Beginner’s guide: 10 features every Android user should try
Don’t settle with merely accessing your apps, calls and text messages. There’s a reason why you chose Android over the competition! That tiny computer you carry around can do so much, but its true essence is usually hidden and not too advertised. Want to unlock your Android device’s full potential? There’s a lot of work to be done, but let’s start by giving you 10 handy tips that will take your experience to the next level.
Enable “OK Google” voice detection
You know Google Now, right? If you don’t, I suppose that is something else you should try. Google Now is a digital assistant that eases your way around the device and puts you in touch with Google’s ample knowledge of everything that is online. Whether you want to find out Barack Obama’s height, or figure out a mathematical equation, Google Now is there for you. Even cooler is the fact that you can use it with voice commands!
The screen does need to be on, in most cases, but some devices do feature screen-off voice commands. Regardless, you can simply say “OK Google” to trigger Google Now voice actions and just state your request or ask your question.
To activate this feature just open Google Now and open the Settings. Select “Voice” and tap on “OK Google detection”. From this menu you can select whether you want to enable this capability or not.
Wireless charging
While it hasn’t quite become a standard yet, wireless charging technology has been spreading, especially among the top-tier devices. If your phone supports wireless charging, we advice that you give it a try. Not having to plug in your phone every night may sound like a trivial benefit, but it’s one of those things you really can’t live without once you get used to it.
I never have to think about charging my smartphone. After going to bed I can simply place it on top of the charging mat on my bedside. After reaching my office, I drop it on the wireless charging stand on of my desk. I literally haven’t plugged my smartphone to a wall in months. Sure, you loose features like Quick Charge, but I believe it’s worth it.
See also: Best wireless chargers – how they work and perform
Take advantage of NFC
Android is no longer the only platform to support NFC, but it was the first to really push it into the market, and it also happens to be the OS that takes the most advantage of this communications technology. With only a few exceptions, NFC is pretty much available in all Android devices that are at least a little relevant.
What can you do with NFC? Well, touching phones to transfer files between handsets is only the beginning. Users can also connect to accessories, use Android Pay to make store payments and even automate processes (turn WiFi on/off, etc.).
See also: How to use NFC on Android
Android Device Manager can be a life saver!
Have you ever lost your phone? That dreaded experience can traumatize you for life, especially if the device lands in the wrong hands. Remember your most private information is usually stored in that smartphone. At this point, the actual value of the handset becomes unimportant compared to what people could do with your data.
Thankfully, Google built its own Android Device Manager for keeping your phone and data secure. Once you set up the service, it’s super simple to locate, lock, wipe or ring your device. All remotely, from any browser.
Play around with lock screen security
And while we are on the topic of lost/stolen phones, we will suggest that you protect your device by setting up your lock screen authentication. You can choose a PIN, pattern or password, but Android also has funner ways to securely access your device.
One of them is Face Unlock, which uses the front-facing camera to recognize your facial feature. Some newer phones also include fingerprint readers, and some even have eye scanners.
Enable app installation from “unknown sources”
Have you ever heard of “sideloading”? It’s pretty much the act of manually installing an application, without using an app market or getting the software directly from the Google Play Store. You can only do this if you head over to your Settings, access the “Security” section and enable the “Unknown sources” option.
Be careful, though! Installing applications from third-party sources (websites, forums, etc) can be dangerous. This is one of the most popular ways for viruses and malware to spread. But there is a whole other world you could unlock if you are careful and do things right.
Use Smart Lock
Keeping your phone secure is crucial, but you must also think about convenience. This is why I love Smart Lock, one of Android’s most hidden features. What Smart Lock does is allow users to bypass lock screen security when the device is connected to specific devices or is found within certain locations.
For example, I can make it so that my phone won’t ask me for unlocking authentication when it is connected to my smart watch (this works with any Bluetooth device). In addition, I can tell Android to skip these annoyances when it is within a certain area, such as your house.
Just head over to your Settings app, access the “Security” options and select “Smart Lock” to see all the features.
Try a 3rd party launcher
It’s OK if you like the way your device looks already, but you must at least try some 3rd party launchers before you decide to settle with the stock one. It is, after all, one of the best things the Android ecosystem has to offer. Launchers allow users to manipulate the way the UI looks. You can make it look more like vanilla Android, for example, or you could go nuts and download all kinds of icon packs and different elements.
Related: 15 best Android launcher apps of 2015
Also, play around with other keyboards
We know it’s easy to just purchase a phone and stick to the keyboard it uses by default, but keep in mind there’s a bevy of options out there. There’s so many third party keyboards out there. Some of them have crazy mind-reading abilities, others offer beautiful skins and some others expand your character availability like you’ve never seen before.
Related: 15 best keyboard for Android apps
Get rid of bloatware!
For the love of everything that is holy, just get rid of all that annoying bloatware! We wish manufacturers and carriers did this, but they feel the need to push unnecessary apps down our throats. Now, this can be a little tricky, as these apps are often locked to the device and can’t be uninstalled.
Check if you can get rid of them first. If a regular uninstall doesn’t work, you can go ahead and disable these applications. This will cease all activity coming from this app, and it will no longer show up in your app drawer. Yes, the data will continue to be there, but at least it won’t be all over your precious interface.
Head over to your Settings and select the “Apps” section. Find the application you want to get rid of and select it. Within the options you will find a “Disable” button.
Wrapping up
So there you have it, guys! These are all cool features you likely won’t find in instruction manuals, yet they will help you really take advantage of your powerful tech gadgets. There is a lot more you can do, though, so let’s take it to the comments section to discuss other hidden treasures found within all that awesome Android code.
What other fun tips would you recommend to new Android users? Sound off in the comments!
Nearly a quarter of Android users are running Lollipop
Android Lollipop is enjoying its last, shining moment in the sun before Marshmallow arrives in earnest. Google’s not-quite-current operating system now accounts for 23.5 percent of active Android users, a healthy 2.5-point boost from what you saw just one month ago. That’s still trailing behind Jelly Bean (30.2 percent) and KitKat (38.9 percent), but it’s clear that all those new devices and upgrades are starting to add up. The real question is whether or not that momentum will last. Marshmallow is arriving relatively quickly, and shouldn’t suffer from the early performance and battery life woes that kept some people from upgrading last year. If the newer release catches on quickly, Lollipop might not reach the lofty adoption rates of its predecessors.
Via: Android Community
Source: Android Developers
Android market share in the United States experiences a minor slump
Just this past month Android saw market share gains but the same can not be said when looking back at early months.
A new report from comScore states that Android experienced some losses when it comes to market share in the states during a recent three month period. From the end of May to the end of August, Android dropped from a 52.1% share to only having 51.7%. This is a point change of .4%. Microsoft and Blackberry also saw losses during the period, dropping .1% a piece. Apple made up all the loss and gained .6% share during the time frame. However, Android remained the dominant OS for the period.
According to comScore, 191.1 million U.S. residents now own a smartphone. That’s just over 77% mobile market penetration. In the states, Apple remained the number one OEM when it comes to sales, as predicted. The company managed to increase its share .6% during the period reaching 44.1% market share in the month of August. Samsung was second but managed to lose 1.3% of its share, ending in August with 27%. LG saw the largest gain over the period placing third overall with a growth of .9%. The company now lies at 9.1%. Placing a close fourth and fifth were Motorola and HTC.
When it comes to applications, Facebook continues to lead the way with a % reach of 75.4%. Rounding out the top five were Facebook Messenger, YouTube, Google Play and Google Search. These included downloads on both the Android and iOS platform added together. More details can be seen at the source link down below.
Source: comScore
Come comment on this article: Android market share in the United States experiences a minor slump
Google Translate works within apps for Android Marshmallow users
When Android Marshmallow arrives on your device, you can also get a really handy update for Google Translate. Instead of having to switch between apps to translate text, you’ll be able to do some language switching right within the app you’re using. Simply highlight the text you want to read or write up and click Translate when it pops up. You can use it, for instance, to read reviews on TripAdvisor about a hotel overseas, scan the LinkedIn profile of a person from another country or talk to someone who’s not that fluent in your language on WhatsApp. Mountain View says the feature is ready to use with any app that takes advantage of Android’s text selection behavior, and developers can easily update their applications to support it. It’s already rolling out within this week, but you might get the latest version of Android itself later than that, depending on your device’s manufacturer.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
Via: Droid-life
Source: Google Translate
Synaptics will bring pressure-sensitive screens to Android phones
Right now, the only way to get a pressure-sensitive screen in a smartphone is to snag an iPhone 6s or wait patiently for the Force Touch version of Huawei’s Mate S. You won’t have to be quite so picky in the near future, though: Synaptics has unveiled ClearForce technology that brings pressure sensitivity to many phones (read: Android). The tech enables the kind of finger-savvy features you’ve already seen in the iPhone and Mate S, such as contextual menus and photo zooming, as well as extra tricks like scrolling and choosing special keyboard characters. Synaptics isn’t saying just which phone makers like the concept, but “leading” brands should launch their ClearForce devices sometime in the first quarter of 2016.
Via: 9to5Google
Source: Synaptics
Sharp RoBoHoN: a cute humanoid robot smartphone you will want to buy
Sharp’s newly announced RoBoHoN seems like a gadget coming straight out of those April Fool’s Day pranks. And so after giving myself a few slaps in the face and checking multiple calendars, I realized it was just October 6th and kept looking around for more signs of this being some kind of joke… only to find out there were none.
The RoBoHoN seems to be real, and it may be the closest thing to an actual “android”, at least in the consumer market. It’s a bipedal, humanoid robot that works as a smartphone and digital assistant. Of course, it can be used for mundane tasks like making calls and sending emails, but the robot can do much more. All while looking amazingly cute.
As you can see in the video, setting alarms, scheduling reminders and calling cabs is only a phrase away with the RoBoHoN. The system can intelligently recognize your voice and act in accordance. It’s also possible for the unit to use its camera for taking pictures, and the best part is that it needs no camera man. This little robot can move around, so it does it all on its own!
Oh, and about moving around – RoBoHoN can walk, squat and more. This makes its built-in projector an awesome tool, as the android can intelligently point its content at any surface or wall with a few commands.
If all of that was not enough, you also get a tiny 2-inch QVGA (320×240) display for when voice commands are just not enough. Of course, the idea is not to use this as a full fledged smartphone, which is why so little importance was focused on the display. It’s all about that human-like interaction.
The RoBoHoN measures about 19.5 cm in eight and weighs in at about 390 grams. It’s no small product, but it is still mobile, as it does sport 3G, LTE and WiFi antennas. Packed inside you will also find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC.
And while Sharp made no mention of it, the device does seem to run Android. It’s home and back UI buttons look identical to those in Android, and the notification bar is reminiscent of Google’s mobile OS. It would be a heavily modified version, though.
Don’t you all just want to buy this thing right away?! My poor little heart continues to melt as I realize I probably have no need for this thing. But then again, that has never stopped me in the past. Those interested will have to wait until the first half of 2016, which is when the official release is scheduled to be. There’s no mention of a price point… or global availability. Be sure we will let you know as soon as we learn more, though.
Preorder the Ulefone Paris 4g 8-core Android 5.1 unlocked smartphone at Gearbest.com for $129.99
With last year’s launch of the OnePlus One, dubbed the “flagship killer” manufacturer OnePlus proved you could build a smartphone with the same specs as other flagships and sell it for half the cost if you cut out overhead like overproduction and advertising. That was a year ago. Technology improves at a logarithmic pace and I personally believe unlocked and cheaper smartphones are the way of the future.
As technology improves like with LCD TVs, the price drops dramatically in just a short time. As smartphones reach a point of diminishing returns when it comes to hardware improvements, the next thing to fall is price. Check out the Ulefone Paris 4g smartphone on pre-order sale at gearbest.com. The days of premium prices are coming to an end with phones like this one. Stop wasting your money for features you don’t need. For a fraction of the cost you get Android 5.1, octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, and a 5.0″ LCD HD display. Check out what $129.99 buys with free shipping in the specs below.
Check to see if the phone is compatible with your network before you make a purchase. The Ulefone Paris 4G is offered in black and white.
Specifications:
 Basic Information
Brand: Ulefone SIM Card Type: Dual Micro SIM Card |
 Hardware
CPU: MTK6735 64bit |
 Network
Wireless Connectivity: 3G, GPS, WiFi, GSM, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G |
 Display
Screen type: IPS+OGS |
 Camera
Camera type: Dual cameras (one front one back) |
 Media Formats
Picture format: BMP, PNG, JPEG, GIF |
 Other Features
I/O Interface: Micro USB Slot, TF/Micro SD Card Slot, 3.5mm Audio Out Port Gravity Sensing, Browser |
 Battery
Battery Capacity (mAh): 1 x 2250mAh |
 Package Contents
Cell Phone: 1 |
 Dimensions
Product size: 14.45 x 7.17 x 0.8 cm / 5.68 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches |
The post Preorder the Ulefone Paris 4g 8-core Android 5.1 unlocked smartphone at Gearbest.com for $129.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google denies scooping up your car’s data through Android Auto
If you ask Motor Trend, Porsche is leery of supporting Android Auto. The sports car badge supposedly refused to use it due to an agreement that required sending Google tons of data about a vehicle, from its speed to its oil temperature. That would be pretty damning if true — but it’s not, according to the search firm. Google tells The Verge that it doesn’t collect any of the information mentioned in MT‘s Porsche piece, and that you only opt in to sharing things that improve your Android Auto experience, such as hands-free control and navigation.
This is definitely case of he-said-she-said, but there are reasons to believe that Google is telling the truth. You see, Volkswagen (Porsche’s parent company) supports Android Auto in most of its 2016 lineup. Unless Stuttgart knows something that Wolfsburg doesn’t, it wouldn’t make sense for one VW brand to embrace the technology while another kicks it to the curb. Also, Android Auto can’t really make use of a lot of that information — at least, not yet. Google just doesn’t have the incentive to gather that much data, and you’d probably see a broader industry backlash if the harvesting really was that egregious.
Source: The Verge
Which Android devices are getting Marshmallow and when?
Google has started rolling out Android 6.0, aka Marshmallow, to a handful of Nexus devices. But, as great as that is, there are still millions of people who have to wait for third-party manufacturers or carriers to get the update. Thankfully, companies like HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sony and T-Mobile are already outlining their plans to distribute the latest, tastiest version of Android. Not everyone will be happy, of course, but the list of smartphones set to receive Marshmallow isn’t bad — and chances are more will be added over the next few weeks. “So, am I getting it,” you ask? If so, when? Let’s find out.
- Nexus 5
- Nexus 6
- Nexus 7 (2013)
- Nexus 9
- Nexus Player
- Android One smartphones
The over-the-air update should be rolling out now, according to Google.
HTC
- HTC One M9
- HTC One M8
- HTC One M9+
- HTC One E9
- HTC One E9+
- HTC One ME
- HTC One E8
- HTC One M8 EYE
- HTC Butterfly 3
- HTC Desire 826
- HTC Desire 820
- HTC Desire 816
HTC says Marshmallow should be available on these handsets by the end of the year.
Motorola
- 2015 Moto X Pure Edition (third-generation)
- 2015 Moto X Style (third-generation)
- 2015 Moto X Play
- 2015 Moto G (third-generation)
- 2014 Moto X Pure Edition in the US (second-generation)
- 2014 Moto X in Latin America, Europe and Asia (second-generation)
- 2014 Moto G and Moto G with 4G LTE (second-generation)
- 2014 Moto MAXX
- 2014 Moto Turbo
- Droid Turbo
- Nexus 6
The good news? Motorola’s taking care of a lot of devices. The bad news? There are no availability details.”We have high standards, so we’ll work fast but we won’t push the upgrades out until we know they’re ready,” the company said in a blog post.
Sony
- Xperia Z5
- Xperia Z5 Compact
- Xperia Z5 Premium
- Xperia Z4 Tablet
- Xperia Z3+
- Xperia Z3
- Xperia Z3 Compact
- Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
- Xperia Z2
- Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Xperia M5
- Xperia M4 Aqua
- Xperia C5 Ultra
- Xperia C4
Timing-wise, Sony says it’s working hard to deliver Marshmallow to you as quickly as it can, but it didn’t share any details beyond that.
T-Mobile
- HTC One M8
- HTC One M9
- LG G3
- LG G4
- LG G Stylo
- Nexus 5
- Nexus 6
- Nexus 7 (2013)
- Nexus 9
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S5
- Samsung Galaxy S6
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
Unlike its rivals in the US, T-Mobile was thoughtful enough to put together a list of devices that will get Android 6.0. There’s also a tool on the carrier’s site that lets you see what stage of the update process each device in, which is going to be greatly appreciated by users.
As we said earlier, though, more details from other networks and manufacturers are due to pop up throughout the coming weeks — so stay tuned to this article, as we’ll be updating it with any further details.
[Image credits: yamagiwa2000/Flickr]
Porsche Chooses CarPlay Over Android Auto Due to Google’s Data Collection Policy
Porsche has announced that its forthcoming 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S will support Apple’s CarPlay platform. According to Moto Trend (via AppleInsider), Porsche selected CarPlay over Android Auto because under the agreement of partnering with Google, certain amounts of data would have been sent to the search giant.
Some of this data would have included vehicle speed, throttle position, and engine revs, all points of information that would constantly be flowing back to Google’s headquarters each time a driver gets in the car. Comparatively, all Apple’s CarPlay requires to know is whether the car is accelerating while the system is being used.
There’s no technological reason the 991/2 doesn’t have Android Auto playing through its massively upgraded PCM system. But there is an ethical one. As part of the agreement an automaker would have to enter with Google, certain pieces of data must be collected and mailed back to Mountain View, California. Stuff like vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, engine revs—basically Google wants a complete OBD2 dump whenever someone activates Android Auto. Not kosher, says Porsche.
Porsche’s reasoning behind the decision points to not wanting to share the information with Google that could include the ingredients to its “secret sauce that makes its cars special,” along with the fact that Google is reportedly building its own car at the moment. A few other vehicle manufacturers have announced support for CarPlay, but the service is just this year beginning to see a wider release despite being announced — as “iOS in the Car” — over two years ago.
AIVAnet 