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mercredi 14 décembre 2016

Are you one of the 10 million who have installed Google Allo?

android apps weekly

android apps weekly

Google's messaging platform has reached another milestone – three months after its launch, it has now passed 10 million installs on the Play Store. 10 million might sound impressive on its own, but in reality, Google Allo just isn't doing too hot.

See also:

Why Google Duo has very little chance of succeeding

August 16, 2016

Google introduced Allo and Duo way back in May. Duo was first to launch, and this video-calling sibling has been doing comparatively well. In fact, it surpassed 10 million installs some time ago and is headed for the 50 million mark. Allo, on the other hand, is a different story.

Four days after its launch, it garnered 5 million downloads, and it's taken Allo three more months to get another 5 million. Of course, all apps tend to peak during the first week or so of its launch and then die down, but Allo's plateauing happened too soon, it seems. Take an app like Pokemon Go, for instance: during its launch weekend, it hit 50 million downloads on the Play Store and continued the trend to well over 500 million just two months after the initial release date.

Or let's have a look at Facebook Messenger, which launched in August, 2011. It was in August, 2014 that the app hit 500 million downloads on Android, which means that on average, around 14 million people installed it per month over the course of three years. Compare that to Allo with 3 million per month, and that's during its peak period!

There are several factors at play here, in my opinion. First, the market is oversaturated: we have the default messaging app that comes with every phone, we have Facebook Messenger, and we have a slew of other messaging apps that are more ubiquitous like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Kik, etc. There's simply no reason to get yet another app when what you already have does the exact same job. Second is Allo's lack of SMS support. Google Allo can't be used as a default SMS app, meaning you'll have to get your friends to download Allo in order to communicate with them. It may have a wide array of stickers for you to use, but without that convenience, what do those stickers mean? And even if it added SMS support, the story wouldn't be too different. Older generations that do use SMS will stick to preloaded SMS apps, and younger generations that are seeing a shift away from SMS messaging will continue to use more popular platforms like Facebook and Snapchat.

Older generations that do use SMS will stick to preloaded SMS apps, and younger generations that are seeing a shift away from SMS messaging will continue to use more popular platforms like Facebook and Snapchat.

So who are these 10 million people who have downloaded Google Allo? Are they simply curious or does Google Allo truly offer something that others don't? Are you using Google Allo on a regular basis?



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OnePlus 3T launches in India; sales start December 14 (UPDATE: now available!)

oneplus-3t-review-17

oneplus-3t-review-17
Updated post (December 14, 2016) – Just as promised, the OnePlus 3T has become available in India! You can find it on Amazon for 29,999 rupees for the 64 GB version, or 34,999 rupees for the 128 GB variant. There seems to be a bit of a delay, though, as the devices won't be in stock until December 17 (64 GB) and December 16 (128 GB).
Buy the OnePlus 3T

Special offer from Ola

Not sure whether you want to buy the OnePlus 3T or not? OnePlus and Ola have partnered to bring one right to your doorstep. Here's how it works: simply order a free OnePlus ride using the Ola app. If the cab doesn't arrive within 15 minutes, OnePlus will give you a 10,000 mAh battery for free!

In addition, all users get a 500 rupee voucher to use towards their OnePlusStore.in purchase. Ola Select members get priority, as well as select OnePlus merchandise. The only downside is that the offer is only available in select cities, as well as time frames.

Delhi and Bangalore users can enjoy this service on December 13; Mumbai and Hyderabad get a chance on December 14; all while Pune and Kolkata can get a look at the phone on December 15.

Original post (December 2, 2016) – The OnePlus 3T, which was announced a few weeks ago, is already available in some countries. The Chinese manufacturer first started selling its latest flagship in the US and Canada on November 21. A week later, on November 28 to be exact, the OnePlus 3T started selling in Europe as well.

Now, the company has announced that it's bringing the device to one of the biggest smartphone markets in the world — India. The OnePlus 3T will be available exclusively on Amazon India with sales starting on December 14 (from 12.01am IST). As in other countries, you'll be able to choose between the 64 GB or 128 GB model, which will retail for Rs. 29,999 and Rs. 34,999 respectively.

See also:

The OnePlus 3 will get updates just as long as the OnePlus 3T

3 weeks ago

Compared with its slightly older brother, the OnePlus 3T brings a few hardware upgrades to the table. It features the Snapdragon 821 processor, an improved 16 MP selfie camera, a larger 3,400 mAh battery and also comes with a 128 GB of storage option. It's the company's most expensive device yet and is available in two color options — the already seen Soft Gold and the all new Gunmetal.

Are you excited to hear that the OnePlus 3T will soon be available in India? Are you thinking of picking it up? Which version are you most interested in?

PRE-ORDER ONEPLUS 3T


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Google Home receiving support for Netflix and Google Photos (UPDATE: now available)

google-home-review-1-of-15

google-home-review-1-of-15
Update (December 14, 2016) – Google Home just got a little bit jollier; or at least that is the angle the Search Giant is taking in their latest blog post. The tech company is now making Google Home support for both Netflix and Google Photos official.

It's simple to ask Google Home to play specific movies or shows on your Chromecast-connected TV, or even control your media hands-free (pause, change episodes, etc.). In addition, it's now easy to ask Google Home to display images from your Google Photos collection. And you can get specific – just tell Google Home to showcase images from your vacations, specific time frames or even topics.

Of course, you will have to link your accounts. Google Home and Google Assistant will be an important part of the equation, so make sure you keep these up-to-date. Google also mentions Netflix support will be rolling out this week, so sit tight and be patient if you don't see this functionality yet.

This is great news for anyone looking to buy a Google Home device soon, but Google isn't stopping there. There's another treat waiting for you. New YouTube Red subscribers will be enjoying a free 6-month trial for the purchase of their Google Home units. Terms do apply and you need to purchase it before December 31st, though. 

Original post (December 12, 2016) – Google is rolling out support for Photos and Netflix to its Google Home speaker. The update allows users to ask the Google Home to play Netflix content, or display their uploaded photos, on a Chromecast or Chromecast-compatible device.

A new 'Videos and Photos' section can be found in the Google Assistant settings of the Google Home app, giving users the opportunity to link their Netflix account or enable/disable the Google Photos integration.

See also:

Developers can now write apps for the Assistant on Google Home

6 days ago

Despite the Netflix option making an appearance, however, it's reported that the functionality hasn't yet been finalized. If you find it in your Google Assistant settings, it may be sitting dormant for the time being. Google could make an official announcement about the new services before they go live.

The news follows the recent introduction of 'Actions on Google' which allows third-party developers to integrate voice support for their own products through Google Assistant. You can learn more about that over at the Google Developers blog.



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LG will show off a Chromecast-based PC monitor at CES 2017

LG will be showing off a lot of new products in just a few weeks in Las Vegas during CES 2017. That includes new PC monitors, and one of them will have built-in support for streaming media from smartphones with its Chromecast feature.

See also:

LG to launch four new smartwatches and smartwatch payments system?

2 weeks ago

In an early press release, LG said that the upcoming 34-inch 21:9 34UM79M UltraWide Mobile Monitor will be the first such product that is Chromecast enabled. That likely means that if you have an Android or iOS smartphone with a Chromecast app, you can cast media from that phone to this monitor without the need for a typical Chromecast HDMI dongle.

LG added that this monitor will let users see content from both their PC and their mobile device on screen at the same time. In addition, the monitor will have a feature called Dual Controller Plus, which will let users control both a PC and a mobile device with just one keyboard and mouse. Finally, the product supports the LG Mobile+ Monitor app, which will give owners control of many of this monitor's settings, such as input, volume, aspect ratio, PBP/PIP, etc. remotely and conveniently.

LG will be showing off this new Chromecast monitor alongside other products at CES 2017. The company did not reveal a price tag or a release date for these monitors, nor do we know the screen resolution. We'll of course know more when CES rolls around, so stay tuned!



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OnePlus 3T gets its first update, no it’s not Nougat

The OnePlus 3T has been on the market for just shy of a month, but already it is getting its very first official OTA update. Before you get too excited, no it's not Nougat. For now, the Nougat update remains in beta and is only available for the original OnePlus 3. Instead, OxygenOS 3.5.4 is about optimizing the existing software and adding a number of stability improvements.

See also:

OnePlus 3T review

3 weeks ago

In particular, the latest update brings optimizations for T-Mobile's network, optimizations to reduce lag when battery is below 5%, improvements to battery saving mode, and fixing a major issue that was affecting WhatsApp.

The full changelog is as follows:

  • Optimizations for US-TMO Network
  • Optimizations to Reduce Lag when Battery is below 5%
  • Optimized Bluetooth Connectivity for Mazda Cars
  • Optimized Battery Saving Mode: GPS and Orientation Preferences will be restored when Battery Saving Mode is closed.
  • Fixed Flashlight Usability Issue in WhatsApp
  • Increased System Stability
  • Implemented Various Bug Fixes

The update is rolling out over the air starting today, but OnePlus says that it will be a staged rollout and will hit only a small percentage of devices immediately with the rest to follow shortly after.

While this update would have been more exciting if it had brought Nougat, OnePlus has a pretty mixed track record when it comes to timely updates, so hopefully this is the beginning of a much more aggressive updating strategy from the still young smartphone maker.



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Fitbit Charge 2 vs Garmin vívosmart HR+

Looking for our Fitbit Charge HR vs Garmin vívosmart HR comparison? Head here.

Fitbit vs Garmin: a battle between two fitness giants that's been debated for quite some time.

If you're looking to keep better track of your daily activity, the Fitbit Charge 2 and Garmin vívosmart HR+ are two devices that may be on your radar. While they aren't the most feature-packed fitness trackers on the market, they do in fact offer a good handful of features that are worth checking out.

How should you spend your 150 fitness tracker dollars? Find out, in our full Fitbit Charge 2 vs Garmin vívosmart HR+ comparison.

Review notes: I've been using the Fitbit Charge 2 for about six and the Garmin vívosmart HR+ for about two weeks. The Nexus 6P has been my smartphone companion of choice throughout the duration of this review period.
Show More
Don't miss:

The best fitness trackers

3 days ago

Fitbit Charge 2 vs Garmin vívosmart HR+: design

fitbit-charge-2-vs-garmin-vivosmart-hr-aa-2

fitbit-charge-2-vs-garmin-vivosmart-hr-aa-2

The Fitbit Charge 2 and Garmin vívosmart HR+ look very similar, at least a first glance. They're both medium-sized, wrist-mounted fitness trackers with big displays and a sleek design.

As noted in our Fitbit Charge 2 review, Fitbit used to have a big design problem. While it was clear the company mostly focused on creating accurate, feature-packed trackers, it seemed as though aesthetics took a back seat. Those days are finally over, and the Charge 2 is one of the better looking trackers on the market. With a stainless steel chassis and a high-quality rubber strap, Fitbit's latest tracker almost looks like a fashion accessory rather than a fitness band.

That's especially the case if you don't mind spending some extra dough on accessories, as the Charge 2 also has interchangeable straps. Leather straps can be purchased from Fitbit's website, and there are plenty of cheaper third-party options on Amazon.

Don't miss:

Fitbit Charge 2 review

November 3, 2016

Where Fitbit includes high-quality stainless steel on the Charge 2, Garmin uses a lighter, lower quality rubber and plastic

The vívosmart HR+, on the other hand, sports a design that's sure close to that of the Charge 2, just a little less pretty. Where Fitbit includes high-quality stainless steel on the Charge 2, Garmin uses a lighter, lower quality rubber and plastic. The vívosmart HR+ also doesn't support interchangeable straps. Overall, both devices just feel a lot different from one another. The Charge 2 feels sturdy and overall more well thought out, while the vívosmart HR+ is an okay-looking device. In a vacuum, the vívosmart HR+ looks and feels great, but throwing the Charge 2 into the mix leaves much to be desired with Garmin's latest offering.

Both devices have a single physical button, both of which are used for completely different functions. The Charge 2's physical button (which is quite nice, I must say), is used to swipe through different modes like heart rate, activity modes, a stopwatch and an on-device guided breathing exercise.

Tapping on the vívosmart HR+'s button brings you to a swipeable menu that gives you access to activity modes, do not disturb, alarms, Bluetooth settings, sync, find my phone, past workouts, settings and device information. That may sound like a lot of options – and the interface does seem a bit cluttered at times – but it gets easier to use once you spend some time with it. I still prefer Fitbit's minimalistic interface to Garmin's, but you might feel differently.

I actually prefer the vívosmart HR+'s display

Both the Charge 2 and vívosmart HR+ have displays, but they're quite a bit different from one another. The Charge 2's 1.5-inch OLED display is much brighter than the vívosmart HR+'s, though it can be a tad more difficult to read outdoors. It's also not a touchscreen, which means you'll have to tap on the bottom of the display to swipe through menus. It takes some time to get used to, but it actually becomes more intuitive the more you use it.

On paper, the vívosmart HR+'s display doesn't seem all that great compared to the Charge 2's, but I actually prefer it. It's 1.0-inch touchscreen LCD display, meaning you'll be able to swipe through menus with ease. It's also an always-on display, so you never have to tap on it or raise your wrist to get the time to show up.

Related:

The best smartwatches

2 days ago

The Garmin device also comes out ahead when it comes to smartphone notification options. The vívosmart HR+ can display call, text, email, social media and basically any other notification from your smartphone that you'd like. The Fitbit, on the other hand, only supports call, text and calendar event notifications. No matter which device you're using, though, notifications can be a bit hard to read since their display's aren't that big.

There's also one area where the vívosmart HR+ blows the Charge 2 out of the water, literally. As is the case with most of its other fitness trackers, Garmin made the vívosmart HR+ water resistant up to 50 meters. The Charge 2, on the other hand, is only splash proof, so you shouldn't go swimming with it or take it in the shower. Fitbit really needs to make more devices water resistant. It does have the Flex 2, but none of the company's higher-end trackers have anything more than a lowly 'splash proof' rating.

Fitbit Charge 2 vs Garmin vívosmart HR+: specs, features and performance

  Fitbit Charge 2 Garmin vívosmart HR+
Display 1.5-inch multi-line OLED
Tap display
1.0-inch LCD
Touchscreen
Heart rate monitor Yes, optical Yes, optical
GPS No, Connected GPS Yes, built-in GPS
Water resistant No, splash proof Yes, 5 ATM
Sleep tracking Yes, automatic Yes, automatic
Silent alarms Yes Yes
Notifications Call, text and calendar alerts Call, text, calendar alerts, and many more
Battery life Up to 5 days Up to 5 days
Sensors Optical heart rate monitor
3-axis accelerometer
Altimeter
Vibration motor
Optical heart rate monitor
Compatibility Android, iOS, Windows, web Android, iOS, Windows, web
Interchangeable bands Yes No
Colors Standard: Black, Blue, Plum, Teal
Special edition: Lavender/Rose Gold, Black/Gunmetal
Black/Shark Fin Gray, Imperial Purple/Kona Purple, Midnight Blue/Bolt Blue
Dimensions Small: 139.7mm - 170.2mm (21.3mm wide)
Large: 170.2mm - 205.7mm (21.3mm wide)
XL: 205.7mm - 236.2mm (21.3mm wide)
Regular: 136mm - 192mm
X-Large: 180mm - 224mm
Price Standard: $149.95
Special edition: $179.95
Additional classic bands: $29.95
Additional leather bands: $69.95
$149.99

Both devices can track your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes, sleep and heart rate. That's a pretty standard affair for most other fitness trackers in this price range, and I can say both devices track all of these metrics quite accurately.

The Charge 2 and vívosmart HR+ are both spot on in terms of step tracking and active minutes, but the vívosmart HR+ comes out ahead in most other metrics. This is because Garmin's device comes with a built-in GPS, while the Charge 2 unfortunately does not. As a result, the vívosmart HR+ will be able to more accurately track distance and pace metrics, which is a huge plus for the runners out there.

Side note – how Garmin managed to pack a GPS into the vívosmart HR+ is beyond me. It's not a whole lot bigger than the Charge 2, and it's certainly not as big and bulky as the vívoactive HR.

Read more: Garmin vívoactive HR review

It's worth noting that the Charge 2 is compatible with Fitbit's Connected GPS feature, which allows you to use your phone's GPS to get more accurate distance tracking and pace results. This of course means you'll have to carry your phone with you when you're exercising, which isn't all that convenient for most people.

In the case of the Fitbit Charge HR vs Garmin vívosmart HR, we told you that Fitbit's SmartTrack technology was a standout feature, but that's because Garmin's device didn't offer an alternative. Now the Charge 2 and vívosmart HR+ both offer automatic activity recognition, allowing each device to track workouts automatically inside their respective companion apps. Whether you're going for an intense run or brisk walk, all of your workout data will be available inside the app when you're done.

Both devices come with automatic activity recognition, which is a huge plus

Speaking of automatic activity recognition, both trackers will also automatically record your sleep. This is another area where the vívosmart HR+ pulls out ahead. While the Fitbit Charge 2 will display your total time asleep, how many times you woke up and how many times you were restless, Garmin's device offers a little more insight in terms of sleep trends overtime. The vívosmart HR+ will be able to show you the total time you were asleep, how long you were in deep and light sleep, as well as the total time you were awake. It also displays your movement levels throughout the night. Plus, you can check out your average sleep data overtime, which is super helpful if you're looking to catch some more z's.

As mentioned earlier, both the Fitbit and Garmin feature optical heart rate sensors. We've found both of these heart rate monitors to be plenty accurate when it comes to resting heart rate, though active heart rate readings can be a little off at times. For comparison's sake, we tested each of these sensors against the Wahoo TICKR X chest strap on multiple occasions. The Charge 2 and vívosmart HR+'s heart rate sensors are quite accurate between 80-120bpm, but anything more than that will throw off each sensor.

Fitbit has also included a few extra features in the Charge 2 that help it stand out from the competition. The first of these new features is a measurement of your Cardio Fitness Level, which is a personalized score based on an estimation of your VO2 Max (how well your body uses oxygen when you're working out the hardest). Estimated VO2 Max is pretty much the gold standard for grading cardiovascular fitness. Basically, the higher your VO2 Max and Cardio Fitness Score, the better your cardiovascular fitness.

Another new feature on the Charge 2 is on-device guided breathing exercises, or Relax, as Fitbit calls it. Just press the physical button on the device until you get to the Relax screen, and your device will walk you through 2- to 5-minute breathing exercises that should help you reduce stress, lessen anxiety and lower blood pressure.

Now let's talk battery life. Both Fitbit and Garmin say their devices can last up to five days on a single charge, and we've found that to be somewhat true with the Charge 2 and very true with the vívosmart HR+. In the case of the Charge 2, we got the device to last around 4 – 4.5 days on a single charge with the heart rate monitor turned to automatic. It's possible to squeeze out an extra half day or so with this feature turned off, but you should expect less than that if you're wanting to record your heart rate.

The vívosmart HR+, on the other hand, has been very impressive in the battery department. Even with the heart rate monitor and GPS turned on, we've managed to achieve five full days of battery with no problems at all. Good job, Garmin.

Software

This is where things get interesting. Fitbit and Garmin are very different companies with very different philosophies, and that's extremely telling when it comes to software.

Fitbit's smartphone companion app is by far one of our favorite fitness applications out there. It's simple, clean, super intuitive, and does a great job at give you a ton of information without seeming to cluttered at any given moment. This is a good thing, too, since you aren't able to do a ton of stuff on the Charge 2 itself, you'll need to open the app to look through your daily activity summaries.

See also:

The best Android fitness apps and workout apps

January 7, 2016

The main screen in the Fitbit app shows off your daily activity, as well as options to log food, water, or your weight. The Challenges section is home to plenty of daily and weekly goals that aim to help you go the extra mile (literally). You can also invite friends to take part in challenges with you. There's also a dedicated Friends section of the app that lets you see how your friends are doing on their daily activity goals.

Whether you're a first time or professional Fitbit user, you'll probably love this app.

Garmin's Connect app, however, is a different story.

Let me preface this by saying I have a love/hate relationship with Garmin Connect. It throws tons of information at you on every screen, and it doesn't care if it's cluttered or not. Part of me really likes this – the fact that you can pull up basically any activity summary screen and find dozens of things to click on can be really helpful if you're serious about tracking your fitness. On the other hand, after using the app almost every day for over a year, I'm still finding new things to click on. With that said, I'm also getting lost in the app's settings menu almost every time I open it up. You'll definitely need to poke around in the app to learn how to use it.

As is the case with the vívosmart HR+ itself, Garmin has made a powerful fitness tracking application that's in dire need of a makeover

Garmin Connect is divided up into a few main sections: Snapshots, Leaderboard, Calendar, News Feed and Insights. Snapshots features all of your stats for the current day, and you can swipe left or right to navigate through your steps, sleep and other stats. The Leaderboard section is where you can connect with friends who also have Garmin devices, and Calendar gives you a detailed view of your stats for each day you've worn the device. News Feed is where all of your workouts are listed, and the Insights page houses a list of tips and tricks from Garmin that will help you make the most of your workouts.

As is the case with the vívosmart HR+ itself, Garmin has created a sleek, powerful fitness tracking application that needs a makeover.

Which comes out on top?

So, which one should you buy? That all depends, of course.

Both the Charge 2 and vívosmart HR+ are available for just $150, and that actually makes this decision a little easier. I can wholeheartedly say that I prefer the vívosmart HR+ over the Charge 2. Not only does it have a built-in GPS, an always-on touchscreen display, and killer battery life, overall it provides much more than other fitness trackers in this price range. No, it's not the prettiest fitness tracker out there, but it sure is powerful.

The Fitbit Charge 2 is still a great option, though, especially if you don't need a GPS and prefer something a little more stylish.

All in all, both fitness trackers are accurate and packed with features; your decision simply depends on what you value more.

Buy the Fitbit Charge 2
Buy the Garmin vívosmart HR+


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Some Evernote employees can see your notes thanks to its new Privacy Policy

The popular online note taking service Evernote may become a lot less popular if it sticks with a recently updated Privacy Policy. The company says the changes, which go into effect on January 23, 2017, will give some Evernote employees the right to look at notes posted by anyone using the service.

See also:

Best note taking apps for Android

August 7, 2016

In a post that summarizes the changes, Evernote stated that it will allow some of its workers "to exercise oversight of machine learning technologies applied to account content." It added that the number of those employees are "small" but did not offer a specific number. Customers have the option to encrypt any of their notes. It also stated:

While our computer systems do a pretty good job, sometimes a limited amount of human review is simply unavoidable in order to make sure everything is working exactly as it should.

Evernote does state that its customers can choose to opt out of this machine learning option, but that still doesn't mean their notes can't be read by its employees. It stated that "you cannot opt out of employees looking at your content for other reasons stated in our Privacy Policy." Those reasons include looking into possible violations of the company's Terms of Service, troubleshooting issues, protection against malware or other security issues and responding to "warrants, court orders or other legal process."

Obviously, Evernote is trying to cover its bases on any potential problems it might find on its service, but if you are at all concerned that someone at the company might be looking at your notes, you might want to consider your other online note taking options.

Download Evernote from Google Play


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