SwiftKey update simplifies setup process, adds festive keyboard theme
SwiftKey’s spreading a little Christmas cheer today, having updated its popular keyboard app for Android with a festive “Ice” theme. In addition to looking generally chilly, the theme frames letter pop-ups in snowflakes and generates snowy residue from Flow strokes. There is a little more to version 4.4, though; namely, a new installer that claims to simplify the setup process, which any current SwiftKey users may remember as being more complicated than perhaps it needed to be. The new version doesn’t include the richer emoji suite or number row — those features are still in beta — but you do get a bunch of bug fixes as consolation. The update is live in the Play store and is awaiting Bezos’ approval for Amazon’s Appstore, although he might be preoccupied with all the pre-Christmas orders steadily making him rich(er).
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile
Via: Coolsmartphone
Source: SwiftKey, Google Play
Cyanogen gets serious about its OS aspirations, ponders a future in TV and wearables
It’s been three months since Cyanogen announced it was stepping out as a profit-seeking business. Flush with $7 million in funding, the company has been pushing harder than ever to achieve its goal of making CyanogenMod the third major mobile ecosystem, after iOS and Google’s Android. Now with “tens of millions” of installs, the company announced today that with help from VC firm Andreessen Horowitz it’s added further $23 million to its funding pot, and with this investment it believes has everything in place to bring in more talent and expand CyanogenMod to other devices like TVs, wearables and even cars.
Cyanogen’s mission is to refine the Android experience while still giving consumers (and pro users) the things that made it stand out in the past: freedom from manufacturer and carrier update cycles, and the ability to customize their device just how they like it. That focus is evident in its open-source software, which is now based on Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat and has recently gained encrypted text message support and built-in screencast video recording.
“We feel that the existing devices you can currently buy aren’t really designed for the end user. They’re essentially designed as cash registers for the companies that make them,” says CTO Steve Kondik, who created CyanogenMod back in 2009. “A lot of people are starting to mistrust the software and devices that they use because of that fact. It’s an opportunity for us to make really good software.”
“We intend to hit the mass market in late 2014 or early 2015 with a new brand.”
Right now, Cyanogen operates as a small company with 22 employees. That’s set to change in the next six months as the company looks to bring in fresh talent. Kirk McMaster, the CEO, sees Cyanogen hiring between 30 and 50 new employees during that time, helping to evolve its mobile platform and deliver new products even quicker.
“We intend to hit the mass market in late 2014 or early 2015 with a new brand, complete focus on the mass market and a new design language,” says McMaster. “We’ll bring to the market some new signature experiences that differentiate Cyanogen and any other brands we create.”
Cyanogen’s software is already available on Oppo’s N1 smartphone, but we could see the software appear on future smartphone models with a new, friendlier brand name in the coming months.
In the past, installing CyanogenMod was far from simple. That all changed when the team made switching from a phone’s original Android setup to its own flavor of the OS much easier, with automatic mobile and desktop installer apps. The presence of a Cyanogen installer on the Play Store made Google a little uneasy, however, and the search giant politely asked the team to pull the app, citing violation of its terms of service. Looking back, Kondik understands why Google had concerns: Cyanogen had made installation almost too easy.
“Google was very civil, its concern was that we made things too easy.”
“Google was very civil,” notes Kondik, “its concern was that we made things too easy — users could download an app, connect their device to a computer, type in a URL and boom, they had CyanogenMod.” Having spoken with the support teams at Google, Cyanogen recognized that users could blindly use its tool, overwrite the data already on the device and be left with new software that they weren’t familiar with.
The team had experimented with including a backup option it is first version of the app, but its backup process, which cached a copy of the user’s original ROM and settings, would take as long as 20 minutes to complete. The feature didn’t resonate with usability testers, so it didn’t make the cut. Cyanogen intends to restore backup options in a new release and will include more how-to guides for new users — or “putting on the training wheels” as Kondik likes to say — in the hope it will gain the necessary clearance to return to the Play Store, which is planned for the new year.
Developing an open-source platform can make it harder to make money. So how does Cyanogen intend to provide a return for its investors? Kondik thinks the key lies in building Cyanogen’s userbase, with a little help from consumers in China, the US or Europe, based on a freemium model that will see a mixture of free and paid-for apps, services and add-ons launching in the next 8-12 months. The company believes that if it can reach 100 million-plus users, interest in its app store will bring developers to the platform and, in turn, allow it to explore wearables, cars, TVs and other form factors further into the future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
KitKat coming to Galaxy S4 and Note 3 in January
French carrier, SFR, which is the evleaks of software, has reaffirmed past suspicions by stating that the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 will receive its Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade in late January/ early February.
All of you Samsung fanatics should be jumping for joy, but take a deep breath and lets break it down. Once Samsung pushes the update to its carriers, it is only a matter of time before the carriers push it to their consumers. However, this “matter of time” could take months!
Feel free to vent your frustrations and tell us how you really feel!
Source: Sammobile
The post KitKat coming to Galaxy S4 and Note 3 in January appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Alleged Galaxy S5 specs found on benchmark site
One of the expected Galaxy S5 variants, the SM-G900F, has once again shown up in a benchmark, this time on AnTuTu’s benchmark database. The AnTuTu team says it’s “almost sure” this is the international variant of the device, but comparing the benchmark results to all the leaks about the S5′s hardware, it’s possible we’re looking at a prototype that isn’t yet running the final hardware.
The main point is that the benchmark shows a screen resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels instead of 2,650×1,440 – it’s possible the 2K display is not yet ready for use, and Samsung is simply testing the rest of the device by using a standard 1080p display at the moment (perhaps so carriers can start testing the S5 on their networks early).
Other specs of the phone match those rumored and leaked before – there’s a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974AC) processor, 3GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel rear camera and 2 megapixel front-facing camera, and Android 4.4 KitKat – and are as high-end as one would expect, though that might not remain the case when the Galaxy S5 launches, so hopefully Samsung is doing all it can to make its next flagship awesome!
Let us know what you think and if you’re holding out for the “Next Best Thing”.
Source: Antutu
Via: Sammobile
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Is AT&T already testing the Galaxy S5?
According to @evleaks, which is one of the most reliable sources around, AT&T has already begun to test the Samsung Galaxy S5 in its labs. We know the Galaxy S4 was unveiled in March of this year and later available in April. So it is unlikely to hear anything “official” about the S5 until February. Now we all know that rumors are rumors, but what do you think?
Are you holding out for the “Next Best Thing”? Let us know below!
Source: Phone Arena
The post Is AT&T already testing the Galaxy S5? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
PPL Connect makes physical phones virtual, is now available via open beta to Android users
Your phone is a prisoner. No, it’s not chained to a particular cell, but it is confined to whatever handset your SIM is stuffed into. PPL Connect wants to free your phone from that confinement through the powers of cellular virtualization. And today, if you have an Android phone, the company can do just that with the launch of its eponymous app and open beta. In case you missed our earlier coverage of PPL Connect, let us give you a quick refresher on its technology. By creating a PPL Connect account and linking it with your phone number via an Android app, you gain access to your contact list, text messages and phone calls from any device with an internet connection — letting you both make and take calls and send and receive texts straight from the browser. And the best part? Because it’s fully virtualized, your phone doesn’t even need to be turned on for you to use it remotely.
Before you go signing up for the open beta, however, there are a few more things you should know. Since we last saw PPL Connect, it redesigned its web interface to be responsive to work on any screen size. During that redesign, the team decided to optimize it to work in Chrome due to that browser’s use of WebRTC technology and its cross-device compatibility. Support for Firefox and Safari are also in the pipeline and are slated to be supported early next year, but for now you’ve gotta stick with Google’s browser.
Also, for folks with privacy concerns: yes, PPL Connect holds all of your contacts and communications info on its servers, but co-founders Denzil D’sa and Jenviev Azzolin assure us that they absolutely prioritize their users security and privacy. “We believe that your data is your data,” says Azzolin, which is why one of the first features built into the platform was a one-click means to delete your account. Plus, the whole point of the company is to provide a better, more flexible phone service for us all, and to do that it needs to build and maintain credibility with users. D’sa and Azzolin made clear that they see user privacy as key to achieving its goals.
So, if you’re willing to take them at their word and you’re over the tyranny of physical phones, head on down to the source — the PPL Connect bandwagon’s still got plenty of seats available.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Google Play
Vine for Android comes to Gingerbread phones, but only for viewing
Android fans running Gingerbread no longer have to sit out the Vine video craze. An updated Vine app now supports playback on the 2010-era Google OS, giving the many people using older Android phones a chance to see all the short clips they’ve been missing. They shouldn’t expect to record clips, though — Vine says that “device limitations” prevent Gingerbread users from creating their own content. That negates much of the app’s reason for being, but the expanded support still represents a kindness toward those who’d otherwise be left out of the (video) loop.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: Vine Blog
Source: Google Play
Sony QX lens cameras get full HD video capture and boosted ISO in firmware update
Photographers who prefer Sony’s WiFi-equipped cameras are about to get a pair of very welcome updates. In January, both the QX10 and QX100 lens cameras will receive firmware upgrades that bump their maximum light sensitivity settings to ISO 3,200 and 12,800, respectively; theoretically, they’ll have an easier time with dark scenes. The two will also support widescreen 1080p video recording, and the QX100 is getting a shutter priority mode (shown above) to help with action shots and long exposures.
Sony’s mobile shooting app, PlayMemories Mobile, is in line for an important refresh of its own. Version 4.0 for Android (pictured after the break) and iOS will introduce a quick photo browser that should make it much easier to review recent shots. There’s a big speed boost in store for iOS users, too — Sony claims that the app should connect to WiFi cameras twice as quickly as before. The company hasn’t said when 4.0 will be available, but it promises a performance improvement for Android users in a second update due this spring.
Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Peripherals, Mobile, Sony
Source: App Store, Google Play
Sci-Fi Adventure Game, Gemini Rue, Comes To Android Via A Humble Bundle
I’m a huge fan of adventure games; the Monkey Islands and The Walking Deads of the games world have me in fits of joy when I play them, but I have to say that there is a definite lack of so-called ‘point-and-click’ adventure games on the mobile platform. Fortunately, now there is one more addition to this small number of games: the game is called Gemini Rue, and it is a handcrafted gem coming to us via Wadjet Games.
The PC version of Gemini Rue has been hailed on several occasions for having a gripping storyline featuring its two protagonists, Azriel and Delta-Six, and its Android port appears to be no different. But the other star of the show is the game’s impressive art style which features 60+ hand-drawn backgrounds. Check out the trailer to Gemini Rue to get a better idea of what the game looks like:
Gemini Rue is currently available on the Play Store for $4.99 on its own, however, it is currently also available as part of the Humble Bundle for PC and Android 8. If you pay above the average (which is currently $4.13) you will get Gemini Rue as well as 5 other great indie games.
Stay tuned for our review of Gemini Rue. Who’s going to pick up Gemini Rue and check it out? Let us know if you do.
Game: Gemini Rue
Price: $4.99
Press Release
Dystopian Adventure Game Gemini Rue Comes to Android, Mac, and LinuxNew versions of Wadjet Eye Games’ award-winning indie adventure are now available in latest Humble BundleNEW YORK – December 17, 2013 – Wadjet Eye Games, an independent developer and publisher of retro-styled adventure games, is today expanding onto the Android, Mac, and Linux platforms with Gemini Rue, the company’s best-selling game to date. The new versions released this morning as part of Humble Bundle: PC and Android 8: https://www.humblebundle.com/Developed by UCLA Design | Media Arts graduate Joshua Nuernberger, IGF winner Gemini Rue is an old school adventure game that combines point-and-click gameplay with gritty, low-res graphics and a gripping neo-noir narrative. Alternating between ex-assassin Azriel Odin and hospital inmate Delta-Six in a bleak future dominated by the corrupt Boryokudan crime syndicate, players must uncover the secrets both protagonists are guarding and uncover their unlikely bond.Gemini Rue was widely praised when it originally released for PC, earning an IGF Student Showcase award, IGN’s Editor’s Choice award, Adventure Game of the Year from GameSpy and PC Gamer, and an 85% average review score on GameRankings.com. More recently, the iPhone / iPad version was praised as “a must-buy addition to your App collection” by Slide to Play, “an excellent port of an excellent adventure” by AppSpy, and “easily one of the best modern point-and-click adventures around” by PocketGamer, who also honored Gemini Rue with a Gold Award and selected it as Game of the Week.The new Android version can be purchased outside of the Humble Bundle for $4.99 from Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wadjeteye.geminirue.google) and is coming soon to the Amazon Appstore. Currently exclusive to Humble Bundle: PC and Android 8, the Mac and Linux versions will later go on sale from Wadjet Eye’s website and other online stores.Learn more about Gemini Rue at the game’s official website: http://www.geminirue.comAbout Wadjet Eye GamesFounded in 2006, Wadjet Eye Games has developed a reputation for producing award winning and critically acclaimed adventure games. Committed to creating unique character-driven game experiences around recognizable brands, in 2010 Wadjet Eye expanded to support and publish games by other independent developers. The company’s portfolio includes The Shivah and the Blackwell series, both of which have garnered Game Developers Choice nominations, Puzzle Bots, which was selected for the Penny Arcade Expo’s PAX 10 showcase, IGF Student Showcase winner Gemini Rue, and the critically acclaimed Resonance. The company is run by husband and wife team Dave and Janet Gilbert out of their home in Brooklyn. For more information, visit http://www.wadjeteyegames.com.About Joshua NuernbergerJoshua Nuernberger is a game designer, illustrator, and storyteller. His first commercial release, Gemini Rue, won multiple Game of the Year awards and was showcased at IndieCade @ E3, the Indie Games Arcade, and the Independent Game Festival. He holds a B.A. in Design | Media Arts from UCLA with a minor in film. His personal website is www.thejburger.com.About Humble BundleHumble Bundle organizes pay-what-you-want plus charity promotions for awesome digital content and puts the power directly in the hands of the consumers. Consumers pay what they want, and decide how to allocate their money between the developers, charity, and a humble tip. Thanks to the generous contributions of bundle buyers, Humble Bundle has raised more than $29 million for charity to date.
12 Days of Giveaways: Win a SwannEye HD Plug & Play (DAY 5)
Today marks the fifth day of our 12 Days of Giveaways promotion which sees us giving out all sorts of wonderful Android-related stuff. We’ve already given away hundreds of dollars worth of stuff and we’re only getting warmed up! The next few days will see us offering up an NVIDIA Shield, Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy Victory, and Moto G! Hold on tight, it’s gonna be fun!
Prize #1 SwannEye HD Plug and Play
How would you like to be able to remotely watch the front door of your home or office? Maybe you’ve got some friends coming over and want to know when they’ve arrived. Maybe you have a problem with kids knocking over your garbage cans. Whatever the case is or what your needs are, you can keep an eye on things from your Android smartphone or tablet.
- Shoots real time 720p video or still images to your smartphone or tablet
- SwannEye app for viewing on PC, Mac, tablets & Smartphones including iPhone, iPad & Android devices
- Perfect for low light scenarios, thanks to 12 infrared LEDs
- Built-in microphone captures audio
- Easy 3 step set-up using a QR code & your Smartphone or tablet with no manual networking configuration required
- Mount the camera on any flat surface, upside down, on the ceiling, or on a wall
Learn more about Swann or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Prize #2 Bundled Goodies
The second prize we’re hooking you up with is a Whitelabel SoundDew BT Speaker and a pair of iHome Earbuds with Mic. The former is a highly portable and waterproof Bluetooth speaker that delivers up to 10 hours of playback; the latter are a pair of earbuds with a microphone to take calls on your Android!
Learn more about Whitelabel!
Learn more about iHome or follow them on Facebook and Twitter!
Prize #3 Android Collectible (SERIES 04)
The third prize tossing out to a random winner is an unopened Series 04 Android collectible figure from Dead Zebra and Andrew Bell. As to what’s inside the box remains a mystery, but here are the potential candidates!
Learn more about Andrew Bell or follow him on Twitter!
Daily Prizes
Oh… don’t forget we’re also giving out Google Play credits over the remainder of the month. On some days we’ll randomly pick someone to win $10, others will be $25 and higher!
How to Enter
We’re going to keep this short and simple. To enter today’s contest all you need to do is leave a comment below! We’ll let this run for 24 hours and then randomly select the winner(s).
Win Google Play Credits!
To enter to win one of the Google Play credits all you need to do is share the following on your social media platform of choice: “I want to win Google Play Credits, AndroidGuys! http://goo.gl/dGQhG6 #12DaysAndroid”
Yes, you can share over Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+. Yes, you can enter as often as you like.
Finer details
This post will be updated with the name(s) and we’ll reach out via the comments as well. Also, be sure to keep an eye on the 12 Days of Giveaways page where we’ll keep a running tally of prizes and winners.
Note that we’ll give each winner a 24 hour window to respond. Should the winner not reply in time, we’ll re-draw and announce a new name. Be sure to check back!
Here’s the rub: We’re limiting this contest to U.S. residents only. Yes, we know it sucks – we hate doing it. Also, you can only win one prize per household. If you happen to win a Google Play Credit as well, then so be it!
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AIVAnet 