Opera rolls out a dedicated VPN app for your phone

After integrating a built-in VPN in its desktop browser and rolling out a dedicated VPN app for iOS, Opera is now bringing the service to Android users. While there are several VPN services available for Android, Opera is looking to differentiate its offering by providing free unlimited access.

The VPN is powered by SurfEasy, a company Opera acquired last year. The app offers a quick way to mask your location, access content that’s locked to a specific region, and stave off tracking cookies (no Reebok, I don’t want to buy your CrossFit shoes).

While the service itself is free to use, you’ll find ads, and Opera will share anonymized data about your mobile usage habits with third parties:

This information is made available to third parties who are interested in better understanding the mobile ecosystem and how it’s evolving. It’s important to understand that this is not data about what you do with your phone, but rather this is data about how a large group of people use their phones.

The app is very straightforward to use: you can either connect to your closest region, or select from Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, or the United States. There’s also a Guardian service that logs details of all the threats it has blocked. As soon as you’re connected to a VPN server, you’ll see a key icon in the notification bar.

Interested? Hit up the badge above or download Opera’s VPN app from the link below.

Download Opera VPN from the Play Store

The Big Android Dev Interview: Paul Lammertsma

From the Big Android BBQ Europe: Pixplicity CTO Paul Lammertsma on the importance of bouncing ideas off other developers, and Android’s future beyond apps.

The Big Android BBQ Europe, held in Amsterdam, Netherlands recently, brings together some of Europe’s top Android developers, enthusiasts and other community members in a celebration of Android, code and cooked meat. A spin-off from the U.S.-based Big Android BBQ, the European event is now in its second year.

In addition to the actual BBQ part, it’s also host to two days of talks from Android developers, and this year’s keynote was presented by Pixplicity’s Paul Lammertsma. We caught up with Paul during the event to talk social coding, how his company pivoted into app development, and what lies ahead for Android on the desktop and on your body.

Who are you and what are you doing here at the Big Android BBQ Europe?

I am Paul Lammertsma, I’m CTO of a Dutch agency called Pixplicity, based out of Utrecht, which is smack dab in the middle of the country. I always go to community events, like I always go to DroidCons and Devfests and that sort of thing whenever I can. And Big Android BBQs as well! And I kinda like to be involved in the community. I’m also one of the leads of a GDG [Google Developer Group] in the Netherlands here.

So I like to be involved in the community because it’s sorta like something you have as a passion, and you share it with other people that have the same passion. So it’s an easy way to meet people and make friends, chat about things that interest you, stay up-to-date, that sorta thing…

Also, I like compelling myself to stand on stage and take a topic that I find interesting, or something that I found challenging for myself, and translate it in such a way that it’s presentable. Like, I can break it down into bite-size bits. Most of the time I take a topic, I think is a good tool to have in your toolbelt. So to have something that is useful knowledge, present when you would use it, how to approach it — not go too much into the details because most of the time you can find that in the docs — but that’s basically it.

Something I find challenging for myself is really taking the leap to stand on the stage — you know, public speaking. It’s something I think a lot of people are fearful of doing, but then once you do it it’s fun and rewarding. And I guess I just take pleasure in challenging myself that way.

How did you get started in the world of Android development?

That’s a really interesting question. I started in 2010, I think it was. I was actually in a molecular biology startup, and we were doing software for scientists, virologists, to basically plan experiments about cloning and genetic research and stuff like that. And a colleague of mine, he came into the office one day and he had bought an HTC Desire. He was really excited about it, and said “hey, over the weekend I made this app.”

We were like: ‘What?! How can you make an app over a weekend?’

And we were like: “What?! How can you make an app over a weekend? Do you know how long we’ve been working on this [other] software?”

He said: “You know, it’s so easy, and so fun, and so rewarding.” It’s mobile and you have to think in different ways. But a lot of the things that had been chosen for Android — not just the IDE being Eclipse at the time, the language being Java — a lot of the approaches in the language about thread pooling, lifecycles — [were] very similar to what we were doing at the time.

It was through a stroke of luck that we got a client that approached us in that same building that said: Are you guys familiar with Android? I remember my colleague who had just written his first app said: Apparently! So we tried that, we got into that, and we pivoted something like a year later and we’ve done it ever since.

What are some of your favorite and least favorite things about working with Android?

That’s a tough topic. My least favorite thing — let’s start with that — is the sheer multitude of framework stuff there is out there. There’s a lot of stuff in the Android SDK itself [so] it’s really hard to keep an overview of what you need and what the right approach is — what’s good, what’s not so good.

When you go beyond that, the libraries. A lot of this stuff is kinda offloaded into open-source stuff, so what are you gonna do? Let’s take a random example like if you want to bring up an image on your phone. There are tons of libraries for that. You can write it yourself. You can [use] different libraries like Picasa or something like that or a Facebook library. What is the correct approach? There’s not necessarily one [correct choice], but making a choice has its implications.

So I think it would be nice to have an approach where you say this is the way to go; this is the only way to go. There’s something to be said for that.

But what I like about it is that it’s an open platform. You see that there’s lot of different approaches. Tons of different devices because you can basically take the Android open source platform.

I can’t put my finger on what really drives me. I think the reward factor is really quick. Most of the projects that we do are quite short-term. So they’re projects that are like a month up to several months, and each time you’re given the opportunity to take a new and fresh approach. Mobile moves very quickly, so you’re always compelled to try some bleeding-edge new tech. So that’s something I really like about the platform.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to someone starting out in Android development today?

I think to me it’s really important to be involved in a community of people. I see a lot of freelancers, they work by themselves — like, single freelancers working in Android. I think having that kind of mentality, working in a group — not necessarily for Android, I think it goes for any kind of software engineering — you’re not constantly compelled to challenge yourself or re-think your approach. You’re very much more inclined to go on a particular direction and reinforce yourself that that direction is the right way to go.

I think to me it’s really important to be involved in a community of people.

Whereas if you’re in a community like this community here today, or like GDG communities around the world, if you just go over to an event like that once a month or once every few months, and you just chat with somebody over a beer about the things that you’re working on, some challenge that you have. Just bouncing an idea off somebody is invaluable, especially if you’re working alone as a freelancer.

So yeah, just the constant reinforcement, challenging your own ideas. I think that’s a really important aspect of being a good developer.

Where do you see Android development, or Android in general, headed in the next few years?

So Android has been around for like five years. (Laughs) So what are we gonna expect in the next five years? I have no clue. Even predicting a year ahead is a challenge.

Instant Apps is a great way to step into basically having a mix between a native app experience and a web experience.

We’re seeing this movement towards more wearables. I think we’re also seeing a movement of combining web and mobile more. I think the notion of apps is going to be gradually on a decline. The notion of heading over to an app store, to Google Play and installing apps is going to be on a decline.

Instant Apps, for instance, is a great way to step into the cross-platform world of having basically a mix between a native app experience and a web experience. I think we’ll see more of that. Of course we’re also going the direction of Android apps on Chromebooks. We’ll probably see that much more. Maybe Chrome altogether will start to run Android apps, kinda like in the style of ARC (Android Runtime for Chrome.) I think that ARC was a very premature first step, but we might see more of that. It’s hard to say; I’m not going to make speculations.

I think more concretely in terms of hardware and things, you’re going to see more wearables. I’ve always had this mentality of people walking around like this (Gestures looking down at phone)

This is not the future anymore. People don’t walk around with their eyes pointed down onto this little handheld device. It’s not gonna be Google Glass. Google Glass is wonky and weird too. But there’s something there that Google can fill in for us I suppose — or somebody else — to figure out what does work.

Paul Lammertsma is the CTO at Pixplicity. Follow the studio on Twitter at @dotpixplicity.

Go Time! Episode 6: Dab like Spark

Go Time is back for Episode 6!

We’re back for another week of discussing Pokémon Go with a member of Valor, Mystic, and Instinct. This week Jen and Russell are joined by a guest: Serenity from iMore. We start out by discussing the day we all knew was coming: Niantic has started banning cheaters. We also talk about catching Pokémon at conventions, and discuss gym battles in better detail.

We’re gonna keep coming back every week to talk about Pokémon, and we’re hoping you’ll join us!

• Google Play
• Soundcloud
• iTunes
• Or add us to your podcatcher of choice!

You can also join our Facebook page to keep up on all things Pokémon Go. See you in the world!

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!
• Listen to the Pokémon Go podcast!

How to build a custom website with zero code

Whether you’re trying to build a brand or launch a business, having a streamlined website is key to surviving in the digital space. However, not all of us have the tech background necessary to build customized websites from the ground up–not without a little help that is.

With Dragify Website Builder, you can build your own custom website without having to stumble over lines of code. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription to Dragify is on sale for only £38.98 ($29.99 USD).

Designed for the everyday user, Dragify cuts down on coding time by letting you drag and drop 44 pre-designed HTML blocks to build the site that fits your needs. Using the built-in style editor, you can easily change font and text sizes, and you can upload images with zero hassle. Dragify also lets you add in SEO as well, so you can boost your site’s web ranking.

For the code savvy, Dragify offers complete access to the source code of every block, allowing for even more customization. Plus, you can edit your webpage’s links to boost searchability and interlink them with the rest of your site’s pages. On top of all that, Dragify also lets you transfer your site to webhosting with a single click.

With Dragify, anyone can build the website they need to get their web presence up and running. Normally retailing for £388.70, a lifetime subscription to Dragify on sale to Pocket-Lint readers for only £38.98 ($29.99 USD), saving nearly 89 per cent off the total retail price.

Safeguard your browsing with a top-rated cybercrime-fighting duo (61 per cent off)

The web might seem harmless on the surface, but its depths are teeming with hackers and cybercriminals eager to steal your precious information. With even major companies like Blizzard and Sony being hit by attacks, investing in your own online protection is a smart move.

With Dashlane Premium and HotSpot Shield Elite, you can secure two major points of entry hackers use to steal data, and you can get three years of both on sale for only £90.98 ($69.99).

Rated 5/5 stars by PC Mag, Dashlane Premium protects all your online accounts by storing your passwords in a military-grade encrypted vault. It not only remembers your login credentials, but it also seeks out weak links among your passwords and generates tougher ones to replace them. What’s more, Dashlane lets you quickly fill out online forms with Autofill.

Meanwhile, Hotspot Shield Elite bolsters your browsing security. This top-rated VPN masks your movements with its encrypted network, hiding you from hackers and government agencies. HotSpot Shield also lets you bypass geo-restrictions wherever you are, so you can Netflix and other streaming sites abroad. And this VPN even comes with free cloud-based malware protection.

When it comes to your online security, you can’t afford to take any chances. That’s why investing in security on multiple fronts is essential. For a limited time, you can get three years of Dashlane Premium and HotSpot Shield Elite VPN for over 60 per cent off, taking its £233.85 price down to only £90.98 ($69.99).

Lyft says it listened to offers, but is not for sale

Lyft is disputing reports from The New York Times and other sites (including Engadget) that the company is actively seeking a buyer. “Getting approached and then having it characterized as us wanting to sell the business and failing to do so is a large mischaracterization,” President John Zimmer told Business Insider.

The NYT reported that Lyft tried to sell itself to Apple, Google, Amazon, Uber and Didi Chuxing, Uber’s new partner in China. However, it added that the company has $1.4 billion cash in the bank and is not exactly desperate. Lyft recently cemented a partnership with GM on self-driving vehicles to keep up with Uber, which is developing its own fleet.

We need to let people know that we’re not looking for a buyer, so that’s not a legitimate part of the story.

Lyft reportedly hired a bank specializing in takeovers, but said it had multiple offers and was obliged to check them out. Zimmer said that the company never put itself up for sale, though. “We need to let people know that we’re not looking for a buyer, so that’s not a legitimate part of the story.”

Furthermore, Zimmer blasted rival Uber for telling Bloomberg that it would pay no more than $2 billion for Lyft, despite a valuation estimated at around $5.5 billion. “I think it shows a bit of overstepping on Uber’s part … that fully demonstrates who is behind this,” he said.

Despite the denial, Zimmer wouldn’t discuss which companies wanted to buy Lyft or for how much. However, he did say the company had its best July ever and is on track to hit $2 billion in sales for the year. “We’re focused on being an independent business and having the largest impact on car ownership as we possibly can,” he stressed.

Source: Business Insider

Lyft President Says ‘We’re Not Looking for a Buyer’ Following Reports of Attempted Sale

Lyft co-founder and president John Zimmer today refuted reports from over the weekend that the ride-hailing company was seeking out buyers for a potential purchase — reportedly including Apple — outright telling Business Insider that “Lyft is not seeking a buyer.” According to Zimmer, Lyft itself was approached for a purchase opportunity, which was misconstrued in reports by The New York Times and Bloomberg as Lyft actively seeking out to be bought by a major company, including potential candidates like Amazon, General Motors, and even rival Uber.

Zimmer said these reports “crossed a line,” leading to the company needing to address them head-on and break its usual silence on these types of rumors focused on mergers and acquisitions. The most ire seems to be aimed at the Bloomberg angle on the story, which specifically stated that Uber “wouldn’t pay above $2 billion for Lyft,” coming in far below Lyft’s reported $9 billion estimated value.

Lyft president John Zimmer (left) and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick (right)

“We have to be careful with this type of thing for confidentiality reasons until Friday, when we feel like the line was crossed in that it was characterized as us trying to and failing to sell the business,” Zimmer said. “And as Friday happened, with both that characterization and the Bloomberg report, we said enough is enough. We need to let people know that we’re not looking for a buyer, so that’s not a legitimate part of the story. I think it shows a bit of overstepping on Uber’s part with the Bloomberg story that fully demonstrates who is behind this.”

Zimmer’s language targets Uber and its CEO Travis Kalanick as the catalyst behind Lyft’s M&A rumors, although he didn’t go into specific details regarding how he believes its rival began the chain of rumors that led to the reports over the weekend. Zimmer also declined to tell Business Insider which companies did in fact approach Lyft with a purchasing opportunity, with the publication saying that Lyft “isn’t quite ready to be transparent” due to apparent confidentiality agreements set in place at the company.

Lyft is currently the second-largest ride-hailing app in the United States behind Uber. Although Zimmer believes this rivalry makes it easy for outsiders to view the company as bitter, he mentioned that he and the company are happy with Lyft’s current trajectory. “We’re focused on being an independent business and having the largest impact on car ownership as we possibly can,” Zimmer said. “I don’t think [independence] is a requirement, but I believe right now it’s the best path.”

Tag: Lyft
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