When Can AppleCare Replace a MacBook’s Battery?

MacRumors forum member MBP* posted this question about his 2014 MacBook Pro’s battery under Mac Basics and Help:

“I have a 2014 13” Retina MacBook Pro which I used extensively on a daily basis. I purchased AppleCare for the sole reason of protection against battery depletion over the coming years.

It’s hard for me to tell whether my battery has lost capacity, but I’m sure it has against the original figures when I first got the machine.

My question is, when will AppleCare be willing to replace the battery due to loss of capacity? Is there a percentage? How can I test it?”

The MacBook Pro’s battery has almost certainly lost some battery capacity if it has been charged and depleted regularly over the past two years. A quick way to check is by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left menu bar and choosing About This Mac. Click on System Report… and select Power from the left-hand menu.

The resulting page displays various information about the MacBook’s battery, including its max capacity and charge remaining, both of which are expressed in milliampere hours (mAh). The battery’s cycle count and condition, ranging from Normal or Replace Soon to Replace Now or Service Battery, are also listed.

Apple describes the battery status indicators as follows:

– Normal: The battery is functioning normally.
– Replace Soon: The battery is functioning normally but holds less charge than it did when it was new. You should monitor the health of the battery by checking the battery status menu periodically.
– Replace Now: The battery is functioning normally but holds significantly less charge than it did when it was new. You can safely continue using your computer, but if its lowered charging capacity is affecting your experience, you should take it to an Apple Store or Apple-authorized service provider.
– Service Battery: The battery isn’t functioning normally. You can safely use your Mac when it’s connected to an appropriate power adapter, but you should take it to an Apple Store or Apple-authorized service provider as soon as possible.

In June 2015, Apple modified its AppleCare Protection Plan for the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro to cover batteries that retain less than 80-percent of their original capacity within the extended warranty period. Apple will replace batteries under that threshold for no charge so long as the notebook remains covered under AppleCare, which costs between $249 and $349 depending on the MacBook model.

MacBook batteries are designed to retain up to 80-percent of their original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles, similar to the iPad and Apple Watch.

There are also several free OS X apps, such as Battery Health or coconutBattery, that can determine whether your MacBook meets this criteria, and provide additional details about your battery’s temperature, manufacture date, power usage, and more. A 2012 Retina MacBook Pro with a current max charge of 7,171 mAh, for example, has retained nearly 85-percent of its original 8,460 mAh capacity.

If the MacBook is not covered by AppleCare, or the extended warranty period has expired, replacing the battery carries an out-of-warranty service charge ranging between $129 and $199, plus applicable taxes, based on U.S. pricing. Battery service and troubleshooting can be arranged by contacting an Apple Authorized Service Provider or scheduling a Genius Bar appointment with a local Apple retail store.

AppleCare for Mac extends a MacBook’s warranty coverage and telephone technical support to three years from the original date of purchase. Without an AppleCare Protection Plan, Mac customers are covered by a limited one-year warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support. AppleCare can be purchased only while the Mac remains covered under Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty.

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Lord Of Shapes/Shape Eater: Eat them Shapes (Review)

Overview

All Android users find themselves looking for a game at one point or another. Some look for high-quality, high-RAM games (such as Asphalt). However, some users don’t have an abundance of RAM to go around. That’s where Arcade games come in. These games are very casual, and usually have no end goal or destination. In this case, the game is called Shape Eater. As the title indicates, the mission is to eat some shapes.

Impressions

Music

Shape Eater is set to some very quirky 8-bit music that will bring back nostalgia for any vintage video game player. Along with the 8-bit, there is an undulating bassline that will make anyone who enjoys dubstep feel right at home. I found myself bobbing my head on numerous occasions when I wasn’t fangirling over the retro sound.

Graphics

Shape Eater is an arcade game, and as such, you cannot expect any advanced graphics magic. That being said, it still manages to be very cute. In the basic level, it’s set across a blue hexagonal background with multi-colored strings and shapes surrounding you. As you advance, the hexagons and colors change slightly, which I find to be very cool.

 

 

Gameplay

As with any arcade game, Shape Eater has a very simple premise with a very complex twist. Yeah, you just eat shapes, but you have to eat the specific shape pictured on the cord or face death. After you eat enough shapes(indicated by the large one filling up), the shape you are supposed to eat changes. Also, if you don’t eat shapes that are pulsating, they explode and you die. All these factors make a perfect addictive game that’ll quickly frustrate the crap out of you.

Conclusion

Shape Eater is a fun game that definitely keeps the player engaged. Classic Gamers and Dubstep lovers alike will love the music, with a nice bass line and some loveable 8-bit. All arcade game lovers will enjoy the bit of complexity it brings and the opportunities for advancement. However, it may prove too complex to some users and they may get quickly frustrated. All that in mind, definitely try it out.

Download Shape Eater on the Play Store

SaferVPN: A solid VPN choice [App Review]

Overview

It can be somewhat daunting to find the correct VPN provider for you. Some offer a ton a features that cost a ton as well, while others have basic services with more reasonable pricing. SaferVPN is a VPN service that happens to tick both these boxes as well as the ones in-between, offering extensive services suitable for anyone’s wallet.

Developer: Safer Social Ltd

Cost: App is free, service is paid

Highlights

• Different tiers for different budgets
• Great user interface
• Excellent connection speeds

Setup

Due to the nature of the service, you are required to create an account before you can use the app. You can start off with a free trail that lasts 24 hours once registered, and, if you’re happy with it, purchase a package to use it further.

Impressions

Once set up, I was ready to roll. There are 24 countries worldwide that each host several servers to chose from, spread more or less evenly across the globe. However, me living in South Africa posed a bit of a problem as the nearest server is in Israel. As it turned out later, this is not really a problem as the speeds are still super fast regardless of your position on Earth. The Brazil server outputted similar speeds, much like most of the other servers did. You’re looking at a speed loss of around 10% on a 4mbps line which is menial and won’t make much of an impact. 

The connection itself was stable and was on for as long as I wanted it to be. Very often VPN’s disconnect for no reason and take a minute or two to get you back online. This was not the case with SaferVPN.

Depending on your price plan, you can also use the VPN on several devices. There’s a dedicated Chrome extension for simple PC connection, as well as apps for iOS, MacOS, and, of course, Android. Expanding on the price plans, you can get Basic with one connected device at any time for $8.99 p/m, Premium with up to five simultaneously connected devices for $14.99 p/m and Small Business with up to ten simultaneously connected devices for $29.99 p/m. As of May 2016, there is a limited time deal.

But with the vast amount of VPN providers available, it’s hard to find one that offers something that stands out from the rest. This is a downfall with almost all providers and SaferVPN is, in the broader picture, really no different. Why should I chose it over a slightly cheaper one that does the same thing? As it turns out, my time with SaferVPN was hitch-free. Everything worked like it was supposed to and this is perhaps the factor that some other companies can’t seamlessly offer. Why worry with petty, non-essential features when you have something that works, and works well like SaferVPN?

 

Conclusion

SaferVPN offers a solid VPN service for someone who isn’t into complicated settings and services. Although SaferVPN does offer in-depth controls, you can simply login and press “Connect”, while staying connected. At a decent speed.

The pricing may not be the most competitive, but that doesn’t mean it can’t put up a fight.

Download on the Play Store

Samsung Galaxy Tab E pre-orders begin for AT&T on May 6

AT&T has announced that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab E will go up for pre-order on its network beginning Friday, May 6. The 8-inch tablet will be available for no money down and $10 per month with an AT&T installment plan.

The Galaxy Tab E on AT&T will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, and is powered by a 5000mAh battery, which AT&T claims will provide up to 13 hours of LTE use. It’s powered by an unnamed 1.3GHz quad-core processor, features 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage, which you can expand with an microSD card.

This variant of the tablet will also feature software from the AT&T-owned DIRECTV pre-installed, and also comes with Samsung’s KNOX security software pre-installed.

While AT&T has announced the installment plan for the Galaxy Tab E, the has yet to provide an up-front price for the tablet.

Hulu may take on Sling TV with cable-like streaming service

A new report claims Hulu is developing its own internet-based cable TV service, which would provide access to live TV in addition to on-demand viewing of network shows. The service could launch sometime in the first quarter of 2017.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the currently unnamed service will be similar to Sling TV and PlayStation Vue. It may offer a cloud-based DVR to record live shows. It will also likely have some kind of targeted advertising:

Disney’s ABC, ESPN and Disney Channel are expected to be available on the service along with the Fox broadcast network, Fox News, FX and Fox’s national and regional sports channels. Preliminary conversations with other programmers have begun, but the service isn’t looking to offer all the hundreds of channels found in the traditional cable bundle, according to the people familiar with the plans.

While pricing has yet to be confirmed, it is estimated that Hulu’s new internet cable TV service could cost around $40 a month.

European HTC 10 gets a pre-launch tune-up

Update to version 1.30.401.1 includes camera, Wi-Fi and stability enhancements.

Ahead of the phone’s official European debut later this week, HTC has pushed out the first over-the-air update for the HTC 10. The OTA, weighing in at just under 85MB, brings the phone up to software version 1.30.401.1, while tuning up camera and Wi-Fi performance, and general system stability.

This is the first camera-specific update to push out since we published our HTC 10 review, so we’ll be sure to point out any differences once we’ve had a chance to tinker with the new firmware. (Some U.S. devices have also been seeing an update to the HTC camera app in recent days, separate from the camera performance tweaks in this update.) That said, as we noted a few weeks back, there’s nothing much that needs fixing in HTC’s best camera to date.

The HTC 10 goes on sale in the UK this Friday, May 6, and it’s due to start hitting carriers in the U.S. from the end of next week.

MORE: Where to buy the HTC 10 in the UK

HTC 10

• HTC 10 review
• HTC 10 specs
• These are the HTC 10 colors
• Our first photo and video samples
• Meet the Ice View case
• Join our HTC 10 forums

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WhatsApp hit with 72-hour ban in Brazil

Brazil has once again opted to temporarily block the popular messaging service WhatsApp in the country. According to Brazilian publication Folha De S.Paulo, the block is scheduled to remain in place for 72 hours, affecting WhatsApp users across the country. The reason for the temporary ban hasn’t yet been revealed, but previous bans have come in response to Facebook’s refusal to comply with federal investigators in in ongoing criminal cases.

This isn’t the first time Facebook-owned WhatsApp has been temporarily blocked in Brazil. In December, the service was subject to a 48-hour shutdown for similar reasons related to a criminal investigation. That shutdown was lifted before the 48-hour period concluded, however.

Are you affected by this block? If so, let us know what you’re using as an alternative in the comments below!

Samsung and NVIDIA end patent feud with licensing deals

Samsung and NVIDIA have decided to privately settle their long-running patent lawsuits. NVIDIA first filed a lawsuit against Samsung in 2014, claiming that its Exynos processor had violated some of NVIDIA’s intellectual property.

Today’s press release from NVIDIA stated:

The agreement will lead to the immediate dismissal of all pending IP litigation in U.S. district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Patent Office between the companies. The settlement includes the licensing of a small number of patents by each company to the other, but no broad cross-licensing of patents or other compensation. Further details of the agreement are not being disclosed.

Bloomberg reports the settlement was announced just a few hours before the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington was scheduled to make a judgement between Samsung and NVIDIA.

Oculus Rift sales kick off at Best Buy, Amazon and the Microsoft Store this week

If you’s planning to check out what all of this virtual reality stuff is about, you’ll soon be able to get a taste in person with the Oculus Rift at Best Buy. Oculus announced today that it will launch Oculus Rift sales at more than 48 Best Buy stores around the U.S. on May 7.

Not only will you be able to purchase a Rift, but you’ll also be able to demo the headset as well. From Best Buy:

The demos allow you to experience Rift firsthand by getting immersed in two virtual reality experiences. Dreamdeck transports you to impossible places, like the top of the tallest skyscraper or alien encounters in outer space. The Climb is a game in which you can scale new heights through the thrill of (virtual) rock climbing.

If you’re interested, Best Buy also notes you can sign up for demos up to a month in advance.

In addition to a retail launch at Best Buy, Oculus says that the Rift will go on sale at both the online Microsoft Store and Amazon starting at 9 a.m. on May 7. Do be aware, however, that quantities will be extremely limited at all three retailers. And if you’re still waiting on a Rift pre-order and would rather take your chances with grabbing one at retail, Oculus says it has set up a process for customers to pick a headset up in-store and cancel their pre-orders.

The Android Dictionary

A glossary of Android terms

If you’re new to Android, you might find yourself wondering exactly what we’re talking about from time to time. As such, here’s a glossary of terms you’re likely to run across.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• ADB: Android Debug Bridge. A tool used to connect and sends commands to your Android phone from a desktop or laptop computer.
• AMOLED: Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. Basically, a very colorful, bright, display found in some smartphones. (See also Super AMOLED.)
• Android: Google’s open-source mobile operating system. It’s used primarily in smartphones but also can be found on tablets, Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) or even in kitchen appliances and automobile navigation. 
• Android Market: The original name for Google’s repository for Android applications. Rebranded in March 2012 to Google Play.
• Android Sideload Wonder Machine: A simple program for Windows or Linux and Mac that lets you easily sideload applications.
• Android Pay: Google’s contactless payment system, born from the owl Google Wallet.
• Android TV: Google’s not-quite-a-set-top-box TV interface.
• Andy Rubin: Vice President of Engineering at Google, overseeing project strategy and development of Android. Founder of Danger, which created the Sidekick and was later bought by Microsoft.
• AOKP: The Android Open Kang Project. A group that takes the open-source Android code and compiles it with other customizations for multiple devices.
• AOSP: The Android Open Source Project. When you hear about Android being “open source,” this is what we’re talking about. It’s a repository of the code released by Google, which can be downloaded and compiled by anyone. (If you know how.) 
• .apk: The file extension of an Android application.
• Apps: Short for “applications.” The programs you download and run on a smartphone. Can be free, or for sale.
• App Inventor: Google’s web-based system by which Android applications can be made without having to know how to code. Discontinued by Google, but released as an open-source project. 
• Apps2SD: An unapproved method of storing applications on the device’s microSD card. An official method was included in Android 2.2, mostly making this moot.
• Archos: A line of mid-grade Android tablets. Not all that well known, but held in fairly high regard.
• ASUS: A Taiwanese manufacturer of phones and tablets. (Among many other things.)
• AT&T: One of the four major U.S. carriers.
• AWS: Stands for Advanced Wireless Services. It is a band of frequencies used for cellphone connectivity, occupying the combined 1700MHz and 2100MHz frequencies (aka 1700/2100MHz.) Used primarily by T-Mobile USA for HSPA+ service, and by other carriers for LTE service.

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B

• Bloat(ware): Applications — usually unwanted — that are preloaded onto a device. It’s a bit subjective as to what constitutes bloatware, and the flip side is that these applications are what allow carriers to sell phones and tablets at subsidized prices.
• Bluetooth: A short-range radio build into smartphones that lets you connect headsets, speakerphones or even computers to your smartphone.
• Bootloader: An internal mode on a phone that helps in the flashing of ROMs and other behind-the scenes actions.
• Breaksclusive: Not breaking news, not exclusive news. It’s BREAKSCLUSIVE!
• BSI: Backside Illumination. Used to improve low-light performance in smartphone cameras.

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C

• Carrier: A company that provides cell phone service.
• CDMA: One of two major standard for cell phone communications. Is used by Sprint and Verizon in the United States, and by a few nations elsewhere. Is largely seen as a dying standard. (See also GSM)
• CES: North America’s largest consumer electronics show, held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 
• Civilian: What we lovingly call a non-smartphone nerd. Someone who doesn’t buy a phone every few months.
• Clockwork: Developer of the ClockworkMod custom recovery mode for Android.
• Command line: In Windows, it’s a DOS prompt or Command Prompt. In Linux or Mac, it’s Terminal.
• Craplet: A cheap tablet, often one that doesn’t even have Google apps installed.
• CTIA: A U.S. convention of the wireless industry. Nobody really knows what the abbreviation stands for anymore.
• Cupcake: Android 1.5. (More on Android versions here.)
• Cyanogen: The online handle of one Steve Kondik, relatively famous in the hacking and modding community and the creator of the CyanogenMod series of ROMs.

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D

• Dalvik Cache: Writable cache that contains the optimized bytecode of all apk files (apps) on your Android device. Having the information in it’s own cache makes applications load faster and perform better.
• DLNA: Dynamic Living Network Alliance. A method for wirelessly streaming photos and videos from your smartphone to your TV.
• Droid: An extremely popular horizontal slider made by Motorola on the Verizon network. The first to run Android 2.0 (and Android 2.0.1). Is currently running Android 2.1. Also the name for a line of Verizon Android phones.

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E

• Earth: Mostly harmless.
• EOL: Stands for “End of Life.” Means a carrier or manufacturer is phasing out a particular product. It does not necessarily mean that phone or tablet is bad, nor will anyone come and take your EOL’d device away from you.
• ETF: Stands for Early Termination Fee. Also known as an ETF, it’s what a carrier chargers you to break out of your contract. Usually are prorated.

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F

• Factory restore/reset: See hard reset.
• Fastboot: Another mode akin to the bootloader, from which you can manually flash low-level components onto a phone.
• FC: Short for “force close,” meaning an app that has crashed.
• Froyo: Android 2.2. Announced at Google IO in May 2010, first released onto the Nexus One. (More on Android versions here.)

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G

• Galaxy: The brand name for Samsung’s mobile ecosystem.
• Geotagging: Wherein in your phone finds your location via GPS and attaches coordinates to pictures you’re taking. Can be a privacy/security concern.
• Gingerbread: Android 2.3. Mostly a behind-the-scenes update, though there are some UI tweaks. First loaded on the Nexus S. (More on Android versions here.)
• Gmail: Google’s web-based e-mail service.
• Google: Our benevolent overlord, and owner of Android.
• Google Now: An enhanced, location-aware section within the Jelly Bean Google search app. Offers timely info, such as weather updates, transit times and locations, photo spots and travel times when out and about.
• Google Now on Tap
• Google Play: Google’s one-stop online shop for movies, music, apps, games and books. At the time of its launch on March 6, 2012, it basically was a rebranded Android Market.
• Google TV: Announced at the Google IO conference in May 2010, it’s a combination of hardware and Android that features a full web browser, Android applications, and combines it with video that’s available online — Youtube, television, etc.
• Google Wallet: Google’s early attempt at a mobile payment system based on NFC. Has since been replaced by Android Pay. (Google Wallet lives on as a peer-to-peer payment system.)
• Gorilla Glass: A scratch-resistant glass product from Corning used on a number of smartphones and tablets.
• GPS: Stands for Global Positioning System. Uses a constellation of satellites in space to find your location on the ground.
• GSM: One of two major standard for cell phone communications. Is used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States, and by the majority of carriers worldwide. (See also CDMA)

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H

• Hack (Hacking): Modifying the Android system to add customization, features, or bypass carrier and manufacturer restrictions. See root.
• Hard reset: The act of resetting your phone to its “factory” state. Erases all user data, logins and passwords. May or may not erase what’s on the internal storage or microSD card, too. (Also see soft reset.)
• Honeycomb: Android 3.0. The first version of Android designed with tablets specifically in mind. Allows apps to “fragment” or split over a single screen. Is the first Android version to fully support dual-core processors. The first tablet with Honeycomb was the Motorola Xoom.
• HTC: A Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer. And a darn good one.
• Huawei: A major Chinese manufacturer, handles infrastructure as well as handsets and tablets.

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I

• Ice Cream Sandwich: Android 4.0. The follow up to the tablet-centric Android 3.0/3.1 that brought Honeycomb-like features back to Android smartphones. First appeared on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
• IFA: Internationale Funkausstellung — an annual consumer electronics show hosted in Berlin, Germany.
• IMEI: Stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Basically a unique identification number assigned to every phone.
• Intel: The longtime processor manufacturer. Entered the Android arena in 2012 with its “Medfield” Atom processor. At CES 2012, announced a deal with Motorola.
• IPS: Stands for “in-plane switching.” Gives better viewing angles and better color reproduction. First gained popularity in Apple displays, then made its way to mobile devices.

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J

• Jelly Bean: The dessert name given to Android 4.1-4.2. Includes new features like Google Now and Project Butter.
• JIT: The Just-in-Time Compiler. Released with Android 2.2, it’s a method of greatly speeding up apps in Android on the software side.

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K

• Kernel: The basic Linux building block of Android. It’s what lets your phone do its thing.
• Keyboard: Either “physical” or “on-screen,” depending on the phone.
• Kindle

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L

• Launcher: Collectively, the part of the Android user interface on home screens that lets you launch apps, make phone calls, etc. Is built in to Android, or can be purchased in the Android Market.
• Legacy: Code name for “old.”
• Legend: HTC’s aluminum unibody phone with Android 2.1 and Sense.
• LG: A Korean electronics and smartphone manufacturer.
• Linux: An open source variant of Unix that is used as the underlying system on Android devices.
• Live wallpapers: Animated wallpapers introduced in Android 2.1.
• LTE: Stands for “Long-Term Evolution.” Is considered to be one of the “true” methods of 4G data (even if it technically isn’t). First rolled out by Verizon in late 2010, and then by AT&T in late 2011, and Sprint will begin using it in mid-2012.

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M

• Manufacturer: A company that physically builds cell phones.
• MetroPCS: Regional and Prepaid carrier in the U.S. generally put in the “second tier” carrier category. As of late 2012, also pursuing a merger with T-Mobile USA.
• Mobile World Congress (MWC): A European wireless industry trade show, held in Barcelona, Spain, the past few years.
• Motorola: Manufacturer of smartphones and other hand-held wireless devices.
• MTP: Stands for Media Transfer Protocol. Designed by Microsoft, and used by devices that have a single, unpartitioned storage structure to transfer files to and from a computer.

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N

• Nexus: A line of smartphones created in conjunction with Google. Also known as “Pure Google” devices. Generally are the first to launch with major updates to Android, as well as the first to receive updates. See also Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus.
• NFC: Near-field communication. Short-range communication between your phone and something else — another phone, a cash register, etc. Used by some credit cards as a method of quick payment.

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O

• OEM: Stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Used by folks in the industry to mean “manufacturer.”
• Onstar: The navigation/information/safety service that helps you keep your hands on the wheel while driving. Provides turn-by-turn navigation, live help from operators, and crash detection. Has a companion Android application.
• Open GL: An open source 3D graphics library used in many devices, including Android devices
• Open Source: Software which is liberally licensed to grant the right of users to study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code.
• OTA: Stands for Over the Air. The act of moving data to your phone — downloading, really — without having to plug it in. Most Android system updates are OTA, as are application downloads.

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P

• PenTile: A subpixel layout scheme, patented by Samsung, that allows greater luminance at a lower power draw. RGBG Pentile uses alternating green pixels and has more definition than RGBW, which adds a white subpixel.  
• PIN: Stands for Personal Identification Number. Often four digits.
• Pixel: An individual dot on the display. Also a way to measure the resolution of a camera (usually in millions of pixels). Pixels usually are made up of sub-pixels. The arrangement of those sub-pixels affects the way you see images and text.
• PPI: Pixels per inch. How we determine a display’s “pixel density.” The more pixels in a display, the better graphics and text look. 
• PRL: The Preferred Roaming List, basically a way of telling your phone which towers to connect to first.
• Project Butter: Software enhancements introduced in Android 4.1 to improve the smoothness of on-screen transitions and animations. Project Butter uses software tricks like vertical sync (vsync) and triple-buffering to display a smooth, consistent frame rate throughout the UI.

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Q

• Q:uit asking us when your phone will be updated.
• QR code: A black-and-white barcode that, when scanned by your phone, can open a web link, point to an application in the Market, etc.

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R

• Reset (hard, soft): The rebooting of the phone. A soft reset is turning your phone off and on, or pulling the battery. A hard reset also is referred to as a factory reset, and wipes your personal information from the device.
• Resolution: The term used to describe how many individual pixels are in a display. A common phone resolution is 720×1280, or 720 pixels in the short dimension, with 1280 in the long dimension. The more pixels you have in a display, the better the pixels per inch (ppi), making text and images more crisp.
• ROM: Literally, “Read Only Memory.” In Android, it’s what you load for a major software update. “Custom ROMs” are just that — developed outside control of a manufacturer or carrier.
• Recovery Mode: A small separate operating mode you can boot your device into, used for device administration. Two popular custom recovery modes are Amon Ra and Clockwork.
• Root: A method of unlocking the Android operating system to allow deeper programs deeper access than is allowed out of the box. (For more on root, click here.)
• Root (SD card): The base folder (or top level) of the card. Often referred to as /sdcard in a file structure.
• RTFM: Read the (ahem) friggin’ manual.

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S

• Samsung: A Korean electronics company. Manufacturer of the Galaxy S series of Android phones, among others.
• SD card (or microSD card): A small plastic “card” that expands the available storage memory on your phone. Used by applications to store data, and you can store ringtones, pictures, etc., on it.
• SDK: Stands for Software Development Kit. Generally, a set of tools used to create software for a certain platform following guidelines provided in the kit. For Android, the SDK provides tools to create applications that run on Android devices.
• Sense****: A custom user interface (or skin) on top of Android. Exclusive to HTC smartphones.
• Services: Portions of code that run in the background to provide content and services to applications.
• Sideload: The act of installing an app outside of the Android Market. AT&T (tries to) prohibit its phones from doing this.
• Sideload Wonder Machine: A simple open-source program that lets you sideload apps via computer, bypassing any restrictions a carrier might have put in place.
• SIM card: The little card used in nearly every phone that connects the phone to the network. Generally refers to a physical card, though some phones may have a virtual SIM — and a few use both.
• Soft reset: The act of rebooting your phone, whether intentionally or otherwise. Same effect as when you remove and replace the battery. (Also see hard reset.)
• Sony Ericsson: A joint wireless venture from Sony and Ericsson. Dissolved in 2012, and the mobile arm will be marketed under the Sony name.
• Sprint: One of the four major U.S. carriers.
• Super AMOLED: A generation ahead of AMOLED displays. Lighter, more power-efficient and less reflective than AMOLED. (See AMOLED)
• Super AMOLED Plus: Take an AMOLED screen. Instead of eight subpixels per pixel, there are 12. Pretty awesome, actually.
• Super Phone: Something other people call smartphones. If you see it used at Android Central, e-mail your favorite editor so the rest of us can make fun of the person responsible.

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T

• T-Mobile: One of the four major U.S. carriers. Had the very first Android phone, the G1.
• Tegra 2: NVIDIA’s “System on a chip” that features dual-core processors, a powerful graphics processor and other acts of awesomeness.
• Tegra 3: NVIDIA’s quad-core system on a chip.
• Tethering: The act of using your smartphone’s data to provide Internet access to another device, such as a laptop. Can be done wirelessly, or via a USB cable.
• TouchWiz: Samsung’s custom user interface, though it’s no longer formerly referred to in that manner.

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U

• USB: Stands for Universal Serial Bus. Is a method of connecting devices to a computer. Most smartphones now use microUSB cables to charge and sync.
• UMS: Stands for USB Mass Storage. Devices with SD cards or partitioned internal storage mount that storage as UMS when connecting to a computer. Files can then be moved to and from the device.

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V

• Vanilla: A term used to describe stock Android.
• Verizon: One of the four major U.S. carriers. Launched the “Droid” line of phones.
• Viewsonic: A longtime electronics maker that also includes some Android devices.
• Vizio: A longtime television maker that’s expanding into the Android-based Google TV.

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W

• Widget: A slice or certain view of an application that can be placed on one of your homescreens, for quick and easy access. [YouTube link]
• Wipe: To completely erase a device. See hard-reset.
• World phone: A phone that works on CDMA networks as well as GSM networks outside of the home country.

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X Y Z

• YouTube: Google’s web-based streaming video service. Accessible from an Android phone.

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