LATEST ARTICLES

What makes Android the best choice for mobile OS?

In today’s world, mobile phones have become an essential part of our lives. They have become our constant companions, helping us to stay connected with our loved ones, work, and the world around us. One of the most significant decisions we have to make while buying a new phone is the operating system (OS) it runs on. Among the most popular mobile OS choices, Android stands out as the best. This article will explore the reasons why Android is the best choice for a mobile OS.

Android is an open-source operating system.

Open-source means that the source code is freely available to everyone, allowing developers to customize and modify the software to suit their needs. This feature allows manufacturers to customize the user interface and add new features to the OS. Moreover, Android’s open-source nature makes it possible for developers to create a vast range of apps, making it the largest app ecosystem in the world.

Android offers a high level of flexibility.

Unlike iOS, which runs exclusively on Apple devices, Android can run on various devices from different manufacturers. This flexibility allows users to choose from a wide range of devices with different specifications, sizes, and prices. Moreover, Android is available in multiple versions, which means users can choose the version that suits their needs best.

Android offers excellent customization options.

Android allows users to customize their phone’s home screen, lock screen, icons, and widgets to their liking. Users can also choose from various third-party launchers, which can provide additional customization options. Furthermore, Android offers a file system that allows users to access files on their device and manage them easily.

Android offers seamless integration with Google services.

Google services, such as Google Maps, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Assistant, are an integral part of Android. This integration allows users to use these services seamlessly on their devices. Moreover, Android devices come with Google Play Store, which is the largest app store in the world, offering millions of apps.

Android is highly customizable for developers.

Android’s open-source nature allows developers to customize and modify the software to suit their needs. Moreover, Android provides a wide range of APIs and tools that developers can use to build powerful and feature-rich apps. Android also offers excellent support for multiple programming languages, including Java, Kotlin, and C++. This feature makes it easier for developers to build apps that can run on different devices.

Android offers excellent security features.

Android has a built-in security feature called Google Play Protect, which scans apps and updates for malware and other security threats. Android also provides regular security updates to fix vulnerabilities and ensure the device’s security. Furthermore, Android devices come with biometric authentication features, such as fingerprint sensors and face recognition, making it harder for unauthorized access to the device.

Android offers excellent performance.

Android’s flexible architecture allows it to run on various hardware configurations, from low-end to high-end devices. Moreover, Android’s memory management system ensures that the device runs smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, Android’s Project Treble allows for faster updates and improved performance on devices.

Android offers excellent support for accessibility features.

Android’s accessibility features, such as TalkBack and Live Caption, make it easier for users with disabilities to use their devices. Moreover, Android offers excellent support for third-party accessibility apps that can provide additional features.

Android is undoubtedly the best choice for a mobile operating system. Its open-source nature, flexibility, customization options, seamless integration with Google services, excellent support for developers, security features, performance, and accessibility features make it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a mobile OS. With Android, users have access to a vast range of devices, apps, and customization options, making it the most versatile and user-friendly mobile OS

How to Fix “Google Play Services won’t update”

We have had some of you stating that your phones are getting a “Google Play Services” update error and its making your phone unusable. As great as Android is with any electronic you will run into issues and bugs that seem impossible but we got you.

Google Play Services Won't Update
Google Play Services App Screen Android 10

What is Google Play Services?

Google Play Services is a native app that is preinstalled and cannot be removed on Android devices. It is a system app that helps with the updating of apps as well as acting as the framework for Google and those apps. An issue or bug with Google Play Services will in most cases make your Android device useless and at the very least annoyingly busted.

How to Fix Google Play Services Update Problem

Generally the best way to fix any bug with Google Play Services is to update it although in many cases there is nothing to update or the update fails. If this is the case you will need to try a few fixes. We recommend you do them in order as we will try to give you the easiest solutions first.

1. Restart the Phone or Tablet

I get that most of you reading this may say “duh” but you’d be surprised how many times when frustrated the simplest solution is forgotten. Also for this reboot do not hit power and select reboot. Instead hold the power button until the device shuts down and keep holding it until it powers back up and you see the Google logo.

2. Check for Full Storage

Again seems like a simple solution but something that is often overlooked and can cause many issues with not only updating of apps but also running apps that may be larger. Google Play Services should update automatically in the background but if there is not enough available storage space it will fail. This is usually the case when you notice the need to update manually.

3. Set correct date and time

This is less likely to be the issue but has been known to cause issues with Google Play Services updates.

  1. Open settings on your device and scroll down to system.
  2. Tap on Date & time
  3. Enable automatic date & time (if enabled disable and re-enable)

4. Clear Data and Cache

This has been one of the more successful methods to fix any update issues with apps in general. One of the biggest concerns here is losing apps or data from your phone or tablet. That said you will only lose data associated with that app. For instance, if you wipe the data and cache for Facebook the app is still there but you will have to re-login to it. You will need to clear the cache and data for both Google Play Services and the Google Play Store.

  1. Open settings on your device and scroll down to Apps & notifications
  2. Navigate to Google Play Services and tap on it
  3. Tap on storage and then the clear cache button
  4. Repeat for Google Play Store
  5. Restart your device.

If the problem is still there then try again but on step “c” also clear the storage for both Play Services and Store.

5. Enable/Disable Google Play Services

Two things can happen here and in some cases when your tooling around on your device you can disable Play services by accident. First we will go into checking that it’s enabled then we will move on to the second option.

  1. Open settings on your device and scroll down to Apps & notifications
  2. Navigate to Google Play Services and tap on it
  3. If the button under Play Services shows Enable then tap it
  4. Restart the device

If the button says disable then move on to the next solution. Normally if an app is having issues you would remove the app and re-install it although in this case being a system app you cannot do that. What you can do however is disable the app and let it revert back to factory settings.

  1. Open settings on your device and scroll down to Apps & notifications
  2. Navigate to Google Play Services and tap on it
  3. Tap the Disable button under Play Services (if greyed out see below)
  4. Restart device and complete the process above for enabling Play services

Fix Enable/Disable button Greyed out

  1. Open settings on your device and scroll down to Security
  2. Tap on Device Admin (sometimes under Advanced Options)
  3. Disable Find my Device (re-enable after you have fixed the app)

6. Uninstall Google Play Service Updates

Sometimes the issue is with a previous update and this can be fixed by removing all updates and getting the device back to its original state so that it can update to the most recent version.

  1. Open settings on your device and scroll down to Apps & notifications
  2. Navigate to Google Play Services and tap on it
  3. Top right tap the 3 dots to show “Uninstall Updates” and tap it
  4. Restart your device and give it a few minutes to attempt to update

7. Update Google Play Services Manually

If all else fails then you will need to download and install Google Play Services via an APK file.

  1. Download Google Play Service APK from your device (Via APK Mirror)
  2. Find and Tap the file to run and install it
  3. If it asks to allow 3rd party apps then allow it and install
  4. Restart your phone or tablet

If you still have an issue after a manual install then it may be the version and I would try the previous stable APK instead of the most recent.

Conclusion
If you are still having problems with updating Google Play Service after those 7 steps then there is likely a larger issue but feel free to leave a comment (try to be as detailed as possible) and we will be happy to look into it.

UPDATED – Google’s parent Alphabet Inc in talks to buy Fitbit

UPDATE November 1, 2019 – Google’s parent company Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) is acquiring health tracking company Fitbit (FIT) for $2.1 billion. The deal will pay out $7.35 per Fitbit share, which was priced at $6.16 in pre-market trading Friday.

Google parent company Alphabet Inc. is in talks to buy Fitbit according to Routers. Reuters originally mentioned the possibility of a Fitbit sale back in September but then nothing more on the matter until now.

Alphabet Inc Acquiring Fitbit

Reuters sources have said that Alphabet has already made an offer to purchase the most well known U.S. fitness device company. There have been no confirmed details on the offer amount or what Fitbit’s reaction is to the offer but it does open up the possibility of a Google acquisition in the near future.

“Fitbit shares rose 27% on the news, giving the company a market capitalization of $1.4 billion. Alphabet shares rose 2% to $1,293.49.”

We have been patiently waiting for a Pixel watch for years now with no luck even though WearOS has been updated several times. Fitbit on the other hand has been slowly growing in the smartwatch market with its Ionic, Versa and Versa 2. While Fitbit it not a big player in the smartwatch market and even had a bit of criticism paired with Google could become a leader.

For now we will just have to keep our ears open and eye’s peeled as more information comes available we will do our best to report on it but at this time we are playing the waiting game until Fitbit makes a statement.

Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL New & Missing Features

Google Pixel 4 & 4XL
Google announced all the features and showed off the Pixel 4 and 4XL at the Made by Google 2019 event and it looks like a beast. Let’s start with some of the specs which are the same between the two devices. They have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage, with no microSD expansion or headphone jack as usual.

While there weren’t a lot of big changes to appearance the phone comes out fo the box with Android 10. You will notice something that may be exciting for those of you that like to customize your phones. Google added the new Pixel Themes app that lets you choose your font, accent color, background and more.

Another thing worth noting is the new recorder app which will actually transcribe all of your recordings so that you can search them. This is something I didn’t even know I needed.

Better Google Assistant with Pixel 4 & 4XL

Google Assistant Improvements
The biggest issue with Google Assistant on older Pixel devices is the delay but now its integrated so well that the response times are much better. The biggest reason for this lag time was having to send every request to Google’s language models on their data centers. Now they will have a local version on the device allowing things that do not require the web to respond and complete the actions almost instantly. This would be things like setting an alarm or opening an app and anything else that can be completed if your device is offline. Of course when asking anything that required an outside source like the weather it will still have the delay we love to hate.

Assistant Continuous Conversation

My favorite feature added to the Assistant is continuous conversation. You will no longer have to keep saying “Hey Google” or “Okay Google” over and over again. When getting information, being able to as a followup question or for more details without saying the hot-word is amazing.

Best Smartphone Display Award says something

Google’s 90Hz displays for the Pixel 4 and 4 XL have been awarded an A+ rating by DisplayMate along with the “Best Smartphone Display Award. Google calls their Displays “Smooth Displays” allowing them to be toggled between 60 and 90Hz in the settings.

Motion Sense & Gestures

Motion Sense and Gestures
Google has added a new feature called Motion Sense that will sense a users motion as in allowing you to snooze alarms and silence calls with a swipe of your hand. This is available because of the motion-sensing Soli chip beside your front facing camera.

Pixel 4 and 4XL Face Detection Security

On the same note, Google has removed the rear fingerprint sensor and replaced it with a much better face detection made possible by Motion Sense. The secure face recognition comes in the form of two unlock cameras, a dot projector and flood illuminator. The Soli chip will also proactively turn the face unlock feature on to allow quick phone unlocking.

Live HDR+ Dual Camera with Wide Range and Night Sight

Google is putting a dual-camera on both the Pixel 4 and 4XL. The rear-facing camera is a dual sensor 12MP camera with a 16MP telephoto lens for 2x zoom. The new camera setup allows for wider shots and more depth to images. Accurate distance and depth information is handled by its time-of-flight (ToF) sensor.

Live HDR+ may be one of the best time saving features on the new Pixel’s allowing HDR+ processing before ever taking the photo. Until now we have always had to take the picture and then use a photo editor to get the same results. Imagine being able to use the Dual Exposure controls to tweak the photo beforehand and then moving on to the next photo without editing again.

Night Sight is yet another feature that has Google have been working on to improve astrophotography by getting rid of the noise you see in darker photos as the sun goes down. Seems to be a vast improvement over the Pixel 3 when taking photo’s in low light.

What have we lost with the new Flagship?

Honestly a sad loss it that unlimited original image quality backup that every Pixel to date has had is no longer available. Looks like its been replaced with a promotion for 3 months of Google One cloud service for free. I’d imagine those still racking up the backups of full size images with their old phones are loving this change (he says sarcastically)

Battery Life?

Sadly the Pixel 4 and 4 XL’s battery capacities are no more impressive than the Pixel 3 and actually the Pixel 4 has a 2800mAh cell which is 115mAh less that the older Pixel 3. The larger Pixel 4XL however has a larger battery that its predecessor at 3,700mAh. As bad as the battery life is for the Pixel 3 it seems the 4 is slightly worse.

Pixel 4 and 4XL Price and Availability

Both devices are available for pre-order October 15th with a ship date of October 24th. At this time you can choose between Just Black, Clearly White and a limited edition Oh so Orange. The Pixel 4 starts with a price tag of $799 and the larger Pixel 4XL starts at $899. Both can be purchased unlocked at the Google Store and through all the major carriers including Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Spectrum Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile. Currently Google Fi is offering a $100 Google Fi bill credit to anyone who orders a Pixel 4 (4XL) and activates it with the Google Fi.

Google AI Program formerly Google Research

Google previously had a collection of research products called Google Research but have now rebranded as Google AI. They have been committed to becoming an “AI first” company and this solidify’s it. We can bet this is not all we will here about the Google AI Program during Google I/O over the next few days.

Google Research rebranded as Google AI

You will now notice that everything you used previously that showed Google Research now has changed overnight to Google AI. For example https://research.google.com is now https://ai.google. Even their Google Plus and Twitter accounts are now no longer associated with Research bu AI. That said all old url’s that you have linked or used in the past still exist and will redirect to the new version.

What is Google AI?

Google AI is a collection of machine learning tools and resources freely given to anyone interested in using them. The idea is to collectively from novice to experts using AI to solve problems and reach new heights together.

Google promises to advance the state of the art field of AI. They claim to be working on applying AI to new systems and domains so that everyone can access AI. They also mention that it will be useful for beginners and advanced users alike.

“At Google AI, we’re conducting research that advances the state-of-the-art in the field, applying AI to products and to new domains, and developing tools to ensure that everyone can access AI.”

Google first mentioned the conversion in branding last year after the release of Google Home and its Assistant. Within the year after Google has managed to completely rebrand as it said it would.

If your interested in checking out the Google AI Program you can learn more at their education portal. The portal at https://ai.google/education/ will allow you to answer a few questions to understand your current skill level and give you the resources you need to get started.

Smartphone Addiction – Google’s Fight

Control mobile device screen time

Google products are used by billions of us all over the world meaning that they have a lot of impact on our daily habits. Because of this fact they have a huge role in issues like the worlds reliability on these mobile devices that control our lives.

“The anticipated shift in tone at the event reflects increased public skepticism and scrutiny of the technology industry as it reckons with the negative consequences of how its products are used by billions of people.”

Google Responds to Smartphone Addiction

Sources told the Washington Post Google will add new features to future versions of Android to help people and their families monitor and manage the amount of screen time they spend on their mobile devices. This seems to be Google’s response to many reports that young people are being afflicted by their “smartphone addiction”.

There are many apps out there that already do this although none of them do it naturally in the OS itself. Even Google has apps that do this like their Family Link but its not something that all users just have baked in. No other mobile OS has more than minimal scene management features and this could be one more thing to push Android in front of others.

“When it comes to family controls, Google is already a step ahead. Google offers Family Link, a suite of tools that allows parents to regulate how much time their children can spend on apps and remotely lock their child’s device. Family Link gives parents weekly reports on children’s app usage and offers controls to approve the apps kids download.”

Apps to manage screen time

If you can’t wait for Google to add this to the OS itself there are a few screen time managers out there right now worth using. These aren’t going to be foolproof but they do seem to work well.

Nobody seems to know yet if Android P will get these features that have been mentioned although we will know soon enough during Google I/O.

OnePlus 5 Official Packaging And Four Cases

A photo of the OnePlus 5 surfaced online on Monday of the upcoming Android flagship alongside official packaging and four new protective cases. One of the cases shown in the image seems to be the kevlar one that the Chinese tech giant has been bundling with invites for the OnePlus 5 launch event that’s scheduled to take place tomorrow, June 20. Another one features a matte black finish, while the other two emulate wood and are somewhat similar to official protective cases that the company released for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T.

OnePlus 5 Packaging and CasesThe packaging of the device shown in the newly leaked photograph is seemingly identical to previous supposed leaks of its retail box that’s expected to feature a tagline saying “Dual Camera. Clearer Photos.” The cover of the packaging features the firm’s “Never Settle” logo and seems to be free of other elements. The handset itself has also been sighted on a number of occasions in recent months, with the latest image confirming that it will sport an oval Home button that’s expected to double as a fingerprint sensor, as well as regularly sized bezels. The photo also hints at the Alert Slider, one of the hallmarks of OnePlus-branded devices.

The Shenzhen, Guangdong-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) previously confirmed that the OnePlus 5 will be powered by the Snapdragon 835, Qualcomm’s first 10nm system-on-chip (SoC) equipped with the Adreno 540 GPU. The smartphone is expected to be offered in two variants, with the base model sporting 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage space, and a price tag of approximately $500. The high-end version will ship with 128GB of internal flash memory and 8GB of RAM, setting customers back around $600. The back panel of the device houses a dual camera setup that’s said to consist of two 16-megapixel sensors and a dual LED, dual tone flash unit.

The OnePlus 5 is expected to launch later this month following a short pre-order period that’s scheduled to start tomorrow, immediately after the OPPO Electronics-owned phone maker officially reveals its latest Android flagship. More details on the availability and pricing of the OnePlus 5 will likely follow later today.

Daydream Blue Game Guide for Google Daydream VR

Daydream Blue is a game developed to take advantage of Google’s new Daydream VR headset and its remote control. It’s one of the most entertaining games available for Daydream VR currently and the incredible graphics will keep you excited for more. You will find yourself forgetting about the world around you.  Here are a few hints to achieving certain tasks in game.

If your looking for getting started with Daydream Blue as in the basic mechanics of the game itself you may want to visit their forum post “Getting Started with DayDream Blue” before beginning this article.

Daydream Blue Tutorials

How to fish in Daydream Blue
Fishing is one of the things that took a while to figure out because within the game there are simple instructions.  Most of the game is about exploring and discovery although a little help is nice sometimes. Casting seemed easy enough but once a fish was on the line, whats next?
  1. Pick up the fishing rod by selecting and clicking on it with the remote
  2. Cast by lifting the remote up and placing the perforated circle where you want to cast (hint: select a spot with white water splashing) click the remote pad and flick your wrist.
  3. Wait for a fish to grab your line and a circle to highlight around the line in the water.
  4. The line will move wherever the fish goes and you have no control over this. What you need to do is keep the colored circle with the fish.
  5. Clicking on the trackpad of the remote will bring the circle closer to you and lifting your finger off will make the circle move away from you.
  6. As the circle tightens around the fishing line you can click to reel in the fish. If while reeling in the circle grows again you need to repeat from step 4.
  7. Once you bring the fish all the way to you it will pull it out of the water.
  8. Click the fish to grab it and set the rod down. From here you can swipe down to put the fish in your backpack or throw it back by clicking and flicking your wrist at the water.
  9. Congrats! Fishing is a great way to get credits in the game.

Hint: while fishing you will find items in the water other than fish periodically like a mailbox house that add a bit more to the game. Fishing is peaceful and fun as well as a major part of early objectives.

How to Play the stone skipping mini game in Daydream Blue
Stone skipping is rather easy in the game. Figuring out the sequence to hit all poles can take a little effort at first until you figure out how it works.
  1. First pick up a stone and then look a little to the left for a start button to begin the mini game.
  2. Once the poles come up out of the water throw your stone at one of them and pay attention to what poles it does not hit.
  3. Look down and pick up another stone and hit one of the poles that were missed previously.
  4. Repeat until the stone bounces off every pole and the next set of poles come up.
  5. Congrats! Stone Skipping is fun and does make a little extra credits.
How to Golf in Daydream Blue
Golfing is something that can be done early in the game although you need to make the golf ball first in your fire.  When you hold the ball in your hand a tee will appear on the ground. Figuring out how to start a game of golf is the hardest part of this task.
  1. Once you have made your golf ball you are ready to golf.  Next look up at the sky in front of you.
  2. You will notice words in the sky asking you to throw the golf ball at it, do it! do it!
  3. Once you have thrown the golf ball into the sky you will notice a “9” and an “18” on either side. Choose the game length you would like and hit the golf ball into the corresponding hole.
  4. Hitting the golf ball is easy, just click anywhere with your remote and while holding down on the remote point the arrow and make it longer to hit harder or shorter to hit softer.
  5. Play around a bit to figure out the strengths and angles and have fun.
  6. Congrats! Golfing is a great way to get credits in the game.
How to feed Ralph a Fish in Daydream Blue
This took me a while to figure out because every time I threw a fish at my little robot buddy it just bounced off of him and he ran. The one thing they forget to tell you is that he wants the fish cooked first which makes total sense.
  1. First you need to go fishing if you haven’t already and get a fish for ralph.
  2. Go to your fire pit and throw a log in and then throw your fish in with the log.
  3. Light the log with a match and keep your curser on the fish until you see credits for completing the task.
  4. Pick up the fish immediately after you see the credits as ralph will not eat an over cooked fish.
  5. Call ralph over to you and throw the cooked fish at him and he will now eat it.

Hint: if Ralph spits out the fish it means you overcooked it and need to start over and cook another fish for him.

Daydream Blue is a lot of fun and we will likely be playing this for a while.  As we try new mini games and items come available in game we will update this guide. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments below and we will jump into the virtual world, find the answer, and add it here.

Affordable Google Pixel XL Cases

dWhile not the largest phone, the Google Pixel XL is still a large device making it hard to find a case that will fit it without making it even larger. Of course when doing so we want something affordable as well and thats where these two cases come in. Both the Olixar FlexiShield Google Pixel XL Gel Case and the KuGi TPU Scratch Resistant Case fit the Pixel XL snug without adding a lot of bulk to the device like say an Otterbox would and at a fraction of the cost. This said lets look into the pros and cons of these so that you can make a decision for yourself.

Pixel XL Olixar CaseAffordable Pixel XL Protective Case Designs
Both cases are made from a gel material that while flexible is still very durable allowing small drops from the device without damaging your phone or scratching the case. The back and sides of the case have a non-slip coating and lets be honest with a phone the size of the Pixel XL we need good grip even in one hand. Most importantly they are thin cases that avoid too much added size. You will notice the front of both cases there is a raised bevel to help protect against screen scratches when placing the phone face down. The cases comes in multiple colors although in this case we went with translucent and black so they stand apart.

Affordable Pixel XL Case Protection
There isn’t much to say about the cases protection other than the fact that small drops will be protected although anything up around your head to ground may be a little iffy on anything but carpet. Both cases are made of a rubberized material that will take a bit of the impact from drops although both are very thin and may not survive solid drops. This said not tough cases but are much better than the phone alone.

Affordable Pixel XL Case Price
I do have to say that the most appealing thing about these cases are their prices. You can get either case for around $7.99 meaning its great even as a short term solution while you shop around. You can even honestly just grab a couple different colors to match your style for the day.

Conclusion
These are in no way highly protective cases but for those that don’t normally use cases or just want to add it for better grip both are pretty good. They will protect against nicks and scratches to keep your Pixel XL looking new as long as you own it. The big thing is when spending what it takes to buy the phone its nice to has inexpensive options on cases.

Android malware Mazar erases your phone with a single text message

It seems like every time we get past a malware and our phones get a security patch another one pops up almost right away. Heimdal, a security firm in Denmark has found a malware that simple sends one text message and by opening it your phone will either start erasing itself and/or start sending out unwanted calls and text messages.

Based on Heimdal’s initial reports state they think at least 100,000 phones have been infected with Mazar in Denmark alone. There is no word on the spread of the infection outside of Denmark but it can be expected to show up.

How does Mazar infect your phone?
Mazar sends a text message to your phone with a link to a multimedia message to the user that on the outside looks legit other than the fact you don’t know the sender. When the user clicks through the link will download Tor to your phone followed by the malware itself. The sneaky thing is that the Tor software hides the malware’s source link so its hard to find where its coming from.

How to avoid getting Mazar?
These days to avoid almost every type of Android malware all you need to do is not click links from people you don’t know. The best way to get rid of it once you have it is to just do a factory data reset to start over.

It looks like the malware is pretty geo-specific since there have been reports that it will not work on devices with Russian as their default language. Not sure I would want to test it on English but until there are reports of it showing up outside of Denmark I wouldn’t worry too much. All that said you should ever open unknown links or text messages.