How to Change Default Apps in Android
You’ve probably been assigning default apps the entire time you’ve been using your Android device without even realizing it. The prompt is such a common part of using an Android that many users don’t notice that they’re making decisions that will determine how their device will behave from that point forward.
If you tap a link to an Instagram picture, Android may ask if you want to open the image with your Chrome browser or your Instagram app. With word documents, do you want to use Google Docs or Open Office? Twitter or Hootsuite? Gallery or Photos? Sure, Android will ask whether you want to use this app just once or always, but many of users find themselves tapping “Always” without really thinking about it.
By design, the Android operating system attempts to adapt to your preferences and keep the number of redundant prompts to a minimum. If you always open links to instagram.com with your Instagram app, then it tries to give you the option to skip that prompt.
Here we’ll explore how to gain full control over the apps your Android device uses by default. From your messaging apps to your launcher, all defaults can be changed, set, and reset with the following steps.
How to Set a Default App if None Exists
The Android operating system has a pretty neat feature called “implicit intent.” Basically, if the user or an app calls for the device to do something like “take a picture,” then the operating system will look for an app that can get the job done. If more than one option exists, then Android will ask the user which they would prefer. This makes the process of setting default apps easy and intuitive.
Begin a New Activity
Start an activity that you want to assign a default app to. This could range from clicking a link to a specific service to opening a certain type of file. If no options pop up, then that means one of two things: either you only have one app that can complete the activity, or you’ve already set a default app for the activity.
Choose Always
A dialogue box will appear and provide you with a list of apps that you can use. Choose the app you want. When asked if you would like to use this app “Only once” or “Always,” choose “Always” to set this app as the default for this activity.
Continue Along Your Way
Since the app is now established as the default, whenever you perform that activity, Android will be sure to use your preferred app. Now you don’t have to select which app to use every time!
Note that if you download a new app that can perform the same function, Android will provide the dialogue box again to see if you want to use your new app instead.
Change Individual Default Apps
Let’s say you want to mix things up a bit. What if you decide you don’t want to use the Instagram app anymore? Now you want to open Instagram pictures with your internet browser. How do you stop Android from always opening Instagram links with the Instagram app?
No problem! Just reset that app’s defaults and choose a new default the next time you’re prompted.
Go to Settings
First, go to your Android’s settings. This is almost always a gear-shaped icon that can be located among your apps or in a pulldown menu from your homescreen.
Go to App Settings
Under Settings, locate “Apps” or “App Settings.” Then choose the “All Apps” tab near the top.
Choose the App
Find the app that Android is currently using by default. This is the app you don’t want to use anymore for this activity.
Reset Default settings
On the App’s settings, choose Clear Defaults.
Return to the Process
Head back to the activity you want to perform. For instance, if you cleared Instagram’s defaults, you might click on an Instagram.com link again. This will trigger an “implicit intent,” and since Android no longer has a default set up, it will ask you which app you would prefer to use.
Select New Default App
Tap the app you want to start using instead and then tap “Always.”
You’re done!
Mission accomplished. From now on, Android will regard your chosen app as the default for this activity.
Change Default Apps by Function
Unlike Windows, Android doesn’t keep a running list of all default apps in one easy-to-find location. However, you can use an app called Default App Manager to check out what defaults have been set. An excellent feature of this app is that it lets you assign defaults to whole categories of intent.
Get the App
Download and install Default App Manager from the Google Play Store.
Find the Right Category
Launch the app to see a list of defaults. Use the “Category Wise” tab to view commonly used activities by category. This sorts defaults into broad groups like camera use, browser, email, or calendar. From here you can reset or apply defaults to apps associated with these categories.
Clear Defaults
Select the category you want to reset, and tap the Clear Defaults option. Now all defaults associated with that category will be freed up to re-assign.
Nuclear Option: Reset all Default Apps
If you can’t quite figure out which app default is giving you fits and the option to choose a new default isn’t appearing no matter what you do, there’s still hope!
However, bear in mind that going through with this procedure will also enable all disabled apps, reset any app notification options, remove any background data restrictions or permission restrictions placed on specific apps. You won’t lose any data, but if you play around with your apps’ settings a lot, you might have to do a fair amount of reconfiguring.
Go to Settings
Start by accessing Settings via the gear icon in your app tray or homescreen pulldown menu.
Go to App Settings
Find the “Apps” or “App Settings” listing and tap it.
Tap the Options Icon
From the list of apps, tap the Options icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen. This icon is almost always three vertical dots.
Reset all Defaults
From the menu that drops down, select “Reset app preferences.”
A warning screen will pop up alerting you that this will do more than merely reset all defaults. Again, you will not lose any data. Tap “Reset Apps” to confirm the operation. Now you will be free to choose all new default apps through the normal methods.
Conclusion
The whole point of default apps is to make your interaction with your Android device easier and quicker. Don’t let accidentally assigned app defaults slow you down! Take control of your device by getting rid of unwanted defaults and assigning ones you really like.
Leaks indicate Blackberry’s Android slider will launch in November
Legendary leaker Evan Blass, also known as evleaks on Twitter has posted new details that “confirm” the Blackberry Venice will release on all four national carriers in November. Not only that we’re being treated to some new pictures of the device that curiously hide one of the biggest features of the device, the slide out keyboard.
BlackBerry Venice confirmed for November release on all four national US carriers. pic.twitter.com/l5jFCGKLjO
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 19, 2015
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Blackberry Venice, here’s what we think we know so far: The Venice will be Blackberry’s big entry into the Android phone market. Up until now Blackberry has relied on their own operating system but with shrinking market share and a lack of top tier apps available for users to download, it gets harder and harder to justify a Blackberry phone on hardware alone. The Venice has been said to carry a slide out keyboard which is a feature high on some users wish list and could differentiate the Venice from other Android devices on the market.
Previous leaks have pointed toward a curved screen much like the new Galaxy S6 Edge Plus along with a Snapdragon 808 SoC powering it, 1440 x 2560 QHD display, and 3 GB of RAM. Google and Blackberry had previously announced an enterprise partnership in July but it seems now that Blackberry is going to test the waters to see if their future lies in the pockets of Android users. Users have previously been able to install some Android apps on Blackberry 10 but it seems now that the Canadian giant is going in with both feet first.
What are your thoughts on the Venice? Will the strategy of top tier hardware and wide availability on all four major carriers be enough to save the wireless giant or is Blackberry still doomed?
Source: evleaks, PhoneArena
The post Leaks indicate Blackberry’s Android slider will launch in November appeared first on AndroidGuys.
10 most iconic mobile phones of all time
Ask people what their favourite phone of all time is and chances are you’ll get a wide variety of answers, with a select few being chosen by many people. Everyone has a particular device they remember, but what devices have defined mobile phones as we know them?
The word iconic has been branded to a lot of different devices and innovations but is there a particular device that has withstood the test of time to remain as iconic as the day it was first released? Here’s 10 phones (some of which you probably know of) that have defined the mobile industry as we know it.
1. Nokia 3310
When it comes to mobile phones, very few are as iconic as the Nokia 3310. Simply put – you either had one, or you know someone who had one. In fact, you probably had one – just about everyone had either the Nokia 3310 or its predecessor, the Nokia 3210. These were the phones that made Nokia the mobile phone king.
The handsets brought Nokia’s XpressOn Covers and the iconic game, Snake (as we know it, with the image of a snake) and permanently changed what we considered to be a mobile phone. Built like a brick with a battery life that people crave today, the Nokia 3310 was the first mobile phone to radicalise an entire industry.
2. Motorola RAZR V3
Where the 3310 made Nokia, the RAZR V3 made Motorola. Before the V3, the concept of a slim phone was alien and even the 3210 and 3310 were bricks compared to this ultra-slim metal-clad mobile device.
The design proved so popular that Motorola continued using it for years and not only was it ultra-slim, but it proved that flip phones could be cool. It forced Motorola’s rivals to reconsider what could be possible with mobile design and brought about an era of manufacturers attempting to make sexy smartphones.
3. Nokia N95
There’s a pattern here and for good reason; Nokia, Motorola and RIM (now known as BlackBerry) were the undisputed kings of the mobile phone industry. The smartphone industry is an entirely different kettle of fish, as you’ll see below, but the Nokia N95 began defining what it meant to be a flagship smartphone.
Nokia’s N95 takes its place on this list for one reason and one reason alone; it heralded a fiercely contested battle (that still rages today) about mobile cameras and gave birth to an entire market devoted to cameras for mobile devices. Add in the cool design, powerful (for its time) OS and tons of neat tricks, the N95 was another device that sold in the tens of millions and is iconic for so many people.
4. Apple iPhone 3G
Let’s be completely fair – it wouldn’t be an iconic phones list without the iPhone. However, unlike other lists, we’re not talking about the original Apple iPhone here. In my personal opinion, the iPhone 3G deserves the plaudits, as it fixed a few basic bits of functionality that were missing from the original iPhone and added a feature that defines smartphones: the App Store.
The rest… is history
Before the App Store, the concept of applications was a myth to most but within six months, it was legendary. When the App Store launched in July 2008, it offered 552 apps but this had swelled to 15,000 apps by January 2009 (when the App Store hit its 1 billionth app download). In September, there were 85,000 apps from 12,500 developers and the App Store had hit 2 billion downloads. The rest, as they say, is history.
The first iPhone also introduced the concept of a touch-friendly OS, unlike RIM and Nokia who had attempted to make non-touch platforms friendly for the new trend of touchscreens. Indeed, Google had been planning a BlackBerry-like platform for its devices but went back to the drawing board after it saw the iPhone; Android was born and it set off down the path towards world domination.
5. T-Mobile G1
To combat the new incumbent iOS, the Open Handset Alliance (with Google as its leader) debuted the Android-powered T-Mobile G1, made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC. The first real Android handset, the G1 was the first step in the rise of Android, with the platform now firmly dominating the smartphone market.
The G1 was iconic not just for being the first Android handset but because it aimed to also cater for those who may not be ready to give up the keyboard. The unique slide-out keyboard was a concept that faded with time – although some manufacturers are aiming to bring it back through unique accessories – but Android certainly hasn’t and shows no signs of abating for years to come.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note
We said there was a trend and there certainly is; the first iPhone saw incumbent heavyweights such as Nokia and Motorola replaced mainly by new challengers from Asia. We’ve already had HTC front the Android movement and while the G1 was iconic, the impact of the Samsung Galaxy Note is still felt today.
The new Note is coming, but is it still special?
The Galaxy Note is iconic for one main reason; it invented the phablet industry. The current trend in the market is for big screen devices but before the Galaxy Note, a 5.5-inch display would have been ridiculed. The Galaxy Note showed that it was possible, it was what customers wanted and out of nowhere, Samsung began on its own journey towards domination.
7. Samsung Galaxy S II
From the big-screen Galaxy Note to the Galaxy S II, and the smartphone that many believe made Samsung the behemoth it is today. Before the Galaxy S II, we had the HTC Desire which was an excellent device but the Galaxy S II was slim, powerful and resembled the iPhone better than anything before it.
The Galaxy S II was soon followed by a spate of new devices from Samsung, with each attempting to be more powerful and with more features than the one before it. The Galaxy S III sold in the millions, the Galaxy S4 even more and after a flop with the Galaxy S5, this year’s Galaxy S6 attempts to continue the trend.
8. Motorola Moto G
Where Samsung set about revolutionising the flagship market, Motorola looked at the low-end and the company’s next big innovation after the RAZR V3 took the market by storm. Simply put, the Moto G redefined what was possible from an entry-level smartphone.
The excellent design, the removable covers and the close to stock Android platform, which delivered a superfast platform, were all refreshing at a time when manufacturers were loading devices – both flagship and entry-level – with bloatware, resulting in poor performance. Since the Moto G, we’ve seen the lower mid-range market become as fiercely contested as the flagship market is and it shows no signs of abating with competition from everyone higher than ever before.
Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi has made it a mission to dominate this market and its new Redmi Note 2 does this, by offering flagship specs with a $140 price tag. No wonder Xiaomi sold 800,000 handsets in just 12 hours, setting a new Chinese record.
9. Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Putting this handset on this list was interesting as it is rather subjective but it made it on the list for one very big reason; as discussed in our podcast a couple of weeks ago, Josh and I both agreed that the Galaxy Note 4 camera rocks! There is a lot to like about Samsung’s phablet flagship last year and while the bloatware and performance left a lot to be desired, the camera was the first time that mainstream Android smartphone cameras were truly unflappable.
Who’s who in the smartphone camera business
The Galaxy Note 4 camera is particularly impressive as Samsung finally adopted Optical Image Stabilisation in its smartphone cameras and in doing so, righted everything that was wrong with the Galaxy Note 3 camera. Even now – almost a year later when the Galaxy Note 5 has already been announced – the Galaxy Note 4 camera continues to perform brilliantly.
10. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Samsung has dominated the later parts of this list for one main reason; it came from nowhere to become the world’s largest smartphone and mobile phone manufacturer. It emulated sunken behemoth Nokia to capture the two coveted crowns and it was largely thanks to the Android-powered Galaxy line.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
The last eighteen months however, has been extremely difficult for the Korean manufacturer and after the failures of the Galaxy S5, this year’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge bought about one of its most radical smartphone designs yet. In the space of a year, the plastic clad Galaxy S5 was replaced by a premium (in every sense of the word) smartphone that’s unlike any other. Not the Galaxy S6 but the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Last year saw Samsung release the Galaxy Note Edge and while that didn’t take off too well, the dual-curved Galaxy S6 Edge is, without doubt, an iconic device. Why, I hear you ask? Simple: it’s the first time a curved smartphone has become widely available and had Samsung made more, it would probably have sold tens of millions more.
Notable Mentions
Given that hundreds of thousands of different devices have been released over the years, picking the iconic devices list was certainly a challenge. Many devices have come close to the list but the ones that stick in the mind range from early basic devices to some of the most powerful and recognisable modern day devices.
Top Phones of 2015:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
The first mention has to go to the Motorola DynaTAC, which was the first phone used to make the world’s first mobile phone call in April 1973. From there, we move to the Nokia 2110, which was released in 1994 and was the first time we heard the iconic Nokia Ringtone, which has gone on to become a cult classic.
Its well documented that Nokia was too slow to respond to the iPhone but when its first big response did come, it managed to sell over 130 million Nokia 5230 handsets. It wasn’t enough however, as the Apple iPhone 4 the following year redefined the iPhone again and reaffirmed Apple’s dominance of the flagship market. It was followed by the iPhone 4S, which introduced Siri, sold better than its predecessor and remains one of the most iconic iPhones of all time.
In response to this, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S II (above, which followed by the Galaxy S III a year later) and 40-50 million of each handset. Since then, we’ve seen the market become ever more saturated and the past twelve months has seen the introduction of devices like the OnePlus One, Huawei Ascend Mate 7, LG G4, HTC One M9 and Xperia Z3 Plus as manufacturers aim to dominate once again.
What was YOUR most iconic device of all time?
That’s our list of iconic devices and there were definitely at least 50 other devices that could have made it onto the list. Making a smartphone standout in the here and now is certainly something that many manage to do but very few remain iconic for years and generations to come.
Chances are you’ve had some of the phones on this list (I’ve still got a RAZR V3, N95, Moto G and S6 Edge which all still work); if so, which ones did/do you have and do they still work? What did/do you like most about them? Let us know your views in the comments below and don’t forget to vote for your most iconic device!
(function ()
document.getElementsByTagName(‘body’)[0]).appendChild(opst);
());
Android Marshmallow celebrated with Chubby Bunny game
We now know the “M”, in Android M, will stand for Marshmallow. Many around the world were excited to finally hear the news, but none more so then Nat and Lo who celebrated the name by playing the Chubby Bunny game.
For those unaware, the game is quite simple. Stick as many marshmallows in your mouth as you can while still being able to say “chubby bunny”. The perfect game to honor Android Marshmallow and better yet, it’s fun for the whole family.
How many marshmallows can you fit in your mouth while still being able to say “chubby bunny”?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Android Marshmallow celebrated with Chubby Bunny game
Android 6.0 statue officially revealed
Today Google took its wraps off the name for the next iteration Android operating system. Marshmallow was announced earlier this year at the company’s annual developers conference. The update will bring many improvements to battery consumption, app permissions, Google Now and much more.
Today at Google’s headquarters located in Googleplex, Mountain View, CA the company put up its statue symbolizing what’s next, as it does with all the new software releases. The company will continue its “Be Together, Not the Same” campaign designed to bring a clean and easy to use user experience for its users with endless options.
Google currently holds the majority of the pie for Mobile OS market-share and is looking to expand upon it in the coming year. The company believes Android M or as we now know, Marshmallow, will include many worthy improvements. With Google’s recent announcement of Marshmallow, one could expect the highly anticipated Nexus devices to be just around the corner. A video containing the official putting up of the statue can be seen below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Android 6.0 statue officially revealed
Get the final Android M Developer Preview for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player
Right now, you can download the latest version of the Android M Developer Preview for select Nexus devices. People with the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player can go ahead and grab system images of the Developer Preview for their devices. Doing so is as simple as manually flashing the system images from the source link below.
This is the third and final version of the Android M Developer Preview before Google delivers Android 6.0 Marshmallow to consumers later in the year. Expect Marshmallow to remain relatively unchanged between now and its launch.
Source: Android Developers
Come comment on this article: Get the final Android M Developer Preview for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player
It’s official: M is for Marshmallow!
Ever since Google’s 2015 I/O, we’ve impatiently been waiting and guessing what the next version of Android will be called, our only clue being that it starts with “M” and it’s (obviously) named something after something sweet.
The wait is over as Google has just unveiled what the next version’s official name is:
Marshmallow
Dave Burke, Android’s VP of Engineering, unveiled the statue on Twitter just a few moments ago:
Marshmallow!!! pic.twitter.com/3JYkCBWD1R
— Dave Burke (@davey_burke) August 17, 2015
With the recent leak of the supposed Nexus for 2015 and now this, it seems like the complete launch of Marshmallow will be here soon. Now that we know what’s it is called, what are your comments on it? Stay tuned to AG for s’more on Marshmallow!
The post It’s official: M is for Marshmallow! appeared first on AndroidGuys.
How LG and Huawei can restore Google’s Nexus program to its former glory
Last year, Google released its sixth Nexus-branded smartphone. Aptly named the Nexus 6, this colossal handset (just over six inches long) shipped with an equally large $649 price tag. Even though it was loaded with solid hardware, initial reviews of Mountain View’s latest flagship smartphone were somewhat divided. Arguably, two of the biggest complaints about the device were its unwieldy robust design and the gadget’s high premium when compared to previous Nexus phones.
Jump back to the present and it appears that Google may have learned from some of the mistakes it made last year. Rumor has it that the company is working on two follow-up smartphones with a pair of new hardware partners. LG is reportedly laboring away on a smaller handset with a display that clocks in at around 5.2-inches. Additionally, Chinese manufacturer Huawei is rumored to be developing a large device more akin to the Nexus 6. We’ve heard plenty of spec-related rumors about these two unannounced smartphones, but nothing trustworthy revealing how much they might cost.
With claims of high-end materials being used for Google’s next two Nexus phones, we’re slightly worried about a repeat of what happened last year. Regardless of pricing or manufacturing, new Nexus gear is certainly imminent and Mountain View’s current setup can use some fine-tuning. Here’s a look at Google’s Nexus program, along with a few things the company can do to help its direct to consumer hardware platform return to its heyday and beyond.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
A Brief History Lesson
A little over five years ago, Google joined forces with HTC to introduce the world to a different type of Android-powered smartphone. Branded as the Nexus One, this new handset was billed as a “pure Google experience.” Free from manufacturer bloatware, the device was initially sold online directly from Google for $530. It shipped with its SIM unlocked and an open bootloader, making the handset a viable tool for developers working on mobile applications. Unlike previous Android smartphones tied to wireless carriers and hardware manufacturers, the Nexus One would be first in line to receive software updates directly from Google.
All of this sounded so promising, but commercially the Nexus One was a bit of a dud. Despite its lackluster release, Google’s new Nexus platform was an underground hit with developers and a growing brood of Android purists. So much in fact, the Alphabet-owned company released a successor just 11 months later. Co-developed by Google and Samsung, the Nexus S was the first smartphone to run Gingerbread and Android’s introduction into the world of Near Field Communication (NFC) tech. Priced at $529, the Nexus S saw more commercial success than its predecessor and was available from a wide variety of wireless carriers.
While Google’s first two entries in its Nexus device portfolio didn’t make huge waves, the company’s third installment was a bit of a game changer. Teaming up with Samsung for a second time, the search giant started selling its unlocked Galaxy Nexus for $399 via Google Play during the spring of 2012. In addition to an attractive price point, the Galaxy Nexus marked Google’s second crack at selling smartphones directly to consumers after its first attempt failed in 2010. Built with a slick design and hardware that offered a brisk performance, Google’s third Nexus phone was an all-around winner with gadget fans and casual types, but things didn’t stop there.
Google then went on to collaborate with LG for its fourth and fifth Nexus branded smartphones. The Nexus 4 officially launched on November 13, 2012 with an entry-level price of only $299. LG’s and Mountain View’s Nexus 5 became available on October 31, 2013 for $349.
With three of Google’s premiere smartphones costing around $400 or less, the Motorola-made Nexus 6’s $649 asking price felt like a hard punch to the gut for even the most loyal Android fans.
How LG and Huawei Can Make Things Better
When it comes to producing Nexus phones, LG has an impressive resume. The South Korean tech giant’s previous efforts are the most affordable and celebrated smartphones on Google’s Nexus roster. Although LG’s current flagship handset is more expensive than devices like the OP2 or Moto X Style it is still quite a bit cheaper than flagships from Samsung and HTC, and we’d expect the Nexus 5 (2015) to push the pricing envelope even further.
What we are really hoping from LG is a return to the basics. That means delivering a solid product without too many bells and whistles, but at the same time working to keep compromises and sacrifices to a minimum to ensure a flagship-level experience at an affordable price point. Thankfully, recent leaked images seem to suggest that’s exactly what we’ll see. While the LG Nexus 5 (2015) will have some modern amenities like a fingerprint scanner and possibly front-facing speakers, its design still has that minimalist quality that many of us appreciated with the original Nexus 5.
As for pricing? If Google and LG really want a hit here they’ll need to reach a price point comparable to Motorola’s fast-approaching Moto X Pure Edition. If LG can do this, while delivering an experience that is on par with the LG G4 and other modern flagships, they’ll be sure to have another modest hit on their hands. Furthermore, Nexus fans that were turned off by the Nexus 6 could flock back to the Nexus brand in mass if the company can deliver an aggresively-priced follow-up to its successful Nexus 5.
LG’s to-do list might not be that lengthy, however Huawei’s itinerary is most likely filled with a few twists and turns. Despite being a major player in the wireless industry, the Chinese firm is practically unknown in several markets, especially Google’s home turf. While Mountain View could use this newly forged alliance to work its way into China, the partnership could also help Huawei gain some traction in the US. A possible case of quid pro quo, the Chinese telecom juggernaut’s first journey into Nexusland could be part of a grander scheme.
Although a lot of people (especially in the US) probably struggle to pronounce the company’s name correctly, Huawei (pronounced “wah-way”) actually makes some respectable phones built with high-end materials. But like several other Android OEMs, the outfit has struggled with software. Since Nexus devices run vanilla Android, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Rumored to be tasked with construction of Google’s larger Nexus phablet, we’d like to see Huawei go all in on the hardware front and produce a well-balanced powerhouse. Hopefully, the company’s new handset will draw inspiration from its top-shelf P8, which features an excellent metal body and one of the better cameras that we’ve seen on a smartphone in quite a while. Even though the P8’s octa-core HiSilicon processor holds up pretty well, we’d still like to see Huawei’s king-size handset ship with a more prominent chip in tow. For now it’s hard to say what the new Huawei Nexus will look like, but a recent leak suggests it could have all-metal design with front-facing speakers and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Looking at the typical pricing of Huawei’s previous devices, it is very possible that the Huawei Nexus could bring us a premium experience at a pricing that is at least a little more aggresive than we saw with the Motorola Nexus 6, thus giving us the best of both worlds.
See also: Google Nexus 2015 rumor roundup (updated on August 16)
Final Thoughts
Google’s Nexus program isn’t exactly against the ropes, but another questionable hardware release can easily lead to consumers having doubt in the company’s house brand, especially as similar near-stock options are now pushing pricing to new heights (such as the Moto X and the OP2).
The decision to launch two different smartphones at or around the same time falls in line with the wireless industry’s status quo. Large plus-size devices are proving to be successful, however some people still gravitate towards a more compact smartphone. We’re just glad to see Google giving people more than one option.
When it comes down to it, LG’s biggest challenge will be producing a handset that feels like more than a shrunken G4 running vanilla Android. As for Huawei’s team, it will most likely have to deal with skeptics wanting a phone from a more popular electronics maker like Samsung, HTC, LG or Sony. And both companies will have to launch their devices with competitive price points in order to be successful.
Despite popular belief, Google’s Nexus smartphones haven’t always been cheap. However, they became more popular when their prices fell below the wireless industry’s normal premium for a high-end device. At the same time, there were those who felt that the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 lacked when it came to special features, battery life, camera, and a few other aspects. If LG and Huawei can deliver new Nexus devices that don’t skimp on special features while still being ultra-competitive with pricing — we’re sure this year will be an epic one for the Nexus program.
If the Huawei and LG Nexus rumors turn out to be true, do you see yourself purchasing one of Google’s new flagship handsets or will you be buying something else instead? Be sure to share your game plan in the comments below.
Google Play Services version 7.8 now available with some new features
You might notice that Google Play Services is prompting you to update via the Google Play Store – this is to bring it to version 7.8, and with it some pretty cool new features. Included in this release is Nearby Messages, Mobile Vision API, as well as Google Cloud Messaging.
- Nearby Messages: Nearby Messages introduces a cross-platform API to find and communicate with mobile devices and beacons, based on proximity. Nearby uses a combination of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and an ultrasonic audio modem to connect devices.
- Mobile Vision API: The Face API allows developers to find human faces in images and video. It’s faster, more accurate and provides more information than the Android FaceDetector.Face API. The Barcode API allows apps to recognize barcodes in real-time, on device, in any orientation. It supports a range of barcodes and can detect multiple barcodes at once.
- Google Cloud Messaging: Google Cloud Messaging has expanded notification to support localization for Android. GCM will handle displaying the notification based on current device locale, which saves you having to figure out which messages to display on which devices!
The latest version of the SDK is now available to download to take advantage of these new features and implement the necessary API’s using the link here.
The post Google Play Services version 7.8 now available with some new features appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs. Note 5: a thorough comparison
Samsung is definitely trying something new with the Note 5. I guess they weren’t satisfied with the Note 4 sales, and dramatically overhauled the design, as well as eliminating the device from Europe altogether. I honestly have no idea why Samsung would choose to eliminate the Note line from Europe, and I am sure this is quite disappointing to those who wish to buy the Note 5. Samsung claims they have been listening to the consumers, which means the consumers have been clamoring for a drastic change in the core of the Note line. And I guess consumers in Europe must hate the Note because Samsung doesn’t want to sell it to them anymore.
Anyways, the announcement has come and gone, and now it is time for a comparison.
From the live stream, the VP of Samsung mobile said they focused on making the device easier to hold, and making it easier to fit into people’s pants who wear “skinny jeans”. Man those people with skinny jeans sure have a loud voice because they brought about a design revolution in the Note series.
The most obvious change between the Note 4 and the Note 5 is the design and build. Samsung opted to go for a premium build in the Note 5 be removing all plastic and swapping it for curved glass on the back of the phone. They also improved the strength of the metal frame. Samsung claimed to make the Note 5 smaller than the Note 4, and they did but marginally. They shaved almost 2mm from the width, 1mm for the thickness, and reduced the weight by 5g(Note 4 weighs 176g and the Note 5 weighs 171g). I’m not sure how reducing the width by 2mm, and the thickness by 1mm helps those with skinny jeans, but I wear chubby jeans so I would need help with this analysis.
In terms of design, the Note 5 looks like a blown up version of the S6 with a stylus.
As good as it looks, I am not a fan of a glass back because it is one more piece that can shatter if it is dropped and even worse, glass will attract greasy fingerprints. The soft plastic back on the Note 4 was definitely a positive when it came to durability and eliminating fingerprints.
The Note 5 is a revolution in terms of design for the Note line. I think the Note 5 and the S6 both look great, but the Note 4 was not a bad looking device either.
Storage
Like the Note 4, the Note 5 will come in 32GB and 64GB models. But unlike the Note 4, the Note 5 will NOT have expandable memory. For Note 4 users, having the ability to add 128GB of memory through a microsd card offered a cheaper alternative to paying $100 for the 64GB model. It also allowed Note 4 users to interchange memory cards if needed.
Samsung made the decision to remove expandable memory from the Note 5, bucking the trend of what other manufacturers are offering. I really don’t understand this move and I certainly do not believe they were listening to consumers as all other flagship devices offer expandable memory including the 2015 Moto X.
Stylus
The famous S Pen got a minor upgrade in how it is removed from the phone. Rather than using a fingernail to grasp the ridges at the bottom of the S Pen, like on the Note 4, Samsung added a spring loaded mechanism – now you push on the stylus and it will pop out.
In addition, Samsung continued its tradition of adding great features to the S Pen like writing on the device when the screen is off. This sounds cool, but writing without seeing is something that will be new to almost all of us. They also added “Write on PDF” which allows users to edit and annotate PDF documents using the S Pen. This sounds very useful if you deal with PDF files like I do.
CPU and RAM
No iteration would go without an upgrade to the CPU, and the Note 5 did that by taking the processor from the S6 and putting it in the Note 5. The Note 3 and Note 4 both had better processors than their S counterparts, so this is a recent change for Samsung. Benchmark tests for the Samsung Exynos 7420 show that it is the top performing CPU at the moment, although by Note standards, having the same processor as the S6 is disappointing as Note users typically want more.
Although Samsung did upgrade the RAM to 4GB which should help with some of the additional features brought to the S Pen.
Both the CPU and RAM should provide a quality experience. Although the Note 4 is no slouch and still ranks near the top of benchmark tests.
Display
The Note 4 display is fantastic. Samsung’s Super AMOLED display is the best display on the market. Contrast ratio and spectacular colors are something you just can’t appreciate until you see the display for yourself. The Note 5 maintained the Note 4’s display size of 5.7″, pixel density of 500+, and 2k resolution. Simply put, the display is the same and that is nothing to balk at. Samsung still maintains its lead on displays through the Note 4 AND Note 5.
Camera
As shown in Josh’s camera comparison test, the S6 camera is special. Samsung realized they hit the nail on the head with this camera and opted to put it in the Note 5. The camera comes as a 16MP shooter with optical image stabilization(OIS), and features a F/ 1.9 aperture which should help it take better low-light shots. The camera is also capable of shooting 4K video at 30fps, and 120fps for slow-motion. Samsung has bridged the gap between mobile devices and DSLR cameras. There really isn’t much need for a standard point-and-shoot camera these days if you can get your hands on the Note 5 camera.
The Note 4 also has a 16MP shooter with OIS, but doesn’t quite match up to the photo quality of the S6 and and Note 5. If Josh can get his hands on both Note devices, I would love to see a head to head comparison of photos between the two devices.
Battery
Sadly, this is one area where all fans will be disappointed. Samsung decided to shrink the Note 4’s 3220mAh battery down to 3000mAh for the Note 5. Samsung claims their new processor is much more energy efficient than the Snapdragon 805, which allowed them to shrink the battery. The Note 5 is rated at 21 hours of talk time whereas the Note 4 is rated at 20 hours. Regardless, Note users can never have enough power so this is a disappointment to see Samsung sacrifice .9mm in thickness for a smaller battery.
The bigger issue for most Note users is with the new design of a fixed back plate. Samsung allowed users to access their battery in the Note 4, which was a favorite for power users as all they needed to do was swap a battery to get back to 100% power.
However, Samsung did add built-in wireless charging into the Note 5, whereas the Note 4 was capable if you changed the back plate to enable wireless charging.
Summary
When I logged into the Androidguys chat group of writers, I noticed a few of them saying how they are excited about the new S6 Plus and the new Note 5. None of them are Samsung loyalists as they all use everything but Samsung, with exception to Josh Noriega who recently switched to the S6 Edge as his first Samsung device. Maybe Samsung is onto something by focusing on design over function. Those of us who have loved Samsung galaxy devices loved them for being different. We clamored over the ability to swap batteries, add SD cards, and things of that sort. Up until the Galaxy S6 Edge and now the Note 5, the writers I work with never really considered a Galaxy device.
The Galaxy Note 5 is nothing to sneeze at and it is one heck of a powerhouse. It comes with the fastest processor available today with 4GB of RAM running on Android 5.1. It is without a doubt a great phone, but not so much so when you compare it to the Note 4.
Even reading through early analysis on popular sites such as Engadget, I see that many people are excited for the Note 5 and S6 Plus, but I can tell you as an actual Samsung fan I am thoroughly disappointed. I feel unheard and unwanted by Samsung. If they can gain better profits and sales through a new customer base, then I applaud them for appeasing their shareholders. I can without a doubt say I care more about functionality over beauty. The sales numbers will speak for themselves and will prove Samsung right or wrong with their drastic changes in the Note line.
// <![CDATA[ !function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^https:/.test(d.location)?'https':'http';if(!d.getElementById(id))js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://cdn1.findthebest.com/rx/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,"script","ftb-widgetjs"); // ]]>
The post Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs. Note 5: a thorough comparison appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 
