Latest Twitter alpha introduces shortcuts, multi-window, and more (Update: now on the stable version!)

Update (11/7): If you've been waiting for Twitter app shortcuts, multi-window support and a round icon but were too nervous to join the alpha program, you're in luck. These changes are now making their way to the stable Twitter channel! Version 6.22 of the Twitter app is now rolling out in the Google Play Store, so head to the link below to grab the latest update! Download Twitter from Google Play

Original post (10/31): Twitter is one of the biggest social networks in the world. It currently has over 310 million active users, that love sharing their views on different topics in 140 characters. Although Twitter is in the midst of looking for a buyer, the company still found time to release a new alpha version of its Android app which supports new features available with Android Nougat.

The update brings three main new features to the table. The first one is app shortcuts. Users can now place three different shortcuts on their home screen (New Message, New Tweet and Search) that will minimize the number of gestures or taps required to finish a task and save a bit of time in the process.

The second feature is multi-window support, which can increase productivity by running an additional app along Twitter in split-screen mode. But please note that it only works with Android Nougat devices. The third and last part of the update is design oriented. In accordance with the design principles of Google's Android operating system, the Twitter icon is now round.

As this is an alpha release, the update is not yet available for all users and currently can't be downloaded from the Play Store. For the time being, it's only available to users that have previously signed up for Twitter's alpha program. Also as a word of warning, those running the alpha will be stuck with persistent bug report notification whenever Twitter is open.

Unfortunately, there's currently no word on when the update will hit the mass market. But if you're feeling a bit impatient and would like to try it out right away, you can download the APK from APK Mirror by clicking here (32-bit) or here (64-bit). If you don't want to be right on the cutting edge of Twitter features (and issues), you can always download the latest stable release from the Play Store link below.

Download from Google Play

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eTKFOh
via IFTTT

Indian forensic agency will soon get the technology to unlock any mobile phone

Shutterstock

According to a report by The Economic Times, Indian law enforcement agencies will soon acquire the technology to unlock hard-to-crack iPhones and other devices with 'top-notch encryption'.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, the country's premier forensic facility, will be buying the technology from Cellebrite, the Israeli company that manufactures data extraction, transfer, and analysis devices for mobile devices. Cellebrite Mobile Synchronization, a subsidiary of Japan's Sun Corporation, was recently in news for unblocking iPhone of one of the suspected perpetrators of a mass shooting in San Bernardino last December for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for over a million dollars.

The report cites anonymous officials that FSL is in negotiations with the company to obtain the high-end decryption technology within a month or so. The lab has in the past sought help from the firm on per-case basis, but are now looking at acquiring the 'entire tool'.

Cellebrite has worked with several intelligence and law enforcement agencies around the world and India's forensic facility will now aim to become the global go-to place for such services.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eGQbpn
via IFTTT

Best Google Pixel and Pixel XL cases

Google took everyone by surprise with the launch of their latest smartphones, with Pixel now being the way forward, and the days of the Nexus well behind us. The Pixel and Pixel XL are built from the ground up with Google at the helm of the entire process, and come with standout features like the new Google Assistant. You can find out more about these devices in our comprehensive reviews that are linked below.

• Google Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL vs Nexus 6P
• Google Pixel and Pixel XL vs the competition

The hardest pill to swallow, especially for fans of the Nexus fans, may be the price point, but if you have just spent over $650 for the new Pixel or Pixel XL, keeping it safe from accidental bumps and drops will certainly be a priority. Which is why, we've rounded up some of the best protective cases and covers that are currently available for the Pixel and Pixel XL!

---

RhinoShield CrashGuard Bumper for Pixel and Pixel XL

Instead of bringing you another ordinary TPU case, RhinoShield is a startup company that focuses on material innovation and so the magic behind the RhinoShield CrashGuard Bumper is its custom formulated polymer that keeps it super slim and lightweight at half an ounce, while also giving it 360-degree impact protection. The RhinoShield CrashGuard Bumper is also easy to grip thanks to its matte texture, and all the ports have precise cutouts making it easy to access to all buttons and features for convenience.

Pricing for both the Pixel and Pixel XL is $24.99, in your choice of black, red, or white.

Buy now for Pixel Buy now for Pixel XL

---

Spigen Liquid Crystal case

If you are looking for an ultra slim case that offers some protection for the device from accidental bumps and drops, but more importantly, want to show off the look of the phone, the Spigen Liquid Crystal case is a great option. This TPU case comes with precise cutouts for the charging port, headphone jack, and bottom firing speaker, along with a beveled cutout for the fingerprint scanner that allows you to take advantage of the new swipe gestures that are available.

The buttons are covered but easy to press, and the front of the case is slightly raised to keep the display safe when the phone is placed face down. The Spigen Liquid Crystal case is available for both the Google Pixel and the Pixel XL, and is currently priced at $12.99 and $13.99 respectively.

Buy now for the Pixel Buy now for the Pixel XL

---

TUDIA Arch case

The TUDIA Arch case is another ultra slim TPU case that offers a soft feel in the hand, and a matte finish that helps with the grip, which can be an issue with the otherwise slippery metal build of the phone. There are precise cutouts for the speaker, headphone jack, and charging port, and a beveled cutout for the fingerprint scanner on the back.

The TUDIA Arch cases are available in a few different colors, including black, blue, grey, and frosted clear, with the last option the best choice if you are looking to show off the unique design elements of the phone. These cases are available for both the Pixel and Pixel XL, and are currently priced at $9.90 across the board.

Buy now for the Pixel Buy now for the Pixel XL

---

Poetic Affinity case

The Poetic Affinity is another clear case that is thin and with minimal bulk, and is designed with the necessary protection to the areas that are usually the impact points. The case combines a hard polycarbonate shell with soft, shock absorbent TPU that looks great. The sides feature an anti-slip ridged texture for better grip, and the inside has a ridged stress dissipating pattern for shock absorption.

The buttons are covered, and the case features precise cutouts for the charging port, speakers, and headphone jack, along with a beveled cutout for the fingerprint scanner. The Poetic Affinity case is priced at just $7.95, making it a great option, but keep in mind that the case for the Pixel will be available from November 10, and the Pixel XL on November 20.

Buy for the Pixel Buy for the Pixel XL

---

Caseology Parallax case

The Caseology Parallax case adds a touch of style to your device while also providing more protection than the slim cases listed above. The case comes with dual layers of protection, with a flexible TPU case and a structured polycarbonate bumper for impact protection. The geometric pattern on the back looks great, and the soft touch finish adds to the grip.

You get precise cutouts for the charging port, speakers, headphone jack, and fingerprint sensor. The Caseology Parallax case is available for both the Pixel and Pixel XL, is priced at $12.99, and will be available from November 7.

Buy now for the Pixel Buy now for the Pixel XL

---

Spigen Rugged Armor case

The Spigen Rugged Armor case, as the name suggests, offers a lot of protection, but without adding a whole lot of bulk or thickness to the device. The corners feature Air Cushion technology that provides military grade protection against impacts. There are precise cutouts for speakers, charging port, headphone jack, camera, and fingerprint sensor, while the buttons are covered.

The covered power button also comes with a ridged texture to make it easy to differentiate from the volume rocker. The case features with glossy and carbon fiber textures that makes it look great, and while it isn't transparent, the dual look replicates the design of the device. The Spigen Rugged Armor case is available for both the Pixel and the Pixel XL, priced at $12.99 and $13.99 respectively.

Buy now for the Pixel Buy now for the Pixel XL

---

LifeProof FRE

For complete protection for your new Pixel or Pixel XL, the LifeProof FRE is the way to go. If you were disappointed at the Pixel smartphones not featuring better water resistance, this case addresses that issue, along with being dust proof, snow proof, and drop proof. With the case on, the device is capable of being submerged up to 2 meters for as long as an hour, and surviving a drop from 2 meters as well.

Not surprisingly, the headphone jack is covered with a screw type cover and the charging port is protected with a flap, and a screen protector is built in. The LifeProof FRE cases for the Pixel and Pixel XL aren't available yet, but were definitely worth a mention, and something to keep a look out for if you hoping to completely protect your smartphone.

Find out more (for the Pixel) Find out more (for the Pixel XL)

---

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle series

For another great rugged option, you should consider the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle series cases. The regular Unicorn Beetle case comes with a scratch transparent back that is scratch resistant, a shock absorbing TPU bumper, and an elevated bezel up front to keep the display safe. the buttons are covered, but the power button comes with a ridged design to make it easy to differentiate it.

The Unicorn Beetle PRO case brings dual layer protection, with with a polycarbonate hard shell and TPU inner case. The headphone jack and charging port are both covered with flaps, the buttons are covered, and there are precise cutouts for the speaker, camera, and fingerprint scanner. A belt clip holster is also available with this case, that the phone easily clips into.

The reguar SUPCASE Beetle is currently available only for the Pixel XL, priced at $12.99, while the PRO iteration is right now only for the smaller Pixel, and is priced starting at $17.99.

Buy the Unicorn Beetle PRO for the Pixel Buy the Unicorn Beetle for the Pixel XL

---

Official cases

Google has a few official cases available for the Pixel and Pixel XL as well, starting with the Clear case. As the name suggests, the transparent case lets you show off the design of your phone, and the ultra thin case barely adds any bulk or thickness to the device. There are precise cutouts for power button, volume rocker, speaker, charging port, camera, and fingerprint scanner. The clear case is priced at $30.

Get the Clear case for the Pixel Buy the Clear case for the Pixel XL

The next case offers a little more protection, and is built with three protective materials, including a silicon exterior that offers grip and shock absorption, a polycarbonate core that adds support, and finally, a premium microfiber interior. The buttons are covered, and the case is available in a slew of color options, including pink, blue, green, and black. This case is priced at $35.

Buy the Pixel phone case Buy the Pixel XL phone case

Finally, you have the Live case, that lets you create your own case design, from a slew of choices ranging from artwork, your own photos or others, or even maps of places of your choice. Every case will get a downloadable live wallpaper that complements it. As far as the protection goes, this case is at the same level as the clear case above. The Live cases are priced at $40.

Get a Live case for the Pixel or Pixel XL

---

So, there you have it for this roundup of some of the best protective cases and covers that are currently available for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. We will continue to keep this list updated as more options are made available.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2faLWD0
via IFTTT

Mobile Strike and Game of War developers are making a Final Fantasy XV mobile MMO

Final Fantasy XV, the open world single-player RPG, is due for release on November 29 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. However, if you want to wait a while, you will be able to get a mobile MMO game that's set in that same universe from Machine Zone, the developers behind the popular games Mobile Strike and Game of War: Fire Age.

See also:

Best MMORPGs on Android

2 weeks ago

Machine Zone revealed its new partnership with Final Fantasy's publisher Square Enix today. Details about the mobile MMO are scarce at this point, but Machine Zone says it will "combine the characters, storyline and soundtrack" from Final Fantasy XV with gameplay that will allow millions of people to play online at once. There's no word on when the game will be released, but Machine Zone says it will launch a new studio to develop the title.

Machine Zone scored big with the mobile fantasy MMO Game of War: Fire Age, thanks in part to a highly aggressive, and expensive, TV commercial campaign that started in 2014. It featured people like supermodel Kate Upton and pop artist Mariah Carey as spokespersons for the title. In 2015, it launched its second game, Mobile Strike, a modern military-themed MMO that also had a big TV ad campaign, this time with Arnold Schwarzenegger as its spokesperson.

Given that Machine Zone likes to use famous folks as spokespersons for its games, which person do you think should be hired for the Final Fantasy XV mobile game when it is released? Let us know who you would pick in the comments!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eGFLpB
via IFTTT

Google Home teardown reveals an easy to repair speaker and a mystery cable

With the $129 Google Home connected speaker now available for purchase in the US from several retailers, you may be wondering what's inside Google's effort to compete with Amazon's Echo lineup. Thankfully, iFixit has put its trademark teardown efforts on the Google Home, and it claims it's actually easy to repair.

See also:

Google Home hands on – the future of the home?

October 5, 2016

Overall, iFixit gave the speaker an 8 out of 10 on its own repairability scale, stating that it uses standard screws and connectors and that many of its parts are modular so they can be replaced quickly. The only low mark was given to the large amount of adhesive tape that was used to stick the touch board to the upper case of the Google Home.

The teardown also revealed some of the companies that supplied parts for the speaker. Samsung made the 512MB of DRAM in the Google Home, while Toshiba made the 256MB of Flash storage inside. Texas Instruments provided the audio amplifier and Peerless was the source for the speaker driver.

One minor but interesting bit about the teardown was that there was what iFixit called a "mystery cable" with four contact points inside the part of the speaker that hold the magnets for its bottom case. The team came up with its own funny theories about this discovery, but what do you think this cable was made for? Let us know in the comments.

Get it at Google Store

Next:

How to set up and use Google Home

6 hours ago

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2ftfqKF
via IFTTT

Verizon adds two new prepaid plans with plenty of data

Two-year contracts are so passé. Right now, the US is seeing two major trends: contract-free installment plans and bolstered prepaid plans. Verizon Wireless is adding two new prepaid plans, one with 5GB of data and the other 10GB.

See also:

AT&T will add data to some GoPhone monthly prepaid plans on November 11

2 hours ago

Even just a few years ago, prepaid plans were almost non-existent in the US. Whereas in Europe, carriers have always offered a variety of pay-as-you-go packages, the US has historically been more contract-centered. Plus, prepaid plans were almost exclusively for feature phones. That's why these plans never had adequate data and value to be appealing.

Well, things started to change a bit with GSM network carriers. AT&T, over the past year or two, has really been trying to bolster its prepaid offering, and for someone like me who might spend a few months in this country and a few months there, this was fantastic news. In fact, I still use AT&T's $60 plan on my unlocked Galaxy S7 edge, which gives me plenty of data, and unlimited calling even to Canada and Mexico.

Seeing AT&T's success, Verizon Wireless followed suit. And ever since, the red wireless network has come a very long way. Currently it offers 3GB of data for $45, 6GB of data for $60, all with unlimited talk and text, and starting November 13^th, it will add two more prepaid plans. For $50, you get 5GB of data, and for $20 more – $70 a month – you get 10GB! FYI, your unused data do roll over, and if you opt for the $70 plan, you also get unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico.

Currently it offers 3GB of data for $45, 6GB of data for $60, all with unlimited talk and text, and starting November 13th, it will add two more prepaid plans. For $50, you get 5GB of data, and for $20 more – $70 a month – you get 10GB!

Verizon wants to remind you that these prepaid plans work with the latest smartphones like the Google Pixel and Lenovo Moto Z, which are offered by the carrier. If you travel a lot, or if you're just looking to save money, prepaid plans might be the way to go.

 

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2fhUyFK
via IFTTT

YouTube adds support for HDR video for devices like the Chromecast Ultra

If you have a supported TV or PC monitor, you might soon be able to view High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos on YouTube for the first time. Google has announced it has added support for the advanced video features, and any YouTube creator can begin uploading HDR-based clips right now.

See also:

Chromecast Ultra announced: 4K video streaming, HDR and more for $69

October 4, 2016

In case you are not familiar with HDR, it allows videos to show a wider range of colors and brightness. This is supposed to result in images that have a more realistic look to them compared to the older SDR videos. YouTube has already posted a small range of HDR-supported clips from some of their content creators, such as the one shown below.

Of course, you will need an HDR-supported TV or PC monitor to fully appreciate the more realistic videos on YouTube. HDR TVs can take advantage of the support if they use the $69 Chromecast Ultra streaming dongle from Google. Unfortunately, the Google Store is currently not taking orders for the Chromecast Ultra; it is instead putting people on a waitlist.

The YouTube app on all 2016 Samsung SUHD and UHD TVs will also be updated in the near future to support HDR videos. Google says it is working with other partners to add support for its HDR-based clips as well.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2ega5J3
via IFTTT