Check if your Android device is vulnerable with this new tool – VTS for Android
When it comes to mobile security, this year has been somewhat of a dilemma for Android users.
The big scare is the security hole Stagefright, where all it took to install malicious code was a simple text message. Fortunately, Google and other manufacturers of Android devices have taken steps to patch these holes and release them quickly as possible to users.
However, with so many different Android devices and versions out in the wild, along with the varying carriers that have to approve such fixes, it can be difficult to know if your devices are vulnerable to malware or not.
NowSecure, a mobile security firm, have released a new open-source tool that can quickly and easily show if your device is open to attack or not. The Android Vulnerability Test Suite (VTS) searches for more than a dozen security holes, including Stagefright, so that users can easily determine whether their devices are vulnerable and to what.
The starting page of the tool also provides information regarding your Android device
“In implementing these checks we attempt to minimize or eliminate both false positives/false negatives without negatively affecting system stability,” says NowSecure on the tool’s Google Play listing.
After its search, VTS will show what security vulnerabilities are patched on your device
As VTS is open-source, users can file bugs or other issues on their GitHub repository. Let’s hope this new tool will help Android users stay vigilant when it comes to mobile security, and that Google, OEMs and carriers do their part in releasing patches as quickly as possible.
Google Play Store link to VTS for Android
The post Check if your Android device is vulnerable with this new tool – VTS for Android appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Some users are reporting spontaneously cracking Nexus 6P glass windows
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Glass is increasingly being used in smartphones to great effect, particularly on the new Nexus 6P. It turned out to be somewhat of a necessity given that the device is entirely metallic, but it still manages to look quite good. However, there are some users reporting spontaneously cracking Nexus 6P glass windows – here is one recount of the event via Reddit:
It was sat on a table next to me when I heard the glass snap, leaving a little snowfall of shavings on the table under it. It’s now continuing to crack away to itself..
There have been several other reports of similar behaviour, though neither Huawei nor Google have responded to any of these claims. The issue seems to stem from combining the window made of Gorilla Glass – which is tightly bound internally – and the metal frame, which is suspected to be exerting forces on the glass window it wasn’t designed to withstand – but naturally this is all just speculation. While it doesn’t appear to be a widespread problem, it doesn’t seem uncommon either, so we’ll see if any official word on the issue is dropped in the next week or two.
What do you think about the spontaneously cracking Nexus 6P glass windows? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Reddit via TalkAndroid
The post Some users are reporting spontaneously cracking Nexus 6P glass windows appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
A few Nexus 6P users have reported spontaneously breaking rear glass panels
Some Nexus 6P users have reported on Reddit and Twitter that the rear glass panel that covers the camera, flash and laser autofocus module of the device spontaneously cracked during normal usage. The users have reported that the panel would just brake on its own, without any impact.
Another user has reported that the front glass panel of his Nexus 6P spontaneously cracked during an airline flight while the device was left untouched. After delaying the shipments of the Nexus 6P to customers, Google and Huawei might have found another way to further irritate their customers, as the Nexus 6P might be suffering from a design flaw. Although there is no certainty that the panels did actually brake on their own, there is no way to be sure that this is a design/technical engineering issue. The Nexus 6P’s body is primarily made out of aluminium, which is prone to expanding and contracting during changes in temperature, humidity and air pressure.
For those who had their glass panels crack spontaneously, the positive side of things is that the repair should be covered under the standard hardware warranty that will get your panel replaced for free.
Let us know if your Nexus 6P front or rear glass panel cracked by itself!
Source: r/Android
Via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: A few Nexus 6P users have reported spontaneously breaking rear glass panels
Android Authority this week – November 8, 2015
Android fans, this week brought us a very interesting report on how Google tries to fight Android fragmentation by standardizing components. Contradictory rumors about the camera of the upcoming Galaxy S7 surfaced. Meanwhile, Samsung’s future in the mobile industry came into question, following one prominent analyst’s prediction. Huawei teased the upcoming Mate 8 and launched the Kirin 950 processor. Google released updates for its productivity apps and tweaked the terms of the Android One program. Finally, Motorola launched the Turbo Edition of the Moto G, and more rumors surfaced about the Xiaomi Mi 5.
Inside AA HQ
As we’re getting closer to the holidays, there’s a distinct slowdown in the world of Android. The biggest devices of the season are already familiar; the Marshmallow update cycle is yet to start; and next year’s crop of flagship is still several months away. Hopefully, we’ll still get some exciting new devices by the end of the year, with the Xiaomi Mi 5 and Huawei Mate 8 standing out. And, considering what we’ve been hearing about Google’s plans for next year, there’s always a chance that some juicy leaks will give us what to talk about.
Things are pretty quiet around AA HQ too, but we still had a few standout posts this week: namely, make sure to check Nirave’s very special throwback hands-on, Krystal’s reviews of the new Droids, and Gary’s blockbuster report on the top SoCs of the moment.
This week, the prize in our weekly giveaway is a Nexus 5X! Good luck, everybody!
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The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: Droid Maxx 2 review: how good is Motorola’s latest big battery phone?
- Review: Droid Turbo 2: shatterproof screen, but what else is worth knowing about this phone?
- Hands-on: Hands-on with the Nokia 3410, 13 years later
- Feature: Now that we take Huawei seriously, what’s next for the Chinese giant?
- Tech talk: Check out Gary’s super showdown between the top SoCs of the moment
- Comparison: Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: the best of Android vs the best of iOS
- Review: The One A9 looks beautiful, but is it worth the money?
Top news of the week
Google is getting into chip making
Samsung’s future
- Samsung CEO: “If we resist changes, then we won’t survive”
- Why an analyst thinks Samsung will stop making smartphones in 5 years, and why I disagree.
Galaxy S7 camera rumors
Huawei news
- Huawei Mate 8 teased for Nov 26 unveiling
- Kirin 950 announced: What you need to know
- Huawei G7 Plus official: 5.5-inch 1080p and 13MP camera
Google apps updates
- Inbox by Gmail will read your emails and type out replies for you
- Google Drive update makes sharing files much more convenient
- Latest Google Play Services further simplifies the sign-in experience
Changes to Android One
Xiaomi Mi5 launch date rumored
Moto G gets a Turbo Edition
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Google will give you up to $12 in Play Store credit if you have Chromecast dongles attached to your account
Google has yet again begun giving out $6 in free Play Store credit for each Chromecast and Android TV associated with a user’s account. In other words, if you bought a new Chromecast and a Chromecast Audio dongle, Google could be giving you up to $12 in free Play Store credit.
This promotion not only applies to the Chromecast, but Android TV’s as well. It doesn’t have to be a specific Android TV, it seems. Whether you get a SHIELD TV, Forge TV or Nexus Player, they all seem to be eligible for that $6 in credit.
An important point to note is that, at least as far as the Chromecasts go, $12 in credit seems to be the maximum you can get. Having more than two Chromecast devices isn’t going to net you another $6 in credit. We’re not sure if this same rule applies to the Android TV’s or not.
Google’s promotion is available in the United States, though we’re not sure if it applies to other markets as well. If you’ve got a Chromecast or Android TV attached to your account, you can head over the Chromecast Offers page to begin redeeming your rewards. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use the Cast extension on the Chrome browser to detect the Chromecast and Android TV hardware on your network.
What are you waiting for? Go redeem that free Google money!
source: Google
via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Google will give you up to $12 in Play Store credit if you have Chromecast dongles attached to your account
Google adds Fly Labs to its Photos team
With the acquisition of Fly Labs, Google looks to expand upon its Photos team.
Just this past week, Google acquired the company Fly Labs in order to improve upon its Photos team and app. With the recent success the company has had, Google believes it will be a well worthy pickup.
Fly Labs has a suite of apps including Tempo, Fly Crop and Clips. All of which are guided towards editing one’s photos and videos. The apps are said to last in the Play Store for the next three months, but include no further updates. It’ll be interesting to see how Google implements the technology into its already good Photos application. But as you may know, good is never enough to Google. There’s always room for improvement, and this will likely be a good one time come the update’s release.
Source: Fly Labs
Come comment on this article: Google adds Fly Labs to its Photos team
Google has acquired Fly Labs to boost Google Photos functionality
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Google has really doubled down on its Google Photos app, and yet another remind of this, Google has acquired Fly Labs to bolster the functionality that already exists. If you’ve never heard of Fly Labs, that’s because their apps – Clips, Tempo, Fly and Crop – have only been available on the iOS platform to the tune of 3 million downloads and 20 million videos edited. This purchase means that these apps will only exist on the App Store for another 3 months, and won’t be receiving any other updates – but you know, that’s only if you have an iOS device.
If you’re on an Android device and love Google Photos, you’ll be excited to know that Google is going to be incorporating Fly Labs video editing know-how into the Google Photos app. It seems inevitable now that Google Photos is going to be morphed into your one-stop shop for all visual media needs and presumably Google’s machine learning algorithms are going to be coming along for the ride too – we’re excited.
What do you think about Google acquiring Fly Labs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Fly Labs via Android Police
The post Google has acquired Fly Labs to boost Google Photos functionality appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Have a Chromecast or Android TV? Claim your $6 of Google Play Store credit (US only)
When it comes to streaming devices, you can’t get much better value than with the Chromecast. This little HDMI dongle is only $35! What could make it better? Well, the Google Play Store is often handing out freebies and deals for Cast users. If you have a Chromecast or Android TV device you will want to continue reading, as we are about to tell you how to get $6 of Google Play Store credit for free!
Let’s start by telling you a bit about the promotion first. Just like last February, the Google Play Store is offering $6 of Google Play Store credit to any Cast user, whether he/she owns a Chromecast or Android TV. This does extend to multiple devices, so if you happen to have a couple Cast-enabled gadgets you will be entitled to $12.
Each device has to be associated with your account. So far it does seem to be a US-only offer, but nothing is stopping you from trying. It also seems to work with all Android TVs, at least according to online reports so far.
How to get my $6 of Google Play Store credit
Want to cash in on this deal? The process is super simple! There are two ways to redeem this offer: through the Chrome browser and through the web.
Redeem $6 credit through Chrome browser
- Go to the Google Cast Offers website.
- This does use the Cast extension, so make sure it’s installed, activated and that your Cast devices are on (in the same network as the device you are using).
- Check the website box that says you agree to share your Chromecast’s device ID with Google. Then press “Continue”.
- The deal should be in your available options. Redeem your $6 and follow instructions.
Redeem $6 credit through the Chromecast app
- If you don’t have it yet (for whatever reason), go ahead and download the Chromecast app from the Google Play Store.
- Launch the Chromecast application.
- Make sure your Google Cast device is on and in the same network as your phone.
- Tap on the Google Cast device when it shows up on the application.
- Click on the 3-dot menu and select “Check for offers”.
- Select your offer of choice and follow instructions to redeem it.
Wrapping up
Who doesn’t like some good freebies? Lucky for Chromecast and Android TV owners, these are plentiful. Now you can get a game, buy some music or rent a movie to stream through Google Cast. Hit the comments to let us know if it all went smoothly!
Three big reasons you’ll want the new Google Play App
Google typically updates their Play Store several times each month, most of them being small and bringing little new features. As it’s turned out, however, Google has been hard at work to bring us a bounty of handy features.
While they’re not yet implemented for public use, snippets of code reveal that several new features are in the works. This hints at a larger, more prominent update in the works. So, here are three features that will have you on your toes:
Families and the Family Library
Similar to Apple’s ‘Family Sharing’, this allows you to buy and share content from the Play Store and then share it with friends and family.
Image courtesy androidpolice.com
Judging from these strings, we could assume for now that a family member who created the group has control of it as well, with the ability to do basic admin actions. There were also layout files that indicate that parents can set purchase restrictions for teens, but very little to hint at kiddies accounts as was previously rumored.
We could debate whether this feature was inspired by Apple’s iOS 8, but we all know that that might get heated really quickly.
NFC Card Support
Just in case it was too much effort to hold you card up to the camera to scan your number in, it appears that you will be able to add it in with NFC. Granted your card supports it, simply holding it against your phone will add the card to your account.
Image courtesy androidpolice.com
Sending Gifts
Something that we’ve also been wanting for a while, gifting, is also on the way. If you want to send a paid item to someone, it is likely you will be able to know. It’s not clear if this applies to just apps or if you’ll be able to gift books, music and movies as well.
Image courtesy androidpolice.com
Entering the recipients email, you can send a short message and your name (if you want). And if they’re rude and hurt your feelings, you can gift it someone else if they reject it.
You can head over here to download this pre-update version. What are your thoughts on this update?
The post Three big reasons you’ll want the new Google Play App appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google is looking for ways to make their own chips, much like Apple
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It goes without saying that Google wants to beat Apple in the smartphone space. While it definitely does so in some areas – like adoption rate for instance – the ugly issue of fragmentation often rears its head. To try and combat this and control what hardware manufacturers are using, there are reports that Google is exploring the option of having a chip manufacturer make various smartphone components designed by Google itself, much like what Apple does with the Ax chips, which are manufactured by Samsung.
The story goes that Google had started discussions this fall (northern hemisphere) to potentially make a whole device in-house at Google – the benefit of this is obvious, with Google able to build a system that could be better integrated with Android. The obvious pitfall in this plan is finding the right manufacturer with most of the big manufacturers reluctant to surrender their competitive edge to Google – settling for a lower tier manufacturer might not be an option for Google if producing cutting edge devices is their intention. Of course, there are ways to do this – it’s possible that Google mandates that future Nexus manufacturers choose the components that Google specifies, though it will be interesting to see which manufacturer would be willing to play along with that plan.
What do you think about Google making their own hardware? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: The Information via The Verge
The post Google is looking for ways to make their own chips, much like Apple appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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