HacATech

Google data reveals the hottest gift ideas of the 2015 holiday season

Since it’s Cyber Monday and all, Google decided to ease the pain that is gift-giving by providing us with a bit of a roadmap in the form of search data. 
Specifically, the most searched gift ideas for this holiday season. 
Here’s what we’ve learned. 
In the toy category, what’s good for kids would also make really good gifts for myself and my colleagues at TNW. Please don’t send us Shopkins. 
Drones are hot, and even tougher registration requirements doesn’t seem to be making a dent in their popularity. 
Star Wars is, well, Star Wars. 
Hoverboards aren’t quite what we had in mind as kids, but the two-wheeled, electronic scooters came out of nowhere to sort of steal the show in 2015. 
Adult onesies are the new ugly Christmas sweater. 
Also, good news if you’re a hoarder. All that stuff you’ve been keeping in your closet is cool again. Throw on the Bomber jacket, the Levi’s Jeans and your Adidas Superstar kicks and hit the town like the fashionista you were born to be. 
Electronics are pretty much what’d you’d expect. I’m rather surprised that Fallout 4 isn’t on the list, but smart devices and video games typically dominate this list. 
What’s surprising, and keeping with the theory that all that’s old is new again is the instant camera. In fact, our own Amanda Connolly recommended this one in our “Ideal Gifts” series. 
➤ From hoverboards to adult onesies: the gifts we’re searching for this holiday 
[Official Google Blog]

Google data reveals the hottest gift ideas of the 2015 holiday season

Since it’s Cyber Monday and all, Google decided to ease the pain that is gift-giving by providing us with a bit of a roadmap in the form of ...

Should people be able to create no -fly zones for drones on their property?

In the UK, a tragic accident involving a drone has left one toddler without the use of an eye. After clipping a tree, the drone spun out of control; a spinning blade cut his eye in half. 
The pilot, Simon Evans, was “experienced” in handling drones, according to the BBC . Evans says it was a freak accident: 
It was up for about 60 seconds. As I brought it back down to land, it just clipped the tree and span round. The next thing I know I’ve just heard my friend shriek and say, ‘Oh God no’ and I turned around and just saw blood and his baby on the floor crying. 
He was attempting to land the drone when it crashed. 
I can relate to Evans’ issue with piloting a drone; I’ve also crashed a drone into a tree when trying to bring it down. Luckily, I didn’t injure anyone, but flying a drone isn’t easy. 
But it makes me wonder when stricter drone regulations will come into play — and not via FAA mandates. Drones are cool as all hell, but also not toys as we know them. Things with open, spinning blades are dangerous. 
And while it’d be improper to fill the air with FUD about how dangerous drones are day-to-day based on one incident, we should consider what’s on the horizon. 
Businesses want to use drones for various tasks , while 
Amazon and Google want to deliver goods using unmanned aircraft. 
That’s a lot of unruly drones flying overhead. It’s easy to foresee a time where there’s a method to opt-out of drones flying over our homes, or the option to disallow certain types of drones from entering your microclimate of airspace (you’ll still want Prime Air delivery, I’m sure). 
And that would be okay. As a guy with a drone, I’d be happy not to fly near homes or businesses that don’t want me there. If it put people’s minds at ease for me to fly elsewhere, that’s just fine. Besides, software like DJI’s prevent me from flying into no-fly zones anyway. 
↪ 
Toddler loses eyeball after errant drone slices it in half on Ars Technica

Should people be able to create no -fly zones for drones on their property?

In the UK, a tragic accident involving a drone has left one toddler without the use of an eye. After clipping a tree, the drone spun out of ...

WhatsApp is blocking Telegram links on Android for some reason

There’s something funky going on at WhatsApp HQ. Android users are noticing that the app is now blocking any links to rival chat app Telegram. 
The odd behavior was first spotted by Telegram users over on Reddit. Links to the app – which are normally automatically made clickable – appear as plain text, and users are unable to copy or forward the messages. The issue only began appearing in version 2.12.327 of the app, a small Play Store Update made available today. 
Telegram links still work fine on the iOS version of the app, as do links on the Web UI. 
WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which frequently blocks links to outside sites its algorithms determine to be spam or dangerous. The automated system has sometimes led to unintended blocks – like Imgur – but this is the first instance of WhatsApp blocking a major site. 
More likely than not, the change was a mistake on Facebook’s end, but it nevertheless is odd considering recent attention brought to Telegram due to its being used by ISIS followers , and a recent privacy hack on Android. Not to mention that Telegram is one of WhatsApp’s biggest competitors. 
We’ve contacted Facebook for comment and will update this post when we hear back. 
➤ /u/Shlagger [Reddit via The Verge ]

WhatsApp is blocking Telegram links on Android for some reason

There’s something funky going on at WhatsApp HQ. Android users are noticing that the app is now blocking any links to rival chat app Telegra...

Microsoft launches PowerApps , allowing you to build business apps without any coding skills

Microsoft today launched PowerApps , a new service that allows business users to easily create a basic mobile or Web-based app without requiring codes. 
Available in preview from today, the idea behind it is to take more business apps to mobile, instead of being tied to the PC as they have been traditionally. 
Users can access data from cloud services like Office 365, Salesforce, Dropbox or other on-premises systems through PowerApps and use that information to create their app. 
For example, if you export a file from Salesforce tracking employees performance, you could create an app to follow that, instead of exporting and analyzing a file every week. 
PowerApps also comes with sample apps and templates, so users don’t have to come up with an a design or layout from scratch. 
The apps are designed on a PC and can then be accessed on-the-fly through the PowerApps app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Apps can be shared with other people through a URL link and they can collaborate on the project as well. 
Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of app platform Bill Staples said in a statement today that the aim of PowerApps is to bridge the innovation gap in the business apps sector. 
And while Microsoft may not be the first to come up with this idea, it’s already at an advantage as one of the most recognizable business brands in the world and as first choice for many in-office software around the globe. 
The company has not released pricing information while the service is still in preview. 
➤ Introducing Microsoft PowerApps [Microsoft]

Microsoft launches PowerApps , allowing you to build business apps without any coding skills

Microsoft today launched PowerApps , a new service that allows business users to easily create a basic mobile or Web-based app without requi...

Tylt energy 6k smart charger

<img src="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00456-640x354.jpg "><a href="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00456.jpg"></a>
Gift idea: TYLT Energi 6K Smart Charger combines wall and portable charger in one
Chris Chavez 
Like it or not, the reality of today's mobile devices is that at some point during your day, you're going to need to juice them up. It's inevitable. While there are plenty of options for getting the job done, few devices combine the convenience of a portable charger and wall charger in one.
The TYLT Energi 6K Smart Charger just so happens to be one of these wonderful gadgets, designed to charge your phone like a regular wall charger and continue charging your phone while on-the-go. This is thanks to a hefty 6,000mAh battery inside that is capable of charging most devices around twice. Since the Energi 6K features an integrated micro USB cable, you wont even have to worry about bringing a separate cable with (unless you're looking for some extra slack). It really is an all-in-one device.
<img src="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00452-150x150.jpg"><a href="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00452-350x189.jpg?galleryID=0?imgID=0"></a>
 
<img src="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00450-150x150.jpg"><a href="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00450-350x182.jpg?galleryID=0?imgID=1"></a>
 
<img src="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00448-150x150.jpg"><a href="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TYLT-Energi-6K-Smart-Charger-DSC00448-350x178.jpg?galleryID=0?imgID=2"></a>
The Energi 6K is capable of outputting up to 2.4A and uses TYLT's Intelligent Charging Technology to keep the priority on your device when plugged into the wall. Once your phone or tablet is fully charged, only then will it begin pouring more juice into the Energi's battery.
Charging the Energi is as simple as plugging it directly into a wall socket and the collapsible prongs help it fit snugly in your purse or backpack. It is small enough that you could carry it in a back pocket, but not if you wear skinny jeans. Even then, you'd have to tether your phone in another pocket using a longer USB cable like a high-tech wallet chain.
Like most everything else built by TYLT, we were really impressed by the Energi 6K's build quality and smooth, soft-touch finish. For anyone thinking about gifting this charger up for the holidays, it leaves a great impression and screams quality. But that premium feel also comes with a matching price. Our only complaint is at $70, the TYLT Energi 6K is a tad on the pricey side, but TYLT's 1-year warranty and reliability could make it worth it.
<blockquote>Buy from TYLT: <a href="http://www.tylt.com/energi-6k-smart-chargers/energi-6k">Energi 6K Smart Charger</a> 

</blockquote>

Tylt energy 6k smart charger

Gift idea: TYLT Energi 6K Smart Charger combines wall and portable charger in one Chris Chavez Like it or not, the reality of today'...

Couple cancels wedding to help Syrians

<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/moira/img/android_normal_xhdpi/v2/styfull/cpsprodpb/150CC/production/_86802268_img_0160.jpg">
The couple, Samantha Jackson (left) and Farzin Yousefian (right), had a small wedding at Toronto's City Hall instead
A Canadian couple has decided to cancel their large wedding so they could help a Syrian refugee family.
Samantha Jackson and Farzin Yousefian had a civil ceremony instead and asked guests to support a Syrian family's bid to live in Canada in lieu of gifts.
The Toronto couple was planning their wedding when they saw a photo of Aylan Kurdi, a young refugee who died on the shores of Turkey.
They realised then their wedding could be an opportunity for fundraising.
Canada plans to release details on its pledge to take in 25,000 refugees from Syria by the end of the year next week.
The pledge is a key component of the new Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/moira/img/android_normal_xhdpi/v2/styfull/cpsprodpb/64DC/production/_86802852_img_0443.jpg">
The couple hopes to raise enough to sponsor a Syrian family of four
The couple told the BBC that Ms Jackson had been working on helping Canadians to become private refugee sponsors before deciding to forego their traditional wedding.
"We could not stop thinking about the difficult decisions that many Syrian families are forced to make... [we] immediately began redrawing our plans with the hope of helping a Syrian family start a new life in Toronto," Mr Yousefian said.
Family and friends were supportive of the couple's decision, he said.
They planned their wedding fundraiser in three weeks. The message was clear, said Mr Yousefian - that refugees are welcome in Canada.
The couple has raised C$22,750 (£11,224) so far and hope to raise C$27,000 (£13,300), which is the cost to sponsor a Syrian family of four.
"Our decision is a reflection of the very values that Canadians hold so dear," Mr Yousefian said.
"We are certain that our initiative will inspire others, just as the acts of others have inspired us... We are truly privileged to have had the opportunity to use our wedding for a greater cause than our own." 
BBC © 2015

Couple cancels wedding to help Syrians

The couple, Samantha Jackson (left) and Farzin Yousefian (right), had a small wedding at Toronto's City Hall instead A Canadian coupl...

Best 5 android browsers...

Browsing the internet is great. You can research the complete history of Sir Francis Drake, discover the amazing wildlife found in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, or do something with a bit more value, like watch videos of cats doing backflips. Here are the best Android browsers you can get, whatever you want to use them for. 
<a href="http://www.androidpit.com/best-android-apps">Best Android apps</a><a href="http://www.androidpit.com/best-free-android-apps">Best free Android apps</a>
1. APUS Browser: for the small package
APUS is known best for its launcher, but now it's entered the web browsing fray with a lightweight mobile browser htat has a simple, minimal aesthetic. At just 0.6 MB in size, APUS Browser is definitely "slim", but it also houses some additional features which might surprise you.
One such feature which is enabled on APUS Browser by default is that, when you copy text on your phone, the browser will prompt you to search for it online. It's a nice touch and means when your friends ask "did you see that picture of the raccoon riding on the alligator?" You're one step closer to finding it.
APUS Browser also allows you to disable images which show up in searches to save on your data. As a free browser, it's definitely worth a shot – especially if you're not running the newest, most powerful hardware.
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/nexus_6_lg_G4/androidpit-apus-browser-screenshots-w782.jpg">APUS Browser is lightweight and fast: what more could you want?
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/a/cd/fe/a5-browser-small-easy-fast-cdfe25-w80.png">A5 Browser-Small,Easy,FastINSTALL
2. Chrome Beta: to stay ahead of the curve
Hang on – I'm not just talking about boring old regular Chrome. This is the better version of Chrome. Make that the Beta version.
Stay ahead of the pack with the latest and greatest Chrome updates before they arrive to your mates who are still rocking Chrome standard (losers).
Not only do you get to make use of new features first, but you can also give feedback to Google to support the continued development of it. Democracy, communism, socialism; it's got to be one of those good ones. 
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/money/androidpit-chrome-beta-app-w628.jpg">Chrome Browser Beta looks just like the regular Chrome browser.
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/a/87/b5/chrome-beta-87b524-w80.png">Chrome BetaINSTALL
3. Link Bubble Browser: for time-saving
Link Bubble Browser is a little bit cheeky – as a browser, it doesn't offer a dedicated search function. But we think it's the browser of the future. 
Developed by Chris Lacy, the brains behind Action Launcher 3 and the fantastic TapPath Browser Helper, Link Bubble is known mainly for one key feature: when you click on a link in an app, Link Bubble Browser will load the webpage in the background, and will let you know once it has fully loaded.
This allows you to carry on what you are doing and not waste time hanging around for webpages to open in front of you. Clever and useful.
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/money/androidpit-link-bubble-app-w628.jpg">Link Bubble Browser is redefining the way you browse the internet.
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/a/af/59/link-bubble-af5927-w80.png">Link Bubble BrowserINSTALL
4. Puffin Browser Free: for the trackpad experience
Puffin Browser free is an interesting choice. Not only is it highly customizable, with backgrounds and other add-on functions, but it also has the ability to emulate a mouse cursor and a trackpad – ideal for those who miss the laptop experience on mobile. 
It also works by transferring material to its "cloud servers" before delivering it to your handset, which theoretically helps with loading bigger website files on devices with smaller bandwidth (i.e. smartphones). It does feature some annoying ad banners across the bottom of the screen, though.
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/money/androidpit-puffin-browser-free-w628.jpg">Puffin Browser is notable for being able to emulate a cursor and trackpad. 
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/a/c6/55/puffin-web-browser-c655a7-w80.png">Puffin Web BrowserINSTALL
<a href="http://www.androidpit.com/which-apps-with-access-to-online-profiles">How to check which apps have access to your online profiles</a>
5. Dolphin Browser: for user-experience and Flash Player
<a href="http://www.androidpit.com/app/mobi.mgeek.TunnyBrowser">Dolphin Browser</a> is a favorite among the Android community. It's functional, it looks great, it's feature-packed and comes with some great gesture controls too. It's also very handy when it comes to transferring preferences between devices and sharing content.
Possibly the best part of the Dolphin Browser experience is that it still supports good-old Flash Player, meaning you don't have to suffer because older websites can't keep up with current technology. 
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/money/androidpit-dolphin-browser-w628.jpg">Dolphin Browser is easily one of the most popular on Android. 
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/a/77/d5/dolphin-browser-for-android-77d56a-w80.png">Dolphin - Best Web Browser 🐬INSTALL
What's your favorite Android browser? Do you use a safe and private browser? Or do you just care about speed?

Best 5 android browsers...

Browsing the internet is great. You can research the complete history of Sir Francis Drake, discover the amazing wildlife found in the Monte...

Hide whatsapp pictures from galary

We all get the occasional picture in <a href="http://www.androidpit.com/topic/whatsapp-messenger">WhatsApp</a>that we don't want showing up in our general photo gallery. Especially if you have the kind of friends who borrow your phone to look at one picture and then start swiping around as though it's the most acceptable thing in the world. Here we'll show you how to quickly and easily hide WhatsApp pictures from your gallery app.
<a href="http://www.androidpit.com/whatsapp-news-features-tips">WhatsApp tips</a><a href="http://www.androidpit.com/get-whatsapp-on-your-tablet">How to get WhatsApp on your tablet</a><img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/4774964/image/Q2-2015/AndroidPIT-WhatsApp-icon-teaser-3-w782.jpg">This is how to hide WhatsApp photos from your gallery. / © ANDROIDPIT
Prerequisites 
You don't need root access, but you will need a simple file explorer. Check out our list of <a href="https://www.androidpit.com/best-android-file-manager">best Android file managers</a> if you don't already have one. This process can be undone at any time.
1. Open your preferred file manager app. For this tutorial, I am using ES File Explorer.
2. Navigate to your WhatsApp folder. It's more than likely on /sd card, as you can see in the images below. Click WhatsApp and thenMedia.
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/ideal_theme/androidpit-whatsapp-tutorial-0-w782.jpg">Locate your WhatsApp folder, tap it and then tap Media. / © ANDROIDPIT
3. Next go into WhatsApp images and click the hamburger (three dots) icon at the top right. This will bring up the New box. Click File.
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/ideal_theme/androidpit-whatsapp-tutorial-2-w782.jpg">Tap WhatsApp Images and create a new file. / © ANDROIDPIT
4. Create a file called .nomedia and hit OK. You'll get a toast saying that .nomedia has been created.
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/ideal_theme/androidpit-whatsapp-tutorial-3-w782.jpg">Create the .nomedia file and hit OK. / © ANDROIDPIT
5. Go back to gallery app and you'll see that your WhatsApp folder has vanished. (If it hasn't, try clearing the cache for your gallery app in Settings > Apps/app manager > Gallery/album, depending on your phone's manufacturer.) If this freaks you out, all you need to do is delete the .nomedia file.
The savvy among you may notice that there is no .nomedia file in your WhatsApp imagesfolder. All you need to do to see it is enable hidden files in your file manager. In ES, you tap the little blue icon in the top left (the phone and globe), then scroll down until you see the on/off switch for Show hidden files. Turn this option on.
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/ideal_theme/androidpit-whatsapp-tutorial-4-w782.jpg">Tick Show hidden files and the .nomedia file will be visible in your WhatsApp Images folder. / © ANDROIDPIT
6. Now, if you go back into your WhatsApp images folder, you'll see your hidden files. Just long press the .nomedia file and delete it. Your WhatsApp images will now reappear in your gallery app (again, if they don't, try clearing the cache and rebooting your phone if necessary). Don't forget to turn off hidden files if you don't want them all showing up in every folder in your file manager.
Have you ever had someone spot an embarrassing photo on your phone? How do you protect the photos that are for your eyes only? Share your experiences below.

Hide whatsapp pictures from galary

We all get the occasional picture in WhatsApp that we don't want showing up in our general photo gallery. Especially if you have the ki...

Galaxy S5, why was it underrated?

I used to think the <a href="https://www.androidpit.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-review">Galaxy S5</a> was the worst phone Samsung ever made. That's because when viewed next to cheaper Chinese phones and shiny metal flagships in 2014, the Galaxy S5 looked tacky and overpriced. But it wasn't, and this is why.
<a href="https://www.androidpit.com/galaxy-s5-tips">Samsung Galaxy S5 tips and tricks</a><a href="https://www.androidpit.com/galaxy-s5-android-update">Samsung Galaxy S5 Android update new</a><img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/best-games/samsung-galaxy-s5-front-screen-display-3-w782.JPG">Why is it only now I love the Samsung Galaxy S5? / © ANDROIDPIT
It followed a world-beating handset
The Galaxy S5 fell between two very distinct Samsung eras. The Galaxy S4, which had almost everything you could want from a phone in 2013, provided Samsung with<a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s4-hites-40m-sales-company-announces-record-profits/">record-breaking profits</a>. And the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were the first in the S series to achieve a premium design with that glass and metal treatment.
<blockquote>Did we really want to get rid of that plastic rear so badly? 

</blockquote>
 
With the S6, Samsung addressed the aesthetics question, but this led to the loss of expandable storage and removable batteries. But if the Galaxy S5 didn't look like a far superior phone to the Galaxy S4 – perhaps the difference contributed to <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-considering-shake-up-in-management-1416783847">Samsung selling 40 percent fewer S5 devices</a> than expected – then what does the Galaxy S6 look like? It is outwardly more attractive, but it doesn't have the wealth of options that the Galaxy S series had previously. Did we really want to get rid of that plastic rear so badly that we'd give up credible features for it?
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/galaxy_note_edge_review/androidpit-samsung-galaxy-s5-review-2-w782.jpg">You can fix an ugly phone with a case, but you can't fix poor components. / © ANDROIDPIT
It favored performance over design
The Galaxy S5's design wasn’t aesthetically pleasing – we already know this. It had a poorly conceived rear cover which was made of dimpled plastic, and this spoiled it in the eyes of many. What's more, the "chrome effect" plastic sides were a thinly veiled attempt at delivering a "premium" experience. With devices like Xperia Z2, HTC One M8, and the iPhone already available and housed in shiny metal, it felt somewhat cheap. 
<blockquote>The Galaxy S6 Edge and Edge+ look good, but do they provide essential features? 

</blockquote>
 
In our recent <a href="https://www.androidpit.com/karl-pei-interview-no-competition-for-the-oneplus-x">interview with OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei</a>, he said that "you can’t just have everything" in regards to smartphone designs and components: something has to get cut. In the Galaxy S5, it might have been a metal body. 
Design was a small price to pay for its performance.
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/galaxy_note_edge_review/androidpit-samsung-galaxy-s5-review-1-w782.jpg">Still shining bright: the Samsung Galaxy S5. / © ANDROIDPIT
Samsung made a lot of compromises in 2015. Sure, the Galaxy S6 Edge and Edge+ look good, but are their edges really necessary? Not really.
The Galaxy S5 had a brilliant Full HD display, rock-solid performance and a camera that still holds up today. Essentially, if you put a US$5 case on the Galaxy S5, you have already fixed its major weakness (I wish it was so easy to improve other devices). The problem is that people have judged the device quality on its outward appearance alone. 
The 2014 Android competition was tough
Xiaomi and Huawei were really starting to <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-considering-shake-up-in-management-1416783847">get a foothold in the Android market</a> in 2014 and this was the year that OnePlus arrived on the scene. Samsung had ruled the roost for a long time but 2014 was arguably the year that cheap smartphones got good. What's more, the HTC One M8, Xperia Z3 and Moto X 2014 were great phones made of metal.
<blockquote>It’s clear now how disastrous the combination of “ugly” and "expensive" can be 

</blockquote>
 
The Galaxy S5 was not cheap. It entered the market at US$650 off-contract, which is a lot of money for a plastic phone. And with low-cost, high-performance devices like the OnePlus One and Oppo Find 7 on the horizon, there was no wonder it struggled to impress critics. It's not that the Galaxy S5 wasn't good, it was just harder to see its strengths. 
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/galaxy_note_edge_review/androidpit-samsung-galaxy-s5-review-13-w782.jpg">The Galaxy S5 even included a fingerprint scanner. / © ANDROIDPIT
Final thoughts
It’s clear to me now how disastrous the combination of “ugly” and "expensive" can be. But while Apple focuses on bringing luxury products to market – products which have far too high a value placed on them for what they actually do – I love that Samsung focused on performance with the S5. Focused on the parts of the phone which affect what it does, rather than how it looks.
The Galaxy S5 had a strong battery, camera, display, performance and also managed to add memory expansion, water-resistance and fingerprint scanner; it offered an incredible amount. But it didn't look the part. And in a world obsessed with beauty it surprises me little that it was so poorly received.
All in all, with the Galaxy S7 only a few months away, I have no problem saying that I hope it adopts an approach more similar to the Galaxy S5 than the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge. Even if it looks worse.   
What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S5? Let us know in the comments.

Galaxy S5, why was it underrated?

I used to think the Galaxy S5 was the worst phone Samsung ever made. That's because when viewed next to cheaper Chinese phones and shi...

Check out the best smart phone design

Last week we asked the question: "<a href="https://www.androidpit.com/which-2015-android-phone-has-the-best-design-poll">Which 2015 Android phone has the best design?</a>" You casted hundreds of votes and now we have the results. While they came as something of a surprise to us here atAndroidPIT, perhaps you won’t find them so shocking.
<a href="https://www.androidpit.com/best-android-phone">Best Android phones 2015</a><a href="https://www.androidpit.com/new-android-phones">New Android phones to look forward to in 2016</a><img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6727621/image/2nd_YEAR/Nexus-6P/androidpit-Nexus-6P-3-w782.jpg">The Nexus 6P is the runner-up in our best smartphone design poll. / © ANDROIDPIT
From our list of 11 phones, there were two frontrunners. The Nexus 6P just missed out on the top spot. It arrived only a short time ago and has proven popular among critics. We called it "<a href="https://www.androidpit.com/nexus-6p-why-it-s-the-ultimate-smartphone">the ultimate smartphone</a>" and praised many aspects of it in our <a href="https://www.androidpit.com/nexus-6p-review">Nexus 6P review</a>, but we expected the design, particularly that black visor on the back, to divide people. As it turns out, it has one of the most popular looks of the year.
<img src="http://fs02.androidpit.info/userfiles/6473479/image/ideal_theme/androidpit-best-android-design-2015-poll-2-w782.jpg">The results of our Best Android smartphone design of 2015 poll. 
The phone that you said has the best design of 2015 was the Galaxy S6 Edge, which claimed almost a quarter of the votes.
This distinctive device was something of a gamble for Samsung – it was the first Galaxy S series phone to feature a dual-edged display. Few could argue that it wasn't a big improvement on the <a href="https://www.androidpit.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-review">Galaxy S5</a> in terms of appearance. The curved screen, super slim body, glass rear and aluminum frame make this one beautiful flagship.  
<img src="http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/6898953/image/android-samsung-galaxy-s6-edge-test-review-image-11-w782.JPG">The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has been voted the best designed Android phone of 2015. 
It's not just a pretty face, however – the Galaxy S6 Edge also performs brilliantly. Don't forget to read our full <a href="https://www.androidpit.com/galaxy-s6-edge-review">Galaxy S6 Edge review</a>to find out why we gave it five stars.
Do you agree with the results? Do you think another smartphone has a better design? Let us know in the comments.

Check out the best smart phone design

Last week we asked the question: " Which 2015 Android phone has the best design? " You casted hundreds of votes and now we have th...

Mobile Roar 119: LG V10 first impressions, Samsung flip phone, and more!

Mobile Roar 119: LG V10 first impressions, Samsung flip phone, and more!
<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/suS0wNT2eiE/hqdefault.jpg">
<blockquote>SUBSCRIBE: <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=45069&refid=stpr">Sticher Radio</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fitun.es%2Fi6xd48V&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGj_nVYxrIbYGVRrBezi1Q5sFmk_A">iTunes</a> |<a href="http://mobileroar.libsyn.com/rss">RSS feed</a> | <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/mobileroar/Mobile_Roar_119.mp3">Download MP3</a> 

</blockquote>
 
The LG V10 is in the house. I talk about why it feels like the biggest phone ever made, and how useful the second screen can be. Other topics in this episode include the ASUS Chromebit, flip phones, Huawei's crazy fast-charging battery, excessive Star Wars trailers, and what happens when a self-driving car breaks the law. Thanks for watching/listening!
Top Stories
<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/18/first-12-things-every-lg-v10-owner-should-do/">LG V10 first </a>impressionsQuick Hits<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/17/asus-chromebit-price-release/">ASUS Chromebit turns any display into </a>ChromebookSamsung<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/16/leaked-images-reveal-a-samsung-flip-phone-that-looks-like-a-galaxy-s6/"> flip phone leaked </a>imagesHuawei<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/13/huawei-lithium-ion-battery-5-min-50-percent-charge-time/"> develops 3,000mAh battery that charges to 48% in only 5 </a>minutesSamsung<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/19/samsung-galaxy-marshmallow-upgrade/"> devices getting Marshmallow </a>soonSprint<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/18/sprint-50-off-promo-lte-plus-77-markets/"> 50% off promo, LTE Plus launches in 77 markets across </a>USGoogle<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/13/google-self-driving-car-stopped/"> self-driving car gets pulled over for driving too </a>slowPhandroid is hiring! (<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/17/full-time-news-editor-international-overnight/">overnight</a> |<a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/18/weekend-news-editors/">weekend</a>)Wins/FailsJoe: / Excessive Star Wars trailers + <a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/17/google-is-rolling-out-a-dramatic-redesign-with-bigger-focus-on-collections-and-communities/">Google+ web </a>updateChris: <a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/18/heads-up-frost-white-nexus-6p-64gb-is-now-available-on-the-google-store/">Frost white Nexus 6P 64GB is finally available</a> / Coolest Cooler is another Kickstarter disasterAshley: / <a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/11/17/pushbullet-pro-features/">PushBullet </a>ProApp PicksJoe: <a href="http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-youtube-built-just-for-music.html">YouTube </a>MusicChris: <a href="https://www.snapchat.com/">Snapchat update with $1 lenses</a>Ashley: <a href="market://details?id=io.newimage.bitticker&hl=en">bitTicker</a>Emails: Tim
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Mobile Roar 119: LG V10 first impressions, Samsung flip phone, and more!

Mobile Roar 119: LG V10 first impressions, Samsung flip phone, and more! SUBSCRIBE: Sticher Radio | iTunes | RSS feed | Download MP...

HTC monthly unluck updates for One A7

<img src="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HTC-One-A9-6-640x425.png "><a href="http://phandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HTC-One-A9-6.png"></a>
HTC commits to monthly security updates for unlocked One A9, but only in the US
Chris Chavez - 7 hours ago
It may not be their 2015 flagship, but HTC is clearly giving the One A9 extra special treatment. Aside from being the first non-Nexus smartphone to launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, HTC promised that the One A9 would receive major firmware updates <a href="http://phandroid.com/2015/10/20/htc-one-a9-updates/">no more than 15 days after Google's very own Nexus devices</a>. That's not just fast -- that'shella fast.
This of course only applied to the unlocked model and not carrier variants which are subject to lengthy technical approval processes. With growing concern surrounding Android security, HTC was strangely silent when OEMs like Samsung and LG promised monthly security updates. Well, we take that back. HTC US President Jason Mackenzie <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonMacHTC/status/650420650666954756">said this would be "unrealistic,"</a> but maybe he was a little hasty in his words.
Today HTC is now promising unlocked models of the One A9 too will receive monthly security updates but there's some fine print. This guarantee only extends to unlocked US models -- not One A9s sold overseas. We know, you can't have it all. But this is decision that is sure to rub users in other countries the wrong way. HTC says November's security update -- along with camera and battery life improvements -- will start rolling out today, so if you have a One A9 (in the US), be on the lookout.
[<a href="https://twitter.com/moversi/status/667856203767148545">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.androidcentral.com/us-htc-one-a9-receive-november-security-update-imminently">Android Central</a>]

HTC monthly unluck updates for One A7

HTC commits to monthly security updates for unlocked One A9, but only in the US Chris Chavez - 7 hours ago It may not be their 2015 flags...

Android apps streamed to handsets

<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/moira/img/android_normal_xhdpi/v2/styfull/cpsprodpb/7BD2/production/_86789613_gettyimages-168808538.jpg">
The app-streaming technology is being tried out in the US
Google has started streaming apps to Android phones so people can use them even if they are not installed on a handset.
It said it had introduced the technology to help people get better results when they search.
Often, it said in a blogpost, the best answers to a query were found in an app rather than a web page.
Initially nine apps have been selected to work with the streaming system as it is tested.
Bad experience
Jennifer Lin, Google engineering manager, said the firm started indexing information found in apps two years ago to bolster its larger corpus of search data.
About 40% of searches done via Google now turn up content found in apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb or Pinterest, she said.
Until now, Google has only answered queries with information that is available both on the web and in apps. Now, however, it is starting to show results that are only found in apps.
One example of when these results would show up might be when someone is looking for hotels during a spur-of-the-moment trip to an unfamiliar city, wrote Ms Lin in the blog.
Google said it was using an in-house developed streaming system to give people access to results in apps they do not have installed on their Android handsets.
This lets people try the app and use it as if it were installed, said Ms Lin. An experimental cloud-based virtualisation technology Google has developed underpins the streaming system.
Apps from HotelTonight, Useful Knots, Daily Horoscope and Gormey are among the first to be available via streaming.
Danny Sullivan, founding editor of the Search Engine Land news site, said the streaming system made visible a lot of information that was hard to get at easily.
"It's a bad experience to show links to an app that no-one can view unless they install an app," he said.
Plus, he added, it could mean data found in apps was now more widely available and could be put to other uses.
"Potentially, the new system could even cause some apps that might seem to lack linkable content, such as games, to consider app-only links," he wrote.
Streamed versions of apps are available via Google's own app and on its Chrome browser. Users must also be on a fast wi-fi connection and be using a handset running Android Lollipop or a more recent version. Lollipop was released in November 2014.
The test of the app streaming and search responses is currently only taking place in the US. Google has not said when, or if, it will be expanded to other parts of the world. 
BBC © 2015

Android apps streamed to handsets

The app-streaming technology is being tried out in the US Google has started streaming apps to Android phones so people can use them even...

IS propaganda kicked off Telegram

By BBC Monitoring
Analysis
<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/moira/img/android_normal_xhdpi/v2/styfull/cpsprodpb/AAE3/production/_86774734_istelegramindex.jpg">
Telegram says it has blocked 78 accounts being used by IS
The secure mobile messaging app Telegram has started cracking down on propaganda from so-called Islamic State group (IS), nearly eight weeks after the terror group set up its own public broadcast channels there.
IS and other jihadist groups have been exploiting new functionality introduced by the app in late September, which allows users to broadcast their messages to an unlimited number of members via their own Telegram "channel".
In an announcement on Wednesday evening, the Berlin-based Telegram said it had shut down 78 IS channels and promised to make it easier for users to flag "objectionable public content" shared via the app.
"We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS [alternative name for IS] to spread their propaganda," said a statement from Telegram, which was set up in 2013 by two Russian brothers, Pavel and Nikolai Durov.
Paris attacks
The action followed claims by IS for the 13 November Paris attacks and the downing of a Russian passenger jet over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on 31 October.
Shortly before the key IS propaganda channel on Telegram was shut down on 18 November, it had been used to publish IS's English-language magazine Dabiq which hailed the Paris attacks and featured an image of the bomb IS claims to have used to bring down the plane.
IS had shifted its propaganda distribution to Telegram from Twitter on 26 September, just four days after Telegram trumpeted the launch of its new "Channels" tool.
An official IS channel dubbed Nashir, which translates as "Distributor" in English, quickly became the platform where IS propaganda started appearing first, often several minutes before being posted to Twitter - IS's other favoured outlet.
<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/moira/img/android_normal_xhdpi/v2/styfull/cpsprodpb/DF6C/production/_86769175_030155725-1.jpg">
The Anonymous hacking group has tried to shut down pro-IS accounts on Twitter
The channel had amassed over 16,000 subscribers before it was shut down along with a raft of other IS channels used to distribute the group's propaganda in a wide range of languages, including English, French, Russian, Turkish and Urdu.
But many other jihadist Telegram channels continue to be active, including official channels operated by al-Qaeda's branches in Yemen and North Africa and others supportive of IS.
And the clampdown by Telegram has not stopped IS getting its message out, with the group reverting to its network of accounts on Twitter to publish its latest material.
Since July 2014, when IS's last official branded accounts were suspended by Twitter, the group's media operatives have been caught up in a cat-and-mouse game with the site administration, which routinely suspends IS's quasi-official, non-branded accounts.
IS's hopes that Telegram would offer it a more stable and resilient platform for its propaganda appear to have been dashed.
"Secret chat"
But Telegram has indicated that it does not intend to act against terrorists' use of the app's private messaging service, saying it would only move to suppress illegal "publicly available" material.
"All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them," the company says on its website.
<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/moira/img/android_normal_xhdpi/v2/styfull/cpsprodpb/3741/production/_85954141_telegram_whatis.jpg">
Telegram boasts of its many capabilities
Even before IS launched its latest propaganda channel via Telegram, there had been evidence that the group and its members were using the app's private messaging facility.
In September, IS had advertised an Iraqi mobile phone number, which people could use to get in touch with the group via Telegram in order to pay a ransom for two hostages being held by the group.
And jihadists inspired by IS, including a British teenager convicted recently, have used the app's secure encrypted messaging to conduct attack planning.
Jihadists have been drawn by Telegram's boast to provide a "secret chat" facility, which heavily encrypts messages user-to-user with a unique key to avoid interception by hackers or government agencies.
Telegram is so confident of its security that it twice offered a reward of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the first person who could crack its encryption
BBC © 2015

IS propaganda kicked off Telegram

By BBC Monitoring Analysis Telegram says it has blocked 78 accounts being used by IS The secure mobile messaging app Telegram has start...

Hide all in your phone

<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/">Shutterstock</a>
How easy would it be for someone to assume your identity if they had control of your smartphone? Depending on how elaborate your internal defenses are, they would be able to text people as you, post to your Facebook account, maybe even access your bank accounts or make purchases in your name.
Technology has made these strange little devices a part of our identity. The idea that smartphones have become an <a href="http://zurb.com/article/945/it-s-not-devices-it-s-extensions-of-self">extension of the self</a> is not a new one. Just as you disclose parts of yourself to some people yet hide them from others, the desire to tuck away files, photos, or applications on your smartphone is a popular one.
Maybe you’ve got some pictures that you’d really prefer your mother not stumble across if she needs to borrow your phone. Maybe you have some private documents that contain sensitive personal information. Maybe you have apps that aren’t quite ‘child friendly’ enough for you to feel safe handing over your phone to your nephew so he can play <a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/tag/angry-birds/">Angry Birds</a>.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of options when it comes to hiding content on your phone. We’re going to look at a few of them here and discuss the benefits and risks of each.
<img src="http://cdn01.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/shutterstock_216344704-150x150.jpg"><a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/make-android-safer-for-your-kids-635730/"></a><a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/make-android-safer-for-your-kids-635730/">See also: How to make your Android device safer for your kids7</a>
How to Hide Files
Most Android devices don’t actually have a stock ability to hide stuff, so no matter what you’re looking to do, you’re probably going to have to resort to third-party apps. Let’s start with the basics and learn to hide some files in general.
A solid app for this task is <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tonado.boli.hermit.hider&hl=en">File Hide Expert</a>. It’s a free app, and it lets you hide and unhide any file on your phone with ease. To get this up and running, first download the app from the Google Play Store. When you open the app, you’ll receive a message indicating that the hidden file list is empty. Tap the folder icon in the top-right of the screen to begin hiding files.
<img src="http://cdn01.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/file-hide-expert-empty.png">
The app works like a basic file management app. As long as you know where the file is located, you can hide it regardless of type. Check off any files you want to hide, and then head back to your main screen.
<img src="http://cdn01.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/file-hide-expert-list.png">
From here, hitting “Hide All” will spirit away all of your files, making them inaccessible to snooping phone borrowers. They’ll no longer appear in other file managers or galleries. To bring them back, simply open File Hide Expert again and tap “Restore All.”
<img src="http://cdn04.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/file-hide-expert-hide.png">
Of course, this hardly keeps your content safe. After all, anyone can just open up File Hide Expert and see all the files you don’t want them to see in one easy-to-access list. A smart idea will be to use File Hide Expert’s password capabilities.
<img src="http://cdn01.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/file-hide-expert-password.png">
Tap the Menu button and then Settings. The very first option will be to enable a password. Check that box, and you’ll be prompted to enter a password to use. Be careful not to forget this, because you’ll need to use it every time you boot up File Hide Expert. You don’t want to get into a situation where you can’t restore the files you’ve hidden!
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tonado.boli.hermit.hider&hl=en">Download File Hide Expert from Google Play</a>
How to Hide Photos
Now, although File Hide Expert technically works for any kind of file you can imagine, it’s not really the most efficient way to hide photos. If you’re the kind of person who like snapping the occasional risque pic every now and then, you might have a better experience with <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kii.safe&hl=en">KeepSafe</a>.
KeepSafe basically creates a digital vault on your phone where you can toss anything that you don’t want showing up anywhere else. You have to create a PIN to use every time you want to access your app, and it keeps all of your sensitive files in one location. There is also an option to back your private files up on the cloud, if you feel comfortable doing so. That way you can recover your lost pics if your phone gets lost or broken.
KeepSafe is rapidly becoming one of the most widely used privacy apps, and the current version is free to use with premium features available for unlocking at $4.99 a month. The cloud backup service is free, but the premium version gives you additional features like snazzy PIN theme, a fake PIN that lets users think they’ve gained access to your hidden files if they use it, and a “secret door” that disguises KeepSafe as a utility app unless you long-press on the icon. Premium members also get a “Break-in Alert” system that logs failed access attempts so that you can see if someone else has been trying to get at your private files. In addition to hiding pictures, KeepSafe can also be used as a repository for sensitive data such as passwords and ID cards.
<img src="http://cdn04.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/keepsafe-home.png">
Setting it up is a breeze. Simply download the app from the Google Play Store and the setup guide will walk you through setting up a PIN.
<img src="http://cdn03.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/keepsafe-password.png">
That accomplished, you can add any photos to KeepSafe by opening a folder and tapping the ‘add picture’ icon at the bottom right. Use the browser to select the photos you want to hide. 
<img src="http://cdn04.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/keepsafe-hidden-pics.png">
Alternatively, you can add files to the vault by accessing your phone’s normal gallery, tapping the “Share” button on the desired picture, and selecting KeepSafe from the list of options. This will move the photo to your private collection and remove it from the gallery. Easy peasy.  
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kii.safe&hl=en">Download KeepSafe from Google Play</a>
How to Hide Apps
Ever get tired of seeing that damn NFL Mobile app that came with your phone and which you can’t uninstall without rooting? Is your app drawer getting crammed with apps that you rarely use, making it a headache to get to the ones you want? Hiding apps is a good way to clean up your app tray and keep guest users from stumbling across any apps you’d rather keep your own business.
Some stock launchers offer this functionality right out of the box. Most Samsung users, for instance, have the ability to hide apps without leaning on third party apps. If your launcher doesn’t support app hiding, give <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher&hl=en">Nova Launcher</a> a spin. It’s an<a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/tag/nova-launcher/">excellent launcher all around</a>, and it gives you the ability to hide apps with a simple and intuitive option.
Install Nova Launcher and open the app drawer. Navigate to Nova Settings > App & widget drawers > Hide Apps. Select the apps you want to hide, and they won’t show up on your app tray anymore.
<img src="http://cdn04.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Screenshot_20151115-130600-840x465.png">
To reveal an app again, simply return to the same menu and uncheck the desired app.
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher&hl=en">Download Nova Launcher from Google Play</a>
A Stock Fix
There’s a crazy easy way to hide whole folders without using third party apps. This simple fix will prevent photos from showing up in galleries, audio files from showing up in players, and documents from showing up in editing apps. However, the files aren’t particularly hidden, because all you’re doing is renaming the folder in such a way that Android ignores it.
Using any <a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/best-file-explorer-file-manager-apps-android-104737/">Android file manager</a>, simply add a “.” to the front of the folder’s name. If you want to get super sneaky, try renaming the folder something boring like “.simdata” or “.systeminfo” or whatever.
Conclusion
Remember that these apps were created to keep files out of the hands of casual guest users. If someone with the right knowhow is really serious about getting at your private data, they’re going to be able to circumvent the methods these apps use to keep your files and pictures out of sight. The best security is to <a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-find-a-lost-or-stolen-android-phone-631232/">make sure that such people don’t get ahold of your device</a>, and to make sure you’re <a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/best-android-lock-screen-apps-lock-screen-replacement-apps-565514/">using a secure lock screen</a>. Consider hiding very sensitive content on a non-mobile device.
These are our suggestions for hiding files, photos, and apps. Do you have privacy methods that you prefer over these? If so, let us know which ones and why in the comments!
<img src="read_source_drip_end@2x.png"><a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-hide-files-photos-apps-android-652711/#readsoruce_bottom"></a><a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-hide-files-photos-apps-android-652711/#readsoruce_bottom">Read Source</a>

Hide all in your phone

Shutterstock How easy would it be for someone to assume your identity if they had control of your smartphone? Depending on how elaborate y...

Tell the rain time on android

The rain is a blessing for our planet and a nightmare for us who spend the day commuting and running errands. Being able to predict the weather conditions allows us to know, in advance, what to wear, whether to bring the umbrella, and if it's worth making outdoor plans or switching to an indoor alternative.
 
The weather forecast isn't just that thing at the end of the TV news anymore; it's got its own dedicated websites, TV channels, web browser add-ons and, of course, plenty of our beloved mobile apps. There are hundreds of weather forecast apps out there, but they can be bothoverwhelming and inaccurate.
If you want to know only what really matters -damn! just tell me if it's going to rain or not - and want to know it with as much exactitude as possible, you should give Rain Alarm a go. Forget about launching the app every 5 minutes: Rain Alarm runs in the background and pushes customizable notifications for when rain, snow, or hail will start to fall. Of course, you can also launch the app and rewind or fast-forward in time to watch the state of the sky on your location in ainteractive map.
If that's not enough - let's say you live in Seattle - place a handy Rain Alarm widget on the home screen of your Android and monitor the chances of rain in real-time.
<a href="http://www.appszoom.com/android_applications/weather/rain-alarm_bxop.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=How+To+Accurately+Predict+Rain+With+Your+Android">Full review at Appszoom</a> 
<a href="http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mdiener.rain.usa&referrer=utm_source%3DAppszoom%26utm_medium%3DAppszoom%26utm_campaign%3DAppszoom">Download from Google Play</a>
For weather maniacs: <a href="http://www.appszoom.com/magazine/5-unusual-and-beautiful-weather-apps_5384">5 Unusual and Beautiful Weather Apps</a>
Here's how to accurately predict rain with your Android:
1. Install and open <a href="www.appszoom.com/android_applications/weather/rain-alarm_bxop.html">Rain Alarm</a> with your Android.
2. You'll see a map pointing to your current location and an animation of the evolution of the clouds in the past two hours. Activate or deactivate the rain tracking by tapping theON/OFF button.
3. The scale of colors shows the intensity of the rain, from cooler to warmer.
4. Tap the REFRESH button to get the current state of the sky if you haven't chosen a frequent dynamic update interval.
5. You can tweak refresh frequency, sensitivity, vibration, radius (area), notification led and sound, units and much more from the settings.
6. You can even change the map layout(terrain, satellite, satellite with labels, OpenStreetMap).
7. If you want to keep track of the chance of rain in real-time, you can place a widget on your home screen. Go to the app drawer, tap "widgets," long-press one of the available Rain Alarm widgets (1x1, 2x1), and drag it to your home screen.
8. Keep going and don't worry: if the clouds approach your position, Rain Alarm will let you know.
We'd like to hear about your experience with Rain Alarm or other weather apps. The Comments section below is all yours.
<img src="read_source_drip_end@2x.png"><a href="http://www.appszoom.com/magazine/how-to-accurately-predict-rain-with-your-android_33206?utm_source=drippler&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=+IPhone+%26+Android#readsoruce_bottom"></a><a href="http://www.appszoom.com/magazine/how-to-accurately-predict-rain-with-your-android_33206?utm_source=drippler&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=+IPhone+%26+Android#readsoruce_bottom">Read Source</a>

Tell the rain time on android

The rain is a blessing for our planet and a nightmare for us who spend the day commuting and running errands. Being able to predict the wea...

Use your android as pc microphone

You need a good microphone on your computer in order to make audio recordings,<a href="http://tag.wonderhowto.com/voip/">voice chat</a>, or use speech recognition. However, not every computer comes with a built-in mic, and not every built-in mic works great.
You can purchase a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/field-keywords=pc+microphone?tag=won00-20">cheap computer microphone</a> on Amazon for as low as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Flexible-Microphone-Laptop-Skype/dp/B002EQ6E9E/?tag=won00-20">$4.98</a>, but why do that when you've got your Android phone or tablet right beside you? That device is more than adequate to be your computer mic, and you can connect it via Bluetooth, USB, or Wi-Fi.
Step 1: Install WO Mic
There are <a href="https://play.google.com/store/search?q=mic&c=apps">many options</a> available in the Google Play Store, but WO Mic from <a href="http://www.wirelessorange.com/default.html">Wireless Orange</a> provides the easiest setup and connection options. The app works on both Windows and Mac computers, but Mac OS X users can only utilize the Wi-Fi connection option.
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wo.voice&hl=en">Install WO Mic for free from the Google Play Store</a>
<img src="http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/76/06/63582746651610/0/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer.w654.jpg"><a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer-0166123/"></a>
For improved audio quality and no ads, try the<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wo.voice.pro">pro version</a> for $3.99.
Step 2: Install the Client Program & Driver
Because <a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/android-basics-connect-bluetooth-device-0163780/">connecting through Bluetooth</a> and USB are the easier options (just connect or plug in and you're ready), we'll go through the Wi-Fi setup, since it's applicable to both Windows and Mac.
If you have a Windows PC, download and install the following two files.
<a href="http://www.wirelessorange.com/womic/softwares/wo_mic_client_setup.exe">WO Mic Client setup program for Windows</a><a href="http://www.wirelessorange.com/womic/softwares/wo_mic_driver_signed.exe">WO Mic device driver for Windows</a>
If you have a Mac, download and install the following package.
<a href="http://www.wirelessorange.com/womic/softwares/WO_Mic_Client.app.pkg">WO Mic Client package for Mac</a>
You may need to <a href="http://mac-how-to.wonderhowto.com/how-to/open-third-party-apps-from-unidentified-developers-mac-os-x-0158095/">adjust your Mac's security preferences</a> in order to open the package. Alternatively, you can simply control-click (or right-click) on the file, and select "Open."
Step 3: Connect the Mic
Open WO Mic on your Android and enter the Settings, select Transport, then select "Wifi" from the options (unless you're using Bluetooth or USB). Depending on what you're using the mic for, select the proper Audio source. Additional settings allow you to change the media and control port, but you shouldn't need to adjust those.
<img src="http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/57/52/63582754050907/0/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer.w654.jpg"><a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer-0166123/"></a><img src="http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/29/12/63582754074126/0/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer.w654.jpg"><a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer-0166123/"></a><img src="http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/75/89/63582754092860/0/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer.w654.jpg"><a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer-0166123/"></a>
Go back to the main page of the app and tap Start, then copy the IP address displayed above the microphone icon.
<img src="http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/71/65/63582758971883/0/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer.w654.jpg"><a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer-0166123/"></a>
Open the WO Mic Client on your computer, enter the IP address, and hit Connect. To test it out, check the "Play in speaker" box and speak into your Android. And that's all there is to it—you have a fully functional microphone for your computer without paying an extra dime.
<img src="http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/61/56/63582754576282/0/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer.w654.jpg"><a href="http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-your-android-as-wireless-microphone-for-your-computer-0166123/"></a>
Before forking over some money for a microphone, definitely try WO Mic. I found that latency really wasn't an issue, so this is a great way to narrate videos, record memos, or make calls. Let us know what you think by dropping a comment below.
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Use your android as pc microphone

You need a good microphone on your computer in order to make audio recordings, voice chat , or use speech recognition. However, not every c...