An American scientific study reveals that our smartphones can give away a number of details about our lifestyles through chemistry.
(This is a preview – click here to read the entire entry.)
The post What your smartphone hygiene can reveal about you appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
An American scientific study reveals that our smartphones can give away a number of details about our lifestyles through chemistry.
(This is a preview – click here to read the entire entry.)
The post What your smartphone hygiene can reveal about you appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
A few weeks ago, we posted some exclusive renders and information, in collaboration with @OnLeaks, for the upcoming 2017 version of the Samsung Galaxy A5. The company has not yet officially announced this phone but today some new photos, and a hands-on video, have made their way onto the Internet that allegedly show off the smartphone.
The video and renders come from a person named Neil Potgieter, who in the clip says he is doing a “review” of the 2017 Samsung Galaxy A5. However, since the phone hasn’t even been announced yet, let alone released, this “review” is likely of a pre-production prototype for the phone. For example, the video shows the phone running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, but it’s more than possible the final 2017 Galaxy A5 could have Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.
The video does seem to jibe with what we have learned about the phone, including that it will be nearly identical to the current Galaxy S7 in terms of its design, complete with rounded corners. It also seems to show that it will indeed have 3GB of RAM and an octa-core processor. The video shows that this model has 32GB of storage, but again it’s possible that Samsung could release models with even more onboard storage.
In any case, Samsung is expected to officially announce and launch the new Galaxy A5 sometime in December. Are you interested in getting the new version of this mid-range smartphone?
The post Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) photos and video reportedly leaked appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
While smartphone cameras have come a long way in the past few years, they still lag behind professional stand alone cameras for serious work. That gap may be getting smaller, however, thanks in part to Motorola’s support of Moto Mods for its Moto Z family of smartphones. Indeed, the Moto Z was used with its Hasselblad True Zoom camera mod to take the cover photograph for the latest issue of Sports Illustrated’s print magazine.
The subject of the latest SI cover just happens to be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who started as a college football player and pro wrestler and is now arguably the most famous movie star in the world right now, not to mention People magazine’s latest “Sexiest Man Alive”
The photo shoot itself was taken on Nov. 14 in Beverly Hills by photographer Mike LeBrecht. Motorola says that he was able to use the Hasselblad Mod’s professional settings with the Moto Z to create an image that looks as good as one made with a high-end camera. Of course, LeBrecht already knows his way around a photo shoot, and there are also other factors in this image such as lighting that the normal smartphone owner would not have. However, it does show that Motorola’s support of Mods to add extra functions to smartphones may be getting some traction.
The post The Moto Z Hasselblad camera mod is used to create SI magazine cover appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
A new company that has been spun off from Rovio, the creators of the Angry Birds franchise, wants to offer a way for Android device owners to stream and play games without downloading them onto their phones. The new company, Hatch, says the service will also include some unique social features.
Hatch says that the service will allow anyone to play games for free, with no updates or in-app purchases. Instead, the service, and game developers, will get revenues from “integrated, unobtrusive advertising and brand storytelling”. Hatch also plans to launch a paid subscription option that will offer unnamed additional features for gamers.
In addition, the service will allow players to compete, or even help, in online gaming, along with support for sharing and broadcasting gameplay footage. Even single-player games can be altered so that players can receive online assistance from others. The service will use cloud-based servers in a partnership with Huawei Technologies.
When Hatch does launch to the public, it will have over 100 games to play such as Badland, Leo’s Fortune, Monument Valley, Pac-Man CE DX, République and many more. It will also release games that will be exclusive to the service, such as IslaBomba: Ready To Boom, that will be able to use the service’s multiplayer and social features. The company plans to launch via an invite-only beta sometime in the first half of 2017.
The post Hatch, a spinoff of Rovio, will bring free streaming games to Android in 2017 appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
This post originally appeared on our sister site, VRSource.
More and more VR apps are being released in the Google Play Store that support the company’s Daydream View smartphone headset. The latest example is LEGO Brickheadz, a free app that lets children of all ages make cool LEGO-based figures in a virtual world.
See also: Launch day: Daydream VR apps roundup
The Brickheadz brand from LEGO was first announced earlier this year, and will offer people a way to own buildable figures based on pop culture characters from Marvel and DC’s superhero universes. The real-world Brickheadz won’t go on sale until 2017, but this new VR app offers something of a sneak peek at what this LEGO spinoff is like.
The game gives you the option of building your own Brickheadz figures. You can also unlock new characters and combinations by putting together pre-arranged figures via special diagrams. All in all, this app would seem to be targeting young kids, but we would imagine older folks might get a kick out of playing with virtual LEGO bricks as well.
One word of warning: The app is listed in the Google Play Store as “Unreleased”, which likely means that there could be more than the usual number of bugs in this version.
The post Build your own LEGO characters with the new LEGO Brickheadz VR app for Daydream View appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
The biggest feature in Motorola’s Moto Z family of smartphones is their support for Moto Mods, which are modular add-ons that can be quickly connected to the back to add extra features to those devices. Today, Motorola CEO Aymar de Lencquesaing said the company will “likely” release a Moto Mod in the future that will add support for Google’s Tango 3D camera technology to the Moto Z.
Of course, this is one of the exact reasons why Lenovo and Motorola created Moto Mods in the first place. If an up-and-coming technology comes out that may be of interest to users, creating a Moto Mod with that functionality is much easier than building it into a smartphone. de Lencquesaing stated that the augmented reality features that can be used with the Tango camera will fit well within Motorola’s smartphone plans:
Augmented reality on a phone is a technology that’s likely to stick. Of course we’ll follow, or lead, the market in this area.
Motorola’s parent company, Lenovo, launched the first Tango-enabled smartphone, the Phab 2 Pro, earlier this month. The large 6.4-inch unlocked device is currently priced at $499.99, and there are over 35 apps in the Google Play Store that specifically support Tango’s AR features. There are rumors that ASUS could announce its own Tango-based smartphone in January during CES 2017.
Currently, the Moto Z family of Moto Mods directly from Motorola include an external speaker, an extra battery and projector. More recently, Verizon began selling a Moto Mod battery pack made by Mophie. Motorola has also partner with the Indiegogo crowd funding website to help hardware developers fund the creation of even more Moto Mods.
The post Moto Z is “likely” to get a Tango 3D camera Moto Mod appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
A few weeks ago, we posted some exclusive renders and information, in collaboration with @OnLeaks, for the upcoming 2017 version of the Samsung Galaxy A5. The company has not yet officially announced this phone but today some new photos, and a hands-on video, have made their way onto the Internet that allegedly show off the smartphone.
The video and renders come from a person named Neil Potgieter, who in the clip says he is doing a “review” of the 2017 Samsung Galaxy A5. However, since the phone hasn’t even been announced yet, let alone released, this “review” is likely of a pre-production prototype for the phone. For example, the video shows the phone running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, but it’s more than possible the final 2017 Galaxy A5 could have Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.
The video does seem to jibe with what we have learned about the phone, including that it will be nearly identical to the current Galaxy S7 in terms of its design, complete with rounded corners. It also seems to show that it will indeed have 3GB of RAM and an octa-core processor. The video shows that this model has 32GB of storage, but again it’s possible that Samsung could release models with even more onboard storage.
In any case, Samsung is expected to officially announce and launch the new Galaxy A5 sometime in December. Are you interested in getting the new version of this mid-range smartphone?
The post Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) photos and video reportedly leaked appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
While smartphone cameras have come a long way in the past few years, they still lag behind professional stand alone cameras for serious work. That gap may be getting smaller, however, thanks in part to Motorola’s support of Moto Mods for its Moto Z family of smartphones. Indeed, the Moto Z was used with its Hasselblad True Zoom camera mod to take the cover photograph for the latest issue of Sports Illustrated’s print magazine.
The subject of the latest SI cover just happens to be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who started as a college football player and pro wrestler and is now arguably the most famous movie star in the world right now, not to mention People magazine’s latest “Sexiest Man Alive”
The photo shoot itself was taken on Nov. 14 in Beverly Hills by photographer Mike LeBrecht. Motorola says that he was able to use the Hasselblad Mod’s professional settings with the Moto Z to create an image that looks as good as one made with a high-end camera. Of course, LeBrecht already knows his way around a photo shoot, and there are also other factors in this image such as lighting that the normal smartphone owner would not have. However, it does show that Motorola’s support of Mods to add extra functions to smartphones may be getting some traction.
The post The Moto Z Hasselblad camera mod is used to create SI magazine cover appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
A new company that has been spun off from Rovio, the creators of the Angry Birds franchise, wants to offer a way for Android device owners to stream and play games without downloading them onto their phones. The new company, Hatch, says the service will also include some unique social features.
Hatch says that the service will allow anyone to play games for free, with no updates or in-app purchases. Instead, the service, and game developers, will get revenues from “integrated, unobtrusive advertising and brand storytelling”. Hatch also plans to launch a paid subscription option that will offer unnamed additional features for gamers.
In addition, the service will allow players to compete, or even help, in online gaming, along with support for sharing and broadcasting gameplay footage. Even single-player games can be altered so that players can receive online assistance from others. The service will use cloud-based servers in a partnership with Huawei Technologies.
When Hatch does launch to the public, it will have over 100 games to play such as Badland, Leo’s Fortune, Monument Valley, Pac-Man CE DX, République and many more. It will also release games that will be exclusive to the service, such as IslaBomba: Ready To Boom, that will be able to use the service’s multiplayer and social features. The company plans to launch via an invite-only beta sometime in the first half of 2017.
The post Hatch, a spinoff of Rovio, will bring free streaming games to Android in 2017 appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
This post originally appeared on our sister site, VRSource.
More and more VR apps are being released in the Google Play Store that support the company’s Daydream View smartphone headset. The latest example is LEGO Brickheadz, a free app that lets children of all ages make cool LEGO-based figures in a virtual world.
See also: Launch day: Daydream VR apps roundup
The Brickheadz brand from LEGO was first announced earlier this year, and will offer people a way to own buildable figures based on pop culture characters from Marvel and DC’s superhero universes. The real-world Brickheadz won’t go on sale until 2017, but this new VR app offers something of a sneak peek at what this LEGO spinoff is like.
The game gives you the option of building your own Brickheadz figures. You can also unlock new characters and combinations by putting together pre-arranged figures via special diagrams. All in all, this app would seem to be targeting young kids, but we would imagine older folks might get a kick out of playing with virtual LEGO bricks as well.
One word of warning: The app is listed in the Google Play Store as “Unreleased”, which likely means that there could be more than the usual number of bugs in this version.
The post Build your own LEGO characters with the new LEGO Brickheadz VR app for Daydream View appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
The biggest feature in Motorola’s Moto Z family of smartphones is their support for Moto Mods, which are modular add-ons that can be quickly connected to the back to add extra features to those devices. Today, Motorola CEO Aymar de Lencquesaing said the company will “likely” release a Moto Mod in the future that will add support for Google’s Tango 3D camera technology to the Moto Z.
Of course, this is one of the exact reasons why Lenovo and Motorola created Moto Mods in the first place. If an up-and-coming technology comes out that may be of interest to users, creating a Moto Mod with that functionality is much easier than building it into a smartphone. de Lencquesaing stated that the augmented reality features that can be used with the Tango camera will fit well within Motorola’s smartphone plans:
Augmented reality on a phone is a technology that’s likely to stick. Of course we’ll follow, or lead, the market in this area.
Motorola’s parent company, Lenovo, launched the first Tango-enabled smartphone, the Phab 2 Pro, earlier this month. The large 6.4-inch unlocked device is currently priced at $499.99, and there are over 35 apps in the Google Play Store that specifically support Tango’s AR features. There are rumors that ASUS could announce its own Tango-based smartphone in January during CES 2017.
Currently, the Moto Z family of Moto Mods directly from Motorola include an external speaker, an extra battery and projector. More recently, Verizon began selling a Moto Mod battery pack made by Mophie. Motorola has also partner with the Indiegogo crowd funding website to help hardware developers fund the creation of even more Moto Mods.
The post Moto Z is “likely” to get a Tango 3D camera Moto Mod appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
How do I watch my favorite Netflix content offline?
Commuters rejoice! Netflix has added the option to download their content to your phone or tablet via the Netflix app. Not everything on Netflix is currently available for offline viewing, but there’s a decent selection available for download right now.
Once downloaded, you’ll be able to avoid using your data to play shows while using public transit, and also able to watch your favorite Netflix shows or movies when you’re outside your carrier’s coverage area and away from Wi-Fi.
Fortunately, Netflix has made things real easy. Here’s how to get started!
Tap Available for Download.
Browse through the content that’s available to download, then tap on whatever you want to download.
Once you’ve started downloading a show or movie from Netflix, you will get a blue notification with the download progress at the bottom of your screen. You are able to browse and add for more shows to your download queue. You’re also able to go directly to the My Downloads section by tapping the notification once your downloads are complete.
Tap the Menu button in the top left corner.
Tap My Downloads.
My Downloads is the home for all the content you’ve downloaded. Netflix provides the storage information right under the title, so it’s quick to see how much space each download is taking up You’ll need to tap a show to expand to see the downloaded episodes, while movies and comedy specials will simply be organized alphabetically.
Tap My Downloads.
Tap the Edit icon in the top right corner.
If you select a show from the main My Downloads page, you will be deleting all episodes of that show from your phone. If you only wish to remove some episodes, you’ll have to expand the show first, then tap the edit icon to select individual episodes.
The post How to download offline content from Netflix appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
In an apparent attempt to shut down the competition, Facebook has now cut off access to its Live Video API for the popular Prisma image and video filters app. This move comes as both companies released ways to include stylized art filters to Facebook Live videos.
According to TechCrunch, Facebook sent an email to the team behind Prisma, stating that Facebook’s app already supports streaming of video from a “mobile device camera”. Facebook’s statement seems to suggest that its Live Video API is not meant to be used by mobile cameras and third-party apps, but rather by professional cameras, games and other sources. The report does point out that Facebook’s own FAQ page on the Live Video API does not specifically state that mobile camera streams are banned.
On the surface, this would appear to be a pretty heavy handed attempt by Facebook to stop Prisma from offering its own art filters for Facebook Live users. Facebook launched its Live filters for iOS for testing in a select number of countries a few weeks ago, but there’s no word on when that will expand to more territories. Of course, Facebook’s latest move has put the future of Prisma’s live video support in doubt, but in the meantime, it is still working on a social-themed update for the app which is planned for release in December.
The post Facebook shuts down Live Video API access for Prisma appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like. Android Authority has affiliate partnerships, so we will see a share of the revenue from any purchases.
For the past few days, Tech Deals has been celebrating Cyber Week by offering discounts on products and services related to cyber security. While there are quite a few deals that are worth looking at today, the outlier in our opinion is the 2017 IT Security & Ethical Hacking Certification Training kit.
Although we’ve seen a handful of interesting ethical hacking courses while on the prowl for good deals, something sets this one apart. Sure, you’ll learn all the tools of the trade that career white hat hackers use to earn their paychecks: cryptography, identity management, attacking networks, mitigating vulnerabilities, etc.
But what gives this kit extra value is that it also includes all of the relevant materials you’ll need to become a certified security expert.
That’s right. This course includes all material covered by the official 2017 CompTIA Security+, CEHv9, and CCNA Security certification exams with comprehensive study guides to prepare for them. With these certificates in hand, you’re just one résumé away from a lucrative career as a white hat hacker.
Although you can find courses like this for cheaper, the launch price for the 2017 IT Security & Ethical Hacking Certification Training kit is a hair-raising $1,895. I guess when you’re providing the comprehensive foundations for an entire career, you can afford to charge top dollar for it.
However (probably in an effort to boost their student base going into 2017) LearnSmart is temporarily offering the entire course for just $29.99.
You’ll get everything that students forking over the full price get, but you’ll have to act quickly if you want to snag this deal. At the time of writing, only 8 hours remain.
As icing on the cake, referring a friend will net you a cool $10. Click the button below to become a certified ethical hacker!
AAPicks operates independently from the advertising team, and we welcome your feedback and questions. Email us at aapicks@androidauthority.com.
The post Cyber Week Deal: White Hat Hacker kit 98% off appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
I bring good news and bad news for all the Kiwis out there. The good news is that you can now use Android Pay to make purchases at locations like BurgerFuel and McDonald’s. The bad news is that only one specific card is supported by it.
Google just announced that Android Pay will be finally making its way to New Zealand. This means that as long as you have an unrooted, NFC-enabled Android device running Android 4.4 or higher, you will be able to create virtual cards just by downloading the Android Pay app. All you have to do is wake up and unlock your phone, hold the back of the device against the contactless payment terminal, and voila, your transaction is completed. No need to open up the actual app.
According to Google, its contactless payment system is already accepted in participating locations that are equipped with contactless terminals. These include BP, Domino’s, BurgerFuel, McDonald’s, Spark, Vodafone, The Warehouse, Torpedo 7, and more. Just like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, you can store your gift cards and loyalty cards on Android Pay as well. To see the full list of stores that support the app, visit Android Pay’s official website for New Zealand.
However, there is a catch. Unfortunately, for now, Google’s payment system in New Zealand supports only one type of card, and that is the BNZ Flexi Debit Visa card.
Unfortunately, for now, Google’s payment system in New Zealand supports only one type of card, and that is the BNZ Flexi Debit Visa card.
Although the company hasn’t specified whether or not it would be adding more support and when that would be, we will be sure you keep you updated. In the meantime, if you are a merchant looking to use Google’s contactless payment service, you can visit the Android Pay Merchant Help Centre. And for online merchants and developers, here is the Android Pay API website.
For those in New Zealand, are you disappointed about the limited support? How often do you use Android Pay or Samsung Pay? Let us know by leaving a comment down below!
The post Android Pay arrives in New Zealand but with very limited support appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
With less than a month to go before Christmas arrives, it’s time to get ready for the most famous yearly trip in history with the updated Google Santa Tracker app. The new version adds some features, including the ability to keep track of Saint Nick’s trip around the world on December 24 on an Android TV.
In addition, the updated app includes more support for Android Wear smartwatches, although specifics have not been revealed. Kids of all ages can check out the redesigned Santa’s Village in the new version, along with an AR game, Present Quest, that shows people how to get virtual gifts from real-world locations, which are then taken and placed at a local “Santa’s Workshop”.
Of course, the biggest reason for using the app is coming in just a few weeks, where children can keep tabs on where the big guy is in the world as he makes his way across the globe via your smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, Android TV or Chromecast-enabled device. In the meantime, you should be able to get in the holiday spirit with this app’s games and other features, which include “elves in jetpacks, rolling gumballs, sleighs powered by rockets and Google Cardboard.” Sounds like fun.
The post Get ready for Saint Nick’s ride with the updated Google Santa Tracker app appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
How do I watch my favorite Netflix content offline?
Commuters rejoice! Netflix has added the option to download their content to your phone or tablet via the Netflix app. Not everything on Netflix is currently available for offline viewing, but there’s a decent selection available for download right now.
Once downloaded, you’ll be able to avoid using your data to play shows while using public transit, and also able to watch your favorite Netflix shows or movies when you’re outside your carrier’s coverage area and away from Wi-Fi.
Fortunately, Netflix has made things real easy. Here’s how to get started!
Tap Available for Download.
Browse through the content that’s available to download, then tap on whatever you want to download.
Once you’ve started downloading a show or movie from Netflix, you will get a blue notification with the download progress at the bottom of your screen. You are able to browse and add for more shows to your download queue. You’re also able to go directly to the My Downloads section by tapping the notification once your downloads are complete.
Tap the Menu button in the top left corner.
Tap My Downloads.
My Downloads is the home for all the content you’ve downloaded. Netflix provides the storage information right under the title, so it’s quick to see how much space each download is taking up You’ll need to tap a show to expand to see the downloaded episodes, while movies and comedy specials will simply be organized alphabetically.
Tap My Downloads.
Tap the Edit icon in the top right corner.
If you select a show from the main My Downloads page, you will be deleting all episodes of that show from your phone. If you only wish to remove some episodes, you’ll have to expand the show first, then tap the edit icon to select individual episodes.
The post How to download offline content from Netflix appeared first on Latest Android Version Updates.
