rolling out to Android (update: download link is live!)
This is a pretty simple webpage, and doesn’t really provide much more than that. The background changes every few minutes or so, which is definitely a nice touch if you plan on leaving this tab open all day.
If you’re interested in checking it out, head on over to hangouts.google.com for more information.
T-Mobile is forgoing pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
Forget about pre-ordering the Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge+ from T-Mobile. Why? Because the carrier is forgoing pre-orders of either Samsung device in favor of shipping units right away. Upon accepting orders on August 18 at 9AM ET, T-Mobile will fulfill them and ship phones as soon as possible. Or you can just wait until August 21 to head into a T-Mobile retail store and leave with a shiny new device.
Source: John Legere (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: T-Mobile is forgoing pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
Download Android Marshmallow Wallpapers Now!
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Android M finally got its official name this morning, and if you live under rock, or were in a coma-like sleep, you know that the M stands for Marshmallow. Now that we got the Android Marshmallow name out of the way, you can grab yourself some of the wallpapers that come with the new build. There are 9 pieces of wallpaper to choose from, so either you can download the zip file in the link below, or download them individually. Let us know what your think about the Android Marshmallow wallpapers.
The post Download Android Marshmallow Wallpapers Now! appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Developer reveals Mac security hole without telling Apple
Typically, coders and researchers who discover security vulnerabilities in software will tell the companies involved before posting their findings — it’s a courtesy to make sure that those holes are patched before attackers can use them. Don’t tell that to developer Luca Todesco, though. He recently posted details of an OS X exploit, “tpwn,” that lets intruders get root-level access to your Mac (even if it’s running the recent 10.10.5 update) without even telling Apple, let alone waiting for a patch. It’s now a race between the Cupertino crew and malware writers to make use of the discovery.
We’ve reached out to Apple to find out what it’s doing in response to the flaw, and we’ll let you know if it has something to share. However, Todesco isn’t about to have a change of heart. He contends that an unofficial solution will protect you if you’re not willing to wait, and that this isn’t any different than publishing details of an iOS jailbreak (which takes advantage of security flaws to let you install unofficial software). Those are technically true, but they downplay the practical dangers of publishing this info. Many people aren’t knowledgeable enough to try third-party safeguards or deal with the possible side effects, and jailbreaks are at least intended for semi-innocuous purposes. A ‘surprise’ exploit for the Mac only really serves to give attackers time that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Filed under:
Internet, Software, Apple
Via:
AppleInsider
Source:
GitHub
Tags: apple, exploit, internet, kpwn, mac, osx, security, tpwn, vulnerability, zero-day
Modular mobile phone Project Ara is delayed until 2016
The much-anticipated Google-backed modular phone from Project Ara was supposed to make its debut in Puerto Rico later this year. However, the device won’t be coming until at least 2016, thanks to an unexpectedly long prototyping phase, and likely won’t use the US protectorate as its initial test market, as a series of tweets from company on Monday reveal. The company is reportedly “looking at a few locations in the U.S.” to debut the phone but is certain that it won’t be happening by the end of the year.
When? 2016. #yeswearelate #ProjectAra
— Project Ara (@ProjectAra) August 17, 2015
Why? Lots of iterations… more than we thought. #ProjectAra
— Project Ara (@ProjectAra) August 17, 2015
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source:
Project Ara (Twitter)
Tags: google, mobilepostcross, modular, phones, ProjectAra, PuertoRico
In Europe and want the Note 5? Sign this petition
As you’ve already heard, Samsung revealed yesterday two new phablet flagships for the year: the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. And it turns out that the Note 5 is not expected to launch in Europe, according to the company.
We do not know why that is the case, as of yet. However, if you’re in the UK, you may be able to do something about it.
Clove Technology, a reseller partnered with Samsung and other OEMs, wants to bring the phone to the country. So they created a petition over on its blog for people to sign.
What kind of impact this will have is uncertain, but it is better than not doing anything at all. Samsung must have a number of reasons why the Note 5 won’t be sold in Europe, mainly in relation to profit. If it sees there is actual interest for the product, the company could change its mind. Supply and demand, essentially. And if this works in the UK, it could create a movement across the continent.
Do you want to know more about Samsung’s new phablets? Then check out our coverage of the Note 5 and the S6 Edge+, and stay tuned.
Source: Android Authority
The post In Europe and want the Note 5? Sign this petition appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Kill some time and have some fun with SwappyDots (App Review)
For as much time as I don’t have to waste, I still always look for fun games to kill time when I do have it. Mostly while smoking a cigarette or waiting for someone, is when I get my “gaming” in. So when looking for games to kill a few minutes here or there can be a somewhat tedious task. You don’t want to get too deeply involved in a game, because it could be interrupted at almost any time.
When I came across SwappyDots, I was rather intrigued. I’ve always been a fan of these quick games that only take a few minutes of my time and don’t last too long. On top of that, I like having a game that brings me back over and over again. SwappyDots does just that and more.
Setup
The premise of the game is basically just swap the dots around to create a match of at least 3 dots, while creating a chain reaction. There are also added bonuses of bonus dots that add either time or moves to the game, depending upon which game mode you are playing at the time.
Gameplay
Starting the game is really simple, as you just jump straight into whatever game mode you want, since SwappyDots is really easy to get the hang of. Once you select which mode you want, just start tapping away. There’s an open space where you must your dots into and around, and this is how you get create those various combos.
When you run into those bonus dots, which give you either bonus time or moves, there is a black dot that replaces it. Match three or more of those up, and you get a super combo, which not only adds a few extra moves, but also has a score multiplier attached. Like I said, it’s an easy game to get the hang of.
What We Like
- Addicting
- Short and sweet
- High replay value
What We Aren’t Fans Of
- Random ads for dating websites
- Stutters from time to time upon launch
This game is perfect to kill a couple minutes here or there and even if you have more time to play, SwappyDots is still a lot of fun. The version we reviewed today is the ad-supported version, but there is an IAP that allows you to remove ads for a little more than $1.
Let us know what you think about SwappyDots in the comments below, and whether you’ve tried this out before. If you haven’t let us know your favorite time-killer app that you play when you get a few minutes.
The post Kill some time and have some fun with SwappyDots (App Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Get This Look: ‘Zooper by BEARD 3′ Zooper Widget
We’re huge fans of changing the home screen around a bit and creating a new user experience for our Android. So much so that we present our ongoing series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we show you a new layout, app, widget, or icon set for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need to mimic the feel.
Some of these are a little easier to create than others and many of them can be tweaked to no end. The following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish; your results will vary. Which is awesome! If nothing else, this is a great way to discover new apps, widgets, icons, and more!
Zooper by BEARD 3 by BEARD
Why we love this look:
Another great set of minimal Zooper widgets that can compliment any home screen and icon pack. BEARD is renowned for creating great widgets and this is no exception. Multiple styles, multiple colours, and a whole array of combinations will help even the avid customiser find a permanent place on their homescreen with this pack.
What you’ll need:
The post Get This Look: ‘Zooper by BEARD 3′ Zooper Widget appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Download the 9 new stock wallpapers from Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Preview 3)
Google has just announced that Android M is now officially known as Android 6.0 Marshmallow, after teasing the new name last week. The final build of Android 6.0 Marshmallow isn’t quite ready for the general public, but Google has updated the M preview to version 3, which is the final update until the official release, which will likely happen alongside the launch of the new Nexus devices.
There aren’t a ton of notable changes in this new preview, but Google has included a handful of new wallpapers that are now available for download. There are a total of nine wallpapers in all, which you can find attached below:
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margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 20%;
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border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
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margin-left: 0;
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See also: Here are 6 high resolution stock wallpapers from the Samsung Galaxy Note 5
These wallpapers are somewhat similar to the backgrounds we first saw in Android 5.0 Lollipop. Some of them are arial shots that look to be taken from Google Earth, and there are even a few pretty landscape shots thrown in. Google has also included three paper-like wallpapers, each with its own bright color scheme and unique texture.
If you’re interested in downloading the new wallpapers, head to the link below to grab the .zip file. And be sure to stay tuned as we bring you more coverage on Android 6.0 Marshmallow!
Galaxy S6 Edge+ Impressions (from a Galaxy user)
After what seemed like a never ending stream of leaks, Samsung finally unveiled the Galaxy S6 Edge+ at its London event last week. For the past few months, we’ve expected Samsung to unveil two new devices and while it did so at its New York global event, the London event only saw the launch of the Galaxy S6 Edge+.
As a Galaxy S6 Edge user (who has also used every Galaxy S and Note flagship released in the UK), does Samsung’s latest big-screen device hit the mark?
Design
There’s no doubt that the Galaxy S6 Edge is one of the sexiest smartphones ever released and the S6 Edge+ brings the same sex appeal in a larger body. Despite the larger size, the handset definitely looks as good as the original and if you need a big device, it will definitely appeal.
The biggest issue, however, is that the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is certainly a large device. Compared to the Galaxy Note 4 (which was just manageable), the S6 Edge+ is taller but narrower and a lot thinner and although the slimmer profile is welcome, the handset does feel a tad too tall in the hand. The curved back does make0 the handset a lot easier to use but make no mistake about it, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a BIG phone.
The extra mm in height is definitely apparent and despite having big hands, I found the handset just a little too big. Like most devices however, I’m sure it’s something that would be manageable and appreciated given extensive time with the phablet.
Display
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ also stood out for me as the display seems to be better than the S6 Edge, despite the drop in density (from 571 pixels per inch to 518). One potential reason for this could be down to the human eye, which stops being able to discern individual pixels once density exceeds 350ppi. Based on this, the less density in the Galaxy S6 Edge+ appears to be in its favour and even with the lower density, it’s still one of the densest displays on the market.
The curved edges of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ don’t curve as much as they did on the Galaxy Note Edge and are identical to the display on the Galaxy S6 Edge. The curves certainly look impressive but the handset does distort images in the same way, meaning movies and photos are likely to distort as well. Not a major problem and one that you’ll eventually grow to ignore but worth keeping in mind anyway.
Hardware
A lot of the hardware in the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is very similar to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, which again is not exactly a bad decision. Samsung’s Galaxy S flagships were certainly some of the fastest and slickest ever released by Samsung and the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is likely to continue this, especially as Samsung have upped the internal RAM.
The 4GB RAM on the Galaxy S6 Edge+ certainly appeared to make the handset a lot snappier than the Galaxy S6 Edge but performance is something that changes with use and we’ll definitely put it through its paces in our upcoming review. Personally, I can’t see any issues when you’ve got 4GB RAM under the hood and I’d be surprised if performance deteriorated much.
Galaxy S6 Edge battery life review – 28 days later
The other big change in the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is the battery; like the first Edge device, the battery is non-removable but has been upgraded to 3000mAh capacity. As far as Samsung’s flagship phablets go, this battery is definitely on the slimmer side and it remains to be seen whether the battery can actually last a full day.
Software
One change that is definitely apparent when you use the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is that Samsung has updated TouchWiz with new, sharper icons that definitely look more premium. Other than that small change, not much has changed with TouchWiz in general but there have been some additions and a few tweaks.
One of the biggest improvements is the addition of app shortcuts to the Edge Screen. You can now add shortcuts to five favourite apps and according to a Samsung demonstrator at the launch event, this should save you a tap or two. As he put it:
“Imagine being in Facebook and wanting to check something on WhatsApp. Now you can load up the Edge screen and open it, without needing to exit out to the home screen.”
Having used the Galaxy S6 Edge, the addition of apps to the Edge Screen is certainly a welcome improvement but whether it’s enough, remains to be seen. I will say that it is nice to see Samsung improving the features of the Edge and it will be interesting to see how Samsung improves it further going forward.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ also sees Samsung appeal to music and media lovers alike, with the introduction of a new easy broadcast option letting you share to YouTube directly from the camera and hi-res audio ensuring music has never been clearer. Personally, the former option does appeal and seemed to be very good in the demo and the audio, while not something for me, definitely sounds good and should appeal to many.
Conclusion
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it
The saying that seems to have inspired the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” and for the most part, Samsung’s decision to keep the Edge design is unsurprising. As a Galaxy S6 Edge user, the larger device does appeal to me but the dual curves are less ergonomically-friendly compared to the smaller device.
The Galaxy S6 Edge was so unique it had a certain appeal but the S6 Edge+ is no longer new and Samsung’s smartphone is less than an iterative upgrade. It is curved for the big-screen market and designed purely in mind for those who liked the Galaxy S6 Edge but found it too small for their needs.
Should you buy the Galaxy S6 Edge+?
Should you buy the Galaxy S6 Edge+? If you already have the Galaxy S6 Edge, then certainly not unless the extra screen space is absolutely essential and you don’t mind the larger size. However, if you’re looking for a capable smartphone that’s feature-packed and think the Edge Screen will be useful for your needs, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is certainly one to consider.
Of course, this is just a preliminary look at Samsung’s latest curved phablet and we’ll bring a much more in-depth analysis of it in the full review. What do you think of the Galaxy S6 Edge+? Will you buy it? Let us know your views in the comments below guys!
AIVAnet 