Google backs away from banning dedicated Android ad blockers
Google’s tough stance on dedicated Android ad blockers might be softening a bit. The company has reversed its decision to yank Adblock Fast from the Play Store following an appeal from the app’s developer, Rocketship. Google hasn’t officially said what prompted the change of heart (we’ll let you know if it has a comment), but TechCrunch understands that Google had originally wanted to limit ad blocking to browsers where it’s an option — any stand-alone apps were against the rules for interfering with other software. Our understanding is that Google is now concerned solely with banning those apps that interfere without permission. Given that Rocketship was working with Samsung, that shouldn’t be a problem.
One thing’s for sure: the decision ends the murkiness over Google’s approach to ad blockers. Besides letting through web browsers with ad blocking built-in, Google was also lighter on competing dedicated apps like Crystal, which had an update rejected but otherwise stayed put on the Play Store. This isn’t carte blanche for every ad blocker, but you won’t have a shortage of choices.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Rocketship
Jumpy Word combines elements of Scrabble with Tetris (review)
Overview
If you’re choice in mobile games veers toward your inner ‘word nerd’, then you should consider “Jumpy Word” by evezzon. This game could be alternatively titled ‘Speed Scrabble’ if not for all the potential copyright infringements.
Why do you ask? Well, how do you play Scrabble? You are given a set of random letters and are tasked to spell the most complicated words with them, scoring the most points — that’s how. Jump Word works a lot in the same way. The big difference is that your letter inventory is never-ending and your time limit for finding said words is much more limited. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Setup
Available for free from the Play Store, the game is linkable to Google Play Games, if that’s your thing. Note that it only applies if you manually click on the profile icon in the title screen. The settings consist of turning sound effects background music on or off. An additional setting is to turn ‘Slow Mode’, which simply slows the game down.
Gameplay
To play (by clicking on the gamepad icon in the title screen), you are presented with a blue 7 x 6 grid on your screen. Another way to think of this game as Scrabble combined with Tetris. This grid starts out blank, but begins filling each square with a random letter, starting at the bottom and moving up towards the top.
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Your goal is to tap on combinations of letters making the longest words possible (longer words = more points). After tapping out the letter combination you want, click on the pencil icon to register your word. If you make a mistake in your tapping, there is an eraser button which clears your current word build. If your combination is an actual word, your word is scored and the squares holding your tapped letters are emptied, albeit temporarily.
A
fter a brief time these square begin to fill back in with new letters, again moving (generally) from bottom to top. As the grid fills up, the background color moves from blue, to a kind of gray, to orange, and finally to red. This is designed to indicate your game is close to ending. The game does end when your grid fills up.
If there is a twist to this game, it’s the inclusion of ‘bombs’. You can tap the bomb button anytime to completely empty your grid to start fresh without disrupting your current score. You can gain more bombs, at the rate of one per 500 points scored at the end of a round. Players have a maximum inventory of 50 bombs.
Conclusion
I personally love this game, as it combines very easy pick-up gameplay with light-hearted mental gymnastics. Because the game can be played with any word combination, the difficulty is flexible to the person playing it. This makes it a great title to have on a parent’s phone as it can be enjoyed by an adult or child. It’s currently residing on my phone where my grade-school kiddos can access it.
Highlights:
- Quick startup
- No in-app advertising
- Simple gameplay
- Adjustable difficulty
- Fun but intellectual
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Popular PSP game Lumines coming to Android this year
Mobile games are all the hype. No longer do you need expensive consoles in order to spend some great time playing. You can install the most addictive and fun games on almost any smartphone. Let that sink in… we all have one. How much things have changed, right?
But even if technology evolves, plenty of us seem to be stuck looking for archaic titles or retro style games. The point is that whether you want a high-resolution FPS or 8-bit style graphics, you will have a hell of a time with plenty of apps. Mobile games are estimated to earn $3.31 billion in revenue, only in the USA, this year. It’s obvious the veteran developers will try to cash in on it!
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Today we are here to talk about Lumines, a game that was very popular during the PSP days. Enhance Games and publisher Mobcast aim to bring it to smartphones around the world. And it’s not only one title – there will be two versions, both coming this year. They are named Lumines 2016 and Lumines VS (temporary monickers).
See also: 15 best free Android games of 2016!
Lumines 2016 is said to come to Android (and iOS) this summer, while the VS iteration will be released in the winter. But sadly we don’t know much else about these games. The original Lumines was a Tetris spin-off, so you can expect the new games to follow a similar format.
With that in mind, let’s just sit tight and enjoy other games until Lumines makes its epic comeback. Are any of you looking forward to these launches?
1Password gets Material Design makeover and fingerprint unlock
1Password has pushed out an update for Android devices at last, and it brings huge changes to the app. The password manager will look like a brand new application the moment you upgrade to version 6, thanks to its Material Design makeover. Every section looks cleaner and more spacious. Plus, there are now toolbars everywhere, along with language’s familiar floating button that gives you a way to quickly add new URL-password combinations.
The app’s upgrades aren’t just skin deep, though: if you have an Android device with a fingerprint sensor such as the Nexus 5X or 6P running Android Marshmallow, you can quickly unlock 1Password. Simply launch it and scan a finger to skip typing in your master password. Finally, version 6 comes with the beta version of 1Password for Teams. It’s a useful feature whenever you want to share log-ins with family or co-workers, so you can all access any account needed for the project you’re working on. You can even quickly add a team account by using the built-in QR code reader.
Password managers are a great way to ensure you’re using a unique password for all your online accounts. If you haven’t used one before and would like to give 1Password a try, note that version 6 will only work for Android 4.1 or newer. The app itself is free, but you’d have to pay for premium features, such as being able to add an unlimited number of log-ins and to edit existing ones.
Source: AgileBits
How to manage your saved passwords in Chrome for Android
One of the many great things about using Chrome as your primary browser across devices is that all your saved passwords get synced. That takes away the hassle of having to enter long and complex passwords while using Chrome on your Android device, which can be a real pain sometimes. Not only that, many times you may have accidentally hit the save password button for a bank transaction credentials page or something else that you did not intend to save. Which brings us to this guide.
Chrome for Android, as it turns out, has a rudimentary password manager built-in, and we are going to show you how to access it and what you can do inside it from your Android smartphone or tablet. So why don’t you fire up the Chrome browser and we can get started right away!
Accessing Chrome for Android’s password manager
It’s hardly a challenge to find the password manager inside of Chrome. Check out this quick picture guide below:
Open the Chrome browser app on your device. Navigate to the top right corner and tap the options button, following which you have to select ‘Settings’ from the list of options. Select the ‘Save passwords’ option from the menu, flip the button and enable the feature if it isn’t enabled already.
Toggle ‘Save passwords’ feature in Chrome
At any given point, you can choose to toggle the ‘Save passwords’ feature off so that Chrome stops prompting you whenever you log in to a website with new credentials, or log in to a new website altogether. Seeing how cumbersome it can get to repeatedly enter passwords, not to mention having to remember all of them, it is almost a no-brainer to leave this feature enabled.
The fields that have been redacted in the screenshots aren’t actually the passwords, but only the usernames against which Chrome has saved passwords.
Viewing/managing saved passwords in Chrome for Android
Unfortunately, using the Chrome for Android app, it is not possible to actually view your saved passwords. You can however see the list of websites and the corresponding usernames for which Chrome has saved your passwords. As of yet, you can only view passwords using the Chrome desktop app.
Chrome for Android’s password manager is rudimentary at best, as described earlier. You can’t modify a saved password, or perform any other operations on it. The only option that the browser presents to you is the ability to delete a saved password. So in case you accidentally saved a password on a friend’s phone, or for a webpage that you didn’t intend to, you can always fire up the password manager and delete that last saved entry.
Read next: Are you using one of 2015’s worst passwords? Find out here12
Do you use a password manager app?
Chrome’s password manager feature is clearly not powerful or flexible, which means many people who require more flexibility would move to more accomplished and powerful apps such as LastPass, Dashlane, or Enpass.
Do you use a password manager app on your smartphone? Or, does Chrome’s barebones implementation satisfy your requirements entirely? Let us know in the comments below!
The $350 Huawei GX8 is now available for purchase
Huawei is definitely on a mission to be the maker of your next smartphone. Getting its second phone out in the U.S. before Mobile World Congress is no small feat. In January Huawei launched the launched the Honor 5X which made a name for itself with its high-end build and starting price of just $200.
Huawei wants to compete in every price category and has just made the Huawei GX8 available for purchase at GetHuawei.com, BestBuy.com, newegg.com, and Amazon.com for $349.99. The GX8 was announced a month ago at CES 2016, and has quite a spec sheet for a mid-range price.
Huawei GX8 highlights:
- 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 616, 8-core processor, 64 bit
- 16GB memory (expandable up to 128GB)
- 2GB RAM
- 5.5″ 1080p 2.5D display
- US Supports AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and other GSM networks
- Colors: Horizon Gold, Space Grey or Mystic Champagne
- 13MP camera
- Android 5.1 Lollipop
The GX8 has s superior build being made from aircraft grade aluminum, and sports a fingerprint reader on the back of the phone similar to the Nexus 6P and Honor 5X. Huawei has been on a roll with fantastic devices in every price range, and should be atop your list of devices to check out if you’re interested in premium quality at budget prices. The GX8 comes free of contracts and can also be financed directly through Huawei if you can’t afford to put all $350 down at one time for as little as $20 per month.
Learn more at Huawei.com.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge say hello in leaked photos
We’re in prime flagship leak season since Mobile World Congress is just a few weeks away, and we might have just gotten our first in-the-wild looks at Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. If this pace keeps up, we could all the most important details down before Samsung’s February 21st press bonanza in Barcelona.
Let’s start from the back. The first photo — obtained by ReviewDao.vn — doesn’t offer the most tantalizing view of Samsung’s new S7, but it does seem to validate a handful of reports that have made the rounds these past few weeks. Consider that camera, for instance — while we can’t tell if Samsung actually swapped the S6’s 16-megapixel sensor for a 12-megapixel affair, the hump that houses the lens is much slimmer than it used to be. Moreover, the photo matches up pretty nicely with a render shared by noted leaker/VentureBeat writer Evan Blass, while the curvy back (which should house a bigger battery than in last year’s model) syncs up with previously leaked CAD diagrams.
Meanwhile, a separate photo of what appears to be the Galaxy S7 Edge came from China and shows off the device’s trademark curved display. Weibo user JKwan managed to get the device running a benchmarking app that identifies the phone as an SM-G9350, a model number that was tied to the S7 Edge when it passed through China’s Compulsory Certification organization. Really though, none of us should be surprised that Samsung has a new Edge to go with the regular S7; the company underestimated demand for the S6 Edge last year, and it even accidentally confirmed the phone’s existence on its own site. Juicy details like the phones’ chipsets and pressure-sensitive screen have yet to be full-on confirmed, but with any luck, we’ll learn plenty before we even fly off to sunny España.
Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact arrive in the US
As promised, Sony has brought its latest and greatest smartphones to the US. Both the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact are now on sale in unlocked form through Amazon, Best Buy, B&H and other shops at respective prices of $599 and $499. Both pack a fair punch for the price between their Snapdragon 810 processors, 32GB of storage and 23-megapixel rear cameras. The big differences are the displays (5.2 inches on the Z5 versus 4.6 on the Compact) and RAM (3GB versus 2GB). They should work nicely on AT&T, T-Mobile and other American networks that share their frequencies. However, you shouldn’t expect exactly the same phone that you’d get elsewhere — there’s a catch.
Unlike the versions for other countries, neither of the US-oriented models has a fingerprint sensor tucked under the power button. That won’t matter too much using Android 5.1, which you get out of the box, but it could matter more when either Z5 variant receives Android 6.0 and its native support for finger-based authentication. They’re still solid phones, and the Z5 Compact is one of the few small-but-powerful Android phones you can find — just know that you’ll still be entering PIN codes or patterns for a while.
Source: Amazon (Xperia Z5), (Z5 Compact), Sony
Google is reportedly releasing a VR headset this year
There were hints that Google was interested in making virtual reality hardware, and now some of the first details of that gear seem to be trickling out. Financial Times sources claim that Google’s first true VR headset is effectively a more open rival to Samsung’s Gear VR — you slot in a phone from your brand of choice into a plastic housing that has its own movement sensors. It’s miles above Cardboard, according to the tip. If the leak is accurate, you’d see it arrive sometime this year… alongside software that could be just as (if not more) important to the experience.
The same insiders claim that Google is baking VR into Android itself, rather than relying on third-party apps like Cardboard does today. This wouldn’t just make support easier, but would fight common VR problems like lag — the smaller the delay, the less likely you are to be nauseous after a prolonged session. Google hasn’t confirmed either the Android VR support or the hardware, but it wouldn’t be shocking to get at least a sneak peek at this technology at Google I/O in May.
Source: Financial Times
The Elephone M3 is a whole lot of phone for just $200
Another great deal from gearbest.com brings you an ultra powerful device for just $199.99. Elephone has been on a roll with devices that defy the laws of pricing and smartphones. The Elephone Vowney is an Android device that comes with a super powerful processor with a 4k display for less than $350. $270 gets you Android 6.0 in the Elephone P9000 with ultra powerful specs as well.
The lines between flagship, budget and mid-range have definitely been blurred.
The Elephone M3 is up for pre-order on gearbest.com with no sales tax, free shipping and a full 45-day satisfaction guarantee for just $199.99. Don’t like it then ship it back. Unlocked phones like these are designed to work on GSM networks globally and are compatible with the AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
Gearbest.com
Main Features:
Elephone M3 5.5 inch 4G Phablet Android 5.1 MTK6755 Octa Core 2.0GHz Fingerprint Sensor 3GB RAM 32GB ROM 8.0MP + 21.0MP Cameras 1080P 2.5D Screen OTG Type-C
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 1080p 2.5D screen
CPU: MTK6755 ( Helio P10 ) Octa Core 2.0GHz
GPU: Mali-T860MP2
System: Android 5.1 ( Will be upgraged to Android 6.0 soon )
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Camera: Front camera 8.0MP OV8858 with 84 degree wide angle + Rear camera Sony IMX230 21.0MP with auto focus and double color temperature flashes
Touch ID: By pushing fingerprint sensor area, you can unlock your phone and enter into your app, safe and considerate design to protect your privacy and account security
Bluetooth: 4.0
GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Sensor: G-sensor, P-sensor, Light-sensor, Accelerometer, Hall sensor, E-compass
Features: Quick charge, Type-C interface
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, dual micro SIM cards
Network:
WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2.4G/5G WiFi
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz
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