Samsung pushing Android 6.0 update for Galaxy S6, S6 edge

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Frank Cisco

Android has always had an issue with providing timely updates, though things have improved marginally over the years. Nonetheless, many smartphone owners are left waiting for an update well after the new software is released. Today brings in a case of that with two of last year’s biggest phones, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, just now receiving their update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which was released in November.

The update is rolling out to unlocked models of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge now, with further announcements regarding specific carrier updates coming soon. Samsung has also said that other Galaxy series devices will begin to receive their Marshmallow updates in the near future.

While the updates include the usual Marshmallow features, such as Doze to improve battery life, Samsung has also packed in impressive new features for Galaxy S6 edge owners. Samsung has added new Edge Screen features to the update that include things like popular contacts, most-used apps, quick task shortcuts and a set of Quick Tools, such as a compass and ruler. These are all accessible by simply swiping in from the edge of the screen with the Edge handle, a fixed tab that users can place where it’s most convenient. The Edge tab will remain on the side of the display, regardless of what app you’re using, so you can always swipe in to open it up.

Additionally, the Edge tab will have a growing list of features, as Samsung has opened it up to developers to create widgets that make it even more useful.

Even though the update has taken its time to arrive, it will at least bring in some solid features for Galaxy S6 edge users. Let us know what you think of it when you receive the update!

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LG teases the X screen and X cam with individually unique features

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Frank Cisco

The Life’s Good crew has aspirations of making waves in the smartphone market with its upcoming announcement of the G5 later this month. Before that, though, the company wants to launch a brand new phone series with a mid-range price point in mind.

Each phone in the X series has a unique feature to make it stand out and give it a boost from its high-end devices while avoiding the high-end price tag. The X series joins a growing letter-based lineage, with the G, V, and K series coming before it. LG calls the X series “specialist” devices, with that one feature that will hopefully make it stand out in the crowded market.

First up is the X screen. Like the V10, the X screen has a pair of screens on the front, with the larger of the pair measuring in at 4.93 inches. The second, meanwhile, measures in at 1.76 inches. That second display will let users control their music, answer calls, and access their favorite apps. It can also let you manage notifications without activating the main display. Under the hood there’s a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a battery that comes in at 2300mAh. There’s a 13-megapixel camera on the back, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera on the other side. It’ll boast 16GB of built-in storage, and LG says it’s running Android 6.0 right out of the box.

The other device is the X camera. As the name suggests, this one’s all about the cameras. Specifically on the back, as LG has equipped the handset with 13 and 5-megapixel sensors. These cameras offer the “most advanced camera experience in a mass-tier smartphone,” according to LG. There’s also an 8-megapixel camera on the front. Other features include a octa-core processor, with a 5.2-inch 1080p HD display, and 2GB of RAM. It’s running Android 6.0, and has a battery measured in at 2520mAh, and 16GB of built-in storage.

LG says the X series will launch first in “key markets” in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Unfortunately, the company hasn’t divulged just yet how much they devices will cost.

What do you think of the new devices?

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LG V10 has a vulnerability in fingerprint security

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Frank Cisco

The LG V10 seems to have a significant security vulnerability not shared by other devices with fingerprint readers. The bad news is that someone can add their fingerprint to your V10 without a PIN. The good news is that you have to unlock it for them first.

If someone gets their hands on your locked phone, they won’t be able to access it. But if you give it to them unlocked, to make a phone call or show off a photo for example, your phone is vulnerable. Normally, going into the fingerprint settings means entering your PIN.

But if you use a third party launcher and add an activity shortcut for adding fingerprints, you bypass the need for a PIN. You can add a fignerprint right away, letting you unlock someone’s phone at a later time.

Luckily, there’s an easy temporary fix. The LG V10 allows for a maximum of four fingerprints, so just fill all four slots and no one will be able to add another. This fix will work fine until LG patches the vulnerability.

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Hugo Barra shares photo straight from the Xiaomi Mi 5

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Frank Cisco

Hugo Barra took to Facebook to tease the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 5 a bit, showing off the camera with a sample shot. He claims the shot was taken with auto settings and HDR on, and it looks impressive.

You can head here to check out the full resolution shot plus a crop showing off the detail. While a single photo isn’t representative of a device’s camera quality, this detail does look really good. The resolution also confirms a 16MP sensor. The Xiaomi Mi 5 will be announced on February 24, so we’ll get to see for ourselves soon enough!

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Picasa officially shutting down on May 1

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Frank Cisco

Google’s Picasa photo service will soon be no more, as the company has decided to focus on Google Photos instead of working on both. The service will officially be shut down on May 1, while support for the desktop app will end March 15.

Thankfully, your data won’t be lost. Google is making a way for people to continue accessing old data, including tags and comments, for those who don’t want to use Google Photos. Users won’t be able to add or edit anything, but giving them access to old data is a great move by Google.

If you want to move from Picasa to Google Photos, all of your photos and videos will already be there. There’s no need to move everything over. Google Photos is a pretty nice service, so at least give it a shot.

How many of you still use Picasa?

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Top 10 Android app updates this week: 1Password, Clock

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Frank Cisco

Welcome back to our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most frequently upgraded apps for the week. We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the most installs. As in the past, we’re going to filter out minor updates for the super-popular apps that have over 10 million installs, but we’ll make exceptions for apps that have had significant updates. We hope you enjoy this weekly feature and that you discover some apps that end up being useful.