Category: Appdate

YouTube for Android: Updated with multitasking, cards UI

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Google has been adding a lot of UI improvements in its services recently, from the Play Store, Maps and other apps to its social networking site Google+. Now, YouTube’s Android app follows as it reaches version 5.

Youtube version 5

Users will now receive Google’s Cards UI, similar to Google Now, the Play Store & G+. As you can see above, tablet users will be benefiting from the enhanced UI greatly. Apart from that and all of the design improvements, the update now supports multitasking within the app so that you can browse other selections while watching a video.

You can check out our short hands-on video here:

The update will slowly roll out to all users, but Android Police already has sets of APKs for sideloading just in case you want to get it before everyone else does.

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Android Games, Apps & Updates You Should Try #3

Bob Freking Leave a comment

It’s halfway through June, and a lot of people are already attending classes. To keep your eyes and hands entertained, we have another list of Android apps and games for your downloading.

Timetable (for students)

Ever since, I always preferred writing down due homeworks, exams and other schoolworks in notebooks over any other method. That was the case until Timetable.

Basically, what it does is create a schedule inside your device. It can silence your phones on exams, and your subjects, teachers & venues will be displayed the way you want it to be displayed as great widgets are also available. You can also add in your due activities and holidays as well.

TIMETABLE

It goes on for free at the Google Play Store; you can download it here. There are many more alternatives to this app, such as My Class Schedule, so feel free to check those out too.

Minecraft Pocket Edition gets version 0.7.1 update 

If you haven’t heard of Minecraft yet, well, it’s a very creative sandbox game with tons of features. Originally for the PC, it now has a Pocket Edition, available on both iOS & Android.

Version 0.7.1 brings in the ability for you to cast lava and water all over the world, plus Realms is also added (paid public servers). Before that, version 0.7.0 already brought in a lot of updates as you can spawn chickens, cows, sheep and pigs and a lot more.

MINECRAFT SC

Minecraft PE is available in the Google Play Store for Php257.02 here.

Battle Cats 

This game easily becomes fun regardless of your age. It’s a tower defense game, and the idea has been pretty much repeated on so many games, but with Battle Cats, the experience feels polished. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy an army of cats taking down enemy fortresses?

Battle Cats is available for free on the Play Store (download here).

Battle CATS

3D Image Live Wallpaper

One of the things that look cool on iOS 7 is that parallax effect on the wallpaper. Apparently, Android already has that in the form of 3D Image Live Wallpaper.

3D IMAGE

We’ve tried it, and it does what it is supposed to do very well. This one can be downloaded for Php67.24 here.

That’s our list for now. If you have any more suggestions that fit with these, feel free to tell us about it in the comments section down below.

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Low battery life? Snapdragon BatteryGuru Hands-On

Bob Freking Leave a comment

While displays, CPUs and all the other smartphone elements have improved through the years, battery life hasn’t really changed as much. We might have ones with larger capacities, but the duration of its use is still pretty much the same.

LOGOWell, Qualcomm seems to have a solution for your battery woes. Several days ago, they put Snapdragon BatteryGuru out of beta, and we immediately downloaded it  to see how it works.

  • Device: LG Nexus 4
  • CPU: 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4-Pro CPU
  • Battery: 2,100mAh

We tried downloading it on other devices such as the Nexus 7, and as expected, we weren’t successful; the Nexus 7 runs on a Tegra 3 CPU, not a Snapdragon. Also, we didn’t want to try it out through sideloading since the results may not be as accurate.

SDBG

Good thing that we got a head start with the app, since upon download – it will enter learning mode for 4 long days (some get 2-4). It doesn’t really do anything for that time period except that it tries to assess how you use your device.

Phone Usage in Learning mode

First two days

  • Time: 8AM to 10AM, 7PM-10PM
  • WiFi: On
  • Mobile data: Off
  • Usage: Checking up on feeds; Facebook, Twitter, E-Mail, Flipboard subs and YugaTech
  • Time: 10AM to 7PM
  • WiFi: Off
  • Mobile data: Off
  • Usage: Around 50 text messages sent, display is turned on & off while checking for notifications

Next two days

  • Time: 8AM to 10AM, 7PM-10PM
  • WiFi: On
  • Mobile data: Off
  • Usage: Checking up on feeds; Facebook, Twitter, E-Mail, Flipboard subs and YugaTech
  • Time: 10AM to 7PM
  • WiFi: Off
  • Mobile data: On
  • Usage: Constantly switching from EDGE to HSPA throughout the day, around an hour of internet browsing + 50 texts

BatteryGuru is on; results?

The wait is over, and finally the app takes effect. It won’t be noticeable at first, but eventually, you’ll notice the changes sooner or later.

NOTIFICATION BAR

Still continuing to use my phone in the way that I did in learning mode, I noticed that the running apps in the background are more controlled now in asking for data. Basically, offline apps & elements did happen to save battery.

BG

What turned out to be a mess though, was the WiFi management. It tries hard to look for a network on the times that I’ve consumed data in learning mode, and when I turn the WiFi off, it just goes up again sooner or later. Luckily, you can customize this in the settings.

SETTINGS 2

So far, we’ve been impressed with this battery saving app. If you’re rolling on a Snapdragon CPU, feel free to check it out here in the Google Play Store.

The only flaw I can find here is that not all days are the same. I had the app in learning mode during late May to early June, and now that [college] classes are starting, the usage might get a little different and inconsistent – hence, inconsistent battery life as well. Other than that, it’s easily one of the best battery apps we’ve tested.

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