Android 6.0 appears for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in Hungary
Samsung has previously stated intentions to release Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates for its current and last generation flagships and Hungarian Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910F) owners may have spotted an update heading their way in the past day or so.
Interestingly, Samsung hadn’t planned to roll out Marshmallow to its older phones until next year and given that a number of Note 4 owners are still steadily receiving Android 5.1.1, we certainly hadn’t expected an update so soon. Therefore, we could be looking at a limited early rollout or soak test, which we’ve seen other manufacturers do in the past.
According to the source, Samsung’s Android 6.0 Marshmallow update introduces a new Air Command menu and a screen-off note taking option that uses the device’s S Pen. Marshmallow also brings with it some core Android improvements, including the new Doze mode to save on idle battery consumption and Google Now On Tap, to search for results based on the current content on the display. The update is also said to offer some performance improvements.
We’re not sure how long it will be until Samsung starts a broader rollout or if this is just a limited test or similar. We can only hope that a Galaxy Note 4 Marshmallow update will spread across Europe and beyond before the year is out.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets updated to Marshmallow in Hungary before its successor
Not many smartphones outside of Google’s Nexus devices have received the Marshmallow update. Interestingly, in Hungary, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners are reporting that the update is hitting handsets now.
One would think the Galaxy Note 5 should get the Marshmallow update first, however this is not the case in Hungary. Owners of the unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 4 model from last year can now install the latest version of Android from Google. And just in case you don’t believe us, a screenshot has been uploaded thanks to NapiDroid.
The update brings all the newest tastes from Google such as doze mode, now-on-tap, individual app permissions, and more. In addition, the update also touches upon some of Samsung’s touchwiz capabilities. A new air command menu has been included as well as the ability to write white on black using the S Pen when the screen is locked, just like that on the Galaxy Note 5.
Now that Nexus devices and a slew of Android One handsets have been updated to Marshmallow, it’s only a matter of time before updates start rolling out to current flagships. Hopefully, those living in other places around the world will get the same feature enhancements that Hungarian users received on their Galaxy Note 4. Only time will tell.
Source: NapiDroid
Via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets updated to Marshmallow in Hungary before its successor
My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin
dbrand seriously hooked me up with some sweet skins for my Nexus 5X and 6P. Many of you tech enthusiasts are similar to the writers here at AndroidGuys, in that you love your devices and want to make sure they look good too. Looks are becoming more important as we grow more attached to our devices.
A great way to prevent scratches, cover up existing scratches and to completely customize the look of your smartphone is to use a skin from dbrand. Yesterday I wrote about a gorgeous carbon fiber skin that I put on my Nexus 5X that looks awesome. dbrand sent me a carbon fiber skin for my Nexus 6P as well, but I didn’t want to give you guys the same look. Instead I went with the brushed copper skin with a cutout for the X in Nexus.
Nexus 6P in copper and the Nexus 5X in carbon fiber.
Design
With the Nexus 5X skin dbrand I was most impressed with the high-quality materials. Those high-quality materials are sourced from 3M, and dbrand guarantees its products meet the highest standards. dbrand also make precision a primary feature, and I can say the skins I have used are so perfectly cut, that they must have been cut with space age lasers. The cutout for the microphone and fingerprint reader on the back of the Nexus 6P are so perfect that it looks like my phone was made from copper straight from the factory. The proof is in the images below.
Our Variety, Your Choice (from the dbrand website)
Installation
Installation is so easy even I could do it without making a mistake. And that really speaks volumes because I am far from a perfectionist. I typically rush through projects like this, and dbrand was ready for my shaky hands. After installing the Nexus 5X skin, the Nexus 6P installation took me all of five minutes.
1. Get a hair dryer or heat gun and pull out your skin materials.
2. Wipe your Nexus 6P to remove oil and dust.
3. Install the top portion of the skin first by aligning the microphone cutout and fingerprint reader. No extra metal from the Nexus 6P should show.
4. After completing the bottom installation and wiping down the edges with the included cloth, the X is ready for its inserts. Yellow goes on the bottom left, blue top left, red top right and green on the bottom right. You could make your X all green, blue, red, or yellow as dbrand does provide you with four of each color for the X.
Complete. Time to show off my one and only copper Nexus 6P.
Even C3PO is awestruck.
Summary
The look and feel of my Nexus 6P has dramatically changed for the better, all for less than $12. dbrand’s skins are unique, great looking, reasonably priced and easy to install. It makes my wonder why manufacturers of smartphones just don’t offer skins direct since customers do love choice. Many of us really are tired of the same old gold, silver, white and black colors that our smartphones come in.
As you can see from the images above, the skins on both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P are so perfectly cut that they look like they came in actual carbon fiber and copper from the assembly lines. I was even stopped by three people today, while I was out, asking what phone I was using because they had never seen a copper phone before. I love the skins from dbrand as they do protect my all metal Nexus 6P from scratches, and gives it a nicer feel too.
And one last thing, and I really do mean this, if I can install these skins there is no doubt in my mind you can too. My eyes are not quite perfect anymore and my hands are shaky. dbrand offers a huge range of skins so check out their website to see if they have a skin for your device. They even have skins for laptops, smartwatches, tablets and game consoles.
The post My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Gear S2 update starts rolling out with new features
A software update for the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch started hitting user devices over the weekend. The update adds some new apps, watch faces, a variety of new features, and the usual performance improvements and bug fixes.
Among the apps that are now available to owners of the Gear S2 is a World Clock app, News Briefing and ESPN apps. The ESPN app will let users see scores of their favorite games on the device. Samsung also includes some new Mendini watch faces which may be especially popular for users who have purchased the Mendini bands.
Some of the new features include a new unread notification indicator. A small red sphere will show up on the watch face when there are unread notifications to be reviewed. Samsung also added a new alert to let users know when Bluetooth is disconnected. There is a new search feature available in the Contacts app, screen time out settings have been updated, and emojis are now available through the keyboard.
source: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: Samsung Gear S2 update starts rolling out with new features
Verizon to add Wi-Fi Calling for some devices starting this coming week
Verizon has announced that they will be adding support for Wi-Fi Calling to their Advanced Calling platform. Initially, support for Wi-Fi Calling will only be available on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Verizon says the addition of this feature will start rolling out to users as a software update starting December 8th.
The Wi-Fi Calling feature will work with the other Advanced Calling features, like making voice or video calls, but will use a Wi-Fi connection if a user is connected. Verizon says the system will seamlessly transition to their network if a user is moving and transitions out of coverage of a Wi-Fi connection.
Verizon’s announcement indicates support for Wi-Fi Calling will be coming to more Android and iOS devices “early next year.” Currently Verizon supports Advanced Calling on 28 devices and Video Calling on 21 smartphones, but it is not clear whether all of them will have Wi-Fi Calling added to the bundle of features available.
Calls made using Wi-Fi will be free if made to U.S. phone numbers, but foreign number calls will be charged at international long distance rates.
source: Verizon
Come comment on this article: Verizon to add Wi-Fi Calling for some devices starting this coming week
Verizon to add Wi-Fi Calling for some devices starting this coming week
Verizon has announced that they will be adding support for Wi-Fi Calling to their Advanced Calling platform. Initially, support for Wi-Fi Calling will only be available on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Verizon says the addition of this feature will start rolling out to users as a software update starting December 8th.
The Wi-Fi Calling feature will work with the other Advanced Calling features, like making voice or video calls, but will use a Wi-Fi connection if a user is connected. Verizon says the system will seamlessly transition to their network if a user is moving and transitions out of coverage of a Wi-Fi connection.
Verizon’s announcement indicates support for Wi-Fi Calling will be coming to more Android and iOS devices “early next year.” Currently Verizon supports Advanced Calling on 28 devices and Video Calling on 21 smartphones, but it is not clear whether all of them will have Wi-Fi Calling added to the bundle of features available.
Calls made using Wi-Fi will be free if made to U.S. phone numbers, but foreign number calls will be charged at international long distance rates.
source: Verizon
Come comment on this article: Verizon to add Wi-Fi Calling for some devices starting this coming week
Android Authority this week – December 6, 2015
Android fans, this week Vivo introduced the sleek X6, Samsung launched its new Galaxy A (2016) mid-rangers, OnePlus dropped the invite system for the OP2, we published our best apps and games of November, Google updated a ton of its apps, Samsung announced changes to deal with the tough year ahead, and we learned when to expect HTC’s first smartwatch.
Inside AA HQ
What is the best smartphone? That’s what most people ask me when I tell them that I am a tech blogger who thinks about phones all day long. It’s a perfectly valid question – people, and “non-techie people” in particular, just want to know what to buy, what to avoid, what to pick from a crowd of aggressively marketed phones. Unfortunately, the answer is rarely as simple as “buy this one or that.”
Because it’s so hard to objectively rank smartphones, we decided to launch into the biggest, most in-depth comparison between the top Android smartphones of the moment that we’ve ever done. It’s called Best of Android, it’s coming from next week, and we’re really excited to show it to you. Keep an eye out for the announcement, and stay tuned throughout the week for in-depth analyses of all the major aspects of the phone experience.
This week, we’re giving away the excellent Nexus 6P. As usual, entering our international giveaway is as simple as a couple of clicks. Good luck!
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: Bailey looks at the uber flexible Yoga Tab 3 Pro: worth your money or not?
- Gift guide: Got $250 to spend on tech gifts? Read this guide.
- Tech talk: Is lithium the hot commodity of tomorrow? With our growing battery addiction, it’s very possible.
- Review: We already brought you Josh’s review of the Priv, now see what Lanh thinks about it.
- Tech talk: OLED offers the best colors right? Well, Quantum Dot display makers beg to disagree
- Review: A phone for audiophiles? Yes, that’s what the Marshall phone is supposed to be. See if it delivers.
- Review: After Lanh’s review, see what Josh thinks about the Nexus 5X.
Top news of the week
Vivo x6: looking hot
Galaxy A (2016): high-end features in a mid-range body
OnePlus 2: farewell invites
- OnePlus unveils new exchange offers for India
- OnePlus now sells an iPhone case, comes with a OnePlus X invite
- OnePlus 2 will permanently ditch invite system starting December 5th
Best apps and games of November
Google apps updates
- Updated Chrome for Android can reduce data consumption by 70 percent
- Google finally brings its Phone and Contacts apps to the Play Store (Update: pulled back down)
- In January, Google Play Music will finish absorbing Songza
- Google now lets you star and bookmark images you find in Google Image Search
- Google’s Cardboard Camera app lets you make your own VR photos
- Next Android update will add new emoji to Nexus devices
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and the tough year ahead
- Samsung replaces its head of mobile operations
- Report: Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge to have “little overhaul”
- Samsung Electronics president: “Next year will be tough”
HTC One Watch
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dbrand’s skins make my Nexus 5X look awesome and unique
I’m not one who normally uses cases or skins on my phones, but I recently came across MKBHD’s(Marques Brownlee) line of skins from dbrand on Twitter, and thought his stuff looked pretty sweet. It’s been awhile since I have even looked into skins for smartphones – if I was ever looking to cover my phone I would typically choose a case over a skin. I HATE putting on skins. But since dbrand’s skins looked so cool, I really had to try a set out for myself for my Nexus 5x.
Design
With dbrand’s custom ordering website, you can literally make hundreds of different combinations of custom skins for your devices. dbrand offers complete coverage by offering back, front, frame and camera skin coverage. At dbrand, they only use authentic 3M vinyl on LG Nexus 5X skins and will guarantee no adhesive residue will ever be left on your device if you ever decide to remove it.
“What does that mean for you? It means that whenever you decide to take off your Nexus 5X wrap, there won’t be any adhesive residue left on your device. Guaranteed. We’re committed to providing our customers with uncompromising quality. You can relax, we only use the highest grade materials on the planet.” – dbrand customer service.
I even saw a customer on reddit who had a rare experience with a skin pulling off some of the paint on his Nexus 5, but the user was beyond satisfied with dbrand’s best in class customer service. They sent him a new Nexus 5 cover in addition to 15 sets of skins of his choosing. That’s pretty awesome.
From carbon fiber, to leather, metal, colors and wood(our own Henry Wigyul love’s wood) dbrand has just about every person’s taste covered with their multitude of options.
Installation
This is one area I dread with skins. I used to try putting skins on my devices a couple of years ago, in addition to screen protectors, but I am really impatient with detailed work like this. It’s the main reason why I stopped looking into skins altogether. Skins and screen protectors usually end up as one massive fail.
Since dbrand sent me the latest skins, I figured it was worth a try since the new skins look really awesome.
I went to dbrand’s website and looked up how to install the skin and luckily they had the best instructional video you could ask for. It literally walks you through installation step-by-step, and within ten minutes you will have your entire skin installed. I’ve got the images to prove just how easy the dbrand skin was to apply to my Nexus 5X.
1. Wipe down the device with the included cloth
2. Align the flash, laser sensor and fingerprint reader.
3. Flip the device around and align the 3.5mm headphone jack. Remove the backing and use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive and make it stick to the device.
4. Remove each individual letter and use the backing to align each insert.
5. I found tweezers to be much easier.
6. Once everything is in place, I used a heat gun(I do not own a hair dryer) to warm the skin and smoothed it out.
Completed installation in less than ten minutes.
Summary
As you can see in the pictures, dbrand’s skins look awesome. The skins turned my drab Nexus 5X, in Frost White, into a slick carbon fiber device with a properly Google colored X in the center of the Nexus logo. I happened to put my own touch on the layout by using the silver S instead of the white one, to show you really can do whatever you want with customization.
dbrand did not provide me with the side skin pieces, nor the front skin. It doesn’t really matter as I think the back carbon fiber skin looks fantastic. The skin kit for the back, Nexus logo, limited edition colored X, and camera costs less than $15 which is an incredible value considering the kit dramatically improves the look of your device. I highly recommend dbrand’s skins as they offer complete customization, super easy installation, high-quality materials, and excellent durability. They’ll keep your phone protected against scratches while giving you a whole new look.
dbrand makes skins for a wide variety of devices. If you want to learn more head on over to their website by clicking here.
dbrand.com
http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=androidguysco-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B0178GE4FU&asins=B0178GE4FU&linkId=DVDCF7S7VQCKI5IZ&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true
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The Walking Dead creators make VR show “Gone” for Samsung Gear VR
Have you got a Samsung Gear VR handy? If so, you are in total luck, because what seems like one of the most exciting VR ventures is about to hit the web. It is made by Skybound Entertainment (the creators of The Walking Dead TV show) and Samsung. Going by the name of “Gone”, this VR show aims to kickstart a new type of content. It is media made for VR, not transformed to it.
See also: Samsung Gear VR reactions at Oculus Connect
So, what exactly is “Gone”? In a nutshell, it’s some kind of virtual reality show. No, it’s not a game. You won’t be making your choices or controlling the characters. The user is pretty much a follower and engulfs himself in the environment, story and feelings.
The story will revolve around a couple and their little girl, who happens to disappear (hence the name “Gone”). Director of media development Rachel Skidmore explains that “the plot here is centered around how quickly someone can disappear. This little girl goes missing in broad daylight, and her mother’s life spirals into a personal investigation.”
See also: Samsung announces $99 Gear VR, Netflix for Gear VR incoming
Clips are cut off in 6-minute pieces of content recorded in 360-degree video. This means you can turn your head around to look at everything around you. The scenes are recorded in beautiful scenery and interesting locations, with clues hidden along the way. There’s also hotspots (glowing things) you will see from time to time. These allow you to look at the story from another perspective.
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text-align: center;
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float: none;
display: inline-block;
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font-size: 24px !important;
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padding-left: 20px;
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font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
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padding-top: 10px;
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padding: 0 15px 0 0;
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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;
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body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
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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;
I can’t wait to see what Gone is all about. It certainly sounds like an interesting experience many of us have never quite witnessed. For starters, it’s a new medium altogether. It’s not like you could put this show in a TV or theater, right? And it creates a level of involvement and interaction that changes your whole understanding of the narrative. What if you miss an important clue because you didn’t look all the way behind you at a key point of the movie?
This is why the team decided to make the show a little slower. You are experiencing things in real time, so it takes a while for things to happen, giving you enough time to look around and explore. The hope is that people will get involved in the story and hopefully re-watch it, just in case they miss anything.
See also: How to make your own Google Cardboard headset
Recording this movie is also said to have a whole suite of challenges. Remember these scenes are recorded in 360-degree video, so where does the camera crew go? Skidmore mentions the need to hide behind bushes and other odd things. Pretty interesting, right?
Want in? Samsung Gear VR users will be able to get “Gone” from Samsung’s Milk VR service. Sadly, us Google Cardboard users won’t be able to enjoy it just yet, but I suppose that is the privilege of paying for the Gear VR and sticking with Samsung’s platform. Maybe it will spread to other VR platforms soon enough! We will have to wait and see.
Samsung is finally paying Apple $548 million, but reminds Apple it will try to get it all back
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After what seems like the longest time (almost five years), Samsung is finally paying Apple $548 million, the amount determined in the lawsuit was appropriate for damages after Samsung infringed on Apple’s patents. The reason it’s taken so long is because Samsung (understandably) went through every possible avenue to repeal the decision and get a retrial. It’s been somewhat of a success, getting the amount whittled down, but that period has ended and its time to pay up. In fact, the only thing the transaction is waiting for is an invoice to move from Apple to Samsung and then it’s all settled. There is a caveat, however.
Samsung includes a pretty interesting passage in its case management statement:
“Samsung continues to reserve all rights to obtain reimbursement from Apple and/or payment by Apple of all amounts required to be paid as taxes. […] Samsung further reserves all rights to reclaim or obtain reimbursement of any judgment amounts paid by Samsung to any entity in the event the partial judgment is reversed, modified, vacated or set aside on appeal or otherwise, including as a result of any proceedings before the USPTO addressing the patents at issue or as a result of any petition for writ of certiorari filed with the Supreme Court. Samsung notes that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has issued a final decision of invalidity on the ‘915 Patent, and Apple filed a notice of appeal to the Federal Circuit in the USPTO last week.”
For those that want the tl;dr version, Samsung is pretty much saying that the money might not stay with Apple if Samsung can still find a way to reverse the decision. Naturally, Apple refutes this right, and so it keeps on going. I’m sure this ordeal is going to keep rolling on as long as both companies have money, so let’s just see where it goes from here.
What do you think about the fact Samsung is finally paying Apple $548 million? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: FOSS Patents via SamMobile
The post Samsung is finally paying Apple $548 million, but reminds Apple it will try to get it all back appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
AIVAnet 