android magazine uk - issue 37 2014 - filelist

DO YOU NEED A CURVED PHONE?The bendy LG G Flex reviewed in full

SMART

Pebble Steel and Qualcomm Toq rated

What is Googles Android Wear?

WATCHREVOLUTION

BATTERY

LIFEDOUBLE

ZneHacker Tweak all your app settings Hack the Google Now Launcher

BUDGETMULTI-COREFast phones that wont break the bank

and 19 extra ways to boost your phone

Unlock the true power of Android

HTC ONEFIRST

REVIEW

SAMSUNG HTC SONY LG NEXUS

App reviews Tips & advice Hardware tested Hacking

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100% unofficial www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

GALAXY S5 HTC ONE (M8) XPERIA Z2VS VS

40+APP REVIEWS

ISSUE 37

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3WelcomeTo issue 37

WelcomeThe screen, the build quality, the speakers, even the software rank among the very best that Android has to offer

A QR code is a 2D barcode that can act as a shortcut for delivering information, such as weblinks. Youll notice them throughout the mag scan them on your phone and you can download apps and send us messages instantly.

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So, the three big phones of the year or until the autumn at least have been launched. Weve pitched the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and the new HTC One all in a head-to-head battle this month. Which is your favourite?

Weve also got a full review of the new HTC phone. Its another superb

handset, taking almost everything that was so great about the original HTC One and built on it. I say almost because the camera is the one thing Im still not sold on. The new one is fast, and the dual-camera setup is fun to use, but the bene t to the Ultrapixel approach the larger pixels is offset by the fact that the sensor itself is smaller than on both of its rivals, as well as the leading camera phones on other platforms too. The results tend to even themselves out as a consequence, only with images from the One having considerably less detail in them due to the lower resolution.

Still, if the camera isnt the main priority in your smartphones youll be hard pushed to nd a device better than the One M8. The screen, the build quality, the speakers, even the software rank among the very best that Android has to offer.

The M8 isnt the only exciting new device weve got in a packed review section this month. We also take a look at the bendy LG G Flex, a couple of smartwatches, and the rst CyanogenMod phone the N1. Do get in touch on Twitter or Facebook to let us know what you think of all this great new gadgetry.

Flash Scores

RealPlayer Cloud

Google Now Launcher

Microsoft Of ce Mobile

Chromecast

Threes!

MY HOME SCREENOn (and off) Andysphone this month

GET IN TOUCHLet us know what youd like to see in next issue

Andy Betts Editor

This monthIve been using:HTC One (M8)

The new One improves on the old one in almost every way. Its a triumph!

APP

SIN

APP

SO

UT


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Contents Inside issue 37

CONTENTS15 Special offer for USA readers 48 Exclusive subscription offer

06 Androids wearable revolutionWe take a look at Android Wear and what it means for wearable devices

09 NewsThe latest hot topics from around the world of Android

10 Dual-camera techWe look at the latest innovation in smartphone camera technology

12 10 things you need to know about the new Play storeDiscover how to get more from the updated Play store app

13 CompetitionWin a Prestigio MultiPhone 5500 Duo in our exclusive competition

LauncherPreviews, news and speculation from the Android world

www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

80

14 Fitness appsGet yourself into shape with a little help from your phone and these brilliant apps

16 MessagesWe delve into our virtual mailbag to hear the latest rants on all things Android

4

HTC ONE (M8)Is the new HTC phone the best Android device to date?

The three biggest phones of the year go head-to-head18

24 Double your battery life and 19 extra ways to enhance your phone

CLASH TITANSOF THE

WIN!


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ContentsInside issue 37

Essential guides to getting more from your phone or tablet

30 Hands-free AndroidSet up and master the speech and voice control features of Android

34 Tutorials34 Set up a rewall without root36 Clean up your cache quickly37 Back up and share your apps38 Move les to your desktop with

Pushbullet40 Reduce screen brightness with

Night Mode41 Share les without Wi-Fi42 Edit images in the new

Google+

63 12Hours67 AcDisplay61 Agent do not disturb62 Basecamp71 Battlefront Heroes62 Bolt71 Broken Sword 5: Serpents

Curse

66 CloudMagic64 Cogi Notes & Voice

Recorder

67 Fenix67 FlickKey Keyboard71 Groove Racer 67 Holo cation Nation61 HoverChat70 Minigore 2: Zombies62 MIXTRAX App67 Muzei Live Wallpaper65 Now TV Beta70 oO61 Opera Max beta for Android66 PolyFauna61 QuickStocks66 Samsung Power Sleep67 SimplyText SMS67 SlideLock67 Snapdragon Glance71 Sorcery60 Telegram71 Threes!64 TimePIN71 Tiny Goalie64 Weather Underground

AppsYour complete guide to Google Play 60 App reviewsThe latest apps on test

68 Keyboard appsIs Fleksy or Kii the best?

70 Game reviewsThe latest games reviewed

App review index

50 Hacking tips and tricks52 Mod the Google Now Launcher54 Control and tweak all your apps56 Control apps through a sidebar58 Change your screens colour

temperature

Explore the limits of your Android phone

Hacker Zne

TutorialsReviewsCutting-edge tablets and smartphones on test

72 Group test: Budget multi-core phones

Four low-cost phones with multi-core processors on test

80 Reviews80 HTC One (M8)84 LG G Flex86 Oppo N1 CyanogenMod Edition88 Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.290 Prestigio MultiPhone 5500 Duo92 Pebble Steel93 Qualcomm Toq

94 Accessories

96 Gadget round-upThe best new Android gadgets and accessories on test

44 Droid SupportReaders questions answered, plus troubleshooting tips and tricks

Visit the Android Magazine online shop at

for back issues and books

84LG G

Flex

Do you rea

lly

need a cu

rved

smartpho

ne?

72Budget multi-coreFour fast phones that wont break the bank face off

www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukCheck our website daily for even more news 5WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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6Google has announced that it has developed a version of its Android mobile operating system speci cally for wearable devices. Known as Android Wear, the company has released a Software Development Kit (SDK) that will enable third-party developers to create a range of wearable hardware and software.

Sundar Pichai, Google senior vice president, who oversees the rms Android, Chrome and Apps division, explained how the new suite of wearable Android technology will perform. In bullish mood, he exclaimed that the technology would understand the context of the world

Until now wearable tech has been an unfocussed mess, with lots of ideas but no clear vision of what a wearable device should be, or how it should work. Android Wear is Googles attempt to x that, and it will make it easier for more companies to build not just watches but all kinds of devices. It also puts Google at the heart of what looks set to be the next revolution in mobile tech, ahead of Apples expected announcement this year.

Our view

Andy Betts, Editor

THEbigSTORYaround you and that you can also interact simply and ef ciently, with just a glance or a spoken word. With Android Wear, Pichai said Google will cover all types of wearables. But it will start with the most familiar wearable watches.

We have already seen this category of wearables being targeted by a range of technology hopefuls, Samsungs Gear 2 series of watches being just the latest incarnation. The new Google SDK, however, promises to provide a wealth of new features enabling users access to a wide range of information and services so that any future watch design promises to include a relatively advanced feature set. Such a watch is already promised for an

Googles new SDK has opened the door to the wearables mass market. Heres what to expect

Googles wearable revolution

All the latest from the world of Android devices


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7twitter@lgrobotFollow us on Twitter for the latest updates

Stay up to date Catch up with the latest

Android news and gossip

early 2014 release: the LG G Watch.The company has yet to release much information on the new design but more details are promised soon. The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering, said Jong-seok Park, president and chief executive of LG Electronics Mobile Communications. Were con dent that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.

Probably the most important aspect of the entire SDK announcement is that it opens the oodgates to a whole host of potential technology, sporting many thousands of targeted apps. By pushing a familiar platform like Android to wearable devices, Google makes it easy for the rosters of talented Android and Java developers to get involved.

This is one reason we saw Android apps increase at a rapid pace and it is why we are likely to see the same happen with wearables, said Al Hilwa, program director of software development research at IDC. Allowing programmers to build such apps with some degree of expediency is what the Android SDK will be all about.

Rivals up for the challengeAny talk about wearable domination raises the shadow of Apple, a company that is currently bathed in rumours of its own upcoming wearable technologies. The almost mythical iWatch has been the talk of many technology-oriented blogs, for example. No conformation on Apples wearable strategy has yet been revealed, but Apple chief executive, Tim Cook, has admitted that he nds the entire subject, interesting.

History of wearables Weve taken a look at some of the stand-out moments when tech and fashion collided for better or worse

1961 19771967 1985

EUDAEMONIC GAMBLING SHOE A computer hidden in the base of a shoe, used in Las Vegas to defeat the roulette wheel. It was created by Edward O. Thorp and Claude Shannon.

CAMERA-TO-TACTILE Designed for use with the blind and created by C.C. Collins, it used a head-mounted camera and converted images into a 1024-point, ten-inch square tactile grid.

LIP-READING GLASSESDesigned by Hubert Upton, for use with the deaf, the system used a series of high and low-pass lters and LEDs to create a simple form of augmented reality.

CASIO DATABANKOne of the rst, modern generation, wearable computers was the digital watch with a mini pocket calculator attached, underneath the watchs read-out.

Hilwa believes that Google is keeping a wary eye on Apple, although Apples involvement will be part of a much broader game: I would expect this to matter a lot to Apple because, no matter their high-end, they are in an ecosystem battle with Android. Apple can make a few amazing devices and likely they will be big hits but what Android Wear will stimulate is hundredsif not thousands of devices in addition to apps on top of them.

As such, Googles move to launch a wearables-speci c SDK is a good move for the company and

provides a further push to the Android universe. Its also an initiative weve anticipated for quite a while for several reasons, added Yankee Group Associate analyst, Ryan Martin. Android needs to offer a software vehicle for the developer community to extend its OS ecosystem; it needs to create opportunities that further augment the mobile experience and it needs to ensure its relevance isnt outpaced by the fast-changing tech industry.

Martin doesnt believe Googles announcement has anything to do with the Samsung decision that it will be dumping Android for its own Tizen OS in its latest Gear 2 range of wearables. He believes that Googles announcement is part of a long-term wearable strategy.

As good as this move is for Google, others see the opposite for Samsung. The theory is that Google and, in fact, Apple, will have the advantage.

Motorola is the latest company to jump onboard the smartwatch bandwagon

Jong-seok Park, LG

The potential to take the smart wearable market by storm

Ryan Martin, Yankee Group Associate analyst

Its also an initiative weve anticipated for quite a while


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According to Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insight & Strategy, the reason is that both Google and Apple currently own the hearts and minds of developers. If [Google and Apple] can make it easy for current developers to deliver a good experience, then there wont be a lot of room for a Samsung ecosystem, he said. Had Samsung started a lot earlier, it may have been a different story.

Multi-billion dollar businessThe one y in the bright, new wearable ointment? An old nightmare which Google thought it was tackling successfully fragmentation. All the devices will be different with varying screen sizes, hardware and sensors, noted Richard Windsor, who runs the RadioFreeMobile consultancy. I suspect most [hardware makers] will use their own code. This possible split in the swathe of old and new smartwatch releases is concerning analysts. I hope Android Wear application development doesnt multiply the fragmentation issues Google is already battling with Android, said Neil Shah of Counterpoint Research. While Windsor added that the move by Samsung will make fragmentation much worse than it already is.

Shah is also con dent that Google will be able to address this potential problem in the same way that it is tackling the fragmentation concerns currently prevalent in the smartphone sector.

Whatever the possible dangers, it is still generally thought that the Google announcement was a logical move and one that the company had to make in order to wrench some sort of early control on the newly emerging sector. From Googles perspective its essential it introduces some consistency into a fast-fragmenting wearables space, said Geoff Blaber, an analyst at CCS Insight. Without a consistent software development kit there was a danger that the wearables space would quickly result in a fragmented array of implementations that would make it harder for Google to control and monetise. Google is striving to avoid history repeating itself. The early wearables landscape is reminiscent of the tablet market when manufacturers sought to respond to Apples iPad by using Android for larger

Geoff Blaber, analyst at CCS Insight

Google is striving to avoid history repeating itself

screen devices before Google had fully optimised the platform, he added.

This move by Google is not only timely, but it is seen by many in the mobile sector as critical to the future development of mobile technology. Google is taking wearables seriously and it wants everyone else to, said John Delaney, vice-president of mobility research at analyst rm IDC. The industry thinks wearables is the next big thing as sales of smartphones start to plateau in developed markets and this is the latest attempt to build momentum behind it, he said.

After all, new smartphones are very me too in their form factor and feature count. Even Samsungs new premium phone, the Galaxy S5, was seen to be more incremental in its specs than revolutionary. Google would be a competitor in the market but also an enabler if it helps Android developers, added Delaney. And that market is predicated to be big very big. In fact $20 billion large in just two years time with further massive growth predicted afterwards. To that end, Google is already working with several partners, including Asus, Broadcom, Fossil, HTC, Intel, LG, MediaTek, Motorola, Qualcomm and, of course, Samsung.

According to Googles Pichai, the new wearables sector will forge a parallel with the smartphone ecosystem. While smartphones became tiny computers, wearables will become centres for information. Information that will ultimately feed off a variety of sensors. Now you can look forward to your body becoming a massive information hub.

WRIST COMPUTERDeveloped by Edgar Matias and Mike Ruicci, they modi ed a HP 95LX palmtop and a half-Qwerty keyboard. Both keyboard and display were strapped to the users forearms.

GOOGLE GLASSES Yet to be of cially announced and already threatened by legislation due to privacy concerns, the glasses, controlled by a touchpad, can take photos and record 720p HD video.

FOSSIL PDARun on the Palm OS, the Fossil PDA handled most PDA-like functions and applications and was powered by a Motorola Dragonball Super VZ (66MHz) along with 8MB of RAM.

SAMSUNG GEAR 2Featuring a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED screen, running Samsungs new Tizen OS and able to run a range of apps, it features a battery life of two to six days.

1994 20132003 2014

Google Glass could soon be joined by a host of new

wearable technologies


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9Android surpasses Apple and moves into number one spot

Android leaps to the top of the tablet marketThe iPad has long been at the pinnacle of tablet sales, helping Apple take a commanding lead over Android sales until now. A recent report by research rm Gartner has shown Android to surpass Apple and become the number one operating system in terms of tablet sales. The Android operating system now equates for 62% of all tablets sold across the world, with a total of 121 million tablets sold in 2013. This is a massive jump from the 57 million sold worldwide in 2012. This is compared to Apple, who has seen its total tablet sales last year fall to 70 million and its overall market share drop to 36%.

Analysts at Gartner have found the large number of quality budget tablets that run the Android OS to be a large factor in this increase. Companies like Samsung and Google still pave the way with their quality yet affordable tablets, but its emerging manufacturers, such as Tesco, who make cost-friendly tablets at highly discounted prices. The market demand for such devices is incredible, with the likes of Tescos Hudl tablet going through patches of being unavailable in nearly every single one of its stores. The range of choice from these manufacturers vastly outweigh the offerings from Apple, despite the iPad still being a strong brand.

In 2013, tablets became a mainstream phenomenon, with a vast choice of Android tablets being within the budget of everyday consumers while still offering quality, said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner. In 2014, it will be critical for manufacturers to focus on device experience and solid technology to prevail.

Another area in which Android tablet sales have been proli c is within emerging markets. Many countries in Africa and Asia now have access to budget Android tablets where they normally wouldnt. These devices offer very basic features at budget prices. Within the same report by Gartner, its claimed that emerging markets recorded growth of 145% in 2013, where in developed and mature markets, there was growth of just 31%. Again, much of the growth found in mature markets stems from budget tablets, namely the Nexus 7.

With many more Android tabs announced for release this year and the inevitable release of a new Nexus and second Hudl device, we can expect sales to increase even further for the Android OS. With Windows being a distant third in terms of tablet sales, the race for tablet supremacy is very much between Android and Apple, but is there any visible way that Apple can turn it around? In terms of quality vs quantity, its the latter that seems to be winning, and one that Apple needs to address drastically if it wants to come out on top.

The Nexus 7 still remains one of the most popular Android tablets today. Despite strong sales from the iPad mini, Apples marketshare has still dropped by 16%

Businesses are predicted to buy 52% more tablets in 2014 than they did in 2013

52%A quick overview of the worlds new number one tablet OSAndroid tabs by numbers

The Kindle Fire is the most used tablet online, with 42.5% of its

users surfing the web

42.5%

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Samsung equates for 19% of all tablet sales worldwide

19%

Android accounts for 75% of all app downloads

75%

Only 26% of developers build separate apps for

tablets and phones

26%

Google makes $1.1m in terms of downloads from the

Play store every day

$1.1m

Samsungs Galaxy Tab series leads the way in total number of Android

tablet sales

2

1

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Smartphone photography has certainly come a long way in the past year or so. Sony, for example, has started to include its EXMOR digital camera sensor in its latest smartphones, and HTC has been using its Ultrapixels moniker. A small start-up company named Corephotonics is going for a different angle altogether, a concept similar to that seen in the new HTC One (M8) smartphone, with the development of its dual-lens cameras. Each lens provides a different function,

measuring depth in a scene in the way a single lens cannot, and aided by Corephotonics-developed software, the two work in sync to provide a new level of optical zoom and sensor quality that has the potential to surpass what we have seen before. The power of the dual-lenses also mean that problems with low-light conditions and image stabilising will be a thing of the past.

Weve taken a look at new technology championed by Corephotonics

Next-gen phone cameras

10

The One (M8) has a similar dual-lens setup

Dual-lenses in focus

The secondary lens here enables users to pinpoint certain objects no matter how far away they are

At a glance Product name Corephotonics

dual-lens camera Available from

www.corephotonics.com Price TBAA new smartphone camera that uses dual-lenses to offer unprecedented picture quality. Expect to see it in many upcoming devices from the likes of market-leaders HTC and Sony.

Images can be taken at up to 3x optical zoom and videos at an impressive 5x optical zoom

The dual-lens camera will be one of the rst to offer high-quality compact optical zoom

The dual-lens will also help improve performance in low-light conditions

NEW TECH CAMERA LENSES

How long has it taken to get dual-lens phone cameras into working products?

A About two years. The Corephotonics dual-camera does not pose exceptional manufacturing challenges intentionally so. The technology barriers are in lens design and image fusion. At MWC we showed the lens and entire camera in compact camera format and packaging. Image processing was demonstrated on Snapdragon S800; tightly integrated to the camera. The lens and camera were fabricated with the backing of world class vendors Kantatsu (lens) and Liteon (camera). The entire product will be ready for high volume production this year.

Could you brie y go into the technology behind how the lenses work?

A The gist of the zoom camera it is that one lens is normal with a wide eld of view. The

second lens has a xed narrow eld of view (telephoto lens). The fusion software collects the available information in both images and generates a continuous and seamless zoom, ranging from 1x to 3x zoom in the full resolution still images and up to 5x zoom for high-de nition video. To get the quality right, we had to make a telephoto lens at a very low height. Its a unique way of capturing photos that hasnt been seen before in terms of smartphone photography.

What would you say are the key differences between the smartphone cameras youre developing and the ones currently on the market?

A Corephotonics mission statement is bridging the photographic quality gap between compact cameras (smartphone type) and DSCs. To achieve this we targeted the following areas in development: compact optical zoom, tremendous boost in low light performance (SNR), faster focus speed and better optical stabilisation capabilities. Smartphone cameras dont tend to have a function

optical zoom feature, if not at all, so at Corephotonics, weve made that a massive part of our development here as well.

3D is a word that gets thrown around a lot. Do you feel with the power of dual-lenses, taking 3D photos on a smartphone could be possible?

A Yes. The disparity of our dual-cameras allows us to obtain 3D information. Its something many users will be able to enjoy in the future for sure.

What are your future plans for the dual-lens cameras and other products?

A We are working on slim cameras (25 per cent lower than today) which have much better low-light performance (+1EV). Of course, well also be looking at new ways to consistently improve how smartphone cameras work as well. Theres numerous partnerships currently in the works, but we have to keep a closed lid on those for now, unfortunately.

Q & A

Each lens has fusion software that works to put images together and generate a nished image

Eran KaliVP Marketing,Corephotonics

3D imagery will be possible thanks to the disparity of both of the lenses


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11

Android Magazine continues to ride high on the Google Play Newsstand, and theres also a wide range of fantastic additional Android products from Imagine Publishing that will help you get the most from your device. From device-speci c bookazines such as the Samsung Galaxy Book, to more advanced titles like Expert Android that deals with hacking and development topics, there is something for every level of user.

Newsstand merges together your magazine and news feeds in one place for you to manage and read your subscriptions. Theres also a fantastic read it

later feature if you want to save an article on your device to read at your own convenience.

Play Newsstand makes it easy to get copies of your favourite digital magazines, including Android Magazine, directly onto your smartphone or tablet for you to enjoy wherever you are.

If you arent using Play Newsstand, but still want to get your hands on some of your favourite digital magazines, then make sure to check out greatdigitalmags.com, which homes some of the best technology, knowledge and video game magazines in the world.

Ultra budget device a massive success

Moto G grabs 6% of the UK phone market

Motorolas Moto G, the award-winning ultra-budget handset, has become the companys most successful smartphone ever, bagging six per cent of phone sales in the UK since its launch. New gures from analyst group Kantar Worldpanel ComTech show that the device has given Motorola a foothold in European markets, where it had previously struggled to sell in any meaningful numbers.

Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, comments: Motorola was nowhere in Europe before the Moto G launched in November last year, but the new model has since boosted the manufacturer to 6 per cent of

British sales. It highlights the speed at which a quality budget phone can disrupt a market. The same pattern can be seen in France with Wiko, which has 8.3 per cent share, and Xiaomi in China with 18.5 per cent.

Android now has a 68.9 per cent share of sales across Europe, including a massive 88 per cent in Spain, and 54 per cent in the UK, based on sales for the three months to the end of February 2014. The gures also showed LG as the fastest growing brand, thanks to the popularity of its G2 and Nexus 5 handsets, both of which are highly regarded a factor Sunnebo counts as being increasingly important.

Theres now even more choice to getting the very best digital magazines on your phone or tablet

Android books and mags available on Newsstand

Imagine Publishing Ltd 2014ISSN 2047-1580

Imagine Publishing LtdRichmond House, 33 Richmond HillBournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6EZ +44 (0) 1202 586200Web: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk www.greatdigitalmags.com www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

Magazine team Editor Andy [email protected] 01202 586254Sub Editor Philip MorrisArt Editor Katie PeatPhotographer James SheppardSenior Art Editor Will ShumEditor in Chief Nick Jones Head of Publishing Aaron AsadiHead of Design Ross Andrews

ContributorsChristian Cawley, David Crookes, Oliver Hill, Steve Jenkins, Phil King, Shaun McGill, Paul OBrien, Paul Rigby, Harry Slater, Gavin Thomas, Sandra Vogel

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If you submit material to Imagine Publishing via post, email, social network or any other means, you automatically grant Imagine Publishing an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free license to use the material across its entire portfolio, in print, online and digital, and to deliver the material to existing and future clients, including but not limited to international licensees for reproduction in international, licensed editions of Imagine products. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Imagine Publishing nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for the loss or damage.


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things you need to know about

the Play store

3 In-app purchasesBefore downloading an app, an alert letting you know whether there are in-app purchases included in it will appear. Although it doesnt go into detail, you can see a quick overview and then choose not to download it.

2 Friend recommendationsAs you browse through either the newsstand or app store, youll be able to see recommendations and ratings from your Google+ contacts. Press on the rating to read their full review of the app.

1 Stop iconsAn option to check out through the Settings menu is Add Icons. Disabling this option will stop app icons automatically being added to your homescreen after you download.

4 Force updateThrough the settings menu within the Play store, navigate to the bottom of the page. Under the build version

you can now check for updates by simply pressing on it. If theres an update available, itll begin to download it.

5 Magazine ratings Google+ likes are now more accurate on the Play Newsstand section. As well as star ratings, the Google+ like you leave will be shared directly onto your Google+ pro le for others to see and interact with.

9 Mass updateInstead of updating apps individually, through the My Apps section of the Google Play store you can mass update your apps. Make sure to do this over Wi-Fi as some of the updates can take a fair amount of storage up.

10 Settings onside menuOne of the biggest additions to the latest build of the Play store is the inclusion of the

Settings tab through the side menu of the app. Simply press on the Play icon at the top-left of the app to nd it.

12

6 Redeem codesInstead of going on your laptop to redeem a code for the Google Play store, you can now access the Redeem menu through the side menu of the Play store app. Once entered, youll instantly have access to the redeemed credit.

8 Quick ratingsWhether its a track from Play Music or an application, youll nd the quick recommendation feature on the main menu. This will enable you to add a quick star rating without adding the additional review on top of it.

7 Password checkIf your family are frequently on your device, make sure to check the new password check option in the Settings menu. This will require the password to your Play store account to be entered every so often.


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13

* Competition closes 16 May 2014. For full terms and conditions visit www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk/prestigio

Competition

For your chance to win a Prestigio MultiPhone 5500 Duo simply head over to www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk/prestigio

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The Prestigio MultiPhone 5500 Duo is a ve-inch smartphone with a choice of four brightly coloured rear covers that enable you to be different and change your style whenever you want!

The smartphone combines an exquisite design with outstanding performance. It provides a powerful 1.2GHz processor, which helps to load your favourite applications quickly. This collates all of the social networking, mail and instant messaging onto one screen. Smooth and well-balanced as it is, the

MultiPhone 5500 Duo will de nitely give you a great experience.

With the MultiPhone 5500 Duo you can now add bright colours to your daily routine. Just open the box and nd four additional colour rear covers inside. Experience its seamless form and rubber-coating material and enjoy using this nifty Android smartphone.

With Android 4.2 on board, a large ve-inch display and long battery life, the 5500 Duo is the perfect phone for new users, or anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd.


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14

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1

654

2 3

GALLERY OF...FITNESS APPS

Arguably the best tness app on the market, Endomondo has a wealth of features to keep track of your workout progress and your tness levels. It also includes many social features to keep your friends up to date.

Endomondo Sports Tracker

1

Price: 1.99/$4.99

No matter what your tness levels are, the Virtuagym app contains workouts for all abilities. Theres a great calendar system that enables you to see when your next workout is due and the exercises itll contain.

Virtuagym Fitness & Home

3

Price: Free

The GPS functionality of Strava is hard to beat. During our time with it, the app had our location pinpointed at all times and gave all the statistics of how far weve travelled and for how long with ease.

Strava Running and Cycling GPS

2

Price: Free

Its hard to put into words just how much content there is here. As well as a detailed list of 300+ exercises and how to perform them correctly, theres some great workout tips that will help you out.

Fitness Buddy: 300+ Exercises

4

Price: Free

One of the main strengths of the

Nike+ app is being able to plan distances, so that you can base the rest of your workout on it. Theres also the ingenious PowerSongs, which will blast some energising music into your ears as you run.

Nike+ Running

5

Price: Free

Dieting can be dif cult, but My Diet Coach II might just give you the boost you need. Its a calorie counting app where you record everything youve eaten and it provides some extra motivational tips to keep you going too.

My Diet Coach II - Pro

6

Price: 1.99/$3.99


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Forgotten older phonesI am a pensioner with limited resources and have had my Galaxy S (the original!) for nearly three years now, managing to update it to KitKat 4.4.2 using a CyanogenMod ROM (a nightly at the moment). I think its still a very good phone and with the various tweaks it is running fast and smoothly. However, why is the S never mentioned now? How does it compare to the others, say the Moto G? I am sure there are a lot of readers with this phone that would love to learn more about it, but we

Inside Android Magazines virtual mailbag

MessagesIs it just me (a fty-something business user), or is Android 4.4 a little bit of a let down? I bought the latest issue of Android Magazine as the KitKat Secrets headline grabbed my attention. By coincidence, a day later, my HTC One from Vodafone announced that I could get the upgrade. I had been a little disappointed by the previous upgrade to 4.3 and this one proved no different. Many of the improvements dont apply to me step counter, lockscreen art options, and does anybody really need Hangouts to replace the SMS and MMS system?

On the plus side, I have noticed a slightly smoother interface and it does seem slightly faster (although I havent dared to try ART yet).

I love my HTC One, de nitely the best Android phone out there in my mind, but to all those with other handsetswho will not receive the KitKat upgrade I would say dont worry, youre really not missing much.John Clifton

We say: There were enough new features in KitKat to make it one of the most important Android updates to date. A lot of the under-the-hood stuff, such as the signi cantly reduced memory usage, will really start to show its value in the months to come, while a lot of the new up-front features were more about polishing what is now a very mature OS. Its true that updates are less important than they used to be, as Google is now focused on updating its own apps and services independently, but a new version of Android will continue to be one of the highlights of the year.

are being ignored. I enjoyed the process of going from Gingerbread to Jelly Bean and then KitKat and did get pointers and help from your magazine, although not speci cally about the S, so I relied a lot on web searches with particular help and solutions from the XDA Developers site.

My rst step at rooting and installing a new ROM took me many weeks of research before I felt (fairly) con dent and was amazed at how easy it turned out to be. And even easier to keep on updating via CyanogenMod. I have many Nandroid backups and had to revert to one when a nightly caused problems. But I am much more con dent about modifying the phone now.

I have bought every copy of your great magazine and it started by saying how good the Samsung Galaxy S was, but that died very quickly as the S2 etc were soon introduced. So please include articles about the older phones like the S, S2 and the Ace.Keith Dix

Youd still nd the G to be a lot faster and more stable in a different league

We say: With so many new Android devices being released it is inevitable that everyones attentions will move away from the older models. After all, three years is virtually a lifetime in the mobile technology world. As to your question about how the original Galaxy S compares to newer handsets like the Moto G, the answer is simply that the G is better in almost every way. Although you have brought your S up to date with a KitKat ROM youd still nd the G to be a lot faster and more stable, with the screen and battery in a completely different league. Wed say the same about the S II as well, which is one of our favourite Android phones ever, but is now really showing its age.

Is KitKat underwhelming?

Are there enough new features in the KitKat update?

Letter of the month


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17

Modding the G-PadI recently bought myself an LG G-Pad, mainly because its the only eight-inch Android tablet with a high-resolution screen and which has had CyanogenMod ported to it. I bought it to replace an iPad which was a good size and had a nice screen, but has Apples ridiculously basic keypad and unreliable auto-correct rather than a decent multi-choice predictive text system that you can get for Android. After nding the supplied ROM (which is based on Android 4.2) too limiting and unreliable, I decided to install CyanogenMod.

Its nowhere near as easy as on a Nexus, and its made worse by a whole lot of incomplete advice thats out there. The G-Pad lacks Fastboot, so installing a custom recovery means downloading a zip le from one of a number of malware-infested sites with misleading Download links that install junk on your computer. For some reason, rooting doesnt work unless you have an SD card installed (they dont tell you that) and you cant sideload, as you can on Nexus. You also need to use Windows, both to install the recovery module and to refresh the original ROM if you brick your tablet.

The end result works fairly well, but really it ought to be an easier and safer process. Many of us dont like using Windows, because its slow, buggy and open to malware, so why cant LG port their driver and recovery utility to at least the Mac, if not Linux as well (or make a cross-platform one)?

surprised that Samsung removed features from KitKat, especially where they are in apps that Samsung has its own equivalents for. The removal of ART is strange, though, as it is expected to be included in the KitKat-based Galaxy S5.

Better HTC cameraHaving just seen the details of the HTC One M8 I have to say I am disappointed that they have stuck to their daft ultrapixel cameras. Four megapixels is simply not enough if you want to do anything with your images. Its ne for looking at them on your phone screen or posting them on Facebook or wherever, but for anything else it is not big enough. It wouldnt be so bad if the results from the camera were signi cantly better than the competition, but they arent. From what Ive seen, Samsung, LG, Apple and Nokia phones are all capable of better shots, and mostly free from gimmicks too.Alan Jones

We say: Check out our full review of the HTC One (M8) and its camera on page 80.

Get in touch!Send us your thoughts on all things Android

facebook/littlegreenrobotLike us on Facebook to send your comments

[email protected] questions or comments? Drop us an email and let us know

Follow us @lgrobot to join in the conversation

CROWDSOURCEOpinion from theTwittersphere

@lgrobotWhat is the best app youve found recently?

@peterhughes65 Changelog Droid its a fantastic app. Noti es you of app updates, along with their version number even quicker than the playstore!

@Rob_Al33 tangerine free. Good app for keeping a track of your nances with a good looking ui

@gavinlew Link Bubble by @chrismlacy excellent app - Go buy it now!

@edwardsj1978 Swipe Pad. Amazing little app that allows me to have my homescreen completely clear of icons.

@lgrobotWhich of the years new phones has impressed you most?

@andrewlone28 @htc one m8 seems to be the best so far

@AhHaAlan4me Sony Xperia Z ULTRA

@TonyP_UK HTC Desire 300 is an absolute parent-friendly bargain! Replaced my mums HTC One V and she loves it.

@jglen_TNA That would be the #MotoG. Cheap and powerful, Samsung et al should take note

@geekinCroatia de nately the new HTC One. I want it so bad I can hardly breathe.

@lgrobotWhats the best thing on another platform that youd like to see on Android?

@cantor1995 A version of Of ce for tablets. I cant even download it on my Nexus 7.

@SusiejeanLow The musicroom app so I can download and view sheet music. Only on iPad currently. :-(

TRENDINGLet us know your thoughts on these hot topics

Get in [email protected]

Thoughts on the new HTC One?

How important is the camera in your phone?

Are you interested in wearable devices? ttttttttttwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeerrrrrrrr

I wrote a detailed report so that anyone who wants to install CM on this device can avoid the pitfalls I found you can nd it at http://tinyurl.com/cymod-gpad. I wish other modders would do the same.Matthew J Smith

We say: Some devices certainly are far more dif cult to hack and mod than others. The G Pad has only light support from the developer community, but with builds of CyanogenMod and Paranoid Android available it is well worth the effort.

More KitKat woesJust downloaded 4.4.2 and compared to your KitKat article in your mag issue 35. Well, actually my Samsung doesnt compare at all!Gallery has nothing like the editing tools illustrated by yourselves. There is no Select Runtime to access ART under Developer Options and moving home screens about doesnt happen. Finally there is no sign of Emoji when creating messages. So I have given up the Samsung KitKat seems to be a different animal! In fact, so far, a bit of a damp squib.Terry Cullen

We say: We probably shouldnt be

Older phones like the Galaxy S II dont compare with todays best handset


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Each year, the Android mobile phone market keeps dishing out goodies. Its a given that the agship handsets from each of the major manufacturers has to be better than their predecessors, but the intense race for supremacy means some fare far better than others. The latest kid on the block is the HTC One (M8). HTC had lost

its way for a short spell, leaving Samsung to become the cool Android go-to for so many people; a company that has been standing toe-to-toe with the media favourite Apple, and, in recent years, striding ahead. But HTC, in announcing the One (M8) has put itself back in the top pecking order, with design being very much at the forefront. And yet it

has competition. With such a strong offering from Samsung allied with Sonys super Xperia Z2 a phone that draws upon the resources of the Japanese rms entertainment empire it will take something special to make the number one slot. So which will prove worthy enough of that place on the podium? Here we put the big three to the test.

Feature Clash of the titans

CLASH TITANSOF THEGALAXY S5 HTC ONE (M8) XPERIA Z2VS VS


WorldMags.net

FeatureClash of the titans

SamsungGalaxy S5

Samsung Galaxy S5 HTC One (M8) Sony Xperia Z2

SPECS HEAD-TO-HEAD

About

An incremental, evolutionary step forward from the Galaxy S4, the S5 tries to

compete with Apple with the addition of an iPhone 5s-esque ngerprint scanner. Its improved camera and emphasis on

health capabilities makes it an attractive handset. Tracking down the 32GB model

may prove tricky though.

A case of design over functionality for the HTC One (M8)? Not at all, although well

reserve judgement until later in the feature. Certainly, a lot of thought has

gone into the way the HTC looks, but the specs show it packs a mighty punch

inside with some very nifty, high-end technology.

The 5.2-inch screen of the Xperia Z2 betters the Z1 but, most eye-catching, is

the cameras huge number of megapixels. Its the heaviest model on

test but not by a signi cant amount. Its waterproo ng is incredible: it has IP55

and IP58 ratings for this, so underwater shots are possible.

Price 540, $700, 725 549, $600, 730 549, $600, 730

Dimensions 142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4mm 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2mm

Weight 145g 160g 163g

Display 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED Five-inch 5.2-inch IPS LCD

Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080

Pixel density 432ppi 441ppi 424ppi

Rear camera 16-MP Dual 4.1 Ultrapixel (4-MP & 2-MP) 20.7-MP

Front camera 2-MP 5-MP 2.2-MP

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 at 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 at 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 at 2.3GHz

RAM 2GB 2GB 3GB

Internal storage 16GB or 32GB 16 or 32GB 16GB

Battery size 2800mAh 2600mAh 3200mAh

The big three's premium phones in numbers

WINNER Sony Xperia Z2 With its larger screen and fantastic camera specs, the Sony Xperia Z2 edges it here, especially given the bee er battery and 50% more RAM 1st

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Having discovered a way to embed the phones antennas into the One (M8)s metal body, HTC has made a handset that is incredibly striking. This innovation has meant that a metal case can be used for the rst time without impacting on the handsets signal. The brushed metal curves around the edges before it meets the handsets glass front, making the device look sumptuously rich. It seems a shame to encase it in one of the of cial One (M8) Dot View cases, but even here the innovation doesnt stop. The cases are transparent when they are closed so that users can continue to see noti cations. There are few buttons and it lacks features that are seemingly becoming future standards such as ngerprint scanning and wireless charging. But HTC has gone for onscreen buttons and this again leaves room for BoomSound speakers. The greatest innovation is on the back, however, with the camera lens and a new depth sensor above it. And you can have it in gunmetal grey, glacial silver or rose gold.

HTC One (M8)

There is not a lot of difference between the Xperia Z2 and its predecessor, the Z1. Then again, the Z1 hasnt been out for that long. This is a speedy successor in more ways than one that aims to be Sonys agship device. The rst iteration wasnt all that bad in terms of its design so its retained here. What we get is a beautiful-looking device that sandwiches a slightly curved aluminium side strip in between two, at sheets of glass. Its simple and effective and it feels comfortable to hold. It also enables the front and back of the handset to take on a minimalist, classic look, albeit with an LED that lights up when noti cations come through. The Z2 is water and dustproof. You can submerge it in 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes without damage. Even though it has micro SD and micro USB sockets, it manages to protect them behind rubber-lined aps and the seal proves to be tight. With four colours (black, white, dark silver and purple), the phone oozes class, wont weigh you down nor make you squint. Its 5.2-inch screen makes it large enough and its thin enough for it to be a handset to show off, use and enjoy.

Sony Xperia Z2

A lthough it is a predominantly polycarbonate build, the Galaxy S5 looks and feels fantastic, with a large screen and some great built-in hardware functions. It is more contoured than its predecessor, which makes it great to hold and it is nished off with a metal-style surround that ensures it has a high-end appearance. The soft-touch rear of the phone has a perforated pattern that lends itself to a rm grip, but Samsung has also made much noise over the S5 being dust and waterproof. This, in turn, helps create a solid, quality phone that in no way feels cheap while protecting it from the elements. The slim handset comes in a range of colours: black, white, blue and gold. It sports some well placed buttons too. The home button is in the usual spot at the bottom of the device but it includes a ngerprint sensor, activated by using a swiping motion. The power button is on the top-right and the volume buttons run down the right side, each handily located for one-hand accessibility.

Samsung Galaxy S5

DESIGN AND BUILD

Perforated patternSamsung says the perforated pattern of the phones rear displays modern glam. The soft-touch rear is comfortable

PolycarbonateSome say it's just a fancy name for plastic and it is, to be fair, but its a solid plastic all the same

Home buttonThe Home button

includes a ngertip sensor for more secure

unlocking of the handset

Metal-styleThe silver surround

gives the Galaxy S5 a smart nish and adds to its overall feel of a

high-end phone

Screen sizeThe screen-to-phone size ratio is high. This

means it takes up the bulk of the stylish

glass-fronted phone

ButtonsThe main navigation

buttons are on the screen itself with the

physical buttons on the side proving rather stylish, particularly the

power button

Curved sidesAlthough the phone takes on a box appearance, the sides are curved so that the edges dont feel sharp in your hand

CameraTake pictures with the special, dedicated camera button on the side of the handset


WINNER HTC ONE (M8) The HTC One (M8) is without a doubt the most gorgeous of the three handsets here, with a lot of effort having gone into its sumptuous design 1st

CaseThe dot matrix case is just as essential and HTC has proven innovative: its touch sensitive and lets key info be displayed

DesignDesign is at the heart of what HTC One (M8) is setting out to achieve check out the metal body that makes this handset stand out

SpeakersThere are two

BoomSound speakers for added

oomph to your favourite tracks

ButtonsThe buttons t nicely into

the case so you can activate the volume.

Charge the unit from the bottom socket


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Were seeing some stunning cameras on smartphones these days and what we have here is some real diversity. Leading the way in terms of megapixels is Sony. The Z2 has a 20.7-MP camera that includes Sonys G-Lens and the BIONZ mobile image-processing engine. Sony calls it the worlds best smartphone camera and it backs its claims with a range of great apps. These can capture high-speed clips at 120fps and allow for

background defocusing, AR effects, panoramas and nice Vine integration.

And yet, even though the Galaxy S5 'only' packs a 16-MP camera with LED ash, it still turns heads thanks to its own additional advanced hardware and software. The Galaxy S5 camera can focus in just 0.3 seconds which is currently the worlds fastest speed, although the HTC One (M8) auto-focuses in 300 milliseconds and it allows for preview HDR and post-shot

focusing. The handset, like the Sony, allows for 4K video shooting capabilities.

But then you come to the HTC One (M8). It has ducked out of the megapixel race and, like with the HTC One, its gone for a 4.1-Ultrapixel camera. The pixels here are larger and so let in more light but, by running it through two image processing chips and adding a second camera that captures depth information, the One (M8) can produce vibrant, colourful images.

The new HTC One sports two cameras on the back that offer a variety of photographic tricks including the ability to refocus images even after they have been shot, and to add a bokeh-style effect. It works well in some instances, but is less effective in others, so is arguably not the game changer than HTC would have hoped for. Still, with an API available to developers, the technology could yet be used in new and innovative ways.

The camera is ne for normal daylight shooting

The dual camera enables bokeh-like effects, with mixed results

HTCs dual-camera

There is barely any difference with these three phones in terms of CPU and RAM. Both the HTC One (M8) and the Sony Xperia Z2 have Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processors clocked at 2.3GHz, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 has the same processor but clocked at 2.5GHz. The Xperia Z2 has higher RAM 3GB as opposed to 2GB. Yet benchmarks have shown that the HTC One (M8) and the Sony Xperia Z2 beat the Galaxy S5. Rightware shows that the Sony Xperia Z2 is the top performing smartphone in the overall benchmark rating, but that HTC One (M8) is best when focusing on gaming. The Galaxy S5 comes third both times.

The AnTuTu benchmarking app also shows that the HTC One (M8) packs a serious processing power punch, given its score of 38000 compared to the Galaxy S5s 35666. It does suggest that HTC has pulled out something special with its One (M8) even though updates for the Galaxy S5 could enable it to catch up. It wouldnt be a dif cult catch up: there isnt much in it given the similarities of the processors.

SPEED

Samsung Galaxy S5 HTC One (M8) Sony Xperia Z2

CAMERA

WINNER Sony Xperia Z2 With the Sony Xperia Z2 winning the overall benchmark and faring well when processing games, it makes it a nifty handset, that's for sure 1st

WINNER Sony Xperia Z2 HTC One (M8) shows innovation and fresh thinking, but the pro-power of the Sony with its 4K recording ability is hard to ignore 1st

Performance testsAnTuTu

Basemark O

S II

Graphics and processor

performance

System

-wide

performance

HTC One (M8) 34390

Samsung Galaxy S5 35492

Xperia Z2 34922

HTC One (M8) 1071.37

Xperia Z2 1225.67

Samsung Galaxy S5 986.18



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UPDATES

WINNER Samsung Galaxy S5 Samsung is more on the ball when it comes to updates. Sony can be slow Xperia Play did not get an of cial update, and HTC can mess around: it has forked its Sense user interface in the past 1st

WINNER Samsung Galaxy S5 Its a tricky one PlayStation Mobile is very enticing but S Health is an attractive proposition that has the capability to improve our health. Galaxy S5 it is then 1st

Category Galaxy S II Galaxy S III Galaxy S4 HTC Desire HTC Sensation

HTC One Xperia Play Xperia mini

Xperia Z

Launched 2011 2012 2013 2010 2011 2013 2011 2011 2013

Launch OS 2.3 Ginger-bread

4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich

4.2.2 Jelly Bean

2.1 Eclair 2.3.3Ginger-bread

4.1.2 Jelly Bean

2.3.7 Ginger-bread

2.3.4 Ginger-bread

4.1.2 Jelly Bean

Last OS 4.1.2 Jelly Bean

4.3 Jelly Bean

4.4.2 KitKat 2.2 Froyo 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich

4.4.2 KitKat 2.3.7 Ginger-bread

4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich

4.3 Jelly Bean

No of updates

2 3 1 so far 1 1 1 so far 0 official 1 2

In keeping with the excellent camera function, the HTC One (M8) has photo-editing tools for refocusing and cutting out parts of images for use in other photos. It has also tidied up its bespoke front end, which now allows for touch gestures. Tapping the screen can turn the phone on and BlinkFeed HTCs new feeding software can operate with a swipe to the left.

Like the other two phones, the HTC One (M8) has tness capabilities. It is pre-loaded with the Fitbit app that can track sleep and capture exercise data. But here, the Galaxy S5 excels. S Health turns the S5 into a smart tness tracker and works with the Lifestyle Coach to monitor the health of users. The Gear add-ons enhance these abilities.

But there is much more. The S5 can privately lock photos and data and allow for mobile payments using nothing more than your ngerprint. It can also ick into ultra power-saving mode and download via Wi-Fi and 4G simultaneously.

While the Sony handset also allows for life tracking, it is also strong in terms of entertainment. Accessed via its customisable app menu is its

Walkman app which enables for online and of ine listening and Facebook integration. Movies is a one-stop video store, Album is a cloud-integrated photo app and PlayStation Mobile is a killer addition that has cross-platform support with the PS Vita. Gamers would love this app on the Xperia Z2.

Which company is best for OS updates?

HTC SonySamsung


SOFTWARE

HTC's BlinkFeed home screenwidget is becoming a stand-out feature,but can it match Samsung's gung-ho approach?

Add-ons

There are lots of add-ons for each of our three phones, ranging from watches to tness gadgets, to innovative cases. Samsung and Sony lead the way on tness accessories, although HTC has joined forces with Fitbit to add some additional features to its phones without the need for extra peripherals.

The big daddy of the bunch, this smartwatch includes a 2-MP camera. Its built-in speaker and mic let users have conversations via their wrist.

Samsung Gear 2

Versatile and practical, even if the HTC One (M8) proved to be standard

fare which it doesnt this case would have us drooling. It would be useful and protective at the same time.

HTC (M8) case

By plugging the Digital Noise Cancelling Headset (MDR-NC31EM) into the Xperia Z2, you can block out external noises and fall deep into a musical nirvana.

Noise-cancelling earphones

WINNER HTC One (M8) Smartwatches are yet to rise and noise cancelling is not Z2 speci c. With the HTC One (M8) Case, were viewing the future 1st


WorldMags.net

VERDICTAs fantastic as the Samsung Galaxy S5 is, it was always a small step forward rather than a revolutionary change to the agship range that a lot of people had hoped for and so, this time around, it appears to have fallen behind in the innovation pecking order.

Although its ngerprint scanner and heart-rate monitor are impressive, for a lot of people these dont really matter. Sure, its not as much of a gimmick as it perhaps is on the iPhone 5s right now

security and payments are certainly made easier by having it its not currently the killer feature were all dying to see.

Since the innards of the three devices are all very similar, these kinds of features matter. So we were impressed by the strides taken by HTC with its gorgeous, jaw-dropping design that oozes class and its dual-camera and insistence on sticking with the Ultrapixel camera that worked so well on the HTC One (M7). Having depth and the ability to post-focus

is great and draws images out well. But then the Sony Xperia Z2 came along and made so much noise that it just cannot be ignored.

Being able to lm in 4K and play that on a 4K TV is good, but the 20.7-MP camera is what makes us stop and think here. Its large battery should ensure it keeps going for some time and its dust and waterproo ng makes not only the smartphone but its camera capabilities that tad bit more versatile. There is no doubting Sony has pulled a blinder.

1st


HACKSSamsung seems to take a friendly approach to hackers indeed, it offered a developer, hackable edition of the S III in 2012 and its phones tend to offer few problems when it comes to rooting.

The popularity of Samsung handsets means they are well embraced by the community and there is a lot of help around online, helping you to unlock your handset with step-by-step instructions. As such, we would expect the S5 to be just as easily hacked and modded.

Sony is also hacker friendly. Although it warns non-advanced users against rooting, it posts guides on its website and it says it

supports the open developer community. On many devices from 2011, the bootloader can be unlocked and again, there is a good community following surrounding the handset, appreciative of Sonys hacker-courting stance.

The HTC One has not proven to be dif cult to root in the most part so we dont expect this new handset will be either. Problems seem to arise with the carriers, though. Verizon, for instance, makes it dif cult to root a HTC One running Android 4.3 or higher. This does dent our enthusiasm for it.

1 All three of these phones can be easily rooted, meaning you'll be able to hack and tweak your device from day one.

2 Most built-in software can now be disabled by going to Settings>Apps then locating the app and selecting Disable. You can uninstall bloatware

altogether using the Titanium Backup app. 3 Sony and HTC both offer

good tools for unlocking a device's bootloader.

4 Samsung has traditionally had wider support from developers, resulting in a greater selection of ROMs.

Hack facts

WINNER Sony Xperia Z2 Sonys open backing and willingness to allow people to hack their phones to get the best out of them has to be commended 1st

HTC One (M8)Anyone with a Sony Xperia Z2 will salivate at the prospect of using it for photos, videos and gaming. The PlayStation Mobile app is a great addition and it works at lightning speed. On paper, and in reality, its a great handset.

Sometimes tech rolls in that makes the eyebrows raise and the dual-camera capabilities of the HTC One (M8) certainly did that for us. We like the way HTC is trying to put some distance between it and other handsets, with innovation at its heart.

A kick up the bum is needed for Samsung. It will look at our rst and second place handsets and put their best brains into creating a smashing S6. Its a fantastic handset and is worthy of agship status, but the challenge has been set.

Sony Xperia Z2 Samsung Galaxy S5

2nd 3rd

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Feature Double your battery life

AND 19 MORE WAYS TO BOOST YOUR PHONE

DOUBLE YOURBATTERY LIFE


WorldMags.net

FeatureDouble your battery life

25

How often do you recharge your Android? It might be a daily occurrence, something you do as a matter of course before bed at night, or it could be on charge several times a day for you to get the maximum performance from it.

A collection of factors can deplete your device's battery, such as what connectivity settings you use, how often you play games and enjoy media, and how much you rely on it for tethering and productivity tasks.

Boosting your battery shouldnt be dif cult, however. Disabling mobile internet when it is not required is a particularly easy way of reducing the drain on your battery, as is switching your display brightness from automatic to a manual setting. In Android 4.4 KitKat you will nd that there is a choice of modes for Location services if you have this setting enabled. These options demand more power depending on how accurate you need Android to be, with the most accurate requiring more battery power.

Android KitKat 4.4 devices come with built-in tools hidden in the OS to manage battery life, offering things like a power-saver mode and sleep mode that can reduce battery depletion when the phone is left idle.

You should pay particular attention to new features identifying the cause of battery drain. Disabling NFC if youre not using it is a good start, as is switching off Hotword Detection in Google Now (Google Now>Settings>Voice). You can also disable syncing in the Photos app (Settings>Auto-Backup).

I f quick xes arent bringing your Android power drain under control there are alternatives available for root users. Underclocking involves a decrease in clock speed, slowing Android slightly but producing better performance for less battery power. Meanwhile, undervolting enables you to nd a voltage lower than the CPU manufacturers baseline, the aim being to maintain performance while your Android device uses less power.

Before you attempt to underclock or undervolt your device, take the time to perform a full back up before you start making changes to your hardware. Any changes you make to your phone or tablet using these tools are done so completely at your own risk. So, if youre uncertain or lack con dence, please do not proceed.

DOUBLE YOUR BATTERY LIFEChange settings to boost battery

Root solutions

Poor battery life is a common

complaint aimed at modern phones

HOW TO UNDERVOLTInstall IncrediControl and enable root access. With

the app open, select SVS from the top menu to display your Android device voltages.

Lowering your Android device's voltage is

potentially a hair-raising experience, so lower voltage only one step at a time, and only on the two highest frequencies.

Perform stress testing with StabilityTest. Use Classic to

check undervolting the highest CPU frequency and Scaling to test a range of values.

HOW TO UNDERCLOCKHead to Google Play and install Trickster MOD

Kernel Settings, granting super user permissions when you launch the app.

Go to Info>General and under CPU Frequency

Control set a minimum and maximum clockspeed. Set Governor Control to On Demand and Save.

Test your underclocked Android by rebooting and

stress testing, making the necessary changes or resetting if performance is too slow.

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Arguably the most popular Android battery saver, this features an accurate battery meter, and provides accurate graphical

data to show how much power is left for a variety of tasks.

Battery HD Price Free

With CPU management for rooted phones and ability to disable power-hogging

features, the app also has preset and custom power-saving modes.

Battery Doctor Price Free

Offering battery info and optimisation tools, this free app is a great way to reduce

power use on your Android. Expect as much as a 20 per cent bene t.

Easy Battery Saver Price Free

Offers up to 50 per cent increased battery with preset and custom smart

modes. Also includes widgets to relate which apps are siphoning life.

DU Battery Saver & Widgets

Price Free

Power-saving apps

Estimated improvement:By closing down features you aren't using, clamping down on inef cient apps, and tweaking the more advanced settings you should be able to push your battery towards two full days of use


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HARDWARE BOOSTERS

Pump up the volumeCan it ever really be too loud? If youre a fan of maxing the volume right up to 11 you might consider getting your hands on an external speaker. This would come at a cost though.

Instead, there are apps that can do the job for you, increasing the system volume beyond safe levels (not healthy for prolonged use so please take care) to give you the best audio experience for your music, video or game.

Among the best options is AC!D Audio Engine (which does requires root), and is available from http://chautemseric.wix.com.

Increase your screens resolutionMany Android phones have quite a high screen resolution, something that makes them suitable for viewing high de nition video, or admiring photos from a digital camera.

However, if 720 x 1280 isnt enough, the resolution of your device can be increased using apps such as NOMone Resolution Changer and Resolution Changer Pro. Both apps require root permissions, and can be used to increase screen resolution as high as the display will allow.

Free up RAMWhen your smartphone starts to slow down it can often be because you have too many applications open. Restarting can be effective, but a bit inconvenient.

Another option is to always close down apps. The Android app switcher tool can help here, enabling you to see whats open and to quickly close it. Dont overlook the App info screen (Settings>Apps) where the Clear cache setting will free up valuable RAM.

Alternatively, let an app like Easy RAM Booster do the dirty work. Easy RAM Booster will close and freeze apps, using the app switcher (as long as you dont have a load of auto-start apps).

Increase your phones storage

Forget cloud accounts and SD cards, you can use your Androids USB port to increase storage. Using an OTG cable and an external hard disk drive or ash drive in conjunction with a suitable app such as StickMount (requires root), you can use the peripheral to expand storage. Connect the storage to the OTG cable, which should in turn be connected to your phone, and in StickMount select Mount, and use a le browser to move data between devices. It's that easy.

Got no obvious storage options? Don't fear, there's

always a solution with Android

Using an OTG cable and an external hard disk drive you

can use the peripheral to expand storage


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Various online apps bene t from Googles 2-Step Veri cation service, an enhanced authentication system that can help to keep your data secure.After enabling 2-Step Veri cation in your Google

account, the hard work is performed on your Android phone, where the Google Authenticator app is used to create a unique veri cation code each time you sign into your account.

Sharing your phone with other people is often uncomfortable, but you can reduce the chance of some vital secret being shared by dialing the number on their behalf and monitoring them closely.If this march towards building a personal panopticon isnt for you,

however, there is another way. Locking individual apps is a good solution, and can be done easily with App Lock (Smart App Protector) which enables the use of PINs, patterns and gestures to unlock speci c apps.

Protect your data by locking individual apps

Before proceeding, install Google Authenticator. This will save time later on, particularly if you choose the wrong option and nd yourself unable to install anything without disabling the 2-Step veri cation.

Install Google Authenticator 1Sign in to your Google

account in the browser (preferably desktop, or in desktop mode on Android). Click your pro le photo in the top-right corner and select Account>Security>Setup>2-Step veri cation.

Sign in to Google2

On the 2-Step veri cation page, click Start setup and add your number, selecting how you would like to receive codes. A code will be sent to your phone enter in the browser, then con rm activation of veri cation.

Con gure 2-Step veri cation3Run the app, selecting

Begin setup>Scan a barcode, then switch back to your PC browser and click Switch to app. Scan the barcode to con gure the app and send future veri cation codes to your phone.

Set up Google Authenticator4

Con gure Smart App Protector

On rst launch, youll be requested for a PIN. The screen provides a hint, and once entered youll see the main App Lock screen. From here tap the key icon and set a Lock Type.

1

Find apps to lockAfter setting a password, tap back and

then Add to view the list of apps that can be locked. Youll notice some recommended choices such as the Package installer and Settings screen check then Add to lock.

2

Fakes and locksWhen attempting to run locked apps, a

password is required. An alternative is also available, allowing you to set a fake lock. This displays a fake error message that you can disable by long-pressing OK.

3

Quick power-ups

Auto-silence phoneNo one wants to be disturbed late at night. Silence enables the creation of wizard-based rules (easily disabled) to govern when a smartphone's ringer and audio noti cations should be silenced.

Protect your dataBacking up to the cloud is vital if you switch devices. Android has some good options from Google Drive and Google Photo to third-party solutions like Dropbox, Box.net and OneDrive. Protect your data and never lose a byte.

Speed up diallingDialApp is an evolution in the way you make calls. Rather than waste time nding the right button for the person you want to speak to or message, the app combines gesture calling and voice search, saving time and effort. Keep individual

apps safe fromprying eyes

SECURITYSecure your Google apps



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SPEED UP YOUR PHONETips for a faster android

Various means exist for you to boost your device and enjoy faster downloads, GPS results, battery charging and even general day-to-day performance. As you have seen above it is possible to underclock and undervolt your Android to encourage longer battery life; overclocking can push your device to its physical limits.

How much of a speed increase you gain from Android really depends on how far you want to go. Overclocking is at the extreme end of such tweaks, but you might prefer to focus on recon guring Android based on the native settings. For instance, disabling live wallpaper can speed things up, while ensuring you

download over Wi-Fi rather than mobile internet will also provide good results.

Similarly, dropping rarely used widgets from your home screen can help, as can limiting or disabling background data (Settings>Data usage, tap menu, uncheck Auto-sync data). There are also bene ts in switching to a new app launcher, one optimised for speed such as Lightning Launcher, free from Google Play.

Tweaking the kernel is a tactic that can be used in conjunction with overclocking. There are various root apps that you can employ for this, such as Android Overclock. However, if youre using a custom ROM then there is a good chance that you already have the tools.

Charge the battery fasterSometimes it seems as though your smartphone will never charge. Whether youre waiting for it to top up before a night out, or have it hooked up to the car battery, charging never seems to be fast enough. Using approved charging hardware and cabling can help, but for the best results you should be looking at something like Fast Charge. As long as the custom ROM or kernel youre using has support for fast charging, your waiting is very much over. Fast Charge requires root permission, so when you rst run the app you will need to assign this.

Get quicker GPS fixesIf youre using satnav apps on your phone or have trouble getting a reliable reading from the native GPS software, there are several xes that you can consider making to your device.

Before considering third-party apps (the best available on the Play store require root), open up Settings>Location and switch the Mode to High accuracy (Android 4.3 and later). This should overcome GPS issues in the majority of cases, but uses more battery life. Failing this, hunt down and install FasterGPS from Google Play a free app with in-app purchases to boost your GPS.

Speeding up your phone can be done by various means

HOW TO OVERCLOCK

Estimated improvement:

To overclock, increase the Max

slider by a single step, setting the Governor to ondemand and saving. Restart Android to test the results and repeat.

2Install Android Overclock on a rooted device with a kernel that supports overclocking. Launch the app then select CPU Frequency Scaling.

1

Overclocking can speed up your phone by 20%, with bene ts best seen in games

Once youve found the highest

working speed for your CPU, use a stress testing tool to establish whether you need to reduce the clock slightly.

3

Download files quickerAre you a regular downloader? If so you may have been frustrated by Androids slow pace in this area, especially when downloading multiple les to your phone or tablet.

Using the Super Download app (1.29/$1.99) you can combine both your 3G or 4G data connections with a Wi-Fi network to download les and content faster than by using only one method alone. You will need to be rooted and will also need a compatible ROM. Beware that this method will eat your battery life pretty rapidly so should be used only sparingly.


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Improving wireless connection speed can really boost your Android experience. Save time connecting to Wi-Fi with the help of apps that crowdsource information about public Wi-Fi and share it with other users. Such apps are typically free and include Osmino WiFi. Also, dont miss The Cloud's FastConnect app, which will help you get connected to open WiFi in many city centres. Although

performance isnt so good for older devices it can prove very useful. You can speed up access to wireless connections provided by BT, FON and some other providers by opening Settings>Wi-Fi>Advanced and adding your WISPr account settings and enabling Auto login. As long as you have a WISPr-compatible account, this is an attractive ' re-and-forget' solution.

DATA IMPROVEMENTSAutomatic connection to wi-fi

Sometimes websites are blocked, for good reason or bad. You might be attempting to access sensitive data, or more commonly, stream region-blocked media from overseas services like Net ix US.

The simplest way around this is to employ a VPN app, such as VPN One Click, free from Google Play.

To access services like Net ix US or Hulu, you should switch to a server in the USA or Canada.

While useful for overcoming region-blocking, VPNs are not completely secure, so regularly change the server if you're concerned.

Unblock blocked websites

TriggerOne of the most useful automation apps available, Trigger features a preset enabling automatic connection to a speci c Wi-Fi network whenever it is in reach, disabling 3G/4G and saving money.

Osmino Wi-Fi: free WiFiSigning up to Osmino will provide access to a vast library of open wireless hotspots (5 million across 50 countries), complete with reviews and an augmented reality Wi-Fi search tool.

WiFi ManagerIt can be tricky choosing the strongest wireless network, but this free app simpli es the process, displaying detailed signal strength for nearby wireless access points and offering one-touch connection.

Wi FixerEver had that problem when your Android device is connected to Wi-Fi and no data is coming through? Wi Fixer is designed to detect these problems and recover your network connection in no time at all.

Use less mobile dataMetered mobile data can prove expensive, especially if youre regularly downloading media. A good way to reduce data while maintaining your browsing habits is the free Opera Max app, which compresses video, photos and other graphics by up to 50 per cent. Best of all, this compression isnt limited to just your web browser

Opera Max is in beta, so if youre interested you should install the app and sign up.

Compression is restricted to video and photo-based apps, affecting only the device Opera Max is installed on. Tethering is unsupported.

Visual voicemailHulloMail turns visual voicemail into something remarkable and usable in this free app, which enables you to send voicemail messages, divert incoming messages to email and even have them transcribed. It's easy to set up too.

Speed up messagingStill using SMS? With Handcent SMS you can make your text messages relevant by adding signatures, formatting canned responses and con guring pop-ups that display your new messages.

Improve noti cationsThe standard LED noti cations can be customised using Lite Flow LED Control. Rather than the usual green ash indicating a missed call or new email, the app enables you to set different colours for different noti cation types.

Improveperformance



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Hands-free AndroidOne of the biggest advances since the inception of the smartphone has been in voice recognition and speech technology. No longer do we actually have to touch our phones or tablets to interact with them. Now we can wake them up with a word, get them to read our text messages back to us, and tell us which way we need to head when were driving or walking. But getting the most out of the hands-free possibilities of your handset can take a bit of working out. Thats what this set of tutorials is here to help you with. Well guide you through getting your settings right, and make sure that your phone is always ready and waiting for your commands. Well also show you how to use your Android device to translate other languages on the y, and get you set up so that your

Make sure that youre getting the most out of Androids brilliant voice and speech recognition functionality

phone will read you out text messages when they arrive if youre driving. Everythings pretty simple once you know what youre doing, and with an app like Tasker youll be able to automate a lot of it, because sometimes its nice to tap on your phone instead of just shouting at it.

Five top hands-free tips1. Dont cover up the microphone on your device when youre talking to it, otherwise it might not understand a word youre saying. Make sure you speak clearly too, and dont get too upset if your phone doesnt hear you right.

2. Before you download an app that performs voice-controlled actions, make sure your device cant already do it anyway. There are a lot of voice-activated settings that you can enable on most Android devices.

3. If youre going to use voice to make phone calls and send texts, it can save you some

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