Fresh evidence suggests HTC Ocean will be a family of three phones

The HTC Ocean is shaping up to be an incredibly intriguing device, or perhaps even devices. We first saw a concept design of the phone a few months ago, and it showed no physical buttons and a new Sense Touch UI that relies on gestures and Google Assistant to navigate. Soon after the concept was shared, Twitter user LlabTooFeR said there will in fact be three versions of the phone: Ocean Master, Ocean Note and Ocean Smart.

• HTC Ocean: What’s the story so far?

Now, Taiwanese news outlet ePrice has added further weight to that rumour by saying it has received information which confirms those three devices.

ePrice says all three will be announced on 12 January, a date which HTC has set for an event called ‘For U’, and adds the phones will go on sale on 24 January, which will likely make HTC the first major manufacturer to launch a flagship in 2017.

The Note will likely come with a larger, phablet-style screen although official specs have yet to be revealed. All we know for now is that the Note will come with 64GB and 128GB storage options.

The other two smartphones in the Ocean series, the Master and Smart, are said to be the main version of the phone, a sort of HTC 11 and a lighter version more akin to the Desire series. Again, specs for these have yet to be revealed, although it’s likely the phones will come with the Snapdragon 835 processor.

• HTC is announcing something big on 12 January
• HTC Ocean concept leaks online with no physical buttons in sight

There’s just over two weeks to go until HTC’s ‘For U’ event, so we don’t have long to wait to see what the Taiwanese company has up its sleeve for 2017.

Samsung will introduce Ultra High Quality audio and 4K Blu-ray player at CES

Samsung often has one of the biggest stands at CES to show off its new home cinema, audio and home appliances for 2017. On the audio side of things, the company has some big news, in the form of Ultra High Quality audio.

• CES 2017: What is it and what to expect

Samsung’s new technology claims to upscale audio sources from 8-bit to 24-bit to 32-bit quality, across both wired and wireless connections. Samsung says the result is audio that sounds much closer to the original than HD audio currently provides.

The company has also developed a technology it’s calling ‘Distortion Cancelling’, which claims to be able to predict the movement of the speaker driver in advance, and control it in such a way so that it cancels out any interference for “perfect sound”.

Samsung will implement the Ultra High Quality audio technology in the new H7 wireless speaker, which combines a “wide range sound field and a bass response going down to 35Hz” and the MS750 soundbar. The new soundbar has the subwoofer fitted into the main unit, rather than have a separate wireless unit.

Samsung

Samsung says the MS750 is more than capable of delivering an immersive audio experience thanks to upward firing tweeters and upmixing technology. It can be connected to a Samsung TV and controlled using the TV remote.

Samsung

Finally, Samsung will use CES 2017 to unveil a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the M9500. The new player has built-in Bluetooth which can not only be used to stream content from a mobile device, but it can transmit audio to a pair of Bluetooth headphones for private listening. The M9500 supports HDR, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and mobile integration which lets you watch Blu-ray movies on your phone.

EE Robin review: Putting the kids in control

Everyone needs to be online these days. Look around you on the high street, on a bus, on a plane: chances are the majority of people will have their head down looking at a phone or tablet. The ability to have instant access to all the information in the world, message friends or play games has become second nature.

But while portable media devices are brilliant, there’s a key demographic that’s often overlooked, and that’s kids. Sure, parents can put an iPad in front of their children while they’re eating breakfast or in the car, but an iPad hasn’t been designed to be manhandled by a child and the inevitable drops, bumps and slaps. Mobile operator EE has noticed this and has designed the Robin tablet, designed specifically for the younger generation.

This second-generation model has been on the receiving end of a number of performance upgrades to keep up with the most demanding of tykes and has security features to keep them safe and secure online.

With only one real major rival in Amazon, can EE’s toddler-tablet do enough to be king of the sandpit?

• Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition tablet first impressions

EE Robin review: Design

• 191 x 109 x 9.25mm; 257g
• Buy outright or on contract

Remove the included EE branded silicone case and you’ll see the Robin is an Alcatel OneTouch Pixi 7 tablet. It’s relatively slim, just 9.25mm at its thickest point, and even with the case on it can easily be placed in a bag or in a pocket behind a seat in the car.

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It’s incredibly light too at 257 grams, which is good considering its main audience will be children, so they’ll need something that’s easy to carry around and withstand long playing sessions.

There’s no front-mounted physical buttons. Controls for home, back and app switching is achieved using on-screen controls, just like with most Android-based devices.

The Robin can be used horizontally or vertically, depending on what app you have open. In either form, the power and volume buttons are easy to reach, being on the right-hand side when vertical or top-left edge when horizontal.

The Micro USB charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack are on the top and there are micro-SIM card and microSD card slots for on-the-go browsing and storage expansion. There’s 16GB of internal storage on the Robin, but it can be expanded using an extra card.

The supplied case has an integrated kickstand which makes it ideal for plonking in front of your children on a table or highchair.

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Overall, the Robin feels well made and ideally suited for children. The supplied case adds an extra layer of protection that’s vital for withstanding the inevitable knocks from younger users.

EE Robin review: Display

• 7-inch screen
• 540 x 960 resolution

At 7-inches diagonally, the Robin’s screen is an ideal size for smaller hands, but with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels (157ppi) it won’t win the contest for crispest visuals.

Nevertheless, colours are still vibrant without being overdone, plus there’s a decent amount of detail in darker areas of scenes. Viewing angles are decent and brightness levels are commendable, so your kids should have no problems using the tablet outside in sunlight with brightness turned up to its fullest.

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Motion in games such as Subway Surfers is smooth and stable too, and considering the Robin will be used for gaming and apps much of the time, motion control is a key factor in the Robin’s success.

Your child is unlikely to throw the Robin back at you if they don’t think the level of detail is up to scratch, but it’s good to know they’ll be getting a good visual experience.

EE Robin review: Parent supervision

• Password-protected parent profile
• Adjust settings for child’s profile
• Android 5.1, running Kurio software

The EE Robin runs on Android 5.1, but has two separate areas: one for parents and one for kids. In the parents section, you can set a passcode to keep your child locked out, and it’s in this section that you can adjust settings for the kid’s section of the pre-installed Kurio software.

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You can adjust the age range of your child or children who will be using the tablet, which determines what content is offered as well as select what web content can and can’t be shown. You can also activate or deactivate Google Play Store privileges for purchase and content restrictions.

You can further control how your young one uses the Robin by setting authorised hours that the tablet can be used between, so you can be sure your youngster won’t be up all night playing games and you can make sure they do their homework.

It’s also in the parent profile that the Robin functions as a regular Android tablet, with the full selection of Google apps: YouTube, Play Movies, Play Music et al. All the same apps and games tailored for children are on the parent’s section too, so you could theoretically leave it on this profile for them to play, but then they’ll be exposed to less strict privacy controls.

EE Robin review: Thinking about the children

• 40 pre-installed games, books and educational tools
• Hopster for TV shows and more games

The child-friendly section is an entirely secure ecosystem that only has access to age-appropriate content. There are 40 games, eBooks and educational tools pre-installed, but more can be downloaded from the Play Store (as long as the parent has given permission).

One app, Hopster, has an extensive range of kid’s TV shows and educational games. Some of these are free-to-watch and play right away, but for the rest you’ll need a Hopster account. EE will give you 24 months free access to Hopster when you buy the Robin tablet on a 24 month Tablet or Max plan, or provide three free months with an Essential plan.

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There’s a mixture of games aimed at boys and girls, all of which are easy to pick up and learn the controls. Some games have tutorials or on-screen instructions, while others leave you to it, but are simple enough to work out what’s happening.

EE Robin review: Performance

• 1.1GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM
• 2820mAh battery; 10 hours use / four hours heavy use

While the Robin might not have the latest or fastest processor around, we found little to no problems during use. Although it does take a little while to power up, once on you can scroll through menus and load games relatively quickly. Considering the Robin is going to be used for gaming a lot of the time, it’s a good job the processor is up to the task for what’s on offer.

Where the EE Robin does fall down slightly is in the battery department. It features a 2820mAh cell, rechargeable via Micro USB, but we only managed to get around four hours of life from it when streaming a two hour movie on repeat. If you wanted to put the Robin in front of your child on a long car journey to watch TV shows or films, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the means to keep it charged.

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For everyday use, EE says the Robin is good for 10 hours of use, which we’d agree with, but you’ll still probably find yourself charging it every night.

EE Robin review: Camera

• 2-megapixel rear-facing, VGA front-facing
• Used for motion control games

Not every device can be perfect, and the camera is the Robin’s kryptonite. The rear camera is 2-megapixels and the front-facing is VGA (640 x 480 pixels), so neither cut the mustard when it comes to taking good quality photos.

We had our reservations about the front-facing camera too, as it can be used to play motion control games. However, we loaded up Motion Extreme and tried our hand at virtual paragliding. While the image quality of ourselves was pretty shocking, the camera and game were still able to track our movements accurately, even when the tablet was placed lower than the recommended height.

We like the idea of motion gaming, it provides an extra level of involvement as opposed to just tapping on the screen, and with the paragliding game it even got us moving in a way that could be considered exercise!

Verdict

As a tablet, the EE Robin wouldn’t win many contests as there’s simply too much competition out there that blows it out the water. But as an affordable kids tablet with pre-installed games and educational content to keep children amused and occupied, the Robin is a surefire success.

There are three plans available for the Robin, all with a £30 upfront cost. You can get 2GB data for £17 per month, 10GB for £19.50 or 20GB for for £22 on a 4GEE Max plan.

The relatively low prices only add to the Robin’s appeal and with only one real competitor in the form of the Amazon Fire tablet kid’s edition – older devices such as the Tesco Hudl are no more – the EE Robin can more than hold its own.

EE Robin: The alternative to consider

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Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition

• from £119

Amazon offers higher-resolution and a slightly smaller price tag, but it’s Wi-Fi only – so no on-the-go frills as per EE’s SIM-based offering.

Could this be the 2017 Sony Xperia XZ?

A blurred image purporting to be the Sony Xperia XZ (2017) has appeared on Slashleaks. There’s no information to go with the image, so we have to make some assumptions based purely on what we can see, which isn’t a great deal, especially since the image is quite blurry.

• Next Sony Xperia flagship: What’s the story so far?

We’re calling this the Xperia XZ (2017) because it’s what Slashleaks has called it, however we’re not entirely sure what it will be called. Considering there already is an Xperia XZ, we’re not convinced Sony will use the same name again, and could go for something like the X2. For the sake of this article, we’ll be calling it Xperia XZ (2017).

What it does clearly show is a virtually edgeless display, although the top and bottom bezels are pretty big. There’s clear Sony branding, which is a good start, a front-facing camera to the left and sensors on the right.

There also appears to be no physical buttons on the front, or perhaps even the sides, which leaves us wondering where the power button is. It could be on the top, or even on the rear. There’s also no word on where the fingerprint scanner will be. It could be placed on the back or perhaps even embedded into the display.

One thing we do know from the picture is that the 2017 Xperia XZ will come in a gold finish.

There’s no official word on when the new XZ will be released, but fingers are pointing to an MWC reveal as opposed to CES, although previous rumours have suggested the company will in fact unveil at new 4K Xperia smartphone at the show in Las Vegas.

• Sony Xperia XZ review: Falling short of flagship
• Sony could launch 4K Xperia smartphone at CES 2017

With CES just a week away and MWC at the end of February, we don’t have long to wait in either situation to see Sony’s 2017 smartphone plans.

The Morning After: Wednesday, December 28 2016

It’s Wednesday and we’re talking about an Amazon Echo speaker that’s involved in a murder case, artificial intelligence making smarter game opponents (and Samsung phones, oh, and a giant robot that you can get inside and pilot. My christmas presents suddenly don’t look so hot. Yes, I’m an ungrateful swine.

Your IoT devices can and will be used against you in a court of law
Police seek Amazon Echo data in murder case

In the first such case we’ve heard of, police requested audio data from Amazon. The recordings they sought could have been captured by an Echo speaker, for use in a first-degree murder. While Amazon apparently declined the request, it raises more questions about the presence and potential complications of always-listening virtual assistants.

In this case, however, the police may rely on a different IoT log to close their case. A smart water meter that showed 140 gallons used that night, which prosecutors are alleging was used to wash away evidence.

Looking for a MilSpec Yoga?
Lenovo’s latest ThinkPads are bloatware-free

In a pre-CES announcement, Lenovo is showing off some new laptops, but the most important detail is what they don’t have: bloatware. In a move that can speed up performance and ease concerns about built-in security flaws, this new mid-tier line of Thinkpads are all Microsoft Signature Edition, shipping with just the basic stuff. They also have 7th generation Intel Core CPUs and some are even packing speedy Optane 3D storage.

Great. An even harder ‘Dark Souls’.
One gamesmaker bought an AI startup to make smarter baddies

Bandai Namco, the games publisher behind Tekken, Dark Souls and a whole bunch of Dragonball games, has invested in an artificial intelligence startup. The team at Heroz have an algorithm for shogi (Japanese chess) that’s bested several professional human players in public matches. Bandai Namco is hoping to tap into that know-how to improve its non-playing character behavior in future titles. The AI startup had already dabbled in a Pokémon card game, but it was no Pokémon Go. (As in, not a mega-hit.)

Robot knows best
Samsung’s next Galaxy S phone might use AI across all its apps

Speaking of AI, we may have got a better sense of Samsung’s already-teased Galaxy S8 assistant. A SamMobile source claims that a voice-guided helper (reportedly named Bixby) will have a presence in all of the phone’s Samsung-made apps. You could use it in the Gallery app to show you photos of the beach, for example. Not a radical development when both Google Photos and iOS 10 can already do it — but at least it looks likely to replace S Voice, Samsung’s creaky in-house voice command feature.

Exploding phones and washing machines will have that effect.
Samsung’s 2016 went up in smoke

The story oh Samsung’s year is how thing went wrong. Its deep cash reserves could handle a hit from two different lines of malfunctioning products, but what’s harder to rebuild is its reputation. Nearly everyone has heard about its Galaxy Note 7 issue, and the company still hasn’t answered the question of why its phones were exploding.

Say hello to the Method-2.South Korean company builds “world’s first manned bipedal robot”

Mechs aren’t just for Gundam and Pacific Rim anymore, now that Hankook Mirae Technology has shown off a real one. It’s not especially useful at the moment, but it is just as cool-looking as we’d imagined, and could serve as a testbed for mech technology going forward.

But wait, there’s more…

• What to watch this week: NYE countdowns on Netflix, bowl games, “Snowden” and “Sherlock”
• House Republicans propose fines for members who livestream from the floor
• Facebook Safety Check erroneously says a bomb exploded in Bangkok

Scientists track gene parts controlling the embryo’s early growth

Techniques like CRISPR and even experimental methods like programmable bacteria can be used to edit genes, but knowing which genes to edit is crucial. Yale scientists have found a way to track the types of RNA that control embryonic development in living animals, which might lead to a greater understanding of the whole process.

The team tested their new method on zebrafish, an assay that lets them determine the function of signals activated after fertilization. Yale geneticist Antonio Giraldez, the senior author of the paper describing the team’s findings in the journal Nature Methods, compared the RNA signal activators to individual words in life’s instructional commands. Aside from interpreting genetic elements of messages sent from mother to embryo before it develops, the assay could also be used to identify the RNA parts that trigger cancer-causing genes.

Source: Yale News

Lenovo ThinkPad X370 and other business-class notebooks Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

In advance of CES 2017, Lenovo revealed some of its refreshed lines of business-targeted laptops and accessories, a smart move since it’s easy for the less shiny products to get lost in the zillion-product-announcement noise of the show. Lenovo is one of the first manufacturers to offer the Intel Optane solid-state drive as an option, which Intel promised would ship by the end of 2016. Optane uses uses Intel and Micron’s 3D XPoint technology for faster, more longer-lived storage than traditional SSDs. The Optane memory is still small and expensive, so Lenovo is offering them as a 16GB choice for additional cache.

The group consists of a new size for the ThinkPad Yoga line with some modest design tweaks, as well as standard refreshes to the bread-and-butter ThinkPad 13, T, L and X notebook lines. There are also a couple of ThinkVision P series, better-than-mainstream displays and new docks with modern connectors.

Lenovo’s early 2017 business notebooks look…
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All of the notebooks include an update to the most recent Intel Core Seventh Generation (Kaby Lake) processors, Microsoft Precision Touchpad support that Lenovo includes on all its other current-generation laptops (a bit improved), hardware to guard substandard USB-C cables or chargers from frying your system while charging, an interesting diagnostic code system that uses an app to interpret tones and support for dTPM 2.0 encryption (the Trusted Platform module became mandatory for Windows 10 systems in the summer of 2016). For individual buyers, the faster booting, crapware-free Signature Edition version of Windows is the only option, though it remains to be seen if Lenovo’s controversial implementation has been changed.

I don’t have UK or Australian prices yet, so all the prices are direct conversions from US. Other model-specific enhancements include:

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 370 2-in-1

• A new 13.3-inch size between the 12.5-inch ThinkPad Yoga 260 and ThinkPad Yoga 14-inch 460, incorporating the lift-and-lock keyboard of the latter.
• Starting at $1,265 (£1,030, AU$1,760), available March 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad T470 14-inch mainstream

• Update from T460
• Thunderbolt 3 port
• Discrete graphics (GeForce 940MX with 2GB DDR5)
• Options for a touch fingerprint reader and IR camera
• Optane option, SSD option increased to 1TB
• Starts at $915 (£745, AU$1,270), available February 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad T470s, 14-inch lightweight

• Update from T460s
• Thunderbolt 3 port
• Silver option
• Starts at $1,100 (£900, AU$1,530), available February 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad T470p, 14-inch performance

• Update from T460p
• HD-resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS touchscreen option
• Backlit keyboard option
• Optane option, SSD option increased to 1TB
• Starts at $1,050 (£855, AU$1,460), available March 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad T570, 15-inch mainstream

• Update from T560
• About 10 ounces lighter
• Discrete graphics (GeForce 940MX with 2GB DDR5)
• Options for a touch fingerprint reader and IR camera
• Optane option, SSD option increased to 1TB
• Starts at $910 (£740, AU$1,265), available March 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Windows, 13.3-inch budget

• Refresh of current ThinkPad 13
• HD-resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS touchscreen option
• Backlit keyboard option
• Starts at $675 (£550, AU$940), available January 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad L470, 14-inch budget

• Update from L460
• Optane option, 1TB standard hard drive option
• Starts at $780 (£635, AU$1,085), available March 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad L570, 15-inch budget

• Update from L560
• Optane option, 1TB standard hard drive option
• Starts at $910 (£740, AU$1,265), available March 2017

Lenovo ThinkPad X270, 12-inch mainstream

• Update from X260
• USB-C port
• Touch fingerprint reader
• Starts at $910 (£740, AU$1,265), available March 2017

In addition, the ThinkVision P27h display has been slightly redesigned over its predecessor, plus a USB-C connection to the monitor for its hub. Though the “h” stands for “high resolution,” the P27h is QHD (2,560 by 1,440 pixels) while the older P27 is UHD (3,840 by 2,160 pixels). The P24h is a new 24-inch version, also with QHD resolution. They’ll both be availabile in April 2017, the P27h for $330 (£270, AU$460) and the P24h for $260 (£210, AU$360).

Finally, Lenovo’s updated its dock alternatives to include options with Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C. The Thunderbolt version will cost $280 (£230, AU$390) and ship in Feburary, while the USB-C will be $200 (£165, AU$280) and ship in January 2017.

Android for beginners: Tips and tricks for your new smartphone

If you’re holding your shiny new Android smartphone and are wondering how to get the most from it, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether this is your first smartphone, you’ve just hopped over from an iPhone, or you’ve had a number of Android handsets, we’ve pulled together some of the best Android tips and tricks to help you get the most from your phone.

Android is an ever-changing beast with many faces. There are different versions of the software, there are plenty of different manufacturer skins layed over that Android core, like those from Sony, Samsung or HTC, and there’s a limitless level of customisation you can apply from Google Play, or other third-party sources.

That means that few Android devices are alike, but all Android devices have the same foundation. So, starting at the beginning, here’s how to master your Android phone. 

Sort out your Google account

Android and Google are like peas in a pod. To use Android, you need to use a Google account. That means everything that goes with it – Gmail, calendars, contacts, YouTube, Google Maps and more.

Getting your account in order is something you can do from your PC before you sign into your new device, letting you use the big screen and keyboard to get things straight.

Google incorporates a contacts system which hides within Gmail on your desktop browser. If you have lots of contacts, import them into Google contacts and manage them there. Managing them on a computer makes it much faster to get everything correct before you get started.

If you have your contacts in another form, there are easy ways to import them to Google, as well as scan for duplicates and so on. As your Android life progresses, it’s worth popping back to your core Google contacts list to check that everything is still nice and tidy.

If you’re thinking of saving contacts to the SIM card and moving them over, it’s not worth the effort: better to find the software to import them from your old phone to your PC, to then feed them to Google. It will make your life easier in the future.

Master transfer tools, or just use Google

Many manufacturers offer transfer tools to help you move old content to new places. This might be a desktop app, but more frequently, it’s becoming part of the device when you set it up for the first time. Android now also has the option to restore a previous backup, or set up a device from scratch, as well as offering you the chance to transfer data wirelessly to setup things like your accounts and settings.

Generally speaking, if you’ve been using Android previously, those items associated with your account will move over without a hitch. However, for things like photos, you might wish to move them to a cloud service if you want to preserve them.

Google Photos is the obvious choice for Android users, because it’s associated with your account. You just have to install the app and sign in. You could also use OneDrive from Microsoft or Dropbox, as both offer photo backup options and are widely accessible across platforms. You could also save to a microSD card and move it across, if you have the hardware to support it.

Get to your settings faster

Swiping down the notifications bar will get you access to shortcuts for various hardware toggles. It’s here you can turn off things like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi quickly and easily. Many manufacturers edit this area, so Samsung, LG, HTC and Nexus devices all look different.

Android has a grid of quick settings shortcuts if you’re on one of the recent versions of Android like Lollipop or Marshmallow, which most new devices are. Swipe down with two fingers and it will take you straight to those toggles. 

If you want to head to the full setting menu, tap the cog at the top of the notifications area when you swipe down. 

Watch your data

Although some contracts give you unlimited data, it’s always worth looking out for how much you’re consuming, so that you can avoid an unwanted bill by making sure you don’t go over your data limit.

Head into the settings menu and in the top section “wireless and networks” you’ll find the option for data usage. This is where the phone keeps track of your data use and you can set an alert for your limits so you don’t over spend.

You can also see what is consuming data which is a quick way to spot apps that might be using a lot of data when they don’t need to be. You can then go to that app and tinker with the settings, perhaps set it to update on Wi-Fi only.

Data not working?

Smartphones are complex beasties and sometimes things just stop working. The bar says you have full reception, but nothing is moving, you can’t get that site to load or that tweet to send.

Try flipping the phone into Aeroplane/Airplane mode and back again. This will sever your connection and re-establish it, and hopefully things will start moving again. You can get to Aeroplane mode via the quick settings grid mentioned above, or with a long press of the standby button.

Managing Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi will keep you connected and saves your data costs, but there’s an option in Android to alert you to open networks. When walking down a typical street, it will constantly ping you, asking if you want to connect.

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Usually these networks aren’t open, they require log-in once you’ve connected. Head into settings > Wi-Fi > advanced settings and disable the feature to be left alone.

If you’re looking for the WPS option on Android, which is really handy to quickly connect to a router, you’ll find it in settings > Wi-Fi. It may appear with the WPS arrows, or be hiding in the menu.

Wi-Fi not working?

Just like cellular data, sometimes Wi-Fi goes on the blink. Often, just opening the quick settings and toggling Wi-Fi off and then back on again, will re-establish the connection.

Glorious displays … eat battery

The wonderful display on your Android devices is also the thing that’s going to eat the battery. Although it often looks the best at full brightness, that’s not very beneficial to your battery. Opting for auto brightness will often give you the best balance of brightness and the visual impact you’re after.

Some devices will then let you tailor auto brightness so you can increase or decrease within that scale. Bumping it down a notch on long days will help prolong your battery.

If you’re just not happy with the auto brightness, then try the app Lux Lite. This will take over the display brightness control, as well as letting you bump it up or down from the notifications area.

Also look at your display sleep settings. There’s no need for it to stay on longer than you need it, so head into settings > display > and look for “sleep” or “display timeout” and pick something shorter.

How do I take an Android screenshot?

Simply hold standby and volume down at the same time and you’ll get a screenshot of whatever you’re looking at. Not everything can be captured, however. Some protected content, such as video playing in some apps, won’t appear in your screenshot.

Screenshots are stored in the gallery in their own folder, but if you’re looking to share, you can do straight from the notifications bar once it’s saved.

What is the best Android keyboard?

Simple: the one that works for you. You don’t have to put up with the keyboard your device comes with. There are loads of options for the keyboard, from the manufacturer’s version that Samsung or HTC bundle in, through to the stock Android keyboard, or third party keyboards like SwiftKey or Skype.

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First up, you might want to turn off the vibration feedback on keypress, which you’ll find in settings > language & input (or language & keyboard) where all the keyboard settings lie. Sometimes the vibrations get backed up and once your fingers start flying, they can’t always keep up, which is annoying. The buzzing of the vibration may also be really annoying to those around you. Some vibrations get hidden in the sound and notification setting. Again, less is more, as they say.

Although some of the manufacturer keyboards are pretty good, the stock Android keyboard (available on Google Play) is also good, but we’re fans of the advanced features of SwiftKey (pictured above), which is well worth a try too, because of the strength of its predictive suggestions. It’s also free.

Get some apps

Phones used to be for making calls. Now they’re for doing everything. No matter what you’re after, there’s bound to be an app perfect for the job, from shopping to banking, to reading to dating.

Apps are found in the Play Store. From here you can download a world of free or paid-for applications. However you don’t have to do it through your phone. Once signed in with your Google account, you can do it from a browser, pushing the required app through to your handset. Just head to Google Play in your browser to get started.

It’s worth noting that apps update regularly on Android. That’s not necessarily because there’s something wrong, but because there are constant changes to bring in refinements, optimisations or new features.

However, you’ll want to make sure you’re only updating those apps when connected to Wi-Fi. In Play Store, head to settings and you’ll find the option to control how your apps get updates.

You’re also free to install apps that aren’t on Google Play. This may include beta software direct from developers, or something like Amazon Underground. If you want to do this, you’ll have to enable that option. Go to settings > security and you’ll find the option to enable apps from “unknown sources”. Be warned, however, that you may expose your device to risks if you choose to do so.

Which is the best Android browser?

There are lots of browsers available for Android, with each offering a range of different options. The stock browser is Chrome and that’s the best Android browser.

However, when you’re looking at a new device, you might find that you have another browser, likely one that has been tinkered with by the device manufacturer. More often than not, you can ignore it and go straight for Chrome.

If your device doesn’t have it, Chrome is on Google Play, and if you’re a Chrome desktop user, you’ll find plenty of syncing through your Google account, including browser and search history, bookmarks and autofill details, which are really handy on the move. 

Customise your Android home pages

The homepage is front of the queue when it comes to customisation. Your new phone will probably come with a range of shortcuts and widgets spread across a number of pages.

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If you don’t want them, delete them with a long press and drag them to the trash can. You can also usually delete the pages they’re sitting on: there’s no need to have seven home pages if they’re all empty.

Different versions of Android and different manufacturers have slightly different approaches to home page customisation. Normally a long press on the background wallpaper, or a pinch on the background will get you started, but it differs from device to device.

Use Android folders

Folders are a great way to organise your apps on your home page. To be extra efficient, you can also place folders on the shortcut bar at the bottom of the display.

This means you can have lots of your core apps to hand without them cluttering up your home page, so that lovely wallpaper of your cat remains visible.

To create a folder, just drag one app shortcut over another and a folder will be automatically created.

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Some devices will also let you make folders in the apps tray (menu) which is a great way to organise everything in there and make it easier to find your app. That said, if you’ve done a good job with folders on your home page, you’ll find yourself rarely using the main apps tray.

What Android Launcher should I use?

If you’re new to Android, the term launcher might be confusing. The launcher is basically the home pages, the apps tray and the shortcut bar at the bottom.

Your device will come with a stock launcher in place, that of the manufacturer. If you don’t like it and want a different look to your phone, it’s really easy to switch to an alternative and there are loads in Google Play. From Android 4.4 KitKat upwards, it’s easy to manage the different launchers you have installed for easy switching.

When you install a new launcher, the original stays on the phone so you’re not losing it, you’re just telling the phone to use a different launcher instead, meaning you can escape from the looks of HTC Sense or Samsung TouchWiz if you don’t like it and have something a little more unique.

We’re big fans of Google Now Launcher. It give any Android phone a simple stock Android look and feel, with Google Now only a swipe away.

How to backup your Android photos

To address the age-old problem of how to make sure your photos travel with you, no matter what device you’re using, there are lots of options. This used to be dependant on a third-party app, but now it’s handled by Google Photos.

Google Photos was formerly integrated into Google+, but has been split out in the past year as a standalone app and service. It’s the stock gallery on Android devices, although many like Sony and HTC will supply something different. All devices can access Photos, however, and it has backup integrated into it.

All you have to do is head into the settings and choose which Google account you’d like to backup. That means you can, for example, save all your device photos to a personal account rather than a work account you might lose access to in the future. You get the option of selecting to backup a smaller version or the full thing.

If you want to escape from Google, you can do the same with other apps, such as Microsoft’s OneDrive or Dropbox. Both will offer to backup your photos and videos. Check your settings though, as you probably don’t want to be backing up over phone data, just when on Wi-Fi.

SD card or not?

If you’re lucky enough to have a microSD card slot on your device, there are a few things you should know about it. 

MicroSD is a great place for storing additional content for your device, or to expand the storage you have. If you have a device that’s running Android 6 Marshmallow, the latest version, you might have access to something called Flex Storage. Flex Storage lets you use the microSD card as expanded internal storage. The microSD card’s capacity will be assimilated and used for everything the phone wants.

Flex Storage is a great option for those with a low storage device, like 8GB, as it means you can expand it and accept more apps. If you opt not to use Flex Storage, you can’t use it for installing more apps – it will only be used for storing files, like music or photos.

Importantly, if you’re opting to use microSD, you should buy the fastest card you can to ensure that you’re not slowing the phone down when it comes to accessing the data you have on it.

Managing Android music

Google’s own music service (Play Music) will let you upload your music to the cloud from your Mac or PC, effectively backing it up on Google’s server. You’ll then be able to stream or download this to your device.

If you’ve been an iTunes customer, that’s no problem. The Music Manager you download for PC or Mac can find your iTunes music and upload it, but beware, it will take some time and will possibly be quite a lot of broadband data.

But once done, it’s all available to your Android device(s), or through any browser. Note, however, that music you download to your Android device through Play Music can only be listened to with the Play Music app.

If you’ve bought music from Amazon MP3 in the past, the Android app will let you stream or play songs from that service too and there are plenty of other options for players and streaming services.

Alternatively you can just load all your content onto your phone’s memory, and as we mentioned, using microSD for this job is likely to be the best option, if you can.

Moving files to and from your phone

Android is great in that it gives you so much flexibility for carrying and using all sorts of files. Embracing the cloud is preferable to using wire and you have plenty of options to get access to those PDFs or whatever else you want. You can use Google Drive to move files easily and you can then access these through any browser, or on any Android device, or with apps elsewhere.

Google’s apps will let you edit them easily and there are free applications for things like Docs and Sheets, ideal for working on your documents on the move. Alternatively, Microsoft offers free Office apps for Android, although some features are only available to Office 365 subscribers. It works in cohoots with OneDrive, again.

Alternatively, Dropbox will do much the same thing. Install the app and you’ll be able to move files through the cloud over to your device.

If you do want to use wire – and that’s sometimes better for larger files like video – then you have several options. Many manufacturers bundle software with devices, although this tends to focus on photo and music syncing and is often more trouble than it’s worth. Instead, you can just access the device through Windows once plugged in via USB, so you can just drag and drop files. 

On a Mac, you’ll need to install an application called Android File Transfer. Once in place, you can again drag and drop directly to your device’s memory.

Note however, that there are various settings on your phone to handle USB connections. You’ll be given the choice of what you want to do, but these days, using cloud syncing is often the fastest option.

Want to know more?

You can check out our full Android 7.0 Nougat tips and tricks to really get to know what Android can do.

Leaked LG G6 renders ‘confirm’ modules have gone

The LG G5 could be seen as an experiment by LG, to see if customers wanted interchangeable modules. Unfortunatley, sales of the phone were poor, as the modules weren’t all that good and competition was fierce. Luckily, LG may have learnt from its mistakes and ditched the modules for the upcoming G6.

• LG G6: What’s the story so far?

That rumour has been further cemeted by leaked renders of the phone, which, although unofficial, show a phone that could put LG back on track and better equipped to face the likes of Apple and Samsung.

The new LG G6 by me and @AndroidAuth pic.twitter.com/AMhqrQXTHJ

— Shai Mizrachi (@ShaiMizrachi) 26 December 2016

The render, mocked up by Shai Mizrachi of Android Authority, shows a unibody design with a shiny metallic finish. The unibody design all but confirms LG has decided to ditch the modules for the upcoming device.

There’s also what appears to be dual-camera setup, similar to the one found on the V20 and G5, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. It also shows what appears to be a 3.5mm headphone port on the top edge, suggesting LG isn’t quite ready to ditch the analogue port in favour of USB-C audio. It’s a rumour we’ve heard before, so there’s certainly some weight to it.

We’re expecting LG to unveil the G6 at Mobile World Congress in February, and another rumour is suggesting the phone will go on sale straight after to get a headstart on Samsung. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S8 in April so LG is hoping the two month advantage will help with sales.

• LG G6 may ditch the modules, but hold on to the headphone jack
• Mobile World Congress 2017: Smartphones, smartphones, smartphones to expect

MWC doesn’t kick off until 27 February, so we have some time to wait. Here’s hoping we’ll see some more leaked images between now and then.

Apple Watch ‘New Year’ challenge encourages you to stick to your resolutions

Christmas has passed and now you’ve probably, like us, become one with the sofa because you can’t move from all the food. It’s time to set a New Year’s resolution to drop a few pounds, then.

• Apple Watch Series 2 review: Fitness first

If you have an Apple Watch, then it will give you a helping hand throughout January with a New Year challenge to keep all three rings closed everyday for a week in January. As of today, 28 December, you’ll get a notification to take part in Apple’s challenge, which will be available to take part in throughout January, starting 2 January, we’re all allowed to recover from New Year’s eve parties first.

Bear in mind the notification to take part will appear 10 minutes after the first time you put your Apple Watch on, and will only appear once, so if you dismiss it or decline, you won’t be able to take part in the challenge.

The challenge requires you to keep all three Activity rings closed everyday for a whole week, so if you don’t manage it in the first week, you’ll have three more chances to do so. This means you’ll need to stay moving around for 1 minute every 12 hours, completing 30 minutes of exercise each day and meeting your own personal calorie burning goal.

If you manage to complete the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with a special achievement badge and some stickers in the Activity app.

You’ve got a few days to prepare yourself until the challenge begins, so use the time wisely to finish off that cold turkey!