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GET READY FORKEY LIME PIE

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new Android OS

Is this the new face of Android phones?

FACEBOOK HOME

SAMSUNG’S FLAGSHIP PHONE TAKES ON THE HTC ONE & SONY XPERIA Z

INNOVATIVEANDROID APPS

30Incredible apps that will change

how you use your phone

Is this the new face of Android phones?

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ALSO INSIDE ASUSPADFONE 2REVIEWED

» Double your battery life» Back up and restore apps» Improve your camera

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Discover what youcan really do with Android

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25

ww

w.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

Galaxy S

4 U

ltimate Face

-off S

amsung takes on H

TC O

ne and Sony Xperia Z

ISSUE 25 £4.99

ISSUE 25

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Full pg.indd 1 23/04/2013 12:09

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WelcomeTo issue 25 «

Welcome“Samsung has gone the other way, chucking everything at the S4 in the hope that there’s a bit of something for everyone“

A QR code is a 2D barcode that can act as a shortcut for delivering information, such as weblinks. You’ll notice them throughout the mag – scan them on your phone and you can download apps and send us messages instantly.

something for

Welcome“

A QR code is a 2D barcode that can act

“HOW TO USE THEQR CODES

When it has read, the phone will beep and vibrate, then launch the link. You may need to choose an app to launch it with.

Launch the link2

ShopSavvy FreeDownload this free barcode scanner to use our QR codes. Handily, you can scan normal barcodes with it too, to help you fi nd bargains on all your

favourite purchases!

Zero-click access to the best apps in the Google Play store

Open ShopSavvy, hit the Scan a Barcode button and then hold your phone over a QR code so that it appears in the window.

Get scanning1

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Samsung’s fl agship smartphone for the year has gone on sale, and sold out pretty much

immediately. The huge demand for the Galaxy S4 perfectly illustrates just how popular Samsung has become as a smartphone manufacturer – a massive turnaround for a company that only three years

ago barely registered on the sales charts. We’ve been looking at the S4 this month, and how it compares to the two other big devices of the year, the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z. It’s interesting to see just how different the three devices are. They all have broadly similar specs, are roughly the same size, and are designed to do essentially the same things. Yet each one feels completely different to the next. Samsung’s approach is far less refi ned than that of the others. Where HTC has taken a move upmarket, going for the ultra high-end with the design and build and stripping back the software to leave you with just the essentials, Samsung has gone the other way, chucking everything at the S4 in the hope that there’s a bit of something for everyone. It’s a much brasher device as a result, and the build quality does not even come close to the One or the Xperia Z. But while the afi cionados among us may prefer the more sophisticated approach HTC has taken, the market has spoken, and it doesn’t mind plastic, or care about gimmicks. And maybe that’s the right way of thinking, because it’s in the things that really matter: screen, performance, camera and battery life, that the S4 really shines.

PicsArt

Eyes

Outlook.com

The Room

Pocket Casts

RoundR

MY HOME SCREENOn (and off) Andy’sphone this month…

GET IN TOUCHLet us know what you’d like to see in next issue…

Andy Betts Editor

This monthI’ve been testing:

Galaxy S4A worthy update to

the S III. The Samsung juggernaut

continues at pace

APP

SIN

APP

SO

UT

003_AND_025.indd 3 29/04/2013 16:42

Contents» Inside issue 25

CONTENTS15 Special offer for USA readers » 70 Exclusive subscription offer

06 Facebook Home: the new face of Android?We take a look at the new app and phone for Facebook

10 Million SellersWe chat to the makers of Zinio, one of the Play store’s top downloads

11 Sony Xperia Tablet Z hands-onFirst look at the fantastic new tablet from Sony

LauncherPreviews, news and speculation from the Android world

www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

12 10 things you need to know about in-app purchasesWe get you up to speed on the murky world of in-app purchases

14 Travel appsA collection of some of the best-looking travel apps

16 MessagesSound off about anything and everything to do with Android

06 Facebook Home Is this the new face of Android phones?

24 Get ready for Key Lime Pie Prepare your phone for the next Android update

88 Asus Padfone 2 reviewedWe test the phone/tablet combi. Is it the best of both worlds?

Exclusive subscription offer

Get ready for Key

4

18 Samsung takes on the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z

Visit the Android Magazine online shop at

for back issues and books

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004-005_AND_025.indd 4 30/04/2013 10:11

ContentsInside issue 25«

Cutting-edge tablets and smartphones on test

88 Reviews88 Asus Padfone 290 Toshiba AT300SE92 CAT B15

94 AccessoriesPower up your phone or tablet with this collection of goodies

Essential guides to getting more from your phone or tablet

34 Turn your Android device into a mobile offi ce

Get ahead in the offi ce with help from your Android device

38 Tutorials38 Save and share photos in Google+41 Add feeds in Google Currents42 Secure your phone with 2-step

verifi cation44 Send meeting requests via your

Calendar app45 Apply fi lters in Twitter47 Control location services48 Take control of Google and

third-party accounts

86 10000000

83 3G Watchdog

87 AVP: Evolution

79 Burn Note

83 Comic Book!

84 Evernote

78 F1 2013 Timing App

83 Feedly

83 Google Analytics

84 Google Keep

82 Google Translate

83 HeyTell

83 Janetter for Twitter

87 Lazors

79 Must-Have Recipes

80 Opera browser beta

87 PAC-MAN + Tournaments

80 Photo Effects Pro

81 Qustodio Parental Controls

87 Ravensword: Shadowlands

79 Rethink

82 Sky Movies

87 Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor

83 Traffi c Monitor

82 Traxsource

80 Uber

83 Unity Launcher

79 WiFi Signal Booster

86 Zombie Minesweeper

87 Pro Snooker 2012

AppsYour complete guide to Google Play 72 30 innovative appsApps that will change how you use your phone

78 App reviewsThe latest apps on test

84 Note appsGoogle Keep vs Evernote

86 Game reviewsThe latest games reviewed

App review index

58 Hacking tips and tricksEssential tips for getting the most out of your Android device

60 10 Essential hacks you must try today!

Practical hacks that will help you get more from your phone or tablet

Explore the limits of your Android phone

Hacker Zøne

TutorialsReviews

72 30 most innovative Android appsIncredible apps that will change how you use your phone

42 Secure your phoneUse 2-step verifi cation to secure your Google account from hacking

Power up your phone or tablet with this collection of goodies

38 Tutorials38 Tutorials38

» www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukCheck our website daily for even more news

5

18 Samsung takes on the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z

50 Droid SupportReaders’ questions answered, plus troubleshooting tips and tricks

56 Android challengeReplace your laptop: Can you get by using just an Android phone instead of a laptop? We fi nd out

92 CAT B15

Rugged Android phone reviewed

in full

90

Toshiba AT300SE

Can Toshiba make an impact with

this tablet?

GALAXY S4

004-005_AND_025.indd 5 30/04/2013 10:21

141.5AVERAGE NUMBER OF FRIENDS PER FACEBOOK USER

55-653%

13-1712%

26-3423%

45-545%

35-4414%

18-2543%

6

All the latest from the world of Android devices

TRILLIONLIKES1.13

Post

What’s on your mind?

Photo Gift

219 BillionPHOTOS SHARED

FACEBOOK USERS BY AGE

901 MILLION 105, 901, 900 20, 561, 280 408 1.06 BILLION

Mobile monthly active users

TOTAL USERSMonthly active users

Mobile users are American

Are from the UK

Facebook can no longer be classed as a social network – it’s now a real alternative to the Android operating system. Here’s why…

Unless you’ve had your head in the sand for the past decade, you’ll have clearly noticed Facebook’s dominance as a social media

platform. Despite rivals in the form of Twitter, Pinterest, Path and Google+, Facebook still remains at the top of the social media pyramid, and with a

fanbase that now exceeds a billion users, the time has come for Mark Zuckerberg to move the company in to unknown territories.

Facebook’s new venture comes in the form of a partnership with HTC to launch a mid-range Android phone called the HTC First, plus its own unique skin

which can be applied to a number of Android devices called Facebook Home. As a phone, the First isn’t the most spectacular of devices. It has average specs, a pretty standard design, but at least it should come with an acceptable price tag. Facebook Home is an entirely different prospect

Facebook Home: the new face of Android?

THEbig STORY

006_009_AND_025 2 6 30/04/2013 11:26

»twitter@lgrobotFollow us on Twitter for the latest updates

Stay up to date Catch up with the latest

Android news and gossip

7

altogether and one that could change the landscape of the Android operating system for some time.

“It doesn’t matter that Facebook Home will be launched with an Android operating system on an HTC smartphone. If Facebook’s new concept works, it will become the standard for phones and operating systems from now on” says Roslyn Layton,

vice president of Strand Consult. “Facebook’s announcement is an important milestone for investors, for it demonstrates that the gold mine for Facebook is not advertising, operating systems or hardware. The key for Facebook is to monetise its users for the very communication it offers: SMS, voice, and data-enabled services.”

To be able to monetise such services, Facebook will have to look to adapt Home very quickly from a simple skin that keeps you in contact with your Facebook profi le to a communication powerhouse. There’s been much talk about Facebook’s willingness to follow in Amazon’s successful steps. Both the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD had a totally independent skin designed by Amazon, but with Android at its core. Both tablets have been successful, with many preferring the budget pair to many of the high-end Android tablets now available on the market. With the added bonus of having full access to the Amazon library of music, movies and books, Amazon has the money and power to cater for everyone. Even Google is looking to build on the amount of media available in the Play store, with Play Magazines now a major competitor to the likes of Zinio. Fred Huet, managing partner at Greenwich Consulting, thinks Facebook may have a tough time competing with the likes of Amazon and Google on

this front. “The biggest challenger to Facebook Home would be Google, with traditional apps such as Gmail, Google Search, Google Maps and YouTube in the background. That means less traffi c, clicks and revenues.” But he fi rmly believes that Facebook can remain unrivalled with being a communication

powerhouse: “With 1,800 texts a month sent by the average American teenager, Facebook Home will capture all that traffi c, thus increasing revenues, traffi c and metadata about users that they can use to better target with ads.”

If we look away from the media side of things, for Facebook to be a major player in the mobile industry and ultimately for Facebook Home to be a real success, it will very quickly need to identify the

market it is aiming itself at. With Samsung saturating the mobile market, it’s hard to fi nd gaps that can be fi lled, but it will be something that needs to be considered by Zuckerberg and company. Sri Ramanathan, CTO of Kony Solutions, believes that Facebook should play on the openness of the Android platform to really nail a suitable target audience: “By using the ‘open-ness’ of Android, they’ve been able to make a very native application that integrates deeply into the existing capabilities of Android. It also integrates seamlessly with other applications on your phone. Facebook Home is going to appeal to a generation of users who are very connected to Facebook and who want to use it for the majority of their phone activity.” He –v advertisers and has the potential to completely change the Facebook business model. More advertisers will come to Facebook because the company is better leveraging mobile and tapping into this key demographic.”

Facebook’s transition into mobile is a bold move to say the least, but one that could change the landscape of the Android operating system as we

know it. Communication is at the forefront of what Facebook does best and Home encapsulates that perfectly, but it’s in the other areas where Facebook will have to vastly improve if it wants to really challenge Google for the Android crown. But with a fanbase as large as what Facebook has and with its fi rst partnership with HTC already in full swing, maybe we’ll all own a Facebook device in the next couple of years.

“Increasing revenues, traffi c and metadata”Fred Huet, managing partner at Greenwich Consulting

“With Samsung saturating the mobile market, it’s hard to fi nd gaps that can be fi lled”

How other companies fared with their own take on the Android OS?

Going againstAndroid

KindleAmazon developed an entirely unique skin loosely based on the Android OS and implemented it on both the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD. It’s easy to use and ties in with the Amazon storefront surprisingly well.

TouchWizSamsung’s own custom skin, TouchWiz, has its problems, but it has been constantly updated to provide a truly unique Android experience. It’s a great skin for those who are new to the Android OS platform.

NookThe Nook’s custom skin is very loosely based on that of the Android OS, but it has many problems. It has been dumbed down for the average user, including the app store which houses just a few hundred titles rather than the thousands in the Play Store.

new to the Android OS platform.

006_009_AND_025 2 7 30/04/2013 11:02

8

HTC has another crack at making a Facebook phone. Can it possibly fi nd a market beyond its niche audience?

Three old Facebook phones that are worth forgetting

HTC First

Disliked

Whether a Facebook phone is truly needed remains a dubious question, but HTC has forged ahead with bringing the HTC First to the market. With full backing of the Facebook team, HTC has looked to implement its own take on the Android OS, offering the standard Android features with Facebook’s completely new launcher, Facebook Home, at the forefront. There’s plenty of inspiration from the likes of Amazon here, who has previously launched its own spin on the Android OS, but whether Facebook has a committed enough fanbase to follow its success remains to be seen. It’s certainly an important phone for HTC considering its current fi nancial problems, as the First follows a number of unsuccessful efforts at making Facebook phones. It includes a very average set of specifi cations which means anyone looking to get some decent bang for their buck may be left a little underwhelmed with what’s on offer here, so pricing will be key for HTC when it comes to fi nally launching the device all over the world. Perhaps most interestingly the Facebook functionality can be turned off, leaving you with fully stock Android.

Operating system ........... Android 4.1/Facebook Home UI

Processor .......................... Krait 1.4GHz dual-core

Memory .............................. 1GB RAM, 16GB storage

Dimensions ......................126 x 65 x 8.9mm

Weight ...............................123.9g

Display size ........................4.3-inch LCD

Display resolution ...........720 x 1,280 pixels

Connectivity ..................... Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA+, micro USB

Camera.............................. 5-MP rear, VGA front, 1080p video recording

Start your phone and you’ll see all your latest Facebook statuses from your friends

Incoming messages appear on your lockscreen. Tap on one to launch the full conversation

This is you. Drag up to unlock the phone, or sideways to launch into the app drawer or camera app

HTC ChaChaWhy it failedPeople didn’t take too kindly to the ChaCha’s physical keyboard that promised to offer quick shortcuts to your Facebook profi le, but instead made the Facebook integration a very clunky affair.

INQ Mobile TouchWhy it failedWithout a big name behind it, the INQ Cloud Touch soon fell into obscurity. Its Facebook integration wasn’t bad, but the phone itself was immensely underpowered compared to its competition.

HTC SalsaWhy it failedThe Salsa was a big step up from the ChaCha, but the Facebook integration was still slow to use and photos rendered horribly. The £300+ price tag on launch didn’t help it out either.

006_009_AND_025 2 8 30/04/2013 11:02

9

Key features that will defi ne the new Facebook Home user experience

Facebook Home

Android’s new Home?Facebook Home is without doubt a product aimed at

keeping users of the social media site in contact with their profi les and friends at all times, and in

return Facebook can promote new adverts and products directly to them. After installing Home you’ll be greeted with the newest post created by one of your friends. Each post covers your entire screen and whether it’s a picture, text or supported advert, Home does a good job at making sure each post has a stylish, uniformed design.

All posts can be interacted with, but the process of scrolling through them and wanting to leave a comment is a painfully slow experience at present. Despite Facebook claiming it has done extensive testing on the Home service, the slow loading speeds will put off many users and that’s an oversight.

Through the main screen of the Home launcher you have access to your apps, photos, and of course, your Facebook profi le. Home doesn’t support widgets, so any that you’ve placed on your home screens previously will have been removed, leaving odd-shaped gaps throughout. You can move app icons to fi ll the gaps, but the lack of widget support isn’t ideal.

The app drawer remains the same and the new fade effect that has been included works a treat. What Facebook has also introduced is a new messaging

system that enables users to chat to specifi c friends no matter what you’re currently doing on your device. Named Chat Heads, the feature creates icons of chosen contacts from which you can place around your phone and interact with whenever.

At the same time you can group your heads together to instantly send a message to multiple friends. Despite Chat Heads arguably being Home’s best feature, it doesn’t come ready to use and instead users will need to venture to the Facebook Messenger app’s settings page to activate it.

Home is a bold move by Facebook and the ideas and concept behind it make for a sure-fi re winner on paper. The app/launcher itself isn’t as fl uid as we would have liked, however. Clunky loading times are the main problem here, with scrolling through posts a real chore. The lack of widget support is also a concern and will no doubt put off those who use widgets for their calendar, notes and other work-related apps. Chat Heads is by far the best feature currently included in Home, but it’s so well-hidden that many users won’t even realise it exists.

It’s early days for Home and if the team at Facebook’s Californian headquarters can fi x all the teething issues that have arisen so far, then Home might just be a winner, but for now you should just stick to the default Facebook application.

Home is only being released to a small number of devices, at fi rst, so take a look to see if you’re one of the lucky few who will be able to get your hands on it.

Will Facebook be taking over your Android device?

Despite Home bringing an entirely different look to Facebook, all the usual Facebook features are included. Posts are listed in chronological order and update automatically when someone adds something to their timeline and you’ll fi nd each post can be interacted with by leaving a comment or like. Open up the settings to change how often Home updates itself, as it can drain a lot of battery fairly quickly, which no one wants.

Your app drawer and various home screens look totally different when using Facebook Home. All of the widgets you had previously added will be removed and all the icons will have been bunched up to fi ll the gaps. Open up the app drawer to see the new fade effect in action and add any other app icons to your home screens, if you so wish. You’ll also fi nd direct links to your Facebook account at the top of your main home screen.

Messaging has undergone a massive overhaul within the Home launcher by adding the new Chat Heads feature. This creates a small picture icon representing one of your Facebook friends from which you can send messages to without needing to open up the Facebook home. With Chat Heads you can also send messages to multiple friends at the same time and receive notifi cations when messages are sent to you.

HTC

One

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Gal

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HTC

One

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Sam

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Gal

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HTC

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Interact with posts by leaving a comment, or like on their picture or text-based status. Some posts also include external links that you can press to be taken to a website.

Widgets cannot be added to your lock or home screen while Home is the default launcher on your phone. Revert back to a different launcher if this is a problem.

Chat Heads is a new feature that takes inspiration from the likes of Google+ to offer a great way of staying in contact with your Facebook friends without ever needing to open up the app.

006_009_AND_025 2 9 30/04/2013 11:02

10




What makes Zinio different from other digital providers?Zinio is the original newsstand to the world. With a selection of over 5,500 of the world’s favourite magazines, we offer reading fans the ability to connect with their passions in the most convenient and satisfying manner. Zinio offers a robust experience that encourages reading fans to explore content in topics that most interest them, and to dive deep and discover articles, issues and magazines that best match their personality. Our Explore section is unique. It offers free access to over 4,000 articles across all categories.

How selective are you of the magazines you choose to add?We know we have a diverse group of readers, so we refl ect that. You can fi nd the top-selling magazines like Wired, Wine Spectator, The Economist and Elle on Zinio. You can also fi nd New Scientist, Mental Floss, Wallpaper and Juxtapoz too. No matter what your interest, Zinio has a collection of titles in every topic to keep you informed, engaged and excited. Over the years we have been honoured to host some of the world’s favourite magazines like PC Magazine and Newsweek as they migrate to a digital-only state. We have also watched as some of our favourite niche titles gain increased notoriety with Zinio.

How are you looking to develop Zinio in the future?The great thing about being a part of a digital reading revolution is that the innovation never stops, and neither does the Zinio development list. We have a full set of features in the works. These include consumer experience enhancements like recommendations, development on expanded platforms, and even new ways to purchase and enjoy magazines. We rely a good deal on customer feedback to drive product enhancement decisions and we think our fans will be excited to see some of the new elements coming to life in 2013.

Which Zinio magazines do you read again and again? I have become addicted to Us Weekly and Star! through Zinio. It has become way too convenient for me to connect with the hottest gossip around. That said, you will always fi nd the latest issue of New Scientist, The Economist, Star Wars magazine and Fitness in my library. I am afraid that issue has revealed too much about the success driven, nerdy, workout-a-holic in me!

ZinioThe inside story on Android’s most popular apps

Android skins

A brief history of…Among Android enthusiasts there are no topics more controversial than that of the skin. The overlay that manufacturers place on their devices’ user interface attracts and repels users in equal measure. In their early days they were designed to fi ll in some of the gaps in the Android OS, but now they serve merely for purposes of differentiating one company’s products from another.

The fi rst clutch of Android devices were completely unskinned, sporting the fl edgling Android’s bare bones UI, warts and all. It wasn’t pretty…

2009HTC launched the fi rst skinned device with the Sense-sporting HTC Hero. It added some much-needed polish to the still very rough and ready Android 1.5 UI.

A brief history of… of the skin. The overlay that manufacturers place on their devices’ user interface attracts and repels users in equal measure. In their early days they were designed to fi ll in some of the gaps in the Android OS, but now they serve merely for purposes of differentiating one company’s products from another.

Q&A with Jeanniey Mullen, Zinio’s global executive vice president

There’s no denying that magazines are slowly moving into fully digital products, enabling users to download their favourite issues straight on to their phone or tablet. To cater for this, the rise of digital magazine platforms has also increased

and one of the best that’s currently available is Zinio. What makes Zinio stand out from the competition is the fact it offers 5,500 magazines on its newsstand, with many having back issues for you to also access. There’s also a great choice of reading customisations, enabling the user to pinpoint their best reading experience, while prices are competitive too. So if you’re looking for a way to take your favourite magazines with you, then look no further than Zinio.

Get updatesVia the Push feature,

users can get notifi cations when a

new issue of their favourite magazines have been added to

the Zinio newsstand. They can then open

the notifi cation to download them

Free previewsIf you can’t decide whether or not to purchase a certain issue, check out Zinio’s preview feature that lets you take a look at a few pages of the issue for free

Find back issuesAs well as being one of the best places to offer the latest issues for magazines, Zinio also offers back issues of magazines. This is a great feature for those missing a particular issue

Cheaperthan print

Depending on the publication, you can

fi nd considerable discounts for your digital purchases

compared to the print versions. Many

magazines also offer great subscription

deals for their digital readers

MillionsellersVITAL STATS

ZINIOPrice: Free

Launched: 2011Installs: 5m-10mPlay store rating:

Inside Zinio: The features that make the service great

2008Unskinned Enter Sense

010-011_AND_025 10 29/04/2013 17:44

Sony takes on the iPad

Since is was fi rst unveiled, Sony’s Tablet Z has been seen as the most likely candidate to make a dent in an Android tablet market dominated by the

budget Nexuses and Kindle Fires, or the ubiquitous Galaxies. It certainly is one of the most strikingly designed tablets we’ve seen. It takes its styling from the Xperia Z smartphone, and while we found its harsh angles uncomfortable to hold in small form, on a tablet it is perfect. So light (485g) and thin (an incredible 69mm) is the Tablet Z that you think it might snap in half. It won’t of course, because the device is surprisingly tough, with the same IP57 rating for dust and water resistance that the phone had.

The 10.1-inch display is impressive, with a better-than-HD resolution. Like most Android tabs the display is widescreen – not ideal for use in landscape, and the large bezel makes the Tablet Z even longer.

Hands-on with the Sony Xperia Tablet Z, a true high-end competitor to the iPad

2010

With rounded app icons in tow, Samsung’s iPhone-inspired TouchWiz made its debut. The skin now forms a major part of all Samsung devices.

2011

Skins reached their nadir. Bloated offerings from HTC, Motorola and Samsung saw eye-candy and unwanted apps come to the fore.

Today skins are largely being stripped back, thanks to the likes of HTC, Google and Motorola. Only Samsung forges ahead with its all powerful TouchWiz UI.

11

Follow us @lgrobot to join in the conversation

CROWDSOURCEOpinion from theTwittersphere

twitter

@lgrobot What is your favourite Android app icon?

@chrisjenx@Airbnb is pretty nice, Stock Android Camera, @CircleApp, @Expedia all nice!

@marcwiIlmoreI like the Pintrest and Dropbox icons, only ones on my homepage that aren’t square.

@_docmccoyFalcon Pro and Pocket Casts are lovely little icons, really clean and modern

@PearCidreHeroclix Rules and the new Outlook app.

@lgrobotSo, which is the worst name: ZTE Geek, or Galaxy Mega?

@ed_shawZTE Geek by a whisker.

@co_durhamspursI think the zte geek just sounds wrong also anytime I hear the word mega I instantly assume awesome

@dpmcalisterGalaxy Mega. Very bland. Should have gone with something like Galaxy Star: themed (space), iconic, short and easy to brand ( ).

@lgrobotAnybody got any new apps they can recommend?

@chokewhonot new but worth a look Springpad, 1Weather

@rottweiler67CSR racing. Amazing graphics and runs on phones with gingerbread+. Plus it’s free!

@TerryHastings The new Eyes game is brilliantly scary, it almost made me wet myself!

The Tablet Z runs Android 4.1 with Sony’s skin adding the usual selection of Sony apps but otherwise being fairly light. Performance was good, as expected, with a 1.5GHz Krait processor and 2GB of RAM. 4G LTE is the highlight of some strong connectivity features.

The Xperia Tablet Z will be available towards the end of May with a price that looks set to be upwards of £400/$600. Fair play to Sony for producing a premium product rather than trying to compete with some loss- leading devices. Android has struggled to compete with the iPad at the top end of the market, and the quality on show here might fi nally give the green robot a chance.

2013TouchWiz debuts

Skin overload!

Back to stock

Sony takes on the iPad

SOURCEOpinion from theTwittersphereOpinion from theTwittersphereOpinion from the

@lgrobot What is your favourite Android app icon?

@chrisjenx@Airbnb is pretty nice, Stock

The Tablet Z runs Android 4.1 with Sony’s skin adding the usual selection of Sony apps but otherwise being

Performance was good, as expected, with a 1.5GHz Krait processor and 2GB of RAM. 4G LTE is the highlight of some strong connectivity features

The Xperia Tablet Z will be available towards the end of

With the Xperia SP and Xperia L, Sony hasadded two new mainstream phones to its range

Xperia targets mid-range market

Sony has also fl eshed out its Xperia smartphone range with two mid-range handsets. The Xperia SP brings some of the features of Sony’s fl agship devices to a more affordable price point, and sports excellent design and build quality surpassing equivalent handsets such as the Galaxy S III Mini. It is powered by a very-fast 1.7GHz dual-core processor, has a crisp 4.6-inch 720p display and a larger-than-average 2370 mAh battery. The Xperia L is a more basic model with a curved back akin to the old Sony Ericsson Arc range and comes with a 1GHz dual-core processor. Both phones run Android 4.1 and are equipped with an eight-megapixel camera, and a host of very impressive features.

wrong also anytime I hear the word mega I instantly assume awesome

@dpmcalisterGalaxy Mega. Very bland. Should have gone with something like

With the Xperia SP and Xperia L, Sony hasadded two new mainstream phones to its range

mid-range marketOperating

system Android 4.1

1.7GHz dual-core

1GHz dual-coreProcessor

1GB RAMMemory130.6 x 67.1 x 9.98mm

128.7 x 65 x 9.7mmDimensions

155g 137gWeight

4.6-inch 4.3-inch Displaysize

1,280 x 720 pixels

854 x 480 pixels

Display resolution

micro SDExpansion slot

Xperia SP Xperia L

Operating system Android 4.1

DimensionsWeight 485g

266 x 172 x 6.9mm

Processor quad-core 1.5GHz Krait

Display size 10.1-inch

Memory 2GB RAM

Display resolution 1,920 x 1,200 pixels

Expansion slot micro SD

010-011_AND_025 11 29/04/2013 18:17

»www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukVisit us daily for news and more

12

3 Not just gamesMany people are under

the illusion that in-app purchases solely happen with many of the games on the Google Play store. However, apps like Adaptxt originally are a free download, but you can then purchase additional dictionaries for a small price.

2 Alternative to paid appsOne of the benefi cial elements of in-app

purchases, is that for the most part, you don’t need to purchase them to still use the app. Many of the more expensive apps on the market now have free alternatives which include in-app purchases that you can choose to download, if you so wish.

4 Record profi ts

Despite the problems with in-app purchases, they’re certainly good news for software developers. In a recent study by Distomo, they found that 34 per cent of free apps generated some type of in-app revenue.

8 Child friendly?The most common place to fi nd in-app

purchases are in child-orientated games. Many of the big franchises that have arrived on the Android OS, including the likes of The Simpsons, have a wealth of in-app purchases to entice players to part with their pocket money.

5 The price isn’t rightMany of the micro transactions

you come across within apps can cost just a few pounds, but many apps offer in-app purchases in the hundreds. Apps like Co-Pilot offer additional maps for their GPS software for a very costly sum.

9 Sync across devices

As long as you use the same Google account across multiple devices, then you should have no problem accessing all your in-app purchases across all devices. Some games can be temperamental in recognising purchases made on another device, so be careful what you purchase.

7 In the newsIn-app purchases

have never been favoured very well in the news and most of the time we see cases where children have accidentally purchased multiple in-app purchases while putting together an astronomical bill. Should more be done to control in-app purchases?

6 Android vs iOS

It isn’t just Android apps who are big on in-app purchases, a recent survey conducted by Verizon showed that 72% of all app revenue on iOS phones and tablets was generated by in-app purchases.

1 The ‘freemium’ modelThe term freemium was coined to

describe the type of app that is listed as a free download, but includes a range of in-app purchases that can make the app better, longer or just easier to use. The most common of these are apps that require

small donations to remove any adverts that are implemented within the app.

4Despite the problems with in-app purchases, they’re certainly good news for software developers. In a recent study by Distomo, they found that 34 per cent of free apps generated some type of in-app revenue.

5 you come across within apps can cost just a few pounds, but many apps offer in-app purchases in the hundreds. Apps like Co-Pilot offer additional maps for their GPS software for a very costly sum.

things you need to know about...

In-apppurchases

10 Avoid costly billsChanging your Google

Play account to stop people from making in-app purchases on your device is pretty easy. Go on to the Google Play store and choose Menu and then Settings. Scroll down and select User Controls and add a PIN. Every time someone interacts with an in-app purchase they’ll need to enter the PIN before continuing.

012_AND_025 12 29/04/2013 16:43

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Play store picks

A Game of ThronesGeorge RRMartin

Price: £3.99Fans of the TV show can fi nd out where it all began with the fi rst book in the fantasy series.

Our favourites from the Play store this month

Thrones

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Price: £2.49 (rent)Enjoyed the new movie? Now’s your chance to catch up with Star Trek’s best big screen outing.

The Voyage

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013_AND_024.indd 13 29/04/2013 17:45

14




06 07 08

05 04

01 02

0305 04

The gallery of…Essential travel apps

1. easyJet

2. Heathrow Airport Guide

3. Expedia Hotels & Flights

4. KAYAK

5. Eventbrite

6. FlightTrack

7. Field Trip

8. Hotel Tonight

014_AND_025 14 29/04/2013 16:44

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015_AND_025.indd 15 29/04/2013 16:45

16

Inside Android Magazine’s virtual mailbag

Messages

I was interested in reading your comments about the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One in your latest issue (24). I’ve been due for an upgrade for the last couple of months and these are the two devices that I’ll probably be choosing between. I know you haven’t reviewed the S4 properly yet, but would it be fair to say you’re favouring the HTC in general? I detected a positive if slightly ambivalent attitude towards the S4, while your review of the One was rather gushing in its praise. As a manufacturer-agnostic buyer – I’ve owned HTC, Samsung, Nokia, BlackBerry and Motorola in the past – was your attitude based on the devices specifi cally, or on the brands? It seems to me that the S4 ticks all the boxes in terms of features and future proofi ng. It will be an expensive purchase and will need to see me through the next two years. I’m not sure your review of the HTC One refl ected that, especially in the way you brushed off the importance of having a micro SD card slot or replaceable battery. Much of your praise seemed to be based around the look of the

device. I don’t doubt for a second that it is better designed and built than the S4 is, but as someone who puts their phone in a case right from day one that’s not really a major consideration for me.Stephen Barnaby

We say: The HTC One is the best Android phone we’ve seen, and in many key respects surpasses all other Android devices, and most non-Android ones too. We take your point about putting the phone in a case, although that doesn’t alter the fact that the One feels like a truly premium device – you know exactly where your money has gone the moment you pick it up. And we do like the fact that HTC is willing to do things differently, at a time when so many of the devices we see are almost identical to each other. None of which should knock down the S4, which is a tremendous update to a phone that was certainly our favourite of last year, and will no doubt continue its juggernaut-like progress, destroying everything in its path.

Are all chargers the same? I hope you don’t mind answering a rather basic question to a relatively non-technical reader. We have a Nexus 4, a Nexus 7 and a Nexus 10. So far, we have been very careful to use the separate chargers provided to charge the phone and the tablets. However, the three plugs appear to be rather similar, if not identical. Can we use them interchangeably?

Perhaps I should add that on the Amazon marketplace, there is a ‘Google Nexus 7/10 Tablet/Google Nexus 4 – 12v Car Charger Micro USB’. But the experience of the purchasers seemed to be rather mixed, to put it mildly.C Lim

We say: It may sound like a basic question, but it does not have quite

such a basic answer. Each of the chargers uses a micro USB connector, so in that sense they are interchangeable. However tablets generally require a 2amp charger and those for phones may have a lower output, so while they may charge the tablet, they do so much slower. Conversely using the 2A charger on the phone will charge it faster, although it may in the long term lead to greater wear on the battery. We tend to view the potential downsides as being offset by the convenience of a single charger, but you may prefer to keep them separate. One fi nal point: we have found the Nexus 7 to be somewhat picky about which charging units it works with – some don’t register at all.

Tutorial confusion1. Page 30 (issue 23). I have a

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, and also the ES File Explorer. Nowhere can I see a tutorial in this app, nor even a Help fi le. In fact almost all the suggestions in the article do not appear to apply to the app that I have with that name. Why is this?2. Page 32 (issue 23). Not long after buying this tablet there was an Android update, which I assumed was Jelly Bean. Your text expansion tutorial is for 4.2. My device settings tell me I have 4.1.2 and that it is the latest update. Why, then, can I not fi nd a dictionary in the Language settings? Nor any predictive text unless I use the handwriting to print feature with the S pen. Nor any auto correct.

It seems to me, after using Windows OS for 16 years, that there are just too many versions of Android

and that a tutorial like yours is talking only to a few users at a time. The fi rst two tutorials in the mag are no use to me, so I haven’t yet explored the others which appear to be only for phones. So many apps I have tried appear to be designed mainly with geeks in mind, as fi nding out how they work takes ages: there are very few icons with meaningful symbols! ES File Explorer is one of them – no help fi le, no tutorial, no clear folder hierarchy etc, at least on the one I have on my tablet. The app named My Files seems the only one that is logically designed. Before buying, I suspected that Android tablets are mainly toys, rather than serious computers, designed for emails and social networking and downloading songs. I think I was right and am beginning to regret shelling out a load of money for a plaything. They

Samsung or HTC?Letter of the month Tough call: which one

will you choose?

phone we’ve seen, and in many key respects

know exactly where your money has gone the

fact that HTC is willing to do things differently,

see are almost identical to each other. None of which should knock down the S4, which is

certainly our favourite of last year, and will no

Tough call: which one Tough call: which one will you choose?will you choose?

016-017_AND_025.indd 16 29/04/2013 16:47

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TRENDINGLet us know your thoughtson these hot topics

• Which keyboard app do you use?

• What do you think of Key Lime Pie?

• S4 or HTC One?

• What are your must-have tablet apps?

Get in [email protected]

may be fun to play with, but as for any meaningful work they appear to be almost useless. I have seen accolades for Polaris Offi ce, but I fi nd it almost impossible to use. Give me Word any time! Am I alone with these thoughts? A Phillips

We say: In response to your fi rst question the tutorial appears briefl y

when you fi rst open the app. We’re not sure why the other parts of the tutorial don’t apply to the version of ES File Explorer you have, as the app should be the same whether it is installed on a phone or a tablet. As for your second point, 4.2 is not the same as 4.1.2. Even though this appears to be a version behind it is true that this is the latest update. Android OS updates are provided by the manufacturer, so you have to wait for Samsung to provide an update, and at the time of writing they have not done so for 4.2. Most of our tutorials can be done on any fairly recent device, phone or tablet. However, due to the manufacturer customisations, some of the menus, labels and icons may look slightly different from one device to the next.

No pro music apps? I’ve recently become an Android convert, thanks to my family buying me a tablet following a serious road accident.

While the Android OS is very fast, and the range and quality of apps and games is exceptional, there is one area sadly lacking on the platform – professional music production.

I am a semi-professional musician and my injuries have left me unable to use my studio or play with my band. I was hoping that my new tablet would allow me to work with professional software such as sequencers, drum machines and virtual instruments. But after extensive research, I’ve found that these don’t exist for Android at the moment.

The iPad has a wide range of professional music software (and hardware) and is increasingly used in studio and live environments. I can see no reason why Android devices cannot be used for this.

Yet music software developers seem to be ignoring the platform.

I don’t want to have to pay several hundred pounds for a tablet, plus the added cost of the software, to create and play my music when I already have a device here which cost just a couple of hundred pounds and is easily as capable as the iPad.Michael McGreevy

We say: It’s true there’s a lack of high-quality music apps for Android when compared to iOS – some might say professional apps in general are lacking. For audio apps specifi cally the main problems have been latency, which makes real-time audio input a real problem (and for which there is a solution from Sonoma Wire Works now available to manufacturers), as well as the simple fact that such a large range of devices has made it more diffi cult for accessory manufacturers to work with. The best long-term bet looks like FL Studio Mobile (see www.image-line.com/documents/android.html for a demo) which will hopefully be out this year. In the meantime, we’d recommend Audiotool Sketch and Caustic 2 as market-leading audio apps worth a look.

Pro-quality music apps are still quite scarce on Android

17

016-017_AND_025.indd 17 29/04/2013 16:47

18

Feature» Galaxy S4 face-off

Heading font

The three biggest phones of the year go head-to-head

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the most hotly anticipated phone of the year. As the new fl agship from Android’s biggest manufacturer, and the follow up to the best

selling Android device ever, it looks set to shatter all records yet again. We put the S4 up against the other big two devices of the year so far, the HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z to fi nd

out which comes out on top of the class. The three handsets all share the same basic specs, yet take completely different approaches to design, usability and functionality. All have their own unique characteristics, and all are incredibly powerful mobile devices. So where should your money go? Read on to fi nd out.

FontsFonts

Fonts

The three biggest phones of the year go head-to-headThe three biggest phones of the year go head-to-headThe three biggest phones of the year go head-to-headThe three biggest phones of the year go head-to-headThe three biggest phones of the year go head-to-head

ULTIMATE FACE-OFFULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACEULTIMATE FACE OFFOFFOFFOFFGALAXY S4

018-023_AND_025.indd 18 30/04/2013 11:23

19


Design and buildThe Galaxy S4, HTC One and Xperia Z are roughly

comparable in size, but their differences in design make them feel completely different in the hand.

With its hard angles the Xperia certainly feels the largest and fi ts in the hand less comfortably than the others. It’s not an unattractive design from a purely aesthetic sense, its monolithic appearance giving it a cool, imposing look, but if you’ve got smaller hands especially, then you will notice its size. The S4 introduces more curves – not quite as exaggerated as they were on the S III – and is extremely thin and light and feels a natural fi t to the hand. With a smaller bezel the screen absolutely dominates the device, and this reduces the overall importance of the design of the S4. Given that it is best described as functional rather than premium this is no bad thing. Conversely the One is almost all about the design. It is beautiful, it is high-end and it is unique. It’s a device that illustrates how much importance HTC puts on design and stands head and shoulders above its rivals. The same applies to the build quality. The One has been carved from a single block of aluminium and is virtually fl awless where the external parts fi t together. It feels rock solid as a result. Both the Z and S4 are predominantly plastic (and glass) products. It isn’t a given that plastic is automatically worse than metal, so long as the right plastics are used. Of the two the S4 has the lightest and fl imsiest (and cheapest) feel, not befi tting the most expensive smartphone on the market.

But design is not all about

appearance. We’d say that integrating an IR port into the power button of the One is clever design, but positioning it in the diffi cult to reach top-left corner of the device isn’t, especially when it is the only button

that can wake the phone. The Z places the power button midway down the right-hand edge, as does the

S4, which also has a physical home button. It may not look as tidy as the other devices, but it makes it a heck of a lot more accessible.

GALAXY S4

Platform Android 4.2.2 Android 4.1 Android 4.1

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600quad-core 1.9 GHz

Qualcomm Snapdragon 600quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait

Qualcomm quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait

Memory 2GB RAM, 16/32/64GB internal storage 2GB RAM, 32/64GB internal storage 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage

Camera 13-MP rear, 2-MP front, 1080p video recording4-MP rear (ultrapixels), 2.1-MP front, 1080p

video recording13.1-MP rear, 2.2-MP front,

1080p video recording

Resolution Five-inch, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 1080 x 1,920 pixels

4.7-inch, Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen,1080 x 1,920 pixels

Five-inch, TFT capacitive touchscreen,1080 x 1,920 pixels

Weight 130g 143g 146g

Dimensions 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm

Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, HDSPA, 42.2Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76Mbps

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA+ LTE, 50 Mpbs UL, 100 Mbps DL

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, HDSPA, 42Mbps; HSUPA, 5.8Mbps

Expansion slot micro SD up to 64GB None micro SD up to 64GB

2600mAh 2300mAh 2330mAhBattery

SamsungGalaxy S4 Sony Xperia ZHTC One

Samsung Galaxy S4What’s good•Physical home button makes phone easy to unlock•Removable backplate lets you change the battery What’s bad•The plastic casing does not feel premium•Aesthetically unimpressive

HTC OneWhat’s good•Looks beautiful•Extremely high-end build quality is unrivalledWhat’s bad•Power button is poorly placed•No menu button causes •issues in a few apps

Sony Xperia Z

Verdict

What’s good•Buttonless front fully supports modern Android UI•Sealed ports make device splashproofWhat’s bad•Angular design makes it feel uncomfortably large•Styling somewhat bland

The S4 lives up to Samsung’s reputation for utilitarian design. The HTC One is in a class of its own, the product of true craftsmanship.

“A device that illustrates how much importance HTC puts on design… head and shoulders above its rivals”

premium this is no bad thing. Conversely the One is almost all about the design. It is beautiful, it is high-end and it is unique. It’s a device that illustrates how much importance HTC puts on design and stands head and shoulders above its rivals. The same applies to the build quality. The One has been carved from a single block of aluminium and is virtually fl awless where the external parts fi t together. It feels rock solid as a result. Both the Z and S4 are predominantly plastic (and glass) products. It isn’t a given that plastic is automatically worse than metal, so long as the right plastics are used. Of the two the S4 has the lightest and fl imsiest (and cheapest) feel, not befi tting the most expensive smartphone on the market.

But design is not all about

that can wake the phone. The Z places the power button midway down the right-hand edge, as does the

S4, which also has a physical home button. It may not look as tidy as the other devices, but it makes it a heck of a lot more accessible.

Sony Xperia Z

VerdictThe S4 lives up to Samsung’s reputation for utilitarian design. The HTC One is in a class of its own, the product of true craftsmanship.

The S4’s build is typically plasticky, and no match for the HTC One

018-023_AND_025.indd 19 30/04/2013 11:24

As you’d expect all three devices conform to the basic required specs of a fl agship 2013 smartphone: fast quad-core processor, 2GB of

RAM, 4G connectivity and 1080p display. The S4 is also available in some markets in a 4G-less octa-core version. Perhaps surprisingly the screen on the Xperia Z is the weakest of the three, displaying washed out blacks and limited viewing angles. We didn’t fi nd it to be too much of an issue when watching videos, but when viewing photos or playing some games the limitations were evident. The S4 and One use differing screen technologies but impress in equal measure, with bright and vibrant colours and strong contrast. Due to its slightly smaller screen (4.7-inch compared to fi ve) the One has a higher pixel density but at this level it is not discernible.

Because of the similarities in basic features you have to look deeper to fi nd the important differences, and also to see where the manufacturers’ priorities lie. The Xperia is water and dust proof, giving it a toughness in everyday use that you don’t get from the others. The One sports a set of stereo speakers on the front that produce the loudest and highest quality sound output we’ve ever heard from a phone. It also has an infrared port to control your TV, and is very useful. The S4 also has this port, along

with a remarkable nine sensors that enable features such as eye and motion gestures, as well as a suite of health apps with accessories.

For the main camera the S4 and Xperia Z both use 13 megapixel sensors, and the HTC One four megapixels – or ultrapixels as the company calls them. The cameras are generally on a par. The 13-MP shots inevitably contain far more detail than the HTC can produce in good light, but drop off in performance in lower light. We’re not convinced by HTC’s argument that fewer, bigger pixels is better, but the wider aperture and image stabilisation does mean it takes the best images in low light conditions. But on the whole we’d say the S4 edges it as an all-rounder, especially with the help of its fantastic feature-packed software.

Because of the similarities in basic features you have to look deeper to fi nd the important differences, and also to see where the manufacturers’

The Xperia is water and dust proof, giving it a toughness in everyday use that you don’t get from the others. The One sports a set of stereo speakers on the front that produce the loudest and highest quality sound output we’ve ever heard from a phone. It also has an infrared port to control your TV, and is very useful. The S4 also has this port, along

20


Hardware and features

Galaxy S4 camera on testThe camera on the Galaxy S4 contains

an unparalleled number of additional features to take you beyond mere

snapshots. The camera app has been largely brought over from the Galaxy Camera, so has a real intuitiveness, and also reduces the number of third-party camera tools you would normally use to augment it. As with the rest of Samsung’s software the features range from gimmicky to essential. Ironically the ones Samsung has given most publicity are in the former camp – Dual Shot, where you can use the front and rear cameras at the same time, is pure cheese, and the Sound and Shot function is of limited value. Eraser mode, which removes photo bombers, is great, however, as is Drama Shot.

Takes a burst of shots then composites them together to show the movement of people or objects in the same shot. Works pretty well, depending on how busy your background is.

Add your own face, shot via the front camera, to other photos you’re taking. It’s cheesy and gimmicky and likely to be of ironic value only. Or maybe we’re just too old for these things.

Samsung Galaxy S4What’s good•Excellent camera quality, especially in good light•Stunning screenWhat’s bad•Gesture support can be gimmicky

HTC OneWhat’s good•Front speakers are immense•Low light photo quality impressesWhat’s bad•No expandable memory•Photos lower res and lack detail

Sony Xperia Z

Drama Shot Dual ShotGives you the tools to remove someone who steps into your shot. It does work, but needs to be enabled separately, so unless you’re expecting an intruder is unlikely to be used.

Eraser

Verdict

What’s good•Reassuringly tough in most conditions•Camera quality reliably goodWhat’s bad•Few imaginative extras•Slowest processor ofthe group

The S4 packs in much more than Sony manages, while HTC’s ultrapixel camera seems like an unnecessary, and not wholly justifi ed, risk.

“A remarkable nine sensors that enable features such as eye and motion gestures”

Samsung’s new fl agship device contains a kitchen sink load of exciting features

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FeatureGalaxy S4 face-off «

21

Performance

Performance tests

G iven that our three phones are all powered by fast quad-core processors: 1.5GHz for the Xperia Z, 1.7GHz for the HTC One, and 1.9GHz for

the Galaxy S4, it is safe to say that performance on the whole would never be an issue for any of them. It’s also a logical assumption that the faster CPU would deliver better results in benchmark tests and that was also the case, although the HTC One was not far behind.

That said each device does have its own manufacturer skin to deal with, which does introduce an important variable in real world use. Samsung’s TouchWiz interface is an integral part of the

Galaxy experience. It is by far the biggest and heaviest of the skins, and noticeably so. Despite the extreme power the S4 has at its disposal you do still very

occasionally fi nd that relatively simple things still take fractionally longer than you’d expect them to. This is presumably down to the sheer amount of stuff that the S4 has going on – when you’re focused on one power hungry task, such as 3D gaming, the device absolutely fl ies. The other two phones have much lighter skins yet produced different results in general use. The Xperia was surprisingly laggy at times. By no means a slouch, but simple things like transitions and

scrolling were never as smooth as they should be. Further optimisations in future updates could fi x this. The One had no such troubles, and its perceived speed was as impressive as the S4’s.

It’s also worth noting that under heavy use the Xperia Z and One both got much hotter than the S4 did.

The other major consideration for performance is battery life. Here there was a marked difference between the three. The Galaxy S4 lasts for comfortably a day, and into a second, as good as you’ll get outside of

a phablet or a battery life-centric phone (such as select models from Motorola). In

second place HTC, and third Sony. Both could also get through a day, but you will need to

manage them more. With the S4 you can pretty much ignore the battery altogether.

Our benchmark tests showed the Galaxy S4 to be ahead of both other devices in the areas of

processor and graphics, with it being comfortably the best for graphical performance. The Z, with its processor clocked at a slower speed, was inevitably less impressive in this regard. However, in our third test, using the Vellamo benchmark for HTML5 performance, the HTC One came out on top with the S4 and Z almost level behind it. By and large the tests backed up our real world experiences, with the S4 feeling the most powerful and the Z the least.

Samsung Galaxy S4What’s good•The fastest phone currently available•Battery life is astoundingly goodWhat’s bad•Still occasionally slower than you’d expect•TouchWiz skin is very heavy

HTC OneWhat’s good•Very fast and smooth for all tasks•Audio quality is fantasticWhat’s bad•Gets warm under heavy use•Battery is not replaceable

Sony Xperia Z

Processor & graphicsAnTuTu

GPU GLBenchmark

BrowserVellamo

Verdict

What’s good•Handles apps and games with ease•Power saving features extend battery lifeWhat’s bad•Can be laggy when scrollingGets warm under heavy use

Samsung clearly went all out on performance with the S4 and it shows. This is a blazingly fast smartphone that has no obvious rival.

“With the S4 you can pretty much ignore the battery altogether”

Samsung Galaxy S4 HTC One Sony Xperia Z

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own manufacturer skin to deal with, which does introduce an important variable in real world use. Samsung’s TouchWiz interface is an integral part of the

occasionally fi nd that relatively simple things still take fractionally longer than you’d expect them to. This is presumably down to the sheer amount of stuff that the S4 has going on – when you’re focused on one power hungry task, such as 3D gaming, the device absolutely fl ies. The other two phones have much lighter skins yet produced different results in general use. The Xperia was surprisingly laggy at times. By no means a slouch, but simple things like transitions and

scrolling were never as smooth as they should be. Further optimisations in future updates could fi x this. The One had no such troubles, and its perceived speed was as impressive as the S4’s.

It’s also worth noting that under heavy

there was a marked difference between the three. The Galaxy S4 lasts for comfortably a day, and into a second, as good as you’ll get outside of

a phablet or a battery life-centric phone (such as select models from Motorola). In

second place HTC, and third Sony. Both could also get through a day, but you will need to

manage them more. With the S4 you can pretty much ignore the battery altogether.

As far as battery levels go, the S4 is a

run-away success

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22


Software

The best S4 apps

Samsung’s software for the S4 is by far the most comprehensive, but also the

least well considered. Sony’s software is predominantly

about integrating the Xperia Z with other Sony products and services. If you’re a fully committed Sony fan this is great; if not, you won’t fi nd too much use for lots of it. A case in point: the Xperia Z can function as a DLNA remote control for certain Sony TVs, while the S4 and One can be used as infrared remotes for any TV. Nonetheless the Z is at least lean and fast and subtly stylish, keeping reasonably close to what native Android looks like.

The One runs Sense 5 and has also been stripped right back from its previously bloated incarnations. It has two main features of differing levels of value. BlinkFeed is a new type of home screen that puts news and social network updates right under your nose whenever you turn on your phone. It’s useful to an extent, but we preferred the more traditional home screen, and quickly set BlinkFeed to a secondary screen. The other app is Zoe movies. This collates photos and videos taken at the same time and same place into a nicely edited movie. It requires no user input and actually succeeds in

getting you to shoot more video than you probably ever have done before.

But while Sony and HTC are stripping back their software, Samsung is adding even more apps to TouchWiz. There’s the usual collection of S-branded apps: S Planner, S Voice, the new S Translate – which mostly have parity with or are slightly worse than their Google equivalents. There’s a whole host of touchless controls, ranging from the useful (answer a call and put it straight to speakerphone by wafting your hand over the screen), to the intriguing (get a preview of emails by hovering your fi nger over them in your inbox), to the pointless (videos pause when you look away from the screen – although we couldn’t get it to work, and are not sure we want our videos to pause whenever we glance away).The camera is impressively rammed with features, and there are also lots of tricks to work with other Samsung kit. We haven’t been able to test these, and chances are you won’t either unless you own the right Samsung TV or have lots of S4 toting friends knocking around.

There’s certain to be something you like, as well as lots you never use (and probably a few things you won’t even fi nd). We just wish we could get rid of the bits we don’t want.

Samsung Galaxy S4What’s good•The camera is packed with some useful features•Some innovation on controlling a phoneWhat’s bad•Some gestures are gimmicky•Too much extra software over complicates the experience

HTC OneWhat’s good•Zoe movies brings new life to the video camera•Very easy to use UIWhat’s bad•BlinkFeed won’t be everyone’s ideal home screen•Some default settings are not perfect

Sony Xperia Z

Verdict

What’s good•The skin is very lightweight•Lack of bloat keeps things easy to useWhat’s bad•Too much focus on Sony products•Camera app trails the other devices

The devices all have a different approach to software. HTC has the most well thought out, but the S4 has something for everyone.

The best and worst of the S4’s touchless controls

Gestures: genius or gimmick?

The S4 supports a number of gestures that enable you to control the phone without touching it. Some have more practical use than others, and some we struggled to even get working, as you’ll fi nd out below.

Samsung’s very own integrated store for music, videos, games, books and educational resources. It is a great looking app, but most will prefer Google Play.

Samsung HubA suite of tools to take advantage of the burgeoning fi tness market. The built-in, but not wholly accurate, pedometer tracks the number of steps you take.

S HealthThis app can give near real time translations, offl ine, for nine languages. It’s a niche tool best suited for download – not as good as Google’s own Translate app.

S TranslateThe revamped music player integrates with the Samsung Hub and also sports plenty of additional features from playlist support to the innovative Music Cube.

Music Player

Does it work: We mostly couldn’t get it to do anything, and when it did we forgot it had activated and checked back.

Air ViewWhat it is: Hover your fi nger over an email, date or picture and a little window shows a preview.

Does it work: Yes. It is most useful in productivity apps, rather than things like the gallery.

Air GesturesWhat it is: Swiping your hand above the screen has the same effect as swiping the screen.

Does it work: For some functions like answering a call, yes. However the system was frequently too sensitive.

Smart ScrollWhat it is: Scrolls a page based on the angle of your head or the way you tilt the phone.

Does it work: Not consistently to be able to rely on. Finger scrolling still takes some beating.

Smart PauseWhat it is: Detects your face when watching a video then pauses said video when you look away from the screen.

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23


Upgrades and hackability

Verdict

For many users a key issue when choosing a phone is how frequently (and how quickly) a phone will receive offi cial updates, especially when a new version of the Android operating system is released. Also, for many there’s

the question of how open a phone is to being rooted and modded, and how active the developer scene is for the handset. This is a diffi cult category to judge since we can only go on the past performance of the manufacturer and on the popularity of that manufacturer with developers. On the subject of updates all three have a reasonable record for updates. The S4 already runs the up-to-date

Android 4.2.2 so has no updates due, while the Xperia Z and HTC One are both due updates to this version at some point in the near future. All three should get the update to Key Lime Pie in due course, with past performance suggesting Samsung should win the race to the update, with Sony in second place. It’s unlikely to happen for any users until some time in Q3. In which case, many will want to take the unoffi cial update route. Here, again, you can expect Samsung to win out with more ROMs and mods, with HTC and Sony in second and third position respectively.

W ith the S4, Samsung set out to make the fastest, most powerful and most

feature-packed smartphone money can buy, and it succeeded. There has never been a smartphone that can do as much as this. Although there are no radical inventions or completely new ways of thinking in the S4, the device is an improvement on the S III in virtually every way – and that was the best selling Android phone of all time.

It’s interesting to see just how far Android is being pushed into the background on the S4. The all-enveloping TouchWiz UI has some Android elements but is a much more important part of the device than either of the skins that Sony or HTC

attach. The inclusion of multiple S-branded apps as well as the Samsung Hub shows off just how powerful Samsung is, and possibly even hints at a time when the company might want to take more control over the platform it uses. Google Maps is the only stock Android app that Samsung is still reliant on.

The sheer weight of features in the S4 does come at a cost. The phone lacks the simplicity in use of the Xperia Z or One, to such an extent that the UI comes with an Easy mode option for those that fi nd it all a bit too much. But we suspect many won’t fi nd it too much, though, and will concur with Samsung’s evident view that more is most defi nitely better.

We do prefer the HTC One for the attention to detail shown in its design and build, and we also admire its more refi ned approach to software. The Xperia Z is a very solid all-rounder yet even after such a short space of time is starting to look a little old. Ironically, though, it has the feature that may prove most infl uential in the long-term – the semi-ruggedised build gives you more confi dence in handling the phone than you get from the precious HTC One.

But the S4 wins out in all the most important areas. It is more powerful, it does do more and, crucially, it does it without impacting on battery life. For these reasons it is the most compelling phone on the market now.

Samsung Galaxy S4What’s good•Should get several OS updates•Will get new TouchWiz featuresWhat’s bad•Updates may be slow to arrive

VerdictWe’d expect the S4 to have the best support for both offi cial and unoffi cial updates.

HTC OneWhat’s good•Should get full OS updates•Firmware updates will improve performanceWhat’s bad•Unclear how many OS updates will be available•Updates can be slow to arrive

Sony Xperia ZWhat’s good•Should get full updatesWhat’s bad•Lacks huge support from developer community

We do prefer the HTC One for the attention to detail shown in its design and build, and we also admire its more refi ned approach to software. The Xperia Z is a very solid all-rounder yet even after such a short space of time is starting to look a little old. Ironically, though, it has the feature that may prove most infl uential in the long-term – the semi-ruggedised build gives you more confi dence in handling the phone than you get from the precious

But the S4 wins out in all the most It is more powerful, it

does do more and, crucially, it does it without impacting on battery life. For these reasons it is the most compelling phone on the market now.

We’d expect the S4 to have the best support for both offi cial and unoffi cial updates.

What’s goodShould get full updates

What’s badLacks huge support from

developer community

The S4 may not be subtle, but it’s a truly powerful handset

SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 SONY XPERIA ZDesign & Build

Performance

Hardware & Features

Software

Hackability

HTC ONE

And the winner is...Samsung Galaxy S4

The follow up to the biggest selling Android smartphone is every bit the juggernaut that we expected. Get past a cluttered UI and disappointing build and you get a lightning-fast, ultra-powerful and feature-packed device

018-023_AND_025.indd 23 30/04/2013 11:24

24

Key Lime Pie» Get ready for the new OS

Get ready for Key Lime Pie

Prepare your phone for the latest update to the Android operating system

With every passing update Google looks to continually bring the biggest and best features to your phone or tablet. Key Lime Pie is no exception to this rule and we happily

welcome in a new era for the Android platform. With some Android devices soon to get a software overhaul then, we’ve put together some invaluable information regarding what you can do to prepare your phone for the Key Lime Pie update.

We’ll fi rst show you the lucky smartphones that we reckon Key Lime Pie will hit fi rst, as well as identify the phones that will probably require some hacking to get you the Key Lime Pie experience when it comes out. You will also fi nd some essential tips on making sure your phone is as ready for the latest update as it possibly could be and we’ve even chucked in a complete guide to the newly designed Google Play store app too. Enjoy!

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25


Which devices will getthe Key Lime Pie update?

How to install an unofficial KLP ROM

We round up which devices are likely to get treated to Google’s shiny new OS

Want to test out Key Lime Pie on your phone? Follow our guide to get started

Let’s face it, the Android operating system is fragmented over hundreds of devices. Be it phones or tablets, many devices are often left on older versions of Android and many have yet to see the Android 4.1 update,

despite it being out for over a year now.

But after plenty of research we’ve put together a list of the devices we reckon will see the Key Lime Pie update fi rst, ones that we think will get it down the line and some of the devices we expect you’ll need to hack to get your slice of the Key Lime Pie experience. If your device isn’t there, you’ll fi nd out soon enough.

Companies like HTC and Samsung often bring out the latest updates to their devices months behind its offi cial release, so why not turn to hacking your phone to get an unoffi cial KLP ROM in a couple of weeks, rather than having to wait for a couple

of months. Follow this guide to get the Key Lime Pie update on your rooted Android device.

1 You’ll need to have rooted and unlocked your phone fi rst; this method differs for every phone

and tablet.

2 Locate a KLP ROM to use. xda-developers.com is a good place

to start. Be sure to check the installation instructions before you begin. Download the ROM and any other required fi les and copy it to your SD card.

3 Download the free ROM

Manager app from the Google Play store. Open it

(Fig 3) and click the Flash ClockworkMod Recovery button and follow the instructions.

4 Download the Titanium

Backup app from Google Play and use it to back up your phone’s apps and data.

5 In ROM Manager click

Backup Current ROM and follow the instructions.

6 When the phone reboots open ROM Manager again. Click Install ROM from SD Card then

select the ROM (Fig 6) you are installing.

7 When prompted tick the two buttons to wipe the caches (Fig 7). Now wait patiently for the

ROM to install.

8 When fi nished you can now get your fi rst taste of the Key Lime

Pie OS. Set up your Google account, restore your Titanium Backup data and reinstall your apps.

9 Open ROM Manager up

again and select Manage and Restore Backups. Choose the backup you made in step 5 and tap Restore (Fig 9).Fig 3

Fig 7

Fig 9

Defi nitelygetting KLP

Maybegetting KLP

Hackonly

Asus Nexus 7Samsung Galaxy Note II HTC One Sony Xperia ZSamsung Galaxy S4 Samsung Galaxy S III

Acer Iconia Tab A500 HTC One SV Motorola RAZR HD

Sony Xperia S

Samsung Galaxy NexusSamsung GalaxyS3 Mini

HTC One S Samsung Galaxy NoteSony Xperia T

Asus Eee Pad Transformer

Asus Eee Pad LG Optimus 2X HTC Sensation XESamsung Galaxy S2 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Orange San Francisco II

Orange San Francisco Huawei Ascend P1 Sony Xperia Arc S ZTE Era

024_027_AND_025.indd 25 29/04/2013 17:46

Remove duplicate contactsWhether you’re setting up a new phone from scratch or installing an OS update, one of the annoying problems faced by many is dealing with duplicate contacts. When your phone attempts to connect to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, it can create multiple accounts for the same contact. Open up the People app on your phone and manually go through your contacts to make sure that the same person doesn’t appear more than once.

26

Perform a malware scanBefore the Key Lime Pie update hits your device, it’s

important you fi rst make sure that your phone is clear of all viruses and malware that can harm it. Google Play has a host

of antivirus apps for you to download and one of the best is AVG Antivirus which can be downloaded

for free. The app does a full scan of your phone to identify potentially malicious fi les which can

then be removed from your phone completely.

Organise fi lesIf your phone is cluttered, be sure to download the File Manager app and put all your loose fi les in their correct place. After installing the new update, you may fi nd that some loose fi les will be deleted, but by placing them in a folder they should stay safe.

Consider the cloudBefore we discuss backing up your fi les, use Google Drive, Dropbox or Mozy to back up your larger media fi les. Mozy is great for storing movies.

Restore your dataWith the new update on your device, it’s time to restore your data that you backed up previously. The process is simple enough, but just like the backing up process, it can take a considerable amount of time to fi nish. Once the restoring process has fi nished, you’ll have all your data available to you and the KLP update to explore as well.

Installing the updateYou’ll fi nd that the update can reach your phone in a number of ways. For most it will appear as a system update that simply requires you to press the Install button. If you have a Samsung device, the update will appear via Kies.

Clear your cacheBy cleaning your phone’s cache you can help give your phone a bit of a speed boost when the new update has been installed. The best app for this is App Cache Cleaner Pro, which will thoroughly examine your device to free up some space.

Back up your dataCreating a backup of your data is vital before installing a new update. It can be a reassurance knowing all your apps, fi les and contact details are safe if something goes wrong. There’s no limit to how much you can back up and apps like MyBackup put you in full control of the fi les you choose to back up and the ones you don’t mind losing. The backup process can take a while to complete and mean you won’t be able to use your phone while it’s doing it, so keep that in mind before starting.

Install these applicationsWith the KLP update ready to go, you might consider installing a few apps. If your phone doesn’t come with it as standard, you should defi nitely download the Google Chrome app. Alongside Chrome, check out the Skype app if you haven’t already. The fi nal app to download is SwiftKey Flow, which is a superb substitute if you dislike the stock keyboard.

Prepare yourphone for Key Lime PieMake sure your phone is ready for the latest OS update with these tips and tricks

Clean up your SD cardThere’s no doubt that with the new update on your phone you’ll want to be adding lots of new content. With this in mind, you might want to consider venturing in to your SD card and deleting some of the old and unwanted fi les on there. This means you can save your newly downloaded fi les to your SD card instead of taking up your phone’s precious internal storage.

Remove duplicate

Whether you’re setting up a new phone from scratch or installing

annoying problems faced by many is dealing with duplicate

When your phone attempts to connect to your

same contact. Open up the

and manually go through your contacts to make sure that


024_027_AND_025.indd 26 29/04/2013 17:46

27

Get to know the redesigned Google Play appGet inside the workings of the new Play store app andits incremental, but impressive, changes

The Google Play store is the hub for all the content you could possibly want to add to your phone or tablet. At its heart are over 700,000 apps all vying for you to part with some storage

on your device and try them out. Over the past couple of years, Google has implemented various sections to its Play store empire and now contains dedicated hubs for magazines, fi lms and music.

Google has recently started rolling out the latest update to the Google Play store app, with the aim to make it easier to use and give you even quicker access to the content you want to enjoy. Although there isn’t a whole array of new features to take a look at, there’s a whole bunch of design tweaks you’ll want to check out right away!

Category systemEach section of the Play store has been changed to display its content differently. The Magazine section contains a thumbnail of each magazine that opens up each issue’s preview page. You can also fi nd pricing information for some magazines on this screen.

InstallWhen you’re looking at a specifi c list of apps, press on the menu button located to the right of each listing. This will open up a small menu from which you choose to add that app to your wishlist, or install it on to your device without needing to actually go in to the app’s page.

ScrollingWhether it’s apps, movies, music or magazines, Google has discovered quicker ways to fi nd your content. You can now fi nd the best content by scrolling through the various fi lters listed at the top of each page. Use the magnifying glass to search for a fi le.

Preview pageAlthough the preview page doesn’t contain many new features as such, it has been overhauled to make it easier to use. Previews of the application can be made full screen by selecting them, and you can press on the stars to leave your own rating for the fi le if you see fi t.

ToolbarThe toolbar that lines the top of the app is pretty much the same as it was in previous versions. You can search for a specifi c fi le using the magnifying glass, check your downloads via the arrow icon and also fi nd more details about your account through the menu button.

CategoriesEach category of the Google Play store now has a new bar to represent it. This time around there’s also a dedicated games section for you to explore. Simply press on any of the tabs to be taken to that specifi c category’s main hub on the Play store.

RecommendationsGoogle does a good job at offering its users a new selection of recommended fi les on a weekly basis. The layout is slightly different in this update, with Google displaying the thumbnails for its recommendations and a See More button where you can see other items that are recommended.

PreviewsA new section to the Google Play store is

being able to get previews of certain books, movies and magazines available

straight from the home page. Google looked to include a similar feature in

previous updates and regularly updated the content that was included.

More informationAs you scroll through the home page, the one thing you’ll notice is that Google has

implemented a lot more compared to previous updates. You’ll fi nd pricing

information for everything that’s included and it’s even easier to access the content

you want to see.


024_027_AND_025.indd 27 29/04/2013 17:46

28

Feature» Rise of the phablets

RISE OF THE PHABLETS Smaller than a tablet but bigger than a phone. Love them or hate them, phablets are here to stay

phab.let [ ‘fablit ]noun

A class of supersized smartphone with screen sizes ranging from 5.1 inches to 6.9 inches.

ORIGIN Ian Scales, TelecomTV.com, June 2010: blend of PHONE and TABLET

028_033_AND_025.indd 28 29/04/2013 17:48

29


The phablet rangeOur pick of the best phablets money can buy

Despite phablets still being a fairly niche product within the smartphone market, that hasn’t stopped companies hoping to get the attention of some of the users for whom fi ve inches is too small and seven inches is

just too big. It’s still a sector that has largely been ignored by many of the big name Android manufacturers and instead it has fallen on the likes of the smaller manufacturers in Huawei, ZTE and Asus to carry on fl ying the phablet fl ag. Each phablet that has been announced or released has looked to capitalise on the fl aws of using a phone or tablet as their main selling point. The

phablet’s larger screen can be a great addition if you enjoy a spot of web browsing or media viewing, while some come with their own stylus to facilitate drawing and text creation.

On the other side you have the fact that a phablet still has the same functionality as a phone when it comes to making calls, albeit you may look a little strange, but the capabilities are still there. Below we’ve collected four of the biggest and most interesting phablets that have been, or will soon be available to users. Which one have you got your money on?

Samsung Galaxy Note II ZTE Grand Memo

Samsung Galaxy Mega LG Optimus VU II

After the overwhelming success of the original Note, Samsung brought out a bigger, better and more rounded follow up device in the Galaxy Note II. It still comes with the Note’s trademark S Pen and not much has changed on the features side of things. It does however include a much beefi er processor than before, a massive battery and a more sleek and refi ned design – even if the plastic chassis still remains.

By far the best feature of the Grand Memo is not its staggering size, but in fact the 13-MP camera that can be found on the rear of it. It also has the standard phablet features, as well as familiar tablet features. Its massive size means it could be a bit of a problem for you to use as a phone, but it’s thin enough to be held in one hand. At 198g the Grand Memo isn’t too heavy to hold in one hand for prolonged periods of time either.

Samsung Galaxy Mega looks like an enlarged Galaxy S III, but the new phablet, which comes with either a 5.8-inch or 6.3-inch screen, is aimed at people who fi nd the Galaxy Note II just that bit too small. It comes with the latest crop of Samsung features, including Air View, Pop-up Play and it’ll even ship with Android 4.2. Despite its gargantuan size, the Galaxy Mega is a pretty light 199g, and is just 8mm slim.

There’s no denying that the VU II is an odd-shaped phablet, ditching the rectangular look for a square one. It includes a metallic frame that surrounds the device, but its chassis is made entirely of plastic. Located on the top of the VU II is a stylus that can be used to control the phablet and take advantage of the stylus-orientated apps LG has included. On top of all of that, it’s going to be one of the fi rst phablets to launch with 4G.

Dimensions: 151 x 80.5 x 9.4mmCPU: Exynos quad-core 1.6GHzCamera: Eight megapixelsBattery: 3100 mAhWeight: 180g

Dimensions: 159.9 x 82.6 x 8.5mmCPU: Snapdragon quad-core 1.5GHzCamera: 13 megapixelsBattery: 3200 mAhWeight: 198g

Dimensions: 167.6 x 88 x 8mmCPU: Krait dual-core 1.7GHzCamera: Eight megapixelsBattery: 3200 mAhWeight: 199g

Dimensions: 132.2 x 85.6 x 9.4mmCPU: Snapdragon dual-core 1.5GhzCamera: Eight megapixelsBattery: 2150 mAhWeight: 159g

S PEN COMES AS STANDARD

GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR

UP TO 64GB MICRO SD

UNIVERSAL REMOTE

SUPER AMOLED SCREEN

DOLBY DIGITAL SOUND

AN IR REMOTE WITH WATCHON

NOISE CANCELLATION MIC

SMART EYE TRACKING

FACE RECOGNITION

STREAM PHOTOS BETWEEN DEVICES

1080P VIDEO RECORDING

028_033_AND_025.indd 29 29/04/2013 17:48

Making a phone call

Despite the phablet having full phone capabilities, holding a six-inch device can look silly. The larger screen also means you can press buttons you didn’t mean to.

Tablets aren’t designed for phone calls so there are few (the Asus Fonepad is one example) that even have the capability. We doubt it’ll catch on.

Read a book

Although you have plenty of choice when it comes to reading, the smaller screen might be a hindrance. It’s also diffi cult to read full pages – a problem you won’t have with a phone’s rivals.

With a bigger screen thephablet is a perfect solution if you want to read. It’s small enough to put away, but the screen is still big enough for you to view large quantities of text at one time.

Sending a text

The smaller size of a phone means you’ll be able to text with a single fi nger and there are now plenty of third-party keyboard apps that users can download. Not ideal for bigger fi ngers though.

There are apps on Google Play that add full text capabilities to your tablet. The only problem with typing on a tab is that it’s defi nitely a two-handed job, and it therefore lacks functionality.

Streaming a video

Your phone can be used to stream video on, but the smaller screens won’t be up to scratch for many. Most phones include either a micro USB or micro HDMI port that can be used to connect to your TV.

Using a tablet to streammovies is a good choice if you’re lounging around your home as the screen size is perfect for being on a lap. You also have plenty of viewing options.

Taking a photo

Although cameras areoften an overlooked feature on phablets, they’re very useable. Built-in styluses also have the addition of being able to perform really detailed photo editing.

Most tablets do come with some sort of camera, but using them is a different story altogether. The much larger size of a tablet means using it as a camera isn’t easy to do.

30


Phablet v the restWhich device is the best choice for everyday life?

Verdict

Phablets in the real world

MessagingThe bigger screen means you can be far more precise with your typing and being able to use a stylus is also a good addition to have. But if you prefer typing with one hand, then you’ll probably fi nd a phablet to be too big to use.

Put it inyour pocketA common problem with the bigger phablets is that pockets tend to be a bit small to cater for them. Having to stretch your pocket to fi t the phablet in will not just damage your trousers, but also damage your device.

Making a callHolding a phablet to your head is like a throwback to the old days of mobile phones. A good solution would be to invest in a Bluetooth headset to make it look a little more bearable.

How do phablets stand up when they are used in everyday scenarios?

Although it doesn’t necessarily excel in all areas, what the phablet does offer is a great middle ground for those who want the functionality of both a phone and tablet, while not having to compensate on the screen size and usability of their device. If you’ve got a decent budget, then a phablet is defi nitely a great alternative to both a phone and tablet

Phone Phablet Tablet

FIRST

SECOND

THIRD

THIRD

FIRST

SECOND

FIRST

SECOND

FIRST

SECOND

THIRD

THIRD

FIRST

SECOND

THIRD

Making a simple phone call is the bread and butter of any phone. The smaller size means it’s a lot easier to hold to your head for a longer period of time.

Its larger frame means it’s a pain to use as a book substitute when you’re on the move, but text does look amazingly crisp and clear when you’re reading on the massive screen.

As well as being able to text with your fi ngers, the phablet has the added benefi t of being able to use a stylus to make typing easier. With a bigger screen you can also be far more precise.

If you’re keen on watching movies on the go, the size of a phablet is a great choice. Once again it might still be a little small, but the likes of the ZTE Grand Memo include full Dolby Digital sound.

Cameras are an area that have vastly improved, with manufacturers fi nally realising that users do want a decent phone camera. Most now include some great photo features.

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FeatureRise of the phablets «

31

Master the S PenDo you own a Galaxy Note? If so, you’ll want to check out these invaluable tips for using the included S Pen stylus

Home and menu shortcut Take a screenshotNever touch your phablet

Find new exciting uses for the S Pen that ships with the

Note 2

A stylus is one of the great advantages of

a phablet device

The S Pen is a free stylus that ships with the Samsung Galaxy Note range of phablets. As well as being a great

way of moving around your device, it also includes several features that make it more than an accessory. Take a look at the following tips and tricks that will help you discover new ways in which you can use Samsung’s very own stylus.

The S Pen is great for using shortcuts on your Note. With the S Pen in hand, drag from the top of the screen to the bottom to go to your home screen, and drag from the bottom to the top to access your app drawer.

Press and hold down the S Pen button and tap and hold the S Pen directly on the screen of your Note. Soon you’ll hear the camera shutter go off and a screenshot will have been taken and saved.

The Note devices include AirView technology, which enables the user to control their device with the S Pen without needing to touch the screen. By hovering the S Pen just above the screen, you can control your device.

Quick Command menu Adjust sensitivityBy pressing the button on the S Pen itself and then swiping upwards on the screen, the Quick Commands box will appear. On this menu, you can access different menus and apps stored on your device. You can also call a contact, send an email or go directly to a website. Press the back button to get rid of the menu once you’ve fi nished with it.

Cut out imagesCutting out certain areas of an image is easy using the S Pen. Simply hold the S Pen down on a particular part of an image and begin tracing the route you want to cut out. Once done you can paste it into an email or save it within the S Memo app.

Pop up notesPress and hold the S Pen button on the side of the stylus and press anywhere on the Note’s screen. This will automatically bring up a blank page from the S Memo app on which you’ll be able to add a note or drawing and save it automatically. You can also add this note directly on to your home screen, if you so wish.

S Pen alertOne of the latest features included on the Note 2 creates an alarm to go off whenever you walk off without the S Pen attached to the device. Due to the size of the S Pen, this is a great way of making sure you don’t lose it.

Take a numberIf you’re in the middle of a phone call, but need to make a note of a number or jot down some directions, remove the S Pen from its holder to get the S Note app to appear automatically. The call won’t be affected and you’ll be able to jot down any details you need.

Add annotationsAfter saving images on your Note device, you can use the S Pen to leave annotations and notes on them for later reference. Once added, you can send them to your friends and family and there’s also an option to revert the image back to its original state.

If you want to take advantage of the different handwriting tools available to Galaxy Note users, make sure you open up the S Pen settings menu to alter the sensitivity. Having a high sensitivity can adversely make your writing look scruffy and shaky.

028_033_AND_025.indd 31 29/04/2013 17:48

32


Essential phablet appsLoad up your phablet with these brilliant apps

Best for...KidsLittle Picasso

Little Picasso combines both a game and colouring aspects to create a fun and

enjoyable experience for young children. They can choose to use a stylus or their fi nger to colour in different characters using the palette of colours available in the app and also learn about what they’re currently colouring in. Alongside the colouring aspect of things, Little Picasso also includes an engaging story with a variety of characters that your children can follow along with and learn about the world around us.

Best for...Photo editingMakeup

Makeup claims to be the world’s most advanced virtual makeover application and in many

cases it’s justifi ed in thinking just this. You can perform a wide variety of tweaks to any photos stored on your phablet and also correct any errors that you come across. On a recent update, a new freehand feature was added that lets you create your own shades of makeup to apply to your favourite images. After you’ve completed the necessary edits, Makeup will then show you the before and after images – spot the difference!

Best for... Solving equationsMath Pimp

Use this clever application to calculate numeric, symbolic or geometric data and

gather all the information in one easy-to-fathom place. The app’s annotation feature means others can send their work to you on which you can make changes by using a stylus. You’ll also fi nd great cloud integration that enables you to send your fi nished equations and graphs straight to the cloud. For those on a Galaxy Note II there’s also a dedicated S Pen menu that helps provide an intuitive work fl ow.

Best for...Creating imagesLayerPaint

Although it isn’t as thorough as Adobe Photoshop, Layer Paint provides a decent

solution for those who want to create images on their phablet. By stacking layers on a blank canvas you can begin to piece an image together, and then once fi nished, you can share it with whoever you want. The best feature of LayerPaint has to be the range of tools that are available to you as soon as you open up the app. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced user, there’s something here for everyone.

Best for... GamingPen Pilot

Due to a phablet’s awkward screen size and the level of modifi cation required to alter games to fi t them, developers tend

to solely focus on tablets and phones. With this in mind, there’s a distinct lack of games solely available for phablet users, but we’ve managed to track down one that does warrant a download. Pen Pilot is a cross between an action and puzzle game that sees you needing to guide a pilot through different obstacle courses. Each course has different targets you need to navigate and you control this by simply moving your fi nger or stylus. Although the 30 levels on offer won’t take you long to get through, there are also set times to beat. If you want more, then there’s also plenty of in-app purchases you can buy to add more levels and courses to this already brilliant game.

028_033_AND_025.indd 32 29/04/2013 17:48

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Best for...Making videosFlipaClip

Despite the lack of video editing apps that are available to phablet

users, one app that is a viable solution is FlipaClip. Although you don’t directly take videos through the app, you can piece together various photos on your phablet into a video. One of its best uses is being able to put your various drawings into a fi lm strip to create a stop-motion effect. For a free app, FlipaClip is defi nitely something you need to check out on your phablet right now.

Best for...Signing documentsSignDoc Mobile

This is one for those who are lucky enough to have a phablet with an

included stylus. SignDoc offers users a simple way of signing digital copies of contracts and business documents without needing to go through the hassle of printing the document out. Before signing anything, the app requires you to input your signature a few times so it can tell if someone is attempting to forge your signature on a document. After signing something, the SignDoc will then return the document back to the original sender.

Best for...HackingGMD SPen Control

You won’t fi nd too many hacking apps made for phablets, but GMD SPen Control is a superb app for

those who have rooted their Galaxy Note device. Through this app you can fully customise how your S Pen performs when using it with your phablet and also create your own unique gestures that are for sole use on your device. As well as customising your S Pen experience, you can also use GMD to remove fi nger input completely from your phablet and fully rely on the S Pen for your phablet input.

Best for... Writing

Best for...Education

Papyrus Beta

iAnatomy

One of the advantages of having a bigger screen is being able to have a great writing and drawing experience. The Play store is awash with various writing apps, but the one best suited for phablets is Papyrus Beta. All your standard writing features are included with the app, as well as

an assortment of tools and additional features for you to explore. There’s a good handwriting indicator that helps improve your style of writing and plenty of stylus-exclusive features to help you master writing with a virtual pen. If you create multiple notes through Papyrus, you can also export them into a PDF, PNG or JPEG fi le for printing or sharing with your friends and family.

iAnatomy provides one of the best app experiences if you’re

using a phablet with a stylus attached. The app gives you a virtual tour of the human body, enabling you to interact with its different parts and fi nd out more about them. Each major organ is covered in a lot of detail and you can fi nd a series of images that show different variations of each. Within each picture are several annotations which offer a selection of further information for you to read about, but you can also add your own and email them to a friend directly through the app. The Draw feature enables you to use your stylus to draw on a particular image and add your own notes and other information to it. All your changes can be saved within the app and accessed whenever you like.

028_033_AND_025.indd 33 29/04/2013 17:48

TutorialsTutorials

34

Turn your Android device into a mobile officeAn Android device can be fun.

You can make light work of tasks by ensuring you have the right

applications installed and here we’re are looking at a range of techniques that will help to make life a lot easier.

When you break down offi ce life on a computer, you essentially get down to the need to write, produce a spreadsheet or presentation and make notes. So over these pages we are looking at the ability to use Microsoft Offi ce on your Android device, remotely access and control presentations that are running on Windows, Mac or Linux computers, and take notes that can go everywhere with you on Gmail. We will also be looking at how you can save

fi les to the cloud and work on collaborative projects with colleagues, ensuring they have the right level of access. And we also delve into the realms of video conferences using Google’s very own Hangouts tool that has features which go beyond social. By having this kind of power outside of the offi ce, you can be fl exible in your working life, and be able to work in and out of the offi ce without having to lug around a large and expensive laptop with you.

Top Android offi ce tips1. Having your browser’s bookmarks with you wherever you go is useful, letting you get to important or useful information fast without having to make a note. The free tool MyBookmarks lets you import Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome bookmarks to your Android browser.

2. The Outlook calendar can be synced with Android via Google Calendar Sync. Head to http://support.google.com/calendar/topic/2586645?hl=en&ref_topic=13950 to see instructions for syncing with an Android device (2.3+).

3. Keep your device secure. After all, if you are using it for work then you may have information that you don’t want others to see or get their hands on. So go to Location and Security in the Settings app and select Screen Unlock Pattern to enable extra protection.

4. You may also have to back up data. There is a great app call My Backup. It is free for 30 days but the Pro version is excellent and it lets you place fi les such as contacts safely in the cloud.

We look at how your device can offer a complete offi ce suite in the palm of your hands

» masterclass

Other useful apps for work Looking at ways to make light work of your load

Create to-do listsBe organisedGoogle Keep lets you jot down thoughts, take photos and dictate notes and have everything to hand on a neatly arranged main screen for speedy viewing. You can produce a list of checkboxes too.

“You can be fl exible in your working life, and be able to work in and out of the offi ce”

If I store an item in Google Drive, will Google be able to read it?To answer this we must delve into the terms of service. These state that anything you upload remains your IP but Google can scan your fi les and target adverts to you using the information that they contain. If the authorities wanted your data, Google can hand it over if there is a legal demand for it.

Ask your own question online atlittlegreenrobot.co.uk

Get a better keyboardSwifter typingThere are many good alternative keyboards. Swype enables you to type without lifting your fi nger and SwiftKey X has a good predictive engine to save time. It can even plug into your Twitter and Facebook.

Keep track of spaceFile managerYou often need to get at fi les fast – and ensure you don’t run out of room. With the File Explorer app, you can search the fi les on your phone, view and edit fi les. Use it with Google Drive and Google Docs too.

5. Does your work require image manipulation? It is hard to get better than Adobe Photoshop Express, which is a free app by one of the biggest experts in its fi eld. Images can be cropped, rotated, adjusted and shared in this super-powerful editor.

034-037_AND_025.indd 34 29/04/2013 17:07

35

Share files on Google Drive Use Hangouts

for conference chats in the Google+ app

Chat to as many as ten different people using the face-to-face video Hangout feature in Google+

Your video image will now appear on the screen. When Hangouts makes contact

with a friend or colleague they will appear too. You can use the red phone to end the chat.

3

2guidemin

You can also tap in email addresses. When you are ready to converse, simply

tap Start Hangout. The screen will go black and will notify the others that you want them.

2

Go to Google+ and tap the G+ icon in the top-left of the screen. Now select

Hangouts from the left-hand menu. You will see images of people you know.

1

The next step will allow you to decide whether or not the person you are sharing the document with can edit the document or simply view it without having the ability to make alterations. A notifi cation will be sent.

Edit or view?4

Go to the Google Drive app and you will instantly see a list of documents that you have saved or uploaded. Scroll through them until you fi nd the one that you wish to share with others and then tap the arrow icon next to the fi le name.

Open Google Drive1

A window will appear. It will prompt you to add people or groups to collaborate with. When you type in this box, it will go through your contacts but you can also add names that are not stored. Select Add when you have inputted a collaborator.

Add a collaborator3

As well as being able to open the document that you have selected, you are also able to decide whether or not to have it readable offl ine. More crucially, you can Add a collaborator, effectively sharing the document. Tap this option.

Offl ine reading2

Google Drive lets you create and edit documents before saving them in the cloud – remote servers owned and run by the search engine giant. One cool feature of this is that fi les can be accessed by more than one person. So you may have a colleague who wants to

see your report. With the sharing option in Google Drive, you can let them view it. Even better, you can also allow them to make amendments and work with you on the document. It allows for great collaboration – something you could not do without the power of cloud computing.

Upload important work documents to the cloud for colleagues to remotely view and edit

Works with » Android 2.1 and above

Looking at ways to make light work of your load

» masterclass

Turn your Android

into a mobile office

034-037_AND_025.indd 35 29/04/2013 17:07

36

Tutorials

Use full MS Office on your Android deviceGet the power

of Microsoft Offi ce on your

device and link it to a

cloud service

Although there are great word processors out there for Android, having the familiarity and fl exibility of features of Microsoft Offi ce is hard to beat for

those who work with it on a daily basis on a desktop or laptop computer. CloudOn, an app which can be downloaded for free from Google Play, lets you access the power of Microsoft Offi ce on your Android device.

What it also does is enable you to save your fi les to the cloud using one of four existing services: Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive and Box. You are also able to pull

documents from any of these services and edit them on your device before making notes and saving them back. The app also lets you open up other fi le types as well, including images and PDFs using the built-in File Viewer and Adobe Reader.

CloudOn doesn’t only cater for word processed documents. It also lets you use Excel and PowerPoint to create, review and edit spreadsheets and presentations. There are facilities for renaming fi les and sharing them as links or attachments via email.

When you tap anywhere within the text, the keyboard will appear and you can make amendments that will then be saved to your cloud storage facility. You can add a note about your amendment and editing times are also shown.

Using the keyboard5

When you open CloudOn, it will ask you to sign in or create an account. We’re assuming you don’t have an account so tap the latter and then select a storage account from either SkyDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or Box.

Sign up to CloudOn1

Now you will see a familiar word processing layout. At the top there is a series of menus. Tap one of these and icons appear underneath offering various functions such as bold, italics or pie charts and so on.

Get editing4

With access to one or more of your cloud services, you can begin to view fi les. Other storage options can be accessed by tapping and signing in. Tap the storage account where the document you want to access is located.

Seeing your fi les2


cloud service cloud using one of four existing services: Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive and Box. You are also able to pull

When you open CloudOn, it will ask you to sign in or create an account. We’re assuming you don’t have an account so tap the latter and then select a storage account from either SkyDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or Box.

Sign up to CloudOn1

A list of the documents in your storage account is listed. By the side of each, you will see the fi le type, for example, Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader. Tap on the fi le you want to access and it will be opened.

Choose a document3

034-037_AND_025.indd 36 29/04/2013 17:07

37

Sync notes and Gmail with GNotesWrite notes using an app which makes light work of the process and saves them to your Gmail account

Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on Android (go to the Settings app). Now download and open the LibreOffi ce Impress Remote app on your Android device. When launched, it will search for computers in your vicinity. Tap your computer and follow the pairing request.

Impress on Android2Android will connect to the computer. Once

it has, the screen will show a single button, saying Start Presentation. When you tap that, whatever presentation you have on LibreOffi ce on your computer can be remotely controlled using your Android device.

Connecting the two3Head to Settings on your Android device

and ensure Bluetooth is switched on. Now go to your computer and ensure it is switched on too. Now open LibreOffi ce’s presentation tool on your computer and go to Tools>Options>LibreOffi ce Impress>General. Enable remote control.

LibreOffi ce on computer1

LibreOffi ce has gone from strength-to-strength and not only is its desktop offering more powerful than ever, it also enables you to use an Android device to remote control presentations running on

a computer. To do this, both need to be connected via Bluetooth. Once this is done, whatever presentation you load on the computer can then be controlled from afar using your smartphone or tablet. All you need to

do is use the volume control. Volume up advances one slide and volume down goes back if you need to.

As well as enable this functionality with the slides, you can access speaker notes, which is handy as you talk through your presentation, ensuring a much slicker delivery. Here we look at how to get connected and display the slides.

Remote control slideshows from your phone

Use LibreOffi ce Impress Remote to deliver more effective presentations at work

Works with » Android 2.3.3 and above

» masterclass

Turn your Android

into a mobile office

Message us!Get in touch via Facebook

and Twitter

»facebook/littlegreenrobotGet help from our Facebook community

»twitter@lgrobotFollow us to send your questions and thoughts

2guidemin

Download the GNotes app from Google Play (it’s free) and

open it. You are able to start writing notes straight away but we can’t keep the notes in the cloud so we will sign up to our Gmail account fi rst. Tap Setup to start.

1 Having selected the Email option, we have two choices.

By selecting XOAuth, we can allow the app access to our Gmail account. Tap Grant and enter your details. Other email accounts can be added via the Email/Password tab.

2 At this point, any notes you go on to make will be synced to

your Gmail account under the label Notes. The app will show you exactly where this is with an explanatory screen. You can now write a note. Tap ‘+’ in the right-hand corner.

3 By tapping the four boxes in the top-right of a note, you can

access many options including the ability to record or handwrite a note. Files can be attached and you can also include a photo. The Camera option lets you take a photo.

4


034-037_AND_025.indd 37 29/04/2013 17:07

38

Tutorials

Save andshare photos in Google+Popular photo service Picasa is being phased out in favour of Google+. Here’s how to get started with sharing your pics

Google is constantly looking to improve the features in Google+ and the photo sharing feature is one that

has seen a radical change recently. No matter how many photos are stored on your phone or tablet, you can upload all of them to your G+ account with just a few taps on the screen. Apart from being a nice place to store them, G+ has a great sharing method designed to let users share their favourite photos with their friends, family and anyone else who they’re connected to on the social network. To take it a step further, Google has also added an Instant Upload feature that adds any newly taken photos on your device directly to your account, making it the quickest way to save and share your photos.

In this tutorial, we’ll be guiding you through the process of saving your photos to your G+ account, as well as showing you how you can then create posts and share said photos with your G+ contacts.


As well as displaying all the photos stored on your device, this part of the app will show the screenshots and sent photos you have on your phone. Select as many photos as you like and press the arrow at the top of the app to continue.

What to share?3On the home page, press on the G+

symbol in the top-left. This will open up a side menu from which you need to select the Photos tab listed halfway down. Once selected, the app will open up all the photos stored on your phone.

Photos tab2When you fi rst go into the Google+ app,

you’ll be welcomed by the What’s Hot section. Here you can look at people’s different photos they’ve posted and get a good idea of what your photo will look like once it has been completed.

Preview other posts1

Show patienceDepending on the quality of the image, you may notice your post won’t appear straight away on your feed if it’s particularly large. Make sure you press on the refresh icon at the top of your feed to make sure the image publishes correctly

Make editsA clever feature of the Google+ photo sharing feature is that it automatically centres your shared photo to only show the main subject matter. If you aren’t happy with what is displayed you can alter what is shown by editing the post

Be selectiveBy default, any photos you want to share will be sent to all your contacts. If you’d prefer to specifi cally choose the contacts you want to share with then make sure to choose the Recipient option when you begin creating your photo post in the fi rst place

Get ridIf at any point you aren’t happy with the photo you shared with your contacts on G+, simply long press on the image and choose the Remove option. Not only will this remove it from your feed, your friends will no longer be able to see it on their account

038_039_AND_025.indd 38 29/04/2013 17:07

39

You can now begin to create your post, which includes the photos you selected. At the top is the recipient bar, within which you need to select who will be able to see the post you’re creating. There are a range of predetermined options for you to choose from.

Share your picture4

Navigate back to your post and fi ll in the rest of the details that are required. As well as having the picture attached, you’ll also want to add a bit of text alongside it and even tag your current location, if you so wish. Press the Share button once completed.

Finish your post6

If you now go back to the What’s Hot section mentioned in step 1 you should fi nd your photo has been shared, along with the accompanying text listed underneath. If you aren’t happy with the fi nished product, long press on it and hit the Remove button.

Check your post8

You should fi nd your post will share instantly with your selected contacts, but it can take longer in some cases. If the image is particularly high resolution, you’ll fi nd it can take around a minute or so for your photo to be shared for people to see.

Start to share7

If you want to select your recipients manually, press on the bottom tier of the menu. You’ll now be presented with a screen enabling you to sift through all your Google+ contacts and Circles to choose who can see the photo you’re about to post.

Pick your recipients 5

If you have numerous photos you want to share with your contacts and Circles, then you might want to consider enabling the new Instant Upload option from within the main Google+ settings menu. This will create posts of every photo stored on your device.

Auto-upload photos9

Need help?Got a problem with your Android phone or tablet? Get in touch with us…


»twitter@lgrobotFollow us to send your questions and thoughts

»[email protected] your questions for our team of experts to tackle

Best apps for sharing your photos1 InstagramUpload, edit and share any photos stored on your phone or tablet with millions of people.

2 FlickrStill the most popular website for budding photographers. Take a look at Glimmr as the best Android client.

3 WhatsAppTake advantage of WhatsApp’s free messaging and send your photos to any contact with the app.

4 500pxThis great service has a quality offi cial client, but take a look at 500px beta for new features.

5 FacebookThe Facebook app has improved dramatically and now you can share your photos with your online friends.

quicktips

Is it possible to send photos from the Messenger section of G+?If you decide you want to share a certain photo with just a single contact, then you might want to take a look at sending the photo through the Messenger section of G+. This will mean you don’t need to create a full post for the photo and it’s generally quicker.

Can I customise the types of photos that are uploaded in the Instant Upload option?Unfortunately there’s no way to set the types and formats of the photos that can be uploaded once you’ve enabled the Instant Upload option. To choose specifi c types of photos, you’ll need to manually upload them.


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Works with » Android 2.2 and up

Google Currents has certainly evolved into a brilliant way of gathering all your favourite news sources in one

place, enabling you to read the stories you want online or offl ine. Currents includes many of the biggest newspapers, magazines and websites from all over the world and Google is constantly adding new sources for users to enjoy. With so many sources to check out, you need to know how to add them to your current feed.

Across this page we’ll be guiding you through the process of adding new exciting feeds to your current crop of news sources, as well as showing you places where you can fi nd even more news outlets to add to your bristling Currents account. It is a great replacement for Google Reader, and an easy way to keep up with the news that matters.

Google Reader will close on 1 July, but Google’s other news-based Android client makes a fi ne alternative

Uncover cool features in CurrentsThere’s a lot to discover in Google Currents, but here are three features that you should defi nitely check out fi rst

Most of the bigger feeds you can subscribe to have their own dedicated page from which you’ll fi nd all their familiar branding and all the latest headlines they’ve uploaded. Simply press on any story to open it up and have a read.

Individual feeds3As you start scrolling through each of your feeds, each category is separated by an intro page that includes a bright image representing it. By clicking on the image, however, you’ll be able to read the story it’s attached to.

Top headline2Press on the Currents logo at the top to uncover a side menu which offers a wide range of different options for you to look at. From this menu, you can take a look at some categories for you to add, as well as Google’s very own pick of the week.

Side menu1

Add feeds in Google Currents

See moreIf you want to add numerous feeds from a specifi c type of category, make sure you press on the See all button located at the top of each category. This will open up a new menu from which all feeds you can subscribe to will be listed

Add feedNext to each source listed on this screen is an Add button, which when pressed will convert that source into your current library. Each source varies in size and the amount of articles they upload each day for users to read

Specifi c sourcesWith so much on offer in Google Currents, you may have a small problem fi nding the source you’re looking for. A quick fi x for this issue is to use the magnifying glass icon to search for a specifi c feed included on Google Currents

In libraryOnce you’ve pressed the Add button next to a source, the button will now change to say In Library. This means when you next go through your news sources, you should fi nd your new source listed and all the articles that have been uploaded available to you

Search by categoriesBy scrolling down through this page, you’ll uncover all the various categories that Google Currents covers, and each has a range of feeds you can subscribe to. If you can’t decide on feeds you want to add, take a look at the Featured and Recommended feeds at the top of the list

041_AND_025.indd 41 29/04/2013 17:08

42

Tutorials

Secure your phone with 2-step verification

Google’s Authenticator

tool can help you protect your

account from hackers

Mobile devices are precious commodities, they’re not cheap and contain a wealth of information. Keeping information and data

safe and secure is more of an issue than keeping a device in your possession. A device is much easier and quicker to replace than personal information.

Android devices are awash with Google services and keeping account information is critical. To drastically reduce the chances of having personal account information stolen, Google has introduced

2-step verifi cation via Google Authenticator. The app adds another level of security to a device, making it more diffi cult to steal information.

Turning on the 2-step verifi cation process introduces codes that users will need to add during the sign-in process. To set up 2-step verifi cation users will need to access their Google account via a browser. The process involves adding a phone number for a mobile device. Google will then send an authentication code to the phone via SMS or a call.

Head to the Google Play store and download Google Authenticator. Install the app and tap the app icon to get started. The opening screen will explain the 2-step process and tell you what you need. Now tap Begin setup. This will open the Add an account screen with details.

Set up app1

The previous step will open the Accounts screen. Now you need to sign in using your credentials to access the Security section. Locate 2-step verifi cation and click Settings to continue. Now click Start setup to view the Set up your phone screen.

Sign in5Selecting the default Google account will

bring up a message stating ‘Continue on a computer’. Take note of the URL: http://accounts.google.com/security, and head to this address on a computer to continue. This will run through the set up 2-step verifi cation process.

Continue on a computer4

To help the user through the testing setup process, Google Authenticator provides a couple of options via the menu. Settings and 2-step verifi cation simply tell the user which URL to visit to turn it off. How it works offers a quick step-by-step guide to give you a more detailed run through.

How it works2

The Add an account screen displays the option to manually add an account. There are two options, including Scan a barcode. To use this option the ZXing barcode scanner will need to be installed. Tap the barcode option followed by Install. More on this later.

Manual accounts3

Works with » Android 2.2 and up

042-043_AND_025.indd 42 29/04/2013 17:08

43

The fi rst step is to add a phone number to send codes to. Google will use this number to send a numeric code whenever a user signs in from an untrusted computer or device. Choose from Text message or Voice Call as the method to receive the code and click Send code.

Set up phone6

There is always the chance that the chosen phone may get lost. To compensate there is the option to access an account from a trusted computer. Typically, this would be the computer that the set up process is taking place on. Click Next to continue.

Trusted computer8

The Mobile application option enables users to switch to an app when in the rare event that there is no data coverage. Click the Android link for instructions. Scan the barcode, you may need to sign in again, and add the verifi cation code to complete the setup.

Mobile apps11

The fi nal step is to turn on 2-step verifi cation. Clicking Confi rm will add the process to the selected Google account. This means that a code will be asked for when signing in from an untrusted computer or device. You should now see a confi rmation message.

Confi rmation9

The previous step will send a verifi cation code via the chosen method, either text or voice. Once the code has been received, enter the six digit code and press the Verify button to continue. If code is not received, just click ‘Didn’t get the code?’ and start again.

Verify phone7

Once the setup is complete users simply get a code via the Authenticator app. Tap the app icon to open. This will generate a code that can be used during an account sign in. For improved security and added peace of mind, the code will update every 30 seconds.

Open app12

Users can get codes from a variety of sources. A backup phone number can be added to the current list. Click Add a phone number and follow the on-screen instructions. Click Show backup codes to get some printable codes for use when the verifi ed option is unavailable.

Get codes10

To switch off 2-step authentication, head back to http://accounts.google.com/security and sign in. This can be done via any device, but the trusted computer will need no code. Sign in again and select Settings. Click Turn off 2-step verifi cation and click Turn off to complete.

Deactivate13

Can I use this with other apps?No, it will work with your Google account only. 2-step verifi cation needs to be applied by the developer or service provided on an app-by-app basis. Some other apps may already use it, such as those from fi nancial institutions, while Twitter is rumoured to be introducing it in the near future.


Get in touchWe’re on Facebook and Twitter, or

just drop us an email

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042-043_AND_025.indd 43 29/04/2013 17:08

44

Tutorials

Send meeting requests via your Calendar app

Invite friends or colleagues to an event via email,

and wait for their interactive reply

A meeting will typically include more than one individual with attendees travelling from different locations. Organisation is the key to a

successful meeting and the Calendar app enables users to send out invites to guests via the app and an inbox. The first step is to create an event. This is a simple process that involves picking a date and time.

An event brings together a host of information including what the event is, where the event is to be

held, date, time, length of meeting and reminders. Guests are included via an email address. The invite is sent automatically to the address as soon as the Done button is tapped.

The email, or invite, replicates the event information, but also has the option to accept, decline or even sit on the fence. To make sure that guests do not forget the event, an iCal file (Mac users only) is also included as an attachment.

Selecting Done will automatically send out invites to the attendee’s inbox. The invite will differ depending on the email service used. The invite will include the date, location and the option to reply. An iCal file will also be included.

Invite 6

By default, the event will be applied to the Calendar of the default account holder. The first step is to give the event a memorable name in the What field. Next, tap Where and add the location of the new event.

What and where2

Give the event a short description, via Description and modify the Repetition if applicable. The event can be repeated daily, weekly, monthly and annually. Set a reminder, set how you receive it and tap Done to finish.

Add reminder5

The time and date selected in the first step will be applied to the new event by default. To modify both, tap the From and To fields and select the desired option. Alternatively, tap the All day check box to remove the time option.

Date3

The next step is to add the guests who are invited to the meeting. Tap Guests and type in an appropriate email address. If the email address exists in Contacts it will be auto-completed. Repeat the process to add more email addresses.

Add guests4

Works with » All versions of Android

Head to the Apps screen and tap the Calendar icon to open. Now slide the calendar to the left or right to choose the week where the event is to occur. Now tap the date twice to open the New event window.

New event1

044_AND_025.indd 44 29/04/2013 17:09

4545

Apply filters in Twitter


There are now hundreds of photo editing apps available for download from the Google Play store, but many are clunky

and can be diffi cult to use. If you want to add basic edits to your photos before sharing them with the world, then a recent update to the offi cial Twitter app might just be for you. The new update enables users to attach a photo to a tweet they’re composing and carry out some edits to personalise the image.

The main tool at your disposal is the fi lter page, which enables you to add one of nine stylistic fi lters to your image. Twitter has also included a nifty cropping tool and a wizard tool to help eradicate any issues with the photo. In this tutorial we’ll take you through all the new editing tools now available in Twitter.

Before you tweet pictures you can now add Instagram-style fi lters from within the Twitter app

The photo editing processTwitter’s new photo editing process can be completed in just three simple steps that require no previous knowledge or expertise

Apply a fi lter After importing your photo into Twitter, the fi rst menu you’ll come across is the fi lter one. Currently there are nine different fi lters to choose from, all of which offer a different stylistic element to your chosen photo. Press on any of the fi lters to see a preview.

Move and scale After applying a fi lter to the photo, choose the frame symbol located on the editing screen. This will take you to the Move & Scale page where you can reposition and crop your image to only show what you want to show. This is a great tool if the image is an odd shape.

Compose yourtweet Once you’ve applied both sets of changes, go ahead and press the Done button located in the top-right. You’ll now be taken back to the tweet you’re putting together. Add any text you need to include and press the Send button to complete.

Finalise your changesOnce you’ve added all your changes, press on the Done button at the top-right of the app. You’ll then be taken back to your tweet with your edited image attached to it. Finish off the tweet and press Send to add it to your news feed

Make additional editsIf you want to take your editing one step further, you may consider applying all the small changes in Twitter, saving them and then opening the image in a more thorough photo editing app. Apps like Aviary and Instagram are the obvious choices to head to

Quick scrollAlthough the fi lter overview screen is great to see the styles of what’s on offer, it can be hard to see all the details. An alternative to this is to simply scroll left and right on the screen to see what each fi lter adds to the image you chose to edit

The perfect imageSometimes no matter what edits you make, you can never get it exactly how you want it. Although it isn’t a miracle cure, the wizard tool at the bottom-left of the page can help make some minor tweaks to improve the image’s overall quality

Camera or photo?As well as being able to use Twitter’s own camera function to add an image to your editing suite, you can also choose a saved image from within the Gallery app. As well as images you’ve personally taken, you can also access images sent to you through messaging apps

045_AND_025.indd 45 29/04/2013 17:09

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47

Control location servicesGrasp your settings to change how Google tracks your location

An Android device has a host of Google-related services which users can take control of. These are neatly brought

together under Google Settings found via the Apps screen. Included in the lineup are location services, Maps & Latitude and Location. These control if the user is tracked and how the

information is used. Location offers the simple option of letting Google apps access a user’s location. Maps & Latitude works on a grander scale with a whole selection of options. Users can decide on how a location is reported, enable location sharing, share with friends, take a look at their location history and manage check-ins.


1. Settings appHead to the Apps screen, locate the Google Settings app and tap to open. This offers confi guration options for a range of popular Google services including Maps & Latitude and Location. The changes you make here will affect how all of your apps use your location data. Tap Location to open the Google app’s location settings screen. This offers one simple control, whether or not to let your Google apps have access to your location. Switch off to stop access, switch on to allow access. Note, these settings only apply to Google apps.

2. Location reportingTap Maps & Latitude to head to the Maps app and its associated Location settings.

The fi rst option is Location reporting, which does not update your location by default. Tap the link to reveal a list of Location settings options. To update automatically, select Detect your location. To do so manually, simply select the Set your location option. This will redirect to Maps – choose a location using one of the available options.

3. Location sharingTo share your location with friends and family on a map fi rst, tap Manage your friends. At the bottom of the screen is Share location with family and friends, tap to continue, hit Agree & Continue and your location will appear onscreen in an info box. Tap the icon to Check in if you have a Google + account.

4. Location historyTo store your location history for future use (and the data is also used in apps such as Google Now), tap Enable location history. Tap Enable location history at the bottom of the screen. Once again, tap Agree & Continue and again to save the selection. This takes a few days to populate. To view your locations, visit the Latitude site at google.co.uk/latitude.

5. Check-insThere is the option to disable or enable automatic check-ins and do the same with Check-in notifi cations in a single tap. If Automatic check-ins is enabled there is the option to Manage your places, which lets you view and modify check-in places, and remove any for privacy reasons.

[FIG 2] The location of a device can be selected automatically, but there is the option to manually choose a location. Choose from the current location, enter an address or use your contacts

[FIG 4] Enabling Location history allows

users to build up a picture of where they have been. It will take

a couple of days to populate, so

immediate use will result in no information

When my location is recorded how accurate is the positioning?A location is reasonably accurate. My Location states on Google Maps that it is accurate to 30 metres, approx 100 feet. However, it is likely to be more accurate than this, especially if an object is static.


047_AND_025.indd 47 29/04/2013 17:10

48

Tutorials

48

Take control of Google and third-party accounts

Manage, add and remove

accounts stored on your device

Every Android user has a favourite selection of apps and many of these apps will need a sign in, which in turn means an account is created. There

is the option to sign in every time an app is called upon, but this is inconvenient, irritating and time consuming. The alternative sits in the depths of the Android OS

ecosystem under the Settings banner. Here lies a list of accounts related to the device.

Logging in to an account will add an account to the list. If an installed app is

not on the account list there is the option to add an account. Third-party apps and Google apps sit side-by-side in the list, but these react slightly differently. Third-party apps like Dropbox and Twitter offer the option to sync now to update manually. Those with settings typically enable the user to go directly to the app to modify, with no need to sign in again.

For the more cautious, or those who no longer need quick access to an account, it can simply be removed from the list.

The Google sync settings are again different. Tap the account email address to list all the Google sync services. These include Calendar, Chrome, Contacts, Gmail, Google Play Books and Google Play Magazines. These are all set to sync. To switch off simply tap the check box.

Google sync settings5

The installation of new apps that need a login can be managed via Android’s Settings app. To take a look at accounts that have been automatically added, locate Settings and tap to open. Slide up to locate the Accounts tab which will list active accounts.

Accounts1

The default Google account differs from third-party accounts, with different standard and sync options. The Google account includes a selection of Privacy options which link to Maps & Latitude, Location settings, Google+ and Ads. Each option links directly to an information box.

Google account4

Tap Add account to view a list of accounts that can be added. Note, not all accounts are automatically added to the list. To add an account, tap an option from the list, eg Guardian. This will redirect to the app Sign in screen. Choose an option and sign in to add to the Accounts list.

Add an account2

Typically each account will include an account sync setting and an option to sync. App settings will redirect to the account settings, so these will differ for each account. The Settings can be modifi ed and will be automatically saved when returning back to Settings.

Account settings3


048-049_AND_025.indd 48 29/04/2013 17:49

49

Manage your Google accountTake control of the Search options related to your Google account

The sync settings for third-party apps are similar from account to account, but are typically presented differently. For example, The Guardian sync is switched off and will need to be tapped to continue. Alternatively, Twitter uses a simple check box to switch sync on or off.

Sync settings6

Each account is synced according to its settings but accessing an account via Settings enables the user to sync the selected account. First select an account from the list, tap the menu icon and select Sync now to sync the currently selected account.

Sync now7

An active account can be removed via Accounts. Select an account and tap the menu icon. Depending on the account the menu will include Remove account. Tap and select Remove account. Alternatively, tap the username, select the menu icon and tap Remove account.

Remove an account8

Take control of all types of accounts1 Automatically add accountRemoving an account will only remove an account from Accounts. Sign in and it will be added to the list.

2 Permanently deleteTo remove an account from the Accounts list permanently the app will need to be deleted.

3 Email accountCheck the settings for an email account by selecting an account from the list.

4 Add an email accountTo add an new email account via Accounts simply select Email followed by Add Account.

5 Dropbox accountTo unlink a Dropbox account from the current device, select Dropbox>Account settings>Unlink.

quicktips

2guidemin

To take control of location history, tap the Manage location history option. This will head to Maps and reveal a selection of options to work with. Tap Display to switch on Zoom Buttons, flick the Scale Bar on and off and tap Bubble action to decide its action.

Location history1Select Show recent searches to activate

some suggestions. This will display a new option, Manage Web History. Tap to select a browser, if applicable. This will redirect to the Google Accounts page online. Sign in to pause, delete or remove items from your history.

Search2

Google comes in many flavours and offers the option to search via the local domain eg, www.google.co.uk, or switch to the main search engine, www.google.com. Tap the checkbox to switch between the two options. It will take a while to find the local domain.

Search domain3By default, the SafeSearch option is set

to Moderate which ensures that certain unwanted content is not displayed. To remove any restrictions, or increase the filter to Strict, tap SafeSearch filters and select a new option from the list.

Safe searching4

048-049_AND_025.indd 49 29/04/2013 17:49

» troubleshooting advice » hints and tipsDroidSupport

50

»facebook/littlegreenrobotLike us on Facebook and join in our Android community

»twitter@lgrobotFollow us on Twitter to send your thoughts and questions

»email an expert

[email protected]

Got an Android-related problem that you need solving? Let us know!

Share your tips & tricksJoin us on Facebook and Twitter to share and receive some great tips and advice

How to share calendars

You actually have everything you need to synchronise the same

calendar between you and your wife on your Galaxy and iPhone already. If you set up one Google account for both of you and then set the Calendar function to synchronise, you will both be able to input the account name and password onto each phone and that is really all you need to do. If either of you make any changes on the account such as adding or deleting entries they will be seen immediately on each device and will be recognisable by each of you. Also, you can set up multiple calendars and give each one a different colour for easy recognition, which will help you both manage your lives together yet be able to keep them independent when you need to. You could have a calendar in your name and your wife one in hers, yet still be able to have them both synchronise automatically under the same

“I have a Samsung Galaxy S III and my wife has an iPhone 4, but we want to sync calendars. Is there a specifi c calendar that can sync between the two and let us view the same on each device?” Lee Rushton

A Google account can synchronise a multitude of

personal information

Android and iOS can play nicely together thanks to Google

You can disable word prediction on an Android phone or tablet via Settings> Language & keyboard>Advanced settings (varies by device). This will be especially useful if you input unusual terms for work or a specialist industry, and can actually speed up your typing over a period of time.

Did you know?Did you know? Google account. There are apps that can be downloaded on both platforms to add new features and this is particularly useful on an iPhone. The coloured calendars can be highlighted in many different ways and will in effect look more similar to the Android calendar than the stock iOS solution. There are other services and apps that you can use to share one calendar, but few we have seen work as easily as the Google solution or have such an easy setup process.

A

050-055_AND_025.indd 50 29/04/2013 17:49

Ringtones, notifi cations and connections

DroidSupport

51

It is understandable that you are struggling to add new tones to

your device because there is no offi cial explanation, but the solution is a lot simpler than you may think. If we look at the Windows 7 problem fi rst, we would suggests going to http://www.android.com/fi letransfer and downloading Android File Transfer to your PC. We have seen this work for connecting Android devices even when

AYou can set any music track as a ringtone with one tap

The Notifi cations folder can be managed any way you like

hints&tips Get more from your Android phone with our handy hints

1 True brightness control All Android devices let you control the brightness either automatically or manually,

but Lux Auto Brightness (available from Google Play) offers more options that will suit your exact conditions. Even the colour temperature can be changed when reading at night.

2 Multitasking on any screen Sidebar Pro is an effi cient solution that offers multitasking from any screen on your

phone. No matter what app you are using, or where you are in the operating system, the app offers a simple bar that can be tapped once to open another function or app.

3 Lose the lag If you are an advanced Android user and have rooted your device, Seeder is a

clever little app which can reduce the lag you experience when using it. The lag is not physically reduced, but it does a very good job of masking the unwanted effect.

Ask your questionsGot a problem with your Android phone or tablet?

Send it to us and we’ll fi nd the solution


»[email protected] your questions for our team of experts to tackle

the folder, but you will not cause any damage by doing so. In the music app, you can hold your fi nger down on any song and you should see an option pop up that lets you set it as a ringtone. None of this is obvious at fi rst, but as we said, once you know the

there are problems elsewhere with regards to the PC seeing the device. It can be extremely diffi cult to locate the exact problem and Samsung Kies is not the best PC Android software for dealing with direct connections. Once you have the connection problem resolved you can add sound fi les to the Notifi cations folder and they will be shown in the list when you want to choose a new one in settings. You may have to create

“Having given up a Nokia N8, and prior to that an N95, to join the band of Android by the purchase of a Samsung S III, I am totally baffl ed because I am unable to fathom how to have different sounds for texts and phone calls. I have read the manual until my eyes are sore but to no avail. I am also unable to connect to my Windows 7 computer by the use of the Samsung USB cable due, as the computer tells me, there is no driver available for the phone. Barry Burton

process, it is very quick and easy to use no matter how often you want to change your tones. You will also fi nd apps on Google Play that will let you trim tones to a suitable length and others that can automate the entire process even further.

050-055_AND_025.indd 51 29/04/2013 17:49

DroidSupport

5252

Galaxy sync issuesI have a Galaxy S II phone and a Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. They are paired via Bluetooth but I cannot get the calendar from the phone to sync with the same ‘aCalendar’ on the tablet. Clicking ‘sync’ starts the rotating icon for maybe a half a second and everything stops… no transfer.Terry Cullen

In theory you should be able to synchronise your aCalendar software

between your phone and tablet, but there could be a number of reasons for it not working properly. We have to look at the software, your internet connection and add in the Bluetooth and hardware, which starts to make it all slightly tricky to pinpoint. In your case, however, it sounds as though you have the Outlook calendar synchronising to your phone fi ne, so why not mimic the process and cut out the middle man? You could synchronise your calendar directly to the tablet by using your phone as a hotspot via one of many apps that are available in Google Play. Your network provider would not need to know you are tethering and you would be guaranteed of the same information on each device that way.

You should be able to upload YouTube videos from most Android phones

Syncing over Bluetooth is not always reliable or even possible

Too many duplicate contacts!“A few months into my Android experience I’ve been saying yes each time apps (Facebook, mail apps etc) offer to sync my contacts. Thinking it would keep things straight, I thought it was a great idea but, of course, in reality what it’s done has created many copies of each contact so that I now show roughly 2,000 contacts when, in fact, I probably have just under 300! Is there a method short of resetting the phone and starting over again to just have Google Mail manage my contacts?”Tim Mathews

The problem you are experiencing is not unusual and there are

many ways to solve it. However, when you are using multiple services that use contact integration, you will potentially come across this problem many times. One option, which is admittedly manual, is to tap the link icon when in a contact and to then select the option to join it

to another contact. It will solve the problem, but will need to

be done manually for each duplicated contact. A

better option would be to head on over to Google Play and search for ‘Contact Remover Plus’. This app can be used over and over again and will let you copy, move and delete contacts in batches, which is a good compromise between having the control you need and the

automation to speed up the process.

A

It is very easy when installing multiple apps, music and videos to run your available memory to a low level. You should, however, try to keep a reasonable amount free to allow the running of large apps and system processes.

Did you know?

A

From Ace to YouTubeI have a YouTube channel, and on it I really would like to put on screen videos from my Ace 2 and on to YouTube. But no matter how long I search for something that meets the specifi c needs for my purpose, I cannot fi nd anything! If you could help, I would be so grateful. The app really must record audio.Zoë Cox

Apologies if we have misinterpreted your question, but it sounds

as though you want to upload videos from your Ace 2 directly to YouTube. If this is the case then all you need to do is

A

capture a video and use the ‘share’ function to unload it to YouTube. You will have to log in to your account to do this, but this should then give you the opportunity of adding it to your channel. Google owns YouTube and so the integration with the service is high and it is supposed to work perfectly with no modifi cation from the user. The Ace 2 has a decent camera and will capture audio by default as well, so we are unsure as to what is missing in your current setup that does not allow this. With the ability to make amendments to your uploaded videos using the mobile app and multiple apps in Google Play that let you add effects, Android and by association the phones

running it, is one of the very best platforms for quick and easy YouTube creation.

050-055_AND_025.indd 52 30/04/2013 10:53

» www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukCheck our website daily for even more tips & tricks

top tips for...

ANDROIDAUTOMATION5

quicktips

1 One touch profi lesApps like Profi le Manager let you create

your own profi les based on your particular needs. The automation is low on most of these solutions, but they do offer the ability to tap once to activate a profi le, and some offer timed profi ling, which can be set to come on automatically.

2 Use your locationSome apps will let you change the state

of your phone based on the location. The phone will use the GPS antenna to determine where you are and will then activate it accordingly. This can be useful for silencing your phone before a meeting or when travelling to the offi ce.

3 NFC tagsIf your phone is equipped with an NFC

chip you will be able to control the device using special tags. They are cheap to purchase and can be placed in set locations to activate a particular state. For example, you could have one in the car, the bedroom or anywhere else and the profi les will activate when near to them.

4 Take it furtherSome solutions, including the excellent

Tasker, let you activate specifi c tasks based on events which can save you lots of time every day. Almost every eventuality is covered and you may be surprised at what can be done.

5 The simple stuffDon’t forget the simple profi le

management and automation that is included in Android by default. For example, you can set the brightness depending on your lighting conditions and also set apps to update automatically.

53

DroidSupport

We mentioned Contact Remover Plus in the answer to the related question, and to start removing duplicate contacts in bulk, all you need to do is download the app in Google Play and let the app populate all of your contacts. You can now tap each check box and delete them in bulk.

Get the app1The next part you should check is which

accounts you have set up on your Android device. Go to Settings>Accounts and then see how many accounts are listed. It is likely that with multiple accounts, including Facebook and Mail, you will run into duplication problems for your contacts.

Check your accounts2

Profi les can be activated based on many different factors

Share your tips Got a great tip, or found a cool

shortcut? Let us know!

»facebook/littlegreenrobotLike us on Facebook and join our online community

»twitter@lgrobotFollow us on Twitter to send us your tips & tricks

[email protected]»emailDiscovered anything good about your Android phone? Let us know!

Decide which account you want to use as your default contact list and then tap one of the others. Here you should be able to turn off the sync feature, which will stop contacts duplicating over multiple accounts. Repeat this process for each account which is not your default.

Lose the sync3

There is also a setting in the contacts app called ‘De-duplicate contacts’ that can be used to sweep your entire database and remove any that are exactly the same for every attribute. It is a one-tap process and works well, but is not suitable for contacts that are not 100 per cent identical.

De-duplicate contacts5Contacts will build up over time through

multiple accounts and although some housekeeping is required, you shouldn’t spend too long dealing with duplicates. Ultimately, they are unlikely to get in the way, so there is rarely a need to continually manage them on a regular basis.

Don’t waste time6

In the contacts app, also known as ‘People’, tap the menu icon and then select Settings. Here you should see a ‘Suggest contact link’ option, which should alert you to similar contacts that you can merge if a second one is added. This lets you prevent duplicates before they are created.

Automatic links4

050-055_AND_025.indd 53 29/04/2013 17:50

DroidSupport

54

Flash & JavaI recently bought a Samsung Tablet 2 10.1 3G for the sole purpose of using it to buy from live online car auctions. The

auction company uses Java and after visiting a PC World store, they were able to install Java for Android. This didn’t work and I contacted the auction company again – they said I also needed Flash Player which I managed to fi nd via a Google search. However I still can’t access the live online auction sites.Martin Harley

A This is a tricky situation for us to solve because we do not know the

exact website that you are trying to use. This, however, does lead us to the main point of our answer, which is to not automatically presume that the Android device is the problem. Modern websites should ideally be able to handle many different types of internet protocol including Flash, Java and many others, but it is also common for them to offer support for the huge number of mobile devices

that may visit. With HTML5 fast becoming an alternative and

have an SD card installed you need to remove it. Restart your phone and then check to see if the update is now available without the SD card inserted. When the SD card is inserted again, you should still see the correct update message. If this method does not work, a more serious method is to reformat your device completely and then try to update. This may sound extreme, but if you have a decent backup procedure in place it should not take too long to get all of your apps and data back. Our experience suggests, however, that the SD card method should work for you.

This is a very diffi cult problem to solve because after numerous checks, it would appear that there

is no obvious way to resolve this issue. It seems that when you update the Note 2 to a new OS, trying to update again to the latest version can cause this problem. For whatever reason the device is seen as modifi ed, which it technically is, and then the next update is barred which would appear to be a fault in the way the software is delivered or with the actual Android operating system. There are, however, some straightforward procedures you can try that users have claimed to work. Firstly, if you

A

Your device has been modified“My question relates to the Samsung Note 2 phone running on Android 4.1.1. For some reason, whenever I check for a software update under Settings>About Device>Software Update, a message appears saying: “Your device has been modifi ed. Software updates are not available.” I have not rooted my phone (or even attempted to) and only loaded apps from either the Samsung store on my phone or Google Play.”Len Sullivan, via email

Software updates can be problematic from time to time

other technologies being used, it is not always acceptable for a site to expect the visitor to do the work of making their equipment compatible. If the devices are commonplace, the onus is on the website owners to make the site work with as much of the population as possible. In your case, if you have Flash and Java installed and it is still not working, the site owners will need to be contacted again to fi nd the right solution for you.

My volume keeps droppingOn my S3 I fi nd I am forever needing to adjust the ring volume up from zero, I have no idea what I do to cause it. The second more aggravating gripe is the keyboard. Using SwiftKey 3, I cannot count how many times I have had to reset the input method. Any advice?Steve Stevenson

A The volume problem is not unusual and the general view is that it

could be related to the headphones you are using. It could, however, also be a hardware problem with the volume keys. There is a quick workaround called Persist (Volume Control), available from Google Play, which seems to have solved the problem for many users. The SwiftKey problem is even more diffi cult because even the developer of the app quotes Android as being the problem at this time. With luck, a workaround may be issued in the future to solve it once and for all.

Where can I get help with my Goggle account?I have been having problems with my Google account and

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55

DroidSupport

Our advice would be to check that no third-party apps are left installed and to not sell on an expansion card with the phone. These cards are known to leave data active even when they have been formatted.

Expansion cards3

This may sound strange, but we would advise you to do another factory reset just to be on the safe side. Tests have shown that on occasions, one reset can still leave some residual data lying around.

Do it again2

Go to Settings and fi nd the Factory Reset option. You will be warned that this will remove all of your data, but continue anyway if you are happy that you have all of your important information backed up.

The factory reset1

Safely wipe your Android device“I want to upgrade my Android phone and sell my current device on eBay, but am concerned that my data may still be available to anyone who buys it. I understand how to reset my phone, but a friend told me that this can leave some bits of data behind that would still be accessible to others. Is this true?”Martin Bloomfi eld, via email

Yes, what your friend says is true to a point. Theoretically anyone

who buys your phone could gain access to some of your information, but they would have to know what they are doing and likely purchase it with the express intention of doing so. If, however, these two events do collide then you will want to have done all that you can before you sell the device to protect your data. We will show you in a step-by-step below how to ensure that as much data as possible is removed. You can then be fairly certain that all will end well, but if you want to be 100 per cent certain that your device is clean you will want to take time over the process. Sometimes temporary fi les can linger around unexpectedly so don’t follow this process and then send off your phone. Use the steps and then tinker with

A

the phone now and again to ensure that temporary fi les are overwritten. You could even set up a dummy Google account and use that for the last few days to overwrite as much as possible.

There are apps that can help you wipe your data for good

Share your tips Got a great tip, or found a cool

shortcut? Let us know!

»facebook/littlegreenrobotLike us on Facebook and join our online community

»twitter@lgrobotFollow us on Twitter to send us your tips & tricks

[email protected]»emailDiscovered anything good about your Android phone? Let us know!

update update» We bring you the news and rumours on the latest Android updates, and the phones that can run them…

W ith Key Lime Pie – expected to be known as Android

5.0 – on the horizon, the non-Nexus devices are likely to continue to be one version behind. The rollout of Android 4.2 has been slower than ever, with few handsets getting what was admittedly a minor upgrade to date. Hopes that this would mean manufacturers would skip 4.2 entirely, going straight for a more timely 5.0 update instead, appear to have been dashed for some devices. HTC models such as the One X, One X+ and the One SV are set to be updated to 4.2 in the summer, with rumours suggesting that it will be the fi nal update for the One X. The Galaxy S III and Note II will also get 4.2 as part of the software update that brings some of the features of the S4 to those devices. At the time of writing that was pegged for May or June. As ever the best way to get the latest version of Android as quickly as possible is via a Nexus, with all the most recent devices guaranteed to get it normally within days of it being announced. It’s unlikely that other devices will start seeing the Key Lime Pie upgrade program kick into action until September, and the process is likely to go on until next year, by when another update will inevitably have arrived.

Update60% Complete

A free app can solve your hardware volume problems

after much investigation I know it is not my fault. Where can I go to for support?Tommy Clifton

A This is a question that has been asked many times, Tommy, and it all

comes down to what you should expect for what is fi nancially a free service. Google offers Gmail, Calendar and all of its other products for free and so to expect a full technical support helpline may be asking a bit much. Of course, we understand how Google makes money and in some ways we all help the company do that by offering information about ourselves, but the fact remains that we are given a very generous amount of online space and a huge variety of services for no outlay at all. However, if you feel that there is a big problem and that help is required, head on over to http://www.google.com/contact where you will be able to read a variety of support articles and also fi nd ways to ask for priority support. The links include an account recovery form which is very useful if your account has suddenly disappeared, and almost every other popular issue should be covered on this page. The process is still somewhat clouded, but hopefully you will fi nd what you need and solve the problem once and for all. Good luck with it all!

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Challenge

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Avantree Mini Roll-able KeyboardPrice: £18.99/$28.99More info: www.mobilefun.co.ukThis mini roll-up keyboard is truly portable and can connect to any smartphone or tablet.

YourType Android Keyboard + StandPrice: £59/$69.99More info: www.belkin.comThis stylish combo means you can keep your tablet and keyboard in the same place.

Freedom i-Connex CombiPrice: £79.95/$104.95More info: www.proporta.co.ukGet a true typing experience when using this keyboard and stand combo.

Freedom Pro Bluetooth KeyboardPrice: £59.95/$90.99More info: www.mobilefun.co.ukWith big keys and a Qwerty setup, the Freedom Pro comes well recommended by us.

Can you replace your laptop with your phone?Is there a need for hefty laptops when you have an all-powerful Android device to hand?

Best Bluetooth keyboards

056-057_AND_025 56 30/04/2013 09:18

Set us a challenge! Test us out through

Facebook and Twitter

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»twitter@lgrobotFollow us on Twitter and send your comments

Successrating

85%

GmailPrice: FreeDeveloper: Google Inc.

App checklist

VLCPrice: FreeDeveloper: VideoLabs

Cloudskipper Price: FreeDeveloper: cloud.tv

OnLivePrice: FreeDeveloper: OnLive

SkyDrivePrice: FreeDeveloper: Microsoft

App Update Notifi erPrice: FreeDeveloper: Paradise Android

AppMgr Pro IIIPrice: £1.32/$1.99Developer: Sam Lu

Easy Battery SaverPrice: FreeDeveloper 2Easy Team

Verdict: Complete

The quality of the apps on the Play store means that for the most part you can use your phone as replacement for your laptop. It isn’t perfect, however, and we’d love to see more media player apps follow their desktop counterparts.

The technology in smartphones is constantly improving in all areas, enabling users to

perform things that could only be done on a laptop until recently. With this in mind, we’ve asked whether it is possible to put away your laptop and solely use your phone instead? We’ve put together a list of apps that cover a wide variety of tasks you can do on a laptop to see if your phone is a viable substitute.

Working with documentsAs Android users, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to word processors. The best of the bunch is Kingsoft Offi ce, which can fi rst and foremost be integrated with all your Microsoft Word

documents, presentations and spreadsheets. Apart from the editing, there’s also the ability to create documents from scratch and share them to your contacts. Email is also another strong point of the catalogue of phone apps available, and with the likes of Gmail and Outlook having brilliant Android apps, you won’t have any problem managing your inboxes. To help manage all of your documents and emails you’ll want to invest in some suitable cloud storage. Once again there’s plenty of choice, but the likes of SkyDrive are much harder to use on your phone when compared to their desktop counterparts.

Having fun with your media fi lesWe also like to have fun on our laptop,

AndroZip gives you full access to fi les

whether it be watching videos, browsing the web or playing a game – your laptop can cater for it all. Cloudskipper Music Player is a superb mobile audio streamer that includes some handyediting tools. It would be great if it had a few more ways of integrating your playlists in one place, but that isn’t too much of an issue. VLC is one of the most highly regarded desktop clients for watching videos and you can expect the same exceptional experience when using the VLC for Android Beta app. Where Android phones have yet to catch up with their laptop counterparts is the gaming side of things. Apps like OnLive offer access to some of the biggest AAA titles, but there are compatibility issues with some games and nothing beats the experience of playing a game with either a proper controller or mouse and keyboard.

Simple utility tasksOne of the most overlooked aspects of laptop usage is the utility and data management side of things. Whether it’s managing your battery, storing fi les, dealing with updates and general management, your laptop can handle all of this with ease. Thankfully, some of the best apps in the Play store can fi ll this void on your phone. Easy Battery Saver can be used to keep on top of your battery life and offer improvements, AndroZip File Manager can give you access to all your fi les, including hidden ones on your device. Both the AppMgr Pro III and App Update Notifi er are suitable choices when you need an app to help manage updates and downloads.

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[tip] Take advantage of the 30-minute demos of each game on OnLive so you can try before you buy.

[tip] VLC caters for a wide range of obscure fi le types, so no matter what format your video is in, VLC should be able to open it.

SkyDrive is great, but better on a desktop?

Kingsoft Offi ce 5.3.3Price: £1.32/$1.99Developer: Kingsoft Offi ce Software Corporation Limited

AndroZip File ManagerPrice: FreeDeveloper AgileSoft Resource

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Back up with App WererabbitIf you’re forever downloading apps, you’ll need a decent app manager and AppWererabbit (Toolbox) is an easy-to-use alternative to the more widely known Titanium Backup. AppWererabbit’s home screen lists all of your apps; tap on any to launch the available options, including Manage which helpfully takes you straight to the App Info page. From here, you can perform additional

tasks such as reviewing app permissions and requests.

AppWererabbit’s standout feature is its automatic backup functionality. From the main screen, tap the three dots in the corner and select Backup all to back up your apks (this doesn’t include app data and settings). You can send these backups to Dropbox’s cloud servers or share via email, and whenever new apps are downloaded, AppWererabbit automatically creates a backup, so you don’t need to worry about manually backing up new apps.

Although the advanced options require root, AppWererabbit is worthwhile even if you haven’t rooted your device, especially since the automatic backup functionality works regardless.

Keep track of wakelocksApp ‘wakelocks’ are a double-edged sword: they’re a battery drain, but they can also be handy for keeping the screen awake when you’re watching a movie, or keeping email apps running in the background. Wakelocks can be benefi cial, but you’ll want to keep an eye on them for the sake of your battery lifespan. The Wakelock Detector app helps

you keep track of wakelocks. Download and wait a few hours so it can gather information about how your apps are working. When you eventually launch Wakelock Detector, it displays partial wakelocks by default, but tapping the Wakelock Type and Sort By buttons enables you to drill down into these stats. Tapping on any app opens up a menu with additional information, so you can review exactly how your apps are using wakelocks.

DriveDroidOnce you’ve mastered hacking your device, you may want to start

Hacker ZøneExplore the limits of your Android device

status updateWhich devices are best for the hacking scene?

Tips and tricks

AppWererabbit’s interface gives you easy access to all of your apps

Review which apps are holding battery-sapping wakelocks

quickhacks

Intelligent Ringer monitors noise levels and adjusts the ringtone volume accordingly, saving you the embarrassment of ringtones in quiet cafes, and ensuring you never miss a call because your phone is tucked away.

Automatically adjust ring volume

Download Intelligent Ringer from Google Play, open the app and tap Start. The app begins monitoring surrounding noise levels. Tap Menu>Settings to modify Intelligent Ringer’s default setup.

1Some important options are

the sliding Sensitivity scale, which changes Intelligent Ringer’s sensitivity to surrounding noise levels, and the boundaries for minimum and maximum volume.

2Pocket mode is additional

volume that’s added when Intelligent Ringer detects your device is in your pocket or bag. Once you’ve set the additional volume, scroll down and activate.

3Launch the app Set your limits Pocket mode

Nexus 4Rooted? YesActive Development:■■■ Yes At such a low price the Nexus 4 is set to become one of the must-have devices for developers. Great news for the rest of us!

HTC OneRooted? YesActive Development:■■■ Medium Most of the usual suspects are present and correct. Hopefully there will be more unique tweaks and mods still to come.

Sony Xperia ZRooted? YesActive Development:■■■ Low Minimal ROMs or mods for the Z so far, but bloat-free ROMs are available. Remember you will need to unlock the bootloader fi rst as well.

Sony Xperia Z

Samsung Galaxy S4Rooted? YesActive Development:■■■ Medium You can expect this new device to be adopt by devs just a widely as its predecessor the Galaxy S III was.

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» www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukCheck our website daily for even more tips & tricks

59

Hacker ZøneBoost your

sound with AwesomeBEATSThe sound quality of mobile devices isn’t always great, which can be particularly painful for music lovers. AwesomeBEATS is an app that boosts sound quality, in a similar way to CyanogenMod’s DSP Manager. The installation is trickier than most apps, but this is understandable considering the range of ROMs supported in a single package.

To install, download the AwesomeBEATS zip (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1728391) to your device. Boot into Recovery and install the zip, which launches an installation screen. When prompted, select a version that’s compatible with your ROM and reboot. You’ll need the

MUSICFX to launch the AwesomeBEATS control panel. You can modify all of your sound settings from this screen.

Root your AT&T Samsung Galaxy S IIIThe CASUAL rooting tool now has support for rooting the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S III. To root this device using CASUAL, download the program onto your PC by visiting http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2189536. Once the jar fi le has fi nished downloading, check your version of Java is up to date by visiting http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre&try=1. If it isn’t, you’ll need to update before you can launch CASUAL.

Once you’re ready to root, enable USB Debugging and attach your Samsung to the PC. If your device isn’t recognised, try another USB port. Then, simply press Do It and follow any instructions that appear onscreen to root your AT&T Samsung Galaxy S III.

modifying your PC. Linux is an open source computer operating system available in many different fl avours, called ‘distributions’. Each distribution has a unique combination of the Linux kernel, tools and apps, and is accessed via an image fi le which is used to create a bootable CD or USB drive.

DriveDroid helps by turning your Android device into a bootable USB drive for trying new Linux distributions on your PC. Download the app, ensure USB mass storage is enabled and attach your device to the PC. DriveDroid comes with a built-in Linux store, enabling you to download distributions from inside the app. Tap the ‘+’ in the corner of the screen and select Download Image to browse the available distributions. Alternatively, create a blank image by tapping the ‘+’ and selecting Create blank image. Name your image and specify its size, and it’ll appear as an empty USB drive on your PC.

Once you’ve got an image fi le, select it in DroidDrive and your phone will ‘host’ it. Restart your PC and the image fi le will boot on your computer.

Access a range of Linux distributions from inside the DriveDroid app

CASUAL is an easy-to-use, one-click rooting solution

Share your tipsDiscovered a great hack or

tweak? Let us know!

»facebook/littlegreenrobotLike us on Facebook and send us your comments

»[email protected] there anything you’d like to see us cover in the mag? Drop us a line!

Make sure you select the correct version for your current ROM

OSShort for ‘operating system’. Often the Android ROM will be referred to as the OS – this just means the system fi les on the Android device that make up your user experience, similar to Windows, Mac OS X or Ubuntu on a desktop computer.

ROMStands for ‘read-only memory’. In the context of Android, the ROM refers to the fi les that make up the operating system installed on your device. Gaining root privileges allows for replacement of the standard ROMwith a custom one.

Root‘Rooting’ your phone gives apps access to parts of the OS that are normally hidden from consumers. This enables you to run more powerful software and install custom ROMs on your phone.

ROM ManagerAn app available from the Android Market that enables you to installa whole new version of your OS witha single click. It requires a rooted phone to use and is ideal for thosenew on the scene.

Titanium BackupThis app from the Market enables you to back up everything on your phone – apps, data, settings and all. It means that you can restore your phone to how it was, even after you’ve updated or changed the ROM.

UnrevokedAvailable from www.unrevoked.com, this is a one-click tool that can be used for rooting many popular HTC smartphones.

ADBStands for ‘Android Debug Bridge’. ADB is mainly used for software development, but it also has some uses for hacking your phone. It can be used to push fi les onto the system folder, for instance.

NandroidYou might come across the phrase ‘perform a Nandroid backup’. This means using a custom recovery toolto make a back-up image of everything currently on your phone: OS, apps, data, etc. It’s very useful should you wish to restore your phone to its previous state later.

Radio‘Radio’ refers to the software on your Android device that deals with making phone calls and data connections. Updating your radio version can bring better battery life and signal strength to your device. Some ROMs require the latest radio.

FlashThe storage in your device comprises fl ash memory, a type of solid-state storage. The terms ‘fl ash’ or ‘fl ashing’ mean installing new software onto your device’s storage.

Get up to speed on all the terms you need to know when hacking your phone

Hacking the easy way Get great new features without getting your hands (too) dirty

Remote Turn Off» FreeFrom: XDA Developers: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2207126Need root? Yes

Turn off your Android device remotely by sending it an SMS message. Handy if you have a tendency to leave it at the offi ce…

C Shaker» FreeFrom: Google PlayNeed root? NoPerform tasks such as launching apps or turning on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, by shaking your device. Shake-sensitivity can be scaled, if you’re worried about damaging your phone.

FolderMount» FreeFrom: Google PlayNeed root? YesEnables you to take folders of application data and mount them to your SD storage card, freeing up precious internal memory. FolderMount can also link folders to a USB drive.

JargonBuster

latest versions of BusyBox and Terminal Emulator at this point, but both are available for free from the Play store. Open Terminal Emulator and type the following, hitting the ‘enter’ key after each word:

suawesomereboot

Once your device has rebooted, open Settings and select Sounds. Tap

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Hacker Zøne

60

EssEntial HackstHat you must try today!

Amazing practical hacks that will help you get the most from your phone or tablet

do you root your Android device as soon as it comes out of the box? Do you chop and change ROMs on a weekly basis, just because you can? Then chances are you’re ready for a project a bit more ambitious. Over

the next ten pages we’ll guide you through some of the ways you can put your enthusiasm for all things hacking to productive use – from running Android apps on your laptop to setting your tablet up as a fully functioning computer. We’ll even show you some of the things you can do with that old Android phone going sat unused in your drawer. You don’t need to be an

expert, of course. While some of the projects here do require you to at least be familiar with the ins and outs of flashing ROMs and using a custom Recovery – see our guide in issue 16 for a comprehensive introduction – and also to have a device that is already rooted (and with an unlocked bootloader if needed too), we’ve also thrown in a few ideas that you can take on without any real knowledge of the more technical side of things. Hopefully the projects here will also give you inspiration to go even further with your hacks and tweaks, and truly unlock the potential of your Android device.

Double your battery lifeIncrease your RAMAdd extra storage Automate common tasksSpeed up Wi-Fi

Improve your cameraSave large games to SD cardShare saved game data between devicesBack up and restore appsRemap your hardware buttons

Hacker ZøneExplore the limits of your Android device

Discover how to:

10

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61

Hacker ZøneShare your saved games across devicesWant to play the same game on two different devices? DataSync is the answer

If you own more than one Android device there’s a good chance that you have installed some of the same apps on them. While this is fine for most things, it can be a major source of frustration when it comes to games. You

reach a certain level on your phone, but when you pick up to play on your tablet you have to start right back at the beginning.

What you need is to be able to share your progress between your devices. By syncing progress from one Android to another or even by saving your

progress to the cloud, you can introduce cross-device continuity into your gaming world. This might prove useful for a game with levels that require a particular amount of control, or if you simply want to get a better appreciation of the graphics.

All of this (and quite a bit more) can be achieved using DataSync, a free application from Google Play that requires two or more rooted Android devices for successful use.

Whether you plan to sync via Bluetooth, the cloud or your local network, other Android devices must also have DataSync installed. A sync can be completed by tapping the sync button on the other device – soon you’ll be seamlessly picking up where you left off.

Using your synced app6

DataSync can sync your mobile game or app data to Dropbox or Box cloud storage accounts. You’ll find the option to use this paid feature in the Settings menu, and naturally you will need to input your username and password for your preferred cloud service.

Prepare your account2

As apps are added to your queue, you’ll notice the total increase at the foot of the screen. When you’re done, click the save icon and name the queue, then tap the sync button to sync with another device, cloud storage or a local backup.

Save your queue and sync5

If you are planning to sync your app, game or data with another device, use the networking section of the Settings menu, where you will see options to add a device and specify a server port (although the default 4444 option should be okay).

Syncing to another Android device3

With your method of syncing established, it is time to choose the app or apps that you want to sync between your devices. All you need to do is return to the main screen of the app and in the Applications tab scroll through the list, tapping the apps you want to sync.

Time to sync4

Works with » Android 2.1 and later Difficulty » Intermediate

Available free from Google Play, DataSync will need Superuser (root) permissions assigning upon first run. Once this is done, you will be presented with the Queues view. For now, ignore this and instead swipe left to view the applications you can sync.

Install & grant Superuser permission1

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Battery life continues to be one of the biggest concerns for Android users. There are many simple ways you can improve on it – reducing your screen brightness, reducing the number of apps syncing in the background, even

switching off 3G or 4G when in areas of limited coverage. Your experiences with any or all of these methods may vary.

Yet there is one technique you can use that is guaranteed to work every time: undervolting. This hack reduces the voltage the processor uses, and can be set at different levels for different clock speeds. Thus, if you want to try and minimise battery usage when your phone or tablet is in standby mode you can focus your undervolting efforts on the slowest clock speeds, or if you’re a power user you might tweak the voltages at the higher clock speeds to try and eke out a little extra performance under more intensive tasks.

Undervolting is a relatively safe process, although if you set the voltages too low your device may become unstable or even crash altogether, so you should take small steps to begin with. It’s also worth bearing in mind that it only affects the processor, and the greatest battery drain – the screen – will remain as power hungry as ever. Ideally undervolting should be used as part of a wider series of tweaks to squeeze out as much power as you possibly can from your device’s battery.

Get much longer battery lifeBy undervolting your battery you can considerablyincrease the time you need between charges

Works with » All rooted Android devices Diffi culty » Advanced

“This hack reduces the voltage the processor uses, and can be set at different levels”

Hacker Zøne

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What you need

Before you begin you need to root your device and perform a Nandroid backup. You will also need a custom kernel that supports undervolting.We’re using Franco’s kernel with the franco.Kernel updater app.

1

Before you begin you must perform a Nandroid backup on your device. As with most hacking topics this is an essential way to enable you to restore your device should anything go wrong.

If your device becomes unstable or unresponsive due to selecting a too-low voltage, hold down the power button or pull the battery in order to reset it. If you set the voltages so low that your device will not boot at all then you will need to restore a Nandroid backup or refl ash the kernel in order to return to the default values.

Safety first

Flash the kernel

Having installed the app, open it and fl ash the latest version of the kernel. Go to franco.Kernel updater and select Download latest stable kernel, then choose the option to fl ash it and reboot your device. The entire process takes less than a minute.

Tweak the voltage

Re-open the app and select Frequencies/Voltages followed by Voltages from the list. Hitting the -25 mV option reduces voltages by a small amount, and is a good starting point. You can also tap a frequency and input your own number. Remember – take small steps.

Save and reboot

Tick the Set voltages on boot box to ensure your settings are applied. Exit the app and reboot. When it restarts it should be using the new lower voltages that you have set. You probably won’t notice any difference, but you can check in the franco app to make sure the settings are in use.

2 43

Adjust the voltage

The principle of using this app is the same as with the Franco one. Swipe to the Voltages screen and you’ll see the different clock speeds you can adjust. Select one and move the slider down to your required level. The CPU History gives you an idea of which speeds are most used.

Save and test

As before, save your changes and ensure they are applied when you boot your device, then reboot. Test a few apps and use the device normally for an hour or so to ensure there are no problems. You can now return to the app and push those voltages lower if you wish.

Over-volting

Finally, if you’re a particularly hardcore user you might want to go the other way and overvolt. This supplies more power to the CPU, and could be used in conjunction with overclocking. Be warned, though, this may shorten the lifespan of the battery and processor.

8 109

Test apps work

Now test a few apps and games, and put the device into standby, to make sure that it all seems to be working. It’s a good idea to leave some time between tweaks, just to be sure they’re okay, but once you’re happy with the changes, go ahead and experiment further.

Manual fl ashing

If you can’t use Franco’s kernel then you might need to manually fl ash one that works with your device. Head over to the forum for your handset at xda-developers.com to locate a suitable kernel. Once found, download and fl ash it in the same way you would fl ash a custom ROM.

Voltage control

With your new kernel fl ashed, download the Voltage Control Extreme app. This gives you a range of controls for the kernel, including over and underclocking, as well as access to the voltage settings. You will need a compatible device and kernel, and most popular ones are supported.

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Hacker Zøne

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Works with » Android 2.3.3 and later Diffi culty » Intermediate

Automate common tasksWith MacroDroid you can program

Android to complete a whole

range of everyday tasks

Those nighttime emails can prove particularly annoying, especially at 3am. A common way of avoiding the alerts is to disable connectivity as you go to bed, but if you’ve

had a long day or a busy evening, you can very easily forget to do that.

So why not automate the process? Using a tool such as MacroDroid (Google Play, from free) you can program Android to behave in particular ways based on time, location and other criteria. Creating a trigger and an action is simple, and by adding constraints to the macro

program you can, for example, make a call at a particular time of day or answer calls automatically.

MacroDroid can also be used to disable Wi-Fi connectivity and mobile data at a particular time and then reactivate it later on – such as when you go to bed and when you intend to wake up.

Creating a macro to do this is straightforward, and a good way of exploring the potential of this app. It might just give you a good night’s sleep, too! Follow the eight steps across these pages to get started.

Confi rm your constraint and tap the right arrow to give the macro an appropriate name and save it. Make sure the name you assign is descriptive, as you might end up with quite a few macros that you will need to quickly identify, so keep it memorable.

Save and name5

You’ll fi nd MacroDroid available in the Play store, where it is listed as a free app. After installation, launch the app and select Add Macro to begin. Note that you can fi nd details about triggers, actions and constraints by long-pressing the corresponding item.

Add a new macro1

Your macro isn’t quite ready yet – you need to add a constraint which will limit the action we’ve already set so that it only works under certain conditions. Set a Time of day duration from the point you wish to disable wireless, ending one minute before the trigger time set earlier.

Limit macro behaviour4

For this tutorial we’re creating a macro that will disable and enable Wi-Fi at particular times of the day. To start with, we need to select our trigger, in this case the Day/Time Trigger option. Select, and set the time with which to trigger the macro using the intuitive selection boxes.

Select your trigger2

A trigger requires an action, so browse through the list for Enable/Disable Wifi . The Enable Wifi option should be chosen here, putting you half way towards your smartphone connecting to your local wireless network each morning. To fi nish, you need to add a constraint.

Adding an action3

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Works with » Android 1.5 and later Difficulty » Easy

A saved macro can be found in the List Macros screen, where the trigger, action and constraint will be neatly summarised along with a toggle to simply switch the macro on and off. Also be aware of the pen icon, for editing, and the trash can for deleting.

Review and edit6

Additional triggers, actions and constraints can be unlocked in MacroDroid via the Settings>Enable Root Features checkbox, while the Template Macros screen lists several pre-installed macros that you can use as they are, or as a starting point for your own.

Find more triggers7

The free version of MacroDroid is limited to just three macros. If you foresee this application proving particularly useful, the upgrade button enables you to remove this block and enjoy unlimited macros, as well as the ability to import and export macro lists.

Beat the limit8

Increase your RAM

You’ll find Startup Manager in the Play store (choose between the free ad-supported and paid versions). After installation you will need to assign Superuser/root privileges to the app, something that is only possible if you have rooted your handset.

Install Startup Manager, assign permissions1

Upon launching, Startup Manager will scan Android to check for apps that are configured to open at startup. There are three views: User, System and Customize. Use the Disable All button in the User view to instantly block apps from opening automatically.

Manage your startup items2

Each item listed is accompanied by a blue circle with a minus symbol – by tapping this you disable the app in question, preventing it from being launched when you start Android. Mistakes can be undone by tapping the grey ‘+’ symbol that appears instead.

Disabling startup items3The Customize view is probably the most

important. Using the Add Startup Items button you can select apps that will load when your phone boots. As a final check, activate the third option in the Settings screen to see which items couldn’t be disabled.

Customise startup apps4

Is your Android running out of precious memory? By blocking applications from automatically launching you can keep vital resources available for the apps you really need…

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Works with » Android 2.3 and later Diffi culty » Intermediate

Save large files to an externalcardSave space by forcing apps to store data on your SD card

Despite your phone shipping with 16 or even 32GB of internal storage, you might have noticed this total slowly ebbing away, chipped at with every app you install from the Google Play store.

One common reason for this is that associated data – things such as podcasts or large games (typically the ones that appear to install quickly before announcing that they need to download more data) – takes up space on your internal SD card. A solution to this might be to move some of your standard, small data fi les – photos, music etc – to your external SD card.

This can be fi ddly and inconvenient, however, but there is a better solution in the shape of FolderMount, a root application that enables you to automatically store games, podcasts, navigation software fi les and so much more on your external SD card.

FolderMount, a free download, works by enabling you to pair folders, tricking the Android OS into thinking that the data fi le is on the internal storage rather than the external SD card. The end result is a smartphone or tablet with improved performance. Here’s how it works.

After installing FolderMount from the Google Play store and assigning Superuser permissions as required on the fi rst run, tap the ‘+’ symbol to add a new folder pair. Folder pairs are synced to fool Android into allowing app data storage on an external SD card.

Understand folder pairs1

Although data might appear in both the source and destination locations, it is in fact only present in one place. You can check this by unpinning the paired folders.Use the Settings screen to ensure that your paired folders are mounted when you boot Android.

Data is not duplicated 5

When a new folder pair is added by a user, FolderMount will offer to move the data. Tap the Yes command to agree and wait patiently for a moment. Once the data is moved to the external storage location, tap on the pin icon, which should turn green instantly.

Edit a saved folder pair4

One of the most common uses for FolderMount is to move space-hogging video fi les to your external storage card. A drawback of this, however, is that you might end up with duplicates in your phone gallery. Use the Exclude from media scan option to avoid this.

Exclude media fi les3

Assign an appropriate name and then select the Source folder – the location on your Android phone where the app or data you wish to move currently resides. Tap the tick symbol to confi rm the request, and repeat the process for Destination, adding a folder if necessary.

Confi gure folder pairs2

Diffi culty » Intermediate

Save large files to an external

Save space by forcing apps to store

espite your phone shipping with 16 or even 32GB of internal storage, you might have noticed this total slowly ebbing away, chipped at with every app you install from the Google Play store.

One common reason for this is that associated data – things such as podcasts or large games (typically the ones that appear to install quickly before announcing that they need to download more data) – takes up space on your internal SD card. A solution to this might be to move some of your

– to your external SD card.

This can be fi ddly and inconvenient, however, but there is a better solution in the shape of FolderMount, a root application that enables you to automatically store games, podcasts, navigation software fi les and so much more on your external SD card.

FolderMount, a free download, works by enabling you to pair folders, tricking the Android OS into thinking that the data fi le is on the internal storage rather than the external SD card. The end result is a smartphone or tablet with improved performance. Here’s how it works.

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Improve Nexus camera qualityThe Nexus 7 comes with a very basic front-facing camera, but you can upgrade its video to 720p with a simple hack

You’ll now see your drive listed – most fi le systems are supported including those used on Windows and Mac. Tap the drive to view fi les then simply access the fi les as you would normally. They will open in their associated app.

Access your fi les2When you’re fi nished you must remember

to unmount the drive to prevent any errors occurring if you unplug it while it is still in use. Return to USB OTG Helper and tap the Unmount button. You can now safely unplug your drive.

… and unmount3Head over to the Play store to download

USB OTG Helper. Plug a USB drive into a micro USB adapter and attach it to your phone. The app should launch automatically and detect the drive. Tap the Mount button to access the drive.

Mount a drive1

As our phones get faster and their screens get bigger they are becoming more and more useful for consuming content. But HD movies are enormous fi les and you won’t fi t many into the

typical storage allowance on most phones. But if your device has USB On-The-Go support you can easily add temporary storage to your device, onto which you can store full-length movies or a larger music collection. You could access documents brought with you from your work computer, or if you add a memory card adapter you could even remove the card from your camera and instantly view, edit and share the photos as soon as you take them. Using the USB OTG Helper app on a rooted device the entire process can become completely seamless too.

Increase your storage Seamlessly add a USB fl ash drive to your device and make extra room for a multitude of media

Works with » Any device with USB OTG Diffi culty » Easy

Works with » Nexus 7 Diffi culty » Intermediate

The Nexus 7 doesn’t provide access to the camera at all, by default. The camera app is installed but the app icon is missing. Head to the Play store and download Camera Launcher to add that icon.

Mount a drive1In order to add support for

720p video you must fl ash the fi le located in this thread: http://bit.ly/10VCZeQ. Your device must be unlocked and rooted and you should fl ash the fi le like a custom ROM.

Flash the mod2An app such as ROM Manager

is the easiest way to fl ash a zip fi le, if you’re unsure on how to do it manually. It should only take a few seconds to complete, and once it is done, restart your Nexus.

Restart the device3Now launch the camera app

and switch into video mode and you will fi nd you can now shoot in HD. With the software limitation on quality removed, your video calls on Skype should also be improved.

Get shooting4

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Boost your Wi-Fi signalDon’t feel limited by your current wireless networking speed – use a Wi-Fi boosting app to make sure you’re always connected to the fastest available signal

One downside of wireless booster apps is the impact on your device’s battery.

Wi-Fi boosters require additional power to increase wireless speed, so don’t use one if your battery is low.

3

The app features a very simple UI, enabling fast wireless signal

optimisation at the tap of a button.Optimisation occurs in the background – you don’t have to do a thing!

2

A popular way to deal with weak wireless signals is to install the free Wifi Booster

2013 app from Google Play. Note that this is an ad-supported app.

1



Remap your buttons

Use Other key settings to find the long press option for your phone’s camera button, and tap the Choose Application button to find the app you wish to use. Click OK to confirm, then Back and Close. You can now try your remapped hardware button.

Set new actions4

After installation you will want to run Home2 Shortcut and start configuring Android’s hardware buttons. However, due to the nature of the app and its ability in reassigning key mappings, the ‘Complete action using’ box will be displayed. Avoid tapping the Always option!

Home2 Shortcut1

Even if you don’t want to configure the Home button, you still need to select your preferred home application. With this set, you shouldn’t have any problems returning to the home screen, so you can turn your attention to the key you wish to remap.

Home application3

Get started by tapping Choose Application to assign an app to a double-tap of the Home button. Continue by configuring the double-tap speed, which features several options, from Very very short to Very long. This can be changed after mapping the hardware key.

Get started2

How many of your Android device’s hardware buttons do you use? You might, for instance, never use the camera, thereby inadvertently creating a redundant button. But it doesn’t have to be this way – you can configure your Android camera button (or any others) to behave in a particular way,

launching specific apps that can make life easier.This is made possible with an app such as Home2 Shortcut, with which you can reconfigure the

Home, Search, Menu, Back and Camera buttons on your phone or tablet in order to quickly launch your favourite apps without browsing menus.

Improve your mobile efficiency by remapping hardware buttons to launch favourite apps

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Back up and restore your appsAvoid factory reset blues by restoring backed up software in minutes

Whether you’re resetting your phone to factory settings in order to overcome a problem or you’re updating Android, losing your apps can prove a bit of a

nightmare. Sure, you might use Google Play to get your apps back, but installation this way is slow, with software only available to be reinstalled one at a time. So what other solutions are there? ES File Explorer is popular, but perhaps the ultimate backup/restore app for Android is Titanium Backup, a tool that

can easily and quickly back up and restore apps from a folder on your SD card or elsewhere.

With Titanium Backup you can do so much more than back up apps, with messages, calls, bookmarks and Wi-Fi access points among the options.

There is a caveat, however – in order to use Titanium Backup, your Android device must fi rst be rooted. This is a small price to pay for such fl exibility though.

In the Batch screen, scroll down to the Restore section and use the appropriate option to restore your backup. Titanium offers more than just backups, and you will notice many options here, including delete tools and even moving downloaded apps to the SD card.

Restoring apps6

Upon fi rst launch you will need to make a couple of checks. First, ensure that you are happy with the listed backup directory – you can change it in the Preferences menu. Also check that your Android storage is suffi cient to run a backup.

Check storage in Titanium Backup2

Backing up your apps in bulk is easily done by tapping Run, confi rming the selection and tapping the green tick to fi nish. Depending on the number of apps, this might take a while to fi nish. App backups are stored in the location you checked earlier.

Setting backup options5

Via the Backup/Restore screen, view the list of the apps that will be backed up. To back up an app, tap it and select Backup! from the sub-menu. Closer inspection will reveal the Restore option. Tap this to restore the app from its backed up state.

Prepare to back up3

Scrolling through the list and backing up applications one at a time might prove heavy going, of course, which is why Titanium Backup offers a batch option, available via the icon in the top-right corner. Use this to back up apps, system data, or both.

Back up apps in batches4

Works with » Android 1.5 and later Diffi culty » Intermediate

After installing this free app from Google Play, you should see notices to alter your system confi guration. You can save time with this beforehand, however – open Settings> Applications and check the Unknown sources box, then Developer options and check USB Debugging.

Confi gure your phone1

restore your appsAvoid factory reset blues by restoring backed up software in minutes

can easily and quickly back up and restore apps from a folder

With Titanium Backup you can do so much more than back up apps, with messages, calls, bookmarks and Wi-Fi

There is a caveat, however – in order to use Titanium Backup, your Android device must fi rst be rooted. This is a

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72

Apps» 30 most innovative apps

Ground-breaking software that will change the way you use your Android device

There are thousands of apps on the Play store that are worth your attention. So many in fact that it can get a bit daunting choosing which ones deserve some of the space on your Android device. But don’t worry, because that’s where we come in. Some apps make your Android device look nice, others alter some of the tasks it can perform, but there are a rare few which actually revolutionise the way you use your phone or

tablet. Here then are the 30 most innovative Android apps, along with the reasons why you should have them on your phone.

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Field TripPrice: Free

Uses your location to keep you up to date with deals, facts and interesting places around you. Perfect for ensuring you

get the most out of the cities you visit.

Popup WidgetsPrice: £0.99/$1.52Shrink your widgets to save more space on your home screens

Widgets are great. Not only do they let you customise your home screens, they give you quick access to the apps and information you need. The problem is, they can take up a lot of space. Some people don’t mind that, but if you prefer your home screens to be sleek and organised, Popup Widget is the app for you. This neat little app lets you create app icon-sized shortcuts that, when tapped, bring up a widget. You can arrange them just like you’d arrange your apps, and when you access a widget it pops up in front of your homescreen, letting you access its features without having to fi nd somewhere to put it that doesn’t spoil the look of your phone or tablet. You can even change the size of the widget when it pops up, play around with the ensuing animation and alter the settings so the widget disappears when you swipe away. Widgets give you the freedom to have a home screen that suits you, and Popup Widget extends that freedom with a neat, stylish UI.

AutomateIt ProPrice: £1.00/$1.60

Using simple strings of if/and code you can use this app to make your phone work for you, including turning on your

music player when you insert your headphones, for example.

iOnRoad Augmented Driving ProPrice: £2.99/$4.99

Mount your Android device to your windscreen and this app warns you of upcoming dangers. You’ll need to watch

the road, but it’s a clever use of your device’s camera.

CamScannerPrice: Free

Scan a document on your phone and this app will automatically change it into a PDF, saving you a lot of hassle

with scanners, wires, and emailing things to yourself.

Swapps!Price: Free

A swipe from the left-side of the screen instantly brings up a list of all the apps you’ve got installed, whatever app you’re

in or home screen you’re on.

Notif ProPrice: £0.61/$0.99

Add reminders to your notifi cations bar

Notif lets you leave yourself messages and reminders in the notifi cations bar of your device. Got some things you need to pick up from the shop? Leave yourself a list in the bar. A nice looking app with huge potential, no forgetful Android user should leave home without it.

Skyvi (Siri for Android)Price: Free

A viable alternative to Apple’s Siri AI engine

Siri has been hanging around on Apple devices for a while now, but there are plenty of options available to Android users who want their own digital assistant. Skyvi is one of the best around, and lets you send texts, search the internet, and even have a chat with your phone.

Awesome DropPrice: Free

Drag and drop in a web browser to sync fi les

There’s something so simple about Awesome Drop that it almost beggars belief. Point your PC’s HTML5-enabled web browser to a URL, type the code you fi nd there on your phone and you can simply drag and drop fi les to your browser and sync them with your phone. It’s that easy and an app we think can be of great use of you.

Choosing your widgetsOnce you’ve brought up the app and tapped to create a new widget you’re given a long, detailed list of all the different widgets you’ve got installed on your Android device.

Popup Widgets in actionChanginga widget’s sizeWhen you have selected the widget you want to make a shortcut for, you can set the size the widget will be when it pops up with just a few swipes. It’s a very intuitive process.

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GO TouchHelperPrice: FreeA gorgeous app that gives you quick access to the most often-used parts of your device

If you’re not sure about switching to a different launcher app, GO TouchHelper offers the perfect solution. Essentially it’s an app that collates the most important parts of your Android experience into one easy-to-understand screen. You’ll see the people you contact most frequently, the last text message you received, the time, your alarms, and a host of other useful and pertinent information. There are themes you can download to change the look of the app too, although the default setting is probably one of the nicest looking apps we’ve seen. GO TouchHelper’s strength is that it bypasses a lot of what goes into customising your Android device. Here’s everything you need presented in one great-looking package. You’ve still got the rest of your phone for your apps and fi les, but the main stuff you’re going to be using on a regular basis is collected in one handsome and incredibly easy-to-use application. And if you want you can make it look like your phone is running the Windows Phone OS. GO TouchHelper is a great idea, brilliantly implemented, that makes you think about the different ways you use your Android device. And it looks great too.

FilterPrice: FreeDim your screen far more than the native settings allow

Staring at a screen is a decent way to get a headache, and while Android has built-in brightness controls, sometimes they’re not enough. That’s where Screen Filter comes in. Fine grained controls let you set your level, and you can even use Locale or Tasker to change brightness.

GMD Gesture ControlPrice: £3.53/$5.56Use multi-touch gestures to navigate your Android device

There are some things the iPad does out of the box that your Android device simple doesn’t, and chief among them is multi-touch gestures. But, if your Android is rooted, you can buy GMD Gesture Control from the Play store and set up and use custom swipes to change applications, close what you’re working on and an awful lot more.

Shush!Price: FreeTurn your ringer back on after a set time

Shush! is a clever, free application that lets you set a time limit for turning your phone on silent. Mute your phone and Shush! will then pop up to ask you how long you want it to be quiet. This essential download means you’ll never miss an important call because you forgot to put your ringer on again.

Onavo ExtendPrice: FreeExtends your Android data plan

An ingenious app that could save you money on your 3G, Onavo Extend essentially compresses the amount of data you’re using, fi nding some pretty impressive savings for you in the process. If you often fi nd yourself going over your data limit, then you need to grab this app right now.

WiFi Mouse ProPrice: £2.52/$3.86Turn your Android device into a wireless mouse and keyboard

It feels pretty old fashioned using a mouse nowadays, so why not use your Android device instead. Grab WiFi Mouse from the Play store, then install a bit of software on your PC and in no time you can be using your tablet or phone to navigate through your computer.• The app can act as a remote control as well.• Multi-touch gestures let you switch window

focus and much more.• Swap between right and left-handed mouse

modes with ease.• Lets you use speech to text input quickly

and simply.

Access your settings from the bar in the middle of the app, changing things with a few taps

Your most regularly used apps appear in the home bar, so it’s quick and easy to get straight to them

30 most innovative appsApps



30 most innovative apps

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Apps30 most innovative apps «

75

FeedlyPrice: FreeA gorgeous RSS reader designed for Android devices

An RSS reader might not sound like the sort of app you’d put on a list concerning cutting-edge innovation, but Feedly is such a unique way to keep up to date with your favourite sites and blogs it’d be wrong not to. Slick, polished and special, try this and you’ll never go back.

Zooper WidgetPrice: £0.99/$1.99Build your own custom time and weather widget

The Android OS is all about individuality. There are so many layers of changes you can make to your phone or tablet that there’s no reason two devices should ever look alike. Zooper Widget embraces that philosophy wholeheartedly, letting you create your own unique widget using the parameters of the app. You can choose your font, positioning, angle and the information that the widget displays. Best of all, it’s a widget built with your device’s battery in mind, designed only to use power when you want it to. There’s a huge amount to customise, and some great templates to start you off too. Along with a clock and the weather, you can add your calendar to the widget and keep up to date with what you’re supposed to be doing. Smart and brilliantly designed, Zooper Widget manages to capture the Android ethos – it’s stylish, individual and it just works.

WazePrice: FreeCommunity generated traffi c alerts

Waze is designed so you don’t have to combat the long commute to work alone. It’s a social network for drivers that lets you add alerts and recommendations to keep others abreast of what the fl ow of traffi c is like. Just driving with the app open sends details to the Waze servers about traffi c speed. A great idea that can only get better as more people pick it up.

Sidebar ProPrice: £1.28/$1.99Adds a swipeable sidebar to your Android experience

Sidebar Pro makes the most of the swipeable nature of touchscreen devices, letting you drag a customisable bar in from the side of the screen. You can access your favourite apps, kill programs that are running in the background, and fl ip a series of toggles. Clever and elegant, Sidebar Pro adds an extra level of control to your overall Android experience that feels like it should always have been there.

Magnifying GlassPrice: FreeUse your device’s camera to zoom in on things

Magnifying Glass lets you use the camera on your Android smartphone to magnify text for a much closer look. A simple user interface makes zooming in a piece of cake and the app uses the focus modes and fl ash of your device’s camera to ensure the image you’re looking at is crystal clear.

Device Info Ex Live WallpaperPrice: £0.72/$1.12Displays pertinent information

about your Android device

Live wallpaper is cool, but it’s rarely useful for anything other than showing off. That’s where Device Info Ex Live Wallpaper comes in. Using this app you can use your wallpaper to display a mind boggling array of facts and fi gures about your device, from internal memory usage to CPU specifi cations.

Google KeepPrice: Free

Keep track of your thoughts, ideas and plans with this stylish and easy-to-use note-taking app from Google

that syncs across all of your desktop and mobile devices.

Vivino Wine ScannerPrice: Free

Take a photo of the wine you’re drinking and this app will match it with its database of over 500,000 tipples,

showing you reviews and tips.

Running TraxPrice: Free

Sick of jogging to the same old songs? Running Trax updates weekly with 40 new songs to keep you running, for a

subscription price of just £4 a month.

ViddyPrice: Free

Instagram for video. Capture a 15-second clip, add one of a wide range of different and exciting fi lters, then upload

them to your social networks and share with your friends.

Gifi natorPrice: Free

A brilliant app that lets you quickly create an animated gif, then share it with your friends. Fun to use and surprisingly

addictive, you’ll be ‘giffi ng’ everything.

Sidebar Pro

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76

Apps» 30 most innovative appsAppsApps» 30 most innovative appsApps

30 most innovative appsApps» 30 most innovative apps»

Set the positionLong press on the Toucher point to move it around the screen. When you’re happy with where it is, just lift up your fi nger and it’ll stick in that spot.

Up close with ToucherChooseyour appsChoose any of the apps on your device to sit in the favourites section. Tap on the one you want and it’ll be there next time you open the app.

ToucherPrice: FreeEverything you need right at your fi ngertips

Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that you get the most out of. That’s especially true with Toucher, an app that lets you put a single fi nger in charge of the most important aspects of your Android device. Once you’ve installed the app you’ll see a grey circle at the side of your screen – tapping that opens up the Toucher launcher, which gives you access to a variety of different options. You can set up your favourite apps, for example, and access them at anytime by tapping the circle, which handily hovers in the corner even when you’re in a different app. You’ll also get quick access to a set of toggles that let you play with the basic settings of your phone, like turning off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or changing the brightness. It’s great to have constant, quick access to the apps you use the most, and you can customise them too, if something new enters your app rotation. Throw in downloadable themes that let you change the way the launcher looks and you’re left with a strikingly simple idea that gives you an extra degree of control over your Android device, and looks brilliant while it’s at it.

Emoji KeyboardPrice: FreeTurn your Android keyboard into a hotbed of signs and symbols

Rooting your Android device gives you lots more freedom to play around with the way things are presented, swapping out the fonts, for example, so they display tiny, cute emoticons. Obviously you’ll need some way of sending these Emoji, and that’s what Emoji Keyboard is for. With a few taps you can add a massive array of faces, symbols and signs. Simple and fun, Emoji Keyboard lets you express the gamut of human emotions, all from the comfort of your rooted device.

Gesture LauncherPrice: FreeOpen apps with a quick onscreen scribble

If you’re sick of searching when you want to start an app then Gesture Launcher could revolutionise your Android use. You can set different scribbles to different apps so all you need to do is open Gesture Launcher, doodle the right shape on the screen, and your app will load.

Lock Pattern GeneratorPrice: FreeCreate new lock patterns to protect your Android device

The lock pattern on your Android device is probably pretty easy to crack, but this app lets you generate complex patterns to make sure your phone or tablet doesn’t get any unwanted attention. Fast and simple to use, this takes one of Google’s innovations and moves it a step further.

Tapping on the Brightness button lets you cycle through four different settings to pick the one that’s right for you

If you need to turn Toucher off, simply go to

the app and hide the touch point

072-076_AND_025.indd 76 30/04/2013 09:13

We don’t keep secrets

Learn the truth about iPhone, iPad, Android, Photoshop andmore with the Tips & Tricks series’ expert advice and tutorials

TM

BUY YOUR COPY TODAYPrint edition available at www.imagineshop.co.uk


facebook.com/ImagineBookazines twitter.com/Books_Imagine


F1 2013 Timing App

Playmarkers Scan these QR codes for direct links to the Google Play StoreApps

78

A host of information is at your fi ngertips, including tyre type and DRS zones

Follow a race with fully interactive 3D maps

Want your money back? You’ve got 15 mins to decide!

refundkeep

15min wonder

»0-5 minutes The interactive map is a whole new experience.

51015

!

»5-10 minutes It’s amazing all the data available at your fi ngertips.

51015

!

»10-15 minutes This is an app that will change the F1 racing experience forever.

51015

!

Without question, the best racing app out there today

Performance

Design

Value

» specification

Designed for: Phone and tablet

Requires Android: 2.1 and up

Price £19.99/$33.99

» verdict

Are you looking for the full F1 racing experience? Follow your favourite driver

wherever you are with the F1 2013 Timing & Track Position app, the only offi cial F1 Timing app available on the market. This brilliant app delivers up-to-the-minute track positions and data streamed from the track directly to your Android device. Whether you’re on the go or sitting in the comfort of your home in front of the TV, the app delivers live F1 racing data to your Android device. Once you’ve tried this fantastic app you’ll never be able to watch Formula One without it again. F1 Timing works on a variety of the most popular Android devices including the Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Desire, Nexus One, Motorola Milestone and Sony Ericsson X10 to name a few.

The F1 Timing app instantly delivers track positioning and data

stream from the race course to your smartphone. Follow your favourite drivers through the interactive 3D map and watch the race unfold before your very eyes. The map includes all sorts of features, including the ability to focus on a driver and rotate the map. The F1 Timing App puts you in the driver’s seat like never before. The Live Leaderboard lets you know who’s in the lead. You can even view pit stops, so you’ll be the fi rst to know who will cross the fi nish line fi rst and emerge victorious.

There’s plenty of useful data available at your fi ngertips just waiting to be discovered. Not only can you view an interactive map, you’ll even receive live tyre data feeds to your smartphone. If you’re a data junkie this is a must-have – fi nd out the exact tyre type and compound each driver is using at any point in the race. Not only that, you can even view the two previous tyre

types used. Depending on the weather conditions, tyre types can be a factor in infl uencing the results of the race.

The Live Timing feed delivers a host of useful data to your Android device. Receive up-to-the-second positions, lap times, gaps, sectors times, circuit data, speeds and race

status. DRS (Drag Reduction System) Zones, a new addition to F1 in 2011, have been brought to the app. What’s a DRS Zone? They’re a point in the track where drivers can gain an aerodynamic advantage to pass fellow drivers on their way to victory. These zones are clearly marked on the track, so you’ll know if a last second come-from-behind victory could be on the cards.

You’ll never need to worry about checking Formula1.com again for the latest news. Breaking F1 news as it happens is instantly delivered to your home screen so you’ll never miss an important news story again. You can tinker the news settings to make sure your racing experience is perfect. Our only major complaint is at £19.99/$33.99 the app is very pricey. The free version is hardly worth downloading – it’s just an advertisement for the paid version. You can barely do anything.

If you’re a serious F1 racing fan this app is a must-have, but if you’re a casual viewer you might consider saving your money.

F1 2013 Timing AppFollow the thrills, spills and spins wherever you are in the world

» like this? try this!

Livesports24 F1 RacingView up-to-the-minute leaderboards,

including team, position and best lap results.

UNOFFICIAL LIVE F1 TIMING » F1 nuts will appreciate this app, but it’s not a patch on the offi cial offering.

»best freealternative

Zoom in on live maps and watch

the race unfold in front of your eyes

078-079_AND_025.indd 78 29/04/2013 16:56

RethinkMust-Have Recipes

WiFi Signal Booster Burn Note

79

RethinkTasks done the new way

Smartphones were supposed to make our lives a lot simpler, not more hectic. Feeling

overwhelmed with all the apps you have to check and the tasks you have to remember on a daily basis? Take control of your smartphone – and your life – with Rethink. Rethink is a revolutionary way to keep track of all your daily tasks in your busy life. This isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill task manager app – Rethink takes task management a step further by allowing you to create context-

sensitive task reminders. You’re no longer bound simply by time – you can create tasks that are triggered by events in your daily routine, so you can concentrate on the important things in life and not have to worrying about picking up bread and milk at the supermarket.

Rethink offers the perfect balance between simple, yet effective, in one powerful app. Setting up task reminders is quick and easy. You can set up task triggers when you arrive at a specifi c location, contact friends and family, connect to a Wi-Fi network or at a specifi c time of the day. For example, if you need to buy some stamps from the post offi ce you can create a reminder next time you’re driving by so you’ll remember to stop in. Do you ever fi nish a

conversation with a friend and only seconds later realise you forgot to mention an important detail? Create a reminder next time your friend calls or sends an SMS message so you won’t forget.

This is only the beginning of how Rethink can make your life a whole lot easier. There are a host of extra features including the ability to trigger multiple tasks, synchronise

tasks with your default calendar, and colour code tasks for easy management. Never feel overwhelmed again with Rethink, the application that promises to change your life.


Tasks To DoLet this application make you

super-organised and effi cient.

Whether you’re a master chef or you’re looking at improving your cooking skills, the Must-Have Recipes from BHG app has something for everyone. Better Homes and Gardens delivers its top recipes,

cooking tips and advice in this cracking app for free. With over 500 recipes to try, you’ll be a world-class chef in no time. Recipes include mouth-watering full

courses, main dishes, salads, side dishes and even grilling favourites.

This isn’t your garden variety cookbook app – each recipe includes full colour photos of the fi nished dishes. If you aren’t as handy around the kitchen as you’d hope, there are 75 how-to videos that will teach you the ropes and make cooking seem easy. Do you want to spice up a certain recipe? Add special notes to any recipe to add your taste of fl avour. If 500 recipes isn’t enough, you can purchase additional recipes in batches of 100.

» Price Free» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android 2.3.3 and up

Must-Have RecipesCooking has never been this easy

BETTY CROCKER MOBILE COOKBOOK » Each recipe includes a list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions to follow.

»like this? try this!

WiFi Signal BoosterA free wireless signal boost

There’s nothing worse than a weak Wi-Fi signal. When you’re downloading

content on your phone the last thing you want to be worried about is your network signal. Weak network signals are a thing of the past with WiFi Signal Booster. This app is easy to use, yet powerful. Simply connect to a Wi-Fi network, press WiFi Boost

and you’ll have a strong Wi-Fi signal in seconds. How does this work? It simply refreshes your Wi-Fi signal so you’ll always have the strongest connection.

» Price Free» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android 1.6 and up

Burn NoteProtect your private conversations

» Price Free» Designed for Phone/tablet» Requires Android 2.1 and up

Burn Note brings the security of the BlackBerry to your Android device. The

classic ‘this message will self-destruct’ line from the classic spy comedy Get Smart is the best way to describe this useful app. Burn Note is a secure way to send messages and keep them private. Each message sent is deleted instantly without a trace. Once the receiver downloads the message the clock

starts ticking. Once time is up the message is deleted. Messages can be sent to fellow users, email recipients and links to use anywhere.

Take your mind off daily tasks and let Rethink take care of the rest

» specification

» verdict

Designed for: Phone and tabletRequires Android: 2.2 and up

Price £1.35/$1.99

ANY.DO » The simplicity in this app’s design means it won’t get in the way of any of the tasks you actually need to do.

»best freealternative

EDITOR’S CHOICE

078-079_AND_025.indd 79 29/04/2013 16:56

Photo Effects Pro

Playmarkers Scan these QR codes for direct links to the Google Play Store Uber

Opera Browser BetaApps

80

Let’s face it, there are a slew of photo editing apps already available on the market. What sets this one apart from the pack? Not only is Photo Effects Pro free, it has a host of easy-to-use effects at your

disposal. With over 50 free space effects, you’ll transform your photos from average to amazing in seconds. These unique effects include Pencil Sketch, rounded corners, Tint image, shaded image and many more. The app includes all the basic abilities you’d expect like cropping, rotating and adjusting contrast, plus you can dress up your photos with unique frames.

You watch the effects transform your photos and then, best of all, you can instantly share them with the world via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or dress up your phone’s home screen by using them as wallpaper.


ADOBE PHOTOSHOP EXPRESS » Super-powerful, market-leading portable software from Adobe.


Photo Effects ProDress up your photos with unique effects in seconds

Why hail a cab the old fashioned way when you don’t need to? Limos have fi nally moved into the 21st Century with the introduction of Uber. Touted as everyone’s private drive, Uber lets you request a private car

all from your Android device. You’ll never whistle for a cab again.

Not only can you request a cab, the driver will know your exact location. Paying for your ride couldn’t be easier – the fare is charged directly to your credit card and you’ll even receive an electronic receipt in-app and via email. Uber is only available in a select few major cities across the world, including New York, San Francisco and Toronto, but the service is quickly expanding. The only downside about the app is the GPS can be fi nicky – it could take the driver a couple minutes to fi gure out your exact location.

» Price Free» Designed for Phone» Requires Android 2.1 and up

UberHail a limo straight from your smartphone

GETTAXI – TAXI CAB APP » Simplifying the booking process even further, so you never have to leave the app.


Opera browser betaOpera’s new rendering puts it back among the web giants

Opera browser Opera’s new rendering puts it back among the web giants

Opera browser beta is a fi rst look at the future of the Opera Mobile web browser. It’s a major change for the software, moving to the WebKit rendering engine for the fi rst time, putting it

alongside the likes of Chrome in terms of its speed, accuracy and functionality. For existing users of Opera Mobile this move takes some getting used to. The entire UI of the app has been redesigned, with some of the elements that made Opera Mobile so successful in the past being reworked – there’s a nice tab switching feature, for instance, while the Speed Dial page now also includes additional panes for your browsing history, as well as a Flipboard-style highlights screen.

It is fast, and for the most part creates the pages as you would expect, although like with Chrome you will occasionally see fonts being displayed at different sizes where you would expect them to be the same. As a beta app, Opera Browser is still very much a work in progress, with features like the bookmark-syncing service Opera Link yet to be fully implemented (at the time of writing). However, it is fast and stable enough to use as your main browser, and with improvements delivered regularly, gets better all the time.

Get to know the Opera browserIf you’re a fan of Opera browser on your PC, you’re going to love bringing this powerful, yet simple browser to your Android device

Discover Get the news relevant to you delivered directly to your browser. The unique Discover features send recommendations for news, entertainment and other popular content tailored to your likes.

Speed Dial Opera’s unique Speed Dial feature saves you time by displaying your favourites, bookmarks and saved web pages for your pleasure. Customise by adding folders or reorganising with a fi nger swipe.

Off-Road Suffering from a slow Wi-Fi connection? Looking for a much-needed speed boost? Select Off-Road mode to save your precious data and browse the internet at lightning-fast speeds.

080-081_AND_025.indd 80 29/04/2013 16:57

Qustodio Parental Controls

81

Protect your child by blocking access to apps they shouldn’t be using

Qustodio Parental ControlsThe best app for protecting your child

Do you share your smartphone with your children or teenager? If so, parental controls

are a must, especially for young children. You don’t want your child to stumble across something online and be scarred for life.

While parent control software has been around for years on PCs, there aren’t as many options available for protecting your child on your Android device. Qustodio is a parental control app that promises to keep your child safe on the go. This powerful app enables parents to manage and monitor how their kids are using their Android phone or tablet. Install the app on each of your devices for the utmost protection.

What sets Qustodio apart from the rest of parental control apps out there? It enables you to monitor your child’s web surfi ng activities and block harmful websites based on fi lters, set access time limits and

quotas, and display whether your child is spending most of their time doing homework or playing games. The premium version is money well spent – you can monitor and block apps and games. Qustodio lets you rest at ease and never worry about your children’s online activities again.


Norton Family parental control

Help understand and manage your child’s mobile activities, so they can surf worry-free and safely.

Protect your child by blocking access to apps they shouldn’t be using

Qustodio Parental ControlsThe best app for protecting your child

are a must, especially for young children. You don’t want your child to stumble across something online and be scarred for life.

While parent control software has been around for years on PCs, there aren’t as many options available for protecting your child on your Android device. app that promises to keep your child safe on the go. This powerful app enables parents to manage and monitor how their kids are using their Android phone or tablet. Install the app on each of your devices for the utmost protection.

What sets Qustodio apart from the rest of parental control apps out there? child’s web surfi ng activities and block harmful websites based on fi lters, set access time limits and

If you’re looking for a quick, reliable browser you can’t go wrong with Opera

Performance

Design

Value

» specification


Requires Android: Varies with device

Price Free

» verdict


Google ChromeThe king of browsers. There’s a reason

why it’s the default Android offering.

Speed DialView your most frequently visited websites with Speed Dial. Add links to your favourite sites here for quick access. This page works alongside the more traditional bookmarks page

Fast searchOpera browser beta has done away with the dedicated search box, and instead you can simply type whatever you want to search for into the address bar

History viewA quick swipe to the left reveals your browsing history for easy access. Well organised and laid out, the pane makes your history more readily available than on any other browser, and quickly becomes a feature you will start to use more often

Tabbed browsingThe tabbed browsing UI has been redesigned. Your tabs still appear on their own screen rather than at the top of the window as on some other browsers, but they are much larger and more accessible than they were on the older versions of Opera


EDITOR’S CHOICE

080-081_AND_025.indd 81 29/04/2013 16:57

Google Translate

Playmarkers Scan these QR codes for direct links to the Google Play Store Sky Movies TraxsourceApps

82

Netfl ix isn’t the only movie streaming app in town. Sky Movies has recently launched its movie app for Android devices. The Sky Movies app is supported on all Android devices, but you’ll only be able to

enjoy movies with Sky Go-compatible devices, including the Samsung Galaxy devices, HTC devices and LG Nexus 4.

This app is a must-have for movie fans. With over 600 movies on demand at your fi ngertips you’ll be able to stream and enjoy your favourite movies while you’re on the go. All you need to enjoy fi lms is Wi-Fi access or a mobile data connection. These movies are going to cost you – not only do you have to pay for movies, they’ll also use a ton of your data, something to be aware of if you’re on a data-capped plan. The movie selection is very impressive, especially compared to Netfl ix’s offering in the UK.


BBC iPLAYER » The ultimate catch-up TV service is feature-packed and works an absolute treat.


Sky MoviesEnjoy your favourite movies while you’re on the go

The internet is all about the ubiquity of content. Unlike TV or radio, anyone can post content about almost anything. Traxsource is similar to YouTube, but instead of videos it allows music sharing.

Traxsource is the ultimate underground music store. It lets you discover music outside the mainstream and features sweet-sounding content from DJs,

clubbers and aspiring artists. Downloading and enjoying music

couldn’t be any easier. Browse, listen and add music to your cart in seconds. Your account is synced up to your Traxsource account online and you can transfer your tracks to your wishlist in an instant to save for later. Browsing for music is easy. You can browse by your favourite music genre, listen to the top DJs on charts and even search top sales charts. Best of all you can try before you buy and keep a playlist of your favourite tunes in-app.


TraxsourceEnjoy underground music from your Android device

GOOGLE PLAY MUSIC » It’s getting better and better. Google’s answer to iTunes is well worth a look.


Google TranslateBreak through language barriers

For cosmopolitan types, having instant access to translations is a must.

Samsung clearly thinks so, as it has built translation directly into the S4. But Google Translate was fi rst, and with a recent update is now even better.

Google Translate is hands down the best language app on the market, and should be your go-to translation app while on the move. This brilliant app brings the powerful web-based version to your Android device. With the app you can translate text and speech in over 60 languages spoken worldwide, with many of them


Online-Translator.comThis app offers the standard

translation features, but also includes an offl ine phrase book perfect for travellers.

being able to be downloaded for use offl ine. Google Translate takes text translation to a whole new level – learn the pronunciation of words and phrases by listening to your translations spoken aloud. Typing your translation can be time-consuming and a real bore – so you can translate in a variety of ways, including voice, handwriting and even through your smartphone’s camera. This powerful app isn’t only a translation tool – view dictionary defi nitions for words and phrases instantly. If you’re constantly translating the same words or phrases, save them to your favourites to view at a glance. The newest and best feature is Google Translate’s offl ine language support. Users with Android 2.3 and up can translate even without Wi-Fi access.

Google Translate is our favourite translation app out there

Performance

Design

Value

» specification


Requires Android: 2.1 and up

Price Free

» verdict

worldwide, with many of them

translation features, but also includes an offl ine phrase book perfect for travellers.

translating the same words or phrases, save them to your favourites to view at a glance. The newest and best feature is Google Translate’s offl ine language support. Users with Android 2.3 and up can translate even without Wi-Fi access.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

082-083_AND_025.indd 82 29/04/2013 16:57

83

Traffic MonitorKeep a lid on your device’s roaming charges

With so much rich content out there you can easily blow through your phone’s

data plan before you know it. Traffi c Monitor helps keep track of your Wi-Fi and cellular traffi c, allowing you to keep track of phone calls, roaming charges and SMS messages. You can quickly browse your daily data

usage. If your device seems slow, test speed with the built-in speedometer. The app even lets you kill apps that are slowing down your performance.


Comic Book!Magically turn yourself into an action hero

» Price £1.19/$1.99» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android 2.3.3 and up

Have you ever dreamed of staring in your very own comic books? ComicBook!

makes those dream a reality. In seconds transform your average pedestrian photos into comic heroes and villains. There are a host of special effects, including image fi lters, comic fonts, customisable

captions, a library of classic comic graphics and over a dozen multi-panel page layouts. You can even add captions and create your own book to share.

HeyTellA virtual walkie-talkie for your Android device

Are you tired of constantly exceeding your phone’s minutes and incurring

costly charges? Are you looking to take a break from SMS messages? HeyTell is your virtual walkie-talkie app. It lets you exchange short voice messages with your friends and family. Best of all you’ll save your precious daytime minutes – one message uses about the same data

as an email. If you’re looking to hold an online meeting HeyTell has you covered – exchange voice messages with up to 25 people simultaneously.


3G WatchdogNever exceed your data cap again

» Price Free (£2.16/$2.99 for pro)» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android 1.5 and up

Looking for an easy way to manage your data usage? Look no further than 3G

Watchdog, your data guard dog. Not only does this powerful app monitor your data usage, you can customise it for daily, weekly and even monthly reports. It will warn you when you’re going close to your data limit – you’ll

receive a warning to cut back on your data usage or suffer a shock come bill time. We all know apps are notorious for using a lot of data, so it’s time to fi ght back.

Unity LauncherBrowse your Android device in seconds

You don’t need to have an Ubuntu phone to enjoy its powerful app launcher

technology. Unity Launcher brings the app launcher to your Android. After spending a minute or two tweaking the app you’ll be browsing apps in seconds. Adding an app to the launcher is easy. Simply select

your desired apps and pin them to the launcher. The customisation doesn’t end there – add shortcuts, reorganise apps and change icon backgrounds.


Google AnalyticsGain insight into your website visitors


This is an app from Google, so you know it has to be good quality. Google

Analytics lets you view up-to-date info from your online profi le. View real time statistics, customisable dashboards and intelligence events on your phone. If you’re running an online business, this app is a

must-have. It lets you drill down and really understand visitors. The app isn’t without its limitations – you can only add and manage your Gmail account.

FeedlyYour personal breaking news desk

Tired of scouring the web for your favourite content? Save time with Feedly, the

ultimate news aggregating app. Feedly gathers up content from your favourite websites including RSS feeds, blogs and YouTube videos and delivers you instant updates. Unlike other news aggregator apps, Feedly delivers content in unique pocket-sized cards which are quick to load

and easy on the eyes. It works on loads of devices and there’s no need to waste time customising, as Feedly instantly syncs and does all the hard work.


Janetter for TwitterManage your Twitter accounts from one app


Looking for an easy way to manage your Twitter accounts? Janetter is a

simple, yet powerful way to use Twitter to its fullest. Cycle through all your favourite bookmarks with the simple swipe of a fi nger and update your bookmarks simultaneously. Display thumbnails of tweets with

photos for easy viewing and fi lter tweets with keywords you won’t want to see. If you’re a heavy Twitter user, the Pro version is well worth a look too.

quickhits

082-083_AND_025.indd 83 29/04/2013 16:57

Apps

84

AppsAppsApps

EVERNOTEGOOGLE KEEP

vs

headIf push comes to shove, which

one of these smooth note-taking apps comes out on top?

head tohead tohead

Google Keep is a solid enough start but lacks the features and overall usability that Evernote can currently offer. We expect big things from Keep in future updates, so expect us to revisit this head-to-head in due course to see things hotting up nicely.

All your notes are saved in chronological order and can be

customised at any point. The mass delete option is a great

little feature for clearing unwanted notes.

Although the ultra-modern look of Keep is really nice on the eye, it can leave your messages looking rather clumsy and in no particular order.

The homepage has a list of creation options to help

create the type of note you need for that specifi c time.

You’ll also fi nd options for non-text notes.

Keep comes with a handy guide to creating your fi rst note and the rest of it is pretty self-explanatory. Creating media notes isn’t as simple, however.

Google has yet to implement many extra features in Keep, but that’s primarily due to it being such a new app. Expect some big additions soon.

One of the best things about Evernote is how

customisable it is. There’s a wide variety of features and

plenty of text editing features to boot.

Evernote has recently launched a partnership with

art-based app Skitch, enabling you to sync image-

based notes through your Evernote account.

Google Keep links with many of the other Google apps available for download from Google Play. Syncing it with Google Calendar opens up new features to explore.

And the winner is...

SEND AND SHARE

EXTRAFEATURES

STAYING ORGANISED

CREATING NOTES

Evernote has long been at the top of all note-taking apps on the Google Play store, but Google has recently launched its own

rival to the crown, Google Keep. We’ve put both head-to-head to see which

one deserves a place on your Android device

Evernote has an accompanying desktop

client that you can use to edit and save notes. You

can also easily share notes via email and Bluetooth.

All the usual sharing options are present and you can even sync your notes to your tablet and desktop computer. Send your notes to contacts via Gmail.

LINKING WITH OTHER APPS

» specification


Requires Android: 4.0.3

Price Free

Google KeepEvernote

» specification


Requires Android: 1.6

Price Free

EVERNOTE

084_AND_025.indd 84 29/04/2013 16:58

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WebDesigner_House ad_new.indd 1 17/04/2013 11:03

Zombie Minesweeper

Playmarkers Scan these QR codes for direct links to the Google Play Store 10000000Games

86

» Price £1.59/$1.99» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android 2.1

10000000Dungeon crawling with a very different twist

Dungeon crawlers tend to be rather repetitive affairs, but 10000000 looks to

turn the genre completely on its head. As well as including the usual dungeon crawling aspects, 10000000’s main selling point is with its puzzle aspects it has implemented. As you explore various caverns, a jumbled match of icons will appear underneath, with the idea of piecing the icons together. Once you’ve done so, you’ll unlock the item they represent and many of which you’ll fi nd you need to beat monsters or fi nd secret parts of the cavern.

There’s plenty of pressure to do this quick, as you’ll soon fi nd you’re up against the clock to match up the icons before a monster kills you. There are power-ups and upgrades you can buy to help better prepare your hero, but the choices are pretty limited. All in all, 10000000 won’t appeal to die-hard dungeon crawler fans out there, but should certainly please the casual gamer.

what we’ve been playingStar Wars Pinball

£1.32/$1.99What isn’t there to love about this pinball and Star Wars hybrid? All the movies are

represented and all the familiar sound effects and characters are present.

Temple Run: Oz £0.65/$0.99Even though the Temple Run formula has been done to death, the Temple Run: Oz

game offers some really unique features, including fl ying in a hot air balloon.

»twitter@lgrobot

Recommend a game…

The things people do for loveAny game that involves zombies, Minesweeper and a love story is going to be a winning

combination, and thankfully Zombie Minesweeper is just that. You’re put in the shoes of a girl on her way to a date with her boyfriend, but there seems to have been a pesky zombie outbreak and mines have been littered all over the place.

In essence, the game works in the same way as the classic Minesweeper game: you need to try and navigate the correct path to your goal – in this case a detonator – while making sure not to set off any mines in the process. Level variation isn’t the best, but there are plenty of to get through, with later levels being remarkably diffi cult.

At the same time you’ll be attacked by waves of mutant zombies, be it in the form of a bear, snail or rabbit. Killing them with your equipped shotgun will keep you alive, but you need to carefully manage your ammo as well. On occasion

you’ll encounter bombs that you can use to get rid of multiple enemies at the same time, but there’s little else in the arsenal of weapons, which is a bit of a pity. Another problem is that if you aren’t quick at fi guring out the correct Minesweeper path to follow, then you’ll soon run out of the ammo keeping off the zombies from gnawing at your head.

There are some lovely 3D graphics on display here and they are made even better with the 2D sprites that appear on your screen from time-to-time. The same can be said about the music and it’s as eerie and chilling as you’d expect. Despite the tense music, the developer has done a good job at keeping the comedic value throughout.

Combining these two elements makes for a surprisingly good puzzle game which has enough blood-splattering fun and longevity to keep you playing for a while.

» Price £0.97/$1.47» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android Android 2.3

Zombie Minesweeper

Take advantage of each monster’s special abilityBe quick on your feet to solve the puzzle

086-087_AND_025.indd 86 29/04/2013 16:59

» www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukCheck our website for even more game reviews

PAC-MAN + Tournaments

Ravensword: Shadowlands

Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor

87

Games don’t come much bigger than Ravensword: Shadowland and it truly is a game of epic size. At its core, Ravensword is a

traditional RPG that enables you to explore the kingdom of Tyreas and the mysteries it holds. Ravensword’s kingdom is massive and the exploring aspect means you’ll never know what you’ll fi nd around the corner. The various villains and monsters you come across come in different shapes and sizes and each has their own strengths and weaknesses for you to exploit. Due to its size, it can be quite easy to get lost and this is even more frustrating if you’re playing a time sensitive quest. On top of all this, you’ll still fi nd all the traditional RPG elements included, meaning all those wanting some classic Dungeons and Dragons-styled gameplay won’t be disappointed. If you need a game to take up a few hours of your time, look no further than Ravensword: Shadowlands.

Ravensword: Shadowlands


An RPG of epic proportions If you were under the preconception that a spider exploring an abandoned mansion to fi nd out why it’s empty is a stupid idea for a game,

then chances are you’ll want to stay well away from Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor. The game is a mixed bunch of genres and puts you in control of a spider hero as he explores Bryce Manor to uncover the mysteries of why it was abandoned. To do so he must traverse different areas of the mansion, each with its own dangers and obstacles you must overcome to progress. Dangers come in the form of bugs and household objects that can injure you and the game is pretty unforgiving with the health it gives you. The platformer aspects of the game work surprisingly well and the control system is a pleasure to use. It’s also a beautifully drawn game and the interaction you can have with the world around you, creating webs between items for example, is a brilliant addition.

Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor


Platform game with a dark twist

PAC-MAN is one of the most iconic characters in the video game

industry and his latest foray on to the Google Play store looks to take players back to his roots. This is classic PAC-MAN and includes all 256 levels as the original arcade game did back in the day. Alongside this is a new tournament mode that enables players to compete against each other for real prizes. It’s a nice blend of both classic gaming with new techniques to freshen it up.

To control PAC-MAN you’ll fi nd a virtual joystick at the bottom of your screen as you play. It’s fairly easy to use, but if you’ve got big

PAC-MAN + TournamentsPAC-MAN is going back to his roots

fi ngers, don’t be surprised to get the odd movement wrong. Levels get progressively harder and the longer you go the more strategy that’s needed to navigate around the course successfully.

After playing for a while, you’ll soon realise that despite Android games getting graphically better on a weekly basis, games like PAC-MAN will have an everlasting appeal to hardcore and casual gamers alike. For a free download, PAC-MAN + Tournaments is defi nitely worth checking out.

» Price Free» Designed for Phone and tablet» Requires Android 2.2

Shiver: Hitchhiker £1.97/$2.99This spooky hidden object game wants you to explore the mystery of the vanishing

hitchhiker. The short story is compelling and there are some good ideas used.

Real Boxing £2.99/$4.99The most impressive boxing game we’ve seen on Android. Put together combinations to drain your opponent’s health

bar and get the KO victory. Not as fl owing as some of its console counterparts.

Toy Story: Smash It! £0.65/$0.99Take over as the famous band of Toy Story characters as you try and defeat the invading

alien race. Each character has their own special moves based on the fi lm series.

AVP: Evolution £3.24/$4.99It’s the classic Aliens vs Predators formula, but this entry attempts a 3D version

and with great success. Collect different weapons and face off against opponents.

quickhits

Lazors FreeUsing a laser as a guide, in this clever puzzle game you need to move blocks and mirrors to bounce the laser to

hit certain targets. Not as easy as it sounds at all!

Pro Snooker 2012 FreeTake part in various snooker tournaments in one of the fi rst 3D snooker games for Android. Perfect your shot

with a variety of advanced controls. It’s really hard to fault this game at all.

Capture captors when they turn blue

EDITOR’S CHOICE

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Reviews

88

Asus Padfone 2The Padfone 2 is a superb marriage of tablet and smartphone, though the tablet is defi nitely the poor cousin

WorkWorking with documents is unsurprisingly a treat on the tablet

goodfor...

If you’ve got some spare cash burning a hole in your pocket and you can’t decide whether you want a new phone or a tablet, the Asus Padfone

2 might come to your rescue. It’s both. The phone is a fully fl edged handset, self-contained and able to work on its own – in all the ways you expect a high-end Android handset to.

But when you fancy a 10.1-inch tablet instead, you have one of those as well. The phone slots into the back of a tablet shell and gives its big screen and battery a heart. The combination price of £599

One thing to be aware of right from the start is that the tablet doesn’t do anything on its own. It has no internals, as such, and it needs the phone to be slotted in before it will even switch on. The tablet then uses the phone’s 13-megapixel camera (hampered down to 5.5 megapixels) and headset

Great phoneHalf of the Padfone 2 is a very decent

smartphone rivalling some of the biggest names on the market, especially with a

quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM

Dumb tabletThe 10.1-inch tablet doesn’t have a life of its own.

The phone needs to be docked before you can use it

No memory expansionNeither phone nor tablet have any memory

expansion capability so you may need to pick whether you want to prioritise your phone content or

tablet content

Smart batteryNeither phone nor tablet have any memory. The phone and tablet both have batteries that can combine to give great life. It’ll also work so that your phone is almost always well charged

USBmicro USB provides charging in both tablet and phone, but Asus uses a modifi ed cable and standard ones tend to come adrift readily

is high enough to initially take some of the gloss off what is undoubtedly an innovative product – you might have been hoping more for a two-for-the-price-of-one deal – and it might be more than you’d ever have expected to spend on a phone. But if you are in the market for both a phone and a tablet, the price combination is quite attractive. Asus has married the two elements in such a way that the combination offers a couple of distinct advantages too – most notably when it comes to power management.

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Review

Long lifeThere’s plenty of battery power here to last you through extended periods

GamingThe big screen is good for gaming, but the tablet’s pixel density could be better

Time savingInstall apps once for both tablet and phone for the perfect marriage

the Nexus 4. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM in support, and it zips along. Its 4.7-inch screen, with 1,280 x 720 pixels looks great. The phone runs Android 4.1. It isn’t Vanilla Android, but the skin is light and subtle and the tweaks feel necessary rather than bloat.

The tablet is slightly less impressive. The 1,280 x 800 pixels on offer are barely any more than you get with the phone, but stretched across an extra fi ve inches of screen. The drop in relative resolution is noticeable, taking the device from high-end phone to mid-range tablet. To help things somewhat Asus has implemented a special ‘outdoor’ brightness mode that racks up the brightness, but this pushes the battery hard. You can still take calls when the phone is docked – via speakerphone or a Bluetooth headset.

As well as providing the larger screen the tablet houses its own battery, and its use has been implemented very intelligently. You can set things up so that the tablet battery is used fi rst so you have a well charged phone when you undock, and

can use the tablet battery to charge the phone. This really comes in handy

if you fi nd phone power running short

during the day as there’s no need to hunt

around for the mains adapter. Because both devices have micro USB slots you can charge them both individually.

For some reason our review unit didn’t come with the slightly modifi ed micro USB cables that Asus wants you to use, and our normal charge cables kept slipping out.

That said, the relatively low screen resolution of the tablet, and the lack of micro SD storage on both devices could be ongoing issues, but in general we can’t help thinking that the Padfone 2 is a fantastic piece of kit.

It’s a great idea, and Asus is one of relatively few companies with the design and build chops to pull it off. It’s not an option if you ever think you might want to use the tablet and phone at the same time, but there’s undoubtedly lots to like.

A fantastic idea well implemented, though the tablet does feel like an add-on rather than an equal

»Verdict

N/A N/A

worse thanbetter than

Asus Padfone 2

Value for money Not cheap, but cheaper than separate units in almost all cases

FeaturesA truly innovative two products in one, with high-end specs to match

Design Clever docking mechanism and some stylish hardware

Performance A fast and capable phone coupled with a fast but less impressive tablet

» Operating system ...............Android 4.1

» Processor ................................... Quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4

» Memory .......................................32GB storage

» Dimensions .............................. phone: 137.9 x 68.9 x 9mm tablet: 263 x 180.8 x 10.4mm

» Weight ..........................................Phone: 135g, tablet: 514g

» Display size ...............................Phone: 4.7-inch, tablet: 10.1-inch

» Display resolution ............... Phone 1,280 x 720 pixels, tablet: 1,280 x 800 pixels

technical specs

Price £599» More information www.asus.co.uk

information

Asus Padfone 2

Battery lifeBattery life is generally excellent and you can charge the phone from the tablet

slot, the phone’s Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and 4G connections, and, of course, its processor and memory. The small phone screen, too, transforms into a large tablet one.

The layout of apps and widgets on phone and tablet are managed separately so you can personalise things as if they were two separate devices, but when you download apps and other data you do so to the handset as the tablet has no storage of its own. Some apps can be set to automatically switch between devices when you dock and undock so it is always optimised for the screen size you are using.

That’s not the bed of roses you might think, because memory is limited. There’s no memory expansion on either the phone or the tablet, and the 32GB on the handset is down to just over 25GB of actual free space out of the box. This is one of the downsides to the two-in-one approach, since the likelihood is you’ll use a phone and tablet in different ways – the phone for music; the tablet for movies, for example – and you may need to compromise between them.

In design terms Asus has done its usual slick

job. The tablet is a bit of a block, but it has a nicely rubbery back and gently curved edges. The handset has the optical illusion of being tapered thanks to a metal strip along the long edges that is thinner at the bottom than the top. The phone feels solid in the hand and its build quality is good.

The docking mechanism is secure and easy to operate – you just push the handset into the slot till it will go no further, and it slides out easily too.

The switch from phone to tablet mode happens automatically, and almost seamlessly. The phone’s specs are very good, matching leading devices like

FeaturesA truly innovative two products in one, with high-end specs to match

implemented very intelligently. You can set things up so that the tablet battery is used fi rst so you have a well charged phone when you undock, and

can use the tablet battery to charge the phone. This really comes in handy

if you fi nd phone power running short

during the day as there’s no need to hunt

around for the mains adapter. Because both devices have micro USB slots you can charge them both individually.

For some reason our review unit didn’t come with the slightly modifi ed micro USB cables that Asus wants you to use, and our normal charge cables kept slipping out.

That said, the relatively low screen resolution of

Design Clever docking mechanism and some stylish hardware

Performance A fast and capable phone coupled with a fast but less impressive tablet

»»

»»»

the likelihood is you’ll use a phone and tablet in the likelihood is you’ll use a phone and tablet in different ways – the phone for music; the tablet for different ways – the phone for music; the tablet for movies, for example – and you may need to compromise between them.

In design terms Asus has done its usual slick

job. The tablet is a bit of a block, but it has a nicely rubbery back and gently curved edges. The handset has the optical illusion curved edges. The handset has the optical illusion of being tapered thanks to a metal strip along the of being tapered thanks to a metal strip along the

088-089_AND_025.indd 89 29/04/2013 18:38

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Reviews

Toshiba AT300SEWith the AT300SE, the PC manufacturer has yet another crack at the Android tablet market. Does it fi nally have a hit on its hands?

We’re heading rapidly into what has been described as the post-PC era. Mobile

devices and mobile operating systems are at its heart, with traditional computers being

reduced to specialist products. The transition has seen some manufacturers thrive, with companies like Samsung and

Apple leading the way into this brave new world. Others, who had

dominated the PC and laptop era, have struggled to make any kind of

impact in the tablet space. Toshiba among them. The name of its new tablet

alone – AT300SE – betrays this struggle. It’s the name of a computer – a machine – rather

than some cool gadget accessible, nay, desirable, to anyone. Can Tosh really hope that this is the device to fi nally make its mark?

WorkSome applications are provided to help you work on the move

goodfor...

Looks good The general build is

pleasing on the eye and the stippled backplate helps

with grip

Minimal connectivity

Connectivity options are thin on the ground. We especially

missed HDMI-out support, which is standard on most devices at

this kind of price point

USB charging Charging via USB is a big

plus for any tablet as it means you don’t need to

carry additional cables

Stereo speakers Twin speakers on the bottom of the chassis deliver stereo sound. However, due to the odd positioning they’re likely to become muffl ed as you rest the device in your lap

Two cameras Front and back facing cameras give you photography and video chat facilities. The former is excellent for Skype or Hangout use, but the device is likely too large to encourage use of the main one on the rear

10.1-inch screen The 10.1-inch screen is bright

and clear, though the resolution puts it a clear step

behind the best of the competition. It’s a long way

short of being a Retina display

PC manufacturer has yet another crack at the Android tablet market. Does it fi nally have a hit on its hands?

Wdevices and mobile operating systems are at its heart, with

brave new world. Others, who had dominated the PC and laptop era,

have struggled to make any kind of impact in the tablet space. Toshiba

among them. The name of its new tablet alone – AT300SE – betrays this struggle. It’s

the name of a computer – a than some cool gadget accessible, nay, desirable, to anyone. Can Tosh really hope that this is the device to fi nally make its mark?

goodgoodfor...

goodfor...

goodfor...

Looks goodThe general build is

pleasing on the eye and the stippled backplate helps

connectivityConnectivity options are thin on

the ground. We especially missed HDMI-out support, which

is standard on most devices at this kind of price point

USB charging Charging via USB is a big

plus for any tablet as it means you don’t need to

carry additional cables

Stereo speakersTwin speakers on the bottom of the chassis deliver stereo sound. However, due to the odd positioning they’re likely to become muffl ed as you rest the device in your lap

Two camerasFront and back facing cameras give you photography and video chat facilities. The former is excellent for Skype or Hangout use, but the device is likely too large to encourage use of the main one on the rear

10.1-inch screenThe 10.1-inch screen is bright

and clear, though the resolution puts it a clear step

behind the best of the competition. It’s a long way

short of being a Retina display

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Review

GamingThe quad-core processor can handle demanding gaming apps with ease

TravelCharging via micro USB means one less thing to carry around with you

MediaThe micro SD card can be a storage destination for large media fi les

The AT300SE is actually a revamp of a 2012 model, the AT300, rather than being an entirely new product. But that’s really of little consequence as it sits in the market right here, right now, competing with the rest of what’s available for your attention. So we’ll assess it for what it is here and now, rather than for how it came to exist at all or

how it compares to that earlier model. The device is pitched directly into a market sector that is rather crowded, and so has a very familiar sounding set of specifi cations: a ten-inch screen, a 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in memory. That Tegra 3 is actually a fi ve-core processor, with the fi fth core kicking in at times when processor demands are low – in order to help save battery power. That’s not new, of course.

In design terms the AT300SE is quite sleek. Its all plastic body is fi nished with a silver back that’s stippled to assist with grip. The curved edges look neat, and the

Twin speakers on what is effectively the long bottom edge of the tablet deliver somewhat disappointing sound. There isn’t a lot of bass, maximum volume isn’t particularly loud, and of course if you use the tablet lounging around and propped against your clothing the sound is made quieter. Good headphones usually deliver better

quality audio than the speakers on a tablet, but in this case, unfortunately, they don’t and the tinny tones still reign supreme.

There is some good news in that the Toshiba AT300SE runs the almost up-to-date Android 4.1, and it comes with a strong range of applications built in. Evernote, Skitch and Chrome are among these, and you also get a fi le manager and DLNA app. For those interested in using the Toshiba AT300SE for work there’s a wireless printer app, ThinkFree Offi ce Pro and Splashtop for remote access to a desktop screen. Toshiba also seems to

The tablet is average in virtually every way. It does what it does well enough, but there’s a real lack of surprises

»Verdict

Toshiba AT200

issue 011

Nexus 10

issue 020

Toshiba AT300SE

Value for money You’d do better paying a little more for a Nexus 10 slab

Features All the basics are certainly here, but there are no surprises or wow factor

Design Tidy and ergonomic without really offering anything outstanding

Performance That quad-core processor is powerful and able to handle all apps and games


» Processor ................................... Quad-core 1.3GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3

» Memory .......................................16GB storage

» Dimensions ..............................261 x 180 x 10.5mm

» Weight ..........................................625g

» Display size ...............................10.1-inch

» Display resolution ...............1,280 x 800 pixels

» Expansion slot ....................... micro SD

technical specs

Price £299» More information www.toshiba.co.uk

information

ToshibaAT300SE

“That Tegra 3 is a fi ve-core processor … kicking in when processor demands are low” Battery life

The battery ought to get you through a good day’s productivity

Nexus 10

issue 020

Toshiba AT200

Toshiba AT200

Toshiba

issue 011

all plastic body is fi nished with a silver back that’s stippled to assist with grip. The curved edges look neat, and the

access to a desktop screen. Toshiba also seems to »Expansion slot

thickness of the tablet, at 10.5mm, makes it feel solid and secure, especially when held in both hands. It isn’t totally robust though. We could fl ex the back a little between our hands. But it feels quite tough. The average weight of 625g ought to make it fairly comfy to hold for reasonable extended periods.

Connectivity options aren’t the best. There is a headset connector and micro SD card slot, a volume rocker and micro USB power connector, and that’s it. If you need HDMI look elsewhere. The plus side of charging via USB rather than a proprietary connector is welcome though.

The ten-inch screen looks a little lost inside a thick bezel and its 1,280 x 800 pixels don’t mark it out as anything special. In fact it is perfectly fi ne for everyday use, but there are higher resolutions to be had on tablets and 1,280 x 800 is pretty much workaday. As is so often the case with tablets, the very refl ective nature of the screen can make it diffi cult to use if you are sitting near a window.

think you will want to use its very own eBook store and a Play store alternative in the shape of Toshiba Places, which sells music, video and games. We’re not convinced that you will.

What the Toshiba AT300SE does, it does well enough, but it does suffer from something that’s totally out of Toshiba’s hands. That is the fact that the still excellent Google Nexus 10 has a higher resolution screen by a country mile (2,560 x 1600), double the RAM and a newer version of Android. Because the Nexus comes from Google it’ll keep getting software updates before the competition too, and the 16GB version costs only £319 which is barely any more than the AT300SE.

If you want a tablet that handles all the basics and a bit more, and you don’t have the patience to shop around, then this tablet will suffi ce. But the moment you start comparing it to the rest of the market – packed with innovative designs or aggressive pricing – then the AT300SE shows itself to be a thoroughly average piece of kit.

better than worse than

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Reviews

CAT B15Can being rugged and tough really be a substitute for style and sophistication? The B15 puts the theory to the test

Being toughThere’s no need to worry if you drop your device on the fl oor or in water

goodfor...

Hard exterior Both the metallic and rubber edgings make sure that the B15 can withstand the harshest of conditions. It’s waterproof up to one metre, dustproof and can withstand being dropped on to a concrete fl oor without breaking

Stock Android You’ll fi nd a vanilla version of Android 4.1

pre-installed on the phone without too much interference from CAT involved. There are some offi cial CAT applications which are helpful if you

regularly use the company’s store

More storage The 4GB of storage won’t be enough for people who want to put some media fi les on the phone, so you’ll need to use the B15’s micro SD slot to expand the memory up to 32GB

Dual-SIM We don’t encounter many dual-SIM

phones, so to see the B15 include this feature is a massive plus. It’s simple

enough to change between the two if you aren’t sure how the process works too

Wet, wet, wet Although the display may include a rather basic 480 x 800 resolution, one of its outstanding features is its wet fi nger tracking software that lets you use the capacitive touchscreen no matter how wet it is

“It absolutely excels in being a rugged, tough and durable smartphone”

Lack of powerDespite the dual-core processor doing a good job at keeping things ticking over nicely, the 512MB of RAM lacks the power to help the B15 complete some more of the advanced tasks that are occasionally required

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Review

AppsThere’s a good range of pre-installed apps included and more available on the Play store

Stock AndroidRunning a stock version of Jelly Bean means you get Android’s best features

BrowsingChrome is readily available for you to use and browse the internet

The B15 is never going to win any style points, but then this isn’t your typical phone. At its core, the B15 is all about being tough and is

primarily aimed at those needing a phone to keep up with their rough and tumble lifestyle. If you don’t fancy your HTC One’s chances of surviving your workplace then this is the kind of the device you need instead.

The hardened exterior of the phone lends itself well to this and the IP67 rating for ruggedisation means it is waterproof at up to one metre for 30 minutes and is also dustproof. It can also withstand drops from up to 1.8metres. All the standard ports can be found around the edging and each has their own rubberised cover to keep them well sealed. Our testing gave us no reason to doubt the phone’s rugged credentials.

Between the side volume rocker and headphone jack is a dedicated camera button. It can be a bit temperamental to use, but you won’t really want to use it too much, anyway, as the fi ve-megapixel camera offered here isn’t really that good. Colours certainly look vivid, but overall image quality is slightly grainy and a lot of our images came with a small level of distortion added.

Removing the backplate can be a bit of a pain, but for a phone that’s meant to be tough, perhaps that’s actually a good thing. What you’ll initially fi nd when the plate has been removed is a large 2000mAh battery. It can easily provide you with a whole day of average usage before needing to be charged, but if you plan on streaming a lot of media the battery life will lessen considerably.

Also there is a micro SD slot that can handle a storage card up to 32GB. With the B15 you get a paltry 4GB of internal storage, so the option to expand is very welcome. What you’ll also fi nd under the backplate is arguably the best feature of the B15. There’s room for dual-SIM cards which helps give you superb network coverage wherever you are, and to ensure you can keep your work and business lives separate. We don’t see many phones with this feature included, so to fi nd it in a phone like the B15 was a really nice surprise.

Turning on the phone reveals Android 4.1 in all its glory and even better when you consider the phone runs the stock Android OS. The four-inch screen is decent enough and includes a handy wet fi nger tracking software enabling you to use the capacitive screen when it’s pouring down, but the poor 800x480 resolution leaves the colours looking grainy and pretty dark throughout.

Moving through the phone is fairly nippy, thanks to the dual-core processor and you’ll fi nd a selection of decent apps already pre-installed. On top of that you’ll also fi nd the full range of Google apps already at your disposal and a handy Bluetooth Proximity app that gives your Bluetooth connection a bit of a boost when needed.

If you’re already a CAT customer, then you’ll be pleased to see the range of CAT-based apps available to you as well.

Where the B15 does let itself down is with its sometimes sub-par performance. The lowly 512MB of RAM is somewhat less than we’ve become accustomed to and is very noticeable when using more intensive apps, or trying to use multiple apps at the same time.

But then perhaps that is to be expected. Although priced in line with a typical mid-range device if you take off £100 or so for the ruggedisation then you’re very much into entry-level territory, and that is where the specs of this device lay. So in all it’s very much a love-hate relationship with the CAT B15. The device is fi ne for all basic tasks but nothing more ambitious and the camera is underwhelming.

But it absolutely excels in being a rugged, tough and durable smartphone that will be useable in nearly any situation, and that is the priority of a niche device such as this. If you can look past its faults and enjoy a hectic lifestyle, then the CAT B15 is a well-priced device in a market with relatively limited options.

There’s no doubting the B15’s tough credentials, and though it lacks in certain areas should fulfill its main purpose well

»Verdict

N/A N/A


CAT B15

Value for money You do pay a small premium for the ruggedisation, on top of average specs

Features Stock Android is a big plus and the range of CAT-based apps are good too

Design It’s not sleek, obviously, but the rugged build lends it a reassuring toughness

Performance Not slow by any means, but the lack of RAM hinders the phone occasionally


» Processor ................................... Dual-core 1GHz processor

» Memory ....................................... 512MB RAM, 4GB storage(expandable to 32GB)

» Dimensions ..............................125 x 69.5 x 14.95mm

» Weight ..........................................170g

» Display size ...............................Four-inch

» Display resolution ...............800 x 480 pixels

» Expansion slot ....................... micro SD

technical specs

Price £299.99» More information www.catphones.com

information

CAT B15

Battery life2000mAh battery copes well with the phone’s dual-SIM capabilities.

The B15 is never going to win any style points, The B15 is never going to win any style points, Tbut then this isn’t your typical phone.Tbut then this isn’t your typical phone.T At its

Removing the backplate can be a bit of a pain, but for a phone that’s meant to be tough, perhaps that’s actually a good thing. What you’ll initially fi nd when the plate has been removed is a large 2000mAh battery. It can easily provide you with a whole day of average usage before needing to be charged, but if you plan on streaming a lot of media the battery life will lessen considerably.

Also there is a micro SD slot that can handle a storage card up to 32GB. With the B15 you get a paltry 4GB of internal storage, so the option to expand is very welcome. What you’ll also fi nd under the backplate is arguably the best feature of the B15. There’s room for dual-SIM cards which helps give you superb network coverage wherever you are, and to ensure you can keep your work and business lives separate. We don’t see many phones with this feature included, so to fi nd it in a phone like the B15 was a really nice surprise.

Turning on the phone reveals Android 4.1 in all its glory and even better when you consider the phone runs the stock Android OS. The four-inch screen is decent enough and includes a handy wet fi nger tracking software enabling you to use the capacitive screen when it’s pouring down, but the poor 800x480 resolution leaves the colours looking grainy and pretty dark throughout.

Moving through the phone is fairly nippy, thanks to the dual-core processor and you’ll fi nd a selection of decent apps already pre-installed. On top of that you’ll also fi nd the full range of Google apps already at your disposal and a handy Bluetooth Proximity app that gives your Bluetooth connection a bit of a boost when needed.

If you’re already a pleased to see the range of

technical specs


CAT B15

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Accessories

Minx Air 100The Minx Air 100 is a big unit, but

one that screams style and sophistication as soon as you

take it out of the box. Along the front of the Minx is a mesh grille and every bit of it is used to create a fantastic sound experience from the two four-inch drivers that are enclosed. Along the top are your basic playback and Bluetooth controls and around the back are all the standard ports. There’s also a handle to help you lift, but you won’t want to move it around too much as it’s surprisingly heavy and the handle doesn’t have any grip.

Controlling the Minx can be done in a variety of ways. For one you can connect to the unit through Bluetooth and stream your music wirelessly with little to no interference, but you can use the 3.5mm audio jack to connect your Android device to the unit, or use one of the dedicated Minx apps. By venturing on to the Play store you can download a few Minx apps to help wirelessly control the unit and also link it with many internet radio sites. The apps are pretty good to use, but we recommend sticking with Spotify and TuneIn Radio for streaming.

Sound quality is beyond what we expected from this piece of kit and it’s really hard to fi nd any real fault with it. It can be customised to your exact preferences and musical tastes and the range of presets at your disposal is also impressive. The two drivers enclosed in the front mesh may not be the biggest you’ll ever see, but they provide enough power to keep even the most die-hard music fans happy. If you’re on the lookout for a new speaker that gives you plenty of bang for your buck, then look no further than the Minx Air 100.

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Does the Minx provide awesome sound for the hefty price tag?

The pinnacle of design and sound technology in one expensive package

Performance

Design

Value

» specification

More information www.cambridgeaudio.com

Price £329.95/$TBA

» verdict

Accessories

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Powerful soundYou’ll fi nd two drivers located within the mesh front

of the Minx Air. Both work perfectly in sync to offer incredible and immersive sound without having any sound interference that can impact on the quality.

On top of that, you can use one of the Minx Air apps to tinker with each driver

Hefty unitThe Minx Air isn’t the biggest speaker

we’ve come across but it’s surprisingly heavy. There’s a decent handle located

at the back of the speaker which can be used to move the unit around

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Despite this charging cradle not being the most aesthetically pleasing of products, it does go above and beyond what you’d expect it to do. You can safely slide your Nexus 7 into the holder with no worries that it’ll topple over thanks to the weighted back of the cradle. If you use a case on your Nexus 7, simply remove the holder within the cradle so it can also be fi tted without too much effort. As well as charging the tablet, you can use the accompanying cable to attach the cradle with your computer and begin transferring your documents and media fi les between the two devices. If you decide to purchase one of these cradles, there’s no doubt you’ll get plenty of use from it time and time again.

Using a Bluetooth keyboard is generally a much easier process than using the virtual pad on your phone or tablet. The i-Connex looks to capitalise on this by offering users a full-size Qwerty keyboard that can be folded in half and easily transferred from place to place. All the keys feel solid to use, but the spacebar could

do with being bigger as it’s easy to hit a different key by accident. You’ll also fi nd several shortcuts to some basic functions lined on the left-hand side of the keyboard and once again they work a treat. Along this side you’ll also fi nd the Bluetooth

pairing switch which is used to connect to your device and we didn’t encounter a single issue when trying to connect the two devices together.

» Price £19.95/$30.99» More informationwww.mobilefun.co.uk

» Price £49.99/$69.99» More informationwww.freedominput.com

Charge, sync and enjoy your Nexus 7 with this cradle

A full Qwerty keyboard for your Android phone or tablet

Nexus 7 DesktopSync and Charge Cradle

Freedom i-Connex 2

» Price £19.99/$24.95 » More information http://evernote.com

If you’ve ever been in the situation where you want to create a digital copy of any text you’ve written down without needing to type it out again on your phone or tablet, then the Evernote Smart Notebook is a great solution for you. In essence this is your standard notebook in which you can write, doodle and jot down things in, but what makes it stand out from your standard notebook is the smart technology involved within it.

By writing into the notebook, and then taking a picture of it through the Evernote app, your written text will be changed to a digital format, but one that’s easier to read than if you tried it with a regular notebook. If you have scruffy handwriting, fear not.

By taking a picture, the app will fi ll in the gaps for you and leave you with a perfectly legible piece of text to save straight into the Evernote app.

Located at the back pocket of the Evernote Smart Notebook are an assortment of Smart Stickers that can be used to tag your work when you’ve taken a picture of it. By applying one of the stickers you can then take a picture of it and the app will automatically put it in a category based on the sticker. It works surprisingly well, but make sure you create your categories beforehand. There are a limited number available so you may fi nd you’ll need to purchase more in due course. A great product for people who regularly use the Evernote app.

There’s more than meets the eye with this smart notebook

Evernote Smart Notebook

Accessories

to purchase one of these cradles, there’s no doubt you’ll to purchase one of these cradles, there’s no doubt you’ll get plenty of use from it time and time again.get plenty of use from it time and time again.

Using a Bluetooth keyboard is generally a much easier process than using the virtual pad on your phone or tablet. offering users a full-size Qwerty keyboard that can be folded in half and easily transferred from place to place. All the keys feel solid to use, but the spacebar could

do with being bigger as it’s easy to hit a different key by accident. You’ll also fi nd several shortcuts to some basic functions lined on the left-hand side of the keyboard and once again they work a treat. Along this side you’ll also fi nd the Bluetooth

pairing switch which is used to connect to your device and we didn’t encounter a single issue when trying to connect the two devices together.

A full Qwerty keyboard for your Android phone or tablet

Freedom i-Connex 2

Evernote Smart Evernote Smart Evernote Smart

Despite this charging cradle not being the most aesthetically pleasing of products, it You can safely slide your Nexus

7 into the holder with no worries that it’ll topple over thanks to the weighted back of the cradle. If you use a case on your Nexus 7, simply remove the holder within the cradle so it can also be fi tted without too much effort. As well as charging the tablet, you can

£19.95/$30.99

www.mobilefun.co.uk

Charge, sync and enjoy your Nexus 7 with this cradle

Sync and Charge Cradle

Freedom i-Connex 2

Accessories

Freedom i-Connex 2

EDITOR’S CHOICE

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Battery boostersWhich one of these portable chargers should you buy?

solBAT II» Price £TBA/$19.99» More information www.scosche.com

The solBAT II is an environmentally friendly and convenient way to give your phone a quick charge. It sports a rather unassuming black fascia with a solar panel on its back. By using the suction pads, you can attach the charger to any surface and start using the solar panel to charge your phone via micro USB. There’s an array of signals at the front to let you know when the device is charging, but they can be a bit temperamental.

Family Charging Station» Price £17.99/$24.99» More information www.mobilefun.co.uk

Okay so we might be stretching what a portable charger really is here, but the Maxima is a fantastic charger that’s capable of charging up to three devices at the same time. The unit comes with a variety of different heads that can be attached to the Maxima for your phone to connect to. It comes with a handy metal bar that stops your devices from falling over and also a UK mains charger if you need to give the Maxima a recharge.

Kensington AbsolutePower» Price £99.99/$119.99» More information www.kensington.com

For the wallet-busting sum of £99.99/$119.99, the Kensington AbsolutePower comes with an array of connectors, enabling you to charge anything from your Android phone all the way up to a laptop. The charger itself is small and sturdy and has three ports to allow three separate devices to be charged at the same time. It’s larger than most other portable chargers, but you get a lot more charging time out of it before needing to recharge it.

“An environmentally friendly and convenient way to give your phone a quick charge”

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EDITOR’S CHOICE

i1Eco Universal Charger» Price £22.99/$33.99 » More information www.idaptweb.com

Although the i1Eco sports an odd design when compared to other chargers, it does exactly what you’d expect it to do. The i1Eco enables you to charge two things at the same time, with one through a USB connection and the other through an interchangeable head. Once your device has fi nished charging the i1Eco automatically turns itself off to save electricity, but can then be brought back to life by pressing the button located on its side.

Dual Power Bank» Price £39.99/$61.19» More information www.thumbsupuk.comBoasting a massive 6600 mAh capacity, the Dual Power Bank is a compact charger that enables you to charge two separate devices at the same time. At the front of the charger you’ll fi nd a small LED display that indicates the current level of charge the unit has left and a small button that toggles the display on and off. The Power Bank does exactly what you’d expect it to do, but the aluminium casing can get a bit hot after prolonged use.

Powerseed PS-15000» Price £50.00/$TBA» More information www.powerseedhk.com

The fi rst thing you notice about the Powerseed charger is that it’s very heavy because of the power it includes under its plastic chassis. By using the two USB ports on it you can connect two devices at the same time and keep an eye on the charge level by taking a look at the small LED lights on the front of the Powerseed. Also included is a coiled cable that can be used in conjunction with one of the several connectors that are also included in this bundle.

PowerSkin Hybrid Battery Charger» Price £54.99/$79.99» More information www.power-skin.com

What could be more portable than a charger that literally sticks to the back of your phone. The PowerSkin PoP’n has a wall of suction cups that line the back of the charger and after sticking it to the back of your phone you can use the attached micro USB dongle to start charging — no wires and no fuss. Under the plastic case is a 2000 mAh unit which will give your phone a quick boost when needed, but don’t expect it to charge anything bigger.

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NEXT MONTH

13 June

ALL NEW ANDROID IS HERE!Everything you need to know about the fantastic new update to the Android operating system

Issue 26 goes on sale:

THE LATEST DEVICES ON TESTSony Xperia Tablet Z and other amazing Android kit reviewed

MASTER YOUR GALAXY S4Get to grips with the best new features in the S4

Your amazing Android snaps

Hot Shots »[email protected]

Taken a great shot with your Android phone or camera? Send it to us at:

From Paz SarmahUsed Samsung Galaxy S II

From Russ LewisUsed Samsung Galaxy S III

From Philip HeadUsed Samsung Galaxy S II

From Tasch BlissUsed Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro with Vignette

098_AND_024 98 30/04/2013 10:19

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1 As compared to 7200 RPM SATA 2.5” hard drive. Based on published specifi cations and internal benchmarking tests. Open to residents of Great Britain, aged 18 years or over only. Entrants must purchase one (1) SanDisk Extreme, SanDisk Ultra or SanDisk SSD (sometimes termed SanDisk ‘Pulse’) product in 120GB and above capacities from any of the following participating Great Britain resellers: Scan, Ebuyer, or Dabs in order to be eligible to enter the Prize Draw. Proof of purchase must be retained. Internet access is required. Entries must be submitted between 00:01 GMT/CET on 19th March 2013 to 23:59 GMT on 21st June 2013. See www.aboutsandiskssd.com/playharder-uk for full terms. SanDisk and SanDisk Ultra are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identifi cation purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective holder(s). © 2013 SanDisk Corporation. All rights reserved.

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