Tangram is the perfect feature-packed browser [App Review]
There may be aplenty web browsers on the Play Store for everyone, but none seem to offer anything that stand out from the crowd. Tangram, however, is a browser dedicated to those who want something snappy, responsive and suiting of their needs. To put it into better words, “Tangram is a task-based mobile browser for professionals and power users”, according to the Play Store Description. You can have a peep at their website over here.
Setup
The app popped up with an email registration box immediately upon opening. Being the type of guy that hates spam mail, I found the “Skip” button at the top corner handy. This was then followed by a quick introduction of the app, boasting about the whole host of integrated features.
Settings wise, you’re pretty much stranded. Clicking on the settings button just pops up a small notification saying “Features Coming Soon”.
Features
The app basically functions as a browser with several neat extensions. Clicking a link on an Instagram bio, for example, begins loading the web page in the background and displays as a little circle that floats over your screen. Clicking on this then pulls up the web page and covers half the screen, providing easy and instant access to the page.
The normal browsing mode is also different. The UI is considerably different to other apps, something that I didn’t particularly enjoy as it is rather confusing to use, especially in the beginning. But like all things, you’ll get more used to it overtime. That also doesn’t make the aesthetics of the app bad, but perhaps Material Design could’ve popped its head in every now and then.
You may find navigation confusing
The actual browsing experience is very pleasing. Pages were quick to load and the sites were very responsive – with almost no lag and delay. I wish I could talk about Chrome this way as well.
Thankfully, the app also doesn’t come across as cluttered or over-complicated for everything it offers. In fact, everything was nicely bundled in a clean and organized way, something which is rare for a feature-packed app.
What we like:
- Feature packed
- Clean, fast and responsive
- Helps with productivity
And not so much:
- No Settings as of yet
- UI is a bit confusing
4.2 out of 5 stars
Perhaps the strongest part of Tangram is its ability to offer a wide range of features while not falling back on performance. You should check it out if you’re a strong multitasker, and you shall not be let down.
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Samsung Pay is now available to Verizon customers
Back in September, AndroidGuys reported about the new Samsung Pay app being released in the US. Unfortunately, Verizon did not immediately jump on this bandwagon. However, after much deliberation, the company has now made it available to customers.
Up to this point, some phones may have come with the app pre-installed, but without any options to use it. If this is the case, it should automatically update, allowing Verizon customers to use all features of the app. Current supported banks are Bank of America, Citi, US Bank, Synchrony Financial, and American Express, with more to come. You can also contact your bank to find out if they support this service.
Amid all the concerns about stolen credit card numbers and identity theft, I’m glad to see Verizon taking this step and allowing it’s customers another option for a secure, digital wallet service. Due to the new technology, however, Samsung Pay is only available on the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus, and the Galaxy Note 5.
Source: 9to5Google
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Original Chromecast Spotify support firmware update rolling out
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When Google announced the new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio they also announced that Spotify would be making its debut as well. Needless to say, that made a lot of people rather happy. At launch though, the inclusion of Spotify to the Chromecast family didn’t support the original Chromecast devices that were already out in the wild. Support was said to be coming though. It would now appear as though the necessary firmware update to allow you to cast to your original Chromecast is currently rolling out.
To get the updated firmware on your device you can power cycle the device. If the update was already downloaded it will update when it boots back up. Power cycling can sometimes trigger the update to download as well if it hasn’t already. You can always see if it installed when you weren’t looked by opening up Spotify and checking to see if you can cast or not.
There is one critical thing to know about how to cast though. By default Spotify is free and offers a monthly subscription to the service just like many others out there. With Spotify the “Premium” service enables Spotify Connect. If you plan to cast to your 2nd of 1st gen Chromecast, you need to have Premium to use Spotify Connect in order to do it. Needless to say, if you don’t pay, you can’t play.
Source: 9to5Google
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Fossil unveils its Q line of wearables
Fossil just took its wraps of a new Q line of wearables. The series includes the Q Flounder, Q Reveler, Q Dreamer and Q Grant.
The Q Reveler and Q dreamer will be compatible with Android and iOS time come October 25. Each includes a variety of fitness tracking options with sensors built into their respective bands. Each can also receive notifications from your connected smartphone. Both will be priced at $125 USD.
The Q Grant is a more premium version of the Q Dreamer and Q Reveler and has a price tag north of $175. It also offers nearly all the same functionalities as the Q Dreamer and Q Reveler.
Perhaps the most thrilling of the four, is the Q Flounder. The Q Flounder includes Google’s Android Wear platform for wearables, a unique design, and a full-round touchscreen display. The watch will be available in time for the holiday season and will start at $275 USD.
For all the details regarding the Fossil’s new Q line of wearables, check out the included press release down below.
Fossil Announces Line of Fashionable Connected Accessories in Time for the Holiday Season
RICHARDSON, Texas, Oct. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — It’s time. Time to let everyone know that a connected accessory can be more than just a functional electronic. It can be simple. It can be fashionable. It can ignite curiosity, sparking you to explore new places and experience new adventures. And on October 25, it’s Fossil’s time.
Introducing Fossil Q: a line of fashionable connected accessories that showcase the design excellence, expert craftsmanship and bit of whimsy that defines Fossil – one of the world’s leading accessory brands. Comprised of two types of connected watches (both display and non-display) and two styles of connected bracelets (one for men and one for women), there’s something for everyone.
For the past 30 years, Fossil has created the most authentic, vintage-inspired, creatively charged, beautiful timepieces. It continues to push the envelope of innovation in order to capture the uniqueness of its consumer. And as consumers demand more information than ever before, it’s only natural that Fossil would evolve the brand to include connected accessories. This line, created in collaboration with Intel, is a delicate balance of fashion and functionality, seamlessly providing consumers only the information they need when they need it.
“Our customers are obsessed with their personal sense of style and staying connected, and we are thrilled to enter into this emerging category with an answer to their needs,” said Jill Elliott-Sones, chief creative officer at Fossil. “Fossil Q is the result of countless hours of meticulous design expressed through a playful curious lens. Our hope is the unique attention to detail in both our connected accessories line and app cue our audience to try new things, be more curious and experience the world around them like never before.”
Acting as your fitness tracker as well as your fun and quirky friend, Fossil Q will cue you to be curious, cue you to be active and cue up notifications from the contacts and apps you care about, without compromising your style.
The entire line of connected accessories is engineered with Intel® Innovation and is compatible with Android™ 4.3 and higher, iPhone 5 and above (running iOS 8.2 and higher), and connects via Bluetooth technology. The app works with top fitness applications Google Fit™, Health, UP by Jawbone® and UA Record™ by Under Armour. They also come with a wireless charging base for stress-free recharging.
Specifically the Fossil Q line includes the following:
Q Reveler: Who says you can’t have fun and look good while doing it? Q Reveler is your trusted friend, keeping track of how far you run, notifying you of only the people and apps you care about and daring you to be bold and explore more around you. Keep track of who’s contacting you with a subtle nudge and color LEDs. Q Reveler will be available on October 25 and cost $125.
Q Dreamer: Finally, a fitness tracker and more that looks like one of your favorite bracelets (and it goes with everything). Choose a leather band for work and a silicone band while working out; there are plenty of options to choose from, and you’ll stay connected at the same time. With gentle vibrating alerts and customized color notifications for key contacts and apps, you’re sure to stay in touch, in style. Q Dreamer will be available on October 25 and cost $125.
Q Grant: Curiously unassuming, it’s more than meets the eye. The Q Grant looks like an ordinary watch, but under its beautiful face, it’s talking to your smartphone, tracking fitness, listening for important messages and then alerting you to only the emails, texts, phone calls and app news you care about. Customize your key contacts with their own color, and when they contact you, you’ll feel a gentle vibration and see that color appear on right, left, or both LED indicators located on either side of the watch. Q Grant will be available on October 25 and cost from $175-$195.
Q Founder: A powerhouse packed into an elegant package. Let your personality free as you customize your favorite watch faces with a simple swipe and tap. The Q Founder is the result of collaboration with Intel and Google, engineered with Intel® Innovation and powered by Android Wear™. Leveraging Intel and Google technology, the Q Founder shows you useful information just when you need it and is compatible with both Android™ phones and iPhones. Q Founder will be available just in time for the holiday shopping season and starts at $275.
The magic that powers all of these devices is thanks to Fossil’s proprietary app. It has three main features:
Q Activity: This built-in fitness tracker lets you know how many calories you burned and also provides results in a curious way to make your activities a bit more fun. No need to ditch your favorite fitness apps; this tracker can connect seamlessly to Google Fit™, Health, UP by Jawbone® and UA Record™ by Under Armour.
Q Notifications: These notifications are your cue that a social media update, important call or meeting awaits. Filter by just the contacts or apps you care about – or get them all. It’s up to you.
Q Curiosity: Cue your curiosity! These notifications alert you that it’s time to break free from routine, look from a different angle or try something new in your community. These activities will ignite a new perspective, open up your creativity and leave your brain feeling refreshed.
Come comment on this article: Fossil unveils its Q line of wearables
Samsung Galaxy ON5 and ON7 show up in leaked images
Samsung will soon be launching the Galaxy ON5 and ON7 in India, but in the meantime, PhoneRadar was able to get their hands on some leaked images of the two Tizen-powered devices.
The design (pictured above) of the two smartphones are reminiscent of that of the Galaxy Note 5. However, they’re certainly not sporting Galaxy Note 5-level specifications. As far as the ON5 goes, you can expect a 5-inch 720p Super AMOLED display. The ON7 is said to feature a much larger 5.5-inch 720p display with the same panel. Both smartphones are rumored to sport an Exynos 3475 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and micro SD support.
The ON5 having a smaller display will get a smaller 2,600mAh battery, and the ON7 will rightfully get the much larger 3,000mAh battery. Interestingly, despite decidedly mid-range specs, the Galaxy ON7 will have a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash.
We’re not quite sure when Samsung will be ready to launch these two Tizen-powered devices, but the ON5 is expected to retail for Rs. 10,000 and the ON7 Rs. 13,000. In the meantime, be sure to hit the source link below for the full gallery of images.
source: PhoneRadar
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy ON5 and ON7 show up in leaked images
Siri Celebrates ‘Back to the Future’ Day With Humorous Responses
Apple has honored “Back to the Future” day by updating Siri with at least ten humorous responses related to the popular movie Back to the Future II, released in 1989. iPhone and iPad users can invoke Siri and say “happy Back to the Future day” to receive one of the responses below at random.
Today is “Back to the Future” day because October 21, 2015 is the date that Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown travel to in the movie. The classic film makes several fictional predictions about the future, including hoverboards, flying cars, remote-control dog walkers and the Chicago Cubs winning the 2015 World Series.
Apple has updated Siri with humorous responses in the past for its September 9, 2015 event, WWDC 2014, “Okay Glass” and more.
Twitter Rolling Out New Feature to Let Users Create Customized Polls
Twitter announced today that a feature it has tested with a few users on a small scale — the ability to add customized polls to a tweet — will officially be coming to everyone over the next few days. The company hopes that the new add-on will further expand its users’ interaction with their followers, by streamlining a function that would have previously taken extensive measures of reading replies and re-tweets to successfully follow.
If you want the public’s opinion on anything — what to name your dog, who will win tonight’s game, which election issue people care most about — there’s no better place to get answers than on Twitter. For poll creators, it’s a new way to engage with Twitter’s massive audience and understand exactly what people think. For those participating, it’s a very easy way to make your voice heard.
Twitter users will be able to create a poll from the compose box of the Twitter desktop site or in any of the company’s official mobile apps. Unfortunately, the feature won’t be available in third-party Twitter apps, so those using clients like Tweetbot won’t be able to see the polls or vote on them. Each poll will remain live for twenty-four hours from the time it is posted, and the company ensures that your name is kept anonymous from both the poster and the public when voting on other polls.
Coming soon! We're rolling out the ability for everyone to create polls on Twitter: https://t.co/pH5a8q9Ujz pic.twitter.com/ijAKEMUdf1
— Twitter (@twitter) October 21, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe company promises that polls will be available “over the next few days,” and users should simply keep an eye out for the circular pie graph poll icon in their compose box to know when they can begin using the feature. The introduction of polls follows the launch of “Moments” earlier in the month, which gave users of the social network a simplified discovery tool to follow the news and accounts they care about.
Twitter [Direct Link] is available to download from the App Store for free.
(Deal) Last chance to get the Raspberry Pi 2 Starter Kit and Hacker Bundle
If you’ve spent much time following tech, life hacking, and general computer sites you’ve likely come the Raspberry Pi. A small computer that’s designed to programmed and tinkered with, there’s an almost endless number of things you can do with one. But, as you might expect, a lot of that know-how doesn’t just show up out of the ether; you’ve got to educate yourself.
The Raspberry Pi Hacker Bundle has five related educational tools spanning the topic of playing with and design programmable computer. With an estimated value of around $625, you can grab the entire collection for only $39 through our store.
You’ll find hundreds of lectures, videos, and interactive content to help you learn how to get a Raspberry Pi to do what you want. What’s more, you’ll also have get an education on other, similar topics such as Python.
- Introduction to Raspberry Pi – Enter the World of Coding & Hardware with This Miniature Computer
- Hardware Projects Using Raspberry Pi – Utilize Raspberry Pi as a Tool for Learning Physical Computing
- Python Programming for Beginners – Conquer This Beginner-Friendly Programming Language
- Real World Guide to Hardware Design – Get Expert Tips & Tricks for Designing Hardware with Ease
- PiBot: Build Your Own Raspberry Pi-Powered Robot – Experiment with Raspberry Pi & Bring a Mobile Robot to Life
So you’re ready to go, and want to start building and programming your own Raspberry Pi robot. Well, you’ll need to head out and pick up a Raspberry Pi 2 kit, so you can get started. Today’s deal helps alleviate that pressure too.
The Complete Raspberry Pi 2 Starter Kit goes over everything you would need to know in order to essentially build your own mini-computer from scratch. Included in this Starter Kit, are the following the items:
- Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
- Quick Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
- Intro to Raspberry Pi
- Hardware Projects Using Raspberry Pi
- Python Programming for Beginners
- PiBot: Build Your Own Raspberry Pi-Powered Robot
- Introduction to Internet of Things Using Raspberry Pi 2
So if you notice, this starter kit includes not only a few classes to get your feet wet, but you also receive the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B AND a starter kit that includes to goodies. The Quick Starter Kit includes a Wi-Fi USB Adapter, Power Adapter, USB Cable, and a Raspbian OS SD Card with Minecraft preloaded.
This deal really gives you the whole sha-bang if you’re interested in the Raspberry Pi 2 or coding. Normally priced at $804 for everything included, you can jump on this deal today for only $115, a savings of 85%. For those tinkerers, this is really an awesome way to explore Raspberry Pi and learn some programming languages in the process.
You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!
AndroidGuys Deals: Raspberry Pi 2 Starter Kit; Raspberry Pi Hacker Bundle
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Grab these two Android Marshmallow wallpapers to celebrate its release
When new versions of software, or new devices are released, there are often new wallpapers that accompany the devices. Sometimes the OEM will explain where the inspiration for a specific wallpaper came from, but usually, it’s just there.
Yesterday, Google’s Design Team opened up about how some of the wallpapers that were released with Android 6.0 Marshmallow were made. They go in depth about Material Design and the idea of “paperscapes”, which are design made from multiple types of paper.
This year, we commissioned (Carl) Kleiner to create a new set for Android Marshmallow, which launched to the public on October 5th. The Marshmallow set plays up subtle shifts in tone and texture instead of relying primarily on bold color shifts. As Kleiner describes it, “We wanted to work with surfaces that have a subtle and sophisticated texture,” Kleiner says, “organic to the touch and graphic in composition…Painted surfaces, color pigment powders, floating ink and the like.”
In addition to showing off exactly how these amazing wallpapers were designed, the Google design team also gave everyone a little treat. Two more wallpapers designed by Carl Keliner to accompany your various Android Marshmallow devices. If you’d like to download them, we have them here for you today.
In the meantime, some of us are still waiting for the actual Nexus 6P wallpaper, after seeing that the Nexus 5X wallpaper was shared on Reddit yesterday.
Source: Google Design Team Blog
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reTXT: A messaging app for everything (App Review)
Pre-installed messaging apps are almost always the same, but sometimes we just want more. Luckily, you can now reTXT.
Overview
reTXT is a private messaging app which can be used for both personal and business needs. The overall setup looks like most other apps but does not send messages through your SMS service. Rather, it sends all messages through your internet and Wi-Fi connections, which eliminates any fees. Yes, this app is free to download and is free of ads. The types of messages you can send include basic text, pictures, audio, and video messages.
Setup
Since this is a private messaging app, it does require you to create a profile. To get set up, you only have to select “Sign Up” and follow the instructions. You will have to register either your phone number or email address. Whichever you choose, you can add the other to your profile, later, under settings. If you add both, you can select which one you want as your preferred alias. This is for being able to contact one another outside of the app, if necessary. It also makes it easy for you to invite your contacts to join reTXT. You can also select if you want to receive notifications when a message arrives.
Usage
All audio and video messages came through just fine, though I didn’t receive one video until the following day. If you type something incorrectly, you can swipe left over your message to edit or delete it. You can also do this if you want to edit an audio message or picture. You can also swipe right on a received message to delete it or place a “?” next to the message, indicating you need clarification.
One of the best features is you can create groups, with specific names, if you need to send group messages. This is a great way to easily keep track of your separate groups, such as school teams and coworkers. There is also an option to create a conference call, whether you are messaging one person or multiple. However, I had issues where the recipient could hear me, but I could not hear him.
After checking my WiFi was working correctly, it appears this is a technical issue with the app. This is definitely a concern if you absolutely need to make a conference call, but not a complete deal breaker if you will not need this feature. Calls can be made by tapping the arrow tab, and selecting the phone icon. If the person has their phone number attached to their profile, then you can press the phone icon, which will open up your phone app. This will use your minutes.
Summary
Overall, this is a pretty good messaging service. I have used a few, some with many similarities, but none with all of the options you get with this one. Sure, they have some kinks to work out, but, if you are looking for something more out of a messaging service, then all you need is reTXT.
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AIVAnet 