Fitbit Windows Phone app updates with cool new features

The Windows Phone Fitbit app has just updated with several new features. Among the more significant updates is the addition of more in-depth sleep tracking functionality which was previously limited to basic stopwatch-like recording of the length of a user’s sleep. The new sleep tracking feature now allows users to add a goal (in the same way a daily step goal is made) and now displays a new sleep chart to better keep track of sleep patterns.

Fitbit app Challenges have also been revamped to include new trophies, graphs and new Personal Record and Goal Streak awards. The ability to quickly challenge everyone in a Challenge to a rematch the following day or week has now been streamlined and no longer requires manually inviting participants all over again once a challenge is completed. Users can now simply select “Rematch” to begin the Challenge again.
 

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One of the better improvements, and also one of the simplest, is the added ability to share Fitbit badges with friends outside of the Fitbit network like on Facebook, WhatsApp or even via email. Badges are one of the greatest motivators to keep using Fitbit and the ability to show them off makes them all the more powerful.

I’ve been using the Windows Phone Fitbit app with my new Fitbit One for about three months now and have been constantly impressed with how well designed it is. The app boasts a clean layout that is easy to navigate around and takes good advantage of the Windows Phone’s Live Tiles feature to display useful information such as your daily step goal progress and friend requests. It works with the entire Fitbit device range and can even functional by itself by using the phone as its own motion tracker.

Samsung Update Android Version

 

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Samsung Update curates articles, blog posts and technology news feed items from top publications and technology news sites such as Engadget, Android Authority, Yahoo News, Android Central, Tech Radar, Drippler, Feedly, Phandroid, The Verge, Gizmodo, Mashable, Android Guys, TalkAndroid, Droid Gamers, XDA Developers, Android Police, Land Of Droid, AndroidSpin and ZDNet amongst others, ensuring that you receive high quality, reliable technology news and headlines from all across the Android world!
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Insten Extendable Monopod Handheld Self Portrait Selfie Stick Holder Kit for Camera / iPhone 6 6+ Samsung Android Phones

 

About this item

• Extendable Handheld Self-Portrait Monopod, Black
• Quantity: 1
• Extendable handheld self-portrait monopod (selfie stick)
• Color: Black
• Material: Aluminum alloy and plastic
• Length: 22-108 cm /8.6- 42.5 inches
• Screw size: universial 1/4"
• Non-slip soft foam handle
• Capture photos or video above the crowds or in hard to reach places
• Your ultimate photo shooting tool
• Note: May require an additional phone holder to hold your device
• Monopod Tripod Mount Adapter compatible with cell phone, Black
• Quantity: 1
• Phone holder that can be mounted on handheld self-portrait tripod (selfie stick)
• Color: Black
• Material: Aluminum alloy and plastic
• Size before expansion: 5.6 X 5.1 X 3.1 cm/ 2.2 X 2 X 1.2 inches
• Size after expansion: 8.4 X 5.1 X 3.1 cm/ 3.2 X 2 X 1.2 inches
• Compatible with 2.2-3.2 inch cameras or mobile phones or other device
• Capture photos or video above the crowds or in hard to reach places
• Hold your device firm
• Easy to install and use
• Apple, iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. Apple does not endorse use of these products.
• SAMSUNG© is a registered trademark in the United States or other countries. Samsung does not endorse use of these products.
• Product names are trademark of listed manufacturer or other owners, and are not trademarks of eForCity Corp. The manufacturer does not necessarily endorse use of these 

HTC launches new 'selfie' phone, the Desire Eye

HTC’s latest smartphone has a 13-megapixel selfie camera, which the firm claims is the most powerful ever fitted to the front of a smartphone

The Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has seized the trend for selfies by releasing a dedicated new handset with a front-facing camera as big and powerful as the conventional rear-facing camera.
The HTC Desire Eye has a 13-megapixel camera and dual LED flash above the screen where the phone’s speaker normally sits. It is the highest resolution front-facing camera fitted to a smartphone, complete with auto-focus and 1080p video recording.
“It’s a smart move by HTC to introduce the Desire Eye, given the consumer frenzy around selfie pictures,” said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight. “The company has undoubtedly beaten others to the punch with this design and rivals will watch closely to see whether it is a capability that appeals to consumers.”

‘A clever way of differentiating’

Most smartphones, including the iPhone 6 and HTC One M8 have front-facing cameras that do not match the cameras on the rear of the phones, lacking auto-focus among other common camera features.
Unlike HTC’s high-end One M8, the Desire Eye is a cheaper, mid-range smartphone costing approximately £300-£400, but has specifications similar to the £550 One M8.
The Eye has a 5.2in 1080p screen and the same quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 2GB of RAM as the flagship One M8. It is also waterproof to 1m for 30 minutes with a plastic body.
“Beefing up the front-facing camera is a clever way of differentiating this phone from the sea of homogenous rectangular smartphones,” said Wood. “If it gets a positive reception you can almost guarantee Samsung and others will take a similar approach in 2015.”

‘HTC is desperately trying to break into new categories’

HTC also unveiled a 16-megapixel action camera the Re Camera, which connects to both Android phones and iPhones and features a periscope design, looking like an asthma inhaler.

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The Re Camera is a standalone camera with no viewfinder, but connects to an iPhone or Android phone. Photograph: HTC

HTC claims the Re is the action camera for those living normal lives, not extreme sports fans who might already own the market-leading GoPro action camera.

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The Re Camera will cost $200 (£123) in the US and will have a tough time convincing users that they need another camera for general shots, considering most carry a smartphone with a camera.
“The decision to launch the RE Camera signals HTC is desperately trying to break into new categories as competition in smartphones reaches new, uncomfortable heights,” explained Wood.
HTC has struggled to differentiate itself in the increasingly competitive smartphone market dominated by Apple and Samsung. Cheaper smartphones from China are squeezing the bottom end and HTC is joined by Sony, LG and Motorola in the high-end space where Samsung and Apple dominate
Whether the Desire Eye and Re Camera will sell in enough volume to help HTC climb out of its downward trajectory is unknown.

5 killer Android features you aren’t using, but should

Android is stacked with so many tools and configuration options, we often overlook some of its most useful features. Sometimes they’re hiding in plain sight. Other times, they’re buried so deep, you’d never discover them without spelunking deep into submenus, groping blindly in the dark.
But don’t let that one killer feature get away. Even if you consider yourself an Android power user, you’d do well to make sure you’re familiar with every single menu, toggle and utility on this list. We’ve done our best to identify the precise locations of the features listed below, but you may have to hunt around menus a bit if your device manufacturer has excessive interface customizations.
Did we leave out that one killer, secret feature that everyone should know about? Let us know by officially submitting a tip to Greenbot. We’ll give you direct credit if we use your submission.

Use Android Device Manager for remote security

 

Screen Recording

Set your system animations to warp speed

Get into your phone faster with Smart Lock

 

Don’t just monitor data usage—control it

Best Android Smartphones for 2016

 

LG G5 – Best Android Smartphones 2016 Preview

Consumers and analysts alike start talking about things to come in the LG G series as soon as the newest one releases, and with typically one year before the next-coming it gives us much to speculate about. The popularity of the LG G smartphones have taken off over the past couple of years, and when looking the specs and features of the LG G3 and LG G4 it’s easy to figure out why.

LG G Flex 3 – Best Android Smartphones 2016 Preview

 The LG G series has become one of the most unique Android smartphone brands as the creative concept is starting to be mimicked by other manufacturers. Since the first release back in 2014, the G Flex series has brought forth a curved, bendable concept that consumers have fell in love with. Now as we look to the upcoming 2016 Android smartphone releases we can’t help but wait for the LG G Flex 3.

 

Samsung Galaxy S7 – Best Android Smartphones 2016 Preview

 

Probably the most trusted and popular Android smartphone series has become the Galaxy S series, and the seventh release is setting up to another huge one. The Samsung Galaxy S7 may just be the best-selling 2016 Android smartphone of the year as the name alone and the huge innovations that have given us helps raise the brand awareness for consumers.

Samsung Galaxy Note 6 – Best Android Smartphones 2016 Preview

The Samsung Galaxy Note series started something years ago and it seems that many of the other manufacturers are following suit. The larger sized smartphone that many started to look away from are now turning heads. The Galaxy Note 6 will do more of the same as the upcoming release is expected to be the best Phablet yet.

 

Sony Xperia Z5– Best Android Smartphones 2016 Preview

Xperia Z5 looks to be even sexier. The sleek design always gets consumers to take notice, and no matter what number release is up it will surely demand attention.

The Sony Xperia Z5 will be another huge release, and in 2016 it’s already setting up to be one of the best Android smartphones of the year. One of the biggest rumors coincides with the actual release date as Sony has been one of the few to have an unconventional launch cycle. They have been releasing two Xperia Z models per year, which is unlike other manufacturers who typically release one per year.

Microsoft will bypass carriers, push Windows 10 updates directly to phones

One of the biggest arguments against Android is the issue of fragmentation. And while the debate rages as to whether fragmentation is that big of a deal, it’s apparently an issue that Microsoft wants to sidestep entirely with Windows 10.

In a post published earlier this month to Microsoft’s Blogging Windows blog, Microsoft stated that its “continuous update process [will apply] to all Windows 10 devices, including phones.” On Friday, ZDNet’s Ed Bott confirmed with Microsoft that this means what we all hoped it means—that all Windows 10 mobile devices will get the same updates at the same time.

ZDNet notes that carriers will still be able to test Windows 10 updates, but that updates will roll out all at once for everyone on every carrier.

The story behind the story: Microsoft’s Windows 10 update policy is a break from the Android world—where carriers and manufacturers have a major say as to which devices will get updates and when—and is more in-line with how Apple handles iOS updates. It also means that Windows 10 phones will be more likely to receive important security updates as they become available.

Recode: Nokia's planning a return to phones next year (updated)

When Nokia sold its devices and services business to Microsoft, we assumed it was getting out of the hardware game for good. Not so. The company has since launched its N1 tablet in China and now, according to Recode, it's developing a new phone too. Exactly what it'll look like and, perhaps more importantly, the software it'll run is unclear at the moment though. The company has made some strides with its alternative Z Launcher, but its debut Android slate is fairly unremarkable. That's because it was actually designed by Foxconn -- not the old Nokia team that's given us so many bold and beautiful Lumias over the years. If the Finnish company sticks with Android, it's going to need something a little more original to stand out from the competition. (The Nokia brand will only go so far, after all.)
Recode says Nokia is also experimenting with virtual reality, which we assume refers to hardware. That would be a far greater departure for the company, but also not too surprising, given how many other phone makers are dabbling with headsets at the moment.

Update 4/26: Days later, Nokia is denying that it will resume make phones. You'll have to get your handsets elsewhere, at least for the foreseeable future.

Firefox OS Smartphone Launch Has Commenced in Africa

 



Smartphones running the open-source Firefox OS have started shipping in Senegal and Madagascar. The Orange Klif, a 3G phone operating on Orange’s mobile network, is available in Africa first as part of a strategy to drive mobile internet growth across Africa and the Middle East as the company taps into a previously untouched market.


Back at Mobile World Congress, Mozilla announced that the release was coming as part of an effort to make Africa a major focus. According to a statement from Mozilla, the company intends to launch the Orange Klif across more markets in the coming weeks. Botswana seems to be next in line to receive the Firefox OS smartphone.
“Through these launches, Mozilla and Orange deliver on the promise of putting the mobile web within reach of millions more people not previously addressed by mobile offers,” Mozilla said in a blog post. Firefox Smartphones aren’t designed to compete with mobile giants such as Android OS handsets and Apple’s iPhone; they’re main goal is to put smartphones into the hands of people who have never owned one. This potential market is massive and could result in significant growth for Firefox.
Other proposed availability in previously untouched markets include Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, and Vanuatu. The launch in Senegal and Madagascar proves that Firefox is serious about reaching their goal so it wouldn’t be surprising to see this list begin to expand rapidly.
The Alcatel One-Touch made Orange Klif includes 3G connectivity, 3.5-inch 320×480 VGA screen, and dual-SIM support. The Klif runs Firefox OS v2.0 on a 1 GHz dual processor and also includes a microSD storage slot and 2MP camera. Orange announced back in March that it would offer data, text, and voice bundles starting “under $40″.
Orange doesn’t have a significant presence through operator MTN in South Africa – yet. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see that change in the future if Firefox’s strategy pays off.

Sony shows us that the Xperia Z3 still offers a feature that most high-end smartphones don't have

While Sony already announced an Xperia Z4, its global flagship is still the Xperia Z3 from last year. That's because the Z4 (officially unveiled in Japan earlier this month) will not be released outside of Sony's home country.

Of course, Sony will eventually introduce a new global flagship (possibly in May), but, until then, the Xperia Z3 remains the company's most advanced handset that international customers can buy. That's why Sony today released a promo video showcasing a Z3 feature that none of this year's rival flagship smartphones has.

As you'll see in the video, Sony says that the Xperia Z3 "can capture beauty as it happens, in any weather." Needless to say, Sony is touting the water-resistant (IP68-certified) capability of the handset. Is that enough for people to choose the Z3 over a newer high-end smartphone? It's hard to tell, but Sony certainly hopes that the answer is yes.

We don't know if the next-gen global flagship from Sony will resemble the Z4, but we're pretty sure that it, too, will be water-resistant. We'll let you know more about Sony's plans regarding its upcoming flagship as soon as we have new details.

Sony Xperia Z4, plus unannounced LG G Pad X and iPad mini 4 reportedly headed to Verizon

 

Verizon is seemingly getting ready to release several interesting devices, including the Sony Xperia Z4, two unannounced tablets from Apple and LG, and a new Desire from HTC. According to Evan Blass (aka @evleaks), all these devices are "coming to Verizon", though there's no word on exactly when they'll be released.

We don't know if the Xperia Z4 that's headed to Verizon is similar to the Japanese version of the handset. Sony is supposedly preparing a global variant of the Z4, so we assume that's the one that will be sold by Verizon.

As for the upcoming Verizon tablets that we mentioned above, these are, reportedly, the Apple iPad mini 4, and the LG G Pad X 8.3. Since the iPad mini 3 was announced in October 2014, we're not expecting the iPad mini 4 to be unveiled before October this year. We don't know anything about the LG G Pad X 8.3, but this is likely the successor to the LG G Pad 8.3 from 2013 (which Verizon is currently selling for $129.99 on contract).

Finally, it's said that the new Desire that Verizon will launch is the HTC Desire 526, a cheap, 4.7-inch (540 x 960 pixels) Android KitKat handset that's already available in India.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

 

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the fourth instalment in the Note phablet series. It brings a much sharper, 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560-pixel (Quad HD) display, a powerful Exynos 5433 8-core system chip running at up to 1.9GHz, 3GB of RAM and a plentiful 32GB of internal storage in the basic model. The Note 4 is also the first in the Note series to get optical image stabilization for its main camera. In the Note 4, there is a 16-megapixel cam and a 3.7-megapixel front shooter for more detailed selfies.

Motorola Almost Ready With Android 5.1 Updates For Moto X 2013 And 2014: Release Notes Now Available

 

American smartphone manufacturer Motorola is preparing to release the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop update for its Moto X 2013 and 2014 phones by unveiling the release notes for both units.
The much-awaited software update promises to address issues with the Android 4.4.4 version, such as patching up bugs, and it will also have several improvements to the Moto X's user interface first featured in the Android 5.0 update.

Android Lollipop

 

Android Lollipop is the latest version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google, spanning versions between 5.0 and 5.1. Unveiled on June 25, 2014 during Google I/O, it became available through official over-the-air (OTA) updates on November 12, 2014, for select devices that run distributions of Android serviced by Google (such as Nexus and Google Play edition devices). Its source code was made available on November 3, 2014.
One of the most prominent changes in the Lollipop release is a redesigned user interface built around a design language referred to as "material design". Other changes include improvements to the notifications, which can be accessed from the lockscreen and displayed within applications as top-of-the-screen banners. Google also made internal changes to the platform, with the Android Runtime (ART) officially replacing Dalvik for improved application performance, and with changes intended to improve and optimize battery usage, known internally as Project Volta.

Soon your iPhone will be able to test your DNA for genetic disorders

 

New Delhi: Apple's interest in the field of medical research is evident with its recently launched 'ResearchKit' software framework that is aimed to make iDevices more friendly to medical professionals. Now, the latest development on this front is in the form of apps that can test your DNA.
MIT researchers and Apple are said to be working on certain medical apps that will make it easier for iPhone users to get their genes tested for health conditions.
A report on Engadget notes that these apps won't directly pull out the DNA, but help users to collect the data and share it with scholars and some of the findings within the app could help them understand if a condition is genetic.

Best Free iphone Apps

Facebook

The world's biggest social network brings a tightly honed experience to the iPhone and iPod touch, but nonetheless still enables you to access your contacts, feeds and other important information. This sense of focus makes it in many ways superior to using Facebook in a desktop browser.
If you pick up an iPhone 6s / iPhone 7 when it launches later this year, Facebook will likely be one of the first apps you'll want to download.

RunKeeper

The prospect of Nike+ but better and for free might sound unlikely, but that's what RunKeeper provides. Previously split into 'pro' and 'free' versions, the developer now generously includes all the features in one free app.
That means you can spend no money, yet use your iPhone's GPS capabilities to track your jogging and cycling routes, and examine mapping and details of your pace and calories burned. Activities can be shared online, and treadmill runs and other exercise details can be entered manually.
If you like this then make sure you read 10 best iPhone and iPad apps for keeping fit and 5 sports headphones for iPhone and iPod touch.

Storehouse

Storehouse is all about telling stories with the help of gorgeous photos and videos. Although you can submit your own tales, you can also just take in other people's submissions, on anything from amazing journeys in the jungle through to meticulously prepared meals.

Best Android apps

The Google Play store has exploded in recent years, with a proliferation of apps that can cater to your every need. The problem is: there are just too many of them.
Even with Editor's Picks, Featured and Best Selling, Top Paid and Top Free categories there to help you out with your downloading decision it's still a difficult task finding the best apps around.
And that's why we made this list. Like you we want the best apps for our Android phones. The apps that are going to revolutionise functionality or, at the very least, offer something so great that it becomes one of the must-have apps that has to be downloaded whenever you get a new handset.
The following apps will be constantly updated and are a mixture of paid and free ones and have been chosen by our Android experts. So, even if you do dip into actual cash for one of these apps, you are safe in the knowledge that it is a worthwhile purchase.

HTC One M8

A stunning phone with very few flaws
OS: Android | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16GB/32GB |Battery: 2,600mAh | Rear camera: 4MP dual | Front camera: 5MP
The HTC One M8 has tumbled dramatically out of the top 10 after holding onto top spot for the best part of a year, so why the demise? Well it's now pretty old compared to the handsets making up the top ten, and there's a new kid on the block in the shape of the One M9.
It's still the same perfectly design handset though, with impressive BoomSound speakers and the short-live, yet innovative Duo Camera on the year - but the One M9 is almost identical, and just a bit better all round.

iphone 6 & iphone 6 plus

Apple launched two new iPhones, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, in September of 2014. Along with larger screens and a completely new iPad-style design with an ultra thin body and rounded corners, the two new phones offer faster processors, better cameras, and Apple's new Apple Pay payment system.
Apple's latest iPhones are available in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray, and are available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities. The iPhone 6 pricing starts at $199 on contract, while the iPhone 6 Plus pricing starts at $299.
While both models include the same 64-bit A8 chip and the same general design, there are several differences between the two phones. The iPhone 6 measures in at 6.9mm, while the iPhone 6 Plus is slightly thicker at 7.1mm. Apple's iPhone 6 Plus also has three major differentiating factors: optical image stabilization for the camera, and a longer battery life, and an iPad-style landscape mode that displays more content on the screen.
Though the iPhone 6 Plus has optical image stabilization, both phones got some major camera improvements in form of sensor upgrades, improved tone mapping, better noise reduction, and new "Focus Pixel" technology, which improves the phone's ability to select autofocus points. For videos, there's a new 240fps slo-mo option, along with support for shooting in 1080p at 60fps. The front-facing camera was also upgraded, with an f/2.2 aperture that lets in more light and new burst mode capabilities.