Record and share audio with Parrot Voice Recorder
If you have read any of my previous reviews, you’ll know that I love simplicity. Parrot Voice Recorder delivers that simplicity in spades. In this review, we’ll be taking a look at what makes Parrot Voice Recorder an exceptional app for recording audio.
Parrot Voice Recorder overview
When you first open Parrot Voice Recorder, you’re greeted by a large microphone shaped icon at the bottom of the screen. Immediately it’s apparent what is needed to get started. Push the button.
As soon as the button is pressed, a counter begins and a display that represents the sound level appears. Your microphone icon disappears and 2 icons take its place. The first is a pause button so that if you’re taking notes and you don’t want to record the moments of silence that permeate the air while you’re thinking of what to say, you can pause the recording. The other is a stop button.
Once you select the stop button, you’ll be greeted with a screen that gives you the option to save the recording. Here you can assign a file name to the recording and select from 2 post save options. The first is to play the recording and yes, you must save the recording in order to listen to it. The second is to share the recording. This will bring up a list of supported apps and services that you can use to share your newly created audio file.
If you don’t wish to save the file, then simply select your back button and the recording’s 1s and 0s will vanish. It’s important to note that once you do this, you cannot recover that file and the app is kind enough to warn you of such.
If you would like to go back and re-listen or share a previous recording, there are tabs along the top of the screen that will allow you to do that.
This app, while simple, has a lot of configurable options and somehow, they were intuitively placed for easy selection.
Available options to select:
- Quality presets that range from low quality to ultra high quality
- Auto Pause
- Automatic gain control
- Noise suppression
- Echo cancellation
- Custom gain selection
- Playback bass boost
- Playback volume boost
- Playback reverb presets
Parrot Voice Recorder setup
Aside from downloading the app from Google Play, there really is no setup needed for this app.
Who will enjoy Parrot Voice Recorder
If you have a need to record audio, whether it be for notes, to send voice messages to your friends, or just for fun, then you will love this app. Personally, I can see a doctor or a lawyer using this app to record their notes and to then send them to their transcriptionist.
What we liked
- Dead simple interface
- High-quality recordings
- Ability to share with messaging apps from within the app
What could be better
- An option to split recordings apart and to splice recordings together
- Mulit-track recording
Overall
Hands down, this is a great app. It’s free and there are no ads to encumber your experience. It’s super easy to use and it’s compatible with a whole suite of messaging apps to share your recordings.
The post Record and share audio with Parrot Voice Recorder appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Editior’s Picks: 13 apps we think you should try right now
One of our favorite things to do here at AndroidGuys is to help Android users get the most from their devices. Whether in the form of app reviews, news and rumors, or something else, we aim to please.
Our Editor’s Picks column is designed to help existing Android owners discover apps and games. What you’ll find below are some of the apps that we at AndroidGuys enjoy using ourselves. Some of what follows are new titles while a few are classics we can’t let go of. We understand that we won’t get every single app that crosses our path but we hope to filter things a bit and pass them along to you. Whatever the case we’re certain you will find something fun to play with this week. Let’s get to it!
Wallmax
Wallmax is another awesome wallpaper aggregator with a wide range of wallpapers. From opening to loading of the wallpapers, the animations make this app deligthful to use. You also have the ability to sort wallpapers by resolution, which is great for those rocking a QHD smartphone. It’s a free app and We definitely recommend you try this out.
Ghostery Privacy Browser
As the name implies, Ghostery Privacy Browser is a privacy-oriented browser by Ghostery, Inc. that is much like its desktop counterpart. This browser is able to detect tracking scripts on web sites that are visited and block them. Also, the user can pause blocking or whitelist sites by clicking the Ghostery icon next to the tabs icon. Individuals can opt-in (opt-in by default) to Ghostrank, which sends anonymous statistics to Ghostery, Inc. about the trackers that are blocked but no information about the sites they are on or the sites themselves. Lastly, privacy search engine Duck Duck Go is the default, however, users have the options to change it to Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yahoo Japan, Naver, Baidu, and Yandex.
Periscope
Periscope is another livestreaming app brought to you by Twitter. Periscope lets you broadcast live video to the world. Going live will instantly notify your followers, who can join, comment and send you hearts in real time. You can also make your videos available for replay so viewers can watch it later. If you want to explore the world while sitting in your chair then this app is definitely for you.
Netflix
We all have heard of this app and yeah, there is a good chance you already have a Netflix account. If you don’t have one, you might want to consider picking up an online streaming account for $7.99 per month. Netflix has been producing more original content than ever and surprisingly there are a few shows that are very entertaining. Netflix has produced over 20 new shows and continued fan favorite shows like “Arrested Development” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. The biggest benefit to watching Netflix Original content is that they release entire seasons in one fell swoop. Rather than waiting every week to watch your show, you can veg out over a weekend and watch an entire season of “BoJack Horseman” or “Chef’s Table.”
They also have quite a selection of movies for you to watch too. If you have more than two members of your family who want to watch Netflix at the same time, you can upgrade to the $11.99 plan which allows 4 members to watch at the same time in addition to Ultra HD access.
SD Maid – System Cleaning Tool
System cleaners have become a necessary evil on mobile devices. The more you use a device, the more junk keeps piling up. When you uninstall apps and delete files, they can often leave traces behind especially on internal storage or external SD card. SD Maid is an app designed to clean this unnecessary junk from your internal/external storage. The app comes in free and paid versions. Keep in mind that it is a very powerful tool. Please be sure to read full description before digging into its advanced features.
Carbon for Twitter
Carbon is a Twitter client, but unlike other Twitter clients available in the market. All of your Twitter content is present on one screen. A screen that doesn’t get you drilling down to many other screens to reach what you want. Timelines, Lists, Favourites, Searches, Trends, Profiles, are all there. The Black theme is just a bliss to the eyes. Overall, it’s “THE” best free Twitter client for Android and We definitely recommend you to give it a try.
Joyride Podcast Player
Joyride is the smart podcast player that makes podcasts easy to use. Way easier to use than other podcast apps! Gone are the days of confusing UI and a bazillion taps to add podcasts and play episodes, Joyride Podcast Player lets you listen instantly to all your favorite radio shows everywhere!. The app has a great user interface and options to either download or stream a podcast.
YouTube
Everybody has heard of YouTube and knows what it is. If you don’t know then its worth checking out. YouTube is a cross platform video streaming app that lets you watch the latest music videos, movies trailers, tech related videos and much more. You can upload videos, subscribe to various channels, share videos to other social networks and can also comment on videos. With the current update, it now streams videos at whopping 60fps, turning a Smartphone into a high quality TV.
Domino’s Pizza USA
The Domino’s pizza app is a ‘must have’ app if you’re into pizza. Domino’s Pizza is definitely not going to win awards for best New York style or Chicago style pizza, but their pizzas are still tasty and definitely affordable. The Domino’s Pizza app is one of the best apps for ordering food and other delivery chains should take notice. Every current coupon offered by Domino’s is within the app in the “coupon” section so you don’t have to worry about searching for coupons online just to get the best price. The app can use your location to match you up with the nearest Domino’s store, and you can order for delivery or pickup if you want to save on tips and delivery fees.
You can save your favorite order, including a coupon associated with that order, for one-click reordering in the future. In addition, the Domino’s app also allows for payment with a credit card, cash on delivery, or even payment with Google Wallet.
BombSquad
BombSquad is a multiplayer cross-platform game that can be played by up to 8 players. Players can throw punches, fuse bombs and mines. There is never any shortage of explosives and powerups to throw and assist your way into an unflinching mission to whittle your opponents to a minimal pile of dust. Tournaments are also held to win tickets which can be used to buy things in the store. You can also use various wireless controllers for the game play. The game is free, there are in-game purchases, and it’s definitely worth a try.
Manuganu 2
Manuganu 2 is a 3D side- scroller running game, in which you control the boy “Manuganu”. The traditional “three-star” mechanic is here, with each level offering stars for picking up a certain number of the small collectables, picking up three big coins and reaching the goal under a certain time. Trying to hit all of those at once brings a very welcome extra challenge for the hardcore gamer. The game experience is also worth mentioning as you can swim, fly, jump and more. There are over 40 levels to complete and the occasional Boss fight definitely makes it challenging.
Shoot The Zombirds
Shoot The Zombird is a fun little shooting game that follows a Halloween theme. Basically, you are a pumpkin boy and you have to stop the Zombirds from kidnapping the pumpkids. The game is fairly easy to play with interesting and kinda scary music playing in the background. The game also features dozen of challenging objectives to complete. The game is free and offers in-app purchases for various upgrades.
PAC-MAN Friends
PAC-MAN Friends is a new, original fast-paced game using classic PAC-MAN characters! With simple tilt controls, you can maneuver PAC-MAN through progressively challenging mazes to rescue his friends from the Ghosts’ Castle. You can explore 95 levels in 6 worlds and unlock 8 uniquely powered friends. You also have to collect keys and fruit to unlock the next episode and explore the world of PAC-MAN Friends.
Last week’s Editor’s Picks
Essential Productivity Apps
The post Editior’s Picks: 13 apps we think you should try right now appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Xiaomi phones have one killer feature that impacts the overall experience
Xiaomi is a Chinese smartphone maker that may sound familiar. Although Xiaomi handsets are not popular in the United States, it is on top of all smartphone manufacturers in China. The company is mostly known for impressive devices at affordable price points.
Xiaomi started out as a software company in 2010 when it developed the very popular android skin called MIUI. MIUI offers lots of great features on top of android and has become one of the most popular customization android skins out there. The skin improves our day to day lifestyle by offering useful tools in addition to great performance and battery life.
Most importantly, the skin has one killer feature. Although it doesn’t have a specific name, the feature allows users to “lock” apps in your recent apps tray so that they’re protected whenever you attempt to free up RAM. In order to do it, all you need to do is swipe them down rather than upwards. This ensures the device has faster loading times, and allows us to lock key apps we use daily. The system doesn’t have to launch the app from scratch every time you close it out or if it’s automatically closed because the system ran out of memory. Ultimately, it results in better performance and better battery life because essentially the processor isn’t working as hard.
It may not seem noticeable unless coming from another handset, but it’s a great feature which is overseen by a lot of people. It would be great if other android skins adopted this feature into their very own skin. Or better, if Android implemented the feature into the next version of its operating system.
Via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: Xiaomi phones have one killer feature that impacts the overall experience
Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Note Edge gets updated to Android 5.1
Sprint is pushing out lots of updates today. Shortly after rolling out a software update to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the carrier has just pushed out yet another update. This time it’s Android 5.1 for the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. Sprint is trying to be consistent with their updates, this one being released exactly three months after Lollipop arrived for the device. That’s always a good sign for a carrier.
The update is being rolled out over-the-air, so consumers might have to wait a few days to get the update on their device. The update will bring better performance, lots of bug fixes and some security fixes. Sprint did not release any details about any new features that will come with the update.
Source: Sprint
Come comment on this article: Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Note Edge gets updated to Android 5.1
Turing Phone first look: a focus on security, inside and out
Security-focused Android phones have been popping up left and right over the years, but they always leave us wanting more. Today we’re looking at a device that truly takes a different approach and gives us a unique addition to the Android ecosystem. Enter the Turing Phone, a smartphone promising a set of foolproof security measures inside and out.
It can be said this device looks like it’s made by a boutique brand like Vertu, but Turing made a handset without those excessive price points such niche products are usually plagued by. As we mentioned above, this phone prioritizes security, offering a full set of features and characteristics that will ensure your data is completely safe.
Turing Phone specs
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- 5.5-inch 1080p display
- 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
- 3 GB of RAM
- 16/64/128 GB of internal storage
- 13 MP rear-facing camera
- 8 MP front-facing camera
- 3000 mAh battery
Hardware, design and build quality
Looking at the hardware, we can begin by contemplating the material choices Turing Robotic Industries (TRI) chose for their unique handset. The phone is made of a very specific type of metal that goes above and beyond our current industry standards. This metal goes by the name of liquidmetal, an amorphous metal alloy created by a mixture of zirconium, copper, aluminum, nickel and silver.
Combining this unique variety of metals results in one of the strongest materials we have seen any smartphone being built out of. I was given a small sample of this material, to play around with, and found that it was nearly impossible to break or bend. Dropping this metal to the floor really gives off a unique sound that corroborates its quality. This is not the only material protecting the Turing Phone, though. Look around the device and you can find some pieces of polycarbonate and aluminum, as well.
This is a very solid phone that should withstand enough shock to handle some tough drops. Furthermore, the Turing Phone is able to take a dive into the pool, but this is no usual waterproof application. Turing made sure to coat both the outside and inside of this handset. Every single piece within the smartphone is protected, so even though there are ways water can get into the innards of the phone, all the user would need to do is shake off excess liquids and go on with his day.
The Turing Phone features a fingerprint reader, but it is placed in a unique area of the phone. Turing has decided to put this reader on the side of the device, which works well when you consider it is placed in the general area where fingers usually rest.
Turing Robotic Industries wants this phone to be as secure as possible, and ports can be a vulnerability. The Turing Phone comes with no excessive hardware ports or standard technology. They have gotten rid of the micro-USB port and replaced it with a proprietary magnetic charger that only works for charging the device (no data transfers). In addition, the device comes with no 3.5 mm headset jack, as Turing would prefer that users stick to Bluetooth for their listening needs.
Unique software features
In an effort to keep the Turing Phone experience truly private, the phone maker has decided to also take a whole different take on the Android OS. For starters, there is a 2-step verification to keep anyone from accessing your device. One would need to use the fingerprint reader, as well as inputting an on-screen code.
We can’t tell you too much about the actual software, as Turing Robotic Industries had nothing but some prototypes. A design language that could be appealing to some is present, but not finalized. The manufacturer tells us the UI will change once the phone is released, but we did get to see a bit of the current software state, which might be similar to what we see once the phone hits the streets.
Needless to say the interface looks completely different to what we are used to. You can swipe between home screens and pages by sliding your digit left and right. And it’s possible to swipe halfway to access certain settings and action buttons, making for a very convenient shortcut area that doesn’t waste space at all times. I have to say it does look very sleek, and it’s refreshing to see someone giving Android a unique look.
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Wrap up
The Turing Phone certainly assimilates the look and feel we see in certain sports cars. It’s a beautiful device, but we are more impressed by its build quality and complete security measures. Security was the #1 focus for Turing, and they have gone all out to protect users from any attack possible. Of course, a closer look will be needed to see whether the promised security measures are as effective as Turing claims.
Assuming it’s the right phone for you, it will also be a pleasure to learn about the prices. Phones with this kind of attention to detail and specifications come in at a pricey range, but Turing’s prices start at $610 for the 16 GB version. Meanwhile those who need 64 GB or 128 GB will have to pay $740 and $870, relatively. You will be able to pre-order them beginning on July 30th, which is not that far off.
We are getting a review unit in due time and will make sure to put this phone through the paces. Interested in this unique piece of technology? Make sure to keep it tuned to Android Authority for our full take on the Turing Phone.
How many of you feel the need for this type of security? I can certainly see certain high profile companies adopting these phones, especially considering their accessible pricing.
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Only 2% of Americans upgrade their smartphones when a new model comes out
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If you’re reading this post, you’re likely already part of a very unique cross-section of smartphone owners – specifically, Android owners. Many of us like to have the latest and greatest whenever it is available, and as it turns out, we might be part of a particularly small minority. According to statistics gathered by Gallup, only 2% of Americans upgrade their smartphones when a new model becomes available – the other two options being upgrading when their contract is up (40% for Android) and upgrading when your current phone is broken or completely outdated (58% for Android).
We’re not completely surprised to see that a large percentage of Android owners only upgrade when their contract is up, however seeing the percentage of owners not upgrading until it’s absolutely necessary makes me surprised the contract group isn’t much larger. Of course, we would do well to remember that this is only the case in America given its market structure, so you might see varying differences in different countries depending on their market, average wealth, etc etc. Having said that, it’s still interesting to see how things really go down in the marketplace.
What do you think about the statistics presented in this report? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Only 2% of Americans upgrade their smartphones when a new model comes out appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
nPerf promises an all-in-one app for all your speed testing needs
Common speed test websites and apps are very helpful for finding out your internet quality and connection stability. These services give us a clear look at what’s going on with our handsets and our carrier’s network towers, but most times they are unsuccessful at using that information wisely. All they do is hand you your results and you gotta work with that.
A new speed testing service has arrived. It goes by the name nPerf and promises a full-featured internet speed testing experience like no other. What makes it most unique is its consideration in a plethora of factors, including speed, streaming, browsing tests, ratings and comparisons – it’s a powerful algorithm that should be quite accurate. The experience also includes extensive services, such as coverage maps, speed maps, tests synchronization and nPerf monitor (real-time speed tests on your notification bar).
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So far this is looking like one of the most out-and-out speed testing services, but that is not really what makes nPerf so awesome. This new app takes information from your results to construct interactive, helpful content for the user. What I specially like about nPerf is that it truly helps you find the right internet provider, depending on your area. It collects data on other users’ speeds and coverage, giving all patrons access via an interactive map you can study to find out how fast each network is when compared to the others.
Do keep in mind this is a community-driven project, though. nPerf doesn’t have too many users at the time. Information is coming in slowly, but it’s already enough to give me a good indication of the network conditions in San Diego. It will only get better with time (and your help). If it makes any difference to you (it probably does), nPerf is also reported to use 2x less data during speed tests, when compared to competitors.
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Those who want to give nPerf a test ride can do so by accessing the official website or downloading the application from the Google Play Store. The app is free to download, so you may as well give it a go and see how well it treats you. Then come back and hit the comments to let us know how you like it!
Android M Developer Preview 2 fixes snoozing alarm clock bug
You’ll have already heard that the Android M Developer Preview 2 was released this week and amongst its various performance enhancements and bug fixes was a patch to solve a rather frustrating issue with the internal alarm clock.
Most people rely on their alarm clock on their smartphone to wake up for work, attend job interviews, or remind them of a stop on the train, but a bug in the first Preview of Android M was an issue that caused the snooze button to add a full 24 hours onto your alarm time, instead of the usual few minutes that is intended.
In the latest 2nd Developer Preview of Android M, this annoying bug seems to be fixed to avoid any further instances of inadvertently oversleeping by snoozing your alarm for that few extra minutes.
The post Android M Developer Preview 2 fixes snoozing alarm clock bug appeared first on AndroidGuys.
ASUS’ slim and sharp ZenPad S tablet arrives in the US
Looks like you didn’t have to wait long for ASUS’ ZenPad S 8.0 to show up in the US — Best Buy is now selling the 8-inch Android 5.1 slate for an easy-to-swallow $200. While this isn’t the highest-end version (it’s carrying ‘just’ 2GB of RAM and a slower 1.33GHz Atom chip) it’s far from a slouch. You’re still getting an iPad mini-rivaling 2,048 x 1,536 display, 5-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front cam and 32GB of storage in a frame that’s just 0.27 inches thick. You’ll have to like ASUS’ custom software for the ZenPad S to float your boat, but it’s otherwise a solid deal.
Via: Android Central
Source: Best Buy
Twitch on Android can stream ‘Hearthstone’ while you play
Twitch loves Android. Following its persistent player that debuted on Google’s mobile OS this past April, the game-broadcasting outfit’s premiering a pop-out player window on the platform. Once popped, you can adjust the size at will and when you’re done, go back to the app to find the next broadcast to jump into. The implications of such, as noted on the Twitch blog, are that you could effectively watch someone play Hearthstone while you play a game of it yourself. Yo dawg.
What’s more, the outfit also recently announced that it’s added more transcode servers. The idea behind that being it’ll give broadcasters more flexibility for their shows, and viewers have the chance to choose the video quality that their connection can handle best. Twitch says that the plan is to make sure every one of its Partner streamers has the option available. Since it over-allotted the necessary hardware on its end, it’s providing the transcode option to the “most popular” non-Partners. The company writes that this brings the viewership numbers necessary to gain access to the feature to an all-time low, but as the number of Partners and the service itself grows, that low number is going to increase. So! Maybe take this opportunity to grow your follower count and hopefully insulate yourself, Twitch streamers.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile
Source: Twitch (1), (2)
AIVAnet 