Holaverse interface apps top 250 million downloads in only 9 months
Developer Holaverse has accomplished quite an achievement with a trio of apps that generally serve as a replacement user interface for Android devices. In only nine months, Hola Launcher, Omni Swipe and Locker Master have been downloaded over 250 million times by Android users.
The data comes from App Annie which ranked Hola Launcher as the #8 app worldwide on Google during July. On the combined strength of the three apps, developer Holaverse jumped up to #4 amongst the top companies in the Google Play Store.
Locker Master is a lock screen manager that gives users the ability to customize the lock screen on their devices. Hola Launcher is a home screen replacement app and Omni Swipe is a quick launch menu app for switching between tasks. If all three apps are used together on one device, a user could effectively replace the user interface that came on their smartphone.
Let us know in the comments if you have tried any of these apps from Holaverse and what you thought of them. If you want to check them out, links to their Play Store listings are provided below.
Hola Launcher – Play Store Download Link
Locker Master – Play Store Download Link
Omni Swipe – Play Store Download Link
Come comment on this article: Holaverse interface apps top 250 million downloads in only 9 months
Samsung will be relocating office staff amidst workforce reduction rumors
Samsung was rumored to cut around 10% of its office staff at company headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, but now Samsung is saying that those rumors simply aren’t true. The rumors stemmed from Samsung’s slowed earnings in the past few years, and typically when a company begins to bring in less money, they cut employees to counter that.
Samsung has said that they will be relocating a portion of their staff instead of laying anyone off, similar to their situation last year where the company sent management-level employees to different divisions to help out.
This is good news for Samsung employees, at least, but if things continue the way they’re going, Samsung will probably end up making job cuts somewhere down the line.
source: Yonhap News
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[TA Deals] Get these MMOVE Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds for $30 off!
Have you been looking for a good set of earbuds for those long runs or workouts? Well, you’re in luck! The MMOVE Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds are on sale for only $29.99, and they’re perfect for the fitness guru or someone just looking for a great wireless audio experience.
These earbuds don’t just deliver premium audio, but they also have a sweatproof and durable design, making it perfect for the runner and workout enthusiast. You can also choose from different sizes and hooks, ensuring maximum comfort.
The best part about the MMOVE Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds is that they’re wireless, meaning there’s no untangling or playing around with cords right before your workout. You plug them in, turn them on, and you’re ready to go! They’ll work with any Bluetooth-enabled device, too.
Here’s quick rundown of what you’re getting with these earbuds:
- Wear them while you workout thanks to the sweatproof, durable design
- Keep track of the battery status w/ the on-screen indicator
- Get maximum comfort w/ a choice of sizes & types of hooks
- Enjoy clear, isolated sound w/ CVC® 6.0 Noise Reduction
- Listen for up to 6 hours without recharging
- Control volume & song choice, take or reject calls & more w/ on-ear controls
- Connect 2 devices simultaneously, like your MP3 player for music & phone to take calls!
TRNDLabs has truly put together an awesome set of earbuds, and at such a low price point, they’re impossible to pass up!
These earbuds are 49% off for a limited time. Normally they retail for $59.99, but we’re offering a special deal for our readers here at Talk Android. For just a few hours, you can get the MMOVE Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds for just $29 with free shipping!
Interested? Just hit the link below!
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Get these MMOVE Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds for $30 off!
Verizon’s XXL plan offers 18GB of shareable data
Just recently, Verizon started airing a commercial that promotes its small, media, large, and extra-large plans. But now the carrier is already going to have to change it with the introduction of an extra-extra-large option.
This plan costs $100 per month and offers a whopping 18GB of data that can be shared with up to ten devices. Apparently customers were asking for Big Red to “another, bigger data option.” So the carrier delivered a massive plan that will satisfy data-hungry individuals and large families.
Here is the new breakdown of Verizon’s plans:
- Small: $30/month for 1GB of shareable data
- Medium: $45/month for 3GB of shareable data
- Large: $60/month for 6GB of shareable data
- X-Large: $80/month for 12GB of shareable data
- XX-Large: $100/month for 18GB of shareable data
Verizon also reminds us that monthly line-access chargers are $20 for smartphones, $10 for tablets and Jetpacks, and $5 for connected devices.
Source: Verizon
Come comment on this article: Verizon’s XXL plan offers 18GB of shareable data
Vinsic 20,000mAh ultra-slim power bank review
The Vinsic 20,000mAh ultra-slim power bank is great for charging devices on the go. The high capacity will charge devices for days at a time before dying off. And its metallic profile is portable, weighing 537 grams for easy transporting. It features an ultra-slim body and is made of a hard aluminum alloy material that feels tough and sturdy in the hand. Users can charge their Android, iOS, Windows devices or just about any other USB-powered item.
Specs
- Capacity: 20000mAh
- USB Port: 2 x USB
- Input: 5V, 2A
- Output1: 5V 2.1A
- Output2: 5V 1A
- Input: 1x 10W (5V, 2A) Micro-USB input
- Dimensions: 6.81 inches, 4.8 inches, 0.51 inches
Design
The Vinsic power bank’s design really stands out. During my time with it, I found the design made me want to use it more frequently. Its super slim body and lightweight is very noticeable when put alongside competitors. The device is made out of strong aluminum alloy and features a smooth coating on the outside that wraps around the edges of the device. The rounded sides make it very attractable but also a bit slippery. From minor use the device has stood up very well to shuffling across tables and carrying in my backpack. No scratches, bumps or chips are visible.
You can count on this power bank withstanding any daily activities you might undergo; however, be aware that when kept in hot environments the device tends to heat up when in use. It may become hot to the touch in certain areas across the surface especially when dual charging in high temperature environments. But as far as durability goes, nothing seems to get in its way.
This power bank comes in four colors: Silver, Gold, Red and Grey.
Functionality
For the most part, the Vinsic power bank rises to the occasion. However, there are a few hiccups here and there. It features a large 20,000mAh battery capacity which is one of the largest available to date. With large capacity comes long charging time. Charging the device from 0% to full can be a bit time consuming. I found that it takes nearly twenty-four hours to fully charge the device, so I recommend putting it on before going to sleep.
All of the device’s ports lie on the top edge of the device. If you turn it over, you won’t find any ports on the underside of the device nor on the sides. The device charges via a 10W (5V, 2A) Micro-USB input. Inside the box, you get a rather short charging cable with USB 2.0 to charge via your PC. No wall adapter has been included.
One of the best things about the Vinsic power bank is that it contains two USB ports for charging rather than one. Output 1 charges at 5V and 2.1A and Output 2 supports 5V and 1A. This means you can charge two devices at the same time. Alongside the ports, Vinsic has included a touch screen panel than can be activated via a swipe of a finger to the left or right. A blue LED indicator will light up letting you know exactly how much battery you have remaining. When the capacity runs out, the LED will no longer light up. Unfortunately, the display goes off even when charging so you don’t have any indicator as to when your device has completed charging other than powering on the device. What I like is that the display shows an exact percentage to what battery capacity remains, rather than showing just bars. As one may guess, the percentage dips a lot faster when charging two devices simultaneously.
Following testing one could say that the Vinsic power bank closely resembles its listed capacity. It seems to hold up better than the majority of portable chargers (which don’t work as advertised). But I did notice that when the battery percentage gets closer to zero, it drains a bit faster. It also tends to draw extra power following the completion of 100%. For example, one might see the percentage drop a few extra points when leaving device(s) charging overnight. On the other hand, when leaving the power bank on standby, it rarely drops battery, which is always good. During testing, I was able to get about 5.5 full cycles for my LG G3 over the course of a few days.
Closing
After spending a few weeks with the Vinsic power bank, it exceeded the majority of my expectations. Even though one can experience a few hiccups here and there, it’s better than any other power bank I have used in the past. The large capacity is perfect for filling up your battery between classes, at work, or on the go. Its elegant design and lightweight make it great to bring just about anywhere and the durability can easily withstand life’s activities. For $49 on Amazon, it’s worth the extra penny and will make a great gift for power users time come the holiday season.
Come comment on this article: Vinsic 20,000mAh ultra-slim power bank review
Live Coverage of Apple’s ‘Hey Siri’ Event: iPhone 6s, Apple TV, iPad Pro, and More
Apple’s highly anticipated “Hey Siri” event today will see the introduction of a number of new products including the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, a new Apple TV set-top box, a larger iPad Pro, and more. The event is being held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, with the festivities beginning at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
Apple is providing a live video stream on its website and via Apple TV.
In addition to Apple’s video stream, we will be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today’s announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
Apple’s online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event, and we’ve already seen the first signs of today’s product releases with (PRODUCT)RED Apple Watch Sport Bands arriving at Apple retail stores overnight.
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http://static.reportinglive.com/v8/rl.js
Yu Yunique officially announced for India – Snapdragon 410 and LTE connectivity for just $75
Just a few days ago, we began hearing whispers that Micromax’s Yu subsidiary would soon launch a new smartphone, and that time has finally come. The Yu Yunique has just been announced for India, bringing along with it some killer specifications for an extremely affordable price point. This is pretty exciting stuff, so let’s jump right in.
When it comes to the specs, the Yunique comes with a 4.7-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution and Gorilla Glass 3, a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 32GB. It also comes with a non-removable 2000mAh lithium polymer battery, an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. What’s more, it runs Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box, supports dual Micro SIM cards, and is 4G LTE compatible. For a complete list of 2G, 3G and 4G bands supported by this device, head on over to this link.
See also: Micromax is planning its own Android based OS for future products
The specs aren’t the big story here, though. When talking about pricing, the Yu Yunique is being offered for just ₹4,999, which translates to a little over $75 USD. You also have the ability to purchase the device with two additional back covers for ₹5,449, or roughly $82 USD. This device probably won’t ever make its way to the Western market, though it’s still really nice to see quality hardware and software come to users at a super affordable price point.
If you’d like to register for the Yu Yunique, you can do so now from Snapdeal.
Our Best of IFA 2015: the 5 most impressive products from the show
Rain and chill blanketed Berlin last week, adding a gloomy hue to a cityscape that, even in the nicest of weathers, can be described as austere. But there was no gloom in the buzzing halls of Messe Berlin, the sprawling exhibition venue where IFA takes place every September.
A spectacle of light, color, and sound, IFA is Europe’s biggest electronics expo, and the place to show your products, if you’re a mobile company looking for exposure ahead of the crucial holiday season.
From boutique case makers to the biggest tech giants, hundreds of companies hawked their newest products at IFA 2015. The Android Authority team has sifted through the most interesting mobile announcements from the show, to bring you Our Best of IFA selection. Let’s see them, shall we?
Huawei Mate S: the finest phone at IFA
Huawei is not yet a household name in the West, but it’s fast becoming one. The Chinese company is about to enter the very select Nexus club, and its self-branded smartphones are increasingly valued by customers and reviewers. In this context, we were eager to see the new Mate S in action, and we weren’t disappointed.
The Mate S is a beautiful beast. Featuring the metallic design that Huawei has come to be known for, the Mate S is compact, sleek, and attractive. The fingerprint sensor on the back is new and improved, and once you get used to it, it will be really hard to go back to phones that lack this feature. A gorgeous AMOLED screen and strong performance complete the portrait of a true flagship that is worth its salt.
Read on:
Yoga Tab 3 Pro: versatility redefined
Tablets are boring, right? Wrong, says Lenovo, and the company has a pretty strong dissenting argument in the Yoga Tab 3 Pro. Billed as the ultimate video tablet, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro shows that tablets don’t have to be indistinct slabs of metal and glass. Sure, the asymmetrical design and above-average weight are not for everyone. But that distinctive spine hides some very interesting features, including a full-blown video projector and a multifunctional stand (it even has a hanging hole!).
Unique features aside, this ultimate media consumption machine can stand against any competitor when it comes to its fine QHD display and excellent performance, powered by Intel. Plus, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro offers what’s probably the best sound we’ve ever heard coming out of a tablet.
Read on:
- Lenovo YOGA Tablet 3 Pro hands-on and first look
- Lenovo announces YOGA Tablet 3, YOGA Tablet 3 Pro and several new smartphones at IFA 2015
LG Rolly Keyboard: simply clever
It’s not often that we’re impressed by a tablet accessory, let alone a Bluetooth keyboard. But LG managed to do just that with the clever little Rolly, a keyboard you can roll into a wand of sorts and carry in your pocket. It’s a little gizmo that you may be inclined to dismiss as an exercise in gimmickry, but playing with it turned us into converts.
The clever Rolly transforms into a wand with a satisfying click, but LG didn’t sacrifice functionality for the sake of the compact form factor. The keys actually have a nice travel (for a keyboard of this type), so you don’t feel like you’re tapping on a slab. There’s also a built-in stand that lets you prop up a phone or tablet, so you can get in productive mode just about anywhere and anytime.
Read on:
- LG Rolly wireless keyboard folds into a stick you can fit in any pocket
- LG G Pad 2 10.1 hands-on and first look
Samsung Gear S2: color us impressed
Tizen has a pretty bad reputation with the Android crowd, and for good reason. Samsung’s would-be Android replacement OS has failed to impressed us so far, and the various wearables that make use of it the more so. But the Gear S2 is different, and in a very good way. Samsung took its time bringing a new wearable to market, and this atypical restraint seems to have paid off.
The Gear S2 looks great, feels great, and thanks to the use of a rotating bezel, it actually works pretty nice too. Rotating the bezel with your index is an intuitive and simple way to go through a redesigned UI and for picking just the right app. It’s so good that, in most cases, it will replace tapping and swiping, which can be a pain on a small screen. It remains to be seen if Samsung can make Tizen work, but our initial impressions are very good.
Read on:
- Samsung’s new Gear S2 coming in October, will play nice with other Android devices
- Samsung Gear S2 hands-on
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium: more than just 4K
Sony launched a world first at IFA: 4K resolution on a 5.5-inch display. Despite the almost casual manner in which this breakthrough was announced, we were impressed – and pleasantly surprised – by Sony’s 4K Xperia Z5 Premium. The sheer technical achievement of shipping a 4K display deserves plaudits, even if you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.
It’s good to see Sony holding a technological lead in smartphones, but the Z5 Premium is more than just a pretty display. It feels as premium as the name implies; it’s fast, despite the added pixels; and it comes with a great camera that pushes the envelope in terms of resolution and quality.
Read on:
- Sony Xperia Z5 Premium hands-on and first look
- Sony Xperia Z5 Premium vs Samsung Galaxy Note 5 quick look
- Sony Xperia Z5 Premium officially announced: what you need to know
There you have it: Android Authority’s Best of IFA 2015. Let us know your thoughts, thanks for following our IFA coverage, and see you at the next show!
Verizon intros new XXL plan that offers 18GB of data for $100 per month
Just last month, Verizon announced that it was getting rid of two-year contracts and putting a big focus on monthly payment plans for users who don’t want to pay for their mobile devices outright. Even though Big Red isn’t actually killing off the two-year contract altogether, the carrier introduced a few new data tiers that aim to make choosing a plan simpler and easier.
However, with the new plans, if you wanted anything more than 12GB of 4G LTE data per month, you’d need to consult with a Verizon representative for more information. Now that’s changing, as Verizon has just announced a new XXL data tier that will give users 18GB of data for $100 per month. So to recap, here are all of the carrier’s data tiers:
- Small – 1GB of data, $30 per month
- Medium – 3GB of data, $45 per month
- Large – 6GB of data, $60 per month
- X-Large – 12GB of data, $80 per month
- XX-Large – 18GB of data, $100 per month
Of course, each one of these plans also come with unlimited talk and text, and can be shared among up to 10 devices. Verizon says the new XXL option will only be available for a limited time, though there’s no mention as to when the data tier will end.
Space-sim ‘Elite: Dangerous’ comes to Xbox One on October 6th
We’re still not sure when No Man’s Sky is coming to PS4, but in the meantime Xbox One fans have their own slice of space exploration nirvana to look forward to. Elite: Dangerous has been out on PC for some time, and since June it’s also been available to Xbox players as part of the Xbox Game Preview program. Now, creator Frontier Developments has confirmed that the full console version will be launching on October 6th. The game is incredibly immersive, with an enormous galaxy and beautifully designed ships to pilot. The vast, empty nature of space comes with its drawbacks, however — if you’re expecting an endless stream of dogfights and nail-biting supply runs, you might be disappointed. The first in a series of “Horizons” expansions is due on PC this holiday, adding planetary landings, but it’s unclear exactly when it’ll make the lightspeed jump to Xbox One.
Filed under:
Gaming, Microsoft
Source:
Reddit
Tags: elite, elitedangerous, FrontierDevelopments, microsoft, PC, xbox, xboxone
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