Episode 248 – Android Marks its Territory

By | April 27, 2015

We’re looking for happy news.

Show Notes

  • Android News
    • Google’s Nexus 7 tablet has been discontinued.
    • Big Android BBQ scheduled for October 22 and 23.
    • Prankster puts image of Android urinating on Apple in Pakistan. Proves Google needs more check tools on its crowd-sourcing of maps.
    • Send Directions to your phone by typing Send Directions into Google.
    • Google announces Project Fi, an MVNO for $20 a month, and $10 per GB. Requires a Nexus 6.
    • F-Droid has an online web version.
  • App News
    • The Real Cost of a Free App – 79% more data use, 16% battery hit.
    • Twitter intros a feature called Highlights..where it will push you things it thinks you want to know about.
    • Swiftkey adds ‘Hub’ for Quick Settings changes and Dashlane support. Both currently in beta.
    • Android Wear updated, adds cloud sync over wifi, multiple device support, and more.
    • Google Keep adds note browsing to Android Wear.
    • Outlook for Android now no longer a preview. (Play Link)
    • Pocket Casts updated with drag and drop ordering and other fixes based on feedback.
    • Action Launcher updated with over a dozen new features.
    • LibreOffice gains support for editing documents.
    • An updated Dashclock is in beta with a materialized configuration page.
  • In Other News
    • Apple is apparently rejecting apps for declaring Pebble Watch support for mentioning another platform in the description.
    • Senate moves to renew bulk telephone metadata collection, set to expire June 1.
    • Verizon Wireless won’t try to keep you if you want to leave. Verizon believes it has a premium product and expects to be paid for it. 138,000 customers left in the last three months.
    • SiliconDust is trying to kickstart an HDHomeRun DVR, which can run directly on HTPCs or NAS devices. Android will be one of the playback platforms.