Sweden effectively bans camera drone flights

Don’t bring a drone with you to document your trip to Sweden — you could find yourself in legal trouble. The country’s Supreme Administrative Court has effectively banned camera drone flights through a ruling. Camera-equipped drones are surveillance cameras, the court argues, and that means they need a permit indicating that they’ll be used to prevent crime or accidents. And since you probably aren’t flying a drone to keep watch over your home, you’re likely out of luck.

It won’t shock you to hear that local drone owners are upset. The industry group UAS Sweden contends that the court might be killing Sweden’s drone market. Aftonbladet, meanwhile, points out that the ruling doesn’t make sense in the context of existing laws. It’s legal for Swedes to capture images in public places, so why is it wrong just because that camera is attached to a quadcopter? There are no journalistic exceptions, either, which is odd when other laws allow it.

The one consolation is that the ruling may be hard to enforce. It’s up to county administrative boards to report any violations to the police, and it could be difficult to make charges stick if there isn’t evidence of a camera drone in flight. Of course, that raises another question: why rule against these drones when it could be relatively easy for amateur operators to ignore the decision? The move may primarily punish those pros who have a good reason to record drone footage, whether they’re journalists or filmmakers.

[Thanks, Samuel]

Source: Aftonbladet, UAS Sweden (translated)

Best Alcatel Idol 4S Cases

What’s the best case for Alcatel Idol 4S? Really, whatever’s available!

The Alcatel Idol 4S isn’t exactly a mainstream phone, and that’s made rather apparent in the selection of cases available for it, or, rather, the lack of cases available for it.

That being said, the cases that are available will work just fine for you and your Idol 4S. Here’s what’s out there!

• Incipio DualPro
• Vinve flip case
• J&D Tech
• Mama Mouth PU leather wallet case
• Harryshell Dream Catcher wallet case
• Starhemei slim wallet case

Incipio DualPro

Incipio makes great phone cases and it’s really the only bigger brand that’s making cases for the Idol 4S.

The DualPro is a hard shell case, made from strong and durable polycarbonate, which protect your phone from bumps and scratches. The inside of the case is flexible TPE, which is soft and great for shock absorption in the event of a fall.

Incipio’s DualPro cases come in black, gray, pink with gray accents, and rose gold with pink accents.

See at Amazon

Vinve flip case

Vinve’s flip folio case is made of synthetic leather and is for those who want their Idol 4s to look sophisticated while being protected from scratches and dings.

The flip cover folds back into a convenient stand for hands-free viewing, and all the necessary ports and buttons are uncovered for easy access. The opening in the cover also lets you check the time and see if you have notifications without needing to open the case.

The interior lining is soft, so your Idol 4S won’t get scratched up, and your phone is securely place by the snap-on shell inside.

See at Amazon

J&D Tech

J&D Tech’s case for the Idol 4S is a slim TPU bumper that’s flexible, providing shock absorption in a fall.

Being so slim, this case won’t add any bulk or weight to your Idol 4S, and it won’t add a ton of rugged protection either.

The textured TPU won’t feel slippery in your hands, so you won’t feel like you’re going to drop your phone every time you use it, and all the ports and buttons are left open so that you don’t have to remove the case to charge your phone.

Comes in black, blue, and red.

See at Amazon

Mama Mouth PU leather wallet case

Mama Mouth’s pleather wallet case is for folks who want their phone case to stand out, while also conveniently holding credit cards and a bit of cash, so they can ditch their wallets.

There are three slots for cards and ID and an inner pocket for a bit of cash, all held in by the flip cover and a magnetic closure. The PU leather is tear-resistant and will protect your Idol 4S from scratches.

There are eight gorgeous colors to choose from, and starting around $9, you might as well grab a couple and switch it up daily!

See at Amazon

Harryshell Dream Catcher wallet case

Another wallet case for your Idol 4S, Harryshell’s is one for folks who like more than just solid colors. The dreamcatcher design on the front is striking, and the case comes with a handy mini stylus, which is great for certain games and other activities.

The front cover folds back into a stand for hands-free gaming or video-watching, and there are slots for two cards, as well as a larger pocket for a bit of cash. You can leave your wallet at home and just carry the essentials!

Your Idol 4S is held in place by a bumper that provides shock absorption, while the folio protects your screen from scratches, dirt, and bumps.

See at Amazon

Starhemei slim wallet case

Starhemei’s wallet case is a slim addition to your Idol 4S that won’t add too much bulk or weight, but will hold up to three cards and a bit of cash in the larger pocket. Cutouts at the top and bottom let you take calls with the cover shut, so you can answer and then close it up instead of awkwardly trying to hold and open folio case.

These PU leather cases have a magnetic closure, and the front cover folds back into a stand.

They’re available in black, blue, brown, and red.

See at Amazon

What protects your Idol?

Are you using an awesome case with your Idol 4S that we didn’t mention? Sound off in the comments below!

Me, myself, and Android

Hi, I’m Florence. You’re welcome to call me Flo.

I’ve been at Android Central since September and though I haven’t written much since I’ve started (Have you seen our Smartphone Buying Guides? I helped!), I have been writing about and reviewing Android smartphones for the past four years.

Some of you might know me from my work at Ars Technica. Most of you likely know me from my time at PCWorld/Greenbot and as the co-host of Twit.TV’s All About Android. I’m a devoted Android user and have been since 2010. My goal in life is to get everyone else and their techno-phobic mother to see the glory of the Android platform. There’s a reason I’ve stuck with it for so long (except for those six months I was on iOS—that was for science, I promise).

As a platform, Android is constantly evolving and that’s something I relate to.

As a platform, Android is constantly evolving and that’s something I relate to. As a human being, I’m constantly evolving: to be a better writer, journalist, friend, sister, daughter, and wife. And that’s part of Android’s mission, too: To be better than it used to be, not just with its software features and design aesthetic, but also to be more inclusive so that those who might not have found their place in other tech communities can belong regardless of their technological abilities and interests. It’s a beautiful message and one that particularly resonates with me.

Android is also evolving in a way that may not be as enticing to those of us die-hard users. With the launch of the Pixel and Pixel XL, we’re seeing Google attempt to pivot Android as a lifestyle for the mainstream.Why now? we ask when we’ve subscribed to this way of life for the past eight years? It’s a perfectly valid question, but we won’t know until Google explicitly spells out the answer for us. Perhaps we’ll know more by next year’s developer’s conference, though I certainly hope to uncover the reason before then in my own reporting.

It’s a bummer that Google’s new Android smartphones cost as much as a typical Samsung device, and that its Pixels will come with exclusive features, but I don’t think it’ll be detrimental to the platform. If anything, it demonstrates that there’s a major shift on the horizon. This next year will be a defining one for Android as a whole and I can’t wait to see what unfolds.

As more people become interested in using Android, it’s up to us to show them why this is the “people’s platform.”

As more people become interested in using Android, it’s up to us to show them why this is the “people’s platform.” I’ll be writing about my varying experiences with my library of devices, as well as distilling all the important information so that it’s digestible for even the entry-level Android n00b. I also hope to talk to more of you in the developer community, to hear about how you’re weathering the transition and how these changes are affecting you as contributors. My goal is to make Android more accessible to the billion-plus people that use it. So, if you’ve got a question, a comment, or even a complaint, tweet me or email me. I’m here to help with whatever you need.