(Deal) Get your Android programming skills in gear for only $29

We know how it is. You have an idea for an app, but you don’t know how to code and develop. And it costs too much to put your idea into the hands of others. Well today’s deal from AndroidGuys aims to help you out.

The Hot Java Android Coding Bundle is a bundle of five different courses for you to learn how to code any app or game that you have. The first course goes over the basics of Android Lollipop and Marshmallow development. From there, you move into Java Development, and really start getting your feet wet.

Next up in this bundle of Android courses, is Play Framework Development with Java. This will teach you how to set up Java Web Apps, and give you a more in-depth look into Java. The final course will teach you how to re-skin applications for the Play Store. Think about re-making a game like Galaga or Flappy Birds, that’s where this final course will come into play.

Normally, this bundle of courses would run you over $650, but today, you can grab all five courses for only $29. These courses will give you everything you need to start your journey to coding apps and games for Android. From the basics to re-making games, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

If you like this deal, and want to see more of these, let us know in the comments below. Until then, head over to the AndroidGuys deal page, and grab this deal, or another one today. You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals Page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!

The post (Deal) Get your Android programming skills in gear for only $29 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Startup launches smartphone-inspired camera to take on DSLRs

Not many people are aware that Android was originally meant to be an advanced operating system for digital cameras. But since the market was not ready for it, the early founders of Android started working on a software for mobile phones. Now when smartphones have largely gobbled up the point-and-shoot cameras’ market, the only kind of cameras that remain relevant anymore are the DSLRs. But a photography startup called, Light, claims that its Android-based point-and-shoot cameras are capable of taking better images than DSLRs.

The L16 – the company’s first camera – is inspired by the hardware principles a smartphone’s snapper. It uses multiple camera modules for higher resolution and a series of sensors of different focal lengths for the greater zoom. The compact camera combines 16 lenses of different focal lengths (five 35mm lenses, five at 70mm and six at 150 mm) to take 54-megapixel images and 4k resolution videos.

“We repurpose and leverage the billions of dollars invested in these little smartphone cameras. The economics and quality have become very compelling in these,” Light’s CEO Dave Grannan said.

The company has begun taking preorders for its first batch of L16 cameras, which will cost $1,299 until November 6 and  $1,699 thereafter. However, the devices won’t begin shipping until late next summer.

As for the specifications, the L16 features a 5-inch touchscreen, 16 camera modules, Android OS and Wi-Fi. Clearly, editing and sharing a perfect shot will not be a problem with this unique snapper.

Source: Light
Via: re/code

Come comment on this article: Startup launches smartphone-inspired camera to take on DSLRs

How to fix a water damaged phone

The world suddenly freezes when you see your phone falling straight into water. Whether it’s a pool or a toilet, you just know nothing good will come out of the next few seconds. After all, that’s a high tech device that’s likely worth multiple hundred dollars, and chances are very high that it will be deemed unusable. That is, unless you have one of those awesome waterproof smartphones. But most of us don’t, so we have to resort to other methods.

Let’s start by telling you that saving a water-damaged phone is pretty much a coin flip. Nothing can guarantee the device will actually be rescued. And if the gadget has already been harmed, there are high chances that damage is permanent. Regardless, often times the stars align and you end up saving that precious technology that holds all your important data and connects you to the world.

With the help of the following tips, we aim to increase the probability of your phone making it through such disaster. So let’s dig in.

Take it out of the water and make sure it’s off!

I know it’s hard to react quickly when such a devastating event takes place, but you must snap out of it! The longer your device stays underwater, the lower its chances of survival are. You must dig in there and take that phone out of the water right away. Yes… even if it’s in the toilet!

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Once the phone is out of the water, make sure it’s off and stays that way. Even if it seems fine… it is important to shut it off just in case. If the phone is still on, just shut it down or take the battery out if you can. Then put it in a safe place, preferably on a flat surface over some paper towels.

What not to do

The following actions can mean the difference between a totaled phone or a survival story. You better be careful what you do. Before we jump into finding a solution, let’s try to prevent major failures you could cause.

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• Do not turn on the phone, as we already mentioned. Electrical components don’t play well with water when operating.
• Don’t plug it in either! For the same reason.
• Don’t press any keys. This can push water further into the phone. It’s best to try to mess with the phone as little as possible.
• Don’t shake or blow into the device. This could also push water into deeper areas of the phone. Especially try to avoid blow driers – not only because of the blowing part, but also because of the following point.
• Do not apply any heat to the phone. Remember excessive heat can also damage the phone. You don’t want to add more damage!
• Don’t move the phone around too much. Same deal; you don’t want the water moving around inside the phone.

Disassemble the phone

And don’t mistake this step with “take the whole darn phone apart”! What I mean is that you should remove everything that is user-removable. If you back cover is removable, take it off. Similarly, try to remove the battery (if you can), SIM card and SD card. Lay it all out in the paper towel.

Now, if you are an experienced tech specialist of sorts and know the ins and outs of a phone, and don’t mind risking voiding your warranty, you can go ahead and take the whole phone apart too. It might help with drying up every single piece faster.

Try to dry the exterior with a paper towel

We first have to try to get rid of all the excess water found in the exterior of your phone. Use the paper towel to dry out every component. Just make sure you don’t mess with the phone too much. Gently dry everything out without moving things around too much.

You could try a vacuum cleaner

Of course, there are areas the paper towel can’t access. And while we told you not to blow anything into the phone, we didn’t tell you not to suction the water out. In fact, a vacuum cleaner can suck off bits of water from the phone without too much risk. Just make sure the suctioning doesn’t make the phone move around excessively. Oh, and try not to use one as big as the one in the picture!

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Time to dry it out

The hardest part is coming, because it involves leaving the phone untouched for an extended period of time. This means you can’t use your smartphone! If you have another phone you can borrow, just make sure the SIM card is completely dried out and stick it into the working handset. Otherwise, just resort to smoke signals, public phones and all that archaic stuff.

So how do you dry your phone out? You could just leave the phone on top of the counter or inside a drawer, but some people like giving it a little help. The idea is to put it in an environment that will ease its drying process. A very common practice is to put the phone in a Ziploc bag full of rice and let it rest there for about 2-3 days.

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But why rice? Mostly because it is something readily available at most homes. The idea is that rice is very good at absorbing humidity in the air, making the phone’s environment drier and hence helping dry out the device. But there are alternatives that could be better.

Among better options are silica gel packs, which are those little packets you often find in shoes or electronics boxes (and you can’t eat). It’s not like all of us have these laying around, though, but if you think ahead of time you, could get good deals on Amazon.

Buy silica gel packs from Amazon!

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And while we are on the whole thinking ahead topic – you could also buy a water rescue kit. I happen to like Kensington’s EVAP bundle, which includes a special bag and silica gel packs. Kensington states this is 700% more effective at drying moisture than rice is, though it’s hard to say how true their claim is. Still, it might be worth the investment.

Buy Kensington EVAP water rescue kit!

The moment of truth

So you did everything you could and a few days have passed by. It’s time to see if all your efforts paid off. Take the phone out of wherever you left it and put it all together. Then plug the phone in and try to turn it on. If it works, you have succeeded! Stay on the lookout for any odd behavior, though. At least for a few days. Something may still happen. Also, test all the components. Make a call to see if the microphone and earphone work, test the speaker, etc.

Now, if the phone doesn’t work, it’s time to accept defeat and take it to a professional and see if it can be salvaged. You can also claim insurance if you have it.

Conclusion

Not to sound like a doctor, but after this point we have really done everything we could. Sometimes you just have to let the phone go, guys. Hopefully most of you get it back up and working, though!

Hit the comments and tell us your experiences! Have any of you tried these methods? What other tips do you have for your fellow phone dunkers? Hit the comments and share your 2 cents!

Light’s L16 camera challenges DSLRs with 16 lenses in one package

Photography startup Light has launched L16, which the company’s calling a “a multi-aperture computational camera,” at the Code/Mobile conference. It’s named L16, because it’s equipped with 16 individual lenses, though unlike bulky and heavy DSLRs, Recode says it’s just about the size of a Nexus 6 that’s double the thickness. When you take a picture using the camera, all 16 lenses capture photos simultaneously at different focal lengths in order to “capture more data in every shot.” Light’s technology then combines all of them into a single 52-megapixel image — you can adjust the photo’s depth of field, focus and exposure after it’s been captured.

The L16 runs on Android and has built-in WiFi, allowing you to post pictures directly from the device. It comes with an integrated 35mm-150mm optical zoom and a five-inch touchscreen display. If you think you’ll be able to save money switching to this from an entry-level or mid-range DSLR, though, you’re sadly mistaken. It might not cost as much as high-end cameras, but it’ll still set you back $1,299 when you pre-order from today until November 6th from Light’s website. When it starts shipping in the summer of 2016, you’ll have to shell out $1,699 to get one.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/141273851?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

Source: Recode, Light