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Buy the best now from Richer Sounds, visit richersounds.com Welcome To issue 60 «

MEET THE TEAM What Android tech are you looking forward to in 2016? April Madden Editor Being the possessor of unnaturally tiny wrists, What’s the smartwatches look really bulky on me, so I’m looking forward to best big-brand trying out Huawei’s new ladies’ tablet for you models, the Elegant and Jewel. right now? Find Oliver Hill out in our test Features Editor I can’t wait to get hands-on with on p60 the HTC Vive virtual reality headset as it looks to be the next big thing in VR technology and should be out before the end of the year. Adele Jordan Production Editor After the CES tradeshow in January of this year, I can’t wait to see LG’s new foldable display appear in the consumer market. Fancy an Android TV you can roll Welcome up and take with you? Adam Markiewicz Senior Designer This year I’m looking forward to Do you worry about whether your phone and On the theme of getting more from your seeing self-driving cars on the streets cleverly using the sensitive data kept on it is protected from phone, you can learn how to overclock yours in . Is Google going to hackers, malware and thieves? Worry no longer the Hacker Zone this issue, making it work take on Uber with its plan for a fl eet of self-driving taxi cabs? – our complete guide to making your phone harder and faster to give you better invincible is packed with tips and tricks for performance. Find out how on p45. keeping your phone and its data as safe as This issue is also packed with a wide range of GET IN TOUCH houses. Check it out on p12. tutorials, including clever ways to check up on What do you think? Google’s apps are ever-present on our your car, an app for boosting your phone’s Let us know! Android devices, to the extent that we can speed without it and some essential email sometimes forget quite how useful, and tweaksforGoogleNow.Pluswetakealookat »[email protected] Dropusanemailandletusknowwhat powerful, they can be. With new updates rolling theLenovoYogaTab3,thesecondgeneration you’dliketoseeinthemag out to accompany Marshmallow, many of them of Moto’s 360 watch and much more. are packing new features too. Take a look at p18 Enjo facebook » /littlegreenrobot to discover new additions and unexpected LikeusonFacebooktosendus features. Google Maps is also delivering much your comments more and becoming a serious challenge to »twitter standard sat-navs. Our masterclass on p28 April @lgrobot Follow us on Twitter and send us explains how you can get the most from it. Editor your thoughts FREE – exclusive with this issue Watch us get our hands on the » Unboxing videos new BlackBerry Priv smartphone Expert video guides on getting » Video tutorials more from your Android device Stunning backgrounds for phones, » Wallpapers tablets and ww.fi lesilo.co.uk/android

3 Contents »Inside issue 60 www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

CONTENTS26 Exclusive subscription offer 67 Special offer for international readers Launcher

Previews, news and speculation from the world of Android I

06 Will this be Android’s best year yet? 12 Keep your mobile safe from snoopers, hackers and thieves

08 10 things you need to know about automating devices GtAdid d t MASTER GOOGLE APPS

TAKE CONTROL OF GOOGLE MAPS Are you getting the most Highlights and hidden from Google’s apps? features revealed VR available for preorder 18 28 4 Visit the Android Magazine online shop at Hacker Zone This month’s top mods and tweaks for back issues and books 45 Overclock your phone Make your processor work harder and faster to give you better performance 52 Hacking Tips & Tricks Tu to r i als Essential hacking advice, including hacks Get more from your Android device 54 How to get started with gesture typing Hate typing? Supercharge your text 28 Masterclass: entry by setting up gesture typing Master Google Apps Highlights and hidden features of Google’s plethora of apps revealed 55 Replicate the Galaxy S6 Edge display on any Android Get Edge-style notifi cations for 32 Tutorials incoming phone calls on any device 32 Set the apps that can scan 56 Remotely control a computer 34 Personalise with Kustom with your Android device Widget Maker You can control a remotely connected 36 How to clear your entire Google PC for free thanks to Google Now search history 37 Get to grips with the 52 redesigned Google+ 58 Spoof your Android’s MAC HACKING address TIPS 38 Move fi les over Wi-Fi Get around annoying data and time & TRICKS 40 Check every part of your car restrictions on public Wi-Fi with Torque 42 How to get a speed boost 92 Droid Support Readers’ questions answered ReviewsLatest tech tested 68 60 Big brand Android tablets 68 Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 37 LENOVO YOGA REDESIGNED TAB 3 70 Cat S40 GOOGLE+ 71 Huawei Smart Watch 70 74 72 Chromebit CS10 CAT S40 MOTO 360 74 Moto 360 2015 2015 76 Accessories Beautiful Bose headphones and an iconic speaker brand on test 88 Buyer’s Guide Our offi cial top 10 lists

Your complete guide to Google Play

78 App reviews The latest and greatest apps tested in full 78 82 Head-to-head YOUTUBE TripAdvisor takes MUSIC on Yelp 84 Game reviews 30+ APPS The best new games reviewed

Check our website daily www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 5 for even more news » AllthelatestfromtheworldofAndroiddevices

Is this going to be Android’s best year yet?

From foldable screens to dedicated VR headsets, the future looksbrightfortheworldofAndroid

The Android ecosystem is constantly changing, so market. We have already seen renders and heard the early pace for others to follow, combining a much so that it’s far from being just a simple whispers of the upcoming Galaxy S7 from near-perfect laptop experience with a very mobile any more. However, Samsung, which is set to be another massive wallet-friendly price tag. considering how far the system has come in the success for the popular Korean giant, but we We also shouldn’t forget just how much our lastfewyears,tryingtofigureoutwhatliesahead shouldn’t discount HTC’s One M10 just yet, as it Android displays could be changing in the isabitofatrickytaskforanyone.Wherein could very well be the Android device to help turn upcoming months. LG’s efforts in manufacturing previous years we have seen some ground- the company’s fortunes around. Chromebooks are foldable screens are closer than ever before, with breaking and pioneering launches into also expected to get a lot of love in the first half of thefirsttastersofits18-inchfoldabledisplay Chromebooks,4KdisplaysandsmartTVs,there’s this year, primarily due to the hard work of Lenovo rolling to tech conventions all over the world in the no real breakthrough product that we’re expecting and Toshiba. The former’s ThinkPad 13 is setting dawn of this year. There’s no real idea how long it toseeforthefirsttimein2016.Itseemsthe emphasis is going to return to smartphones this year,buttrustuswhenwesayit’sstillworth “It seems the emphasis is going to return to getting excited about. Overthecourseofthenextfewmonths,we’re smartphones this year, but trust us when we expectingtoseetheindustry’sleading manufacturers unleash their latest devices to say it’s still worth getting excited about” 6 rowdfunded

Crowdfunding has played a massive role in the past 24 months to help move several big Android projects off the ground. Things like the Pebble E-Paper, OUYA, Prynt and LIFX all received monumental amounts of funding from Android users, and offered new and exciting ways to get hands on with the OS without relying on your smartphone. 2016 is set to be another multi- million pound year for crowdfunding and we expect to see a whole host of Android-related projects across both Indiegogo and Kickstarter. At the time of writing, there are well over 3,000 projects currently looking for funding and, trust us, it can be a bit of a tough ask to navigate your way through it. For an easier solution, you can check out issue four of our sister magazine Gadget, which has gone eyes-on with 50 of the absolute best crowdfunding campaigns that you can fi nd right now. Best of all, many of them can be used in conjunction with your Android smartphone.

Away from smartphones, smart-home even if a fully foldable smartphone is possible appliances seem to be garnering a lot of interest alongside the other technology needed behind the from Android enthusiasts and Samsung in display, but with developments being made in particular is launching some fantastic additions to foldable smartphone technology as a whole, it’s its suite of Android-enabled appliances. IIts latest completelyplausiblethatbytheendoftheyearwe fridge, for example, includes a giant Android fascia, will all have our hands on it. which can be used to order food, track your Nevertheless, looking past all the glitz, glamour consumption and set temperature levels. In a and fancy gadgets that could be released, the world where we’re more connected than ever, biggestadvancementsoftheyearcouldcome could this finally be the device to bridge the gap from the battery technology that’s hidden within between our homes and our smartphones? Also, our devices. Sony is currently working on a new expect new automation tools from the likes of lithium-sulphur battery that’s touted to offer a 40 Nest,withanewversionofitshighlysuccessful per cent gain in battery life: a significant thermostat likely to make an appearance this year. improvement in the long run. While there are still Whatever the outcome, this is set to be another some issues to be ironed out in the development stellar year for the Android platform. We hope you process,withhavingtopreventthebatteriesfrom will join us for the ride LG’s 18-inch display that can be rolled up like a newspaper overheating, it shou lifeathingofthepa HTCenterstheVRra Can the HTC VIVE bring VR to the forefront of Android de Apart from the distinctly average Gear VR, there mobile gaming, but haven’t been a whole lot of inroads when it comes resemble that of th to virtual reality headsets that are designed by Android OS, bridgin predominantly Android manufacturers. Despite a between the two p rather lacklustre year, HTC is set to launch its VIVE well and providing m VR headset during the second quarter of 2016. core features that w While, by and large, it looks like your familiar VR become so accusto headset, akin to the Oculus Rift, it will be running a our smartphones. slightly tweaked version of Steam, the staple hub been in the market for all PC gamers. What’s more, it will be largely headset, wait a littl orientated for those who want a new take on their certainly be worth things you need to know about... automating your Android device

Use Cortana as your next Clean your cache Silence alerts using Android personal assistant Your device’s memory cache can get full when Lollipop’s Priority mode ’s virtual personal assistant Cortana is you’ve been using a lot of memory-hogging apps, You’ve left the volume up on your phone so that it now available on the Google Play store and can causing a slowdown in performance. App Cache can wake you up in the morning with an alarm, but helpyouwithawhole Cleaner from I an be set up to remind then it spends all host of tasks. One of you to clear yo i night ringing and the great features is predefined le i g with every the ability to track even automa flights and packages clean it for y foryou,savingyou up to do a d thehassleoflogging clean out w on to or feeding data your phon into a range of notinuse disparate tracking (when yo websites or apps. bed, for Plus Cortana can example send you reminders, enjoy b make appointments, perform send emails or texts, withou andmuchmore. the ha 8 Create Make your own custom automation apps macros with If you’re a bit of a whizz with Tasker and you’d like to MacroDroid make your own automation apps, but don’t have the patience for ArloSoft’s extensive coding, MacroDroid app lets then give Tasker App you set up custom Factory a whirl. You actions that are will need the Tasker triggered whenever a app in order to use it, particular set of but you can make, circumstances is publish and sell your met. For example, own automation you can get your apps. Be aware that phone to it is a plugin rather automatically upload than a standalone the last photo you took to Facebook when you app so you may not shake the handset. The free app is ad-supported need to do any and only lets you create fi ve macros, but you can coding, but knowing upgrade to the Pro version via an IAP, which will give your way around you unlimited freedom to set up your own macros. Tasker is a must. Enable location-based commands for ease of use Update apps automatically Llama is a location-aware app from KebabApps that It’s an old app, it no longer has tech you can use to automate functions based on where support and it has f you are. It uses phone masts to locate your glitches when it position and, when you reach a certain place, it will comes to paid apps action the task that but Changelog Droid you’ve automated. can be incredibly han This means you can for updating your apps order your phone to automatically. It looks be quiet when you for updates to the arrive at work or apps you have automatically installed and lets you launch your music know when there are player when you get updates available for to the gym. them. You can set it up However, accuracy to automatically update is limited by the them, but we would number of mobile recommend you keep this phone masts that functionality strictly for older are in the area. and free apps to avoid errors Send a text when you reach a Manage complex rules Set up battery sav specifi ed location Atooma is packed with a bunch of ready-made One of the best tasks to automa If you’re driving and need to text someone to let smart actions or you can make your own, working minimises battery use when the them know you’re on your way, you don’t have to along the principle of ‘if this happens, do that’. You low. When your waste time pulling over to type out a message. can use it to program quite complex rules – it can battery gets below a Instead, use the Automated Device app from handle up to t igger the certain percentage, Daniel Herrero and set up a rule to get your device automated t Trigger to to automatically text fi ve reaction ly reduce them when you reach that the aut htness a given location. task does) f Wi-Fi, However, you’ll need rule you se r phone to set this rule up example, y ust that carefully and get it to se nger. You consider the location your phon have to that you specify – you be quiet if yourself – don’t want to you get nto the app, automatically text home fro have to do your contacts every work afte turn this time you pass the the kids on and it’ll corner shop! gone to e of itself. 9 NEW TECH Android-pow

Adjustable focus Ifyounormallywear Android powered glasses, there’s no need AuraViso The AuraVisor is powered tosqueezethemunder byitsownonboardAndroid theheadset–simply computer, meaning that you adjust the focus instead Wireless, affordable, Andro don’thavetoplugthe headsetintoacomputeror poweredVRthat’snottethe pairitwithasmartphone toasmartphone Virtual reality is becoming more and more mainstream, but it’s not without its inconvenien or drawbacks. VR units that link to your compute generally need to do so with a wired connection, which means that you run the risk of getting your tangled in cables – or worse, yanking the cable o when faced with a particularly terrifying jump sca Other viewers require you to pop your smartphon into the headset, which increases the weight and means that the immersive experience can be broken with a phone call, text or even a notifi cati Enter the AuraVisor. It’s wireless and you don’ need to connect it to your smartphone because it’s powered by its own onboard Android compu You can play VR games – it supports the Onboard controls games engine – watch 3D movies, take There’s a separate, 360-degree tours of iconic locations and much bundled controller for gaming, but all the more. It ships with preloaded content and you c essential tools you need add more via Wi-Fi or an SD card. There’s also a arerightthereatthe store connected to the Google Play store for you bottom of the headset purchase more content. Plus it’s available for preorder now to ship in March 2016 and it costs less than the Oculus Rift. Virtually there At a glance Stereoscopic 3D virtual » Product name AuraVisor reality is delivered through » Available from indiegogo.com the5-inchTFTscreen, » Price $260 whichhasaresolutionof 1920 by 1080p A wireless, Android-powered virtual-reality headset that has beaten the Oculus Rift to market and on price. Gaming is a truly immersive experience thanks to the wire-free standalone headset Q & A obstacles are removed and controlling is easy People don’t want the hassle of setting up either [through using] the onboard buttons or the a PC-based system or the inconvenience of James Talbot, bundled game pad. being tethered by wires. By being wireless, CEO of AuraVisor users can use their headset wherever they Why was it important to you to take Why did you choose Android for the OS? are and have the freedom to rotate freely. the smartphone out of the equation? Quite simply, Android is easier to work with We felt that using a smartphone provided A as a developer and does not have the What VR app are you most excited A a number of obstacles to complete same inherent limitations that Apple place[s] about seeing on the AuraVisor? acceptance by users, mainly interfacing with VR. upon [its] OS. Educational based experiences. Not just If you’re using a phone you have to remove it A for children – having the ability to drop every time you change application, which is not How important do you think being wire- into an experience that you couldn’t easily a small task. Additionally there were other free is to the VR experience and why? achieve, such as visiting a museum located issues that arose, such as incoming calls, text We believe it’s the single most important on the other side of the world, or exploring or notifications. Then there were A factor to ensuring maximum take-up by the inner workings of the human body. After issues regarding battery life and visuals. users and mass adoption of virtual reality. I that, 3D movies are incredible and I feel [that Because AuraVisor has been specifically think this can be endorsed by the number of VR] refl ects the vision that the director designed from the ground up, all of these cardboard-relatedheadsetsthathaveshipped. originally intended without glasses in the way.

10 1 23

GALLERY OF... TOP MUSIC APPS

4 5 6 Apple Music Google Play Shazam Rocket Musixmatch 1 2 Music 3 4 5 Music Player 6 Apple Music is Encore Songza’s Music –Lyrics& remarkably adept Its expertly- Sometimes you’ll Concierge Audiophiles will Music at presenting you with curated hearasongand feature finds the right lovethefactthat If you’re fond of artist and genre streaming music may loveit,butnotknow music for the day, time the premium version of karaoke or recommendations, even not offer as many what it’s called. and your mood. It can the Rocket Music Player maybe you just like ifyouthrowinafew tracks as Apple’s app, Shazam will identify any offer you great driving app has a ten-band singingalongtoyour guilty-pleasure but not only do you get artist and title for you. songs for the commute graphic equaliser for music, then Musixmatch curveballs when setting access to streaming The premium version home, chilled out tunes getting more out of your will float a song’s lyrics it up. Its vast library radio, with can then guide you without lyrics for when music, while over the playback. It can means that there is you through the artist’s you’re working hard and support evendothiswithsongs always something new also get access to back catalogue and you can even search by lets you stream it to on YouTube, Google Play for you to discover. YouTube Red. much more. genreordecade. your speakers. Music and Spotify. » Price: Free + subscription » Price: Free + subscription » Price: £3.59/$5.59 » Price: Free » Price: Free + IAPs » Price: Free + IAPs 11 INVINCIBLE Keep your mobile safe from snoopers, hackers and thieves with our expert security tips

Inaworldwherephishingattemptsarerifeand Things like virus scanners should be your first of your device’s key settings that can be toggled mobile hacking is as easy as one two three, port of call when it comes to diagnosing the level and tweaked for a quick security boost, as well implementing security measures on your device of security you want to implement on your device. as to start downloading a handful of the key apps is of vital importance. For Android specifi cally, the A quick scan with one of these apps can provide that you urgently need in order to beef up your choices users have available to them when it you with all the information about the current security. Once you have completed these steps, comes to securing their device are plentiful and threat level on your phone, as well as highlight have a read of our top tips for keeping your device most of them should be explored when it comes the areas of your device that could potentially be secure. Follow our advice and your phone will be to keeping a tight grip on your device’s security. in danger. It’s then time to start exploring some impenetrable in no time at all. 12 Lock your Toptipsfor phone up your lockscreen The fi rst line of defence is a frustratin barrier for thieves to negotiate

Multiple users Sharing a device between family members is a good idea 1.SetaSIMcardlock to save on money, but it’s imperative that you implement For those who want to be extra cautious, multiple profi les to make setting a SIM card lock will require all users to sure that your personal enteraPINbeforelookingatyourstored data is kept safe at contacts. Open the Security section and all times select the SIM lock option that’s provided.

2. Add some details Access security settings Type of lock Select the Owner Information tab from within 1 Pull down the top bar on your phone’s 2 The screen security option at the top of the Security to implement basic information onto homescreen to reveal the Settings cog. Tap on this app contains the types of lock that can be set. your lockscreen. We recommend putting a and then scroll down as far as Security. Tap on Each vary on the level of security that they offer, secondary number on this menu in case you that and you will be taken into the menu that but no matter what you pick, it will be better than misplace your device. houses all the lockscreen settings. having no lock in place.

3. Password length Set a PIN Add a pattern 3 4 It goes without saying that a longer password One of the benefi ts of setting a PIN code is As an alternative, a pattern is equally as is considerably harder to crack than a shorter that it can be as complex as you need it to be. effective at keeping out intruders. Select the one. When creating a password for your Select the PIN option from the list provided, before pattern option from the list of choices and use lockscreen, make sure to use a mix of upper using the keypad provided to fi rst type out a code your fi nger to draw an elaborate sketch on the case and lower-case letters for extra safety. and then confi rm it. three-by-three grid that is then shown on screen. 13 Feature » Make your phone invincible

Avoid dangerous rify app app permissions Some permissions aren’t as ources innocent as you may think Phone access hield your device from Exploiting money through malicious apps is common and enabling phone access is alicious software without doubt the main reason behind this. Malicious apps will make calls to premium ne of the benefits of being an Android user is that numbers, usually owned by people behind the ou have access to over a million apps on the app itself. If you’re ever in doubt when an app Google Play store. While many will help improve asks you to accept this permission, make your device in some ways, there’s still a small sure you read reviews on the app’s listing. minorityofunscrupulouspeopleouttherewho upload apps that can be detrimental to how your device performs. First and foremost, disable the Device ID rerouting Unknown Sources option within Security, as this Most apps require this permission and for the will prevent any installations taking place from most part, it’s completely innocent. However, potentially dodgy sources. When it then gets to the malicious apps can use this permission to point of downloading an app, pay close attention to send your device’s IMEI number to whoever is not only the reviews, but also check to see if it’s a running the app – which can lead to severe n spoofofarealapp.Ifthatpaidappyouhavebeen s privacy issues and in the worst case scenario, can wanting suddenly has a free version pop up – the render your device useless. s chances are it will be fake. Highlight Eliminate malware high risks instantly Locateandremovedetrimental ur files from your device o help. A show you If you notice some discrepancies on your device, malicious files on your device and then remove justhowsafey sultswill you may find that it’s been infected with malware. them. One of the better ones is Malwarebytes: a provideyouwithaprivacysco onthe Where before this would cause pure panic in the free app scanner that’s able to pinpoint the apps apps you have installed and the malicious nature of heart of a lot of Android users, there’s now a swathe that have infected your device and remove not only similar apps. If the app then highlights any high-risk of simple, all-in-one apps that can quickly identify the app, but also any associated log files. apps, you’ll have the option to completely remove

Perform a malware scan Remove infected Select the Perform a Full Scan option that can be Once fi nished, the app will give you the verdict on found on the home page of the app. The app will how safe your device is. Select any of the apps or now scan each and every fi le on your device; keep fi les that it highlights and regards as malicious to a close eye on it to see if any issues arise. begin the process of removing them. 14 Feature Make your phone invincible « Encrypt texts Beware of

The best text encryption apps web h

Signal Private Messenger While you won’t necessarily fi n The main principle behind the same level of threat browsing th Signal PM app is that it never web on your Android device stores your data through its compared to your laptop or desk end-to-end encryption protocol, giving you privacy – a common fl aw computer, the dangers are still v in the likes of WhatsApp and Viber. real. It’s imperative that you use a Privacy is a key issue when looking trusted browser and the built-in into the ways of keeping your Encrypt Text Free Chrome app will cater for most of Android device secure. It’s what you need, but the likes of Encrypt Text adds a password commonplace to run into apps, Firefox and Dolphin are also services and websites that are system to your default messaging app, which will need to be commendable options if Chrome constantly on the lookout to get hold entered before you can gain access doesn’t cut it for you. These of your information – whether for to it. Highly sensitive texts can then browsers will alert you to any good or bad reasons. However, there have their own password set. websites that they perceive as bein are also a lot of people out there who dangerous, as well as give you a brie would like to track the messages you Secure Text overview on the dangers your device send to other people and use them True to its name, Secure Text is could face if you continue. If you do a near-impenetrable app when for marketing and promotional end up on the wrong end of a it comes to outside sources gaining purposes. Encrypting your messages malicious website, make sure to is generally an easy task, but access to your texts. They use a highly sophisticated RSA algorithm back out of the website as quickly as requires the help of a third-party app for encryption and decryption. possible, while also performing a to correctly confi gure. complete virus scan of your device. Keep your Lockd data invisible your ap

We use our Android phones for so are plentiful, but we like the free It isn’t just our phones that are much these days and now, with the Andrognito 2 app. Once you have getting smarter; the apps that we launch of Android Pay, many of us downloadedtheapp,it’sacase use on a daily basis have also arestartingtouseourdevicesto of following the on-screen greatly improved in the make instant payments while on the instructions to move Wipe when past year or so. Social go. Keeping all of this sort of data is your files and data selling media and mobile helpful, but it also makes it more behind its three-layer When it’s time to part ways banking apps are two appetising for hackers to get hold of encryption wall. A with your device, make sure examples of the type it. Keeping your data invisible sure fire way to keep to perform a complete factory of apps that may requires you to transfer your most your most important reset of it. This guarantees contain sensitive important data into a virtual vault. bits of data the next owner will be unable to access data, which when in Options from the Google Play store completely safe. your fi les the wrong hands could be used against you. If this Expert apps for hiding data sounds like something you’re Hide Something Vault-Hide Hide App-Hide worried about, then make sure you download the AppLock app right For an app that’s The app enables To mask your apps not only easy to users to create behind a spoof away. The app puts your other use, but also looks private contacts whose app, give Hide App-Hide downloads behind a password- great, Hide Something is messages and call logs a go. All of your protected wall that will need to be the one for you. It uses a will automatically be downloaded apps can entered before opening any of the drag-and-drop system hidden from your phone be placed inside, with a stored content. To then be super where you can place screen and messaging special spoof icon then sneaky, it’s possible to hide the your folders behind a app. You’ll need to open in place when you want AppLock icon, meaning your apps are hidden spoof app. the vault to view them. to access them. completely hidden. Once this is 15 Feature » Make your phone invincible

Keep a virtual log of the Stay backed up contents of your device

If your device becomes unusable due to a virus or malicious software, chances are you need to do a factory reset. While this is all well and good, it will mean you have to completely delete all the files and data already stored on your Android device – somethingthatismoreofan annoyance than anything else. Nevertheless,tosavethehassleif this event occurs, having a virtual backup in place will offer a simple waytoaddyourfilesagainonareset device.Bestofall,manyofthe available apps for this are not only Check your inventory Add more sources Time to backup free,butsurprisinglyeasytouse. On the homepage of the CM Backup Press on the + icon in order to look Press on the backup option to begin. Here we show you how to backup app, you will be able to see the through the additional sources that You will be able to keep track of how your files with the great CM Backup details of the things that can be can be backed up through the app. the backup is progressing on screen, app. It's completely free to backed up. To take a closer look at all Once you have chosen your items, but you will also be notifi ed once the download, but packed full of highly individual fi les, press on any of the press on the Confi rm option to add process has fi nished if you don’t useful features. icons that are provided. them to your list. want to stare at it. Track your Wipe data Locate your device when remotely device it’s in the wrong hands Before getting into a panic about your misplaced device, make sure that you When things take a turn for the perform the necessary steps to track it down. There’s no need for convoluted worse and you realise that your apps to perform this task, instead you can rely on Google’s own Device device has been stolen, you’ll be left Manager to help you out. As long as your phone is turned on and signed into with little option but to perform a your , all you need to do is load up the Device Manager on your remote wipe. So before this desktop computer, sign in with your Google account and let the program track happens, download the Cerberus down your device. Not only will it pinpoint your device’s location, you also have app. After a quick set up process, the option to ring it. the app will be set to offer a remote Name your device wipe service whenever you need it – To make your device no matter if you want to perform a more recognisable, you full wipe or simply want to remove mayconsiderrenamingit. the contents of your SD card. Select the pencil icon on the top left of the program Eagle-eyed users will also spot a to give it a new name handy backup menu, where you can link up your account to perform a last minute upload of your most essential fi les before someone Whereisit? else has a chance to access them. The purple patch on the Best of all, the entire process takes a Device Manager will matter of minutes, rather than highlight the location. Use hours. So what are you waiting for? the+and–symbolson the right to zoom in and take a closer look “Perform a last minute upload of your essential fi les, before Give it a ring If your device is nearby, pressRingtogetyour Keep your someone else gets them” device to make sounds. cards safe Aneasywaytoseeifyour device has fallen down Use one of the many wallet apps on the thebackofyoursofa! Play store for a safe and secure way of storing your various payment cards 16 used for Android or Samsung Pay Feature Make your phone invincible «

Ultimate Secure your network quick fix tips Avoid using public Wi-Fi at all costs Vpnster is a very good Check out the following tips for a One of the most overlooked aspects of keeping alternative to very quick security fix Hideninja your device secure is the Wi-Fi network you use as your base connection. For the most secure Set two-factor browsing experience, using a VPN service is a good authentication way of encrypting your outgoing connection, Your Google account will hold a lot of personal making it diffi cult for anyone to potentially trace data about you, so it’s imperative that you stop your private browsing data. However, don’t worry if people from accessing it. Head to accounts. you suspect your device is under threat while google.com to set up two-factor browsing, as the WiFi Protector app can help you authentication, which will add a dual-layer of out. It provides a blocking system that aims to password protection for your account. prevent outdoor sources from tracking, taking and distributing the data your phone is producing while you are browsing. If your main source of Wi-Fi is via public connection, a combination of both a VPN and the WiFi Protector will prove to be more useful than you may think. “WiFi Protector can prevent people tracking your network usage“ Get rid of any unnecessary apps Set up a Be wary of apps that haven’t been updated in a while, as you may fi nd that these won’t have the necessary updated security features you need to protect your device. Use the uninstall password vault menu often to keep these apps off your device.

thousands of apps and services that Add a firewall u to create a login to access, so When mixed in with passwords, app verifi cation ring them all is a fairly diffi cult task. and other features, adding a fi rewall is a simple keeping a loose document on your device way to keep the most obvious viruses and optimal idea, especially if it contains malicious apps from gaining unwarranted ome personal sites. However, an easy fi x access to your device. Get one of these mpile your passwords within the downloaded from the Google Play store ASAP. app. As well as passwords, the app r website logins and autofi ll web browser hin a virtual vault. Once set up, you will need a single master password to access ed LastPass account. What’s even more about LastPass is that it can generate ot strong passwords and modify many of nt logins to something harder to crack.

Root with caution Rooting is a great way to unlock extra features on your device, but it can also expose massive security fl aws within the Android ecosystem. When rooting, make sure you have a highly regarded anti-virus app installed on your device. emnants of your stored passwords 17 Feature » Master Google apps

MASTER GOOGLE APPS Google’s native apps are some of the best on the Play store, but are you really getting the most out of them?

No matter how much you spend on your device or did you know just how many apps Google has scoured through these apps to reveal the killer where you buy it from, the one thing you can developed over Android’s lifespan? A quick glance features that you really need to be trying out on guarantee is that it will ship with an abundance of at the Play store reveals just over 50 apps, many of your device. Many of the features we’ll be pointing Google apps pre-installed. While they offer great which have gone largely unnoticed by the millions out won’t be immediately noticeable when using entry points into some key areas of your Android, of Android users around the world, some with the apps, but by following our guidance, you will they are also packed full of features that can make downloads that are merely in their thousands. A soon become accustomed to them. Once you have them essential additions to any seasoned user’s number of these apps are particularly niche, but mastered our tips and tricks, you will fi nd out arsenal of apps. Plus, they receive constant they still offer some great added features that are fi rst-hand just how powerful Google’s suite of apps updates to make sure that each and every user is certainly worth checking out. is and it should prevent you from needing to getting the best mobile experience. No matter what sort of Android user category download unnecessary third-party offerings for the However, while we all get the likes of , you fall into, Google’s suite of apps is fantastic, but most part. The only question that remains is what Chrome and Photos pre-installed on our devices, we could all be doing more with them. We have Google apps will you download?

18 Feature Master Google apps «

Manage site Stay social with Google apps permissions Broadcast to the world Select the new record option in Play Games to start a live stream of your favourite game. You will now need to in Chrome select the resolution you want to stream at – if your internet is patchy, make sure to use the 480p video option that’s provided. Pin posts in Collections Chrome is far and away the best mobile Google +’s Collection feature is great browser out there and it’s constantly for bringing together your favourite improving thanks to Google’s attempt posts into one place. However, by to continually update it. Due to security using the new pin option on a single post, you issues becoming a problem in Android’s backend, can highlight it for your contacts to check out Google has made improving web security an the next time they open the app. important point in recent updates to Chrome. One of the primary features is being able to get hands-on Share playlists with friends with the permissions that websites require access Once you have created a playlist of to and block them when necessary. Blocking your favourite tracks in Play Music, websites’ access to certain permissions can be press on the menu icon to the right of benefi cial for your device in the long run and we it and select Share Playlist. From here you can highly recommend you do it right away. choose how to send a direct link to your playlist for friends to check out. Get notifi ed of brand new YouTube uploads To stay in the loop with when one of your favourite YouTube channels uploads a new video, make sure to subscribe to not only the channel, but also enable the notifi cations options through the accompanying Subscriptions menu. Open settings List of sites 1 After loading up your Chrome home page, 2 Chrome’s primary settings page is fairly press on the menu icon that is located in the top convoluted, but you’ll want to fi nd the Site Settings right of the app. From here scroll down the list of tab that’s listed near the bottom. Once open, options until you fi nd the Settings tab; open this select an accessed website from the list of up in order to continue. choices in front of you.

View permissions Choose to block 34Each website listing will include a segment If you fi nd there’s a permission you want that lists the permissions that the website to block, select it from the list and press on the currently has access to. Many of them are block option that appears. Repeat the process harmless, but you’ll want to be wary of any that for any remaining permissions and websites that can access your Phone app or contact list. are on the list.

19 Feature » Master Google apps

Edit Photo templates

The editing portion of the Photos app is fantastic and the preset templates are plentiful. However, it’s possible to make changes to these presets and improve your image tenfold. Select the editing panel in Photos, before selecting one of the preset templates found behind the picture icon. Before saving the changes, use the toolbar cleverly hidden at the bottom of the menu to adjust the colour levels in the image. It’s a relatively simple way to make sure that your image stands out from the crowd. Unfortunately, there’s no way to save your customised preset template. Blur out image backgrounds

The Google-owned is one of the best apps on the market for editing your photos, especially when it comes to bringing items into focus. Select the Lens Blur option and gently drag your fi nger around the area you want to focus on.

Align your perfectly After using the Cardboard app to connect your headset, you’ll want to make sure it’s aligned. Load an image and look for blurriness as this means it’s not aligned. Use the app to try different images until your phone is in the correct position. Line it up Slow and steady Check the results You’ll want to start your The key to shooting the The app will now begin to 123PhotoSpherebymovingto perfect Photo Sphere is to process your captured the left side of the landscape keep your device not only as PhotoSphere.Afteracoupleof you’re looking to capture. Once straight as possible, but to also minutes, the finished product will done, select the menu icon move in one continuous be shown on the screen for you located in the top left of the movement. Once you have to preview. For a closer look, screen and choose the Photo completed your movements, open up the Photos app where Sphere option inside. press on the tick icon to finish. the new image should be listed.

20 Feature Master Google apps «

View Wikipedia listings View live up-to- date traffic news

Planning a journey in Maps is simple in enough, but you’ll want to look a little closer when viewing traffi c updates. Major collisions will include a small stop sign next to where the incident has taken place and by pressing on it, you will be able to get a brief overview of what is believed to have happened. One of the leading attributes of the It’s an essential tool when mapping out a Earth app is that it’s a relatively simple journey as it can highlight the roads you need way of discovering places near you or around the world. However, there’s always room for improvement – and in the case of Earth, there’s a handy built-in Wikipedia feature to help make discovering new places even better. Through the app’s side menu, users can enable the Wikipedia option. You’ll fi nd that the map you’re then looking at will update itself with various W icons dotted around. These icons represent Select the Wikipedia option from the Earth side menu different Wikipedia listings that will give you details on the places they’re linked to. It’s a handy tool to have when you want to read up about a specifi c location without resorting to TripAdvisor or Yelp. “It’s a relatively simple way of discovering places near you or around

Places that are signposted with a black W symbol on a the world” white background have accessible Wikipedia listings

Shareyourprogress Theshareiconinthetoprightofthe GetfitwithMyTracks screen should be your port of call when youdecidetosendyourprogresstoa friend.It’sidealforthosewhowantto Back to share the progress they have made the start For those that embrace an active If your mapped run is lifestyle, My Tracks is by far and away extremely long, it can be diffi cult to scroll back to the one of the better fi tness tools on the beginning. Use the market. It contains all the necessary compass icon in the top tracking features to help you monitor your workout right of the app to be process. Furthermore, the integrated links with the taken directly back to the start Maps app can give you a visual rundown of the distance you have covered and how long it took you to reach your destination.

In action Essential stats MyTracksincludesaninnovative Havingavisualguideisonething,but playbackfeaturewhereyoucanseea many people will want to know the real-timeplaybackofyourlatestrun. exact details of their workout. Select Usetheplayiconatthetopoftheapp the Stats tab that’s provided to get a tostartthisfeature closerlookattheessentialinformation

21 Feature » Master Google apps

Share Keep lists with anyone

Another app that has largely hidden under the radar is Keep. While it has many similarities to Evernote, Keep has its own very impressive suite of features that have helped it build up a good-sized user base. At its core, it will always be a list-based Turn your device into app, but it’s what you can do with created lists that’s really worth checking out. Once you have put something new a list together, select the people icon at the top of the app. From here you can invite certain contacts Stream anything! to access the list, as well as let them make minor editstoitfromtheirowndevice. Format your list before entering the share menu Chromecast has had a massive update in the past few weeks, meaning it’s better than ever at While it has many streaming from your phone to your TV. “ Whenever you’re in a compatible app, select similarities to the familiar cast icon to get started. Create a Skype clone Evernote, Keep has its While it still isn’t as popular as Skype, own very impressive Hangouts has come on leaps and bounds. When in a video call, select suite of features the + icon to the right to start up a group chat, ” Enter the email or contact name into the sharing menu screen where you can send invites to as many extra contacts as you like. Replicate a Kindle Calend minders When you start reading a book through the Play Books app, press on Switch views the A button at the top. Through the Reminders are easier drop-down menu that then appears, you will be to view in the daily able to change the background, font and its select screen, but you While Calendar is a fantastic app for size to mimic that of a Kindle. canalsoswitchtothe monthlyscreento managing your weekly schedules, it view them. Press on lacked the detail to make it a useful Create a fi tness device thecalendariconat app for monitoring your daily life – until the top to switch One of the benefi ts of the now. A new reminder system has been app is that it works with a plethora of implemented that enables users to add daily different fi tness trackers. Once you reminders to their weekly schedules. These have used it for a signifi cant period of time, reminders can be as detailed as you like and link in make sure to use the backup option in order to with many of Google’s other apps, such as Maps, send a complete log of your results to your Contacts and Gmail. Here’s how to fi nd your way Google Drive account for safekeeping. around this feature. Pay with ease Addanentry Use your Android Pay is set to be big news in By pressing the + icon voice 2016 and rightly so. With the app set locatedinthe If your hands are full, you up on your device, you can seamlessly bottom-right corner, can add reminders using your you can select the scan your device over any contactless terminal voice. As long as you ask Reminder option to Google to set a reminder, it in a shop to make simple and quick add a checklist of will add them payments. Receipts can then be sent Tick them off events for a certain automatically into the Once you have dayintheyear Calendar app to you via email. completed a reminder, you will want to tick it off.Headbacktothe overview screen, as shown, and swipe right onthereminderto checkitoffyourlist Feature Master Google apps «

How to set an out-of- office reply

If you’re taking an extended break from your desk or are just leaving your phone behind when you go on holiday, there’s nothing worse than coming back to a mound of unread emails. It can be a laborious task getting back up to speed with your inbox, so using the app’s out of offi ce feature is an essential task. Here’s how to get yours set up in a matter of minutes.

Open your inbox Settings menu Find out of offi ce 1 When you open the app, select your 2 Now you need to find the settings menu. 3 Press on the General Settings tab provided account and then the inbox option listed inside. Select the menu icon from the top left of the app and scroll down the next menu until you fi nd the Your latest emails will now appear in front of you. and press on the settings option near the bottom. Out Of Offi ce reply option listed.

Add dates Input details Just to contacts? 4 Choose the date you want your out of 56Typeoutboththetitleandbodyoftheout If you want to have your out of offi ce work office period to start on, before using the menu on of office reply you want to send. Feel free to add only when a listed contact emails you, check the the right to select the date you want it to end. your number if you still want to be contactable. that sits at the bottom of the menu. How to master Create a Trip gesture typing Bundle in Inbox Gesture typing isn’t the If you’re going on a trip, easiest thing to master, but you can save everything with some practice you can from your favourite become fairly adept at it. Gently photos to the details of your fl ight glide the tip of your fi nger from one and even any emails associated panel to another, being careful not to with the trip within the Inbox app. highlight unwanted letters on the Once you have collated all the way. One of the great things about details into one bundle, use the the Keyboard app is that it will share function to send a copy of it automatically correct the word for to any contact. The Trip Bundles you, plus, if it still gets it wrong, you feature can be found by opening can long press it to add the word to up the side menu from the home your customised dictionary. page of the Inbox app.

23 Feature » Master Google apps

Check for updates Customise your Google Atthetopofeachcardwillbea small disclaimer on the last update.Toupdateyourmenu, head to the top of the screen and drag downwards to refresh Now cards

Google Now has fast become one of the premier personal-assistant apps on the market, but its big selling point is just how customisable it is. While the menu will provide you with a range of default cards to enjoy, many of them won’t be to your exact tastes. However, with Now’s consistently increasing range of cards to choose from, it’s a relatively simple affair to get the cards you want on your screen. Here’s how to get the best, personalised Google Now experience. Customise Google Now cards Take a closer look Some cards are a little too basic for our liking, but by pressing on their listing on the Google Now menu, you can get a more detailed overview of the card

App links Someofthebestcardsused Open Google Now What to customise? in Google Now have direct 1 Scroll through your app drawer and select 2 Select the menu icon on any card and linkstosomeofGoogle’s otherapps.ThePlayMusic the Google Now app from the list to open the Now select the customise option that appears. From appwillshowyousuggested menu. Alternatively, just say the phrase ‘OK here, you will want to choose the type of card you albums, for example Google’ to get started. want to add or remove.

Starttocustomise Tomakechangestoyourcard Add details Check your updates layout, select the menu icon to thetoprightoftheappandselect 3 The way that each card can be 4 When you head back to the Now home the customise your card option customised varies. Follow the instructions on page, you should fi nd that the menu automatically that will be shown each panel to make the changes you want to your updates itself. All of your new customised cards card of choice. should now be shown. Boost your Translate using just Create accurate your camera website reports productivity If you can’t decipher a After six months of website passage of text well enough tracking in , Google doesn’t just do entertainment to type it into the Translate use the My Reports section apps, despite popular belief. Underthe app, select the camera icon to the to gain new insights into your website radarthere isawhole host offantastic right to take a photo of it and have the traffi c. Through this menu, you will be productivity apps available that can app do all the hard work for you. To able to see the peak time of visits, as help you take control of your work life make it easier, try to hold the camera well as the countries that are most and also your business. as still as possible. likely to visit you.

24 Feature Master Google apps «

Enable Drive access for contacts

As far as encryption goes, Google Drive is one of the more secure accounts out there. With this in mind, it has a great invitation system to help you collaborate on projects with colleagues. Once you have put your document together, you will need to select the I icon located on the right of its listing. From here, you’ll need to fi nd the Add People option that’s provided. You will then be prompted to add the email of the contact you would like, as well as an extra message letting them know any Search for the document you Select the Add People option Enter an email and an The next time you click on a want to collaborate on using to begin adding friends or attached person before using project, a small note will passwordsyoumayhaveaddedtothefile. the search bar colleagues to the project the send button show you who has access Howtoresizeandadjust Research topics in Docs

Through the new your connected desktop Research tool in When you first connect your computer to your Android device you can through Remote Desktop, the picture can be out of focus. For a import links from quick visual fi x, press on the menu icon located in the top-left websites and Wikipedia listings corner of the app and select the Shrink to Fit option provided. After into any of your created a few seconds, the live feed from your desktop will shrink down to fi t the documents. Similarly, select the proportions of your screen. Insert button with the Research tool still open to import a photo into your listing. If you then choose to send the document to someone, all your added research will be sent alongside it. “Import links from websites and Wikipedia listings into any of your created documents” Now get documents Use Sheets to insert Manage printers read to you recommended charts with ease If you need an overview of a Depending on the type of Cloud Print is an document while you’re still data you enter into Sheets, incredibly useful app for working on something else, Google will recommend a managing the settings of any make sure to install and set up the chart to add some visual elements to connected printers. If you have a Text to Speech app. Follow the your document. While you don’t have printing error then this is the best place instructions and you will be able to to follow the recommendation, they to head, as you can perform a quick get one of your documents read out are usually the best choice for a scan of the printer, see what faults to you from start to fi nish. number-heavy worksheet. have appeared and how to fi x them.

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» masterclass Take control of Google Maps is one of the best Android apps and it just keeps getting better. In this guide we’ll take you through its highlights, Google Maps as well as a few hidden features

Google Maps has been a central part of supplied via the Play store. It’s tied to your Androidfromdayone.It gave every user full Google account and syncs your searches Four things you didn’t global mapping and street view, then routinely.Anythingyousearchforona expanded to offer local search, turn-by-turn desktopwillautomaticallyshowupinthe know about Maps navigationandevenreal-timepublic Maps app on your phone or tablet. It’s this 1. transportschedules.Nowitcanreplaceany thatreallymakesGoogleMapsstandoutover Google Maps fully conforms to the Material dedicated satnav, as the latest update brings the competition. The best alternative, HERE Design specs used in Lollipop and Marshmallow. navigationandsearchwithouttheneedfor Maps, continues to have superior offline Itmakesheavyuseofthesidebartostoreall internet. This offline support fills the last gap functionality, but trails far behind in features. the main features and sections of the app. in Google Maps: the ability to use it overseas. Thisguidewilltakeinsomeofthefeatures 2. Terrain views Google Maps is available on every Android intherecentupdate,alongwithsomeofthe Google Maps isn’t just limited to urban use. If device.It’spre-installedandupdatesare changes to the user interface. you’re heading off-road, swipe open the sidebar and select Terrain from the list. This gives you an Android uses three different ways to Ordnance-Survey view of the map, showing hills, Understand location settings pinpoint your location water and other types of terrain. Choose a mode Battery saving mode Calibrate the compass 3. Cycling routes Go to Settings>Location and tap Mode. High Battery saving uses only wireless networking In order to further improve the accuracy in Youcanswitchtoseethecyclingroutesmode. accuracy combines GPS and wireless technologies, which aren’t accurate enough for Google Maps, you may occasionally be Thisshowscyclelanesontheroadsingreen,as technologies to fi nd your location. It uses more routing. Devices that only use GPS are accurate, prompted to calibrate the compass. Follow the well as off-road cycle paths in brown. power, but works faster and is more accurate. but a lot slower than High accuracy mode. on-screen instructions when prompted. 4. Your timeline TheYourtimelinefeatureattemptstoautomate information for you, in the way that Google Now does. It stores locations you have visited in order to predict journey times and improve search suggestions. It can also be used to view where you have been. If you’re concerned about the privacy implications of this, you can turn it off.

28 Google Maps update » masterclass

Contributions is Download maps Google Maps has Google’s name for reviewsoflocal revamped its offline min businesses and to use offline map features gu de restaurants Google Maps has had some basic offline support for a few years, but in the most recent update it has become an essential feature. You can now get turn-by-turn navigation, including Get started with searchingandrouting,whileinofflinemode.Youstillneedtodownloadmapregionsfirst though,andhere’showtodoit. Contributions

Slide open the sidebar and tap Your 1 contributions. All your existing reviews, as well as photos you’ve uploaded, will be displayed. Tap your avatar for a summary.

Pick an area Save the region 1 Open the sidebar and select Offline areas 2 You’ll now see the Download this area from the list of options. You’ll see your list of offline window. It will show your current region by default, map regions stored here when you have some. To but you can swipe the map to choose any region. begin downloading one, hit the + icon in the Pinch to zoom in and out to save a larger or smaller bottom-right corner of the screen. region — the size will be shown below the box.

If you have Location History turned on 2 then the Contribute tab will fill with places you have been to, prompting you to add reviews, comments and photos.

Download an offline map Get auto updates 3 With your region selected, tap Download to 4 To ensure you aren’t using out-of-date begin. It’s a good idea to do it on a Wi-Fi maps, your downloads will last a month. They will Alternatively, locate a business that you connection, as the downloads can be large. Any then expire and you’ll need to refresh the maps. 3 have visited and tap it to view more maps you have previously used will have been Tap Settings and activate the Automatically update details. Scroll down the page until you find cached, so will download quicker. offline areas option to keep your maps live. space to add your own rating and review. 29 Masterclass Use Google Maps as a Ta-ra TomTom and system greetings Google! Maps can replace your satnav

s been a while since Google introduced That’s all changed now. With the advent of n-by-turn navigation into Maps, but proper offl ine use, where you can even view til now it has needed an internet points of interest and reviews for your chosen nnection. Even though it was possible to regions without a data connection, Google wnload regions, you couldn’t search for Maps is now a serious satnav tool. In this cations or plot routes. As a result, Google tutorial we’ll look at how you get started, plot aps was not suited to serious navigation a route, what you’ll see when you’re driving nd was certainly not something you could and what else you need to know to navigate ke on your driving holiday to France. The with Google Maps. Of course, you’ll need to ata charges would just be too high. add your own windscreen mount.

Plot a route Choose the right path 1 Tap the Navigation icon in the bottom-right 2 On adding a destination, the app will corner. You plot a route by picking a From position search for routes, giving the option of three. The (your current location is entered by default, but fastest will be selected by default, but you can you can change it) and a Destination. To make the switch to the others – they’ll indicate how much return journey tap the up and down arrows. slower they are, along with traffi c issues en route.

Get driving The road ahead Real-time updates 3 Onceyouhaveselectedyourpreferred 4 Along the bottom of the screen is a bar 5 Once your journey starts, you need not route, tap the arrow icon and start driving. Skip showing how long it will take to reach your touch the app. Your route will automatically update past the Beta warning screen that may appear and destination. Tap this bar to see a preview of the if you take a wrong turn and it will check the traffi c the app will jump into navigation. Your next turn is route and tap again to preview it on the map, along periodically and alert you to potential problems up shown at the top of the screen. with details telling you which lane you need. ahead – you will need a data connection for this. 30 Google Maps update » Message us! facebook twitter masterclass Got a top tip for Google » /littlegreenrobot » @lgrobot Get help from our Follow us to send your Maps? Let us know! Facebook community questions and thoughts

Google Maps is a complete mapping solution for every occasion. It’s great Search public in the car, on foot or even on a bike. One of the newer features is public transport support. It’s been there for a while, but has recently been fleshed out to offer live times for bus services around the UK and in other countries. It’s one of the more useful, but often overlooked features of the Google Maps transport app, especially if you’re travelling in a city that you don’t know.Simply turning on the public transport overlay will show you nearby bus stops or train stations, and from there you can get live times and destinations. You can also Whether you’re on the train or the use the routing feature to show you what mode of public transport you need to bus you can get live times get to your destination.

Turn on public transport Getlivetimes Navigate by bus 1 Slide open the sidebar and tap Public 2 On a bus stop tap Buses from this station. 3 You can also use public transport in a transport.Atfirstyouwon’tseeanychanges,but This will open a screen that displays all the routes, navigation search. Search for a destination as whenyouzoomintothemap,busstopsandtrain as well as bus numbers and the times that they usual and tap the routing icon (normally the car) in stations will be listed. Tap on one to see the buses will arrive at this particular stop. The data is in real the bottom-right corner. Now tap the train icon to or trains that leave from this destination. time; tap one for even more info on the route. see a recommended route by bus or train. Google Maps interface tips min gu de DiscoversomeofthehiddenwaystonavigatetheGoogleMapsapp

3D view Facing forward Always face north Share any location 2 3 4 1 A3Dviewhasnowcroppedup Tap the location button in the You can swivel the map by If you ever need to share a in a number of towns and cities, bottom-right corner to instantly holding two fingers on the screen location, you can. Tap and hold a showing you buildings and switch the map to your precise and rotating them. To re-orientate point on the map to drop a pin, then landmarks. To see it, swipe down location. Tap it a second time and the map, tap the compass icon and tap that pin and hit Share. You can the screen with two fi ngers to enter you’ll jump to a forward-facing view it will revert to a north-facing view. In share in all apps, including sending isometric view then zoom in until the that rotates the map based on fact, the compass icon only appears the location in a text that will open in buildings magically spring up. which way you’re looking. when the map isn’t pointing north. your recipient’s mapping app. 31 Tu to r i al s

Works with » Android 4.1 and up Set the apps that Google Now can scan

Google Now is often described as Android’s search box on your homescreen or verbally Get Android’s assistant to personal assistant, but it does more than preface instructions with the words ‘OK search and send search the web and notify you about Google,’ it returns results found in this data events. Android devices put tons of useful and on the internet. It will also display Now fii fmyourapps mation at your fi ngertips. Google Now cards with updates that have been generated een designed to fi lter that mass of data by compatible apps you have installed. tails that might be important to you at Like any good assistant, Google Now needs moment and make it easily available. some training. This involves telling it which oes this by indexing data stored in your apps store important information and which When you enter terms in the Google ones should send cards.

Call up Google Now Open the menu If you haven’t already turned on Google 2 Once Google Now is running, tap the three w, activate it by tapping the bar horizontal lines in the top-left corner of its main he icon simply labelled Google and follow the screen to access the menu. This takes you to screen instructions. If Google Now is already where you tell Google Now which apps to index so rking, swipe up from the home button or long their names and content show up in searches and ess home if you’re on a Samsung device. the apps that should generate cards.

Se Chooseappstoindex Grant permissions 3 Tap Settings and then Phone Search to 4 All of the apps listed under Phone Search 5 For third-party apps to show cards in your showalistofwhatGoogleNowcanscan for the are indexed by default. If Google Now is trawling Google Now stream, you need to give Google data it presents when you search for something. throughappsyoudon’tusethough,thiscould permission to track what you use. To do this, open All apps will be catalogued, but only those storing drainyourdevice’sbatteryandmightslowitdown. the Google Settings app and tap Personal Info & data on your device, such as Contacts and Play By removing the tick mark beside a redundant app, Privacy. Then tap Activity Controls and check that Music, will have their content indexed. it will tell Google Now to ignore it. Web & App Activity is switched to On. 32 Handy hints you will need if you’re new to Google Now 1 Go to G 2 Where are you? 3 Cards to collect 4 Launch with Now 5 Coming soon To access your cards, tap Google’s Some cards need location data, so Google has approved Now card Install the Google Now Launcher Repeat Step 8 periodically because multi-coloured G icon and swipe ensure Location History is turned integration in over 100 apps, which and swipe left to right from Home some apps only request permission tips up to view them. On under Step 5 below. are listed at bit.ly/1MZRgjf. to get instant Google Now. for cards if used regularly. Access your apps min and media instantly Once Google Now has indexed the apps and compatible guide content on your phone, you can find things in a flash

Pick a card 6 Some third-party apps can generate a Now card every day while others rarely post cards. Google Now can also be set to post cards based on your location. To set card permissions for third-party apps, go back to Google Now’s menu and tap Customize to access the Now Preferences menu.

1 Type the first letter 2 Use voice commands If you need quick access to an app, There are various ways to get instant type the first letter or two of its name in the access to media stored in apps indexed by Google Now search bar. Icons for matching Google Now. The easiest is to get Google’s entries will immediately be displayed in a row attention by saying ‘OK Google’ and follow that Review other app settings below the top search results. Tap on the one up by stating what app, eBook, song or video you need to open it. you want Now to open or start playing. 7 Under Now Preferences, look for the Apps & Websites option. If you haven’t entered your transportation choices in Google Now, you’ll have to scroll down below the settings for these. Otherwise, you should see Apps & Websites about halfway down the screen. Tap on it.

Say yes to everything Name that tune Stream it now 8 To see Now cards from third-party apps 3 To find an artist, song, movie, TV show 4 You can also use Google Now to access on your device, ensure that Yes is selected under or eBook, you can also use the approach in Step streaming media. Type a name or title in the the All Apps & Websites and Location headings. 1. Start typing the name into Now’s search box Google search box and look down the results for Some apps have individual settings that might be until the result appears in the fields below. app services such as YouTube and Spotify that set to No by default. Tap these and choose Yes to Tapping the title will open the media in its app. you have installed. Tap on an entry to open the get cards from them too. This works for contacts too. app with your desired content loaded. 33 Tu to r i al s

App used » KWGT Kustom Widget Maker Works with » Android 4.4 and up Personalise with Kustom Widget Maker

Design your own Widgets and a customisable interface are top that we can’t cover them all here. After completing features of the Android operating system. While this tutorial though, you should get a good idea of widgets and one- widgets make it easier to access information in apps what Kustom Widget Maker can do and feel confi dent touch shortcuts without having to open them, the ability to tweak the about experimenting with features we didn’t cover. layoutandappearanceoftheUImeansyoucan The fi rst few steps show you how to make a basic with this free and personalise your mobile devices. change to one of the preset widgets included with the tile app Kustom Widget Maker helps you take advantage of app. We then dig deeper into the editing tools by these qualities by giving you tools to add unique creating a simple widget from scratch that provides a ts and handy shortcuts to your shortcut to a website. To start, download KWGT reen. It has so many options Kustom Widget Maker from the Google Play store.

Don’t open the app Add your fi rst widget 1 After you have downloaded the app, don’t 2 KWGT offers two sizes of widgets. For the tap on the icon when it appears on your first part of this tutorial we are using the two-by- homescreen. If you do, you’ll get a message that two option. When you drag this blank widget to says you haven’t created a widget yet. Instead of your homescreen, all you will see is a rectangle opening the app, long press on homescreen to displaying nothing but the words ‘Click to setup or create your first widget. long press to resize’.

Loadapreset Meet the editor Import a picture 3 Taponthewidgettoopentheappatits 4 Selecting a preset opens KWGT’s editor. 5 Tap Pick Image to open your photo gallery Rootscreen.Toloadanincludedpresetdesign, Editing tools are under headings below the design. app, then select a picture. This will return you to tap on Installed. Presets include battery meters, We are going to give our preset a photo backdrop. KWGT’s editor with the photo added as your clocks and calendars. You can pick anything you First select Background, this should display fi elds preset’s background. If your image is imported want for this part of the tutorial, but we are going labelled Type and Color. Tap the former and select with the wrong orientation, tap Edit Image and to use the CircularBattery meter preset. Image. Formatting options should appear. correct this in a photo editing app. 34 Get in touch facebook twitter email We’re on Facebook and Twitter, or » /littlegreenrobot » @lgrobot »[email protected] Like us on Facebook and Follow us to send your Need help? Got a question? Drop us just drop us an email join our community comments and pics an email and let us know

Ask your own question online at littlegreenrobot.co.uk Is it possible to change my theme? Indeed you can! Tap on the paintbrush icon and you’ll be able to select a new theme without deleting your progress and starting again. You might need to reshuffl e a few Admire your work Start from scratch elements, but it’s not too much 6 There are many other customisations you 7 In the rest of this tutorial, we will explain work. You can also change your fonts and background image can make to presets, including those described in how to create a widget that takes you directly to from the menu. the rest of this tutorial. For now though, tap the your favourite website. First create a one-by-one disc icon in the top right to save your creation. blank widget and open the editor as described in Then press Home, swipe to the screen your widget Step 4. Then tap the icon in the top right that looks is on and see how it looks. like a bent sheet of paper.

Name your widget Position the text Add a shape 8 Ensure that you have the Items heading 9 Next tap the tick mark in the top-right 10 Tap + again and choose Shape. Back in the selected below the design window. Then tap + in corner to return to the Items editing screen. Select editor, select something from the Shape fi eld and the top right to see what objects you have the Position and move the text to the bottom of the use the sizing controls to make your shape almost choice to add to your design. Tap Text and then the widget by tapping the arrowheads next to YOffset. touch the widget’s top and side borders. Then tap Text fi eld in the editor to bring up a screen where Then tap the arrow in the top-left corner to revisit Paint, tap Color and pick a shade from the palette you can name your widget. the Root screen. with which to fi ll your shape.

Pick an icon Touch it up Link and save 11 Return to the Root screen again by 12 Next, go to the Touch tab. This is where 13 Tap the URL fi eld and then in the next tapping the tick mark and then the back arrow. you will add the URL that you want to open in your screen type the web address in the Formula box. Tap + and choose FontIcon. Back in the editor, browser when you tap the widget on your Tap the tick icon in the top right when you’re done. tap the FontIcon fi eld, then the Icon fi eld. Pick an homescreen. Tap the + icon to create a Touch Finally, save the widget using the instructions icon you like, tap it and use Size in the editor to fi eld. Tap None in that fi eld and None again, then described in Step 6 and go to your homescreen to enlarge it to fi t your window. select Open Link. double check if it works. 35 Tu to r i al s

Google Now Varies with device AppHow used » Works to with » clear your entire Google Now history Wipe the slate clean by Visit Google Now deleting Google Now’s card history records and search history Either on your Android or your computer, visit the Now The Google Now service aims to provide CardHistorypagebygoing to goo.gl/4a6QOk.Ifyouare you with the information you need, not already signed in to your when you need it. In order to provide this Google account, you will be kind of customised service, Google Now askedtodosobeforeyou are permitted to access needs to gather and record lots of NowCardHistory information about you, including what cards you have accessed in the past. Delete entire history If you’re security conscious, you may As soon as you select want to occasionally delete this record of #FXCPEGF CP GZVTC ƒGNF YKNN appear. Tap this new Select your Google Now activities, whether that’s Today and yesterday FCVG ƒGNF CPF EJQQUG HTQO wiping your entire Google Now history or To delete your Google Now Past4weeksorAlltime, just removing the record for a certain day. historyforthecurrentdayor whichwilldeleteyourentire Google Now history. Select This article shows you how to do both. yesterday, tap the menu icon and select Delete options. theoptionyouwanttouse You’ll also learn how to delete your Google Then select either Today or and then tap Delete Now search history, as search queries can Yesterday and tap Delete. You sometimes hang around in the Google can access some additional Now search bar long after you’ve cleared optionsinthismenuby selecting Advanced your regular browsing history. “If you’re security conscious... delete your Google Now search”

Delete Google Now search history Stop seeing cards Your history may make you Whenyoucleardataonyourdevice,yourNow realise that there’s a card searchhistoryhasahabitofstickingaround you don’t want appearing in Google Now. To stop seeing this card, swipe to Google 0QY ƒPF VJG ECTF KP question, tap its menu icon andselectNotinterestedin orDon’tshowupdatesfrom

Web and app Delete your Delete queries activity Google history manually &GNGVGCURGEKƒEFC[ history. Sometimes queries may Head over to If you select Advanced, You’ll see a daily summary of google.com/history remain in Google Now .Open you can then choose from all the cards that Google Now Past4weeksorAlltime. even after you have thesidemenuandmake hassenttoyourdevice, Select Delete, read the cleared your search sureWeb&AppActivity including whether you viewed is selected. Now tap the warning and confirm the history. If past queries do or clicked each card. To three-dots menu icon and deletion. Open Google appear when you tap the deletethehistoryforacertain then select Delete Nowandtapthesearch search bar, you can Options. Select either bartoseewhetheryour delete them manually by day, select that day’s check Yesterday, Today or history has been long pressing and then box and then tap Delete from Advancedfromthemenu. completely cleared. selecting Delete. the toolbar that appears

36 App used » Google+ Works with » Varies with device

Get to grips with the Start your own collection Youcanalsostartyourown collections by selecting Yours and then tapping the Create a collection icon. Give your redesigned collection a name, tagline and decide whether it should be publicornot.Onceyou’ve created a collection, it’ll Find more of the content that you appear under the Yours tab love and start publishing your own Google+ collections Google has recently announced a complete redesign of Google+ across all platforms, Discover new including the Android app. collections ;QWECPƒPFPGYEQNNGEVKQPU This revamped Google+ focuses on content rather to follow by checking out the than social media. Boot up the latest version of Featured collections or you Google+ and you’ll immediately see this new can search for collections on direction in action: there’s now a permanent bar a particular topic by tapping the magnifying glass icon along the bottom of the screen, where communities and performing a search. and collections take centre stage. 9JGP[QWƒPFCEQNNGEVKQP Although user profi les do still exist, you may fi nd you like the look of, tap Follow yourself spending more time using Google+ to discover new content, rather than staying in touch with friends and family. Redesigned To help you get up to speed with the new Google+, communities this tutorial takes you on a quick tour around the Community pages have also user interface, before showing you how to publish been given a refresh in the latest Google+ update. To see your first Google+ collection. thisnewlayoutinaction, select Communities and tap This revamped Google+ anyofthecommunitieson Check your “ thispage.You’llnoticeanew PQVKƒECVKQPU focuses on content rather layout that makes these It’s easy to check new and community pages distinct GXGP RCUV PQVKƒECVKQPU KP VJG HTQO WUGT RTQƒNGU redesigned Google+ app. than social media Wherever you are in the app, ” UKORN[ VCR VJG 0QVKƒECVKQPU button to open a side menu Make your collections stand out that contains all of your WPTGCFPQVKƒECVKQPU;QWECP Google+ makes creating a collection easy, but TGNKXG QNFGT PQVKƒECVKQPU D[ creating a collection that’s worth following tapping Previously read requires a few extra steps!

Cover images Create a post Create a poll What are collections? At the top of the screen Time to create some You can also post polls Acollectionisasetofposts you’ll see your content! Tap the pencil for your followers to on a particular topic, such as collection’s default cover and craft your fi rst post, in respond to. Tapping the football, technology or food. image. To change this the same way you would graph icon adds a poll image, tap the create a regular Google+ template to your update. When you follow a collection, paintbrush icon and then status. To prevent people After completing the its posts appear in your either scroll through the from re-sharing your default Choice 1 and Homestream–collections stock photos or select a content or posting Choice 2 fi elds, you can areaneasywayofseeing photo of your own. Tap comments, open the menu add more by simple moreofthecontentthat Done to save. and use the check boxes. tapping More choices. really interests you

7 Tu to r i al s Behind the scenes Youcanruntheappinthe Apps used » WiFi File Transfer Pro Works with » Android 2.1 and up background, so it doesn’t have to be front and centre if you are working on somethingonyourphoneor tablet. This way you will be CDNG VQ SWKEMN[ CEEGUU VJG ƒNG Move files fromyourPC.It’sareally, over Wi-Fi really handy system

TransferfileswithoutaUSBcableusing WiFi File Transfer Pro We’ve all been there, desperate to transfer somethingfromourAndroiddeviceonto aPC,butentirelyincapableoffindinga Logical layout USB cable when it matters. That’s where Thisisthemainpageofthe WiFi File Transfer Pro comes in. It’s a app that will pop up once you tap start. It’s all pretty brillianteasy-to-useappthatletsyou self-explanatory. It might not connect your phone and PC with a simple be easy on the eyes, but it tap. You don’t need any technological know- presentseverythingthatyou needinasimpleandvery howtogetitworkingandwhileitisn’tthe easy to access way bestlookingappontheGooglePlaystore,it does what it should so damn well that it’s hardtofindfaultwithit.Allyou’llneedto get up and running is a Wi-Fi connection, TheURListhekey anAndroiddeviceandacomputer.We’ll TheURLthatappearshereis walk you through some of the more whatyouneedtoconnectto complex parts of the setup here, but if all [QWTƒNGU,WUVV[RGKVKPVQVJG youwanttodoissendsomethingtoyour browser and you’ll instantly connecttothememoryof PC quickly, it really is a doddle. When you your phone. Make sure you Settings type it in correctly. You’ll need have all the equipment you need, head on Tapping the Settings button to add http:// as well downtothefirststeptogetgoingorcheck atthebottomofthescreen out the image for more tips. letsyouplayaroundwitha varietyofdifferentoptions that make the experience even sharper. We’ll deal with “While it isn’t the best looking app... it them in the next section of the tutorial, but there’s some does what it should so damn well that really useful stuff in there it’s hard to fi nd fault with it ”

Thesettingsmenu Setapassword Auto start 1 Tap on the Settings menu button and you 2 Setting up a password is also a good way 3 If you want WiFi File Transfer Pro to can set up some handy security and ease of use to work with colleagues securely, giving you all automatically turn on when you connect to your options that make WiFi File Transfer Pro even access to the same shared fi les without uploading home network, tap the option above Advanced better. First up, you can set a password to ensure them. It essentially turns your phone into a joint Settings. When the list of networks you’ve that no one else can access your fi les even if they hard drive. Remember you will need to be on the connected to before pops up, scroll down and can access your URL. same Wi-Fi network for it to work. choose the one that you’d like to use with the app. 38 Some more tips to get the most out of WiFi File Transfer Pro 1 Do I have to pay? 2 Does it need root? 3 When you’re done 4 Save some battery 5 Swap devices There’s a free version, so give Nope, there is no need to alter Just tap the Stop button Showing the folder size If you’re using multiple devices, it a try if you are still not your device at all for the app to found on the main page to permanently in the list will use up end the connection on one tips entirely sold yet. work effectively. end the connection. more battery on your device. before you start the next.

Ask your own question online at littlegreenrobot.co.uk Is it possible to use other mobile devicestotransfer thefilesacross? Yes. You can use anything with a web browser. Just point it in the direction of the URL the app Advanced settings On the web produces for you and you can get access to the files instantly. 4 In the Advanced Settings there are, as 5 This is what the interface looks like on the You can use it to transfer things you’d expect, some more advanced tweaks. You web. Again it’s not super-pretty to look at, but it across different Android can opt out of Google Analytics if you don’t want to getsthejobdoneverywell.You’llseeontheright devicestoo.It’sanincredibly send information to Google, as well as add SSL of the screen that you’re given information about versatile little tool and for the encryption if you’re on a public network. You can the battery life of your device and how much price of 88p it’s ridiculously change the look of the app too. storage your phone has left. good value for money. What should I do if Igetstuck? The app actually has a really useful help section that you can access from the main page. Just tap it and there are some hints and tips that should get you through. For some reason, the help section on the web-based portion of the service doesn’t seem to work though. If you do find yourself in a bind, make sure that you Upload to phone Themediagallery check the app. 6 You can transfer files in the opposite 7 The media gallery offers fewer options direction as well. Simply click on the option on the than the file browser. You can view the media that right-hand side of the screen and you’ll see this you have on your phone. You can download items dialogue pop up. You can choose multiple files to and show them in their parent directory. Sadly, transfer at once. If it doesn’t work, try using the there isn’t a way to delete files here though so you simple uploader option instead. will need to do this in the file browser.

Need help? Got a problem with your Android phone or tablet? Get in touch with us... facebook » /littlegreenrobot Get help from our Facebook community The fi le browser What you picked twitter » @lgrobot 8 Here you can explore all of the files that 9 Once you have selected files to download, Follow us to send your are on your device. They’re displayed in exactly the you’re given a couple of options. You can either questions and thoughts same way as you would see them in a fi le manager download the fi les as individual items or grab them on your device. You can look through folders, as all together in a single ZIP fi le. If you’re archiving »email well as select multiple items to download, delete content then the ZIP fi le is a great idea, saving you [email protected] Send your questions for our team of or add to a ZIP fi le. more space on your PC. experts to tackle 39 Tu to r i al s

App used » Torque Pro (OBD 2 & Car) Works with » Android 2.0 and up Check every part of your You can now manage your carwithTorquecar in ways only mechanics used to be able to

There are few things in life, in terms of cost, that accessory to see everything that is happening with aremoreunpredictableandhardertomanage your car over long periods and in real time. The than running a car. Whether you want to check for power of Bluetooth means that you can leave the app faultcodes,managefuelconsumption or running while you drive and every data point will simply ensure that you are driving in be logged accurately – even more importantly, you awaythatkeepstheengine in can retrieve fault codes that could save a costly trip perfect condition, it can be tricky to to a mechanic. We will show you how to set even know where to start. However, everything up and you will likely be surprised at we have an answer and all you need just how easy it is. When you have fi nished reading is an Android app and a cheap this, you will have full control over your car.

Buy the accessory Download an app 1 Tocheckdataonyour car, you will need to 2 For this tutorial we are going to use Torque purchase a Bluetooth-enabled OBD2 reader. Do Pro, which is available on Google Play. There are a your research to locate where the port is in your variety of options available for checking car data, car and then look for a compatible reader. They but we can recommend this one as being reliable can be purchased very cheaply and most cars will and fully featured. Download and install the app to support the functionality. continue with the setup.

Attach the reader Make the connection Open the app 3 Turntheignitionsothatelectricityisgoing 4 Once the reader has been discovered by 5 Open Torque Pro where you will see a main to the engine and then insert the reader into the your Android device, it will be listed with an obvious screen that should show the reader is now port. This will mean that it has power to be able to name in the Bluetooth settings screen. Tap it and connected and working. Tap the cog icon and then pair with your Android phone and set up a valid then enter the PIN that is included in the select Vehicle Profi le to begin adding the connection. Now turn Bluetooth on to start the instructions that come with the reader. It will now information for your car. Try to be as accurate as connection process. connect and confi rm it is successful. possible for the best results. Get in touch facebook twitter email We’re on Facebook and Twitter, or » /littlegreenrobot » @lgrobot »[email protected] Like us on Facebook and Follow us to send your Need help? Got a question? Drop us just drop us an email join our community comments and pics an email and let us know

Ask your own question online at littlegreenrobot.co.uk Will the reader damage my car? If you take common sense precautions when using an OBD2 reader, there is no reason why you should damage your car engine. Simply reading data and tracking information in real Check your fault codes Read the results time is harmless, but please be 6 Tap Fault Codes on the main screen and 7 The ideal situation will be to see ‘No fault careful when you’re wiping fault codes and make sure you know then let the app thoroughly read your engine. This codes stored in ECU’, which means that everything what they are first. may take some time for the process to complete, should be running fine. In reality, most cars will but be patient as it will be worth it to see how you pop up some errors over time and the majority will can stop issues that could potentially turn into not cause problems later on. Modern engine expensive problems in the future. sensors are extremely sensitive.

Real-time information Change the dials Manage graph data 8 Go back to the main screen and tap 9 Tap and hold any dial to bring up new 10 The graphing feature lets you log data in Real-time Information to bring up a series of dials. options that will let you change the size, display real time and in a visual form. The logging can be These will display the exact state of various type, title and even maximum and minimum saved and exported for later, and the actual aspects of your engine and a simple test is to allowable values. You really can customise every results are impressively accurate throughout. They depress the accelerator to see the Revs change single aspect of the real-time information feature are particularly useful for checking engine immediately. It’s a very impressive setup. so that it suits your exact needs. performance over extended periods.

Map your routes Take it further Install some plugins 11 When you tap Trip View on the main 12 In Test Results, you can see summaries of 13 A quick search on the Google Play store for screen, you will see a familiar mapping display each part of the engine that has been tested. Torque Pro Plugins will bring up a myriad of options appear. If you leave this enabled, your journey Some of these merely offer a description whereas that can be used to enhance the tracking and would be tracked in fine detail for you to check others can be tapped to bring up much more real-time experience. Everything from new themes later. Everything from the route to the speeds are detailed data that can be read, ideally in the hands to gear change apps are available to give you covered visually and through accurate data points. of a trained professional. almost unlimited possibilities. 41 Main menu Thisisthemainmenupage Tu to r i al s oftheapp.Itcontainsmost ofthethingsthatyou’regoing to need to play around with. Super Touch – Speed Sliding Android 3.0 and up In the top-right corner, there’s Apps used » Works with » amenuthatopensup advanced options and an Howtogeta About+help section too speed boost

Speedupyourtouchscreenwiththiseasyto useappthatdoesn’tcostathing Alotoftheappsthatspeedupyour Android device require root access. If that’s notsomethingyou’recomfortableorfamiliar Change sensitivity with,thenyouroptionscanfeelabitlimited. In the middle of the screen The Super Touch app doesn’t require you to there’s the slider that lets you adjust the sensitivity of your havearooteddevicethoughanditdoessome touchscreen gestures. It’s set pretty impressive things without you needing to190bydefault,butyoucan tohavemuch,orreallyany,technical alterthisbymovingtheslider eithertotheleftorright.It know-how. All you will need to get things up goes up to 9,999 andrunningareyourAndroiddeviceanda Wi-Fi connection. The app isn’t a huge download and it walks you through a lot of whatyouneedtoknow.Unfortunately,the translation isn’t great, so we’ll guide you Stay unlocked through the process. It shouldn’t take you Tapping the Start Smooth verylongtogetthingssortedandwhilethere Touch button will begin areafewfiddlybitsthatmightrequirealittle settingupyourphoneforthe newprocess.It’sbestifyou moreattention,withabitofperseverance don’tlockyourscreenwhen you’ll soon be swiping around your Android this is running, as it can phone or tablet with the sort of speed and interferewithwhattheappis Save battery trying to achieve grace you didn’t think was possible. The Battery Save option underneath the Start Smooth Touchbuttonletsyouquickly setupsomepower-saving “It does some pretty impressive things optionsthattieinwiththe speed-up touch. They’re not without you needing to have much massively detailed, but we will havealookattheminthe really any, technical know-how” mainbodyofthetutorial

Download the app Theeasytutorial Tap the Advanced button 1 First up you will need to grab the app from 2 Swipe through the first screens as though 3 Hit the button marked Advanced and you theGooglePlaystore.Itlookslikethisandit’snot you were flipping through a book – there’s about will be taken to another menu. Here you will be a particularly large download. It shouldn’t take too three of them. Have a read and you’ll come to a able to fi nd out whether your device is powerful long to install on your Android device and when it screen that explains things in a little more detail. enough to run some of the much more interesting has done, you’ll open it up to a brief tutorial across The fi rst time you see this, it will have a button features that are available on the app. If it is, you a number of different screens. marked Advanced at the bottom. can tap to get them up and running. 42 Get even more out of Super Touch with these tips 1 Go super high 2 Can’t go that high? 3 Check the updates 4 Check the Google Plus 5 Take a minute Start by setting the app to its You will need to unlock the You will find update logs in the help There’s a link to the Google Plus Remember, it can take highest setting and then slide down Advanced Settings to access any of section in the menu of the main community for the app, found in anything up to a minute for the tips if this doesn’t work. the settings over 300. screen in the app. the same menu. app to change your CPU.

Ask your own question online at littlegreenrobot.co.uk WherecanIfind out what sensitivity setting will suit my phone the best? Scroll down past the buttons on the main page to find a simple list of some commonly-used If you go back Head back to the menu screen resolutions and where it would be best to set the 4 The Advanced Settings link in the 5 When you have set up the Advanced sensitivity of the app for them. drop-down menu will now always tell you that you Settings, go back to the main menu. Now tap the A quick Google search will tell have enabled those settings, so you can pretty buttonthatstartsupthesmoothingprocess.You you what resolution your device much ignore it for the rest of your time with the will see a pop-up window that shows you the is if you don’t know. app. It does include a help email address if you progress. If your phone is likely to lock in a couple want to suggest tweaks to the app. of minutes, then turn off that particular setting. The app starts when my phone does,canIstopit doing that? It’s not advised. If you stop the app from running at start-up, you will need to reconfigure it every time you restart your phone and that’s not exactly the most effective use of your time. If you need to speed up your boot up, consider disabling other apps instead. Start it off Start the battery save 6 Once the progress bar has filled up, you will 7 When you have Smooth Touch up and see another pop-up window. You can scroll down running, you can engage the battery saving and read about some of the changes you have just options as well. Rather than giving you a list of made. When you’re done tap Start and Share. You options, the app controls everything for you. Tap don’t actually have to share anything, but the app the button and it will set it up automatically. You does give you the option to. can quickly turn them off with another tap.

Need help? Got a problem with your Android phone or tablet? Get in touch with us... facebook » /littlegreenrobot Get help from our Facebook community Is it enough? Start it again twitter » @lgrobot 8 If you find that the default setting isn’t 9 When you’ve selected the sensitivity you Follow us to send your powerful enough to actually make that much of a would like, tap the button to start up Super Touch questions and thoughts difference to your swipes and taps, then you can again. Follow the same process as before, slide the marker further up the scale on the main preferably avoiding locking your screen and then »email page to make the touchscreen more sensitive. check to see whether the new sensitivity level [email protected] Send your questions for our team of This will turn off Super Touch though. suits you. Repeat as many times as you’d like. experts to tackle 43 EXPLORE THE TECH INSIDE www.gadgetdaily.xyz

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J Get u willn your OS Short f be refe files on experie adeskt ROM Stands the RO system allows withac Root ‘Rootin OS that enable custom ROM An app youtoi single c ideal fo Titan This ap everyth It mean even af Unre Availab one-clic popula OVERCLOCK ADB Stands for soft hacking the sys Nan YOUR PHONE You mig backup to mak phone: wish to Radio ‘Radio’ refers to the software on your Android device When your phone tells you that its processor runs or game (even when it shouldn’t), you can use that deals with making phone calls and data at a certain speed, that’s often a best-case overclocking to add a bit more oomph. The trade-off connections. Updating your radio version can bring scenario. Seriously thrashing it might give you is that it will chew through your battery faster, but better battery life and signal strength to your device. Some ROMs require the latest radio. performance close to the specified figure (it’ll never that’s where underclocking comes in – enabling you entirely match it), but quite often, less intensive to sacrifice speed for longer battery life. Read on to Flash tasks will run at considerably lower speeds. discover more about over and underclocking, and The storage in your device comprises flash memory, Overclocking your phone gives you more control the performance boosts these techniques can help atypeofsolid-statestorage.Theterms‘flash’or ‘flashing’ mean installing new software onto your over the speeds your processor can achieve. For you achieve. We’ll show you how a few clever tricks device’s storage. example,ifitstruggleswithrunningaparticularapp can speed up (or slow down) your phone.

45 acker Zøne erclock to ake your onegofaster

w you can get more speed from your device by rclocking the processor Everyone wants their phone to be faster; processor’s cores. However, processors never even with all the bells and whistles there’s run at their physical limit. Instead companies still that nagging feeling that it could be set a top speed that balances performance even quicker. While there are things you can and battery life. By overclocking, you’re do to improve the perceived speed of your setting a higher top speed to make your device – removing unwanted apps from your phone faster and more powerful. phone, reducing background syncing, To overclock, your phone needs to be rooted adjusting the animation speeds through the and you need a compatible kernel. Developer options – to achieve real, tangible benefi ts you need to get your hands dirty. You need to overclock your phone. Processors run at a range of clock speeds, Fivetoptipsforworking the maximum (the fastest) being the one listed on a device’s spec sheet. So a 1.8GHz with the kernel processor might run at somewhere in the 1.What is the kernel? region of 300MHz when the phone is idle, The kernel controls every interaction between giving enough power to keep the OS ticking, the hardware and software. Every resource an and then gradually crank up when launching apprequiresandeachscreentapfromtheuser apps and playing games, to the point where it areallmanagedbythekernel.Thekernel runs at the full 1.8GHz across all the directly affects a device’s performance. 2.Whychangethekernel? t kernel for your device. Here’s some of the d the best apps to use with them There are many reasons to fl ash a new kernel. Many are customisable, offering the ability to Unikernel overclock the processor for example, while kernel, Unikernelisagoodchoiceofkernelforthe some provide extra features and some are es. It’s Galaxy S6. It includes a fully configurable optimised purely for performance. stable–a installer, enabling you to choose the settings your whenyoufirstflashit.Thisisthekerneltotryif 3. Choosing a kernel . you’relookingtoimprovetheS6’sperformance. If you plan to fl ash a custom kernel, it is absolutely essential that you choose one that is compatible with your exact model of device. Attempting to fl ash one that isn’t will likely fail or even potentially leave you with a bricked phone. 4. Get ready to fl ash When fl ashing a custom kernel, your phone will need to have an unlocked bootloader and be rooted. It is possible to unroot afterwards, if you want to, although you will lose the customisable benefi ts of a custom kernel. 5. Kernel management apps Some kernels can be confi gured when you fl ash them, but it’s a good idea to install a kernel management app like Kernel Adiutor from the Play store so that you can tweak it from within a more user-friendly Android interface.

46 Overclock your phone

If you need to roll Find and flash a kernel back to the 2 original kernel, To overclock you need to flash a custom kernel – here’s minute you easily can in guide the franco.Kernel how to get started Updater app Before you can overclock your phone you will need to flash a custom kernel. It’s important to choose one that’s compatible with your specific device and it will need to be rooted as well, with a Restore the custom recovery installed. In this guide we’ll look at the popular franco.kernel. stock kernel

Your backups can be found under 1 Backup/Restore in the sidebar. It’s a goodideatonamethemsotheyareeasily recognised, such as #1 stock.

Install the Updater app Createabackup 1 Install the franco.Kernel updater app from 2 Theappwillbeginbycheckingyourkernel theGooglePlaystore–choosethepaidversionfor and finding the latest version that’s available. the full feature set. Launch the app on your device New builds are released on a regular basis. andwhenpromptedgrantitrootprivileges.This However, first back up your stock kernel. Slide will give the app full access to all of the system open the sidebar, choose Backup/Restore then functionsthatitneeds. hitthe+icontocontinue.

Restoringabackupisassimpleas 2 tapping it. When complete, restart your phone if it doesn’t do it automatically. Swipe away to remove unwanted backups.

Flash the kernel Get tweaking 3 Once that is done you’re ready to flash a 4 You can now begin exploring the tweaks new kernel. Slide open the sidebar once again and that are available through your custom kernel. A If you have lost your stock backup, head select FK Updater. Choose the build of the kernel good place to start is CPU Manager, which enables 3 to your device’s forum at xda- that you want to flash and follow any instructions you to adjust the minimum and maximum clock developers.com to download it. A custom that appear on the screen. Restart once it’s done. speeds for your processor. kernel may prevent OTAs from installing. 47 acker Zøne

Squeeze a little more power out of your phone by A kernel overclocking the processor, in order to make it run faster than the manufacturer intended In this tutorial we’ll look at how to on, the settings will be the same. You just overclock a phone using the ElementalX need to experiment with the best ones for for HTC kernel, which is available for Nexus and your own device. HTC devices, and the companion EX Kernel Overclocking involves setting a new Manager app. This app is available from the minimum and maximum frequency for the Play store priced at £2.50. Although there are processor, as well as tweaking a few other other apps on the store that can overclock, settings such as the governor. The governor rs this offi cial app is worth getting for this controls frequency scaling or how quickly the specifi c kernel. The app works in the same processor will ramp up to maximum and how way as the franco.Kernel Updater app, as well long it will stay there before dropping back eneric kernel tweaking tools such as down. This has the biggest effect on both CPU. In short, whichever kernel you settle performance and battery life.

Setuptheapp CPU Settings 12Install EX Kernel Manager, grant root Now reopen the app and select CPU from ermissions and install BusyBox (a suite of root the sidebar. Here you can set the maximum and tilities) if prompted. Create a backup of your minimum speeds for the processor, as well as tock kernel, select ElementalX from the sidebar adjust the governor, which determines how quickly d flash the new kernel. The phone will reboot. the clock speed rises and falls.

Change the frequency Change the governor Tweak the GPU 345Tap the Max and Min CPU frequencies. Under CPU governor, change the setting to You can also adjust graphics performance. Setting the frequency levels to higher than they Performance. This sets the CPU to a higher Through the sidebar, choose the Graphics tab and currently are will increase the speed of your frequency to give better performance and experiment with the maximum and minimum clock processor, potentially at the expense of battery complete tasks quicker. The phone will reach an speeds for the GPU. As always, make your changes life. Simply hit the back button to save changes. idle state quicker, which saves battery power. small at fi rst, so you are able to judge the effects. 48 Overclock your phone

Optimise Want your phone to perform apps. This means that if you are happy with the general performance of your phone you can leave best when playing games? the settings at their defaults, yet you can still your phone This guide shows you how benefit from overclocking when you launch specific apps. By creating settings for the One of the best things about various kernel high-end games that are the most resource for gaming management apps is that they don’t limit you hungry, you will get the maximum performance to a single group of settings that apply across from your device, safe in the knowledge that it the board. In the franco.Kernel Updater app you won’t affect your day to day usage. Let’s get can create settings that only apply to specific started with per-app modes.

Create a profile Assign it to an app Manage your profiles 123From the sidebar select Per-App Profiles. Save the profile by tapping the disk icon in The profile will be activated automatically We want our game to run at top speed, so set the the bottom-right corner. You can now assign your when you launch the chosen game. Swipe to the minimum CPU frequency to a higher number than it profile to apps and games. Swipe to the Apps List Managertabtodeleteanyprofilesandeditthemif is currently at (and maximum to the maximum and locate a game. Tap it and you’ll see the profile you want to fine-tune its performance. Be aware of speed). Also set the CPU governor to Performance. appearinalist–selectittoassignit. overheating if you make high-power profiles. 2 Check your device’s performance minute guide SeewhichcoresarebeingusedthemostwiththeSystemMonitoroptioninfranco.KernelUpdater

Core performance Work the GPU RAM usage The processor 12Select System Monitor from SwipeacrosstotheGPUtab. 3 Swipe again to the RAM tab to 4The CPU Frequencies tab the sidebar in franco.Kernel Updater. If this is regularly hitting the top getin-depthanalysisofRAMusage gives you an overview of the speeds With the app running in the speed then it may be that graphics on your phone. This is often the main your processor has been running at. background, the CPU tab shows the performance is your phone’s limiting factor in performance, A high percentage of higher performance of all your phone’s bottleneck, rather than the CPU especially on a device with less than frequencies shows your CPU is being cores. This shows whether you need speed. Overclocking may have 3GB RAM. However, don’t be tempted taxed, so if this is the case, you may to overclock to boost performance. minimal benefit in this instance. to use a task killer to free up RAM. see changes from overclocking.

49 acker Zøne

A few choice tweaks to your kernel settings can Underclock also extend the life of your battery Changing the clock speed is always about fi nding the right balance between power and battery life. Overclocking will likely require you to sacrifi ce a little of the latter. Underclocking is the opposite: it involves for better reducing the speed of the processor in an attempt to extend your battery life. It isn’t a magic wand. Underclocking causes some tasks to take longer to complete, which offsets the benefi ts of having the processor using less power at its maximum level. Nevertheless, for some tasks it can be benefi cial and switching the governor can have noticeable effects. As ever, the best battery life approach is to experiment with settings to fi nd ones that work for you. And don’t push things too far – if you set the processor clock speed too low it may not deliver enough speed for your apps to work.

Set up the app Reduce the clock speed Change the governor 1 In EX Kernel Manager, create a backup 2 Now go into the CPU settings. 3 You also need to adjust the governor of your existing kernel settings. Open the Underclocking is the same as overclocking, settings. The obvious one to use is the sidebar and select Tools, followed by Kernel except in reverse. Try experimenting with lower Powersave governor, which locks the CPU to the Backup. Tap the disk icon to create the backup maximum frequencies, so that your phone runs lowest frequency. However, you might do better and give it a recognisable name should you at a slightly slower speed, causing it to use less with the Performance governor, so that tasks will need to restore it someday. power. Just don’t overdo it! complete in the shortest possible time.

4 Test the changes 5 Explore Powersave mode 6 Tweak settings Exit the app and then test your changes. The EX Kernel Manager also has a To change the Powersave mode settings, Open a few apps or games and run a few Powersaveutility.Thisisactivatedbytapping tap the three-dot menu icon and choose common tasks. It’s likely that you’ll notice the the leaf icon at the very top of the app’s screen. Settings. You can set Powersave to activate phone is a little slower, but if it’s too slow then This mode sets the processor to run at automatically on a certain battery level or hit you will need to tweak your changes. You want predefi ned levels and enables you to quickly Advanced settings to reduce the CPU speed to fi nd a balance between speed and battery. reduce power consumption. even further. Again, keep your changes small.

50 From the makers of android

Unleash the power of your Android device. Whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet, Android Tips, Tricks, Apps & Hacks is suitable for all Android devices. Download essential apps and improve the performance and security of your device.

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A world of content at your fi ngertips Whether you love gaming, history, animals, photography, Photoshop, sci-fi or anything in between, every magazine and bookazine from Imagine Publishing is packed with expert advice and fascinating facts. BUY YOUR COPY TODAY Print edition available at www.imagineshop.co.uk Digital edition available at www.greatdigitalmags.com Hacker Zøne status update Which devices are best for the hacking scene? Samsung Galaxy Tips&Tricks Tab 4 Rooted?: Yes canberesolvedonlybywipingthe Active cache partition in recovery. development QQQ Low All form factors (7, 8 and 10.1 inches) are Meanwhile error 919 occurs when good for hacking, with CyanogenMod and your Android device storage is full. So TWRP recoveries available along with a you will need to start deleting unused multitude of ROMs. apps until you have enough space on HTC One M7 your phone for new data. Rooted?: Yes If you use multiple accounts on Active development your Android phone or tablet, error QQQHigh From 2013, lots of 403 will indicate you should switch to recovery and ROM the primary account. options. Unlocking is Error 927 is also a common easy thanks to HTC complaint, but actually means that providing its own tool – a dream for hackers! theGooglePlaystoreiscurrently updating and all you need to do is Error codes are often oblique, but once LG Watch understood the problem can be overcome wait for this to finish. Urbane For further code information, Rooted?: Yes FixGooglePlay check XDA-Developers.com and Active development: search for mohamedrashad’s Play QQQMedium store error codes store error codes thread. You should Active hacker Clean up the Google Play store for better, development on the Problems downloading and also check for the Android Error streamlined app downloading Urbane is high, but so fa installing apps can prove to be a Code Fixer on the Google Play store limited to a TWRP particular irritation. Perhaps it’s a –butyoumayfindthatyouhaveto You should repeat this action for recovery image and an game you’ve been downloading install it to a second device! This Google Services and Google unofficial kernel. over Wi-Fi due to its size, only to app contains a database of error Framework Services, and perhaps find an error code accompanying a codes and their solutions, which can evenDownloadManager.Onceyou (2013) message informing you that the save you a lot of time. have completed this, restart your Rooted?: Yes download failed. For large games, Android device. Note that once you Active development: this is really annoying. Stop and wipe reboot, you may be required to QQQA very popular Several fi xes exist for dealing with re-enter your Google Play account phone with high activity Google Play among developers. these Play store errors. We’re going credentials for verification. You’ll fi nd a lot of to take a look at each of these – Many errors can sometimes be Subsequent attempts to install tweaks, hacks and stop, wipe, reinstall and refresh – but resolved by wiping the Google Play apps should now work, but rather custom ROMs are fi rst it’s worth being aware of the cache. Start by opening Settings> than heading straight for a large available for this device. most common error codes and why Apps, find the tab for All and look for download, try a smaller file first, just they are happening. . Tap Force Stop in case. If the error persists, you can Error 498, for instance, occurs andwhentheappstops,goto proceed with the rest of the when your phone’s cache is full and Storage and tap Clear Cache. solutions listed here. q hacks You can record with Ever tried to record your activity on Update Play Games Record your game Adjust and upload Android, perhaps to demonstrate 1 CheckthatGooglePlayGames 2 In Google Play Games, open 3 When you’re done, tap Stop. your progress on a mobile game or is up to date. Open the app’s Settings Play Now and use the Record Tap the buttons to disable audio how to use an app? You probably and under About, check the version is gameplay button to choose between and the front-facing camera. Video relied on third-party tools, but a 3.4.12 or later – if not, visit apkmirror. 720p and 480p resolution. It will warn can be edited and uploaded via recent update means screen com and download the latest version. you that all activity will be recorded. the YouTube app. To exit record recordings can be made natively. Install with Unknown Sources enabled. Now tap Launch and Record. mode, drag the disc to the centre.

52 Share your tips facebook twitter email Got a hack for Google Play? » /littlegreenrobot » @lgrobot »[email protected] Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to Discovered anything good about Let us know about it! join our online community send us your tips & tricks your Android phone? Let us know!

XDA-Developers.com. This overlook GetJar.com, SlideME.org Check your alternative may work correctly, and MoboGenie.com. You might also connection options enabling you to download apps look at apkmirror.com to fi nd a more without errors occurring. consistent connection – this is an Is your Wi-Fi connection fast or Speaking of alternatives, problems unoffi cial mirror of Google Play. reliable enough to deal with with Google Play may prompt you to Remember: if you’re opting for potentially large downloads? It might search out alternative app these alternatives, you’ll need to be worth moving your smartphone or marketplaces. Amazon’s App Store is have Unknown Sources enabled on the obvious place to start, but don’t your Android device.

Use an alternative app store to download and sideload your chosen apps in Android

Removing your Google account isn’t quite as extreme as you might think Refresh your Google account Problems with your Google account might be blocking the installation of apps. This can be overcome by Switching between mobile internet and removing the account from the wireless can improve download reliability device and either installing the app tablet closer to your wireless router in with another account or adding the order to maintain a high download credentials back in after a restart. speed. Also, check that your router Note that following these steps fi rewall isn’t blocking data from the will remove your data completely Google Play store. If you’re using a from the device. VPN, this may also slow downloads, Open Settings, then Accounts and so consider disabling this until the select the problematic Google app has downloaded. account(s). Tap the menu button and For smaller apps, switching to then the option to remove the mobile internet should be a good account. While it isn’t necessary to option too, but of course you will be reboot, it’s a good idea at the very unable to download large data for least so you can be sure you have games in this way. correctly removed the account. When you’re ready, add your Just sideload apps account details again, as if you’re setting up the phone for the fi rst Another option to consider is time. Make another attempt to install uninstalling Google Play. If you have a the app or game – if it continues to rooted device, you can uninstall Play fail, then you might consider looking and replace it with a different at some further options. version, which you’ll fi nd on

Hacking the easy way Get great new features without getting your hands (too) dirty Plex for Clear Default App Zapper Task Android For Action Killer & Manager Price: Free Price: Free Price: Free From: Market From: Market From: Market Need root? No Need root? No Need root? No Want to stream video or It’s quite easy to set the Need to kill a bunch of your photos from your wrong default app by unnecessary installed apps computer or media accident. One too many taps all at once? This tool displays centre to your TV via and you are using an app that all of your downloaded Chromecast? The Plex you don’t like at all. This utility Android apps that are remote app can also will quickly clear all app currently running and then stream video to an defaults and then even lets you kill as many of them Android device. auto-uninstall itself. as you like in one fell swoop.

Check our website daily 53 for even more tips & tricks »www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk Hacker Zøne HowtogetWorks with » Android 4.0 up Difficulty » Easy started with gesture typing

Hate typing? Typing on Android devices can feel like a time In this tutorial, we’ll look at how to gesture type consuming and frustrating experience, on the stock Google keyboard, which comes Supercharge your particularly if you’re used to touch-typing on your pre-installed on most devices. You can check which text entry by setting laptop or computer. keyboards are installed on your Android device by One technique that can really boost your words opening your Settings, selecting Language & input up gesture typing per minute is gesture typing. This is where you and then checking what keyboards appear under swipe to type across the keyboard, passing through the Keyboards & heading. If you don’t all the letters you want to input rather than tapping have access to the Google Keyboard, you can each one individually. download it from the Play store.

Enable gesture typing How to customise Write with gestures 1 2 3 Make sure gesture typing is enabled by This menu includes some additional To use gesture typing, open the opening your device’s Settings and selecting settings. When Dynamic floating preview is keyboard and long press on the first letter of the Language & Input. Tap Google Keyboard> enabled, the system tries to guess the word word you want to type, then slide your finger Gesture Typing and check that the Enable you’re entering by displaying a floating bubble. slowly across all the subsequent letters. When gesture typing slider is set to the On position. If When Show gesture trail is enabled, you’ll see you see the word you want to input, release it isn’t, then tap the slider. the path of your gesture across the keyboard. your finger and the word will appear.

Try third-party keyboards Switch to gesture mode Try swipe gestures 4 5 6 If you find Android’s built-in gestures Gesture typing in SwiftKey works the In Gestures mode you can no longer lacking, you can try a third-party keyboard app. same as in Android’s default keyboard, but it gesture type, but you can swipe left to delete a OnepopularalternativeisSwiftKey,whichyou also has a Gestures mode where you can use word and swipe up on the keys to capitalise can download for free from Google Play. Launch shortcuts. To switch modes, launch the app, them. If you want to resume gesture typing at the app and follow the onscreen instructions to select Typing>Typing & Autocorrect and Flow or any point, you can simply switch back to the set SwiftKey as your default keyboard. gestures. In the pop-up, select Gestures. original Flow mode.

54 ReplicateWorks with » Android 4.1 and up » Difficulty Easy the S6 Edge display on any Android

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge came with an compensates by illuminating the edges of your Get Edge-style innovative way of displaying notifications - screen with animations instead. notifications about illuminating the bevelled edge along the side of You can also assign specific colours to your incoming phone the screen. Nowevenifyoudon’thaveanS6Edge, important contacts, so you can see who’s calling at youcanstillgetatasterofthisEdgedisplayusing aglance.Youcaneventelltheapptoreserve callsonany the Edge Color Notifications app. animations for the contacts you’ve assigned a colour Android device ThedrawbackisthatnodeviceotherthantheS6 to,soifyouseeanEdge-stylenotification,you’ll Edgehasthatbevellededge,sotheapp know someone important is calling!

Enable settings Customise your columns Left, right or both? 1 2 3 Download the Edge Color Notifications You can customise the Edge effects for One of the most important changes you app from the Play store and launch the app. To when you receive a phone call. This includes canmakeischoosingwhichsideofthescreen setupEdgeColorNotifications,opentheside changing the width of the animated columns (so your animations will appear: left, right or both. If menu and select Home. Enable both the People theeffectismorenoticeableorsubtle)and you select the Full Border animation, your Edge and Phonecall notification options. Open changing the column’s default colour. You can columns appear around every side of the the side menu and select Phone Call Settings. also choose from a list of animations. screen, regardless of what you select here.

Assign specific colours Choose a new colour Be selective 4 5 6 By default, Edge Color Notifications will You’ll see a list of all your contacts, with Once you’ve finished assigning colours, apply the same colour to every single person in the same default colour next to each contact. you can restrict Edge Colour so that it only your contact lists, but you’ll usually get more To assign someone their own colour, tap the displays the Edge animations for contacts that value out of the app by assigning specific block of colour that appears next to their name you’ve assigned a specific colour to. If this is the colours to people. To do this, open the side and choose a new colour from the pop-up that case, return to Phone Call Settings and select menu and select Contacts Colors. appears. Tap OK to save your changes. Only show contacts with specific color set.

55 Hacker Zøne WorksRemotely with » Android 5.0 and up Difficulty » Advanced control a PC ndroid

You can control a remotely connected RemotelycontrollingaPCusedto PC for free thanks to Google involve purchasing expensive Download the app software and then jumping 1 throughmanyhoopstoget Go to the Google Play store everything up and running in a and search for Chrome Remote reliable manner. There are still a Desktop. Download it as normal and huge number of ways to then let the installation process connect to your PC remotely complete. You will also need to check nd many offer a number of that Chrome is installed on the ul features, but we are computer you want to control and show you how to do so that the latest version of Chrome is me Remote Desktop on your Android device. k and reliable Chrome device ss is

use oesn’t dtohow beauty of hatitis One more cure as using 6 services, and it download ackground software You now need to download the oensurethatthe Chrome Remote Host Installer, which ctionisvalidandstableat will only require clicking OK. Once the imes. There are no download has finished, install it as mplicated steps to follow and you would do any other app on your ou can rest easy because Google device and wait until it has is behind the entire setup, both on completed. This is the last piece of your Android device and in the software you need to install. Chrome browser on your PC. 56 Nothing is Some useful The PC side Enable remote 2 connected 3 instructions 4 In Chrome on your computer, 5 connections The app A simplistic list of instructions that go to the and Open the app, where you will see a will display a sparse screen with a you need to follow will appear within search for Chrome Remote panel appear. Now click Enable message saying ‘Learn how to set the app. The main trick here is to be Desktop. Now click Add to Chrome remote connections in the bottom up a computer for remote access’. patient because some extra to start the installation. Once section in order to start the set-up Tap this message and you will be software will need to be installed completed, a new app will be process. You will only need to do taken to the set-up process, which and this can take time to complete. available for you to use whenever this once, and then the panel will mostly involve tweaking simple However, the entire process should you want to control your computer should change in the future to settings on your PC. take less than ten minutes. remotely using your Android. enable one-click connections.

Create a PIN Finish up Time to connect A mini PC 7 Once the installation has 8 The final part of the process 9 Go back to your You can now control the fully completed, you will need to involves accepting the remote device where your newly connected computer using the keyboard and create a PIN to ensure that your connection from your computer by computer should now be displayed by tapping anywhere on the screen, connection is completely secure. entering your administrator within the app. Tap it and then enter which should mimic a mouse The minimum is six digits, but we password and then entering the your PIN. The screen of the PC pointer. Using two fingers lets you would suggest that you use newly created PIN in the app. Once should now appear, ready for you to slide up and down within app something much longer (that you this has been done, you are ready control it on a much smaller scale. windows and the entire setup is can still remember!) just to be on to remotely connect to the PC from Use your finger to move around the extremely easy to use. You can now the safe side. your Android device. PC desktop. control your PC from your phone.

57 Hacker Zøne WorksSpoof with » Android 4.0.3 and up Difficulty » Intermediateyour Android’s MAC address

Get around annoying data and time Chances are that you have heard of IPaddressesinyourtime,butMAC Gather your tools restrictions on public Wi-Fi addressesaresomethingthataren’t 1 connections using spoofi ng quite so well known. You can fi nd your device’s MAC rIPaddressisusually address by opening the Settings app ng and temporary, your on your Android and selecting About C address is a permanent Device followed by Status. You’ll fi nd used to identify the the address under Wi-Fi MAC k interface card inside your address. Next, download WiFi Mac d device. MAC addresses Changer and BusyBox, both of which permanent, they’re also are available to download for free as a burned-in address or from the Google Play store. aphysical address. u’ve rooted your Android it’s possible to temporarily that device’s MAC address en use this spoofed address ect to the internet. This has if you’re concerned about y, but spoofi ng your MAC dress also has a very ractical use, particularly if ou regularly use public Wi-Fi. Many places that offer blic Wi-Fi also put restrictions their signal. For example our local cafe might only let ou connect to their Wi-Fi for a aximum of 30 minutes before oting your device off the etwork. When you spoof your AC address, the network will o longer recognise your device Compare nd you will get another 30 6 inutes of free internet access. addresses Other venues may place a limit After a few moments, you should see the amount of data you can a Mac Changed Successfully pop-up. nsume before blocking your MAC Open your Wi-Fi Settings and try ress. Once again, spoofi ng tricks connecting to your network. Once network into thinking your connected, you can check you’re roid is an entirely new device. using the fake address by opening n this tutorial, we will look at WiFi Mac Changer and comparing the eral options for spoofi ng your real address to the fake one. vice’s MAC address. 58 Forget network Simple change Make a Hard change 2 Open your device’s Settings 3 If you have a specifi c MAC 4 connection 5 If the connection fails or and select Wi-Fi. Find the network address in mind, you can enter it in If you see a Mac Changed seems to be stuck on you plan on connecting to after the New MAC fi eld. Most of the time Successfully message, return to authenticating then it’s time to try spoofi ng your MAC address. Wipe though, you won’t have a particular your device’s Wi-Fi settings and tap things the hard way. Return to WiFi the slate clean by long pressing on address in mind or care what it is, the network you want to connect to. Mac Changer and once again either this network and then tapping so just tap Generate Random MAC Enter the network’s password, if generate a random MAC address or Forget network. Launch WiFi Mac to save yourself the hassle. Start by requested. After a few moments enter a specifi c address of your Changer and grant it super user trying to change your address the you should have connected to the choice. However, this time around permissions when requested. easy way and tap Simple Change. network using your new address. tap Hard Change.

Switch back Try an alternative Create a brand Try your profi le 7 If you want to resume using 8 If you don’t get results using 9 new profi le 10 To activate the profi le you your genuine MAC address, simply this app, one alternative you may Tap the + button at the top of the have just created, tap its tap the app’s Set Real Mac Back want to try is MacMan, which you screen to create a new profi le. Give accompanying arrow icon. Then button. Alternatively, you can can download for free from the your profi le a name, then either return to your Wi-FI Settings and tap disable and then enable your Wi-Fi Google Play store. Once again, enter a specifi c MAC address or the network you want to connect to. connection again, or reboot your make sure your device has generate a random one by tapping It should now connect successfully. device. Both of these actions will forgotten the network you want to the blue arrow icon. Tap OK and this If you want to resume using your cause your device to default back to connect to, then launch MacMan profi le should now appear in your original MAC address, you’ll need to its genuine address. and activate the main On switch. MAC Address List. reboot your device.

59 Group test » Big brand Android tablets

60 Group test Big brand Android tablets «

We have scoured the tablet market WRͤQGWKHEHVW $QGURLGWDEOHWWKDW \RXFDQEX\ today

Big brand Android tablets Which of these top tablets represents the best that money can buy? We put them to the test to find out

Picking an Android tablet to buy isn’t the easiest job in the To prove there is a world outside of the iPad, we have entries world. As ever it’s an oversaturated market, bursting with from two of the big hitters in the shape of the Samsung Galaxy budget, mid-range and premium models all shouting about Tab S2 and the Sony Xperia Z4 tablet, the Venue 10 tablet from cutting-edge specs and having the best user experience. We desktop computer giant Dell and an entry-level option that understand it’s tough to narrow down your selection, but that’s punches well above its weight in the form of Vodafone’s Tab where we come in. We take our job as your personal product prime 6. They come in all shapes, sizes and operating systems, advisor very seriously, so we’ve taken price out of the equation, and all boast some pretty impressive features. Which one will rounded up four of the best Android slabs on the market and put come out on top? Let’s turn over the page and let battle them head-to-head in the ultimate group test. commence. May the best tablet win!

61 Group test » Big brand Android tablets Cameras Display goodness The Tab S2 does +VŨUVJGƒTUVVJKPI[QW nothing to suggest that notice when you turn on Samsung tablet photography will take theTabS2tabletandit off any time soon, but there’s will be endearing until you an 8MP unit on the back and switch it off. We can’t Galaxy Tab S2 a 2.1MP front camera, overstate just how good it which you’ll probably is! A real highlight and use more easily the Galaxy Tab S2’s information biggest selling point Price £399/$399 » More information samsung.com » Supplied by Samsung technical specs » Operating system...... 5.0.2 » Processor ...... 1.9GHz octa-core » Memory ...... 32/64GB storage / 3GB RAM, microSD up to 128GB » Dimensions ...... 198.6 x 134.8 x 5.6 mm » Weight ...... 265g » Display size ...... 8-inches » Display resolution ...... 1536 x 2048 (320ppi) » Connectivity ...... Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS » Camera ...... 2.1 MP front, 8 MP rear »head-to-head Design No longer do Samsung products feel Powerful insides cheap. The Tab S2 may well have a plastic Stickanocta-core processor with 3GB RAM back, but the metal edges and Gorilla insideapersonaldevice Glass display give an air of sophistication. andyouaresuretoget It’s built like a premium tablet. very good performance. The Tab S2 is no different andyouwon’tnoticea Display moment’s stutter The Tab S2’s screen is among the very bestwe’vecomeacross.It’ssogood,you won’t quite believe it’s real. Brightness is sharp, colours pop and black is naturally represented – a real highlight. Samsung Galaxy Performance As is always the way with the Android spec A serious iPad-mini rival, Samsung has race, no stone is left unturned in ensuring produced another memorable device that you have all the tools necessary you Tab S2 couldpossiblyneed.Wefeltwedidn’t Released at almost identical times, the Samsung contains 320 glorious pixels per inch and an touch the sides of what could be done. Galaxy Tab S2 is guaranteed to draw comparisons iPad-matching four-to-three aspect ratio. It’s with Apple’s iPad mini 4. Apple’s tablet dominance effectively what makes a good tablet and Samsung’s Value for money has been strong, but this 8-inch Super AMOLED effort Tab S2 looks unnaturally good. Colours vividly pop out At £399, the Tab S2 represents very good from Samsung is a worthy rival that showcases how and the blacks look really deep. The screen is valueformoney,evenifitdoesfalloutof far the Korean giant has come. Sadly, our usual excellent, whether you’re watching videos, photo the impulse-buy category. Almost identical complaints about TouchWiz and an out-of-date OS editing or gaming. Sadly, sound isn’t particularly loud, in price to the iPad mini 4, but with 16GB hold it back from being an essential purchase. but it never sounds tinny. extra storage as standard. Design-wise, it’s a sturdy attempt from Samsung. Performance is excellent too. Samsung has kitted Taking cues from Samsung’s smartphone overhaul, out the Tab S2 with an octa-core processor and 3GB the Tab S2 has a Gorilla Glass front, premium-looking RAM. Whatever a power user could throw at this »Verdict metal edges and a matte-plastic back. Even though tablet, the Tab S2 handles it with aplomb. We had no Samsung’s tablet game it’s plastic, it feels much sturdier than before and issues with lag or stutter when testing it, although is officially strong and given its price range, we can forgive it for not using battery life was a bit hit and miss. The 4,000mAh theGalaxyTabS2isa top-end materials. The fi rst thing you notice when you battery probably should do better and Marshmallow’s powerhouse, but it had the pick up the Tab S2 is just how light it is. At just 265g Doze feature would defi nitely help. for the Wi-Fi-only model, it is feather light and However, it won’t be any time soon. As Samsung potentialtobemuchmore comfortable to hold. lays its TouchWiz skin over the Android OS, it is always The tablet’s highlight, however, is that Super late to the party with OS updates. To ship with an old AMOLED display that shapes up at 2048 by 1536 and and unpopular OS is a black mark. 62 Group test Big brand Android tablets « Vodafone Tab prime 6

5GNƒG ECOGTC information If you make lots of video calls, the front-facing 2MP camera will get the job Price £150/$N/A More information vodafone.co.uk done.Themainrear » Supplied by Vodafone Impressive camera won’t win any » connectivity prizes,butwillserveasan emergency shooter The Tab prime 6 houses its technical specs SIM and micro SD ports at » Operating system...... Android Lollipop 5.0 the top left of the back casing. » Processor ...... 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 4G connectivity is a selling » Memory ...... 16GB storage / 1GB RAM, point and the 16GB microUSB up to 32GB internal storage can Dimensions ...... 244 x 146 x 8 mm be doubled » » Weight ...... 406g » Display size ...... 9.6-inches » Display resolution ...... 800 x 1280 (157ppi) 9GCM » Connectivity ...... Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual- RGTHQTOCPEG band, hotspot Bluetooth 4.1, GPS Quad-core processors should work well, but the » Camera ...... 2MP front, 5MP rear Tabprime6stuttersits way through most tasks. You’ll want to reduce the graphics setting to make »head-to-head powerful games playable Design A redeeming feature: it might not win any beautycontests,butthere’salottolike aboutVodafone’sTabprime6.Aclassy, curved design in a light shell that’s easy to handle. More of the same please! Display The specs don’t lie on this one. A 157 ppi pixeldensityjustdoesn’tcutthemustard against today’s super HD displays. The difference between this and the Samsung tablets is stark. Vodafone Tab prime 6 Performance A phone manufacturer tries to gatecrash the budget-tablet market A quad-core processor with 1GB RAM should have enough power to make a with decidedly mixed results tablet run smoothly, but it simply isn’t the case here. It’s not like Vodafone has Thetabletmarketisn’tjustforthebigboys.The The main sacrifice is undoubtedly screen quality. skinned Android heavily either. Android budget market, in particular smartphones, is It’s not fair to compare it to Samsung’s display thriving more than ever. Tesco, EE and Vodafone have because it’s simply leagues below. It’s the fi rst thing Value for money all released brilliantly accessible devices in the past you notice. Looking at the homescreen of the Tab On the face of it, Vodafone appears to be year, and the latter’s Tab prime 6 tablet is another prime 6 is like looking at a tablet from fi ve years ago. selling you a bargain here. Only when you enticing addition. For £150 you get 4G connectivity, a Massive improvements have been made, but use the Tab prime 6 for sustained use do quad-core processor and a 9.6-inch screen. So is it Vodafone hasn’t quite grasped them. The screen is you realise that too many shortcuts have too good to be true or a bit of a mishmash? In truth, pixilated and just 157ppi, which is at its worst when been taken to lower the price point. it’s somewhere in between. navigating your homescreen or when reading emails Looks-wise, there’s nothing to complain about. The and web browsing. It’s less obvious when playing Tab prime 6 is punching well above its weight. It might games or watching videos, which is a bit of a saviour. be lacking any wow factor, but it’s well dressed and Anyone who isn’t a beginner will notice the lag »Verdict properly trimmed. The back is a curved, soft-plastic when opening apps or selecting menu options, as If you’re on the lookout for dark grey offering that feels great to hold, even for long these sometimes took long enough for us to press abudgettablet,thereare periods. The front is so similar to virtually any tablet, it’s the screen twice. 4G connectivity (the SIM card plenty of other options out barely worth mentioning. However, the weight, or comes pre-installed) is an added bonus, but costs an there, but Vodafone gets top relative lack of it, is. At 406g, you’ll know it’s there, but extra £20 or so a month to run. Do fi rst-time buyers or it’s no brick. Build quality hasn’t been sacrifi ced either. children need a feature like that? We think Vodafone marks for the design! This is a tablet that will take a bit of rough and tumble would have been better focusing on other areas fi rst and not suffer as much as a mark. So far so good. to crack the budget market. 63 Group test Clean screen » Big brand Android tablets The glass is scratch- resistant and is layered YKVJ CP CPVKƒPIGTRTKPV Bundled apps EQCVKPI +V FQGU C ƒPG Sonyhasthrowninsome Sony Xperia Z4 jobofkeepingyourdirty common apps pre-installed digits from marking the togiveyouaheadstart. screen, meaning you Facebook, Twitter and Tablet won’tneedascreen Spotifycanallbefoundin cloth packed with it the App drawer along with information the usual Sony ecosystem Price £499/$599 » More information sonymobile.com » Supplied by Sony technical specs » Operating system...... Android Lollipop 5.0 » Processor ...... 2GHz Snapdragon 810 octa-core » Memory ...... 32GB storage / 3GB RAM, microUSB up to 128GB » Dimensions ...... 167 x 254 x 6.1 mm » Weight ...... 389g » Display size ...... 10.1-inches » Display resolution ...... 2560 x 1600 (299ppi) » Connectivity ...... Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1 » Camera ...... 5.1 MP front, 8.1 MP rear Ultra thin At 6.1mm, this tablet is incredibly thin, making it »head-to-head lovely and light to hold. An Design innovative design by Sony The Xperia Z4 tablet looks the part from that may appeal to some, afar, but we wonder if its build quality is for but maybe not to everyone everyone as it’s quite fl imsy. Design-wise, it’s very Sony – black, curved, soft plastic and very light. Display It’s a perfect display for media consumption, thanks in no small part to Sony’s Triluminos display and X-Reality engine.It’s10inchesofpuregoodness, without a stray in sight. Sony Xperia Z4 Performance Despite being powered by the infamous A tablet-laptop hybrid that does one part Snapdragon 810 processor, we suffered Tablet extremely well. Guess which one? no performance issues whatsoever on this tablet. You fly through menus and Google’s new tablet is going to shake up the Nevertheless, for others you may welcome the selections without blinking. premium Android-tablet market. Consumers will have incredible lightness and feel like this is the fi rst tablet something to reference, so other laptop-tablet that you can actually easily carry around with you. It Value for money hybrids need to be at the top of their game to take the bends and fl exes, so it’s safe to say that Sony has With the keyboard bundled, you’re looking challenge to Google. Sony’s Xperia Z4 with a picked the side of the market that doesn’t want a at£500.Thatdoesrepresentvalue Bluetooth keyboard is the current fl ag-bearer and it’s heavy tablet and run with it. What’s more, it’s certifi ed formoneyforus,butyoucandropthe easy to see why as soon as you start watching Netfl ix, waterproof and dust-tight. If this light build isn’t an keyboard, save yourself £100 and enjoy a videos on YouTube or play a graphic-intensive racer issue for you, the Z4 tablet is cutting-edge in almost cutting-edge, 10-inch tablet by itself. like Asphalt. The screen is 10.1 glorious inches that every category you can think of. pops out a 2K, 2560 by 1600 resolution and comes Anyone who owns a Sony smartphone or equipped with Sony’s Triluminos technology. Its pixel PlayStation 4 will enjoy the tweaks that Sony has »Verdict density is better than an iPad Air 2 for example and made to Android 5.0. The Xperia branded apps won’t You’llfindatabletwitha shines most when you’re reading text. Everything is appeal, but Remote Play will as it lets you use the Z4 gorgeous display and more crystal clear! We didn’t get enough oomph from the tablet as a second screen for your next-gen games power than you could front-facing speakers, but that’s probably because console. The Bluetooth keyboard connects nicely and imagine! Drop the keyboard the unit is so thin and light. It tips the scales at just naturally creates a device that is better for typing. It’s 393g and a mere 6.1mm thick. brilliant for bashing out quick emails on the morning for extra value However, when you’re paying big bucks you expect commute without coming close to replacing your the very best in build quality. The Sony Xperia Z4 may laptop, but the touchscreen and keyboard well look the part, but for some it may feel too fl imsy. combination still needs work. 64 Group test Big brand Android tablets « Dell Cast Dell Cast transforms your tablet into a desktop, by plugging into the HDMI port Dell Venue 10 and casting your screen. It gives you the full experience when paired with a keyboard and a information mouse Price £279/$293 » More information dell.com » Supplied by Dell technical specs » Operating system...... Android Lollipop 5.0 » Processor ...... Intel Atom Z3735F I.83GHz quad-core » Memory ...... 32 GB storage / 2GB RAM » Dimensions ...... 10.16 x 262 x 175 mm » Weight ...... 635g » Display size ...... 10.1-inches » Display resolution ...... 1920 x 1200 (224ppi) » Connectivity ...... Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), USB 2.0, micro USB, micro HDMI, micro SD, SIM, Bluetooth 4 » Camera ...... 1.2MP front, 5MP rear »head-to-head Design The design is functional if a little on the Glorious HD large side. The Venue 10 is the biggest and A genuinely pleasant heaviest slab in the group test, so one- surprise, the Dell Venue 10 comes equipped with a handed use isn’t advisable, but it’s never HWNN JKIJFGƒPKVKQP FKURNC[ unusable as a result. that is vivid and smooth. Intel speed It’s a shame the bezel size Display leaves wasted space The Intel Atom quad-core processor has its roots in A real triumph for Dell. The full HD, 1920 desktop computing and it by 1200 display is outstanding. Any sort of shows here. 2GB RAM might not sound like media consumption is a lot of fun on this much, but it was plenty tablet, but we really enjoyed zooming in on good enough to handle our photos too. what we threw at it Dell Venue 10 Performance There’s an Intel Atom processor inside that Can Dell shake its well-known desktop tag and become king of the makeslightworkofanytaskyouthrowat tablets? Let’s fi nd out the Venue 10. Dell is big on the business side of things, so it’s no surprise to see a When you think of Android tablet manufacturers, you Turn on the Dell Venue 10 and you get a big powerhouse of a tablet. don’t necessarily think about computer giant Dell. surprise. Anyone expecting a washed-out laptop Well, maybe that’s all about to change. Dell has been screen will be mightily impressed with this full HD Value for money slowly capturing the tablet audience’s imagination in offering. We were straight on YouTube watching The keyboard and mouse/stylus come as the last year, releasing a series of impressive slabs videos and found the Venue 10 to be a really good additional costs, but even without these, that come with a no-nonsense design and some entertainment hub. The bezel is disappointingly big you’regettinga10-inchtabletwithsome great specifi cations. The Venue 10 (we’re reviewing and while it’s not as bright as the Samsung or as great features at a very reasonable and the 5050 model here) runs Android 5.0, has a natural as the Sony, it is crystal clear. Sound output happily mid-range price. 10.1-inch full HD screen and sports the sort of from the two speakers on each side of the tablet was connectivity options that business users will thrive easily the best in this group test. The speaker on, including HDMI and USB. placement produces immersive sound that can go From the front, it looks like a traditional tablet. It’s really loud and doesn’t suffer the same muffl ed fate »Verdict plain black (no surprise there) and has gently curved that a back speaker faces when lying down. The surprise package in this edges. All the ports live on either side and there’s a The Dell Venue 10 stretches far beyond test. For your money you get keyboard connector at the base for interfacing with the entertainment though. The Polaris Offi ce suite is dependable design, a full HD optional add-on keyboard. Flip the tablet around and it bundled in, as well as . The optional keyboard displaythatyou’llfallinlove looks like any Dell laptop from the 2000s. It’s also and stylus obviously gives extra choice, as does Dell with and enough power to easily the thickest and heaviest tablet in this group Cast, but it’s connectivity ports like USB, microSD and please heavy business users test. It’s not ungainly, but one-handed use would be a HDMI that really help. Dell’s Android skin is tasteful stretch for an extended period of time. It’s also plastic, too: it’s minimal and also gives access to key Google which lets it down in the build-material category. apps in a drawer on the right. 65 Group test » Big brand Android tablets

GROUP TEST WINNER

One of the most pleasing aspects of doing smartphones, it’s a big upgrade compared this group test was seeing that the tablet to many other tablets on the market, and The Winner... market is still going strong. While arguably the fi rst tab that we could production of tablets has slowed down, the recommend for both shooting video and quality is still there to be enjoyed, no taking a few snaps. Sony Xperia Z4 matter what budget you have available. If you’ve got the additional budget to While both Dell and Samsung provided very purchase the Sony’s detachable keyboard, credible devices for this group test, we then we highly recommend you do, but couldn’t help being bowled over by what we dropping it will help you get a bit more bang Tablet saw in the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet. Not only for your buck. 2016 is expected to be a big is it by far one of the best looking tablets year for the tablet industry as a whole and currently available on the market, it’s while we may seem some unbelievable powerful enough to cope with any and all new devices arriving from a myriad of tasks you throw at it. While its camera manufacturers, they’ll be hard pressed to won’t outshine many high-end beat what we’ve seen in this group test.

Samsung Galaxy Vodafone Tab Tab S2 prime 6 Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet Dell Venue 10 OS Android 5.0.2 Android Lollipop 5.0 Android Lollipop 5.0 Android Lollipop 5.0

2GHz Snapdragon 810 Intel Atom Z3735F I.83GHz 1.9GHz octa-core 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 Processor octa-core quad-core

Memory 32/64GB storage / 3GB RAM 16GB storage / 1GB RAM 32GB storage / 3GB RAM 32GB storage / 2GB RAM

Dimensions 198.6 x 134.8 x 5.6 mm 244 x 146 x 8 mm 167 x 254 x 6.1 mm 10.16 x 262 x 175 mm

Weight 265g 406g 389g 635g

Display size 8-inches 9.6-inches 10.1-inches 10.1-inches

Display resolution 1536 x 2048 (320ppi) 800 x 1280 (157ppi) 2560 x 1600 (299ppi) 1920 x 1200 (224ppi)

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, micro USB, micro HDMI, micro SD, Connectivity hotspot Bluetooth 4.1, GPS Bluetooth 4.1, GPS Bluetooth 4.1 SIM, Bluetooth 4

Camera 2.1MP front, 8MP rear 2MP front, 5MP rear 5.1MP front, 8.1MP rear 1.2MP front, 5MP rear Overall score

66 Special offer for readers in North America 4 issues FREE When you subscribe FREE resource downloads every issue The leading magazine dedicated to the world’s most popular mobile OS

Quote Order hotline USA for this Online at www.imaginesubs.co.uk/and exclusive *Terms and conditions This is a US subscription offer. You will actually be charged £75 sterling for an annual subscription. This is equivalent to offer! $112 at the time of writing, exchange rate may vary. 4 free issues refers to the USA newsstand price of $12.50 for 13 issues being $162.50, compared with $112 for a subscription. Your subscription starts from the next available issue and will run for 13 issues. This offer expires 30 April 2016. Reviews Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 A budget tablet that has the features to make its big-name rivals sit up and take notice

In a tablet market where it’s virtually tablet, but the build quality can’t be questioned really up close, but you would still fi nd use for it. impossible to tell apart the competition, it’s and neither can its performance. Tablet photography is still a touchy subject, but refreshing to see something different and So far, so good. The Yoga Tab 3 has room for the Yoga Tablet gives you everything you need to that’s exactly what the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 is. just one camera, which lives in the bottom-left challenge the stereotype. Lenovo has designed an Android tablet that corner as part of the stand itself. However, the What’s more, to the side of the kickstand looks to make a marked improvement on areas 8MP camera rotates 180 degrees, meaning you there are two front-facing speakers. The Yoga Tab that traditionally are neglected. Have you ever get a high-quality front-facing camera too. It’s a 3 has Dolby Atmos audio-enhancement heard of an 8-inch tablet that combines a wonderful idea and one that makes so much technology on board and the result is a kickstand, a great-sounding speaker, excellent sense! The camera has a good range of manual cinematic experience that is virtually unmatched battery life and a camera that you can actually controls that let you select ISO, exposure and by any tablet. Audiophiles can head to the Dolby see yourself using? We haven’t. Coming in at white-balance levels to get a great-looking app that comes pre-installed to tweak the sound under £150, it’s easy to see why the Yoga Tab 3 picture. There’s a gesture control that can be further, but we found the manual settings is an enticing product. enabled to let you take a picture by opening and worked brilliantly. Films sound loud and dynamic, The kickstand is the fi rst thing you notice. closing your hand. It doesn’t work when you’re with YouTube and social-media videos crystal After all, it’s the feature that gives the tablet fl exibility (it can be moved in four ways: stand, tilt, hold or even hang) and presumably also Lenovo skin Revolutionary camera gives the tablet its name. The idea is that you TheYogaTab3shipswith Lenovo has built just one can use the tablet in virtually any way you need. Android5.1.Whileitisn’t cameraintotheYogaTab3, Marshmallow,it’sjustabout It may protrude in a slightly ungainly way from a butitrotates180degreesto thebestyoucanhopefor. actasafrontandrear-facing side angle, but it feels well built and it makes it Lenovo has added a series shooter. Finally, there’s a Skype easy to hold. There’s a pop button within easy of its own business-centric camera worth using. You will reach round the back that springs the sturdy apps out of the box love the quality too metal stand into use. It adds some weight to the

Thunderous sound Great sound coming from a tabletisn’tthenorm,butthe Yoga Tab 3 utilises Dolby technology to give you absolutely brilliant performance. .QCFCƒNOCPFGPLQ[VJG immersive experience

68 Review

clear. Lenovo has broken the mould in shipping web as it’s black text on a pure white the Yoga Tab 3 with an impressive 20-hour background and we had no issues when battery life too. In comparison, the 8-inch watching fi lms. It does lack the wow factor and Lenovo Yoga Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 will last you for just 10 the huge bezels that help to balance the hours, as will the iPad mini 4. If having to take a kickstand leave a lot of wasted space. Tab 3 charger with you to work to get you through the The 1.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor journey home frustrates you, then this could be sounds good on paper, but with only 1GB RAM to £149.99/$159.99 your perfect tablet. back it up, we did experience quite a bit of lag »More information lenovo.com However, there are some shortcomings to take when navigating around the OS and some apps »Supplied by Lenovo into consideration. For example, the screen isn’t took an awfully long time to load. Nevertheless, anywhere near topping the class. The full-HD LCD at this price you have to expect some shortcuts display performs reasonably well, but no more. to be made. It’s all about personal choice and You will notice when reading text on the coloured weighing up what you want from a tablet. homescreen that letters look fuzzy and whites Despite its shortcomings, we salute Lenovo for are dull. This improves when you’re browsing the trying something different.

Battery goodness Another standout feature is the YogaTab3’sbatterylife.The 6,200mAh cell will last 20 hoursonasinglechargeand nearly three months on Technical specs standby. mpressive!

» Operating system ...... Android 5.1 Lollipop

»Processor ...... Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 1.3GHz quad-core » Memory ...... 16GB storage / 1GB RAM » Dimensions ...... 209.8 x 145.8 x 7 mm » Weight ...... 467.2g » Display size ...... 8-inches » Display resolution ...... 1280 x 800 pixels (188 ppi) » Front camera ...... 8MP, rotates 180 degrees » Rear camera...... N/A Multitalented Flickthekickstandintoaction »Connectivity ...... Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4 andyoucanmanoeuvrethe » Expansion slot ...... microSD up to 128 GB YogaTab3intoavarietyof positions: stand, tilt, hold or hang Battery life A real break from the mould. The 6,200mAh battery is among the very best in the tablet market Good for Media consumption The speakers create a real cinema experience and the kickstand gives you all the viewing angles you need Camera The rotating 180-degree camera is a real triumph. Expect There’s even a hole in the stand to let you hang the tablet in to see a host of copycats in 2016 the kitchen, while you prepare a recipe for example Bad for Average performance We noticed a lot of lag when opening apps, so power users need to be wary that there’s just 1GB RAM HD display Average display It’s not bad by any means, but it doesn’t compare well to Whilesomuchofthe other market-leading rivals, such as Samsung Yoga Tab 3 thinks outside the box, the displayisokay,but Verdict nothing more. This translates to overall WepraiseLenovofortryingtobe performanceaswell, as 1GB RAM just different. The outstanding points doesn’t cut it in 2016 easily outweigh the usual cutbacks forgoodmultitasking

69 Reviews

IP68 protection Oneofthegleaming features of the S40 is its Built to last HWNN +2 EGTVKƒGF Whileit’snon-removable, protection.Itcanboastto the 3,000mAh battery will be both dustproof and keep you going for a waterproofforuptoone couple of days before Cat S40 metre for 60 minutes needing to be charged. It mayprovetobeagodsend if you’re away from a £329.99/$399.99 mainssupplyforawhile » More information clove.co.uk »Supplied by Clove Best deal

£288 £300 £286 Vanilla Android Gorilla Glass Oneofthesurpriseswe Technical specs Theentire4.7-inchdisplay found during our time with is coated in a panel of the S40 is that it offers an Corning Gorilla Glass 4. almost completely vanilla » Operating system ...... Android 5.1 What this means for the Android experience. »Processor ...... Snapdragon 210 1.1GHz averageuseristhatifyou However, we do feel the quad-core drop the device, your processor could do with »Memory ...... 16GB storage / 1GB RAM screenwon’tbeshattered beingclockedabitfaster » Dimensions ...... 144.9 x 74.1 x 12.5 mm » Weight ...... 185g » Display size ...... 4.7-inches » Display resolution ...... 540 x 960 pixels (234 ppi) » Front camera ...... 2MP » Rear camera...... 8MP » Networks ...... 3G, 4G, Bluetooth 4.1. Wi-Fi 802.11 Can the Cat S40 prove that looks » Expansion slot ...... microSD to 64GB really aren’t everything? Cat S40 Battery life One of Android’s many niches is the emerging There’s no real custom skin involved on the Expect the 3,000mAh battery here to keep you going for market for work phones. These rough and ready S40, so it’s as close to vanilla Android as we a couple of days between charges devices often compromise on high-end hoped it would be. It includes everything we fell specifi cations to offer a device that’s capable of in love with when we began using Lollipop 5.1, Good for withstanding anything you throw at it – usually but there are a few extra menus available to Being robust they sport a robust design and full IP68 help out completely novice users. The lack of Tough and rugged with enough protection to protect itself protection. Cat is one of the leading real bloatware pays dividends, as the quad-core from the elements manufacturers of these devices and the S40 is Snapdragon 210 looks slow on paper, but does Lollipop its latest to hit the market. enough to keep the device ticking over quite A nearly vanilla Android experience with barely any In a similar fashion to many of these types of nicely. It won’t be enough for demanding tasks, bloatware in sight devices, the S40 is bulky and won’t be but then again, this isn’t a device built for that something that seamlessly slides into your sort of function. Bad for pocket. However, the entirety of the reinforced What it’s built for, however, is being a device Display shell protects the device from dust, high drops, that offers stellar battery life. If you’re working Colours can look washed out, which in turn affects how water damage and scratches – it really is that away from home, the 3,000mAh battery included your snapped images turn out robust. As you’d expect, ports are covered and here will keep you going for more than a day High-power users we were glad to see the inclusion of a microSD without any problems. A nice feature that we The Snapdragon 210 1.1GHz processor doesn’t cut it for port sitting alongside the SIM slot for when you sincerely hope some higher end competitors will any demanding tasks use up the 16GB internal storage. take due notice of. Display wise, it’s a 4.7-inch IPS LCD offering, The Cat S40 isn’t a device for the mainstream which is average at best. It caters for the basic Android market, but the niche end of tough and Verdict functions with colours washed out, but the sturdy work phones is what it’s looking to cater If you fit into the niche of needing a ruggedness comes through with the Gorilla Glass for and it does the job quite well. Compared to robust work phone, this is one of the 4 lining on the display. Just below sits a series of its predecessor, the S50, there’s little change, hardware buttons, useful if your job involves you but if you’re looking for an entry point for a best you’ll see in 2016 wearing gloves that don’t sit well with capacitive device that lives up to your rough and tumble buttons, but they feel fl imsy to touch. day job, this could be a solid choice for you.

70 Review

Does size matter? Best Wear ever The 42mm watch face will UpdatestoAndroidWear splitopinion.Forsomeit’s have made it a fantastic goingtobetheperfect OS to use. What’s even accompaniment to enjoy better is that every part of AndroidWearon,butfor the Huawei Watch screen othersit’llbejustalittletoo hasbeenoptimisedfor Huawei Watch big for everyday use your swipes and touches £299/$349 » More information huawei.com »Supplied by Huawei Best deal

Added extras Tunesonthego £266.26 £289 £329 While overall we like the There’s 4GB internal stainless-silver casing of storageontheHuawei thesamplewetested, SmartWatchforusersto Technical specs alternate colours are also play around with. One of available.Whynotsplash the best uses is to transfer » Operating system ...... Wear OS outsomecashandkitout across some of your »Processor ...... Snapdragon 400 quad-core your Huawei Smart Watch tracks from your Google 1.2GHz inaspotofrosegold? Play Music account » Memory ...... 4GB storage / 512MB RAM » Dimensions ...... 42 x 42 x 11.3 mm » Weight ...... N/A » Display size ...... 1.4 inch » Display resolution ...... 400 x 400 pixels (286 ppi) Huawei Smart Watch »Front camera ...... N/A » Rear camera...... N/A Huawei’s fi rst attempt at an Android smartwatch » Networks ...... Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi proves that design is so, so important »Expansion slot ...... N/A

When you think about the manufacturers who expect to see the odd shake if this is your Battery life have shot to prominence in the past 12 months, primary fi tness-tracking tool. The lack of any battery-intensive components on Huawei has to be near the top of everyone’s list. One of the benefi ts of the larger display is that this smartwatch means the 300mAh offering here will last for a day with ease Its recent history of releasing quality it does make using Android Wear a lot easier. smartphones is one thing, but being able to put Scrolling through menus is painless and the fact the pieces together to produce a stellar that the complete circumference registers your Good for smartwatch is an entirely different prospect. We swipes and touches does highlight the Display have seen various techniques adopted to create similarities between this and your standard The capacitive qualities of the display are brilliant the ultimate wearable and while we have loved smartphone display. It’s a quality display in all from top to bottom some of the products that reached the market, and we must applaud Huawei’s intent here, even Design there still hasn’t been one killer watch that every if the size will put off some. An overall stunning design that’s been influenced by user must own. Can the Huawei Watch be what The software changes to make Android Wear leading timepiece manufacturers we’re looking for? as swift as possible pay dividends for those who What becomes instantly noticeable about the get annoyed with short battery life. On paper, the Bad for Huawei Watch as soon as you get ‘wrist on’ with 300mAh battery looks poor, but it provides Size it, is that it’s defi nitely a thing of beauty. The enough juice to get through a day of use before The watch face is just a little on the big side for those who stainless-steel fi nish is highly reminiscent of charging. Similarly, the 512MB RAM keeps have smaller wrists other quality timepieces, but we would defi nitely everything running smoothly, without putting too Hinges recommend splashing out a bit of extra money much pressure on the battery. We should Slightly raised hinges mean the device doesn’t sit for one of the premium straps instead of the highlight that recent changes to Wear have made completely flush to the wrist leather one we were supplied with. The 42mm it the best smartwatch OS out there today. It’s diameter face does look large, but it may look a easier than ever to download apps, make calls to Verdict little overly big if your wrist is on the petite side. friends and manage incoming notifi cations. While in use, the Huawei Watch’s thick face has Considering the slowdown in recent Ifyoucangetonwithitssize,you’ll left our team with decidedly mixed opinions. The smartwatch announcements, Huawei has be hard pushed to find a better thickness does in fact add a very nice premium popped up with its offering at the right time. smartwatch on the market and robust fi nish to the device, but it doesn’t Where competition is currently minimal, this exactly sit completely fl ush to your wrist. In watch ticks all the boxes that could make it one everyday use it isn’t a problem at all, but you can of the must-have devices this year.

71 Reviews Shared computer 6JG%JTQOGDKVYQTMUYGNNCUC UJCTGF HCOKN[ EQORWVGT DGECWUGFCVCKUCEEQWPV DCUGF 6JKU OGCPU KPFKXKFWCN WUGTU ECP GCUKN[ UYKVEJ DGVYGGP CEEQWPVU

Additional charger ;QWŦNN ƒPF C RTQRTKGVCT[ EJCTIGT KP VJG DQZDGECWUGVJG%JTQOGDKVFQGUPŦV EJCTIG KVUGNH +VŦU CP CFFKVKQPCN YKTG CPF CPQVJGT RNWI UQEMGV VQ WUG VJCV OCMGU KV CNN NQQM C DKV OWEJ Asus Chromebit CS10 An all-in-one Chrome OS machine on a dongle – but who actually needs one?

There’splentyofcompetitionforwhatgets and give life to old, redundant displays. All you way since the heavy-duty desktop machines of plugged into your TV’s HDMI port. Digital TV need to do is pair up a Bluetooth keyboard and the Nineties. This lives inside boxes, games consoles and are all mouse, connect to Wi-Fi and you have yourself a a smooth and curved matte-black HDMI dongle common additions to the living room setup, but fully-fl edged computer on a big display for the (an orange version will be available to the public have you ever thought about turning your display price of just £90. It’s an intriguing package and soon, although you’ll struggle to fi nd a matching into an all-in-one Chrome OS machine? That’s one we were very keen to get up and running. TV) that is roughly twice as big as a traditional what the chocolate bar-sized Chromebit dongle At just 12cm long, you have to admire the USB pen. This means it will fi t in your pocket and from Asus does. It’s the world’s smallest Chrome design from an aesthetic point of view – at 85g you’ll hardly know it’s there. Nevertheless, OS device that’s designed to smarten up any TV computer design has come on a considerable this is more of a gimmicky selling point

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72 Review

Asus Chromebit CS10 £89.99/$84.99 »More information asus.com »Supplied by Asus

Technical specs

» Operating system ...... Chrome OS

»Processor ...... Rockchip quad-core RK3288C processor Google Drive » Memory ...... 16GB storage / 2GB RAM, plus The Chromebit comes with 100GB Google Drive cloud free 100GB Google Drive storage for two years storage for two years and your » Dimensions ...... 123 x 31 x 17 mm ƒNGU CTG CWVQOCVKECNN[ U[PEGF » Weight ...... 85g so you have access to them in thecloudwheneveryouneed » Connectivity ...... Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, them on any device Bluetooth 4.0 »Expansion slot...... HDMI out, USB 2.0 considering you still need to pack Bluetooth everyday tasks pretty effortlessly, but that’s what peripherals. Connecting to your display is as you’re limited to with Chrome OS because the Good for simple as taking the cap off and plugging it into operating system doesn’t support high Cheap computing your HDMI port. Depending on your setup, you bandwidth apps like Adobe’s Creative Cloud. For under £100 you can turn any TV or display into a fully- can take advantage of the foot-long HDMI What you’re getting is effectively tablet fledged Chrome OS machine extension that comes in the box, to ensure the performance, yet for under £100, you’d struggle Performance dongle is stable. Once you’re happy that you’re to find a tablet that runs this well. You also get For everyday tasks, like web browsing or email, the connected properly, follow the set-up instructions 100GB free Google Drive storage for two years Chromebit provides a good solution on screen and you can’t go wrong. However, it with every new Chromebit. Log into your Google did take us a few attempts to pair our keyboard account and all your files will be there. So while Bad for and mouse, and we were continually frustrated you can’t do high-end image editing, you can get Chrome OS with a regular loss of connection if we moved by with Google Docs, Gmail, Chrome and It may run smoothly, but it is limited in terms of what it can outside a six-foot perimeter of the dongle. There YouTube. Stretch your needs further and you’ll do. Definitely not an option for big power users is a mini-USB hub in the box too, so you can use need an alternative machine. Connectivity issues wired accessories, but that effectively limits you We can certainly see a place for Chromebit in When wireless peripherals are so important, we don’t just to desktop use. the market. In education, for example, schools expect connections to drop so frequently For obvious reasons you can’t upgrade the should be ordering them in droves and small internal components, so you have to make do businesses could really benefit too as a cheap Verdict with the Rockchip quad-core processor, which is digital signage solution or as a guest-computer backed up by 2GB RAM and full HD graphics kiosk for hoteliers. It’s in these sectors that We like the implementation, but capabilities. You might have more raw power in Chromebit provides a valuable solution, not least we’re not sure it’s necessary. your smartphone, but Chrome OS fires up quickly as a get-out clause for anyone with a low-end, Consumers should look at tablets, enough and we suffered no lag when performing convoluted Windows 10 machine. However, if you but Chromebit could appeal to general tasks, such as web browsing and emails. want more of a power-user experience then the Video playback was stutter-free too, as was Chromebit just won’t come near it and if you business and education sectors music streaming. This led us to conclude that want a media centre then you’re better off the Chromebit is powerful enough to handle buying a Chromecast.

73 Reviews

Added protection Bothsizesofthesecond- generation Moto 360 have a coatingofGorillaGlass3on Moto 360 2015 theirdisplay.Itaddsprotection to the screen and will prevent Does Motorola’s second-edition any deep scratches from revised smartwatch give us the wow appearing on it factor that we loved in the original?

For a long time, the Moto 360 was the one Does size smartwatch that we could really get behind and actually matter? recommend to readers. In our eyes, it was the The larger 46mm first well-built, robust and genuinely stylish piece face will certainly split opinion. Those who of Android wrist wear that we had come across, crave a bigger screen butitstillhaditsissues.Whilethemarketfor will certainly love it, smartwatches has drastically changed since but it can tend to look overly big when it’s then, we can’t help feeling rather excited to see satonyourwrist what Motorola has included in its second- generation 360 device. Customisation has always been at the heart of the Moto 360 range and that continues here. If you opt for the base model, you’ll find the design is nearly identical to the original. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it still remains chunky at 11.4mm. What is new is the choice of size variants, with the 46mm option being one of the biggest smartwatch screens we’ve seen. It looksbigonthewrist,perhapstoobig,butthe smaller 42mm is there for those who want something daintier. That said, this is a quality design from top to bottom. It isn’t as fancy as its competitors, but it feels good and the stainless- steelchassisoffersnoflex.Wehighly recommend you take the time to consider the type of strap you purchase if you buy one of these, as the base Horween-leather strap is a little flimsy. However, Motorola’s expensive bands have always been good so you’ll find something better if you don’t mind splashing the cash. Ifyouoptforthelarger46mm,you’llfindthe 1.56-inch LCD display is the same as the original, with a slightly smaller 1.37-inch display on the 42mm variant. It’s a highly responsive screen and the slight protrusion gives better viewing angles. Motorola has also cleverly adopted the always-on display mode, so there’s no need to shake your wrist when you want to view the time

Pixel perfection There has been a slight bump in resolution on the device. Usersnowgeta360by330px displaycomparedtothe OK control still plays a big original 320 by 290 px. Colours part of the Android Wear look fairly impressive and experience and for many, it’ll be imageslooksharp thepreferredwaytonavigate around the second-generation Moto 360. You’ll be surprised at Moto Maker once again lets you fully personalise the what you’ll be able to achieve! second-generation Moto 360 to your tastes

74 Review

anymore. However, previous Moto 360 users will Snapdragon 400 processor for a smaller device. fi nd this model still has the annoying blacked-out You’ll still fi nd the same 512MB RAM and 4GB section at the bottom of the display. It’s more of storage from last year’s model. Moto 360 2015 a personal annoyance than anything major, but Despite a bigger 400mAh battery – an (42 mm) as we’ve seen competitors launch a fully circular upgrade from 320mAh – battery life hasn’t £229/$299 9 display – namely the Huawei Watch – it seems changed much. You can still expect a decent day £269/$349 (46 mm) strange Motorola has failed to do so here. and a half between charges, but we were hoping »More information www.motorola.co.uk One of the benefi ts of the larger size is when for a little more. There’s no clear reason why the »Supplied by Motorola you want to get stuck into Android Wear. The changes aren’t apparent, but it’s arguably a latest update is rife with changes, including the software problem rather than a hardware one. Best deal addition of Wi-Fi support. It makes the second The word revision is important, as the device generation Moto 360 better to use, especially on the whole is largely the same as its with Motorola’s own fi tness suite included, which predecessor, albeit with a few upgrades, so is very similar to Google Fit, but provides a there isn’t enough here that will warrant those slightly more thorough tracking experience. with the original model upgrading. Everyone else, It’s lightning-quick moving between menus and however, should certainly consider this as their £229 £239.99 £239 o2.co.uk expansys.com very.co.uk Motorola has done a great job at adopting the fi rst or next smartwatch purchase. Technical specs

Keep it » Operating system ...... Wear OS

customised »Processor ...... Snapdragon 400 Customisation options 1.2GHz quad-core are plentiful when it » Memory ...... 4GB storage / 512MB RAM comes to picking your » Dimensions ...... 46 x 46 x 11.4 mm / 42 x 42 x second-generation Moto 11.4 mm 360. Users are able to pick a different bezel, »Weight ...... N/A case,bandandeventhe » Display size ...... 1.56-inches / 1.37-inches default watch face » Display resolution ...... 360 x 330 pixels (233 ppi) 360 x 325 pixels (263 ppi) » Connectivity ...... Bluetooth 4, Wi-Fi » Expansion slot ...... N/A

Battery life A small upgrade to a 400mAh (300mAh on the 42mm model) hasn’t changed much battery-wise. It’s good, but still not amazing

Good for Motor Maker Body tracking Moto Maker enables you to craft the perfect wearable /QVQTQNCŦU QYP ƒVPGUU based on your tastes tracking software, Moto Body, takes centre stage The Snapdragon onthesoftwareside.t’s A decent processor enables for a lightning-quick user largely the same as experience when using apps and moving between menus Google Fit, but we do prefer its overall simplicity Bad for Being chunky The larger size will split opinion, but it still remains one of the chunkier smartwatches on the market Poor battery life Battery life hasn’t been improved despite a bigger battery encased within this watch Verdict Better smartwatch competition has made the Moto 360 no longer the must-have smartwatch, even if it’s still a great device

75 Reviews Bose SoundLink around-ear Lightweight and wireless headphones with Headphones II excellent sound quality

Not all headphones are created equal. If you standard headphone jack via an audio cable, have got used to a life of standard earbuds and although Bose does point out that you won’t get cheap plastic cans, these Bose beauties will be a all the benefi ts of the electronic power EQ that revelation.EvenifyouareaBeatsfanandare runs when they’re charged up. prepared to invest in the headphones you They can pair with not one, but two Bluetooth If your Bluetooth charge has run out or you want to purchase, these will teach you a thing or two devices at once – enabling you to answer a call listen to a non-Bluetooth device, you can use a about quality audio. on your phone while watching videos on your standard headphone jack Weighing in at just 149g and upholstered with tablet, without having to manually switch devices sleek, well-padded leather and soft suede, what’s or take off the headphones. And if your device immediately apparent is just how comfortable has an NFC chip, well, they will even connect to they are to wear. These are headphones that you that too! Flawless and comfortable performance, can use for a long time without discomfort. straight out of the box. That’sborneoutbytheirexcellentplaytime–up » Price £239.95 to 15 hours with a full three-hour charge and two » More information bose.co.uk hours after a quick 15-minute burst. Even if you dorunoutofjuice,theycanbeconnectedtoa

Lightweight and snugly padded, these headphones EDITOR’S are incredibly comfortable to wear CHOICE Bluetooth Turn on Bluetooth on your Android device and activate it by using the switch on the right headphone. Your device will then display the headphones in your Bluetooth list so that you can pair them easily

Volume controls The volume controls sit on the bottom of the right headphone, enabling you to control the volume that goes into your ears rather than the volume that comes directly out of your phone

76 Accessories KEF Muo wireless speaker KEF’s iconic Muon speaker gets a mini-me Ever drooled over the £70,000 KEF Muon inadequate. Thumping bass and pure treble speaker? The sinuously curved monolithic icon, gives even traditional Hi-Fi speakers a run for over six feet in height, was created with their money, and that’s just with one device. industrial designer Ross Lovegrove and just 100 Pair two together and the magic really starts to pairs were made. happen. The speakers can sit horizontally, Well, you no longer have to fantasise about spreading their sound waves out and two can winning the lottery because you can now get a be paired together sitting this way to create smaller Bluetooth version of Lovegrove’s what KEF calls Party Mode – aka sound blasting aluminium obelisk. The KEF Muo is diminutive in extensively in almost all directions. size yet still packs the power you expect from For a more focused stereo experience, the one of Britain’s fi nest audio companies. Despite speakers can be turned over to sit vertically, its small form factor, it’s a heavyweight – this like mini Muons, and pairing two together will isn’t the kind of Bluetooth speaker you cart create a perfectly balanced stereo experience. around with you in the summertime, it’s the Small yet mighty, our only quibble is that you’ll kind that sits at home, lord and master of the spend £600 to get the dual-speaker experience media player, making your stereo speakers feel that really makes the KEF Muo shine. » Price £299.95 » More information kef.com

Controls Volume controls and the power and pairing buttons can be found ontheright–orthetop,ifyouflip the speaker up the other way Sound waves Thecurveddesignisn’tjustfor the sake of aesthetics. Not only does it reference the iconic KEF Muondesign,italsohelpsthe soundtocarrybetter The speaker can sit vertically as well as horizontally – you canevenpairtwoMuospeakers sitting vertically to get a dynamic stereo experience Cable connections AmicroUSBchargingportand audio-outjackaretuckedawayat thebacksothattheydon’t detract from the speaker’s looks

77 Apps

Ad-free music videos and much YouTube Music more for subscribers

When Google recently only does this enable you to listen to closed down its ad-free your tracks in the background while YouTube Music Key doing something else on your device, service and replaced it but the app will then only stream the with the generic YouTube Red – audio,savinggreatlyondatausage. providing ad-free viewing of all While we understood that using the videos for subscribers – some music audio mode would result in the fansmighthavefeltaggrieved.This playingofthesongproperly–without new music-based video app should any extraneous introductions or help to assuage these feelings. At dialogue featured in the video (eg the time of writing, it unfortunately Lady Gaga’s Telephone) – this isn’t only works in the US, although it can automatically the case, although be accessed elsewhere via a VPN you’ll usually find audio versions of (virtual private network) – we songs when searching. employed the easy-to-use In addition, Red subscribers are TunnelBear app for this purpose. given access to an Offline Mixtape While you don’t need to be a option which, when activated, YouTube Red subscriber to use automatically downloads a selection YouTubeMusic,itdoesaddafairfew of music to your device each day extra features as well as ad-free when connected to a Wi-Fi network. playback.Soit’snicethatupon Whileyouareabletochoosethe launching the app, you’re offered a amount of storage space allocated, The Explore tab shows other tracks related to If you’re feeling more adventurous, increase the one you’re watching the station variety setting 14-day free trial of the service, which and whether you want videos or normally costs $9.99 per month. audio only, YouTube Music selects standard YouTube app as well as Oneofthecoolestbonusesfor thesongsbasedonyourlisteningor Google Play Music. Instead you get a 2 hour wonder YouTube Red subscribers is the viewinghistory.Sothere’snowayto personalised station, plus two Want your money back? ability to switch to audio-only mode handpick individual tracks or genre-based ones depending on your You’vegot120minstodecide! –justtogglethetop-rightswitch.Not download custom playlists. history and likes. This can cause a ! 40 »0-40 minutes YouTube Red required for Indeed, there’s no way to fewproblemsifayoungermemberof 120 80 The app creates three audio-only and offline play stations based on your create your own playlists the family makes use of your viewing history in the first place, which YouTube account, as we discovered ! 40 »40-80 minutes is a major when our personalised station was The Explore tab is good for 120 80 browsing and discovery disappointment populated with loads of kids’ videos! considering you can On any station, you can use a ! 40 »80-120 minutes do so in the three-stageslidertoadjustthe A shame there’s no way to 120 80 create custom playlists amount of variety featured. The music discovery aspect is one keep refund of YouTube Music’s strongest points. While watching a video, tapping the Exploretabcomesupwithasmart »specification selectionofrelatedtracks,basedon Price Free the current artist, related artists and Designed for: Phone and tablet genre. In addition, the home tab Requires Android: 4.0.3 and up offers personalised and genre-based stations;theHottabshowsnewand » verdict trending videos, while the Liked tab Performance presentsalistofsongsthatyouhave givenathumbs-uprating. Design While YouTube Music Value complements Google Play Music and theExploreoptionworkswell,the Good for browsing music lack of basic features, such as videos, but it’s still lacking a custom playlists, is extremely few essential features disappointing, particularly when it comestoofflineuse.

»like this? – WATCH HD MUSIC VIDEOS » Create your own playlists try this! and browse recommendations, albeit with the odd advert 78 Further options, including app grid Your homescreen has been dimensions, are available in the HomeUX completely reimagined settings, although some (such as enabling iOS-style notifi cation badges) are only unlocked by While many third-party you can place up to five QuickApp purchasing a Pro key (£1.20/$1.49). launchers offer a fairly shortcuts for favourite apps. Just It’s fl exible enough to encompass similar experience to drag an app icon into the panel and some very different custom the stock-Android choose a mini icon. There’s also a arrangements. On the downside, we version, HomeUX aims to provide a floating QuickApp button; while experienced some glitches and truly different user experience. The tapping this lets you search your crashes, so it still needs a bit of work firstthingyou’llnoticeistheway apps by default, it can be set to to fulfi l its potential. that the solitary homescreen is split launch any app you like. into two panels: a top action panel andabottomonethatreplacesthe »specification appdrawer;justswipeleftorright Price Free+IAPs to navigate screens full of icons. The Designed for: Phone real difference comes once you Requires Android: 5.0 and up create some folders – it’s not immediately obvious how to do this, »verdict asyouneedtoswipethetoppanel Not quite there yet, but has left to the folders view and then tap great potential as an the + icon. Since no folders from the Swipe vertically to switch the homescreen alternative launcher default launcher are carried over, to different folders you’ll have to set them all up organised, you can easily switch the manually, choosing a name and a bottom panel between folders by miniicon(fromabewilderingarray) swiping vertically. andthenselectingapps–or But what about that top panel? »like this? try this! subsequently long pressing a panel Well, it’s a bit like a dock. As well as EverythingMe Launcher to add the widgets or shortcuts. The containing a clock widget (which it SmartfoldersandaPredictionbarthat Uptofiveappshortcutscanbeaddedtothe shows apps based on time and location good news is that once everything is seems can’t be replaced), it’s where topactionpanel

Shoot and share your videos with private Vidku groups using this app Patreon Runtastic Vidku enables users to create and share 17-second videos. Follow and fund your Results Compared to rivals such as Snapchat and Vine, however, it gives you favourite creators Transform your body greater control over who they’re shared with, including the ability to un-share with individual recipients at any point. When shooting your short The Patreon crowdfunding Another spin-off app from video, you can pause midway and fl ip between front and rear cameras, so site – akin to Kickstarter, the popular Runtastic there’s some scope for creativity. but geared towards fi tness service, it promises While you get to watch a preview of artists and musicians – has to transform your body using a the video before sharing, there are no launched an Android app that personalised 12-week training plan editing facilities, so if you’re not enables users to follow their based on your current weight and happy you’ll just have to shoot it favourite creators. A Discover tab fi tness level. Step-by-step again. You then add a thumbnail offers an array of categories to instructions are provided via over picture and title before sharing with browse or just use the search facility. 120 HD exercise videos – featuring selected friends or a private group. As well as liking and commenting on incredibly buff trainers. It’s all very It’s a promising concept, but you’ll works, you can follow a creator and polished, as you would expect. The need to add Vidku-using friends – via opt to become a main downside is username, contacts or Facebook – to patron, pledging a that you only get a get started. You can also create your certain sum per few free exercises own private (friends-only) groups. month – via card so you’ll need a or PayPal. While Runtastic Premium » Price Free fairly basic in membership, at Phone » Designed for design, the app £7.99/$9.99 per Requires Android 4.2 and up » still serves its month, for the full purpose very well. programme.

Pause mid-shoot for a change of scene or to » Price Free » Price Free + IAPs switch to the front camera » Designed for Phone » Designed for Phone » Requires Android 4.0 and up » Requires Android 4.1 and up »best EVERYSTORY » Share narrated photo slideshows with private alternative groups of friends or family 79 Apps

Apple Music Yes, you heard that right: Explore 360-degree panoramas an Apple app Roundme and immersive stories While Apple’s debut Android app, Move to iOS, Since the Roundme iOS camera option, although you can explore an interactive map to fi nd was an attempt to get app launched in 2014, always use the standard Google Spaces near you or far afi eld. Tap on users to switch platforms, Apple over 20,000 Camera app’s Panorama mode to a circle to see a preview picture and Music is more useful, particularly for photographers have signed up to create a Space. title; tap on that to view the those already using the music- use the service. Users are able to So the Android app is solely for panorama, using either swipes or streaming service. Meanwhile, publish interactive 360-degree viewing purposes, but it performs gyroscope motion-sensing to newcomers benefi t from a three- panoramas, known as Spaces, for this role very well, offering a highly explore. It’s an even more immersive month free trial – after which it costs others to view. It’s disappointing polished experience. Along with a experience if you use a VR headset £9.99/$9.99 per month. then that unlike its iOS fi lterable search facility, the main such as Google Cardboard. As on iOS, you’re prompted to counterpart, the Android app screen offers three tabs: Best, Some locations feature several select genres and artists you like or lacks an option to upload your Recent and Collections – which sorts panoramas taken from different dislike, enabling the app to make own panoramas. To do so, you’ll selected Spaces into curated spots, which can be quickly switched smart suggestions for you to check have to visit the Roundme website collections such as beaches, classic to by tapping fl oating bubbles. out on the For You screen – although instead. Nor is there an in-app cars and cemeteries. You can also Panoramas may also feature text this was hit and miss in our case. The genre-fi lterable New screen offers new music and curated playlists, or you can search for artists and songs. Tracks you like can be added to Playlists and My Music, which also shows iTunes purchases and music uploaded to the iCloud Music Library via iTunes 12.2+. The Connect feature lets you follow artists and read blog posts, while Radio offers genre and mood-based stations (playlists), plus Apple’s own Beats One. On the downside, unlike Google Play Music, the app won’t play locally-stored music.

Tourist hot spots, such as Venice, provide Zoom in on the map to see more circles Some scenes have fl oating bubbles; tap some spectacular scenes – tap one to view the panorama one to view it from that point Fallout C.H.A.T. Not quite what it seems use elsewhere. Still, it may offer some fun for fans, enabling them to Another spin-off from the exchange messages in classic Fallout videogame series Vault-Tec style. As well as a standard arrives, following the Qwerty keyboard, there are four excellent Fallout Shelter, but it’s not screens’ worth of (over 60) quite what it seems. At fi rst glance Fallout-themed emoji to add to we thought it was a new text-chat messages, along with 20 GIF Vault service, but instead messages are Boy character animations. It’s a sent in picture form via any other app shame there’s no option to change in the standard Android sharing the background from the default. menu. Even then, it seems a strange Free design decision to only permit »Price Based on our likes, the smart »Designed for Phone and tablet recommendations proved a bit off access via the Fallout C.H.A.T. app »Requires Android 4.2 and up itself and not offer a more »Price Free convenient keyboard extension to »Designed for Phone »Requires Android 4.3 and up like this? KANVAS KEYBOARD » This replacement keyboard lets you quickly » send custom messages with photos or GIFs Add emoji or a GIF to your message, which is try this! shared as a picture 80 quickhits f descriptions and technical information. A social aspect lets you add comments and likes. While not all the Spaces are that picturesque – there are even some of toilets – many are truly spectacular to see, enabling you to become a virtual tourist on a round-the-world trip of a lifetime. You can even visit other worlds thanks to a few panoramas from games such as Star Confl ict! One thing we’d like to see is an option to download panoramas for offl ine use, but the developer is still workingonthatone.

» specification Price Free Designed for Phone and tablet Requires Android 4.1 and up » verdict Movies by Performance Flixster Free This multifunctional app lets Design you browse the top movies and DVDs, 2 hour wonder view trailers, fi nd showtimes at local Value Want your money back? You’ve cinemas, read Rotten Tomatoes reviews, got120minutestodecide! manage your Netfl ix queue and stream No upload facility, but it’s your Ultraviolet collection. ! 40 »0-40 minutes still great for exploring all Some amazing panoramas sorts of locations 120 80 from around the globe IMDb Movies & ! 40 »40-80 minutes TV Free There’snooptiontocreateor 120 80 upload your own Take 360-degree With its vast database, IMDb tours of the world is the go-to app for fi nding anything out » like this? try this! from your phone about fi lms (and TV shows), including full ! 40 »80-120 minutes It’s great fun to explore a cast lists, trailers, plot lines, trivia, 120 80 wide variety of scenes photos, goofs, reviews and user ratings. Explore countless 360-degree photo spheres, or create and upload your own keep refund My Movies Pro £4.99/$6.99 Got a large movie collection Arrow Launcher A simplified launcher and fi nd it hard to keep track of exactly what you own? This is a good Microsoft Garage’s activities (plus fi ve recently used app that will help you to catalogue it all, simplifi ed launcher apps along the top). Interestingly, sync the info between devices and share it with friends. automatically places your there’s a wraparound feature so you most used apps on the main apps can swipe endlessly through them, homescreen. However, to start with which works better than the usual Netfl ix Free it asks you to select at least nine end-to-end arrangement. By long While some streaming favourite apps to put there. You can pressing the background, you can services are restricted to also pull up the bottom of the screen also opt to hide screens and enable North America, Netfl ix is universally available and lets subscribers watch a for extra apps and quick settings – two others: Widgets (the only place large library of fi lms (if not the latest rather superfl uous since they’re still you can put them) and a handy Notes releases) and TV shows. accessible from the top-right corner. & Reminders page. Instead of multiple homescreens Free to place apps and widgets how you »Price RunPee Free Designed for Phone like, there’s just the one for apps, » If you need to take a »Requires Android 4.0.3 and up bathroom break mid-fi lm, but with others for People (with calls, don’t want to miss a vital messages and emails) and Recent scene, RunPee tells you the best times to go for it and also provides a synopsis of what you’ve missed! like this? SCOUT LAUNCHER » Thissmartlauncherlearnsyourhabitsand The main apps screen has a pull-up pane for » lets you set up homescreens for app categories quick settings and extra apps try this!

Check our website daily www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 81 for even more app reviews » head toheadto Whichappshouldyoubeusingto discover the world around you? TRIPADVISOR vs

Checkingoutuserreviewsisasurefire way to guarantee that you’re eating in a top restaurant, staying in a reliable hotel or visiting a worthwhile landmark. » specification But while TripAdvisor and » specification Price Free Yelp are great at offering Price Free Designed for: Phone and tablet this service, which one Designed for: Phone and tablet Requires Android: Varies with device comes out on top? Requires Android: Varies with device

TripAdvisor Yelp

TripAdvisor’s core Thetypeofplacesthatyou categories are concise, but can search for in Yelp are far includeawealthoflistings superiortoTripAdvisor,but within each. For something SEARCH SYSTEM each category does sadly morespecific,makesureto include fewer options for the use the search bar. userstolookthrough.

Reviews are highly Although we did like the customisable, with users prompt to keep writing in- able to attach photos, depthreviewsbasedonwhat customise the date they LEAVINGAREVIEW otherpeoplehaveleft,the were there and choose the review system is little more typeofvisittheyundertook. than a blank text document.

While the Google Maps A handy directions button at integration is a little slower the top of each Google Map to load than on Yelp’s can help you navigate to the offering, it does enable you MAPSINTEGRATION destination based on your to view nearby landmarks, current location – a decent hotels and restaurants. feature to have.

Users can make direct Arguably Yelp’s best feature payments through the app, is that users are able to fi nd butpricescanbealittle exclusive deals on certain more expensive than if you BOOKINGS AND attractions and restaurants, takethetimetolook PAYMENT which you simply don’t fi nd through other sources. within its competitors.

TripAdvisor contains an There are basic social offline maps feature, which media features included in canbedownloadedtohelp Yelp,whereyoucanseelive younavigatearoundacity EXTRA FEATURES updatesoftheplaces orcountrythatyoumaynot people are currently visiting be accustomed to. in your local area.

And the winner is... Despite both apps having plenty of similarities, it was the more TRIPADVISOR thorough review creation tool in TripAdvisor that put it slightly ahead of Yelp. At their core, these apps are based around their users and TripAdvisor is generally better at dealing with its audience than Yelp. 82 From the makers of Samsung Galaxy The Complete Manual No matter what Galaxy device you have, this book will help you get the most from your phone or tablet. Packed with easy-to- follow guides to all the essential features, functions and apps, h l ou master your Galaxy.

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With old-school 16-bit graphics reminiscent of th Eighties coin-op classic Ou Run and a chiptune soundtrack composed by the veteran Barry Leitch, you’d be forgiven for chalkin Horizon Chase up as a retro-style racer just for nostalgics. However, once you start playing it you’re likely to change your mind as it’s just so hard to put down. Anyhow you can try it out for free, racing on fi ve courses, before deciding whether to stump up £2.29/$2.99 t unlock the rest – a huge amount of EDITOR’S content with a total of 73 tracks, 32 CHOICE cities and eight cups are available. There are no further IAPs, which is highly preferable to the usu free-to-play model. Instead, The retro visuals and music suit the simplifi ed arcade-style racing perfectly cars and upgrades are earned via your racing achievements. Control couldn’t be simpler as you steer your car. There are also six used to unlock more cup opponents, so you may need to line up on the grid with 19 AI rivals. alternative control options, along competitions or bonus races – and return to earlier courses in order to Just hold the right-hand pedal to with the option to use an external fuel, which you will need to top up earn extra tokens. accelerate, release it to brake and gamepad. While the cornering periodically. While you only need to While there’s a minor strategic physics are hardly realistic and many fi nish fi fth on each course to gain element in choosing your upgrades bends can be taken fl at out, you may access to the next location to race, and the best car to suit each course, well need to ease off the gas to winning all the races in a cup it’s the fun racing action that will adjust your racing line and avoid competition will unlock a new car, as enthral you. We’ll certainly be playing collisions, which slow you down. will winning a bonus race. this one all the way to the end. Weaving through a load of traffi c is You can also earn permanent Free + IAPs exhilarating, particularly when you’re upgrades that improve the » Price » Designed for Phone and tablet using a nitro speed boost. performance of all unlocked vehicles. » Requires Android 4.0.3 and up Along the way, you can garner This becomes more important as Rear-ending rivals will slow you down, so careful steering is needed pick-ups including tokens – also you progress and in later races

down into the ice in order to unleash what we’ve Digfender another enemy wave. Digdeepforsuccess You can also excavate gold and been playing crystal deposits to spend on extra Trick Shot This intriguing real-time defences, while other loot includes £1.49/$1.99 strategy game combines treasure maps that reveal secret This physics-based puzzler elements of the classic passageways when the stage is had us hooked from the start. While the concept of throwing a ball into tower defence game with a more replayed, enabling you to collect relic a box is simple, some of the later puzzles exploratory element of digging. pieces to unlock special upgrades. are truly mind-boggling In order to defend your castle from Levelling up your defences (via fi ve attackingAI,youneedtodigapath branching upgrade trees) is essential down to the ice beneath it and to tackle new and stronger enemies Prune £1.99/$3.99 Beautifully presented, this construct subterranean towers of as you progress though over 60 atmospheric puzzler offers a various available types, which stages. There’s also an endless transcendent experience as include fire and ice. Survival mode to keep you busy. you prune a tree to determine just how it grows. Extra features are gradually You’re then ready to dig into the Free + IAPs introduced throughout the game, ice below to flush out enemies who »Price Designed for Phone and tablet adding greatly to the charm. will follow the path you have just » »Requires Android 2.3 and up created–auniquefeatureinaTD You get to dig your own path for the Recommend a game… game.Eachlevelyouhavetodig upsurging enemies to follow twitter 84 » @lgrobot quickhits Don’t miss out Endless action and Starific – Endless Reactor chain reactions

Resembling a radial along with a wide variety of version of the classic power-up effects, including a split Breakout, Starific is an paddle, multiple stars and score intense and endless arcade game multipliers. There are also quests to requiring fast reactions to keep complete, such as collecting a your shooting star in play. At least, certain number of bombs. Money that’sthecaseatfirst,inthe earned (including from watching defaultArcademode.Lateron video ads) can be spent on prize you’ll unlock extra modes – wheel spins in the game to unlock including Moves, which involves a more items, including a vast range more strategic style of play. of colour themes. Since each octagonal arena is The game is highly customisable generated procedurally, it’s too, with options for diffi culty, arena different every time you play. And size and controls. With stylish visuals Beneath The with your star making rapid accompanied by an impressive Lighthouse Free + IAP changes in direction whenever it electronic soundtrack, it all adds up Rotate mazes to get a boy to the encounters a block, you need to to a stellar experience. exit; it sounds simple, yet is anything but. As well as avoiding deadly spikes, you stayalertandpositionyour Free need to beat a timer to win medals. Ads rotating exterior paddle »Price are annoying, but removable via an IAP. Designed for Phone and tablet accordingly to knock it back into » »Requires Android 2.3 and up thearena.Addinginterestare Move your paddle around the outside and bombs that start chain reactions, collect the power-ups Target Number Free + IAPs Using four operations, you need to reach the target within a time limit Word² using swipe controls. While most sums are fairly easy to solve, the challenge lies Unscramble acrostic grids in using fewer moves to earn stars.

This unusual word-based puzzler involves unscrambling a grid In Between of letters to form a £0.89/$0.99 Hand-drawn backdrops add to perfect acrostic square, with the atmosphere in this gravity-defying the same words going across platformer, where the hero can walk and and down. It starts off easily fall in four directions. The brutal diffi culty Move emergency vehicles around to level may cause frustration though. enough, with simple nudge the baddies off the screen three-by-three grids, but the diffi culty is gradually ramped Car Toons Lost Echo £2.38/$2.99 up as you progress to larger This old-fashioned point-and- ones, eventually tackling Clearing the road click adventure features some six-by-six grid squares. There This weird physics-based puzzler requires you to really smart visuals, plenty of puzzles are 80 puzzles in total, plus knock the bad cars off the screen while keeping and an intriguing storyline. Greg is hunting for his girlfriend who no one else seven-by-seven grids coming the emergency vehicles safe and parking them can remember. Hmm… soon, so there’s plenty to in their spaces. While the main method involves shunting keep you busy. Correct words are highlighted baddies off ledges, parts of the scenery can also be used, once they are arranged We came up with a horizontally and vertically including vanishing platforms, switches, rotating hammers Dead Effect 2 letter-counting tactic, since andgoodoldexplosiveredbarrels.Itstartsoffeasy,but Free + IAPs any odd letters must go in the top-left to bottom-right the difficulty level is gradually ramped up through over 100 Stuck on a zombie-infested spaceship, your super-soldier must fi ght diagonal. In addition, highlighted given letters on some stages. To help you out, some stages offer a limited his way out. If you can ignore the dodgy grids help, as does the overall symmetrical pattern. On number of special powers to use: the police car turns 180 storyline, it’s a pretty playable shooter later puzzles, however, we often had to resort to using degrees, the ambulance jumps and the fire engine has a with good graphics and okay controls. hints (given letters) and clues (word defi nitions) to even rocket boost. Often, you’ll need to discover the correct get started. However, only a limited number of each type order for moves and get the timing right to succeed. If you can be used, after which an IAP (£0.78/$0.99) is required get stuck, you can skip a stage by using a tow truck – Crimsonland tounlockmore–abitcheekyina paid app. available via IAP or from watching video ads. £6.49/$9.99 A reboot of the classic 2003 Xbox game, this twin-stick shooter » Price £0.79/$0.99 + IAPs »Price Free + IAPs Phone and tablet features a huge arsenal of weapons to » Designed for » Designed for Phone and tablet unlock. You’ll need them to survive the » Requires Android 2.3.3 and up » Requires Android 3.2 and up often-insane onslaught of creatures.

Check our website for www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 85 even more game reviews » Games Call of Champions A mobile MOBA for everyone

MOBA (mobile online The battle arena contains two battle arena) isn’t the main tracks, upon which you push an most user-friendly genre orb along to weaken your enemy’s for newcomers, who are usually towers, making it easier to destroy faced with a steep learning curve. them. The objective is to get your orb Not only that, but battles can go to smash through the wall of the Collect power ups for temporary extra for ages, which is a problem for enemy base, then destroy the crystal weapons, such as wingmen mobile players who want to dip in within for victory. However, with all and out. Call of Champions solves the constant skirmishing with your A detailed post-match stats screen lets you Shooty this issue by limiting 3v3 battles opposing team, this isn’t that easy to add new friends to a maximum of five minutes. It achieve within the very short time While battling, five icons trigger simplifies proceedings by omitting limit, so matches are often decided character-dependent special Skies standard MOBA features such as justbythenumberoftowers abilities, each with a cool-down The Crossy Road of classic AI minions, team chat, in-match destroyed; if this is a tie, then it’s timer. If your health bar is perilously shoot-’em-up games levelling up and an arena shop. down to the number of kills. low, it’s best to head back to base to recover – dying results in an While Hipster Whale’s increasing respawn delay. To help smash-hit debut Crossy you gain an edge, random power-ups Road was inspired by appear in the arena; collect one and Frogger, follow-up Shooty Skies is you can stand on the platform to another blast from the past. Based share it with team-mates. on the classic shoot-’em-up genre, it While purists may scoff at the lack adds its own unique style and of sophistication in Call of humour to the established formula. Champions, there are some tactical Guaranteed to raise a smile, it choicestobemadeandit’salotof sees you shooting down blocky 3D funtoplay.Themaindrawbackisthe enemies including arcade cabinets high IAP cost of new champions and ghetto blasters, while avoiding (about £3/$4 each) unless you earn projectiles such as retro joysticks. avaststackofgoldtounlockthem.A Control is as simple as sliding a Premium account will boost your gold single fi nger around the screen to andXPearnings,butcostsabout move your biplane, which fi res an Once inside the opposing base, destroy the crystal for victory £7/$9 for 30 days. endless stream of bullets unless you lift your fi nger to charge the special rocket attack – which proves handy Heal Them All Kills 99.9 per cent of germs against tougher enemies and bosses, as do collected power ups. While the concept of the tower defense genre, but it is still » Price Free + IAPs With the screen often packed full of healing rather than killing fairly playable and ideal for » Designed for Phone and tablet 4.0 and up foes and bullets, the action can is novel, the difference newcomers. An IAP of £0.79/$0.99 is » Requires Android become chaotic and confusing, but turns out to be skin-deep in what is required to unlock all three oddly never that frustrating. otherwise a standard tower defence campaigns, while the main Vitamines Build towers and lay mines to prevent the Upon dying, you’re given the option game. With each stage set inside a currency can also be purchased. advance of the germs to continue by spending collected human body, you need to place coins or watching a video ad. Coins pill-dispensing towers to fend off can also be spent on temporary waves of germs making their way (two-hour) weapons. A large roster of along a path. Any germs reaching the cute pilot characters – each with end will raise the temperature – if it their own backdrop, adding to the gets too high, it’s game over. Killing visual variety – can also be unlocked germs earns you coins that can be or simply bought via IAPs. spent on constructing a range of extra towers with different abilities, Free+IAPs »Price as well as mines or medical Designed for Phone and tablet » power-up effects, such as a spray to » Requires Android 4.0.3 and up slow down enemies. The game doesn’t really add anything new to 86 quickhits top games for... tower defence

Kingdom Rush Free + IAP The Kingdom Rush series – also including Origins and Frontier – is long established as one of the best in the tower defence genre, boasting large maps, varied towers and intense battles.

» specification Price Free + IAPs Designed for Phone and tablet 2 hour wonder Requires Android 4.0 and up Want your money back? You’ve got 2 hours to decide! » verdict Defense Zone 2 ! 40 »0-40 minutes Performance It’saloteasiertogetinto HD $2.34/$2.99 120 80 Design than most MOBAs Eschewing the typical Destroy enemy towers and push the free-to-play model, with no IAPs, it also ! 40 »40-80 minutes orbtowardstheenemybase employs refreshingly realistic graphics. Value The short time limit hurries The diffi culty level is ramped up brutally, 120 80 A simplifi ed MOBA that battles along a bit but if you want a good challenge, this is it. actually works really well on like this? try this! ! 40 »80-120 minutes » the mobile platform TheIAPsarequiteexpensive, 120 80 butatleastnotobligatory Vainglory This slightly more sophisticated MOBA features a more Plants vs keep refund complex arena and longer matches Zombies 2 Free + IAPs Not your average TD games, both PvZ titles are great fun as you plant seeds to create an army of powerful plants to Lifeline 2 Someoneelseneedsyourhelp stop rampaging zombies. The sequel adds new weapons and special powers.

While the original Lifeline messages appearing as saw you coming to the aid notifi cations, Arika will wait Army of of a shipwrecked young indefi nitely for your replies. She Darkness astronaut, the sequel has you seems to be a similar wisecracking Defense Free + IAPs helping Arika, a young witch who’s character to Tyler in the fi rst game, Based on the third Evil Dead fi lm (1992), lost her family to dark magical forces albeit with a very different quest as this amusing horror-themed TD title puts and is trying to locate her missing she heads back to her hometown, you in the role of a sales clerk transported back in time, defending a brother. As before, you communicate attempting to retrieve three castle from hordes of undead. with your newfound friend via text essential magical items en route. messages, this time written on Death is a constant threat, but once Your responses affect the storyline and whether Arika survives or not parchment, which is more attractive you complete a branch of the story, Anomaly 2 and easier to read. you can rewind, which avoids a lot of »Price £2.35/$2.99 £3.29/$4.99 Phone and tablet In this work of interactive fi ction, frustration. With a deep and »Designed for Fancy playing the attackers »Requires Android 4.0 and up for once? Featuring sumptuous visuals, you’re limited to choosing between involving story, it’s about twice the Anomaly 2 pits your convoy of armoured two responses at each juncture, length of the original Lifeline too. vehicles against enemy towers. Or if with your decisions determining how you’re not a fan of the bad guy, play as either side in a cool multiplayer mode. the story pans out. While events »like this? LIFELINE » Make the right decisions to help rescue an astronaut happen in real time, with new try this! from a spooky alien moon

Check our website daily www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 87 for even more app reviews » BUYER’S GUIDE Discover the best smartphones, tablets and accessories tobuyinourtoptencharts

For the most up-to-date reviews, head to www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk THE LATEST ONLINE INCLUDE... » HTC A9 » BLACKBERRY PRIV

88 Buyer’s Guide

THE BEST FLAGSHIP AND MID-RANGE TOP 10 SUPER SMARTPHONES ANDROID PHONES ON THE MARKET SamsungGalaxyS6 Samsung has come out fi ghting after the humdrum response to the S5, with this stunning handset £479 made entirely of metal and glass. Samsung has had to sacrifi ce microSD support and a removable battery to make it so thin and light to hold, but it offers a 16MP camera, wireless and superfast See issue 52 1 charging, an improved fi ngerprint scanner and a benchmark-beating processor instead. Nexus 6P £449 Finally, we have a Nexus that is truly a device without compromise–aworthyflagshipforAndroid heading into 2016. The camera is one of the best in the business, while the beautiful screen could 2 trulyseetheendofyourtabletuse.Eventhe64GBmodelrepresentsarealbargain. See issue 58 LG G4 £372 TheLGG4isaclosesecondforthephoneoftheyearbehindtheGalaxyS6withadistinctive leather-back case and superior camera. Its unique Quantum IPS screen will amaze with bright and 3 crispimagesthatoffervividcolours,whileits200GBmicroSDportofferslotsofextrastorage. See issue 52 Sony Xperia Z5 £549 It’sanotherdevicethatprioritisesevolutionoverrevolution,butthat’snottosaySony’sfifth- generationXperiahandsetisadullaffair.Thecamerasarearguablythebestwe’veeverseen,whileit 4 ticks every specification wishlist. It’s waterproof and dustproof too, but it does come at a price. See issue 57 Style £399 Althoughitisn’tadirectreplacementforthesecond-generationMotoX,theStyleisastepupinterms of specifications (bigger battery, more RAM, better screen resolution and a hexa-core processor). The 5 screen really is a sight to behold and the design is cool and edgy. It’s superb value for money too. See issue 57 Huawei Mate S £469 Stunning, in every sense of the word. Huawei’s best-ever device could be your next droid. The build qualitycan’tfailtoimpress,thedesignisbeautifulandtheoptiontogoeitherdual-SIMortoadda 6 storage upgrade via a microSD slot offers an excellent degree of customisation. See issue 59 Sony Xperia Z5 Premium £629 TheZ5Premiumisaverygoodphone,butit’sjusttooexpensiveandthe4Kscreenaddslittlevalue. Nonethelessit’sthefirstinstanceofaphonewitha4Kscreen,sowe’llbeinterestedtoseewhether 7 othermanufacturersfollowSony’slatestinnovation. See issue 59 HTC A9 £449 TheM9remainsagreatdevice,buttheA9feelslikeachangeindirectionforHTC.Takingonboard criticisms of its flagship device, HTC has kitted the A9 with bleeding-edge specs and even shipped it 8 with . As you’d expect, the build quality is of the highest order. See issue 58 HTC One M9 £579.99 WemarkedtheM9downforonlybeingaveryminorupdateontheM8,butitisundeniablyasuperb phone. Underneath its elegant silver and gold chrome shell, it houses a superfast Snapdragon 810 9 processor, 20MP camera, 3GB RAM, 32GB memory and some clever customisation tools. See issue 50 Moto X (2014) £219.99 The second-gen Moto X remains a contender for best phone despite only launching last year. It offers a stock Android experience with a 13MP camera, 15-minute Turbo charging, but is much cheaper than 10 theNexus6thathasthesamefeatures.Itsotherspecsarestartingtolookabitdatedthough. See issue 45

In case you missed it... Superphone face-off Read more in issue 57 Samsung Gala HTC One M9 S6 Price £579.99 WINNER » » Price £479 » Website htc.com Website samsung.com » The M9 has all the There are few features of a true things on the fl agship device, market that come but HTC could close to the S6, have done a lot but the lack of more in removable battery differentiating it is an issue. from the M8.

89 Buyer’s Guide

IF YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR A SMARTPHONE ON A SHOESTRING, CHECK TOP10BUDGETBUYSOUTTHESELOW-COSTMOBILEMUST-HAVES Vodafone Smart ultra 6 Ournewlycrownedbestbudgetphoneintheworldmarriesexcellentspecsandasmoothuser £115 experience to topple the ZTE Blade S6 back into second place. We love this phone’s octa-core processor,1080pscreenand2GBRAM–specsyou’dexpecttoseeinapremiumhandset.Throwin See issue 56 1 the fact it looks good and the cameras work brilliantly, and you’ve got a serious bargain. ZTE Blade S6 £149.95 Whileitspriceputsitatthetopendofwhatwewouldcallabudgetphone,theBladeS6isthebest ZTE Blade in years. It runs Android Lollipop, has a 64-bit Snapdragon processor, 2GB RAM and the 2 exactsameIMX214cameraastheSonyXperiaZ3–whichcostsaroundthreetimesasmuch! See issue 50 Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 £115 If you’re willing to import your device then you can save a lot of money – as Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 2 proves.Forastunningpriceyouwillgetanocta-coreprocessor,2GBRAMandalovely5.5-inch,401 3 ppiscreen.It’sanincrediblephone,butitisheavilyskinnedandhardtogetholdoff. See issue 57 Wileyfox Swift £129 TheWileyfoxSwiftisexcellentvalueformoneyandgoodfuntoo.Itmatchesitsrivalsinthemarket witha5-inchHDscreen,2GBRAMandafive-lenscameraenclosure,perfectfortakingphotosinlow 4 light.Cyanogen12.1provestobeanauthenticalternativetostockAndroid. See issue 56 Moto G (2015) £159 The newly updated third-gen Moto G (2015) model doesn’t offer the same metallic finish as the ZTE BladeS6orAlcatelOneTouchIdol3,butyoucanpersonaliseitsdesignbeforeyoubuy,likeyoucan 5 themuchmoreexpensiveMotoX.Itisalsowaterproof,offers4Gandhasadual-flash13MPcamera. See issue 55 Moto G 4G (2015) £139.99 NowthattheregularMotoGandMotoEhavebeenupdatedandbothofferLTE,thishandsetdoesn’t offer much except that it’s slightly cheaper than the Moto G (2015). It also looks very similar with a 6 5-inchscreen,boomingdualspeakersandvanillaAndroid5.0.2,butitonlyoffersan8MPcamera. See issue 51 Moto E (2015) £109 Thesecond-genMotoEisnippingattheheelsoftheMotoGforthetitleofMotorola’sultimate no-strings-attached smartphone. It also offers 4G and has Android Lollipop built in, with the added 7 promise of an all-day battery. But its 5MP camera, bulky size and poor display reflect its budget price. See issue 54 Asus ZenFone 5 £149.99 Whileitisoneofthemostexpensivephonesinourbudgetbuyschart,theZenFone5offersanawful lot for less than most mid-range phones. A stylish metal design is available in a range of colours, it has 8 asharp5-inchscreen,powerfulIntelAtomprocessorandan8MPshooterwitharangeofmodes. See issue 48 Honor 4X £148.86 The biggest and best of the mid-range Honor phones, the 5.5-inch Honor 4X has a lot going for it, including a 13MP camera, off-brand octa-core processor and 4G connectivity. However, you pay for the 9 highspecsatalowcostinotherareas:itonlyrunsAndroid4.4KitKatandhasamediocrescreen. See issue 53 Sony Xperia M2 Aqua £150 Just like Sony’s fl agship Xperia Z5, this mid-range marvel is waterproof up to at least 1.5 metres. Sony’s other top feature is here as well with an 8MP rear camera and a suite of photography tools. 10 The only downside is that after you factor in all the preloaded apps, it only has 4GB of storage. See issue 48

In case you missed it… Games not to miss Read more in issue 58 SirVival Beacon 38 Swords & Crossbones AMoonfortheSky WINNER » Price Free + IAPs » Price £2.29/$2.99 » Price £2.99/$4.99 » Price Free This side-scrolling Navigate your tiny Ahoy there, a The interesting runner casts you as a scout spaceship turn-based tactical gameplay mechanic brave knight riding on through a dangerous RPG without the usual sees you drawing elastic horseback, avoiding alien world using freemium model! lines to repeatedly hazards and bashing enemies using sonar pinging to detect hazards in Build up your pirate island and go bounce a moon up through vertical a comic lance tipped with a big red your way. It’s a unique gameplay on ocean voyages with your crazy stages. It takes a while to get the boxing glove. It’s good fun with cool mechanic and the art-deco visual crew in this enjoyable madcap hang of the controls, but it eventually cutesy visuals and also features style is captivating. There’s a adventure. The comedy comes proves quite addictive. Pretty NPC races and a crafting system. defi nite sense of peril, though. straight from Monkey Island. graphics enhance the experience.

90 Buyer’s Guide

WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SEVEN OR TEN-INCH DISPLAY, TOP 10 BEST TABLETS THESE ARE THE TOP TABLETS AVAILABLE ON ANDROID Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet Sony’s lightest and brightest tablet ever, the Z4 has made us fall back in love with the 10-inch tablet £505 when the left us cold. With a clip-on keyboard and Microsoft apps bundled in, it is a top tablet for when you want to set up a mobile office. But all work and no play makes for a dull device, so theZ4alsosupportsPlayStationRemotePlayandhasacrisp2Kdisplayscreen,aSnapdragon810 See issue 54 1 processor and 3GB RAM to ensure it can keep up with console-quality frame rates. Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact £269 IftheXperiaZ4isaniPadkiller,the8-inchZ3hastheiPadminiinitssights.Weighingjust270g,it’s slim and stylish like its bigger brother, with 3GB RAM and a Triluminos display to boot. It also integrates 2 withthePS4sotheonlyrealdifferencebetweentheZ3CompactandtheZ4isitssizeandpricetag. See issue 46

Google £299 A mighty Nvidia Tegra K1 processor and 2GB RAM mean that even running the most graphic-heavy games won’t slow this 64-bit tablet down. The built-in BoomSound speakers also offer great sound 3 quality, making Google’s new tablet an all-round media consumption device. See issue 45 Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 £349 Ultra thin and ultra bright, colours look vibrant and details distinct on this powerful Super Amoled screen.Samsung’siPadslayeralsoputsmanyotherAndroidtabletstoshamewithamultiwindow 4 mode to display several apps at once and octa-core processor ensuring lightning-fast performance. See issue 43 Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet £309.95 Arguably one of the most portable 10-inch tablets available, the Xperia Z2 Tablet is waterproof and cansupportaSIMcardfor4Guse.Itisalsosurprisinglythinandlighttocarry,andincludes 5 power-savingmodestoensurelongerbatterylife.Reasonablyhigh-spec,ithasawhopping3GBRAM. See issue 39 Tesco Hudl 2 £99 This sequel to the supermarket chain’s own-brand tablet can’t compete with premium models, but setsanewbenchmarkforbudgettablets.Uppingthedisplaysizefrom7to8.3-inches,theHudl2also 6 runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat and can handle anything you throw at it thanks to an Intel Atom processor. See issue 44 Samsung Galaxy TabPRO (8.4, Wi-Fi) £199 The smallest tablet in Samsung’s collection, the TabPRO 8.4 proves that good things do come in small packages. A stunning 359ppi screen puts the to shame, though we’d prefer higher-quality 7 speakers. However, an 8MP camera and an intuitive interface are good compensation. See issue 38 Vodafone Tab Prime 6 £70 Vodafone’s 4G tablet is the network’s best own-brand device yet, shipping with Android Lollipop built in,aSnapdragon410processorand32GBmicroSD.ObviouslyitalsorequiresaVodafonecontract 8 sowerecommendbuyingitoutrightfor£150andgettingthepayasyougodealwith6GBdata. See issue 53 Amazon Fire £50 A solid effort from Amazon who have priced it correctly for new and seasoned Android users alike. The £50 price means that this will be the go-to Android tablet for many new users, although that low 9 price point is reflected in its build quality and design. See issue 59 Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 £149.99 We praise Lenovo for trying to be different. The outstanding points easily outweigh the usual NEW ENTRY cutbacks. The kickstand, excellent speakers and rotational camera are all surprisingly excellent 10 features that make this budget-tablet offering a serious challenge to the big boys. See issue 60 NEVER MISS AN ISSUE OF ANDROID MAGAZINE FREE For the latest reviews, BOOKAZINE check out our great worth subscription offer on £9.99 page 26

91 DroidSupport »troubleshooting advice » hints and tips »email an expert Got an Android- related problem that you need solving? Let us know! Lockscreen errors [email protected] Share your tips & tricks Join us on Facebook and Twitter are driving me mad toshareandreceivesome great tips and advice facebook “Help! I keep seeing ‘process.motorola.process. » /littlegreenrobot Like us on Facebook and join system’ appear on my Moto G and no matter what I in our Android community twitter try, I have been unable to stop it from popping up. I » @lgrobot Follow us on Twitter to send have removed recently installed apps and also tried your thoughts and questions rebooting each time it appears, but still it comes back to ruin my day!” Martha Bowles Hi Martha. This Time change, you may want to computers were not so long problem is somewhat trythistrickagainandseeifit ago, it is more surprising that A common and the res d time. When more errors like this do not pop solutionforitisveryeasy.Whyit you upformanyAndroidusers,but happens we cannot answer, An eemtohavean unfortunately, and even more to Did you know? bizarrely, we cannot say why the You can customise the way the LED solution we will offer works, but notifi cations present themselves on your Android using an app called Light Flow itdoes.Ifthemessagepopsup - LED & Notifi cations. You can change the onthelockscreen,youshould colours for events, adjust the vibration and also customise the patterns see a Force Close option that you cantaptocarryonbootingthe device, at which point you need to go to Settings. Look for the Date & time option and then tap it. Now make sure that Automatic date & time and Automatic time zone are disabled, by tapping each of them accordingly. Now tap Select time zone and then choose a random city that is different to the one you would normally use. Finally, switch t two Automatic settings on aga and the problem should go aw One area that we believe ma cause the problem is when Daylight Savings Time cha and it appears that this m cause corruption in the ti database of some devices s purely a guess of cours f it comes back the next hereisaDaylightSavin s to problems can appear in ely of places 92 DroidSupport Ask your questions facebook email Got a problem with your Android phone or tablet? » /littlegreenrobot »[email protected] Get help from our Send your questions for our team of Send it to us and we’ll fi nd the solution Facebook community experts to tackle My mother wants a new phone. Please help! “My mother, who is a pensioner, wants a new phone and has decided that she would ‘like it to be one of those new smartphones, but not one that is expensive.’ I know that I can choose from a variety of phones, but would appreciate some tips on just how to make it easier to use.” Claire Ambrose We understand your the homescreen much easier to concerns Claire! The manage. An alternative is A fact is that despite available from Google Play, smartphones seeming to be called BIG Launcher, which has straightforward for millions of been designed for those who people, newcomers to the have vision problems or issues technologymaystruggleatfirst. with dexterity on small devices. Every part of the system can be changed If your mother does not have It adds big fonts throughout the to make it easy to use experience with computers this system and focuses on enabling Also, don’t forget the will be another drawback, but immediate access to the most Accessibility settings in A we have some solutions that importantareas,suchascalls which are designed to ma should ease the process. If she and emails. It is also screen easier to read and buys a phone from Samsung or a customisable, meaning that as offer voice guidance whe few other select manufacturers, your mother gets used to the the phone is used. No ma thereisanEasyModeoptionin functionality and the features, whatyoudo,startslowa Settingsthatcutsmanyofthe she can change things and delve gradually increase the There are apps and settings available to advanced features and makes alittledeeperatherownpace. complexity over time. greatly simplify Android phones hints&tips Pushemailsanddisablenotificationswithourhandyhints Manually receive emails Stop unwanted app alerts Stop Wi-Fi pop-ups One of the best ways to manually receive Some apps will bombard you with unwanted If you have a sporadic Wi-Fi connection emailsistodownloadBlueMailfrom notifi cations, but they are easy to stop. Long and keep seeing connection notifi cations, It lets you set up your inbox in 2press any notifi cation, tap the i button and 3you can go to Wi-Fi settings>Advanced, to replace the then choose Block to stop them. You can also where there’s an option called Network delete the app if the alerts are an intrusion. notifi cation. Disable it to stop the alerts.

93 DroidSupport

Why can’t I shortcut option in Settings that enables you to add your own Can I turn a send words. When you do so, you can also set up keyboard shortcuts in phone into a profanities? your personal dictionary so that you can say anything you like by computer? OftenIamfindingthatmy tapping just a couple of keys. smartphone auto-corrects This may sound like a hassle, but I would like to turn my old profanities when I send text once you have got used to how it Samsung phone into a basic messages or even emails. At times works it will actually save you computer for use at home. I this can really get in the way of a time. For text messages, you can know it sounds like a strange funny conversation. Any ideas how I also look at an app called Textra cangetaroundthis? SMS, available from the Google request, but part of me likes Warren Smith Play store, which uses its own the idea of experimenting to set of rules. In tests we have see how effective such a Hi Warren. There are found that you can type almost setup would be and I am two ways to get around any word you like with ease. genuinely curious as to A thisandaswearenot whether this could work. Any prudes,wearehappytohelpyou pointers to get me started? Is it possible You can easily record both sides of a phone spiceupyourconversations.You conversation, just don’t share the recording Jeremy McDonald canfirstlookforthekeyboard to record a it orks for you before you buy Hi Jeremy We can see phone cal A why prove to Is it possible to record a phone mire the from an Android phone and mo tempt it. specifically to record both side werful as theconversation?Iamunsure ourse legalities of doing this and if it i eto possible, so any advice would nd of full appreciated. Any app ience. recommendations would also can very much appreciated. rds, mice John Miswell essories se Hi John. It is legal eate a record a phone cal A you are party to, here provided the recording is n easmall shared with a third party. ust a However, you will need to dit.In check the laws for differen akes more regions because they do d ra from country to country. I e are happy that you are sta gjusta within the law, we would oftware suggest trying an app cal dto Automatic Call Recorder, Android otherwise known as call hese will which is available on Go he end Play. It offers a variety of ble and methods to quickly initi yuse. recording and can also d nsider with the sound fi les wit er ways afterwards; you can eve use an old have memory managem e, taken care of by the app an in-car you record a lot of calls nt system, free to try, which is ano nasa bonus, because this is use. area where some phon oo many work better than others eusing an Textra SMS lets you send anything you like you will want to make sur Did you know? If you install an app yet cannot find it in your app listing, try rebooting and it is likely that the icon will then appear. If this does not help, you can clear the cache and data in Google Play settings, in case the app was updated recently and caused corruption.

Imagine Publishing Ltd Richmond House, 33 Richmond Hill Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6EZ  +44 (0) 1202 586200 Web: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk www.greatdigitalmags.com www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk Magazine team Editor April Madden [email protected]  01202 586218 Production Editor Adele Jordan Features Editor Oliver Hill Senior Designer Adam Markiewicz Photographer James Sheppard Senior Art Editor Andy Downes Editor in Chief Dan Hutchinson Publishing Director Aaron Asadi Head of Design Ross Andrews Contributors Andy Betts, Christian Cawley, Phil King, Shaun McGill, Philip Deal with ports Thebudgetoption Morris, Michael Simpson, Harry Slater and Jessica Thornsby 1 There are products available to take an 2 If you are prepared to fi ddle with cables and Advertising Digital or printed media packs are available on request. Android phone and add a variety of ports that can connectors, it could be worth picking up a cheap Head of Sales Hang Deretz  01202 586442 then be used by peripherals, such as keyboards USB OTG cable, which can be used to attach [email protected] and monitors. One example is the VicTsing OTG accessories to an Android device. The main Account Manager Simon Hall  01202 586415 MHL to HDMI Multifunction Cradle Charger, which downside is that it can look a little messy, but it is [email protected] is known to work with many Samsung phones. a tried and tested solution that really does work. FileSilo.co.uk Assets and resource fi les for this magazine can be found on this website. Support fi [email protected] International Android Magazine is available for licensing. Contact the International department to discuss partnership opportunities. Head of International Licensing Cathy Blackman  +44 (0) 1202 586401 [email protected] Subscriptions For all subscriptions enquiries  0844 245 6963 (UK)  +44 (0) 1795 414 972 (Overseas) Email: [email protected] 13 issue subscription (UK) – £51.90 (CC) 13 issue subscription (Europe) – £65 13 issue subscription (ROW) – £75 Circulation Head of Circulation Darren Pearce  01202 586200 Production Start with familiarity Makeamouse Production Director Jane Hawkins 3 4  01202 586200 This may sound strange, but a good way to If you find that the whole idea of turning an Finance start with an Android setup designed to work like a old Android phone into a computer is not Finance Director Marco Peroni Founder PC is to remotely access your main computer from beneficial, you could turn it into a very clever Group Managing Director Damian Butt the device. Apps like 2 Remote Desktop mouse. Simply download Mobile Mouse Pro from Printing & Distribution enable this and should greatly speed up the Google Play and you will immediately be in Printed by William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, process of using an Android device as a desktop. possession of a remote mouse. Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT Distributed in the UK, Eire & the Rest of the World by: Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 BUH  0203 787 9060, www.marketforce.co.uk Distributed in Australia by: Network Services (a division of Bauer Media Group) Level 21 Civic Tower, 66-68 Goulburn Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia  +61 2 8667 5288 Disclaimer The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used specifi cally for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change. This magazine is fully independent and not affi liated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to Imagine Publishing via post, email, social network or any other means, you automatically grant Imagine Publishing an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free license to use the material across its entire portfolio, in print, online and digital, and to deliver the material to existing and future clients, including but not limited to international licensees for reproduction in international, licensed editions of Imagine products. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Imagine Publishing nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for the loss or damage. The best solution of all? Averysimple solution Android is a trademark of Google Inc. © Imagine Publishing Ltd 2016 5 Perhaps the best compromise of all is an 6 If you are happy with the screen size of your ISSN 2047-1580 appcalled AirDroid, whichisdesignedtoletyou Android, a Bluetooth keyboard with a slot that fi ts access all of the important parts of your Android the device will offer a PC-like experience without device from a desktop. It can actually make a Mac setting up software and attaching peripherals. It’s or PC feel like it has Android OS running on it and it not ideal for pushing the PC/Android experiment, is extremely reliable and fun to use. but it may work better for most people.

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96 FileSilo

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Issue 61 of Android Magazine is on sale 18 February 2016 from GreatDigitalMags.com

98 Turn on your imagination Paint with light Turn your everyday lighting into an extraordinary experience. Play with coloárs or sync lights with your music, TV and games for an immersive effect. The possibilities are endless once you start exploring. And with hundreds of apps to choose from, Sync lights with the only real limit is your imagination. music and movies

Light schedules for home automation

Light for your well-being SUPER SONIC. SUPER SVELTE.

ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION A70 airSOUND™ BAR

Orbitsound presents the flagship A70 airSOUND Bar. Compact, stylish and extremely powerful, this British engineered masterpiece will become the audio centre of your home. For clear dialogue on TV, music streaming, or a thrilling movie experience, the A70 effortlessly delivers all the audio you will ever need... and more.

British airSOUND Technology | Engineered Wood Construction | Wireless Subwoofer | aptX® Bluetooth with NFC | Wall Mounting Kit Included | AUX and Digital Optical | Ultra High Definition Audio | Touch Sensitive & Backlit Interface | Remote Control Learning