Samsung has started pushing notification ads like HTC has
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Seeing ads in free apps is usually a minor inconvenience, something which can be resolved usually by buying the premium version. But what happens when you start getting ads on your smartphone which you’ve paid for? That’s the behaviour that was observed a few weeks ago on some HTC devices who started receiving push notification ads, and it appears that Samsung has joined this club as Samsung has started pushing notification ads to its latest flagship devices. As the images below show, there are an assortment of ads being pushed by Samsung’s packaged apps like the Peel Smart Remote and Samsung Push Service:
At worst, these push notification ads are annoying, but the fact that Samsung is doing this can’t be pleasing to many of its loyal consumers. Of course, Samsung is likely just supplying the tools for advertisers to make use of their apps, like the Land Rover sponsored ad, but advertising their new devices on an older device just seems a little desperate.
What do you think about Samsung making use of push notification ads? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
The post Samsung has started pushing notification ads like HTC has appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Selfie on Google+ confirms that the LG Nexus 5 2015 will have a 5MP front facing camera
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Another day, another piece of LG Nexus 5 2015 news. Today’s news comes from Google+ where a Google employee has apparently been caught red-handed taking a selfie with the LG Nexus 5 2015. The name “bullhead” can be seen under the Camera label and we know Bullhead to be the code name of the LG Nexus 5 2015, which makes it a good bet that this photo was taken with one of Google’s latest smartphones. We’re assuming it wasn’t an intentional leak, but hey, we’re not exactly complaining.
According to the selfie, the photo has a resolution of 1944×2592, which means that the LG Nexus 5 2015 will have a 5MP front facing camera and a f/2.0 for those who know what that means. This pretty much lines up with our expectations for the device’s front camera, but we’re dying to find out more about the device’s internals. Hopefully with Google unveiling the name of its next software build as Android Marshmallow means that a release is just around the corner – here’s to hoping that it happens sooner rather than later.
What do you think about about the fact the LG Nexus 5 2015 will have a 5MP front facing camera? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: TechTastic via TalkAndroid
The post Selfie on Google+ confirms that the LG Nexus 5 2015 will have a 5MP front facing camera appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Nintendo patent hints at a return to disc-free game consoles
Nintendo has said little about what its future NX console will involve (besides not running Android), but one of the company’s recent US patent applications might be a hint as to what it’s planning. The would-be patent, filed this February, talks about a “stationary game console” that uses only hard drives and external cards for storage — the first time a TV-based Nintendo system would go without discs since the Nintendo 64 from two decades ago. As the company explains, the rise of broadband makes optical drives obsolete. Why include a disc reader when any game you want is just a download away?
There aren’t any big clues as to the NX’s hardware, and there’s no guarantee that this amounts to a Nintendo roadmap. It could easily change its mind if it decides that it needs Blu-ray or another format to handle large releases. However, a disc-free system certainly makes sense, especially for a system that might not ship for another year or two. While all the big TV game consoles currently ship with disc drives, it’s no secret that the technology is on its way out — it’s slow, complicates game updates and adds to the cost of a system. Ditching plastic media would let Nintendo embrace the future while keeping its historically low hardware prices.
[Image credit: Jeff Daly/Invision for Nintendo/AP]
Source:
NeoGAF
Tags: console, gaming, nintendo, nx, patent, uspto, videogames
TSA inadvertently shows the dangers of master baggage keys
Security researchers have long warned of the dangers of using master-keyed locks — if thieves get their hands on just one key, they compromise all of the compatible locks at the same time. And unfortunately, the US’ Transportation Security Administration is learning this lesson the hard way. It briefly let the Washington Post show a photo (we’ve blurred the details) of the master baggage keys it uses for approved locks, giving crooks a crude guide to making duplicates. And you can’t just switch to a non-standard lock to get around this, since TSA agents will rip it off if they catch it during an inspection.
This isn’t to say that your belongings would be completely secure even if the TSA and the Post hadn’t slipped up, or if master keys didn’t exist. Bump keys, raking and other techniques could get through, depending on the intruder’s skill and access to equipment. However, officials made it much easier by both embracing master keys and letting a photo of them surface in a news story — millions of suitcases and carry-on bags could be that much more vulnerable. Let’s just hope that other government bureaus learn a lesson from this and avoid relying on master keys, whether they’re physical or digital.
Filed under:
Misc, Transportation
Source:
Washington Post
Tags: baggage, flight, key, keys, masterkey, privacy, security, transportation, travel, tsa
The Big Picture: Curiosity takes a ‘belly selfie’ on Mars
You really shouldn’t take selfies from a low angle — it could lead to unflattering images that emphasize double chins, chubby cheeks and big nostrils. That is, unless you’re the Curiosity rover, because it still looks good despite showing its belly in the photo above. This is definitely not the rover’s first self-portrait, but it’s the first one wherein the camera was positioned lower than its body. The image is a composite of 92 photos taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on August 5th as the rover was facing northeast, with Mt. Sharp and the Gale crater visible in the background.
MAHLI is mounted on Curiosity’s robotic arm, which is hidden from the final pic, thanks to its clever positioning. By the way, the photos were captured when the arm reached down to drill into a Martian rock called “Buckskin.” You can see a wider view of the selfie below: the gray areas represent some of the powdered samples the rover collected from the rock for testing.
[Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS]
Filed under:
Science
Tags: curiosity, mars, nasa, selfie, space, thebigpicture
Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – August 22nd, 2015
Even though the Android world didn’t see a ton of major hardware announcements this week, that doesn’t mean things have been slowing down in the slightest. Amidst Google making Android 6.0 Marshmallow official and Motorola’s next-generation Moto 360 being spotted in the wild multiple times, we’ve still managed to bring you a good amount of video content that you don’t want to miss.
This week we went hands-on and unboxed the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5, in hopes to give you a good look at what the new device offers its users out of the box. We also managed to bring you a OnePlus 2 vs OnePlus One comparison, a number of in-depth reviews and even some insights about what the new Nexus phones might bring to the table.
Without any further ado, let’s take a look at the videos you don’t want to miss this week.
Unboxings and first impressions
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 unboxing & first impressions!
We’ve finally gotten our hands on the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 5. While we’re finishing up coverage on a few more awesome devices that are in the pipeline, we figured this is a good chance to give you a look at what comes in the Note 5’s box and what we think of the smartphone so far. Take a look at the video above to see what the Note 5 brings to the table.
When flagship killers go head to head
OnePlus 2 vs OnePlus One
Continuing our coverage of the OnePlus 2, we thought it was important to see just how this year’s “flagship killer” compares to last year’s offering. Does the 2 bring enough to the table, or does it fall short of everyone’s high expectations? Check out the video above to see for yourself.
Reviews
ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 review
ASUS has been known to produce some killer hardware at competitive price points, but the company’s newest tablet offering might bring that to a whole new level. Is the ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 the tablet for you? Check out Krystal’s full review for more information.
Elephone P8000 review
Available now for just $170, the Elephone P8000 boasts some impressive specifications and a beautiful design. With that said, just because the device checks all the right boxes doesn’t mean it can necessarily hang with the best of the best. Check out Bailey’s full review for further elaboration.
CuBox TV review
Even though it may be a tad pricey for some, the CuBox TV is a flexible media player that can run both Android and Linux, and excels at running Kodi. But is this device’s great performance worth the big price tag? Don’t miss Gary’s full review!
Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebox Tiny review
Chrome OS devices are becoming more and more popular in the crowded computer space, and we’re taking a look at one of the more recent offerings from Lenovo. The Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebox Tiny might be powerful, but can it replace your current laptop or desktop computer? Bailey offers up his thoughts in our full review.
Battle of the personal voice assistants
Siri vs Google Now vs Cortana
Google Now, Siri and Cortana are all very powerful personal voice assistants, but how do they stand out from each other? Do any of these assistants bring anything interesting to the table? Joe finds out in this lengthy comparison.
Android Apps Weekly
Final Fantasy 7, Humble Bundle and Google Play is ready for Marshmallow – you don’t want to miss Joe’s newest episode of Android Apps Weekly!
Speculation on the next Nexus phones
Can the Nexus brand be reborn?
We might end up seeing two Nexus devices this year, and that’s great news. Not only will this give developers and Android fans more options this time around, but the two rumored OEMs might actually bring some positive vibes back to the Nexus program. Check out Mark’s full written piece below, and don’t miss Jayce’s video overview on the subject.
Selfie reveals a 5MP front-facing camera for the upcoming LG Nexus 5 2015
A Google employee has reportedly captured a selfie using the upcoming LG Nexus 5 smartphone. The selfie was uploaded to Google+ earlier today and reveals a 5MP front-facing camera. The post was listed with code name “Bullhead” thus further indicating this is indeed the upcoming LG Nexus handset.
The selfie reveals that the LG Nexus 5 (2015) will have a 5MP snapper 1944 × 2592, and include an aperture of f/2.0 for better low-light photos. The picture is blurred in order to keep the identity of the Google employee hidden. This means that this obviously wasn’t planned to be any sort of teaser for the upcoming handset.
Rumors and recent reports of the handset indicate a late October/early November launch alongside the release of Marshmallow. We can’t wait to see what the two companies have in store for us time come this fall.
Source: TechTastic.nl
Come comment on this article: Selfie reveals a 5MP front-facing camera for the upcoming LG Nexus 5 2015
Samsung’s flagship test drive has gone way better than expected
Yesterday Samsung began a new service to test drive one of its newest flagships for only $1 so long as you live in the U.S. and have an iPhone under contract. Today we are getting a report from Samsung that apparently the test drive went so well, the company is already out of test units.
I’m sure this is just what the company wanted to see. Samsung says the service was more popular than it examined and has promised to add more units to the service shortly. In case you have forgotten here is how the service works:
iPhone users living in the United States can get a brand new Samsung flagship smartphone of their choice for only $1 for 30 days. The smartphone will include a pre-installed sim card for testing purposes. After the 30 day trial ends, users will be given 5 days to return the handset if they don’t like it. If they decide to keep the smartphone, Samsung will send owners a manual containing information on how to easily transfer files from your iPhone to your new Samsung smartphone for easier convenience. As long as the condition of the smartphone is kept to a minimum, users won’t be charged anything additional when handing it back.
Apple seemed to have gained a lot of Android users when switching over to the larger screened iPhones this year and Samsung believes it can win Apple users back over with their new service. If you’re looking to get a test drive, Samsung says the best thing you can do right now is keep checking the page, which can be seen at the source link. From what we have heard so far, the service almost seems to good to be true.
Source: Samsung
Via: PhoneArena
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s flagship test drive has gone way better than expected
Latest Android Marshmallow Developer Preview intros new volume animation
There was much discussion around the changes Google introduced in Android Lollipop to the volume system, and more specifically the volume slider, but putting the confusing system aside, the slider animation itself wasn’t a great experience.
It appears that Google has changed the way things work in the latest Android Marshmallow Developer Preview and now when users hit a volume key, the panel slides into view. The expand icon now does just that and has a full transition from up to down with the rest of the slider folding out.
It seems Google is taking their own guidance, finally.
Just as the shape of an object indicates how it might behave, watching an object move demonstrates whether it’s light, heavy, flexible, rigid, small or large. In the world of material design, motion describes spatial relationships, functionality, and intention with beauty and fluidity.
It’s the small things that please us, hey Google.
The post Latest Android Marshmallow Developer Preview intros new volume animation appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Moto X Play WILL be launching in the US after all, known as the DROID Maxx 2
There was widespread dismay when Motorola announced that the cheaper Moto X Play wouldn’t be making its way to the US, and that meant missing out on that bigger 3650mAh battery too. Little did we know that Motorola had a trick up its sleeve for the US.
With the Moto X Play now available pretty much everywhere in the world except the US, it turns out Motorola will be launching the DROID Maxx 2 for Verizon Wireless in the US, which is essentially the Moto X Play renamed, and will be priced at $300.
Motorola categorically stated that the Moto X Play wouldn’t be making it to the US, so we can only assume that the DROID Maxx 2 will be exclusive to Verizon.
Will you be picking one of these up? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Phandroid
The post Moto X Play WILL be launching in the US after all, known as the DROID Maxx 2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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