Android has been out for a few years now, but until recently, no Android apps had been downloaded over a billion times. In September 2013, Google announced that Android had been activated a billion times around the world. It was only a matter of time before we learned of the world’s first app with a billion downloads. Today, that app was revealed. Gmail has officially been downloaded and installed on over 1 billion Android devices. The Google Play Store now lists Gmail has having…
Half Life 2 and Portal are two classic video games beloved by millions around the world. Earlier today, Half Life 2 and Portal were both released on Android. Unfortunately for you, those apps are only available on one Android device: the Nvidia Shield. Nvidia has the exclusive license for both the games – which were converted in-house by Nvidia’s team of programmers. The news was announced on the Nvidia blog. Nvidia also posted a video of the mobile games in…
The future is here and you now have your very own robotic assistant. Well, sorta. If you use your Android as a virtual assistant, then you may have grown tired of the same robotic voice. Today, I’m going to show you how to change that robotic voice and refresh the sound of your smartphone. Step 1) Hit the menu/settings/options button on your phone Step 2) Tap My Device > Accessibility Step 3) Scroll down until you see Text to Speech options Step 4) Here, you’ll see the…
Snapchat recently released an update for iOS and Android. That update has confused some Snapchat users with its new features and abilities. Today, I’m going to help you navigate the new Snapchat with 5 easy tips and tricks. 5) Turn on filters Snapchat has had filters for a little while, but they’re not always on by default. To turn on filters and start using them, follow these steps: -Take a photo -Swipe left or right -You should see a message that says ‘turn on…
Typing is a valuable skill. Everybody knows how to type these days, but most people don’t know how to type that well. That’s particularly true on mobile devices, where virtual keyboards and fat fingers rarely get along. But if you want to show off your mobile typing skills, then I have a great app recommendation for you. That app is called The Typist and it was created by an XDA Developers Forum member named bloggert. The Typist measures your typing speed in words per minute and…
Google Now has lots of cool tips and tricks that most Android users don’t use. The “find my parking spot” tip is one of those. Today, I’m going to show you how to use Google Now to remember where you parked your car. This feature, by the way, just arrived with the latest Google Now update, so don’t feel bad if you’ve never used it before. Step 1) Park your car Step 2) Get out and do what you need to do Step 3) Come back to the parking lot and ask Google “Ok Google,…
Are you an app developer? Do you want to make millions of dollars? Of course you do. Making millions through app development takes a little bit of luck and a lot of skill. Some apps make millions purely through luck, while others rely on skilled development teams and expert programmers. However, most types of successful Android apps have a few things in common. Here are a few common traits we’ve noticed when it comes to developing winning Android apps: 5) Aesthetically pleasing People…
The Nexus 5 has lots of strengths, but like most modern smartphones, battery life isn’t one of them. The Nexus 5 holds a 2300 mAh battery which drains quickly when you’re using your bright display and processor-intensive tasks. Today, I’m going to show you how to squeeze extra battery life from your Nexus 5 and maximize your daily usage: 5) Enable ART ART is a little-used function that is gaining popularity. The Nexus 5 is one of the few devices that supports ART – or Android…
Flappy Bird and 2048 are two of the most infamous games released over the past few months. Flappy Bird is ridiculously difficult and inarguably stupid, while 2048 requires a little more skill and intelligence but is still incredibly frustrating. That’s why some diabolical madman created Flappy 48 – a game designed to be as frustrating as possible. Flappy 48 was created by XDA Developers Forum member sylsau. It perfectly blends Flappy Bird and 2048 together to create a game that is…
If you have recently read our coverage of the OnePlus One, then you know we’re excited about the upcoming device. We recently explained 4 reasons why the OnePlus One might be the best smartphone for you. Now, we’re going to burst your bubble a little bit and explain 4 reasons why the OnePlus One won’t be the perfect smartphone for everybody. 4) Cannot remove battery The OnePlus One battery features 3100mAh of output power – which should be enough to power the smartphone for an…
