Google made an ‘Ebola-proof’ tablet to help combat high-risk diseases
To help the brave men and women who are continuously fighting against Ebola in Sierra Leone, Google has created an ‘Ebola-proof’ tablet for collecting patient data. The tablet, which is based off of a Sony Xperia tablet, features an extra layer of protection that will allow workers to soak the tablet in chlorine for decontamination. The tablet’s sharp edges have been removed to prevent piercing the doctors’ protective clothing, and can be charged wirelessly to minimize openings on the tablet.
Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, requested Google make a tablet that could withstand storms and high humidity that are usually found in the Ebola zone (West Africa). Doctors fighting against the virus, until now, have struggled to transfer patient data between one another. In fact, a Médecins Sans Frontières doctor was forced to shout patient details over a fence from inside the protective zone where medics need to be fully covered to avoid catching the disease. Even passing a pen and paper through the protective zone could transfer the disease, so it’s obvious that this new tablet will undoubtedly come in handy.
So far, the tablet is only being used in Sierra Leone, but it could easily be used in regions of the world where other deadly diseases lie. Google is working with Médecins Sans Frontières to open source the project, which will make it much easier for the tablet to come in handy elsewhere.
11 best Android apps for stylus users and S Pen users
The stylus has been a tool of the handheld computer users for decades now and are arguably more useful on a smartphone and tablet than ever before. There are a lot of apps that take advantage of the stylus and some even come with built in functionality for Samsung’s S Pen. In this roundup, we’ll look at the best Android apps for stylus users and S Pen users.
AutoDesk SketchBook Express, Sketchbook, AutoCAD 360, and AutoCAD 360
[Price: Free / Free with in-app purchases]
AutoDesk is a very well known name in the world of graphics and many of their apps are world renown. The Sketchbook and AutoCAD series of apps are both very useful and powerful applications for designers and artists. They include advanced tools, professional level appeal, and even some fun quirky features. For instance, AutoCAD 360 lets you orient yourself around your drawing using your GPS. These are must have apps for many stylus users.
Character Maker
[Price: $3.68]
Character Maker is a drawing app that helps you learn how to draw people and also helps you draw people. This isn’t so handy for the professional animator but those learning how this stuff works or those wanting to learn can find a wealth of information and experience here. You can create your own characters fairly easily and they look pretty good at the end.
ezPDF Reader Multimedia PDF
[Price: $3.99]
ezPDF is a great application for those who frequently deal with PDF files. One of the more difficult tasks is finding a way to digitally sign a PDF and this app helps with things like that. As you can imagine, your signature will look much better when a stylus is used and they also make navigation much easier. It’s a solid app and a must have for those who use or deal with PDFs a lot.
How to Draw – Easy Lessons
[Price: Free]
This totally free drawing tutorial app helps you learn how to draw. This is great for budding young artists looking to learn or even for those who are bored and want to add a new skill to their list. The tutorials are admittedly not ridiculously deep so you won’t be transformed into a famous painter but it has excellent stylus support, plenty of tutorials, and also plenty of stencils.
LectureNotes
[Price: Free / $3.78]
LectureNotes was once, is currently, and likely always will be the hallmark of a great stylus app. It offers a bunch of features including image importing, stylus support, notebook export (for sharing) to your device, Evernote, and OneNote, advanced organization features, and more. If you install LectureVideos and LectureRecordings, you can also insert video and audio recordings into your notebooks right alongside your notes. It’s extremely powerful and popular. Most stylus owners should have this, especially if you’re a student.
The MyScript Collection
[Price: Free]
The MyScript Collection consists of MyScript Calculator, MyScript Stylus, and MyScript Smart Notes. All three of these apps are amazing for stylus users because they’re built specifically for stylus use. MyScript Calculator is especially unique as it allows you to write out mathematical equations which it will then solve for you. They’re all free and great options for stylus users.
Papyrus
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Papyrus is a unique application that attempts to emulate real paper for your to draw on or take notes with. It includes a unique “write with your pen, erase with your finger” functionality that is admittedly enjoyable to use. You can export notes and drawings to various file types, and it even supports Samsung Multi-Window. If you go pro, you get PDF support, cloud services, and additional tools.
RoughAnimator
[Price: $2.99]
RoughAnimator is a favorite here at Android Authority. It’s an animation app that allows you to draw multiple pictures then put them together as short animations. It includes most of the basic tools you’ll need to draw your own little cartoons. Other features include unlimited layers (so you can make animations as long as you want), onion skinning, import audio (for music or lip syncing), and framerate control. It’s a great app with a high rating and perfect for any fan of animating.
SignEasy
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
SignEasy is another PDF viewer that focuses on features that let you sign documents. The app can also important documents from almost anywhere (including most cloud storage platforms) and it can support various file formats such as Word, Excel, HTML, JPEG, and others. It’s a simple app but it can solve a lot of problems. If you go pro, you’ll get additional features and you’ll be able to remove the email footer message that advertises the app.
Skitch
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Skitch takes an old school premise and brings it into the 21st century. With it, you can take a picture of just about anything and then doodle on it. This includes fun little cartoons, annotating photos, diagrams, and other stuff, and even marking up maps to show people how to get places. It’s a simple app but you can use it for a wide variety of use cases and it even comes with PDF support. If it helps at all, it was also developed by the same great minds that brought us Evernote.
Write
[Price: Free]
Last on our list (for now) is Write. This app is much like Papyrus in that it lets you write as though you were writing on actual paper. This is a pre-loaded app on the NVIDIA Shield Tablet specifically for its tablet and it’s compatible with most devices. You can draw, write, and erase pretty much whatever you want, customize your pens, page size, color, and ruling, and a lot more. It’s totally free to use which is also a plus.
Wrap up
If we missed any great Android apps for stylus users and S Pen users, let us know in the comments!
To see our complete list of Android apps and games lists, click here!
Google exec Eric Schmidt says Glass isn’t dead, it’s being made ready for users
Back in January, Google put the kibosh on its controversial Glass Explorer program, and that got the tech world wondering if it was the end of Glass for good. Despite the rumors regarding the Glass shutdown, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt says the headset is a long-term project, and was put under Tony Fadell’s oversight “to make it ready for users”.
Schmidt explains:
It is a big and very fundamental platform for Google. We ended the Explorer program and the press conflated this into us canceling the whole project, which isn’t true. Google is about taking risks and there’s nothing about adjusting Glass that suggests we’re ending it.
That’s like saying the self-driving car is a disappointment because it’s not driving me around now. These things take time.
Soon after the project was moved out of Google’s X labs, a few reports suggested that Tony Fadell wouldn’t launch the 2nd generation Google Glass headset without it being completely consumer-ready. If those rumors are true, that means there will be no Glass Explorer program this time around.
Back in December, we heard that the next-gen Google Glass headset, which is rumored to launch sometime this year, would see a complete redesign. Intel is rumored to supply the CPU, as opposed to the Texas Instruments processor in the current model. The new headset will supposedly feature much better battery life as well.
We’re not sure when the new Glass model will launch, but we do know that Google is doing all they can to get things right this time around.
Android Authority this week – March 22, 2015
Android fans, it’s been a big week for HTC, with everything from controversy over the alleged overheating of the M9, to the announcement of a new extended warranty program and the M9’s US release date, and ending with a bang, with the news that Cher Wang will take over as CEO. In other news, Android manufacturers continued to push out Lollipop to their devices, credible renders of the Xperia Z4 leaked out, Google announced major changes to its app approval process, Huawei sent out invites for the Ascend P8, OnePlus teased a “game changer” and a Swiss watchmaker joined Android Wear.
Inside AA HQ
After spending a lot of time with the new Galaxy S6, Josh put up his review, and it’s a thing of beauty. 17 minutes of gloriously smooth 60 fps footage walk you through all the key aspects of the highly anticipated Galaxy S6, from that eye-catching design to the streamlined TouchWiz. For even more details, check out our written review, which is choke full of beautiful shots of Samsung’s new flagship and sample images taken with the device.
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We brought you tons of videos and posts from MWC 2015, but Ash Tailor’s new “MWC -Insider’s Perspective” video is something different. Watch it to get a taste of what it is like to attend the world’s largest mobile trade show.
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There’s been a lot of talk about how the One M9 gets too hot, or, depending on whom you believe, doesn’t get that hot at all. Our advice was to wait for the full review of the M9, running final software, and the good news is you won’t have to wait much longer. Stay tuned for our up-close look at the new One M9 next week.
There’s no doubt the Galaxy S6 is the most desirable phone of the moment. So we think you’ll be happy to know that our latest Sunday Giveaway puts an S6 up for grabs. Check out the sweepstakes here.
The Friday Debate Podcast
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
Here are some interesting posts for your Sunday reading:
- Feature: You heard a lot about USB Type-C. Gary Sims explains it in detail
- Throwback: With the Galaxy S6 around the corner, Josh puts the Galaxy S5 through the test of time
- Feature: Internet of Things isn’t just another buzzword. Read on to see why it matters
- Review: Affordable devices don’t have to feel cheap, and the new Moto E is the best example
- Editorial: Simon Hill argues that Samsung should’ve made the S6 Edge its true flagship
- Opinion: Matthew Benson talks about horrible customer experiences and how to protect yourself
- Video: Ash Thought finished up his insider’s perspective of MWC, and it’s beautiful
- Review: This is the one you’ve been waiting for! Our Galaxy S6 review
Top news of the week
And here are the top news in the Android world this week:
HTC in the spotlight
- You may want to take that HTC One M9 overheating report with a grain of salt
- Peter Chou is no longer the CEO of HTC. Cher Wang takes over
- U.S. availability for the HTC One M9 begins April 10th
- (Update: coming March 21) One M9 release delayed for last minute software fixes in Taiwan
- Uh-Oh: HTC’s new warranty program offers some serious benefits (US only)
- HTC One (M7) owners, no Lollipop 5.1 for you!
Lollipop updates
- (Update: Xperia Z2 and some tablets) Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact getting Lollipop update
- Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE (GT-I9505) receives Android Lollipop in UK
- Moto X (1st gen) Lollipop soak test is under way
- HTC One M9+ arriving in late March-early April says @upleaks
- Android One users can download the Android 5.1 OTA links here
- T-Mobile Nexus 6 receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop OTA build LYM47M
Xperia Z4 first look
Play Store improvements
- Google is now manually reviewing apps that are submitted to the Play Store
- Google introduces age-based rating system for apps
Huawei Ascend P8
- Huawei sends out invites for April 15 event in London, Ascend P8 incoming?
- Purported Huawei Ascend P8 images leak out ahead of April press event
OnePlus teasers
- OnePlus teases a new “game changing” device that will launch in April
- OnePlus: OxygenOS and CyanogenMod 12S both coming by month’s end
Android Wear news
- Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer will unveil a smartwatch today – is Google involved?
- Tag Heuer and Fossil are making Android Wear smartwatches this year
- Is this our first look at the next-gen Moto 360?
Sound off
We always want to hear your feedback. Whether it’s criticism or praise, feel free to tell us what you think about Android Authority’s content, design, and community. Comment here or get in touch with us on our social channels:
Happy Sunday!
AT&T pushing Android 5.1 to its Nexus 6
The launch of Android 5.1 was met with software updates for various Nexus 6 variants. The handset on T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon networks are all roaming the country with the latest version of Android. The Nexus 6 for AT&T, however, was left without the update until now.
Various owners of the device operating on AT&T’s network are reporting that the carrier is pushing the Android 5.1 software update to their handsets.
While forcing an update has been questioned for years, there does seem to be a workaround to get the update as quickly as possible. Performing a factory reset seems to cause the software update to appear during the setup process.
Via: AndroidGuys
Come comment on this article: AT&T pushing Android 5.1 to its Nexus 6
Google files for patent on cancer-killing wearable
Google X, the company’s “moon shot” research lab, is known to be involved in a lot of projects in a wide variety of fields. Last fall one of those projects was revealed to be a pill that could be used to detect cancer and other diseases. Now the company is back with a patent application for a wearable device that may be able to capitalize on that pill research to do something about the bad cells that it finds in a person’s body.
The pill that was developed uses iron-oxide nanoparticles that can identify cancer cells based on biochemical signals. The nanoparticles will then “paint” the cells and travel through the body with them.
The new device described in the patent application is called a “nanoparticle phoresis” and is described a wrist band wearable device that can transmit energy into a person’s body. The energy could be a variety of forms like radio frequencies, magnetic fields, acoustic pulses, or even infrared or visible light.
The idea is that the energy transmitted into a person’s body can target cells or other molecules in the blood stream that pass within the path of the wearable. One obvious target would be those cells “painted” with nanoparticles. Since they are iron, a magnetic field could be used to draw them out of the bloodstream.
The target would not have to be limited to those painted with nanoparticles though if medical professionals can figure out ways to identify other target cells. As an example, Google describes certain proteins known to be involved in Parkinson’s disease. Energy that targets just those proteins could be used to destroy them, slowing the development of Parkinson’s disease.
source: The Telegraph
Come comment on this article: Google files for patent on cancer-killing wearable
Users reporting new “On Body Detection” lock mode in Android
Based on reports starting to be made by users, Google is either testing or slowly rolling out a new lock mode for Android devices designed to detect when a device is physically in a user’s possession. The lock mode, called “On Body Detection” uses a device’s sensors to detect whether a device is being held in a person’s hand or is in their pocket and will keep the device unlocked. If the device is set on a table or something similar, the device will lock, requiring a user to employ their normal unlock method.
The new method appears to have been designed to help thwart thieves in case a user accidentally forgets their device somewhere. One thing users have determined is that the on body detection feature will not lock a device if the device is handed to someone else, so it is not tied to a specific user – only movement typically of being on a person’s body or in their hand.
Google has not announced anything about the mode, but it appears to be included in the most recent recent Play Services update. Thus far, only users with devices running at least Android 5.0 or higher have the new mode available, so it looks like it may be a Lollipop-only mode.
source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Users reporting new “On Body Detection” lock mode in Android
Google’s Nexus Player is finally available to pre-order in the UK
While Google’s Nexus Player has been available in the states for a while now, those of us across the pond have waited patiently to get our grubby little hands on one. Finally, it appears that our wait is about to end thanks to Amazon(UK).
Amazon (UK) have put up a pre-order page for the Asus built Nexus Player, with a price tag of £79 ($119) that includes free shipping. According to the listing, Amazon will ship the Nexus Player after the device is released on March 26th. The £79 ($119) price tag gets you the remote and the player, with the added bonus that the Nexus Player is in the process of being updated to Android 5.1. If you aren’t sure what the Nexus Player is all about, we have a brief refresher on its capabilities below:
- Googlecast ready – Cast your favourite entertainment apps such as Plex, Netflix or YouTube, etc. from your Android or iOS device, Mac, Windows computer or Chromebook straight to your TV
- Content is synchronised between devices, meaning that you can start watching your favourite program on your TV and finish watching on your tablet without missing a beat.
- You can search for content by pressing the microphone button and saying the name of the content you want to watch, the Nexus Player will do the searching for you.
The £79 price tag matches the pricing of Amazon’s Fire TV offering while carrying the usual price increase UK dwellers see when compared to the US price. This is the pre-order price though, and it might not be the last price on march 26th when it is released for shipping. What do you think? Is £79 too much? Did you lose patience and buy the Fire TV or have you been waiting patiently for the Nexus Player to arrive in the UK? Let us know in the comments below or at our forums.
Source: Amazon (UK)
Come comment on this article: Google’s Nexus Player is finally available to pre-order in the UK
Google Fiber starts testing targeted, trackable TV ads
For all of the other things it does, Google is still a company that makes a ton of money from advertising, and now it’s turning that focus to TV. This week the company announced that it’s testing a new kind of ad-tracking system for Google Fiber TV customers in Kansas City. Just like any other local cable company, they’ll air during ad breaks reserved for local advertisers (that crappy ad for the car dealership around the corner that comes on during The Walking Dead). Where it’s different is that advertisers will only pay for the number of ads actually shown, as monitored by the Fiber set-top boxes. Google can insert fresh ads in DVR’d programming too, and target viewers based on their viewing history. Users can opt-out of the viewing history tracking, but that’s it.
According to a source quoted by Adweek, the tracking at this point is “unsophisticated”, and Google is trying to focus on user privacy. Of course, the entire system sounds like the beginning of what we’ve seen from internet banner ads (just like the ones on this site) and we’ve seen how deep that rabbit hole can go.
Connected devices have the ability to spit back much more details about viewer activity than what we’ve seen before, and companies are obviously going to try to take advantage of that. TiVo has had targeted ads on its Pause Menu and elsewhere for years, Microsoft tried Kinect-powered NUads on Xbox 360, and rumors suggest Apple is including viewer data in its pitch to networks for an Apple TV subscription service. Apple just flicked on targeted advertising for iTunes Radio, so however Google’s “test” progresses, the trend will probably continue.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Google
Source: Adweek, Google Fiber forum
Developing Android Wear watch faces is now easier than ever!
If you’re a Developer, you may want to listen up as Hoi Lam, a Wearables Developer Advocate at Google, has just announced that with Android Studio 1.1 you’ll be able to open a pre-made blank watch face template.
In order to access this new functionality, you will need to make sure that the latest version of the Android Support Repository is installed on your computer. You can do this by opening the Android SDK Manager and selecting “Check for Updates.”
Once installed, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Start a new project or open your existing project
- If your project does not already have an Android Wear module, create one!
- Select File > New Module…. In the wizard, select Android Wear as the module type and then select No Activity.
- Right-click on the module name on the left hand side. Select New > Wear > Watch Face.
- Select whether you want an analog or a digital watch face.
- Done!
You should now see a skeleton watch face, which will take care of the basic background coding, like automatically adjusting for time zone changes and prompting notifications efficiently — so all you have to do is design the overall skin for the face.
Source: Google+
Come comment on this article: Developing Android Wear watch faces is now easier than ever!
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