Showcasing The Top Android Apps of 2014

The Year 2014, is on the verge to end, so here we have listed the best Android apps of 2014, everything from games to functional apps to glorify Android smartphone.

Captain America: TWS

[Price: $2.99]

First up on our list this month is Captain America The Winter Soldier. It was released by Gameloft as sort of the official mobile game for the movie. You control SHIELD teams to take down the big, bad guys. It’s free to try for a couple of levels and $2.99 to purchase after that. It’s a fun little action game and definitely worth at least a try if you’re into Marvel stuff.

Deadlings

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

If you’re more into some 2D platformers, Deadlings is a pretty decent game. It features over 100 levels, two game modes, four playable characters, and a fun and goofy story line. It’s free to play with in-app purchases. Word is the in app purchases are only a minor annoyance so that’s some good news. If you like platformers, it’s definitely worth checking this one out.

Microsoft Office

[Price: Free]

Even though Microsoft Office was officially released late last summer, they made the huge decision in March to make the app free to use for Android users. This means no more Office 365 subscription and you can just open it and use it. It does require a Microsoft account and that automatically signs you up for a OneDrive account. Google Drive is still better, but keep an eye out on Microsoft Office because it’s starting to be a really good option.

Milk Music

[Price: Free]

Milk Music is a unique app. It was released by Samsung so it’s only compatible with their Galaxy line up of devices and it’s only for US residents. Aside from those very debilitating issues, Milk Music is actually pretty good. It is free to download and use.

Smash Hit

[Price: Free / $1.99]

We covered Smash Hit in our new indie app of the day segment and we’re going to talk about it again here because it’s simply a gorgeous app. It is an endless runner style game where you throw balls at various glass objects to avoid being hit. It’s free to play but you can buy the premium version for $1.99 which gives you the ability to save your progress if you so choose.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 to be Announced in the First Week of January 2015

It looks like Samsung is getting ready to launch its newest flagship phone sooner than expected. Previous reports suggest that the S6 will be launched in March at the World Mobile Congress. However, analysts from Mira Asset Securities believe that the new smartphone could be introduced at next month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which will be held from Jan. 6 to 9.

A Dutch website claims to have leaked images of the Samsung Galaxy S6, and according to toptienmobile.nl, the upcoming Samsung flagship phone will bear some similarities to the iPhone 6.

"A striking feature of the prototype are the thin left and right edges of the screen, and the displacement of the front facing camera toward the center of the top," the website said.

Meanwhile, a leak which came from reports in China where the phone has allegedly been benchmarked using the AnTuTu app reveals the phone's unconfirmed features. The leak suggests that the handset will have a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440.

The S6 is also said to be powered by a 64-bit octa core Exynos processor and 3GB of RAM. The smartphone is rumored to have 32GB of internal storage, a 20 megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 5 MP front-facing camera. It is also expected to run on the Android 5.0 Lollipop rather than Android 4.4 KitKat.

As for the Samsung Galaxy S6's release date, it is predicted that the handset could be released on April 2015, as previous Samsung release dates were also scheduled on an April. It can be recalled that the S4 was launched in April 2013, while the S5 was released in April 2014.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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11 Best Cases for iPhone 6

Check out our favorite iPhone 6 Plus cases that add style, protection and features to your new iPhone with a 5.5-inch display. Apple’s biggest iPhone yet is tough to hold with one hand, the slippery design makes for an even greater chance that you will drop it. We’ll show you the best iPhone 6 Plus cases yet, with new options that arrive throughout the year.

OtterBox iPhone 6 Plus Case

 

Tech21 iPhone 6 Plus Case

Spigen iPhone 6 Plus Case with Kickstand

Apple Leather iPhone 6 Plus Case

Michael Kors Crossbody iPhone 6 Plus Clutch

Clear iPhone 6 Plus Case

RokForm AluminumA iPhone 6 Plus Case

Distil Union Wally Stick On iPhone 6 Plus Wallet Case

Zagg Invisible Shield Glass Screen Protector

Speck CandyShell Grip iPhone 6 Plus Case

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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HP Launches EliteBook 755 With AMD Processor

With all of the focus on convertible, hybrid, and ultralight notebooks we often forget that there are an entire class of users that don’t need or want high portability with all of the tradeoffs, they have tablets for that. 

 

Typically AMD occupies the value side of these lines but with this model AMD is at the value end of the product and occupies the richest configuration and it is this configuration that seems most interesting.

AMD vs. Intel

Intel is moving solidly against ARM and working to create very competitive tablets and smartphones. They have had some success with the former and a couple of design wins in the latter but ARM still is the most common processor in these two markets.

The HP EliteBook 755 is a proof of concept showcasing this kind of a move is possible. And while the richest configuration is a bit hard to find, it may be worth the effort if you are in the market for a large laptop computer.

HP EliteBook 755

It is interesting to note that most of the configurations that HP sells of this product is Windows 7 which, for most, is actually an advantage. Starting at a very reasonable (for this class) $749 for a dual core configuration with a 1366x768 HD screen and a 500 magnetic drive and ending with a still reasonable $1,159 for a quad core system, Windows 8, and a 1920x1080 screen and a 180GB SSD drive this is a relatively complete line of AMD based offerings.

What you’ll notice is that the line has a very rich feel which is consistent with the Elite brand (this is HP’s Lexus line for small and medium business). The design language is based on a brushed metal finish which looks wonderful though I did notice that on a cold day the touchpad is initially really cold.

Weight is light for this size class at between 4 and 5 pounds it runs only about a pound and a half more than many Ultrabooks so you get a lot more screen for a little more weight.

Wrapping Up: Size Does Matter

If you are willing to carry a small amount of extra weight and don’t need a day of battery life (you’ll be hard pressed to get to 5 hours with a product in this class) this may be the perfect laptop class for you and the HP 755 Elite Book AMD edition sets the bar against which you should measure other offerings.

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High-Res OLED Screen by Sony Can Attach to Any Eye-Wear

If you’re not a fan of Google Glass-style displays yet, Sony hopes you might give its new detachable OLED a chance.

The Japanese electronics manufacturer has announced a prototype head-mounted display that can easily attach to any sort of eyewear and display information on its high-res OLED module.

The device is much closer in design to Glass than Sony’s previous head-mounted wearable, SmartEyeglasses, which are glasses that can project basic green text and graphics across the lenses.

The 0.23-inch color OLED microdisplay, which Sony says is one of the smallest in the world, has a resolution of 640 by 400 pixels, which is slightly better than Glass at 640 by 360. It extends from the board and an optical unit reflecting the display contents is positioned near the right eye so vision isn’t blocked.

“The distinguishing feature of the display is its high-resolution OLED, which allows for a high level of contrast and imagery that can be clearly seen in both indoor and outdoor environments,” a spokeswoman at Sony’s Tokyo headquarters said.

The control board has “arithmetic processing capabilities on par with smartphones that was made possible by high-density packaging technology,” Sony said.

The device has storage of 16GB that could be expanded depending on development. It can be paired with a smartphone to display information while playing outdoor sports, such as distance maps during a golf game or showing the view from a linked action camera.

Check-Out This Rollable OLED Screen by Sony

Sony did not give details about when it would sell the SmartEyeglasses when it showed off its latest prototype at the IFA electronics show in Berlin in September, but it said Wednesday it will start mass production of the new Single-Lens Display Module in the coming year.

“The SmartEyeglasses are designed to be worn for long periods of time and can be used to read SMS messages,” the spokeswoman added, “while the device announced today is designed more for shorter periods of use while focusing on another activity.”

A prototype version of the new device called “SmartEyeglass Attach!” is slated to be shown off at CES 2015 next month in Las Vegas. The company may also supply the device to eyewear makers or other firms working on applications for entertainment, sports or workplace uses, and will provide SDKs to developers.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Surface Pro 3 vs iPad Air 2 – Which One Do You Prefer ?

iPad Air 2 tablet is a great gadget, but is more powerful and more beautiful than the Surface Pro 3? The iPad was one of Apple’s best sold devices in 2014, occupying 29.7% of the market share in Q1 of 2014.

Surface Pro 3

 

 

Compared to the previous model is 33 percent thinner, it has a 12inches display with 3:2 aspect ratio, supporting applications that were created for desktops. Internally, the Surface Pro 3 has three variants of configurations, being powered by an Intel processor –i3, i5 or i7, whose prices start from 800 dollars.

The disadvantage of this tablet is its weight: 1.76 pounds, which makes it heavy, like two iPad Air 2 devices together. Although the Surface Pro 3 doesn’t come with built-in 4G connectivity, you are able to add a USB adapter to use this service.

iPad Air 2

Compared to the first iPad Air, this model is 18 percent thinner and it’s an extremely sleek device. Its display measures 9.7inches and supports a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, a bit lower than Microsoft’s screen resolution – 2160x1440pixels. Under its aluminum hood, the Air 2 has a non-removable Li-Po battery (27.3 Wh) with ten hours of multimedia usage, and under it was placed a 64-bit Apple A8X processor.

The iPad Air 2 has a big disadvantage: it doesn’t support all the Windows desktop applications, like the Surface Pro 3.

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Gesture Beta App by Microsoft for Windows Phone Users

Microsoft on Monday launched the Gestures Beta app for Windows Phone, showcasing the company's advances in the particular field. The app is available only for Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1.

The app lets users answer calls, put incoming calls on silent and do more tasks via simple gestures. Gesture Beta, which is sized less than 1MB on the Windows Phone Store, will however have limited functionalities on Lumia 630, Lumia 635 and Lumia 530, says the firm.

With the help of Gestures Beta app, Windows Phone users can pick up the handset and place it on their ears to answer the call; mute the mic during a call by placing the handset on a flat surface with display down; put the call on speaker by keeping the smartphone on flat surface placing the display up, and silent the incoming call by flipping the handset on a flat surface with display down.

It was reported that Microsoft's future flagship handset codenamed McLaren will feature gesture support which will let users navigate on the phone without touching the display, and will be released on a range of US carriers later this year.

The sources close to Microsoft plans added that the new gesture support feature is being internally referred to as 3D Touch or Real Motion, and has been developed by Nokia.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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Google Decides To Cease The Production of Nexus 5

Google Nexus 5, which was one of the flagship handsets in 2013, may run out of stock soon. The availability of Nexus 5 by LG has already been disabled on Google Play Store, as the current status mentions ‘out of inventory’.

TechRadar also reported that Google doesn’t plan to manufacture any additional units of Nexus 5 in 2015. The tech giant will focus on increasing the sale of Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 next year.

The 4.95-incher Nexus 5 device by LG, sports a full HD IPS display having a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is powered by 2.26GHz quad-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, runs on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and comes with 2GB of RAM. The handset also features an 8MP rear snapper/1.3MP front-facing camera and is also fuelled with 2,300mAh battery.

Media reports also state that the 16GB and 32GB Nexus 5 handset will be available on other shopping websites like Flipkart, Amazon and eBay, but only till stock lasts.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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