Stock Android Thoughts and Mate 8 Reactions | Podcast 049
After issuing a few SPOILER ALERTS for apparently no reason at all (don’t worry, they aren’t all that bad), the fellas get into a slightly more structured look at the week’s Android news. Josh, Jonathan, Andrew, and Joe each bring stories that they liked over the last week and discuss.
New app updates, reactions to Google’s unification of Android elements, and thoughts about the recently released Huawei Mate 8 review are on the table this week. For links to these stories, keep reading, they’re on the other side of that Soundcloud player below.
The Android Authority Podcast – discussing topics in Android every week.
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Relevant Links
App News:
Android Apps Weekly
Unification of Android:
Google testing direct app installs from Google Search
Google Photos button in Google Camera
Google+ now utilizing Chrome Custom Tabs
Huawei Mate 8:
Huawei Mate 8 review
Huawei Mate 8
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Follow our Hosts
Joshua Vergara
Twitter | Google+
Joseph Hindy
Twitter | Google+
Andrew Grush
Twitter | Google+
Jonathan Feist
Twitter | Google+
Nirave Gondhia
Twitter | Google+
Recorded on January 22nd, 2016 – Hosted and Produced by Joshua Vergara.
We ranked the top 5 flagship Android phones you can get right now
Flagship smartphones are the race cars of the mobile device market. With normal automobiles you don’t need to go 200mph just to get to work. You don’t need specialized tires, exhausts, engines, and steering wheels for an everyday driver, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to go fast. Sometimes you want more than you need, and there is nothing wrong with that if you can afford it.
Without race cars, the limits of automobile technology wouldn’t be pushed. Did you know the rear view mirror and disk brakes came from race cars? What seemed innovative when those products were invented are now standard on all cars and trucks.
The smartphone industry is no different – flagship smartphones push the limits of what you can do with mobile technology. 1080p HD displays were “overkill” just two years ago, but are now almost a must have on a smartphone no matter the price. Fast processors, ultra-clear displays, massive amounts of RAM, and killer cameras on flagships make the mobile tech industry move forward.
While budget smartphones are an area of focus for me, I realize I may have forgotten about the enthusiasts who do want to go 200mph on their commute to work. So I have put together my list of the best flagships you can get before Mobile World Conference brings us a whole host of new phones for 2016.
Bear in mind, when 2016 came about, I made a vow to only use smartphones that are unlocked and cost less than $400. Flagship smartphones are a passion of mine, but for 2016 I am only going to use and review smartphones that can save you hundreds of dollars.
With that being said, I still want to share the top five Android flagship smartphones you can get today without taking money into consideration.
Number 5 – HTC One A9
One of the most underrated phones is the HTC made One A9. Software wise, it is one of the few devices that actually runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with its litany of features many users yearn for. The One A9 is very easy to hold with an all metal design, has a fantastic fingerprint reader for security, and comes with UH OH protection. No other flagship offers free protection from accidents, and that is what sets the A9 apart from the crowd.
No matter how hard some people try, they will drop, scratch and break phones – even with cases on. Replacing or fixing a device is never cheap unless you buy the HTC One A9 since it is free. And better yet, with Android 6.0 the A9 runs buttery smooth and has great battery life.
Specs:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, Octa-core; 64-bit, 4 x 1.5GHz + 4 x 1.2GHz
- Memory: 3GB RAM / 32GB Storage
- Main camera: 13MP with sapphire cover lens, auto-focus , BSI sensor, OIS, ƒ/2.0, 1080p video recording
Front camera: HTC UltraPixel™, fixed focus, ƒ/2.0, 1080p video recording - Display: 5.0 inch, Full HD 1080p
HTC One A9 at – Amazon.com, AT&T, Sprint
Number 4 – Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
Without question the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge is one of the most unique 5.1″ smartphones you can get today. It has a gorgeous 2.5D dual curved display that easy to use in one hand. With a Samsung made Exynos octa-core processor, and 3GB of RAM, the S6 edge frequently sits atop benchmark tests even though this phone was released almost a year ago.
The dual edge display wraps around the sides to give the phone a full display without bezels. As beautiful as the S6 edge is, the best part about the phone is the 16MP rear camera which is only matched in quality by its bigger brother, the Galaxy Note5. No other non Galaxy smartphone comes close to the high-quality pictures from the S6 lineup. And that 2k Super AMOLED display is to die for.
The main gripes I have with the S6 edge are the lack of expandable memory, slow updates, and replaceable battery. But it is still a great device you can still use in one hand.
Specs:
- Processor: Samsung Exynos 7420 2.1GHz, 1.5GHz; Octa-Core
- Memory: 3GB RAM/32GB Storage
- Main camera: 16MP
Front camera: 5MP
- Display: 5.1 inch, F1440 x 2560 pixels (~577 ppi pixel density) Super AMOLED
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge at Amazon.com, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile
Number 3 – Samsung Galaxy Note5
Any other year and the Samsung Galaxy Note would have been my top pick. The Samsung Galaxy Note line is arguably the most functional smartphone you can get with its top of the line specs, and one of a kind stylus. When the first Note came out, people laughed and said the large display was unwieldy. But the choice to go with a 5.7″ display set the trend for other large smartphones.
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While the Note5 sits at number three, it used to sit at number one for me. Samsung decided to take away features like the IR Blaster, expandable memory, and removable battery from its most prolific smartphone. It replaced those features with an S6 like build that indluded a metal frame sandwiched in between two very sturdy pieces of Gorilla Glass 4. The processor, camera, and 2k AMOLED display are the best you can get on any smartphone. And like the S6 edge, the Note5 also has built-in wireless charging capabilities making it much more convenient to recharge your device.
And the S-Pen, while not for everyone, is super useful for those who still like to use a pen for note taking.
Random question – Did you know Samsung refers to the Note5 without a space in the name?
Specs:
- Processor: Samsung Exynos 7420 2.1GHz, 1.5GHz; Octa-Core
- Memory: 4GB RAM/32GB Storage
- Main camera: 16MP
Front camera: 5MP
- Display: 5.7 inch, F1440 x 2560 pixels (~518 ppi pixel density) Super AMOLED
Samsung Galaxy Note5 at Amazon.com, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Number 2 – LG V10
LG quietly sneaked out a powerhouse in the second half of 2015 with the LG V10. The LG V10 is a dual display smartphone with just about every feature you can think of. The dual display is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge design from 2014, but instead of the second display being on the side, it sits on top of the main display. You can control your music, see current weather conditions, check recently used apps,and see notifications all without disturbing your main display.
The V10 also added real steel siding to the smartphone that gives it a gorgeous look with a four foot drop rating to keep it from breaking in minor accidents. The base memory is also massive at 64GB with the option to expand via the micro SD card slot, and it also has a user replaceable battery too. I find the V10 to be the replacement for what I miss most in the Galaxy Note5. The Quantum 2k display is a real gem too – it has one of the clearest displays of any smartphone and it does it without Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology.
If you like HiFi music, the V10 also has a built in digital to analog converter(DAC) which is audiophile code for a chip that makes music sound awesome. The built-in DAC sets the V10 apart from all other Android smartphones.
Specs:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992, Hexa-core, 1800 MHz, ARM Cortex-A57 and ARM Cortex-A53, 64-bit
- Memory: 4GB RAM/64GB Storage
- Main camera: 16MP
Front camera: 5MP
- Display: 5.7 inch, F1440 x 2560 pixels (~515 ppi pixel density) Quantum IPS
LG V10 at Amazon.com, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
The best of the best Google Nexus 6P
You can’t go wrong with any of the top three phones if you like plus sized phones. But the Huawei made Google Nexus 6P is the overall champ of the flagships. It comes in an all metal body that is gorgeous, easy to hold, slim and “premium”.
What sets the Nexus 6P apart from the others is the ability to be used across any network, including Google’s own Project Fi, and the pure unadulterated version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Manufacturers are struggling mightily to keep up with Google’s software updates, and sometimes over customize what Android should be.
The Nexus 6P doesn’t have the greatest specs on paper, but with a clean version of Android it has incredible battery life, access to the most timely updates, and the smoothest software interface of all Android smartphones. The included fingerprint reader on the back is also amazing with incredible accuracy, and your finger will not only unlock your device, it will also turn on the display.
Other flagships that are sold through wireless carriers get added bloatware, and another layer of customization which slows updates to a grinding halt while taking up valuable space. Pure Android 6.0 Marshmallow is Google’s idea of what mobile software should be and I agree 100%. It’s fast, clean, and gets regular updates.
Specs:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 2.0 GHz Octa-core 64-bit
- Memory: 3GB RAM/32GB Storage
- Main camera: 12.3MP
Front camera: 8MP
- Display: 5.7 inch,WQHD (2560 x 1440) AMOLED display at 518 ppi
Nexus 6P at Amazon.com, and Google.com
I know my top five smartphones you can get today may not match your list. Let me know what your top five phones you can get today are below.
The post We ranked the top 5 flagship Android phones you can get right now appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sony creates a new company to run everything PlayStation
Okay, so this is kind of weird: Sony just announced that it’s spinning off PlayStation into its own separate company, dubbed Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. It combines Sony Computer Entertainment (basically any and all PlayStation-related hardware and software) with Sony Network Entertainment (services like PlayStation Vue and the PlayStation Store) and will be led by Andrew House as president and global CEO. Head of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, retains his title, but will now report to Shawn Layden.
The release states that the new company’s main focus is to:
“Retain and expand PlayStation user engagement, increase Average Revenue Per Paying Users and drive ancillary revenue. SIE will vigorously expand the PlayStation business by delivering an integrated experience built around best-in-class games and network services to consumers worldwide.”
Okay, so in layman’s terms, don’t really expect much to change in terms of how PlayStation and its connected services work; this appears to be essentially a shuffling of papers. The company will be headquartered in San Mateo, California; it has $2 million in working capital and will count April 1st this year as its first day of business — no foolin’.
It’s no secret that Sony’s been in dire financial straits for some time, selling off its line of VAIO computers; its mobile division continues to struggle . But Sony’s cameras (both standalone and built-into smartphones), and of course its PlayStation division, have helped keep the company afloat.
Sony can change its name but we still can’t change our PSN names
— Wario64 (@Wario64) January 26, 2016
On the lighter side of things, Yoshida is taking the internet’s reactions to the company’s name change in stride, as evidenced by his retweet embedded below. Maybe this means I will get to change my PSN ID in the near future.
@yosp how come you guys can change your name but we can’t change our PSN names?
— Super Mariota (@__BD1) January 26, 2016
Source: PR Newswire
Infernal Innovations CD player magnetic phone mount: review
Ever since the first cell phones hit market companies have been making vehicle mounting systems. More recently those mounting systems have become less expensive and less permanent. Infernal Innovations has many innovative products, but in this review, I will be focusing on their CD player magnetic phone mount.
CD player magnetic phone mount overview
The concept of Infernal Innovations CD player magnetic phone mount is simple. Use the existing CD player slot in your car to mount your phone. The best part is that you don’t have to remove the CD from the CD player to use it. The worst part is that you can’t remove the CD without removing the magnetic phone mount.
The mount contains 4 powerful magnets that grip a metal plate that can be attached to the phone using several available methods. All you need to do it place the phone on the mount where the metal plate is attached to the phone.
CD player magnetic phone mount setup
The setup is fairly easy. First attach the metal plate to your phone. If you have a phone with NFC and/or wireless charging, you’ll want to make sure that the plate is affixed below the coils or the plate will interfere with NFC and wireless charging operation. The plate can be attached either directly on the back of the phone, inside your phone’s case, on the outside of the case, or if your phone has a removable back, you may be able to mount the plate inside the back cover. To affix the metal plate, simply remove the adhesive cover and stick it where you want it.
In my case, I use a Zerolemon removable battery that adds a lot of weight to the phone. In order to have a good grip on the phone, I needed to mount to the plate to the outside of my phone case. This worked out very well.
The only other thing you need to do is attach the mount to the CD player slot. To accomplish this, all you need to do is insert the mount in the CD player slot and depress the lever. If there mount feels loose, there are 3 included rubber spacers to allow it to fit any CD player almost universally.
CD player magnetic phone mount usage
One of my concerns going into the review was whether the mount would hold my heavy phone with the plate mounted at the bottom. After setting everything up, not only did it hold up my phone, but the magnets were sufficiently powerful to hold it in a landscape position as well as portrait. In a portrait position, the phone did not move at all, even when hitting bumps. In a landscape position, the phone would drop ever so slightly after my car would hit a bump, but it took several bumps before I had to adjust the phone back up.
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In a portrait position, I never had to readjust the phone. It stayed upright the whole time.
Needless to say, I was rather impressed with how strong the magnets on the mount were. Not only did they hold my phone in position, but they did it with a huge extended battery adding a ton of weight and they did it with the plate mounted at the bottom of the phone instead of the middle, which is where they recommend the plate be mounted. This means that you don’t have to sacrifice your NFC and/or wireless charging to have the convenience of a magnetic mount.
The convenience is really the selling point of a magnetic mount. All you have to do is place your phone on the mount when you get in your vehicle and remove it when you get out. It’s that simple. No fiddling with adjusting the mount or anything. Just place and go.
4 out of 5 stars
Overall this is a great solution for mounting your phone in your car. You don’t have to fiddle with suction cups or worry about one of your AC vent being blocked and the phone takes a whole 3 seconds to attach to the mount. There are only two downsides with using this type of mount. The
There are only two downsides with using this type of mount. The first I already mentioned. It takes up your CD players slot. The other downside is that not all vehicles have a conveniently placed CD player. If your CD player is mounted too low, it will cause you to take your eyes off the road
The other downside is that not all vehicles have a conveniently placed CD player. If your CD player is mounted too low, it will cause you to take your eyes off the road and reduce your reaction time. Plus not all vehicles have a CD player. If you fall into either of the latter categories, then you should look into a vent or suction cup style mounting system.
Luckily Infernal Innovations also has vent and suction cup magnetic mounting systems. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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The post Infernal Innovations CD player magnetic phone mount: review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
‘Meeky Mill’ makes a game out of current rap feuds
In case you haven’t been keeping up with the life of rapper Meek Mill, he’s had a tough go of it over the last six months or so. After Meek accused Drake of using a ghostwriter on hit songs last summer, the Canadian rapper’s musical response coined the phrases “trigger phrases turned to Twitter fingers,” “is that a world tour or your girl’s tour?” and left Mill as the subject of endless jokes and memes. Now that Meek has sparked another beef, this time with 50 Cent, his unenviable situation has been captured by a videogame, Meeky Mill (warning: language). Produced by musician/indie game developer Richie Branson, it’s a side-scroller platformer/endless runner where Meek dodges L bombs and missiles tossed by his rivals.
You can download and play it on PC or Mac, or just watch the trailer for a better idea. This might not be the next Flappy Bird or Crossy Road, but if this is your preferred genre then the soundtrack (a remix featuring 50 Cent and Drake) is definitely an upgrade. You can win by collecting enough coins to rack up $1 million, but like ending Meek Mill’s current losing streak, that is easier said than done. Unfortunately, there is not an option to send bottles to Charlamagne or the city of Flint, MI, which hurts its realism.
[Thanks, Myron]
Source: Meeky Mill
Apple has added 
Why let 
AIVAnet 