Amazon takes the wraps off new Fire HD 8 Reader’s Edition
Earlier today, Amazon took the wraps off its latest Android-powered tablet, the Fire HD 8 Reader’s Edition, which is available to pre-order from the company’s online store for $249.99 with shipments expected to leave the warehouse on Wednesday, December 9.
Unlike previous Fire models, the Reader’s Edition ships with a nifty Blue Shade feature that makes reading at night significantly easier. When switching to this mode, a filter to restrict exposure to blue light is applied to the display and the brightness is dimmed to an ultra-low setting to ensure that words are clearly visible.
All other hardware on board the Reader’s Edition is identical to the standard Fire HD 8, which means that it packs an 8-inch IPS display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB/16GB of expandable internal storage and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.
If you’re not entirely sold on Amazon’s newest addition to the Fire lineup, the online giant’s hoping a year’s free subscription to Kindle Unlimited will seal the deal. This will give users access to over one-million books along with thousands of audiobooks. Amazon’s also throwing in a free protective case, which is described as having the “look and feel of a real book cover”.
If you’d like to find out more about picking one up — hit the source link below.
Source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: Amazon takes the wraps off new Fire HD 8 Reader’s Edition
Google publishes Android 6.0.1 factory images for Nexus devices
Google has published the factory images for the long-awaited Android 6.0.1 update for the Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. The upgrade brings a brand new Emoji set to these devices, in addition to the latest security patch which is targeted at resolving any critical issues present in the open-source operating system.
Hit the source link below to download the factory images from the official Google Developer Blog for manual flashing. Alternatively, you can wait for the OTA to start rolling out, which should start soon.
Source: Google Developers
Come comment on this article: Google publishes Android 6.0.1 factory images for Nexus devices
HTC will roll out the Android 6.0.1 update for the One A9 and One M9 later this month
Earlier today, HTC’s Vice President of Product Management, Mo Versi, took to his official Twitter page to announce that the Taiwanese company will be rolling out the upcoming Android 6.0.1 update to all Unlocked variants of the One A9 and One M9.
The upgrade will transport the brand new Emoji set to the handset, along with the latest Android security patch, which is aimed at fixing any critical issues present in the open-source operating system that may have otherwise put user data at risk.
Lots of questions on this, so quick update: M9 unlocked Marshmallow OS update and A9 6.0.1 (with updated emoji) is on target for this month.
— Mo Versi (@moversi) December 7, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Source: Mo Versi (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: HTC will roll out the Android 6.0.1 update for the One A9 and One M9 later this month
Lack of advertising model is hurting Vine, causing brands to flee
Vine launched more than two years ago as a video sharing service that limits uploads to just six-second clips. The service, which is overseen by Twitter, has been forced to fight with Snapchat as the go-to for short-form content. While Snapchat has been securing partnerships and launching new feaures, Vine is in a place of confusion. After all, video has become a vital part of Twitter. And the overall problem for Vine could be the lack of a clear advertising model. Brands are fleeing Vine in favor of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and, obviously, YouTube to spend even more of their money.
Tyler Hissey of Hill Holliday, Boston-based marketing communications firm, told Adweek that Vine is missing tools to keep brands on the service:
“Over time, it became difficult for many marketers to achieve scale. In the last six months or so, brands have started to de-emphasize Vine as a channel because of the targeting capabilities on all these other platforms.”
Adweek looked at research done by Tubular Labs, examining the social media accounts of forty major brands. Between September and November of this year, a meager 4.5% of the 2,500 videos posted could be found on Vine. A large number of brands are halting the use of Vine altogether without caring that their accounts have been inactive for months. Vine hasn’t clicked with marketers after the buzz surrounding the service ended. Its only advantage seems to be enlisting the stars of Vine to create content published on their own channels rather than the brands’.
Vine may be wealthy in user-made content, but the brands are what will keep the lights on. If Twitter can’t figure that out, Vine could be spun off into its own entity or sold to another company seeking to enter the world of video.
Source: Adweek
Come comment on this article: Lack of advertising model is hurting Vine, causing brands to flee
Don’t buy another smartphone until you check this out (December 2015)
Time to purchase a new smartphone? Is this an upgrade from an existing device? Or, are you brand new to these sort of things? Actually, scratch that, it doesn’t matter. We want to help you out either way.
To save you money, we’ve gathered up all of the promotions we could find from the various wireless providers. Regardless of where you’re thinking of going for service, or what phone you are looking to pick up, you owe it to yourself to check below. Don’t be the guy who says, “I didn’t know I could get more for my money.” Worse, don’t be the one who could have kept some of that money in his wallet.
Hurry, we have no idea how long some of these deal will last. Sure, some are ongoing in a semi-permanent manner, but others could disappear overnight.
Verizon
- Cell Phone, Tablet & Accessory Deals
- Get $300 when you trade in your smartphone and switch or add a new line. Plus, new and existing customers get $100 instantly.
- Verizon Ellipsis 10: New 2-yr activation req’d. 50% off = $199.99 2-yr price – $99.99 instant savings.
AT&T
T-Mobile
- Save $75 on Samsung Galaxy Grand with promo code: SAVEBIG
- Save $80 on Samsung Galaxy S5 with promo code: DEALS80FF
- Save $75 on LG Stylo with promo code: STYLODEAL
- Save $75 on Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with promo code: NOTE4DEAL
- $20 OFF Samsung 5200 mAh Fast Charge Battery Pack
- $40 OFF – mophie powerstation 4000
Sprint
- Sprint Holiday Deals
- LG G Flex 2 FREE with two-year agreement (Web only)
- LG Tribute 2 for only $99 with no contract
- $100 service credit when you lease select models and port in phone number
- Save $200 on LG G4 with purchase on EasyPay or Sprint Lease with trade-in at retail store
US Cellular
Virgin Mobile
Boost Mobile
- Boost Mobile online deals
- $50 OFF credit when you switch to Boost Mobile (online only)
- $20 off LG G Stylo and free case with purchase
Cricket Wireless
- Cricket Hot Deals
- Switch to Cricket and receive $100 credit
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime for $29.99 with porting of phone number
- LG Risio FREE after $30 mail-in rebate Cricket Visa Promotion Card when you switch
- Get the LG G Stylo for $49.99 instantly if you switch to Cricket
- HTC Desire 520 for $79.99
MetroPCS
The post Don’t buy another smartphone until you check this out (December 2015) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Reminders join Google Calendar to further help us stay on top of things
I don’t know about you, but Google’s Reminders system has become a vital feature to helping me function in everyday life. These days, we have so much going on. And with our devices always around, it only makes sense to utilize them to stay on top of things we’ll inevitably forget.
Google has long kept Calendar entries and Reminders separated, still hanging on to the calendar events ideology. But with the increased importance of Reminders in the ecosystem, Google is now adding them as entries in the Calendar app.
One of Google’s justification for doing this is that “while those entries [calendar events] come and go, Reminders stick with you over time so you can track them until they are actually done.” Reminders will stay on top of your daily list of entries until you dismiss them.
Reminders in Calendar will also 1’up event entries by automatically adding information like phone numbers and addresses (if you make a Reminder to make a call or go somewhere). That’s what great about the Reminder system, it gets incorporated across the ecosystem. Therefore, if you create one via a voice command on Google Now, it will automatically populate in Inbox, Keep, and now Calendar.
Regarding the roll-out, Google says that incorporation into the mobile Calendar app will come first – an update will show up on the Play Store and iOS App Store this week. The update via Calendar on the web is in the works. Check out Google’s video on the new feature below.
Source: Google Blogspot
The post Reminders join Google Calendar to further help us stay on top of things appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google rolling out Android 6.0.1 update to Nexus devices
We know that most of you are still waiting patiently for Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to hit your smartphones. And it only hurts more when we hear that some Nexus devices have now jumped the queue to receive the Android 6.0.1 update. Yes, you read it right – Google is pushing the new software update to the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and the Nexus Player.
As part of the software update, devices running the latest version of Android would receive 200 new and redesigned emojis. The good news for the world obsessed with texting is, Google has included unicorn, cat, cheese-block, popcorn and taco emojis in the latest update. Just like we informed in our earlier report, many old emojis such as poop and body parts have have been redesigned and recolored. It is noteworthy that the new emojis have already been available on Windows 10 and iOS platform for a few weeks.
Another small change that users who have tablets running Android 6.0.1 will notice that the ‘Back’ and ‘Home’ navigation buttons are now located on the left hand side of the display’s base instead of their central position. The Android 6.0.1 factory images are also available to download on Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, Nexus 7 (2013).
Via: Mobile Syrup
The post Google rolling out Android 6.0.1 update to Nexus devices appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Facebook Ends Creative Labs Initiative and Shuts Down Slingshot, Rooms and Riff
Facebook today ended its Creative Labs project, which was designed to allow its engineers to come up with unique and innovative smartphone and tablet apps. With the shuttering of Creative Labs, several of the apps that came out of the program are being shut down and removed from the App Store.
Slingshot, Rooms, and Riff, all apps that were released across 2014 and 2015, are no longer available in the App Store. Slingshot, announced in June of 2014, was an ephemeral messaging app modeled after Snapchat, but with a slight twist. Before viewing a message or a photo, the recipient was required to send a message back.
Rooms, launched in October of 2014, allowed users to create anonymous invite-only chat rooms based around specific themes, while Riff, announced in April 2015, was designed to let users create collaborative video mashups with their friends.
Despite being backed by Facebook, none of the now-defunct apps managed to catch on with users and thus received a limited number of updates from the company. Riff, for example, was never updated since it was released in April, and Slingshot and Rooms were last updated in March and July of 2015, respectively.
A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the end of Creative Labs in a statement to CNET, noting none of the apps had been updated for some time and many of the features have been added into the company’s primary apps. “Since their launches, we’ve incorporated elements of Slingshot, Riff and Rooms into the Facebook for iOS and Android apps.”
While none of the apps are available for download, Slingshot continues to be functional for existing users for the time being, while Rooms will be available until it’s closed on December 23.
Paper, the first and most successful app to come out of Facebook’s Creative Labs effort, remains available in the App Store.
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Android 6.0.1 arriving on Nexus devices today, includes new emoji
We already knew that a ton of new emoji were slated to hit Android devices sometime soon, thanks to a recent tweet from Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior VP of Android, Chrome OS, and Chromecast at Google. As it turns out, the new emoji are arriving on Nexus devices starting today, as part of the update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
The biggest change in the update to 6.0.1, according to Ars Technica, is the addition of over 200 new and revamped emoji based on Unicode 8. Mainly, the poop emoji has been redesigned, and all of the odd pink body parts that appeared in past emoji packs have now been turned to a yellow skin tone. A full list of the new and revamped emoji can be found at Unicode’s website. Adding new emoji to the Google Keyboard application actually requires a full system update. Although the Google Keyboard app can be updated on its on in the Play Store, fonts are tied to the system itself, hence the need for a full update.
See also: Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup – December 4, 2015
Additionally, Android 6.0.1 brings a change for the nav bar on Android tablets. According to Ars, the buttons are no longer centered. The back and home buttons now sit on the left side, while the overview (recent apps) button sits on the right. This is obviously a move to help tablet users more easily reach the buttons, but it does look quite odd a first glance.
Android 6.0.1 is also being counted as the monthly security update for the month of December, so users can also expect a number of security fixes and performance improvements in this update.
As was the case with Android 6.0, the update should be available for the Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 7 (2013) and Nexus 9. We’ll be sure to update you as we learn more.
Nexus in video
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Google Calendar gets reminders to keep track of your tasks
Google’s services have had reminders for a while, but they’ve usually been kept apart from your day-to-day schedule. That’s a bit counterintuitive, isn’t it? However, the company is finally setting things right by incorporating those reminders in Google Calendar. As of this week, mobile users (the web is coming soon) can create and track reminders from within the Calendar app. If you need to remember to get groceries, you’ll know right away if there’s a conflict with your kids’ recital. And importantly, you don’t have to worry about those reminders being lost in the shuffle — if you don’t tackle them one day, they’ll show up in your itinerary for the next. All iOS users should see this overdue upgrade today, while Android users will see it roll out over the course of the week.
Source: Official Gmail Blog
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