2016 Honda Accord debuts with Android 4.2.2

We recently reported that the new 2016 Honda Accord would come with Android Auto. Well, it appears now that not only does it come with Android Auto, but like its larger sibling the 2016 Honda Pilot, the 2016 Honda Accord also comes with Android 4.2.2 Jellybean.

This should be great news for early adopters of the 2016 Honda Pilot, which does not come with Android Auto or Apple Carplay. The fact that the Accord and the Pilot are running the same OS would indicate that Android Auto and Apple Carplay will be able to be enabled on the Honda Pilot at a future date with a firmware update.

I had the opportunity to play with the new system for a little while earlier today and found the system to be very responsive. In fact, it is much more responsive then the other 7″ Audio Display units that Honda offers in the CR-V, Civic, Fit, and HR-V that do not use the Android OS. I’m not sure if that is directly attributable to Android or if it has more powerfull hardware as well.

What do you think? Does this put the 2016 Honda Accord or your radar? Let us know in the comments.

The post 2016 Honda Accord debuts with Android 4.2.2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Alcatel OneTouch Go Play hands-on

Alcatel OneTouch unveiled a variety of new device at IFA 2015, including a new mid-range device called the Go Play, which packs decent entry-level specs and a sporty design that shows a bit more creativity and style than you’ll find with many similarly spec’d offerings. We managed to get a little hands on time with the Go Play in order to bring you a quick first look.

The Go Play might be pretty decidedly mid-range, but it is available for people young and old that have a more playful side to them, and that should be obvious given the variety of colors that are available. The body is IP67 certified, making it able to take just about anything you can throw at it.

Under the hood, the Go Play has a 5-inch 720p display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with a gig of RAM. The storage underneath is a modest 8GB, though a microSD slot does allow you to extend the memory up to an additional 32GB with Alcatel OneTouch promising a software update near its retail launch that will allow even larger SD cards. The rear cam is an 8MP shooter, with the front being a 5MP camera that should be capable of taking reasonable quality selfies.

With a 2800 mAh battery, the phone should be able to provide pretty solid battery life, especially given the modest specs. Of course we really can’t say for sure how good the battery life will be until we get more hands-on time with the Go Play.

We can’t help but feel that this phone is aimed primarily at the younger crowd, with its colorful aesthetics and durable build. Then again, just about anyone will appreciate this phone if they are looking for a decent yet modest Android experience with a highly durable and fun design.

While the software is fairly stock-like, there are a few notable features including a recording mode that will let you record not only what is happening on your screen, but it will also record your reactions using the front-facing camera. Once you’ve recorded the video, you can then share it with your friends. This could be perfect for gaming, how-tos, and the list goes on.

So there we have it for our quick look at the fun yet affordable Go Play by Alcatel OneTouch. The Go Play certainly won’t blow anyone away, but if the company can keep the pricing down, it could still be a worthwhile alternative for those that need a sturdy Android device with a colorful punch.

What do you think of the Go Play? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to keep it tuned to Android Authority for all things Android and IFA 2015.

Alcatel OneTouch Go Watch hands-on

Though this is not an Android Wear device, or an advanced wearable for that matter, the Alcatel OneTouch Go Watch may be the perfect device for someone simply looking to get into the smart watch game. Is it the right device for you? We hope to help answer that question in this quick first look.

Let’s start by touching on the design, which may look a little bit familiar to you. This is because it is very similar to the good ol’ sports watches many of you are still fans of. It certainly resembles the classic G-Shock watches. Thankfully this is not the only look you can go for. Replaceable shells are an option, as one can easily put the removable unit into these bodies. This makes customization really easy, all around.

Just don’t expect bells and whistles coming out of this thing. This is a very simplistic watch available for Android devices, as it runs off its own set of applications. You can look at your heart rate and perform a series of other simple tasks.

We have already seen this software implementation in last year’s Alcatel One Touch Smart Watch, But why the different naming scheme? This is, for all intents and purposes, just a successor to last year’s device. Only this time around the manufacturer is re-branding it to go with the Go Play smartphones.

On the inside we find a 1.22-inch display with a 240×204 resolution. Furthermore, this little gadget is powered by a Cortex M4 chipset and a 225 mAh battery. This should be enough to keep you going for about 2-5 days without recharging, thanks to the Go Watch’s simplified functionality. And powering that battery up should only take about an hour.

One cool part about the Go Watch is that it tries to assess your mood in certain unique ways. Press the new “Go” button and all the sensors will start triggering, including the heart rate monitor. The device will then give you suggestions on what you should do to improve your feelings. Screaming, loving and walking are just a few examples of what you may need at the moment. You can also easily share what you are up to, as the device is conveniently connected to all your social networks.

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With all that said, we believe this could be a great option for the younger crowd, or for those who simply don’t need a very complicated and advanced smart watch. It helps that it will come at a pretty accessible price point, too — though no exact pricing has been revealed just yet.

And that’s it for our first quick look. Hit the comments to share your thoughts and keep it tuned to Android Authority. Remember we are your source for all things Android and we are currently going nuts at IFA 2015. You don’t want to miss any of this!

[APK Download] Google Admin updates to material design and brings new features

Google came up with material design, and yet, it has taken over a year for them to update some of their own apps. One of those finally updated is Google Admin, it is the administrator app of Google Apps.

The update not only brings changes to the looks, but also brings some other changes too.

• Richer user profiles with support for groups and several new attributes
• Ability to perform bulk actions on users and groups
• Ability to send text (SMS, WhatsApp, etc.) messages to users when adding them or resetting their password

The update will be coming to everyone soon in the Play Store, but if you want to download it now, we have a link to the APK.

Source: Google Apps updates

Come comment on this article: [APK Download] Google Admin updates to material design and brings new features

Marshall London hands-on: a smartphone for music fans

We’re here at IFA 20115 and couldn’t help but take notice the Marshall London, a new smartphone made for audiophiles and music lovers alike. While the phone was first announced back in July and formally launched a few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to try the phone out for ourselves. You may not have this phone on your radar, but maybe you should, as the phone certainly manages to stand out in a few key ways.

In terms of design, we are looking at a very neatly build handset. It has an elegant leather back that is very reminiscent of other Marshall products (which include amplifiers, speakers, etc.). I happen to be a fan. And though it may have some mid-range specs, it does have a removable battery and microSD card slot, which is something that is becoming less common on the mid-range and flagship level.

There’s an 8 MP camera on the rear, as well as a 2 MP front shooter. That’s all extra talk, though. What you will really care about is the sound features this phone will provide. The Marshall London comes with dual front-facing speakers, as well as a couple of 3.5 mm headset jacks, making it simple to share your music with others. By the way, I had never seen a device touting that last feature.

What really called my attention are the extra buttons on the device. The volume rocker is actually a wheel, and there is an extra golden clicker up top that gives you quick access to all your music applications. These are both very functional and aesthetically pleasing.

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The phone feels great and looks amazing. Its size also makes it a very comfortable handset at 4.7 inches (720p display), but the real focus is on music. This is why the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor is supported by a dedicated sound card by Cirrus Logic. Sadly, we can’t really showcase this phone’s sound capabilities in this video, as we were in a very loud room. But trust us, the sound is outstanding.

There’s also some software optimizations that will expand your music possibilities. Press the physical button on the top and the phone will take you to Marshall’s music central. From there, you can select local music or streaming services. Users will also be able to do some recording and manipulate the equalizer, as well as selecting different volume levels per output. Of course, there’s also a news app that will keep you informed on the world of music.

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I personally like the idea of this phone and its musical focus. I would certainly like to give it a try and show you guys more about a phone that most of you would probably never would have considered. It’s not available in America just yet, but Marshall is hoping it will be soon enough. It’s available in Europe, and especially in the UK, where you can have it for $499/£399.

Would you consider getting a phone with an emphasis on music and sound? Let us know in the comments below and keep it tuned to Android Authority for all things Android and IFA 2015.