Google Play will start labeling ad-supported apps
Google Play clearly states which applications have in-app purchases, and starting in 2016, it’ll also be more transparent when it comes to ads. According to Droid Life, Mountain View has notified developers (see the full email below the fold) that they’re required to sign into their consoles and declare whether their applications have advertisements. And, if they lie about it, they could face suspension. Google originally launched the “ad-supported” tag in April in its kid-friendly Play Store as part of the Designed for Families program. Now, developers only have until January 11, 2016 to tag their apps, since the label itself is slated to begin showing up in the regular Play Store “early next year.”
Via: Gamasutra
Source: Droid Life
Get some face time with a snarling dinosaur in virtual reality
Until the real version of Jurassic World opens the closest we’ll get to going face-to-face with dinosaurs is in virtual reality. The folks at German game developer Crytek are helping that stopgap by releasing one of their Back to Dinosaur Island demos to the public via Steam for free. As VRFocus reports, this demo has been on the trade show circuit since this past March at the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco. Here you’re seeing the world from the eyes of an infant dino hanging out in a nest of unhatched eggs as gigantic dragonflies flit about a gorgeous looking and sounding primeval forest. Oh you wanted terror? Don’t fret because one of history’s most impressive apex predators pokes its nose in for a view as well.
Via: VR Focus
Source: Crytek
Android Wear SDK now has Marshmallow support
For a while now, developers of Android Wear apps have had to cope with a handful of irritating details that made working in the environment less than awesome. However, Google has now updated the Android Wear SDK to include support for API 23, which is Android 6.0 Marshmallow functionality. This not only lets devs play with all the perks of Marshmallow, but it also solve a few developmental issues that had been plaguing the SDK for a while.
For example, API 23 allows developers to quickly distinguish between round and square Wear devices with the -round/-notround resource qualifiers. This takes care of a long-standing difficulty that made creating apps for the shape-variable universe of Android Wear cumbersome. Now this simple tag will let apps intelligently choose from a set of images and layouts to more appropriately fit the screen of a given device.
The update also brings a new runtime permissions model to the table, allowing devs and users to take advantage of Marshmallow’s ability to discretely determine permissions for individual apps. It also takes into account speakers for Wear devices, which until the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE, had been silent. API 23 makes incorporating sounds into Wear apps as easy as doing so for smartphone or tablet apps.
Tired of uploading every version of your app to a Wear device to test it out? Google has pushed out an official Wear emulator just for you, then. This is sure to make Wear app development easier and quicker across the board. The emulator runs both Lollipop and Marshmallow, so you can easily make sure your app runs well on the vast majority of Wear devices currently on the market.
Skype updates Android app so you can save video messages
Next time you receive a memorable video message on Skype that you want to keep forever, you can tap it and then choose Save to Gallery if you’re using an Android device. The messaging application has released an update that adds the capability to its Android version, along with a few other features. For instance, you can now long-press a conversation on your Recents tab to bring up a new toolbar, which gives you quick access to delete, mark as read and mute notifications buttons. The new app gives you an easy way to share images from your gallery to a group convo and forward images from one conversation to another, as well. In addition, you can now forward Mojis (these are short reaction video clips similar to GIFs) and take advantage of a better search function. Skype has already rolled out its latest Android version, and you can download the app with all these features from Google Play if you haven’t yet.
Source: Skype
Popular Xposed module GravityBox now supports Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Be sure that whenever the Xposed framework is updated to support a new Android version, the popular module GravityBox is to follow. It has been under a week since we learnt Xposed is compatible with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and now GravityBox has been given the same treatment.
For those who may not know, the Xposed framework allows users to tweak certain parts of the UI without having to manipulate the whole experience. On the other hand, GravityBox is a multi-tool of sorts, which allows for multiple of these manipulations. And boy can this module do a lot.
The post from developer C3C075 has a long list of feature highlights, including an expanded desktop, status bar icon coloring, status bar brightness control, battery indicator style, low battery warning control, minimal brightness setting, lockscreen tweaks, Dialer tweaks, screen recording, notification control and more.
But there are a few things to keep in mind. The module is designed to work with vanilla Android 6.0 (or close to it). It is also still unknown whether this works with other manufacturer UI’s, but you can test at your own risk. The developer also states this should not really be used as a way to get missing features on third-party ROMs. In fact, he goes on to mention it’s not designed to run with non-stock ROMs, and using it can cause unexpected behavior. Therefore, no support will be provided if you choose to use GravityBox with these types of ROMs.
Interested? Just head over to the developer’s post on XDA Developers (link below) to learn all the requisites and steps for installing this software. Remember, any type of tinkering may void your warranty and/or harm your device, so I would advice that you do your research before proceeding. It will be only your responsibility if something happens to your phone.
Still pushing ahead? Happy tweaking!
Project Spectrum gives the Oppo Find 7 that stock Android feeling
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While Android devices made and manufactured in China have a lot in common with their Western counterparts, a significant difference between the two is their different take on user interfaces. While the devices we know are based on stock Android with varying degrees of theming and modification, Chinese devices opt for a layout not dissimilar to iPhones, often referred to as MIUI. Oppo is one such company who uses this kind of user interface, but their ambition to eventually sell more devices globally has led them to start Project Spectrum which appears to be an effort to put an almost stock Android experience onto their Oppo Find 7. Check out a video of it in action below:
As you might be able to see, Oppo has tried to keep some of the better features that they’ve put into ColorOS, but retain the zippy, simple feel of stock Android, and to be honest, it’s a pretty good effort. No doubt an Android Marshmallow update is also in the Find 7’s future, and Project Spectrum is expected to reach other Oppo devices in the future as well.
What do you think about Project Spectrum? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Project Spectrum gives the Oppo Find 7 that stock Android feeling appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
‘Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked’ lands on December 1st
So far, the cult hit Don’t Starve has maintained a largely familiar (if decidedly weird) setting. There have been twists and turns, but you knew what you were getting into. Well, the developers at Klei have decied to shake things up a bit: they’re launching Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked, a seabound add-on, through Steam Early Access on December 1st. The company hasn’t said much about what that entails beyond new biomes, characters and creatures, although one look at the teasers suggests that you might be grappling with everything from hungry fish to angry monkeys. Shipwrecked will only be available on Windows at first, but there are promises of Linux and Mac versions in the pipeline.
Via: Eurogamer
Source: Klei Entertainment
‘Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked’ lands on December 1st
So far, the cult hit Don’t Starve has maintained a largely familiar (if decidedly weird) setting. There have been twists and turns, but you knew what you were getting into. Well, the developers at Klei have decied to shake things up a bit: they’re launching Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked, a seabound add-on, through Steam Early Access on December 1st. The company hasn’t said much about what that entails beyond new biomes, characters and creatures, although one look at the teasers suggests that you might be grappling with everything from hungry fish to angry monkeys. Shipwrecked will only be available on Windows at first, but there are promises of Linux and Mac versions in the pipeline.
Via: Eurogamer
Source: Klei Entertainment
PSA: The 64GB Frost Nexus 6P is now in stock on the Google Store
For the first time since its release back in October, the 64GB Frost variant of the Nexus 6P is now in stock over on the Google Store. However, seeing as demand for this model is pretty high, we don’t expect inventory to be around for too long — so if you’ve been waiting to get your hands on one, better act fast.
Just in case you need a refresher on its specifications, the Nexus 6P packs a 5.7-inch qHD display, a Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor, an Adreno 430 GPU, 3GB of RAM, a 12MP rear-facing camera, an 8MP selfie shooter and last, but not least, a 3,450mAh non-removable battery.
For details on how to pick up the Frost variant of the Nexus 6P, together with all of the region-specific hardware details, hit the source link below.
Source: Google Store
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Telegram has blocked 78 ISIS-related channels
If you have been following the news recently, there has been a lot of talk about encrypted messaging service Telegram being used for ISIS communication during the Paris and Beirut attacks. Telegram has responded by blocking 78 ISIS-related channels.
This week we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages. More info on our official channel: https://t.co/69Yhn2MCrK
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) November 18, 2015
This is obviously good news, but does raise questions on how exactly Telegram was able to block these conversations if the app is supposed to be fully encrypted? Telegram responded to that by saying that these were “public channels and available to everyone by default.” Telegram also goes on to say that they will “continue to block terrorist channels, but will not block anybody who peacefully expresses alternative opinions.”
Source: Telegram (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Telegram has blocked 78 ISIS-related channels
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