5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly
Sponsored by: Blood Brothers 2
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Blood Brothers 2 is a strategy RPG game that has you recruiting commanders and using their armies to do battle against opponents. Each one has a class such as archer, cavalry, or infantry and you use those to gain the advantage. The game also includes free daily commander recruiting, a PvP arena where you can do battle against live opponents, and guilds that allow you to grow your skills, get bonuses, and play as a team. It’s free to play so there’s no harm in trying it out and you’d be showing your support for Android Apps Weekly. Who knows, you might even like it.
Welcome back to a special edition of the Android Apps Weekly show! This week we’re going to run down a bunch of app-related stuff from Google I/O 2015 and talk about some other news! Let’s get started:
- Google I/O was a huge deal in the world of apps. Let’s talk about that first. One of the first announcements was of Chrome Custom Tabs which will allow developers to add Chrome Browser directly into their apps to help get rid of those terrible built-in web browsers in apps like Twitter or Facebook.
- A new app permission system will allow you to grant access or deny application permissions when the app asks for it and you’ll be able to turn off app permissions in the Settings. Of course, this will all be in Android M.
- Starting in Android M, developers will be able to use native Android fingerprint scanner support in apps. This will allow you to do things like log in with your finger or, in conjunction with Android Pay, let you pay for stuff in apps and in the Google Play Store. Oh by the way, Android Pay is totally happening.
- Also included in Android M is a new way to backup applications that will backup everything so you’ll be able to just download the app and have your data already on your device for it.
- Inbox by Gmail no longer requires an invite. Hooray! It will also be getting new features including undo sent emails, swipe to delete, and more!
- Google Now on Tap is a new implementation of Google Now that’ll gauge what’s going on with your screen and give you suggestions on what to do with that information. It will also allow for app indexing soon to work better with other Android apps.
- Google Maps will finally be getting improved offline maps support by the end of the year.
- Google announced the Google Family Star which will show up on G-rated content in the Google Play Store to help families find content that is suitable for their children. The Play Store also has ESRB, PEGI, and other ratings for games.
- HBO Now will be hitting the Play Store this summer.
- Lastly, the Chromecast will be getting an update soon that will give it auto-play capabilities, second screen support, and multiplayer gaming. No word yet on when that’s coming.
You can read up on all of the Google I/O stuff from this master list we compiled. Here are some non-Google I/O headlines from this week:
- Microsoft purchased the popular to-do list app Wunderlist this week. We have no idea what they’ll do with it but it is the latest in a string of purchases that Microsoft has been making that has also included Sunshine Calendar and Accompli which actually turned into the new Microsoft Outlook.
- In some rare Android TV news, a few new applications will be making their way to the platform in the coming months. They include HBO Go, Vimeo, Twitch, and many, many others. This is great news for Android TV because it really needed more apps.
- In our last headline, Android is getting its first full Harvest Moon game this winter. No, friends, this is not a port of a pre-existing game, this is a brand new game. It’s very exciting and we really hope it’s not Freemium. .
For all of this week’s headlines, updates, and new releases, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter. It’s packed full of the latest Android apps and games news including all the stuff we didn’t have time for here. If you’re so inclined, you can sign up with your email address and have the newsletter sent straight to your inbox every single Friday.
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Imgur
[Price: Free]
First up this week is Imgur. No, this isn’t a new application but it did receive a huge update this last week. Included is a Material Design overhaul, better uploading capabilities, and the boilerplate bug fixes and performance improvements. It has always been one of the better online photo sharing apps out there and now it’s gotten a whole lot better. It’s also totally free.
Hitman: Sniper
[Price: $4.99 with in-app purchases]
Hitman: Sniper is the latest game in the Hitman series from Square Enix. In this one, you’ll play once again as Agent 47 as you complete assignments using your sniper and assassination skills. It features some beautifully rendered cut scenes and some pretty impressive graphics. You’ll also be able to replay missions to get a higher score. It’s available right now but beware of those release day bugs.
Kamcord
[Price: Free]
Kamcord is a new screen capturing application that is aimed at helping you secure footage of the Android games you might be playing. It’s simple to use and has already seen some success on iOS. It uses Android’s native screen capturing capabilities which means you won’t need root but you will need Android Lollipop or better to use it. It’s currently free with no in-app purchases.
Chaos Rings III
[Price: $19.99]
Chaos Rings III is the latest member of the Chaos Rings franchise also by Square Enix. This one features really good, Kingdom Hearts-style graphics, game play that was built for mobile, and a long story line full of lore and large weapons. It clocks in at $19.99 but there are no in-app purchases and let’s face it, that’s about how much this game would cost if it came out for the Nintendo 3DS or the PS Vita. If you like jRPGs, this is worth a shot.
Google Photos
[Price: Free]
Google Photos was released at Google I/O 2015 and is already highly acclaimed thanks to its unlimited storage and slick interface. You can get unlimited photo backup as long as you don’t mind Google compressing it a little bit or you can use your Google Drive space to save the full photos without any modification. It’s been out a week and it’s already heralded as a must-have applications. Just go get it.
Wrap up
If we missed any great Android apps or games news, tell us all about it in the comments. See you next week!
You can now Skype from your browser in the US and UK
If you like using Skype, but the only connection you have in Squankville, USA is at an internet cafe, now you have an option. Microsoft has opened Skype for Web (beta) to all users in the UK and US on Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari and Firefox. Provided you’re on OS X or Windows, you’ll be able to place video or voice calls and send IMs from a strange computer if you can’t use one of the mobile apps or the Outlook version.
Chromebook users will only be able to text, on the other hand. That’s because the web app uses a small plug-in for video and sound that can’t be installed on Chrome OS. As we mentioned before, however, Microsoft will eventually roll out a WebRTC-compatible Skype version that doesn’t require a plug-in. When that will happen is up in the air, but we’d say it’s more likely once Windows 10 arrives in July.
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft
Source: Skype
1TB Xbox One with new controller spotted on Amazon
I spy with my little eye an Xbox One with 500GB more storage and a controller with a built-in 3.5mm headset port. Amazon has what appears to be a placeholder page for a 1TB Xbox One bundled with the newly designed controller and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, all for $400. The listing is tucked away on the site and it doesn’t include any photos, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft is preparing an announcement for its E3 showcase on June 15th. We’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment on the listing.
Microsoft launched a 1TB Call of Duty-branded Xbox One bundle last year, though that one cost $500 and didn’t include Kinect. This week’s $400 listing doesn’t include Kinect either, but the headset port on the controller is a highly anticipated addition. For comparision, a 500GB Xbox One with Kinect normally runs $500, and a Kinectless, 500GB version costs $400.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Via: @Wario64
Source: Amazon
Skype for Web beta is now open to all in the US and UK
If you’re a Skype user in the US or UK, you may want to listen up as Microsoft has just kicked off the public beta for the online client of its extremely popular video and voice calling platform.
The service is entitled Skype for Web and permits users to place calls through a web browser, thereby removing the need to download and install a standalone application on their computer.
Unfortunately, there’s no word on an official release date for the full product just yet, but seeing as Microsoft has opened the beta to the public, we presume it’s not far off.
If you’d like to get in on the beta testing action, simply head over to web.skype.com and log into your account to get started. For additional information, hit the source link below.
Source: Skype
Come comment on this article: Skype for Web beta is now open to all in the US and UK
UK government department swaps Microsoft for Google
For the longest time, the UK government built its systems around Microsoft software. That’s still largely the case, but things have slowly changed as departments get to grips with the cloud, and companies like Google have planted their flag. The Register reports that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has decided it’s time to make a clean break and has embraced the search giant’s cloud services, becoming the first major UK government department to shift away from Microsoft.
More than 70,000 employees will make the switch, joining 2,500 Cabinet Office users already on Gmail. Google’s obviously happy about it, with David Fitton, head of public sector sales for Google UK noting: “The acceptance by HMRC that they can store OFFICIAL information offshore in Google data-centres represents a major change and endorsement of Google’s approach to managing sensitive information.”
Of course, this is just one department, but HMRC is second-largest and arguably most-powerful government division. However, Microsoft still powers computers utilised by 450,000+ civil servants, and is still supporting their use of Windows XP. Still, it’s interesting that while HMRC will collect the so-called Google Tax from the UK’s biggest technology companies, it’ll now pay a smaller tax of its own.
[Image credit: HMRC, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Google
Source: The Register
Microsoft’s dedicated ‘Gears of War’ studio has a new name
Microsoft’s done it again. After buying the Gears of War franchise last year, it’s tasked one team to focus exclusively on that franchise and change its name in doing so. Sounds familiar, right? Canada’s Black Tusk Studios is now known as The Coalition (a nod to the series’ Coalition of Ordered Governments’ hulking soldiers) and, you guessed it, the developers have one job: making Gears of War games. In a post on Xbox Wire, studio head Rod Fergusson says that like 343 Industries and Halo, he wants you to immediately associate The Coalition with musclebound meatheads wielding machine guns with chainsaw bayonets. So, a “real” game every few years with plenty of less-than-awesome output to fill in those gaps. Got it!
He also teases that we’ll see what the team’s been up to come E3 in a few weeks. Whether that’s the Gears reissue that knocked a handful of testers offline or something else entirely, we won’t have to wait too long to find out.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Via: Polygon
Source: Xbox Wire
Windows will make it easier to remote-control Linux PCs
In case there was any doubt that Microsoft’s war against Linux is (mostly) over, the company just offered another olive branch. The company has revealed that its PowerShell team is working on support for the Secure Shell protocol and shell sessions (aka SSH) to make it easier for Windows- and Linux-based PCs to connect to and remotely control each other. While SSH has been an option in the Windows world, Microsoft’s Angel Calvo says there have been “limited implementations” so far — this would simplify things and give you “tight integration” with Windows that wasn’t feasible before. It’s too early to tell when the feature will be available, but it’s at least in the cards.
The move isn’t completely surprising. As Calvo notes, the “changes in leadership and culture” in Redmond made this possible. CEO Satya Nadella is interested in spreading Microsoft’s services (such as Azure) to every platform that can use them, rather than insisting on Windows-only solutions like his predecessors. SSH support should make it easier to integrate Microsoft’s technology into environments where Linux has a solid foothold, whether it’s a data center or your home network.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit]
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Via: Phoronix
Source: MSDN Blogs
Galaxy Note 4 beats iPhone 6 for customer satisfaction
Owners of the Galaxy Note 4 are the most satisfied consumers according to a new survey conducted by the American Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The latest survey from ACSI reveals that the Galaxy Note 4 tops the chart with 86% customer satisfaction while the Galaxy Note 3 comes joint second with the iPhone 6 Plus, Galaxy S5 and iPhone 6.
The survey shows that customers using the Galaxy Note 4 – which was released in October last year – are the most satisfied and despite the handset being several months old, it still ticks all the boxes for customers. Interestingly, the top six positions in the survey are taken by either Samsung or Apple and these two companies top the list for manufacturers.
Looking past the top of the list, both Samsung and Apple still dominate but Motorola, HTC and LG all feature on the list as well. The omission of any Sony devices from the top of the satisfaction survey suggests that Sony’s devices – which are not widely available in the US – don’t satisfy customers as much as its rivals do. Given that Sony’s smartphone sales performance has been dwindling over the past 12 to 18 months, the satisfaction survey reveals that the company has a lot to do to keep the key US market satisfied.
Looking at the list of manufacturers, the swing between Samsung and Apple – resulting in both companies tying for the top spot – could be due to less than stellar Galaxy S5 sales and Apple finally delivering the bigger screen its customers have been asking for.
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Motorola‘s third spot shows that the company’s handsets – and in particular the Moto X, which can be customised to your specification through Moto Maker – offer the package that customers are looking for. BlackBerry‘s sales figures have also been steadily declining over the past few years but the company’s customers are the fourth most satisfied in the US.
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Moving past the top four and HTC and Nokia may not have sold as many devices as their rivals but they came fifth and sixth in the list respectively: for HTC at least it shows that customers certainly do enjoy its HTC One range and for Nokia, it shows that despite Windows Phone being a much smaller OS than Android and iOS, its customers are certainly satisfied.
It’s worth noting that none of the latest flagships – the LG G4, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and HTC One M9 – had been released to the market when the survey was conducted, hence why they do not make an appearance on the smartphone list. The next survey will reveal whether Samsung’s switch in design with its latest smartphones will deliver higher satisfaction than Apple’s handsets.
Skype bug crashes the messaging app on Android, iOS and Windows
Skype users aren’t safe from app-crashing messages, too. VentureBeat has discovered through the service’s community forums that the app suffers from a bug similar to Apple’s texting flaw. If you recall, that one crashes the Messages app when it receives a specific string of Unicode characters. It’s even easier to put Skype out of commission: all it takes is sending or receiving “http://:” without the quotes. The flaw affects Skype for Windows, iOS and Android in different situations. For instance, it crashes the Windows app if you’re the sender and completely kills it if it’s the one receiving that string of characters. However, the iOS and the Android apps are only affected when they’re the recipient, and Skype for Mac seems to be immune from the issue.
In case this happens to you by accident, ask the sender to delete their message, and reinstall the older version of the Windows application — you’re pretty much stuck until the next update for the iOS and the Android apps. Skype has reached out to VentureBeat to assure everyone that it’s aware of the issue, and that just like Apple, it’s currently working on a fix.
Source: VentureBeat
Dell’s latest thin-bezel laptop fronts a wave of new Windows 10 devices
After Microsoft recapped all of the major themes from the Build conference at its Computex keynote today, it tried another tactic to promote Windows 10: showing off sexy new devices. Microsoft corporate vice president Nick Parker revealed for the first time a 15-inch version of Dell’s XPS with its nearly bezel-less screen; an all-in-one from Acer; a convertible Toshiba notebook; and a mysterious HP tablet. Unfortunately, HP whisked away that new tablet before we could take any photos, but it appeared to work with some sort of keyboard cover. Details on practically all of these devices are nil for now, but we’ve gotten in touch with all of the respective companies for more. For now, ogle at the pics.
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