The Dexcom G5 lets diabetics track blood sugar on their phone
Keeping tabs on a body’s glucose levels is a way of life for diabetics — a ritual performed several times a day, often before or after meals. It’s an essential chore, but it often requires special hardware for reading blood test strips or stand-alone receivers for patch-devices that read blood sugar levels under the skin. Thankfully, a better way is coming: the FDA recently approved an iOS-compatible glucose meter that can send constant updates directly to your phone.
The Dexcom G5 Continuous Glucose Monitoring system is technically just the latest in a long line non-intrusive glucose meters, but until now they all relied on a dedicated hardware receiver to report blood sugar levels. The new version can push updates to directly to iOS devices over Bluetooth, making it possible for your phone to alert you the moment your blood sugar changes. That’s more data, more control and less to carry around.
Don’t fret if you just bought the Dexcom G4, though — folks who purchased the company’s previous glucose meter after July 25th will get a free upgrade to the G5 after it ships. Customers who bought it earlier will be able to upgrade for $200-300, depending on when they bought it. The system is expected to ship sometime later next month.
Filed under:
Misc, Science, Mobile
Via:
Medgadget
Source:
Dexcom
Tags: bloodglucose, bluetooth, cluclose, dexcom, dexcom65, diabetes, diabetic, ios, mobilepostcross, smartphone
New Moto 360 leak compares upcoming second-generation model to its predecessor
The second-generation Moto 360 smartwatch will be announced on September 2nd, at the IFA in Berlin. After Motorola posted a video on Twitter revealing the new device form factor, a new leak shows us the device next to its predecessor, giving us an idea of its smaller size.
The leaked picture comes from HellomotoHK’s Facebook page, and shows us the supposedly new Moto 360 next to its larger predecessor. There has been rumors that the new device will come in two sizes, which might help Motorola make the watch more appealing to more customers, as the first generation Moto 360 was quite large. The two variants, known to be the Moto 360S and 360L are still yet-to-be announced, and more leaks will most likely show up before the official announcement next Wednesday.
Source: HellomotoHK (Facebook)
Via: Engadget
Come comment on this article: New Moto 360 leak compares upcoming second-generation model to its predecessor
Turing Robotic Industries schedules a release date for the Turing Phone
Turing Robotic Industries, the company developing the upcoming Turing Phone, is ready to announce when its first device will be shipping and who is be making it. Along with that, the company detailed a special edition of the Turing Phone.
The Turing Phone will ship on December 18, 2015. Turing Robotic Industries partially chose this date because it coincides with the release of the next Star Wars film and many of the company’s employees are huge fans of the franchise.
People that made a reservation for the Turing Phone will receive their invites on September 21.
Although the release date is still four months away, you should be happy to know that Foxconn is manufacturing the Turing Phone. Foxconn is a familiar name as the manufacturing company’s clientele includes Apple, Microsoft, and Sony. Turing Robotic Industries is going with a trusted name to manufacture a phone that is meant to be unbreakable in terms of both hardware and software.
A special edition of the Turing Phone called Dark Wyvern (seen above) will be up for pre-order on September 24, the same day that customers will be asked to pay for the phone. Turing Robotic Industries noted that many asked for a special Turing Phone and Dark Wyvern is what they came up with.
The Dark Wyvern special edition, which has 128GB of internal storage, is priced at $999.
Come comment on this article: Turing Robotic Industries schedules a release date for the Turing Phone
Google aims to help you track dangerous storms more easily this hurricane season
Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina ten years ago, Google began ramping up its efforts to display satellite imagery of affected areas in Google Earth and even helped build searchable databases to help people keep in touch with their loved ones. And this hurricane season, Google is making it much easier to track dangerous storms through Search results. The company today announced that it’s bringing some improvements to weather forecasts and Public Alerts in Google Search. With these new improvements, searching for a particular storm or tornado might bring up the following:
- A map showing your location in relation to the oncoming storm
- Visualizations of its forecasted track, wind severity and arrival time, courtesy of NOAA
- Concise instructions for preparing and staying safe, customized for the estimated intensity of the storm and its arrival time relative to your location, from FEMA and ready.gov
Google says the safety recommendations you receive will be tailored to reflect the current status of the storm, as well as your context. For instance, searching for a specific storm that’s a few days away will bring up a map of the storm developing and a recommendation to start preparing for an emergency. Searching for a storm that’s only hours away from your location will bring up a reminder to start charging your phone or tips on how to avoid injury from fast moving water or flying debris.
These new improvements to storm tracking in Google Search are rolling out in the United States starting today.
8 Material Design apps to unify your experience
When Google unveiled Android Lollipop last year, what came with it was the largest design overhaul Android has ever seen. It was dubbed it “Material Design” and was meant to become the design language for all Android apps. However, we are approaching a year after Lollipop’s official release and there are still few apps out there that adhere to Google’s new design guidelines.
In this list, we will take a look at some apps that wonderfully utilized Material Design. Each one was picked to fulfill users basic needs while providing them with a unified Material Design interface.
Weather – Weather Timeline
There are a ton of weather apps that use Material Design, and most of them look amazing. However, Weather Timeline provides the best overall experience when it comes to a weather app. It has the basic features that all weather apps should have such as a 24-hour forecast and a 7-day forecast. There is a very nice radar feature that also makes use of Material Design. Weather Timeline also provides information about moon phases, humidity, dew point, pressure, visibility, and a “feels like” temperature.
One feature that I find interesting is their “Time Machine” which allows you to see weather forecasts weeks, months, and years into the past or future! I cannot vouch for its accuracy several years into the future, but looking ahead a couple of weeks has seemed to be decently accurate. Weather Timeline gives you the options to customize virtually anything you can see in the app. Colors, icons, and more can be tailored to exactly what you want. It even allows you to customize your Android Wear notification.
You can pick up Weather Timeline for an affordable $0.99 in the Play Store and get access to every feature immediately!
Voice recorder – Wear Audio Recorder
Selecting a voice recorder was simple because I had found Wear Audio Recorder earlier this year and it quickly became my go to app for recording audio. Its utilization of Material Design is fantastic with every animation and movement thought out. There are settings for audio quality, audio gain, compression, noise suppression, and more. There is also wonderful Android Wear support (hence the name).
The free version provides basically everything you could need, but the paid version adds a few useful features. In the paid version, you get more control over the Android Wear part of the app as well as automatic backup to the cloud via Dropbox or Google Drive.
You can get Wear Audio Recorder for free from the Play Store and upgrade to the paid version for only $2.99.
News/RSS reader – Palabre
Finding an RSS reader for this list proved to be challenging because many apps that claim to use Material Design either do not look good or do not work well. I finally found Palabre, and it was obvious that time had been spent on the design and features for this app. For Feedly users, you will be happy to hear that this app supports full Feedly integration, and all you have to do to get your RSS subscriptions is sign in with your Feedly account.
The app itself is polished and smooth, offering a nice card-style layout for your news stories. You can change how the articles are displayed as well as switch to their slick dark theme. The only problem with this app is that the free version is ad supported. While the adds are not intrusive and simply fit into your news list like another article, they can be annoying if you do not like them. Thankfully, there is an ad-free version that can be upgraded to from within the app.
You can download Palabre for free from the Play Store and upgrade to its ad-free version for $2.47.
Calendar – Today Calendar
Today Calendar is a no brainer when it comes to a calendar app that does an amazing job following the Material Design guidelines. The look, feel, and animations in the app show just what an app can be when it uses Material Design correctly. This app features integration with Google Calendar allowing for an easy switch between the two.
It defaults to a split view which shows the month at the top of the screen and a list of events for a certain day at the bottom. There are also options for an Agenda view, Day view, Week view, and Month view. You can change the two main colors used Today Calendar, but you will need to get the Pro version to take advantage of the Dark theme along with a few other features. The free version includes everything needed to make this app usable and enjoyable, but some may find a few more features worth upgrading for.
You can grab Today Calendar for free in the Play Store or buy the Pro version for $2.99.
Music player – Shuttle
Finding the best Material Design music player was not easy because there are quite a few and many of them suffer from a lack of important features. Shuttle is probably the best all-around music player that uses Material Design. It is easy to understand, uses animations and elements that show off Material Design, and has some nice features built into the free version.
You are given the option to change the theme (yes, there is a dark theme), the color, and the accent color. You can also enable a colored status bar. The only main feature missing from the free Shuttle is the option to edit song information from inside the app. You can upgrade to Shuttle+ to get access to this feature and many more. Shuttle+ also give you Chromecast support, which is enough reason to upgrade right there.
You can pick up Shuttle for free in the Play Store and upgrade to Shuttle+ for $1.75.
Twitter – Giza
The official Twitter app for Android is a complete mess, but there are few options out there that provide a good experience plus Material Design. Giza came out of no where, and provides a nice experience with a wonderful Material Design feel. Aside from some visual changes, features like a dark theme and compact timeline, and a simple interface, this app is still undeniably Twitter.
The app itself is free, but unfortunately it is ad supported. The adds are normally seen when viewing other peoples’ profiles, but they are generally unobtrusive banner ads. If you really do not want adds in your app, you can get the ad-free version.
You can download Giza free from the Play Store and upgrade to ad-free for $2.99.
Instagram – Imagine
Finding an Instagram app that used Material Design well was not easy, but once we found Imagine, we knew it was the right one. The app itself is nice and minimal, just like Material Design apps should be. There is a floating action button that allows you to add or take a new photo or video. To access things like your profile, activity, or likes, there is a nice slide out menu on the right that holds all of those options.
Everything that is needed to make this a usable Instagram replacement is included in the free version, but if you really want to customize the app, you will need to purchase the Premium version. With Premium, ads are removed, and you are given the option to add multiple accounts, change the theme, enable a colored navigation bar, and view nearby posts. The main problem with this app is that to add photos and videos, you must have the official Instagram app installed on your device too.
You can pick up Imagine for free in the Play Store and upgrade to Premium for $2.49.
File manager- File Explorer
There are many file managers out there that use Material Design, but the features that File Explorer offers puts it above the rest. You have basic features such as access to all areas of your file system, view changes (grid, icon, etc), and more. You are able to open multiple locations at one time with the ability to switch between them available in the hamburger menu to the right.
The one feature that proves to be extremely useful is the Split View option. Much like Samsung’s Multi-Window feature, this allows you to view two separate locations on your screen at once. This makes transferring files from one place to another extremely easy. You do not have to switch between places because they are both on your screen. You are also given the option to change the theme and colors in the app. The best part about File Explorer is that all the features are available without purchase.
You can get File Explorer for free in the Play Store.
These eight apps should provide you with great Material Design replacements for apps you use every day, but we are not stopping there. We want to know what other everyday apps you would like a Material Design alternative for. Perhaps a flashlight app or a to do list app? Whatever app you have in mind, let us know down in the comments. And keep an eye out for the next set of Material Design apps to unify your experience.
The post 8 Material Design apps to unify your experience appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Noteworthy: Is it time for Samsung to make a Galaxy Note…Mini?
The Galaxy Note is certainly deserving of some smaller consideration if the Galaxy S is worthy of a larger one.
Since its inception, the Samsung Galaxy Note series has always been about one thing: big screen productivity. The device gave birth to the whole phablet genre and revived the hallowed stylus for modern times. And yet. Each installment has always held true to a stubborn staples, namely size increments of at least 5.5 inches or greater. To this day, nine models exist: 5 phablets and 4 tablets. To this day, no one has ever contested that size isn’t everything, even if the pen is mightier than the sword.
What I am about to propose is mind-boggling. It’s so outlandish that it just might seem logical. And in truth, it is. The claim to fame? It’s time that Samsung unveils the Galaxy Note…Mini.
If mainstream can go big, why can’t niche go small?
For years now, Samsung has built its key brands on a simple yet effective premise: the Galaxy S series is comprised of mainstream, “standard-sized” products. The premiere flagship is the standard “S” release. As the industry screen size average began to increase (which was largely Samsung’s doing) a more portable variant was introduced, starting with the Galaxy S3 Mini. By the time the Galaxy S5 hit last year, we had the Active line, which offered better support for more rugged use. In some cases, the specs were altered, however Samsung still opted for the S naming nomenclature instead of using a different letter.
Does the Galaxy S6 Edge+ have a legitimate reason for being big? The Note Mini would have the same one for being small.
This year, we have the Galaxy S6 Edge+. The device, which has polarized some of us, is a large Galaxy S6 Edge. Absolutely nothing more, and nothing less, especially now that its sole unique feature has been ported to the smaller size option. Samsung had never felt the need to make a large non-Note flagship before, yet so convinced this is what customers want, it has actually, deliberately, chosen to deny Europe the opportunity to buy the Galaxy Note 5.
If Samsung has decreed that the Galaxy S can go big for no reason other than because there isn’t a big Galaxy S, by that very same logic the Galaxy Note should go small for no reason other than because there isn’t a small Galaxy Note.
Logic…and lots of it
While the equation I’ve just created might seem almost comical, in truth the idea at hand is quite logical. Consider for a second, that stylus-based devices had originally been significantly smaller than the products we’re using today. Some 20 years ago, long before smartphones were even a possibility, we had PDAs. These devices, Personal Digital Assistants, were basically digital organizers that came with some media functionality, perhaps more depending on the OEM that produced it. These devices were also one of the most mainstream products to feature a stylus, as in dealing with screens that were smaller than kids these days can even imagine, users needed a small tool to poke away at the resistive touch screens.
Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
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Samsung had tried to justify the return of the stylus -reimagined as the Wacom-powered S-Pen- by offering it with a large screen smartphone, but there isn’t any reason it couldn’t include one on a smaller form factor. Indeed for any number of people, even 5 inches is still a gigantic display size to deal with. These potential customers, who may actually be interested in the idea of the Note, will never actually buy one simply because they either can’t operate such a large device, or else they simply don’t want to. There is, as a result, a potential market of untapped cash to capitulate.
Aside from the LG Vu series, no other mainstream legacy OEM has come forth with a “small” Note-type device. Even LG itself arguably struck out given that the Vu, or Intuition as it was known in the USA, opted for a 4:3 aspect ratio that while easier to write on, was not appealing to customers long since acclimated to widescreen. Again, Samsung can thereby be first again with the Note series, and actually make consumers rethink the product line itself, something that at the very least, will generate buzz.
The software side
Now I know what you’re thinking at this point. “The contention is stupid. This post is pointless.” The basis? Inevitably some of it will have to do with software. Samsung has, since the beginning, made the Note series all about productivity. And who could possibly be productive on a small device. Putting aside the entire PDA genre mentioned, a genre that lasted for about a decade for reference, there is a valid point to be made for software. One of the Galaxy Note series staples is its multitasking ability: split screens and pop-up apps.
And yet, has anyone stopped to realize that basically all of Samsung’s products do this now? While some of the more budget-friendly variants lack the horsepower needed to run simultaneous split-screen applications, the Galaxy S flagships most certainly have Multitasking now. And notice what reviewers typically point out with regards to it: “While it has multitasking we don’t know why you would want to use it on such a small screen.” Perhaps you might not know why, but clearly Samsung feels someone will want to use it.
The Galaxy Note Mini will never appeal to those with phabletitis, but then again it’s not meant to.
If the Galaxy S6 supports multitasking, and has all the horsepower and RAM technically needed to run the Galaxy Note SDK (consider the Note 4 also had 3GB of RAM) then there is no reason it couldn’t. And really, no reason it shouldn’t. Would Galaxy Note users be smitten with this idea? No, but then again this proposed product isn’t meant to target those customers in the first place.
Plan B: sell the S-Pen
Perhaps my idea should be expanded to an even larger one: rather than make a Galaxy Note Mini, perhaps what Samsung should actually do, is make its S-Pen compatible with the Galaxy S line on the whole. Not only would this potentially spike the demand for the S-Pen, but it could actually charge a nominal fee to customers to download the “Note Suite for S” or else build it into the cost of the “S-Pen for Galaxy S.” This would immediately allow customers who want extra productivity options to get such from Samsung. This would also allow Samsung to have another edge over its competitors, at least for the time being, and it would allow for such with basically no real R&D costs whatsoever.
Consider, for example, that the low-end Galaxy Tab A actually has a variant that comes with the S-Pen. The tablet, which is really equivalent to the Galaxy E series of smartphones, is able to run the Galaxy Note software suite without any real problems, and it has but 2GB of RAM. The problem has never been one of specs really, just Samsung’s decision to limit the form factor to which it’s compatible.
This idea would also work wonders on those who feel the Galaxy S6 Edge+ has wasted the opportunity to put the extra screen real estate to good use, and it would immediately calm down -at least to some degree- those who feel slighted their country isn’t deemed “worthy” to get the Galaxy Note 5 this year. In fact, it would actually negate the existence of the Galaxy Note series as a whole, a crusade that some critics are accusing Samsung of having begun with last year’s Note 4.
A Mini for the rest of us
While the Galaxy Note Mini will never manage to capture the hearts and wallets of those afflicted by phabletitis, it would provide for an entirely new market for Samsung to market to. Provided the screen was around 5 inches or so, it wouldn’t even be that obscene to imagine. Granted a larger prospect will always have an advantage in terms of productivity, but not all hands are created equally. Furthermore, the ability to sell a Galaxy Note Mini at a lower price range, perhaps add in extra accessories or options, and Samsung could conceivably have a win up its sleeve.
What do you think? Would the idea of a Galaxy Note Mini sell? Do you know anyone who might want it? Should it have flagship specs or something less? Leave us your comments below!
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ARCHOS’ new 4G LTE-capable Diamond Tab will be available this October for just £179
Although ARCHOS just recently unveiled the budget-friendly Diamond S and 50e Helium smartphones, that’s not stopping the French smartphone maker from announcing yet another Android device prior to the IFA 2015 trade show. Dubbed the Diamond Tab, this new 4G LTE-capable tablet will be available for purchase sometime in October for only £179.
When it comes to specifications, the Diamond Tab features a 7.9-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2048×1536, a 64-bit 1.7 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT8752 processor, 3GB of RAM as well as 32GB of on-board storage. It also has a 5MP rear-facing camera, a 2MP front-facing shooter, a 4800mAh battery and runs a near-vanilla version of Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box.
Considering the impressive list of specifications and seemingly solid build quality, £179 is certainly not a bad price for this tablet. And just like the company’s newest smartphone offerings, the Diamond Tab will be shown off at IFA 2015. We’ll be attending IFA this year, and we’re hoping to get some quality hands-on time with the newest devices from ARCHOS.
Lenovo Vibe P1 features mid-range specs and a massive 5000 mah battery, coming to IFA
Ahead of MWC earlier this year, a number of leaked press renders suggested that Lenovo was getting ready to unveil as many as five handsets. While some of these phones were unveiled at MWC, the Vibe P1 was among the models that never did surface. Until today apparently. The Vibe P1 will finally be officially unveiled at IFA 2015 according to a new report.
Alongside news of its impending arrival, several hands-on live images of the Vibe P1 have now surfaced showing off the magnesium-alloy body, as well as more details about the phone’s specs.
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The Vibe P1 is expected to be powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core processor, likely a Snapdragon 615, with 3GB RAM an 16GB storage. Other specs include a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a 13MP main cam, 5MP front cam, a fingerprint scanner, and a massive 5000 mAh battery. Just as you’d expect from a Lenovo phone, the device will also run a custom skin and a number of 1st party apps on top of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
Given the fairly modest specs, the Vibe P1 sounds like it should be able to easily provide multi-day battery life, though obviously it’s too early to say just how good the battery life will be. In many ways this sounds a lot like the Moto X Play, which is a similarly spec’d device with a large battery (and technically it’s the same company). Obviously the design, some of the specs, and the software will differ, though.
What do you think of the idea of a modestly spec’d phone with a 5000 mAh battery? Would you consider the device if it ever came to your region? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
#WoodBack Case for Samsung Galaxy S6 Review
If you’re looking for a case that adds style and flair to your Samsung Galaxy S6, then look no further than the WoodBack case from Cover-Up. I got sent over a few to review to check out if they performed as well as they looked.
Wooden backs first became a thing when the Moto X was introduced and since then have become not only a fashion addition for your smartphone, but also provides a pretty durable rear. The Galaxy S6 comes with a very fragile back so the WoodBack case from Cover-Up compliments the S6 perfectly to protect that glass back.
The cases easily snap on and provide a very good fit to the S6, leaving access to the buttons you need while protecting the delicate bezels on the side of the device. There’s a sufficient gap in the rear of the cases to provide unobtrusive visibility for the camera so your pictures are not compromised, which is a big concern with cases that sometimes reflect the flash of the camera.
The WoodBack cases provide a lovely added premium detail to your Galaxy S6, whilst protecting it in the places where it needs to, which is especially important with the new Galaxy S6 and delicate materials that can be prone to damage.
One negative of this good-locking wood being added to your Galaxy S6 is that it does add a little bulk to your device, which some may not see as an issue. It does make the Galaxy S6 feel better in the hand and easier to hold, but the added width is noticeable for those who like a thin device.
There are plenty more WoodBack cases offered by Cover-Up that are not featured here and you can check out the full range here.
The post #WoodBack Case for Samsung Galaxy S6 Review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Acer releases a pair of unlocked Liquid series smartphones in US
Acer on Thursday announced a pair of new “Liquid” smartphones which are to be released in the US. Offered as unlocked handsets, the duo are powered by Android 4.4 KitKat and offer 4G LTE connectivity.
The Liquid Jade Z is available today and features a 5-inch HD display, 13-megapixel (F1.8) rear camera, and front-facing 5-megapixel selfie shooter. The device draws power from a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and comes in two options. At $229 you get 1GB RAM with 8GB of storage while the $249 option doubles down at 2GB RAM and 16GB storage.
Other details include HD speakers with DTS Sound, a 2300mAh battery, and dual-SIM support. The Liquid Jade Z is sold in charcoal gray.
Due in September, the Liquid Z410 is a 4.5-inch experience that comes with a little less hardware prowess. The rear camera is listed at 5-megapixel while the front-facing unit is 2-megapixels and the processor is a 1.3GHz CPU.
Like its sibling, this one can be purchased in two configurations. The 1GB RAM/8GB storage option is $129 while the 2GB/16GB unit retails for $149.
The post Acer releases a pair of unlocked Liquid series smartphones in US appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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