Category: Android

Apps and Devices

Instagram rolls out globally the Live Story feature. #Instagram #Android #IOS #Windows10

Weeks back we saw the  Instagram team announcing the global availability of its “Live Story” feature.

Originally available only in certain countries, the app is pretty much becoming a mix between Snapchat, Vine and Periscope.

The original IG Story became one of the more popular parts of the app by getting the lovely number of more than 150 million users DAILY. And now the company just want to expand the market.

You will find the option by swiping from the app and selecting “Start live video”, according to the company this way popular Instagrammers and followers can be more connected and interact with each other.

There’s a “Top Live” options to explore new and popular users, so heavy and not so heavy users can find new content, which won’t be available after the live event is finish.

Try to keep in mind that the option can now be found on every platform , so if you haven’t seen the update yet, be patient as it could take a bit before it reach your region.

The new start of the show van be found on version 10.0 and above

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Samsung unveils the new Galaxy A series for 2017 before #CES2017. #Samsung #GalaxyA #Android

With CES2017 just around the corner, we expect many tech related thing to be found this week. But Samsung just jump before anyone else letting us have a glimpse of what the future may bring.

Enter the Galaxy A series 2017

The A variant from the Galaxy series has become a standard for mid ranger phones on recent years. But this time, the Korean company simply place them on an entire different level.

This year version of smartphones add completely new features and improved over ones already good to make it even better.

Now, we have 3D glass on the back too as well as IP68 for water and dust protection. A first for the series.

Also now they come with “enhanced front and rear 16-megapixel cameras“ with a simplified UX, for better and easier to take pictures and selfies by using the screen as front flash for those low light shots.

If on top of that, you give the phone USB Type-C and the Always On Display what we have a practically a shrunken Galaxy S7

But don’t take my word, take a look at the specs for yourself:

Samsung Galaxy A7 Product Specifications:

Galaxy A7
Network LTE Cat.6 * May differ by markets and mobile operators
Display 5.7” FHD Super AMOLED
AP 1.9GHz Octa Core
OS Android 6.0.16 (Marshmallow)
Camera Rear : 16MP (F1.9), Front : 16MP (F1.9)
Video MPEG4, H.265(HEVC), H.264(AVC), H.263, VC-1, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8, VP9
Audio MP3, AAC LC/AAC+/eAAC+,AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WMA, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus
Additional features MST technology(Samsung Pay), Samsung KNOX, S-Voice, Dual SIM option
* Samsung Pay launches may vary by market-readiness
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth® v 4.2, ANT+,
USB Type-C,NFC (UICC, eSE)
Sensor Accelerometer, Proximity, Geomagnetic, RGB Light, Hall
Fingerprint scanner, Barometer
IP Code IP68
Memory 3GB RAM + 32GB Storage
Micro SD slot (up to 256GB)
Dimension 156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9mm
Battery 3,600mAh, Fast Charging

Samsung Galaxy A3 Product Specifications:

Galaxy A3
Network LTE Cat.6 * May differ by markets and mobile operators
Display 4.7” HD Super AMOLED
AP 1.6GHz Octa Core
OS Android 6.0.16 (Marshmallow)
Camera Rear : 13MP (F1.9), Front : 8MP (F1.9)
Video MPEG4, H.265(HEVC), H.264(AVC), H.263, VC-1, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8, VP9
Audio MP3, AAC LC/AAC+/eAAC+,AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WMA, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus
Additional features MST technology(Samsung Pay), Samsung KNOX, S-Voice, Dual SIM option
* Samsung Pay launches may vary by market-readiness
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth® v 4.2, ANT+,
USB Type-C, NFC (UICC)
Sensor Accelerometer, Proximity, Geomagnetic, RGB Light, Hall, Fingerprint Scanner, Barometer
IP Code IP68
Memory 2GB RAM + 16GB Storage
Micro SD slot (up to 256GB)
Dimension 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9mm
Battery 2,350mAh

Samsung Galaxy A5 Product Specifications:

Galaxy A5
Network LTE Cat.6 * May differ by markets and mobile operators
Display 5.2” FHD Super AMOLED
AP 1.9GHz Octa Core
OS Android 6.0.16 (Marshmallow)
Camera Rear : 16MP (F1.9), Front : 16MP (F1.9)
Video MPEG4, H.265(HEVC), H.264(AVC), H.263, VC-1, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8, VP9
Audio MP3, AAC LC/AAC+/eAAC+,AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WMA, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus
Additional features MST technology(Samsung Pay), Samsung KNOX, S-Voice, Dual SIM option
* Samsung Pay launches may vary by market-readiness
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth® v 4.2, ANT+,
USB Type-C, NFC (UICC, eSE)
Sensor Accelerometer, Proximity, Geomagnetic, RGB Light, Hall
Fingerprint scanner, Barometer
IP Code IP68
Memory 3GB RAM + 32GB Storage
Micro SD slot (up to 256GB)
Dimension 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm
Battery 3,000mAh, Fast Charge

As you can see front the images above, the A3 variant is the only on with any kind of downgrade, but is something that you may expect for the smaller brother of the three.

The only bad thing about the newer phones sis that they come with Android 6.0 but is safe to assume Samsung will update the OS to the latest version.

All three will be available starting the Month on Russia, with more countries soon to follow in the coming weeks, but no specific date from Samsung yet.

All will be found in four-color options: Black Sky, Gold Sand, Blue Mist and Peach Cloud.

There’s no work on pricing yet, buis to be expected we’ll see them from around $350 to $490

But tell us, What do you think about the new A series 2017? Would you get one once they become available in your region?

Sound off below or join the conversation on Twitter.

And keep and eye on our CES2017 coverage

 

Samsung announces  “Galaxy Beta Program” for Android 7.0 on Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE. #Android #GalaxyS7

It was a matter of “when” instead of “If” that the guys at Samsung started trying to fix all those little details they always have had during they reign.

They are now letting users have a taste of what the upcoming versions of Android for Galaxy will feel like.

  Android 7.0 Nougat is the latest instalment of the Android ecosystem, and as far as today only two 2016 phones have it.

And something that has always been an issue with Samsung is timely updates, but this time they seem to have a different strategy to make updates faster by letting userw get involve.

The program is available since November 9th to users residing in the U.S., U.K. and Korea, with China soon to join.

Some things you need to have in mind:

For the U.K, the beta program is only available to users of S7 and S7 edge who have a non-operator locked device or have purchased an open market version.

Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition and Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition are excluded from the program.

So if you happen to have a locked carrier version of the phone or one of those extremely rare and expensive “Special Editions” you’re so “special” that you can’t participated in something for the normal S7 user.

All you need to do to join the program is download the Galaxy Beta Program  or the Samsung Members apps.

So run as fast as you can to get your taste of Nougat and the Grace UX found on the Note7 with all those little tweaks to the AOD and other small things that will make your phone feel like new again.

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Google’s new Pixel phones turn out to come with IPXX rating #Google #Pixel

Just this week we were showing the new phones for “Android Purist” right after the official unveiling.

But today we learnt something about them that was completely omitted during the presentation and even on the official specs page from Google. Come to think of it there was a few more things left out..

Both the Pixel and Pixel XL come with IP53 (Water and Dust Resistance)

Apparently this was clarifed by Google to Droidpolice,  but we wonder why they skipped it during the presentation.

Although this is good, don’t get to exited about it, IP53 doesn’t mean you can go and start filming underwater shots with your phone. Actually, it is only protected against little rain and some dust ingress.

Which is not bad but I’d be careful anyway to not get near water with these two.

What do you think of this? Will this make you get into the Pixels wagon? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

One for the Ladies, Samsung just unveiled a new “Pink Gold” #GalaxyS7 exclusively at BestBuy. #Android #Samsung

Although Samsung announced the Note7 recently, the S line up is not to be forgotten as they just got a new family member.

A Pink Gold coloured version

 

Maybe the photo doesn’t  let you really appreciate the theme on this variant for it’s  way more impressive live.

The only downside, as far as now you can have this phone in the US only thanks to a BestBuy deal. The good side is the fact there’s a model for each carrier including Verizon wireless.

Adding new colors at this time probably is their way to boost S7 sales now the Note7 is in town.

But to be honest, I’d have jumped  right on  was the beautiful Emerald Green color they have for the S6 edge.

But let us know, Would import this version if not available elsewhere? Or if you are in the States, will you get one for that special lady? Sound off below or join the twitter conversation

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Sony announces the update route for their phones. #Android #Nougat #Update #Xperia

Just a few days ago, we read about the public release of a consumer ready Android 7.0 Nougat for the masses. But although this is great news, the well known Android update stress began.

But amongst  all that chaos, there are some OEMs that have served  well their customers when it comes to OS updates, one of them is Sony who just anounced which devices will be updated first.

Xperia Z3+
Z4 Tablet
Xperia Z5, Z5 Compact and Z5 Premium
Xperia X, XA, XA Ultra and X Performance

These devices were the ovious choices as actual or former flagships, but something that caught our attention was the ommision of the regular Xperia Z3 as the company let users installed an early version of the OS.

As it has happen before, probably this first list of phones will be updated later with new additions like the M or C series of phones released on 2015.

But what do you think about this? What are your most expected features of this update? Let us know in the comment section below.

Stay tuned for more info about this update.

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The LG V20 will be loved by audiophiles thanks to a Quad DAC system. #LG #LGV20 #Android

In case you missed it, LG is going to unveil the V10 successor in an event in San Francisco on September 6th.

The V10 was LG flagship until the G5 came out, despite the low sales, the company is aiming a hit with this gadget.

The V10 was an already excellent device and recently was updated to Marshmallow. With a build-in 32-BIT HI-FI DAC the audio quality of this phone was the best of 2015, but this time, the revamp model will come with a quad arrangement that promise to produce 50% less ambient noise that’s comparable to a “Live Performance“.

The company behind this technology will be ESS Technology, the same who brought the outstanding sound to the V10.

Here’s what Juno Cho, LG’s president thinks about it:

 As smartphones mature, we’re seeing more and more customers looking beyond just fast processors and big displays in their devices,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company. “Higher quality audio is simply the natural evolution of the smartphone, as the industry moves toward a more holistic multimedia consumption experience. We’re pleased to continue this long-term partnership with ESS and bring best in class audio to LG V20 users.

The V20 is said to sport the same dual selfie cameras at the front, and well the secondary display found on its predecessor. An improved rear camera, SD 820 and 4GB of RAM among other interesting things.

Another important feature to have in mind is the premier release of Android 7.o Nougat, LG already confirmed that the phone will come with the latest version of Android right out of the box.

What do you think about this? Will you be getting the new LG flagship? I would if I can!

Let us know your thought below or join the twitter conversation.

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#Verne is a new app that lets kids explore the Himalayas in #3D #Kids

A new app for kids to try out after yourself perhaps,after playing about with it myself for a few mins it pretty neat.. The game is simple to navigate with on-screen controls which are multi-directional. The app is an experiment though and uses 3G imagery from Google Maps.. It will keep kids entertained for a while anyway.. It is educational and filled with points of interest with speakers that sound off some information when you get into close proximity. You cant get lost either with a map on the top right hand side of your screen.

 

 

Verne: The Himalayas is a new app that invites you to explore Google Maps’ 3D imagery of the Himalayas alongside a 500 foot Yeti named Verne. As Verne, you can run up Mt. Everest in seconds, skate across icy lakes, chase yaks, discover bits of information, ride a jetpack, play traditional Himalayan instruments, and more.

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Saorview launches an app on Android and iOS. #TV #Saorview #App

Saorview has just launched its new app on Android and iOS,For those who do not know what Saorview is its a free digital television. Combine it with free-to-air satellite and get all your favourite Irish and UK channels. No monthly bills, and HD and all for free..  The however is quite similar to the Freetime (Freesat app) which has been about some time now.

 

 

Commenting on the new app, Jim Higgins, Saorview business development manager said ‘The new Saorview app is a great companion for the Saorview service and we hope that many Saorview users will download it and use it to plan their viewing and find out more about the great range of programming on Saorview. With the launch of Saorview Connect in the coming months, we will be switching on more features in the app providing users with a more enhanced free TV service.’
 

PHASE 1… explainer

Phase 1 of the app for all the brilliant people out there who don’t have to pay for their TV. For all the people using Saorview – Ireland’s Free Digital Television Service.Why Phase 1?

Because in the coming months we will launch a fantastic new product called Saorview Connect. And when this happens, we can activate even more great functionality in the app, that’s gonna be Phase 2.

What’s so great about Phase 1?

SPOTLIGHT – Suffering from thumb fatigue and never ending channel surfing? Well, let our team of telly watching experts show you the very best of the next 7 days TV. Then set a reminder in case you want to have a nap or mow the lawn.

GUIDE – Or happier to make your own decisions? Then be our guest with a 7 day listing for all TV channels and radio stations. Scan or search channels or individual shows. What’s on now, next and later.

 

 

Phase 2…

When Saorview Connect launches YOU will be able to activate even more great functions. Things like….

MY RECORDINGS – We’ve all been there, you’re out walking the cat and remember that your favourite show is just about to start. No worries, with Saorview Connect and this awesome app you can record TV on the go. Good kitty!

SPOTLIGHT ON DEMAND – Recommendations for not just the next 7 days of TV but also for the previous 7 days. TV that you can watch on the channel players.

REMOTE CONTROL – Can’t be bothered looking for the TV remote? Neither could we, and that’s why with this app you will able to control your TV via Saorview Connect.