Android 6.0 Marshmallow starts rolling to Sprint LG G4
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Nothing like a holiday update treat for your device to make dealing with the in-laws just a little bit more bearable. Sprint has begun the arduous task of pushing out a much desired OTA to LG G4
Those of you sporting an LG G4 on Sprint, head into settings and check for updates if you don’t already have it. I will naturally assume you should have well over 50% battery life, a solid Wi-Fi connection and plenty of time for the download to complete and install. You will be looking for software version number LS991ZV9.
Happy updating all.
Via: Sprint Support
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Off topic: Xbox and Playstation can stream Plex free without a Plex Pass now
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Android lovers and media consumers alike know exactly what Plex is. It is a simple and easy to use media server application that can get all your media organized and delivered seamlessly to your phones, tablets and TV’s via various connected devices like the Nexus Player, Amazon Fire TV
For those that are paying customers, don’t go all freaking out and losing your marbles. Much like they did on Android, the free version doesn’t give you all the premium features and functionalities you got from subscribing. For instance, free users don’t get the premium music library or mobile sync.
So, for all you Plexer’s out there who couldn’t, or didn’t want to, pony up a little money, now you don’t have too. Enjoy!
Via: Engadget
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Software error overinflates thousands of UK divorce settlements
An error in an electronic form used to help calculate the financial aspects of a divorce could potentially open old wounds for thousands of UK couples, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. The Guardian reports that the software, known as a “Form E” on the HM Courts and Tribunals website, would wrongly state that wife or husband was worth more than they really were. If a minus figure was entered against the financial liabilities of each partner, the form failed to recognise them, boosting the overall value of their assets significantly.
Over 20,000 of the forms are believed to have been downloaded since April 2014, which means that the error went undetected for 20 months. Not all of them will have been used to calculate a division of assets between divorcing couples, however. It was spotted earlier this month by family law expert Nicola Matheson-Durrant and the Ministry of Justice only publicly confirmed the fault on Thursday.
“We are urgently investigating this issue,” says a HM Courts and Tribunals spokesperson. “Officials are taking steps to identify rapidly cases where this regrettable error may have had an impact, and we will be writing to anyone affected as soon as possible.”
Although the glitch has now been rectified, thousands of divorce judgements may have been based on erroneous data. The Guardian suggests it may open a route for unhappy couples to launch proceedings against their legal representatives or the Ministry of Justice itself. It certainly won’t be fun for anyone involved, especially for those who thought they had finally seen the back of their estranged partner.
Via: The Register
Source: The Guardian
These are the first third-party Windows Hello cameras
Microsoft’s Windows 10 computers have a log in feature called Windows Hello, where users are able to access their devices using facial recognition algorithms. On the downside, the feature was only available on newer devices with depth-sensing cameras built-in. That is, until eye-tracking company Tobii decided to change things up by offering support for the service with its standalone cameras.
The EyeX controller and Steel Series Sentry Gaming Eye Tracker are both depth-sensing cameras that are able to perform this highly secure login step. What’s more, Tobii’s enterprise products are also supporting Windows Hello, such as the newly announced IS4 software and the Tobii EyeChip. As The Verge noted, this means that in the near future, we may be seeing more Tobii products appear in other PC’s and laptops in order to take full advantage of the Windows Hello service.
Via: The Verge
Source: Tobii
Adobe’s new app adds text and graphics to your social posts
To help the less design savvy create graphics for their social posts, Adobe has a new app that’s driven by so-called Design Filters. The app is Adobe Post, and similar to Instagram, it relies on a collection of pre-selected designs instead of photo presets to create the final result. Once you’ve decided on a look, Post allows you to change the font, colors and other elements before beaming the image out to Facebook, Twitter and other social streams.
Adobe’s main goal is a quick and easy way for folks to create graphics with photos they’ve taken or with a stock image available inside the app. If you have a favorite font that you use on the regular, don’t expect to be able to employ it here, as Post only allows for the options it offers and you can’t upload your own. However, rather spending several minutes trying to decide on a color combo, the app will automatically suggests a palette based on the background image, which can come in pretty handy. If you can’t come up with a good idea, there’s an Inspiration Wall of templates to get you started.
Post is the third entry in what Adobe refers to as its storytelling apps. The new software joins Voice and Slate which help users create videos and web-based layouts for presentations and more. If you’re looking to give it a shot, Adobe Post is now available for free from the iTunes App Store.
Source: Adobe
Adobe Lightroom for iOS brings another desktop tool to mobile
Adobe continues to make its mobile photography apps more powerful, and a new update for Lightroom mobile on iOS delivers more of that. Leveraging another useful feature from the desktop, you can now employ a Point Curve mode to make adjustments in the Tone Curve and Split Toning tool. In other words, you now have more control when you add a tint or tone to the shadows and highlights of an image using Split Toning, for example. Lightroom mobile also allows you to “shoot through presets” now, too.
You can see what an image would look like with one of the app’s filters applied before you even take the photo. Snapshots captured this way are non-destructive, so you’ll always have an unedited original to work from.
Adobe already updated a few of its Photoshop iOS apps to play nice with Apple’s new super-sized slate, and it’s doing the same for Lightroom mobile. With the latest version of the photo-editing software, you can take advantage of the iPad Pro’s expanded screen real estate to do some multitasking and enjoy the perks of iOS 9 on other devices. If you happen to have one of Apple’s other new gadgets that feature 3D Touch, you can launch Lightroom’s built-in camera by pressing on the app’s icon. The in-app camera is accessible from the Notifications Center thanks to a handy widget.
Source: Adobe
Google announces 9 new Android Wear watch faces from iconic designers
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Google’s blog has announced 9 new Android Wear
- Ted Baker: Reveal your sophisticated side with ten gorgeous designs.
- Melissa Joy Manning: Rock a different birthstone for every month of the year.
- Vivienne Tam: Watch Opera Girl twirl, take a selfie, and more.
- Nicole Miller: Stay on track and in style with Nicole Miller’s pop art.
- Y-3: Sport the styles of Yohji Yamamoto, inspired by the beauty of human movement.
- Mango: Add instant chic to any outfit with this ready-to-wear watch face.
- Zoe Jordan: Free your time of clutter with the clean lines of modern design.
- Harajuku Kawaii!: Express your playful side with this adorable and vibrant watch face.
- ASICS: Motivate yourself to stay active with the help of your fitness buddy.
Direct yourself to the Play Store for all the new listings and give a couple of them a shot. There might be something in there that scream “THIS IS ME 100%!”.
Source: Google
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AT&T’s NumberSync service heads to the Samsung Gear S2
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AT&T recently started rolling out a free service called NumberSync to a variety of devices. In the simplest form, it lets your one primary number ring across tablets, phones and smartwatches that are connected to your account. It works with any HD Voice enabled device that is in a HD Voice location. Which includes all of Samsung’s latest devices, the HTC One A9 and a handful of others including iOS devices. Today AT&T announced its first non Apple wearable to make the cut for NumberSync with the $99.99, on contract, Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch.
Existing customers can get NumberSync on Gear S2 through a software update. New customers can enjoy NumberSync upon initial setup.
NumberSync lets you send and receive texts, as well as make and receive calls, from your smartwatch using the same mobile number that your family, friends and colleagues already recognize.
NumberSync operates on the AT&T wireless network and is not dependent on a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. You can even use it when your smartphone is off or disconnected from the network.
With NumberSync on your Gear S2, you will be able to not stress over leaving your phone at home and still get all your texts, calls and voicemails. It is pretty cool, and it is free.
Source: AT&T
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New list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update leaks out
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With each passing month, there seems to be a new list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update and it would appear that this month is no different. Thanks to a new leak from SamsungViet, a new list of so-called “confirmed” Samsung devices getting the Android Marshmallow update was made available today, showing quite a few devices that weren’t mentioned in previous leaks. Notably, this list includes some of Samsung’s tablets, though perhaps not as many as we were expecting. It’s also a shame that it’s not the Android 6.0.1 update that Google just rolled out, but an update’s an update.
The list suggests that 12 Samsung devices will be receiving the update in Q1 2016, which seems plausible – we should keep in mind though that these are only guidelines and chances are the actual dates may slip depending on how smoothly it all goes for Samsung. Having said that, Samsung might be well prepared for this round of updates after the Marshmallow update appeared on some Galaxy Note 4 devices in Hungary earlier this month. That might have only been by accident, but we’ll take it as a sign anyway.
What do you think about the list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamsungViet via SamMobile
The post New list of Samsung devices getting the Android 6.0 update leaks out appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
iOS and Android are both great. Here are some reasons to consider switching to Android.
I know I am going to get my fair share of hate emails and comments from this post, but I beg you try to keep an open mind when reading through this article. I understand that the whole Apple iOS versus Google Android debate is a heated topic for many, and expect comments on both sides of the fence. Let’s try to keep the comments civil.
I am going to do my best to explain why Android is a great alternative to iOS and try to avoid the whole Android is better than iOS debate as best as I can. I think both platforms are successful and by no means are Google or Apple struggling for cash. Monetarily you can say both are pretty darn successful. Apple is worth more money based on market value, but Google has more market share. I know that I will have a decent amount of bias towards Android, since I do use Android as my primary platform, and I also write for a website called AndroidGuys.
But it is in my nature to look at all things with an open mind: I am a scientist at a biotech in San Diego, and it is my job to investigate and offer answers with actual information to back it up. Any good scientist uses the Scientific Method to ask questions, investigate, acquire knowledge, and to use evidence to develop conclusions based on results. Once a conclusion is developed it is my job to test it and to prove it.
In my immediate family we are split 50/50 in what mobile software we use. My father uses an iPhone 6S+ and my older brother uses an iPhone 6 at my recommendation. Both of them started with the Apple iPhone, and are the type who prefer to stick with what works and to stay within one ecosystem. iPhone’s have great cameras, software, design, build, customer support and more. Just because I use Android doesn’t mean I force it on my own family.
My mother uses a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and I use a a wide variety of Android devices like the Nexus 6P, 5X, Asus Zenfone 2 and the Doogee F5. My older sister uses an iPhone 5S, and she also uses an Android LG G2 too. So even in my own family, we are split 50/50 on what platform we use.
My devices
So let’s put the debate of what is better behind us. Let’s just take a look at Android and why it is a good alternative to iOS.
Let’s start with the most important factor: Price
iPhone 6S 4.7″ 16GB – $649
iPhone 6S+ 5.5″ 16GB – $749
Whether you buy an iPhone on a 0% financing plan, two-year contract, or in full, you’re going to pay a heck of a lot of money. Because Apple is the only company who makes the iPhone, the price stays relatively unchanged throughout the course of its one-year life cycle. Apple owns a monopoly on its products and can charge accordingly. It’s quite rare to see any technological device hold its value so well, but the iPhone does it regardless. And it even has incredible resale value. Apple controls its mobile market share by not making iOS accessible to other manufacturers.
Samsung Galaxy S6 5.1″ 32GB – $679.99
Samsung Galaxy Note 5.7″ 32GB – $699.99
Nexus 6P 5.7″ 32GB – $499.99
Nexus 5X 5.2″ 16GB – $379.99
There are dozens of Android device manufacturers. There are so many that I can’t even find an accurate count on the web. I listed the biggest Android device manufacturer in Samsung, and I also listed Google’s pure Android Nexus devices. Android phones can be expensive too. It’s difficult to do a direct comparison to iPhones, because the Samsung S6 line has been out since the Spring, while the iPhone 6S and Note 5 line have only been out since the Fall. Internal hardware varies greatly from device to device too.
The prices for the Galaxy line devices are clearly almost identical to the iPhone, with the Galaxy devices offering more base storage than the iPhone. Google’s own Nexus devices are $180-300 cheaper than the iPhone which means you can save money with pure Android devices. On top of the initial MSRP savings, Android prices drop much faster, but at the same time have terrible resale value. Overall, the upfront fees can be much cheaper when buying an Android device.
Letv 1s 5.5″ 32GB – $238
Nuu Mobile Z8 5.5″ 16GB – $249.99
Nu Mobile Z8
Who? Who the heck is Letv and Nuu Mobile? I know you have heard of Motorola, but the Letv 1s and the Nuu Mobile Z8 are example devices that come unlocked with fantastic features. They also run the same Android software that the more expensive devices like the Note 5 and S line run. You haven’t heard of Letv because they are focused on the Chinese market.Nuu Mobile is a up and coming Android device manufacturer with a small budget and can’t afford to blast advertisements around the world.
And just because these devices are cheaper, doesn’t mean they lack in hardware.
Letv 1s
Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen
CPU: MTK6795 64bit Octa Core 2.2GHz
System: Android 5.0
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Camera: Dual Cameras, front camera 5.0MP camera, back camera 13.0MP
Nuu Mobile Z8 5.5″
Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen
CPU: 1.7 GHz Octa-Core Processor, MediaTek MTK6752 64-bit
System: Android 5.0
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: Dual Cameras, front camera 8.0MP camera, back camera 13.0MP
Android software is easy to use, is secure, can be customized, and Google apps are loaded with features
Again, I’m not here to argue that Android is better than iOS. Both email, text, make phone calls, browse the web, play videos and music, and take pictures incredibly well. There is no arguing that both platforms do the basics with ease.
The iPhone just works. I know it does. But that doesn’t mean Android devices don’t work. Many of us, me included, got started with iOS. I bought the first iPhone on the day it was released and waited in line for every subsequent release until the iPhone 5. I made the switch to Android when I took the time to evaluate the software with an open mind. Android is as safe as iOS and iOS is as safe as Android. Both Apple and Google make security the top priority for their software. Don’t buy into all of the misinformation out there about one being safer than the other.
The other sad truth is no software is bug free. Both Android and iOS have their fair share of bugs which is the reason why they release updates.
Google Search
Just “Google” it. Google’s search tools are so powerful that many of us have swapped the word “search” for the company name Google. The dominance of Google search is so overwhelming that the name Google has become a verb. We don’t say just Apple it, Yahoo it, or Microsoft it. Many of us say just “Google” it because Google has become synonymous with searching and researching unknowns. It like calling tissue “Kleenex”, lip balm “Chapstick”, or cotton swap “Q-Tips”.
Google owns the market share when it comes to searching, and Google Search is native to Android devices making it a super powerful tool. Yes you can download Google Search software onto iOS devices, but there are benefits to being native. You can “Google” directly from any screen on an Android device, while it constantly keeps you up to date on weather, stock prices, news, parking location and more through Google Now.
Google Photos
Arguably the best feature about Google Photos is that you have unlimited storage for FREE. Once backed up, you can access your photos from anywhere you have an internet connection and a web browser. You no longer need to worry about saving your most precious memories on back-up hard drives with Google Photos.
Here are some other great features taken directly from the app landing page:
VISUAL SEARCH
Your photos are now searchable by the places and things that appear in them. Looking for that fish taco you ate in Hawaii? Just search “food in Hawaii” to find it – no tagging required.
FREE UP SPACE ON YOUR DEVICE
Never worry about running out of space on your phone again. In Settings, just tap “Free up device storage” – photos that are safely backed up will be removed from your device’s storage, but will still be available in Google Photos.
BRING PHOTOS TO LIFE
Enjoy automatically created montage movies, interactive stories, collages, animations, panoramas, and more from your photos. Or you can easily create them yourself – just tap +.
SHARED ALBUMS
Get everyone’s photos and videos in one place, across iOS, Android, and the web. Privately sharing all the photos you took – and getting the ones you didn’t – has never been easier.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive
Google has its own answer for word processing, spreadsheet editing, presentation building, file storage and collaboration all for the price of nothing. Most of us learned how to use these tools using Microsoft Office, but Google created its own powerful tools and they are native to Android as well. Just like with Google Photos, all Google Docs are accessible from tablets to smartphones to desktops. And Google Docs is also compatible with Microsoft file types, while offering almost all of the same powerful features.
An alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides offers a great and free way to make presentations.
Google Docs is an online word processor that lets you create and format text documents and collaborate with other people in real time.
Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet application that allows you to store and organize different types of information, much like Microsoft Excel.
Project Fi
Project Fi is Google’s answer to cellular service. It isn’t Google’s own network – they have partnered with providers to offer its own affordable plan. Only select Nexus devices(Nexus 6, 6P and 5X) can access Project Fi, but it is a strong reason to give consideration to Android. Project Fi is still very new so this reason is highly debatable. But here are some reasons to consider it:
Project Fi is a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile
Project Fi coverage map
What’s included in the Fi Basics?
What happens if you go over your data budget?
You can bring your own number to Fi
Like any other provider, you can simply transfer your number when you sign up.
Android Wear
Wearables are taking hold in the marke,t and Android is at the forefront. Yes, Apple has its own watch too, which is great in its own right, but there is much more selection with Android. Tag Heuer, Fossil, Asus, LG, Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei are some of the major manufacturers of Android Wear devices, and the list continues to grow. With Android Wear you can monitor your activity levels, open apps, search and text using just your voice, get notifications, see the time and more.
Android Wear watches feature always-on displays, so you’ll always see important info like time, calls, and alerts. Respond to messages right from your watch, even when your phone isn’t with you.
Works with your Android phone or iPhone
Android Wear requires a phone running Android 4.3+ or iOS 8.2+. Supported features may vary between platforms. Visit g.co/wearcheck on your Android phone or iPhone to see if it’s compatible.
Android Wear is native to Android and is a great reason to consider Google’s software as an option.
You should consider Android if you don’t use it already
No I don’t work for Google, even though sometimes I wish I did. Google employees get get free food and drinks just for showing up to work! I have been to the Google campus, and they even let guests eat and drink for free. I hope Google let’s me hangout at its campus again some day in the future. It truly is an experience I will never forget.
Instead, I work for a biotech and research neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, and the like. We get free coffee and tea, but I am not complaining. Nothing is more gratifying to me than working to solve unmet medical needs.
It’s my job to look at problems objectively, to ask questions, to research and to develop conclusions based on evidence.
In no way am I arguing that Android is superior to iOS, or vice versa, but I am offering reasons why you should consider Android if you are not using it now. There are fantastic devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or the Nexus 6P that offer the latest and greatest hardware, or there are fantastic alternatives like the Letv 1s or Nuu Mobile Z8 which offer great hardware for budget conscience users.
The software is also incredible and better yet, the applications Google provides are completely free to use.
If you would like to learn more, head on over to Google.com. No you don’t have to switch to Android – there are plenty of great features on iOS too.
My favorite Android commercial.
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AIVAnet 