Category: Software (Android)

Centralize your business contact list easily

A company phone used to be a BlackBerry. In a lot of places it still is, but now there’s more and more people bringing their own devices into the workplace and using them instead. It’s called “BYOD” and those people “in the know” tell me that it’s massive …

Top 5 apps for December revealed

Good old Distimo eh? We all love them. No, me neither. However, they’ve done some research and, using bits of data from the Apple App Store and Google Play, they’ve got the top apps of December 2013. The top free apps from the Apple App Store included the …

Android App Review – Skiplock

If you’re using today’s super powerful smartphones like me, you are now carrying everything in your pocket, your bank details, your social networks and normally some irreplaceable photo’s of loved ones. So your phone should have some kind of password/PIN/pattern/facelock protection to stop unwanted eyes to getting to the …

Watch cartoons and movies for free

I’ll be honest and admit that this app isn’t the right and proper place to get streamed movie and cartoon content. It’s not Netflix and the app, named “Cartoon Plus”, has the infamous get-out-clause stating that it’s “just a search engine for content which is readily available on …

Parental Access – Monitor your child on their mobile

Getting your kids on the internet is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you want them to use a tablet or phone like their friends do, but on the other hand you want them to be safe. Parental Access, which is free and available for Android, seeks to …

Android 4.4.2 coming to UK Moto G’s soon

The 4.4.2 update to the Moto G was originally promised for early 2014, but Motorola says it’s “thrilled to start delivering on that promise early”. The Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is now available to Moto G handsets purchased on Motorola’s website and Amazon in the US. Motorola says the Moto …

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod preview video gives a taster of what to expect

Oppo teased the N1 to death before its recent launch, and now it’s Cyanogen’s turn as the CyanogenMod Edition nears release. The newly launched CM YouTube channel is now sporting a taster video so we can see why we’d want to opt for this non-standard version. http://youtu.be/VV-BPYgWDqc Focusing …

The moment when Android had to start again

Here’s a pretty interesting story from The Atlantic (no, me neither) with some revelations from Chris DeSalvo. He worked with Andy Rubin at Danger before switching to Google to work on Android. It was 2005 and Android was in the early stages, but by January 2007 and – …

Easily find your way around new places with WAM

I was trying to think of a whitty and informed intro to this post, just as a way to show how this app – called “WAM” (short for World Around Me”) – helps you find your feet in foreign or new places. Luckily, they’ve sent us this rather …

Phone Zombie takes an unexpected dip

My lunch break has become increasingly interesting in recent years. I meet new people and literally bump into them as I head out to grab a sandwich. It’s the “phone zombies” – those people who walk down a street staring at their phones. They put walking and avoiding …

Dropbox updated. Now with folder sharing management

Dropbox has been the online storage choice for many. However, if you’ve checked the app recently you’ll have noticed a pretty significant update. It’ll now let you manage those magical shared folders that you can invite your friends to view. Now send a link and invite people directly …

Sony announce the 4.3 rollout has begun

Sony announced a while back that the Z1 and Z Ultra would be getting the upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat early next year and that there would be an intermediate update to JellyBean 4.3. The time for the 4.3 update has now arrived and it is starting to …

Sonic gets added Sega juice

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 has been available on your mobile for a while now, but this new version has been remastered, earning it the title.. Errrr…. Remastered. After 21 years Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been redone with better graphics, audio and new content including a new boss …

Replacement Android lockscreen Cover is now publicly available

A lockscreen on your phone is an essential part of the smartphone experience, over the years we’ve seen various attempts to add further functionality. We’ve seen manufacturers like HTC, LG and Samsung add app shortcuts to the lockscreen, we’ve seen Motorola add fancy notifications to the lockscreen and …

Instagram announce Instagram Direct

Instagram is rather popular these days, now available on most platforms (even including Windows Phone). It’s a photo sharing service that allows you to post pictures and images and your followers can see them, but what if you have a photo you only want to share with one …

Android App Review – Smart IR Remote

Having an infra red blaster on my phone has recently become something that I can really appreciate. The app offerings from HTC, LG and Samsung are a bit basic or they get bogged down with TV listings and the like. What I wanted was something I could fiddle …

Santa Claus is coming to town, follow him on your mobile

Santa, as you know, will be unloading his sack in your front room very soon. On Christmas Eve you can not only track his movements on Google Maps, but you can also now follow the jolly fella via this Android app too. The app includes lots of little …

GMail for Android updated with vacation responders and more

If you’re a GMail user then, if you’re honest, you’re probably never offline. However, if you do ever disconnect yourself, you’ll know that setting a vacation message is a bit of a pain. Currently in GMail you’ll need to log onto the normal web interface to set it …

Make your own Street View, right now on your smartphone

Those Google Street View cars are great. We’ve all quickly got used to the fact that we can log onto Google Maps and instantly view pretty much any road, lane or house in the country. There’s even a bike and back-pack version for covering the more remote areas, …

Google Play Music updated. Offline music storage added

The Google Play Music app has received a bit of a refresh this morning. Download it and you’ll get KitKat SD card support, which gives offline music capability. Not only that, but there’s the ability to shuffle songs in the “All Access” feature and Google have made it …

Sky Go tablet now available

Sky Go is a free app that allows you to watch the channels you pay for on the go via wifi or 3/4G, previously the only tablets it had been available for were iPads. Now Sky have released a new version of the app specifically for Android tablets …

TV Anywhere from Virgin, now for Android

Just recently Sky added more channels to their Sky Go service. It brought the total amount of “watch anywhere” channels to 57, but Virgin have today blown them out of the water by launching their TV Anywhere app for Android devices which gives access to 67 channels across …

Wallapop – Sell stuff free to your local area

At times eBay drives me round the bend. I’ll list something and, despite clearly showing UK delivery only, I’m bound to get people wanting me to post the item to Africa or to disclose the reserve price. Then they moan if you don’t send the item within 17 …

Be-Bound lets you stay connected out of data coverage

Are you one of those people who simply must be able to get online to read email? Or send a tweet? Is the mere thought of having no data coverage your worst nightmare? If so then the Be-Bound app, available on Android. might be just the thing. The …

Save our power buttons !

I was having a chat with a guy the other day. It was all a bit weird because he was in one cubicle and I was in another, but we ended up chatting about the power button on our Android phones. No, really. So anyway, you’re probably wondering …

Testing my sobriety .. with a smartphone

With the festive season fast approaching it’s important to remember that drinking and driving really don’t mix. For those that have had a few the night before, or who’s job requires regular testing, there’s now a new breathalyser which is small enough to hang off your keys. Not …

More channels added to Sky Go

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been writing several furious letters to those people at Sky TV about the lack of TV channels such as Eden, Alibi and Animal Planet on their mobile TV platform – Sky Go. The system lets you watch a range of channels …

AirDroid – Manage your Android from a browser

An app I use far too much is AirDroid. It basically offers a friendly and easy web interface into your Android handset. You can transfer files, send and receive texts easily, plus you can even activate and use the camera on your phone without being near it. You …

Samsung Galaxy S3 receiving update to Android 4.3

The global rollout of Android 4.3 Jellybean to Samsungs previous flagship handset the Galaxy S3 has begun. According to Samsung dedicated site Sammobile the rollout began with unlocked UK devices and has not started to be seen on devices in South Korea. The list of changes and new features …

New PlayStation 4 around the corner as companion app arrives

Sony look to have added a new PlayStation app to the Google Play store and the iTunes store today. If rumours are to be believed, it’s to prepare us for the launch of the spanky new PlayStation 4. The app adds a portable experience to your gaming world …

Cyanogenmod Installer is now available

The thought of Rooting, unlocking bootloaders, flashing ROMs and all the other jargon like ADB & SDK to some may seem like an absolute minefield. A warranty voiding, potentially device breaking minefield. But to some it’s a means to an ends, a way of life, the thing to …

Carphone Warehouse to stock HTC Desire 500

Bringing the best bits of HTC at an affordable price, it’s the Desire 500 and it’s now available at Carphone Warehouse. They have become the first UK retailer to start this device and you can hook it into all the major mobile networks. If you enjoy HTC BoomSound …

Nexus Media Importer gets an update to support the Nexus 5

Plugging USB accessories into Android devices has always been a bit hit and miss. Especially with some manufacturers using Slimport connectors instead of MHL connectors. The nice thing about Samsung devices is USB peripherals work, with no hassle, you plug it in and they just work. Nexus devices …

Could Tweakker make your next smartphone cheaper?

If you’ve bought an unlocked phone and popped in a SIM from an MVNO then you may have experienced that moment when it struggles to find the internet and messaging settings. Some manufacturers have started adding some intelligence into their phones to help with this, and they’ll use …

Official HPI Check available for iPhone and Android

Buying a second-hand car is always a bit of a minefield. Finding the right one is tricky enough, but even after going to have a look there’s still the chance that the car could have outstanding finance or mileage issues on it. How are you supposed to know …

Get yourself a HUD, bud

I live in the UK and, right now, it’s pretty dark. I leave for work, it’s dark. I drive home… dark. Those daylight hours are pretty short at this time of year and, as I learned today to my cost, it’s probably not wise to remind those solar-panel …

Ice Rage from Herocraft is now available for free on Android

Ice Hockey as a game has sort of passed me buy, I guess that’s thanks to growing up in the UK. We went for Cricket instead at school. But that never stopped me enjoying a good game of Ice Hockey on my Mega Drive. Herocraft have released their …

Oppo release the ColorOS ROM for the Find 5

With the announcement of the Oppo N1 also came the unveiling of the new Oppo ROM, called ColorOS. Which is basically a skinned version of Android 4.2. Well now all of you Oppo Find 5 owners out there can flash the Color ROM now. Earlier on Oppo tweeted …