8 Android tips and tricks that will change the way you use your smartphone

Happy birthday, Android! Eight years ago today (September 23) the first ever Android phone, the nattily named T-Mobile G1 was released on to the world. Who knew back then that Google's iPhone rivalling mobile OS would go on to eventually dominate the smartphone space? Despite its now ever-present nature, the Android OS still has a few surprises up its sleeve.

Better still, you don't need the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to revolutionise your mobile experience. These Android tips and tricks should transform the way you use your smartphone.

1. Only hear from the people you want

Why, oh why, did you give Jeff from the office your number? Seriously, 16 cat meme texts in 3 days, what's his problem? If you don't want to hear from certain people, you don't have to. There's no need to change your number or be forced into awkward conversations either. Instead you can set your phone to only deliver messages from those you actually want to talk to.

Hitting your volume toggle will give you alert options. Hit Priority and the Settings cog. Here you can choose who you receive calls, messages and reminders from. Perfect for when you want to block out the overly chatty 'friends' you'd rather avoid.

2. Give two fingers to quick settings

You probably know that swiping down from the top of your Android handset's home screen will launch the notifications menu. Did you know though that throwing a second finger into the mix brings quick settings to the fore? No, didn't think so.

Saving precious seconds and a second swipe, the double-digit motion puts Wi-Fi controls, screen casting options and Bluetooth shortcuts at your fingertips with literally zero hassle and minimal effort. Handy.

3. Set your phone to automatically unlock when you're at home

Entering those four-digit pins is essential to keep out unwanted prying eyes. But when you're at home they can be an irritating chore that takes time away from your latest Facebook binge. You can set your phone to automatically unlock when you're at home, though, removing this irritation while retaining your privacy when you want it.

In Settings, go to Security >> Trust Agents >> Smart Lock. Activating this will allow you to set parameters for when you want your device to ditch the passcode. Such as when you're at home or in the office, or when your phone recognises your face. Yes, really. Your handset is watching you.

4. Extend your phone's battery life

Android 6.0 might have introduced the battery-boosting Doze feature, but if you're still waiting for your Marshmallow-flavoured fix, there are still plenty of ways to enhance your handset's staying power. Under the Battery controls in Settings, your phone should have a Power Saver Mode option.

Enable this to reduce background features and survive that night bus ride home. Helping eke out your depleted power supply, this will set your emails to fetch and turn off some of the 76 apps that send you notifications every 30 minutes.

5. Hide your embarrassing bits from friends

There are certain things on your phone you probably don't want others to see. You browser history, embarrassing taste in music and the results of your endless selfie practice for a start. Fortunately, you can keep this mock-inducing content to yourself, even when letting mates use your phone.

'How?' We hear you ask with just a hint of desperation in your voice. Drag down the quick settings menu (with two fingers like we showed you), and tap the user icon in the top corner. Here you can 'Add a guest' and limit access to only what you're comfortable with people seeing.

6. Avoid bill shock by controlling your data usage

Unless you've got deep pockets, you're not going to want to go over your monthly data allowances. But worry not, if you do, Android's got your back again - and your wallet's too.


Visit Settings >> Data Usage. Not only can you see a graph of how much data you've churned through over the past month – based on the timeframe of your contract, not the calendar month – you can set self-imposed data limits and warning markers. Take that O2, Vodafone et al.

7. Dial a contact, the easy way

Nobody remembers phone numbers anymore. That's what phones are for. But when you've got hundreds of people in your contacts book, finding the number you're after can be a slow process. Unless, that is, you simply type out their name in numerical form.

In the keypad, just start typing the desired contact's name in digits, using old keyboard speak as your translation tool. So, as an example, to find a contact called Mike, simply type 6,4,5,3. That's m (6),i (4),k (5),e (3) in case you were wondering. Time saved, contact found, sorted.

8. Fill your phone with hundreds of free apps

You aren't limited to Google's Play Store for filling up that freshly purchased handset. If you're an app fanatic but don't like parting with your cash, Amazon Underground is the service for you.

Simply in return for signing up, you'll get loads of normally paid-for apps totally free of charge. Meaning you can enjoy things like Monument Valley, Cut the Rope and everyone's favourite animal impersonator, Goat Simulator, without loosening those purse strings. They aren't going to hit you for costly in-app purchases either, and many have their bonus content offered up without charge: when we say free, we mean it. So think of all that spare cash you can now blow on Clash Of Clans instead...

8 Apps Every Couple Should Be Using

Valentine’s Day has just passed. No doubt there are now thousands of couples around the world celebrating the start of their romantic journey together, either because of an exciting engagement, a rekindled love, or a new marriage.
While traditional stereotypes of love focus on hand-written letters and kissing on a park bench, this is 2015. Digital love is here, and that means couples are increasingly turning to technology for everything from communication and romantic ideas to ordering flowers and creating personalised gifts.
Predictably, there are a never-ending list of apps that are aimed at couples, and lots of them are pretty useless. Luckily for you, we’ve created a list of what we believe to be the eight most essential:

1) Couple

The principle behind Couple is that it allows two people to create their own private timeline of their relationship by sharing pictures, videos, dates, and audio clips.

In reality, the app does much more than that. In addition to its timeline, it also includes an instant messaging service (similar to Whatsapp), photos that can be set to disappear after a certain amount of time (similar to Snapchat), a way to draw pictures together in real-time, a search function to help you find romantic restaurants and night-life destinations, shared to-do lists, a web app, and a calendar.
It’s already in use by more than two million couples worldwide, and with an average review of 4.5 stars on the Play Store, this is easily our most highly recommended app for you and your partner.

2) Couple Tracker

It’s a sad truth that a huge percentage of fledgling relationships end in tears. Reasons for possible breakups are too numerous to list in a tech article, but suffice to say that one party cheating on their significant other is certainly one of the more common explanations.

Couple Tracker aims to address this problem with an app that is designed to add a layer of transparency to a couple’s relationship. The concept behind it is that it will allow you access to all the call history, texts, Whatsapps, Facebook comments, and GPS locations of your partner’s phone from your own device. It’s nearly impossible to hide, as the always-on service can forward new notifications to your partner’s phone instantaneously.
There is a small element of privacy — the app only reveals a limited number of characters of any Facebook update or text message — but in practice your communications will be shown 24/7. Be sure that both you and your partner willingly consent to using the app, though, because tracking your partner’s actions without their consent is stalking.

3) Our Groceries

Once the honeymoon period of a new relationship starts to wear off, the nitty-gritty of running your lives together starts to take hold. Someone needs to take responsibility for the more mundane aspects of life like walking the dog, paying the electric bill, and doing the weekly shopping.

Our Groceries tries to make at least one of those tasks a little more streamlined with an app that lets you create shared shopping lists, meaning you’ll never waste money by both coming home with the same carton of eggs again.
You can create lists using the built-in items or adding your own, and then share them with your partner. Once one of you buys an item you cross it off the list and the changes will be synced across all connected devices. The app also works the other way – if you forgot to tell the love of your life that they need to buy milk on the way home, you can send them an instant notification.

4) The Chocolate App (USA only)

Nothing says “I love you” quite like a box of chocolates (except an engagement ring, perhaps!). If you don’t want to head out into the cold night to buy your significant other a box of something sweet, then this app can help.

The app is operated by Philadelphia Candies, a family chocolate manufacturer that has been in business since 1919 and earned rave reviews for the quality of their product. It lets you browse their choices and order boxes directly from your Android device before paying with PayPal. They ship nationwide.

5) Kissing Tips

Do you know what a butterfly kiss is? Neither did we until we found this app.

As you might expect, it offers users step-by-step tips on how to kiss each other in a multitude of different ways — ranging from the romantic and widely recognised French kiss to the less widely-used Eskimo kiss.
There are 47 different kissing styles in total and each one comes complete with a guide and accompanying illustrations.

6) 1-800-Flowers

Did you forget your partner’s birthday or anniversary? 1-800-Flowers has the answer; never again will you have to pick up a rubbish card and half-dead bouquet from your local petrol station!

Although it’s United States-based, the app lets you send flowers, plants, and other gifts to 195 different countries around the world — with same day delivery offered in many of them. In addition to birthdays and anniversaries, they also offer seasonal specials on other major holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving, and they even offer users the ability to add hand-written cards to their orders.
Having been in business for more than 30 years, they are a reliable firm with a wide network of brands that will be familiar to many Europeans and North Americans.

7) Avocado

Like the aforementioned Couple app, Avocado is a private and secure way for couples to stay connected.

You can text your partner, share various media formats with them, and use its built-in calendar for reminders about birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates. For people in long distance relationships, it also offers virtual hugs and kisses, giving you the feeling of being in closer proximity to your loved one.
It even lets you know if your partner’s battery is about to die, so you won’t be left wondering if you’re just being ignored! Finally, its web app lets you access all your messages, pictures, and other data, meaning you’ll never be cut off from your other half even if you are without mobile connectivity.
It uses advanced data encryption and security features, and the developers go to great lengths reassure their users that their messages, photos, videos, and other secrets are all perfectly safe.

8) Kindu for Couples

Kindu is an app for the bedroom, helping couple to explore their desires and fantasies without potential embarrassments.

It works by asking both you and your partner a series of questions about what gets you going, then reveals the topics about which you both answered the same way. Categories are diverse, covering the soft and sensual to the more outlandish and risqué, and includes areas of interest such as sex toys, role playing, group sex, foreplay, public sex, and fetishes. Its passcode protected, so there’s no chance you’ll be accidentally exposed, and even includes a way for you to suggest love-making ideas to your partner anonymously.
The app has regularly featured in top ten lists and comes highly recommended by a wide variety of publications, from Yahoo News and Mashable to FemaleFirst and Parenting.com.

Your Tips?

What do you and your partner use to stay in touch? Do you have any app tips for people in long distance relationship or who need some new excitement in their lives? Have you used any of the apps we’ve discussed?
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.

Touchscreen Controls for Your TV: Meet ZRRO, the Device That Will Change Your TV Experience

What if you could control your TV with a simple and intuitive touchscreen? This future may not be so far off.
Over the last few years, a lot of established industry players and small startups have launched products intended to revolutionize the TV. Ideally, each of these solutions would bring together games, cable television, streaming movies, apps, music, and the Internet under a single, unified interface. So far, none of them have done particularly well.
Enter ZRRO, a novel take on the idea of an Android console/set-top box — all thanks to a fancy controller that knows when your fingers hover over it.

What Is ZRRO?

Normally, when you think of Android consoles, what comes to mind is the Ouya, a $100 plastic box containing the guts of a mid-range smartphone.
The Ouya ran a special version of Android with a custom interface. Games, which had to be designed specifically for the Ouya, were controlled using a chunky gamepad. The Ouya was a huge flop due to the difficulty of attracting content to the platform, and issues with system performance and build quality.
ZRRO is doing something a little bit different. Their set-top-box runs stock, vanilla Android, and you download apps via the Play Store. You have access to all of the games and apps available on Android, as well as the browser and music player.
Obviously, they aren’t the first ones to have this idea. The issue is one of controls: how do you make these apps, which were designed for small touchscreen control, make sense on a television?  ZRRO’s answer relies on their unique controller.  Here’s their pitch:

Using a Touchless Touchscreen

The ZRRO remote control is a neat piece of technology using a new kind of touch interface. Modern touchscreens work by sensing the capacitance (ability to store electrical charge) of your fingers and measuring the change in capacitance across the surface of the screen to figure out where they are.
As it turns out, it’s possible through the use of clever sensors to measure that change even when the fingers aren’t touching the surface. ZRRO’s touchscreen can detect the position of your fingers even when they’re several centimeters above the screen.  This information is displayed on the TV screen as a floating overlay, which allows you to know where your fingers are, and use normal touch gestures on the remote to control the TV.

I haven’t personally tried the ZRRO,  so I don’t know how intuitive it really is, but it’s definitely a neat idea. If they can make their interface scheme work, ZRRO will have effectively solved the content problem that’s held back smart TV solutions from the market — their customers will be guaranteed to always have the latest games and apps, regardless of adoption.

Talking to the Person behind ZRRO

I talked to one of the folks behind the campaign, Nimrod Back, about their product. Here’s what they had to say:

There are a lot of products vying for the future of the TV right now. Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices like the Chromecast all want to stake a claim. What makes the ZRRO different?

“None of the devices trying to claim ownership of our TVs today are able to provide us with a complete solution. Connect ZRRO to your TV, and you get a gaming console with over 200,000 games (most of them for free!), a streamer, a browser that you can actually use (unlike the one you have on your smart TV), and an endless collection of apps. ZRRO is different in one important aspect: it allows you to touch your TV from the couch, but since it opens the entire Android world to your TV, the benefits are revolutionary.”

Your touchscreen technology is neat, but we’ve seen similar ideas before. What distinguishes your technology from the hover-interaction present in, say, the Samsung Galaxy S4?

“ZRRO uses patented technology called zTouch which was developed in-house. It’s distinguished from current hover interactions on two major aspects:

1. Technical superiority:
   • zTouch allows for multi-hover tracking (any number of fingers at a time), while other solutions can track only one finger at a time.
   • zTouch can track hover and touch simultaneously and independently, unlike any other solution on the market.
   • Hover height is up to 3cm (1.2in) with zTouch and only up to 1.5cm with the competitors.
2. Usage: Unlike Samsung, which didn’t quite find what to do with the tech, we found an actual usage for the technology.”

Gamers know that responsiveness is critical for gaming — even mobile gaming. Does the latency on your controller measure up to the standard set by conventional game controllers?

“With the current setup the latency is around 100ms, but is mainly due to the communication protocol and OS, so we are certain that we can speed it up with further development.”

The ZRRO is inexpensive, which is good! However, with the rise of 4K televisions, it’s possible that high-end mobile games will overtax the system at high resolution. Are there any existing games that push the system to its limits?

“We’ve tested our system with the most demanding games on the Play Store, and they all performed flawlessly. The ZRRO Box was built to handle high-end Android games and is equipped accordingly.”

What Do You Think?

If you’re interested in the ZRRO, you can check out the Kickstarter here.  The console and a controller cost about $150 at the moment (but that will go up to $200 soon) and are expected to ship in September. So far, the campaign has raised more than half of its $200,000 goal and looks like a shoe-in to make its goal.

So, what do you think? Does the ZRRO look like something you’d use in your daily life? Does anyone actually want to play Angry Birds on their TV? Is there a better option out there? Let us know in the comments!

Does Apple Use Green Bubbles to Make You Hate Android Users?

iMessage, the service that Mac and iOS devices use to chat with each other, is a much-loved feature of the Apple ecosystem – and it got even better with an upgrade in iOS 8. Instead of using standard text messages, iMessage sends text over the Internet using your WiFi or data connection for a faster and more reliable conversation.
If you have an iPhone, you may have a noticed a slight difference in the bubbles that represent your sent messages. This seemingly insignificant detail sparked controversy recently; let’s examine why.
Note: iMessage is supported on iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, and Mac. However, since none of these devices typically have texting capabilities except the iPhone, in this article I’ll be talking about iMessage on iPhone only.

What’s the Beef?

In case you haven’t used iMessage before, or do use it and just haven’t noticed, here’s a rundown of what happens. By default, when you send a message through the Messages app on your iPhone, it goes through iMessage if the recipient is also using an iPhone. If the person on the other end has any other phone – mainly Android, but Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and “dumb” phones too – the message is sent as an SMS. iMessage uses blue bubbles when sent; a text uses green.

The differences aren’t just cosmetic. iMessage includes read receipts and “typing” messages, dead-simple group messaging, doesn’t count against your monthly plan for texts, and is faster since it goes over the Internet. However, not everyone has an iPhone, so we can expect Apple users to understand the difference and respect their friends’ decisions, right?
Wrong. See for yourself how people really feel about green bubbles:








One user even took this popular image (it’s hard to see in the tweet) comparing the features of the Nexus 4 (released in 2012) and the iPhone 6 (released in 2014) and dismissed it due to the fact that its creator “sends green text message bubbles.” Apparently, your statement of device specifications is invalid if you don’t have the “chosen” blue bubbles.


This is just a minute sample; a search on Twitter for “green bubbles” will bring up hundreds more, and they aren’t stopping. Fascinating, isn’t it? These users seem to despise green bubbles so much that they act as if it’s an inconvenience to text the lowly peons that spawn them.

The Psychology of Green Bubbles

Paul Ford’s fascinating look at this phenomenon, “It’s Kind of Cheesy Being Green“, cites some of these tweets and looks at why green bubbles seem to strike a nerve with so many iPhone users. But are their gripes really valid?
Some, including Ford, have suggested that the green bubbles are a “harsh” color and are harder on the eyes that the cooling blue color that iMessage provides. Longtime users of iOS might remember that before iMessage was around (it launched with iOS 5 in 2011) all messages showed up in green. It’s your call whether this green became less attractive once iOS made the jump to a flatter look with its radical iOS 7 re-design.



We’ve established that iMessage is objectively better than standard texting, as those with limited plans can chatter to their hearts’ content while on WiFi. However, few people, if any, are citing the actual benefits of the service when complaining about green bubbles. Instead, it becomes almost an obsession: people want to purge every green bubble (and those who cause them) from their devices.

Does Apple Encourage This?

It’s no secret that Apple isn’t a fan of Android, and none of this discussion is meant to be an iPhone vs. Android debate. Rather, we want to look at this fascinating sociological effect, since it clearly isn’t only a few people who are fighting to kill green bubbles. Apple designed the OS; could they have planted the seed of anti-green-bubblism?


Taking a look at Apple’s iMessage page shows a small jab at green texters, though it’s pretty harmless – SMS users probably won’t be “green with envy” since they won’t even know what they’re missing. They’ve been more aggressive, however. During Apple’s developer conference in 2014, they openly poked fun at green bubbles and said that friends who cause them use “inferior devices.” So they’re certainly in on the reputation.

Green is obviously the color of the Android logo, but it isn’t as if Apple totally rejects the color from their operating system. The Messaging icon itself is a similar shade of green – odd that nobody has brought this up, since it would make more sense to make it blue.
In all, it’s highly unlikely that Apple intentionally planned these color differences to reference Android. Having the two types of messages be different colors is important so users can differentiate, of course, but that’s really the bulk of it. However, that doesn’t mean that Apple is ignoring this sensation. They know that people hate green bubbles, so if non-iPhone users feel pressure to switch due to their friends’ urging, Apple picks up customers from this tiny design decision.


Hopefully, they won’t stoop to making this a huge selling point, though. The iPhone is an amazing device on its own, and making fun of the competition only looks Apple look petty. Having to resort to trashing your opponents instead of promoting why your product is better is a poor place to be in – just look at how Microsoft embarrassed itself with its “Scroogled” line of ads.

What Do the People Say?

We could end our discussion of this peculiarity here, but I wanted to make this study more interesting. I created a survey (you can still fill it out if you’d like) that I shared to Facebook. In it, I asked friends, family, and students at my university (a huge thank-you to all who helped me out!) about their mobile devices. After seeing what device they used and what version of iOS they were on just out of curiosity, I proceeded to poll them about iMessage. If they weren’t iOS users, I asked different questions to get their perspective. Here’s what I found.


Of the 119 respondents, 58% used an iPhone, 29% were on Android, and 13% had a “dumb” phone. All but two iOS users knew what iMessage was – then I asked if they knew of any advantages iMessage has over texting. Among the responses were:

• I can text my friends in other countries without having to worry about international texting rates.
• Yes. All of them. Uses data so mobile signal isn’t an issue. Delivery notifications. Cheaper. More secure.
• iMessage tells you if your message was delivered and read but a regular text message tells you nothing.
• Sometimes it will use iMessage if a text fails
• You can see if the person has had the message delivered to them, if they have read it, and when they are responding.

A handful of folks said they weren’t aware of any differences, but the majority had at least some idea. My next question was whether they prefer blue or green bubbles when texting:

I was really trying to get at people’s opinions here before they read the article, so I asked them to follow up if necessary:

• They don’t mean much to me, I appreciate the added benefits of iMessage, but I don’t use them for much. Most people seem to turn off read receipts, anyway.
• The “read TIME” lets me know someone saw the message and they won’t be obligated to respond (like when it’s a definitive end of the conversation. EX: “Meet me there at 5″ — then I won’t worry that they haven’t seen it). If I haven’t gotten a response in a while I can just send a follow-up text.
• All of the benefits can also be downsides. Sometimes it’s glitchy and it makes it harder to ignore people.
• They both mean that I am sending/receiving messages so that works for me!
• Only losers use green ones! Nah for real, the blue is a more pleasant colour.
• Not a huge fan of either, but I think the green is a little nicer.
• To be honest, it is a matter of color preference. Blue makes me think of the cold, while green makes me think about warm and sunny days.
• If I see green, I usually think that something did not send correctly and had to be sent as SMS since most of my contacts are iPhone users.
• I actually am not a fan of iMessage and don’t even bother to have it enabled. That might seem weird, but I just prefer the little extra privacy that comes with being able to ignore someone’s message and not seem like a jerk for not responding when I may be busy.
• I know it’s a lowly android user if it’s not blue.
• Most of my friends do have apple phones so all of their message bubbles are blue, but my boyfriend had an android so it seems special.

Here, we definitely see a nice balance and a clash with how the Twitter universe sees green bubbles. Most people who had a preference had a good reason when asked to back it up, and some even brought up great points, like knowing the other person has read your “See you at 8″ message and that iMessage can be glitchy.


After giving them Ford’s article, I asked for their response. There are far too many interesting responses to publish here, but as a small selection:

• I think it’s honestly kind of petty to get so worked up about whether the bubbles are blue or green. it’s just an embellishment on the product. I’m not surprised Apple markets for blue and not green. it’s their job to sell their product so they need to use all methods at their disposal
• I have never noticed the correlation to green bubbles and non apple products before. What annoys me is this “first world problem” mentality… I mean, really, you’ve got a PHONE for goodness sake… bubble color is not important
• This article was so interesting! It is something that I have thought about before. And yes, green bubbles do slightly annoy me so I can understand why people hate them.
• Green bubbles annoy me. They have for years. I’m just interested to hear I’m not alone on this.
• They oddly irritate me, and yet, I’m not 100% why, probably just because they’re different. It really wouldn’t be difficult at all to make all text bubbles the same color.
• My first reaction was that the way people feel so strongly about it is very shallow and ridiculous, but I realize that I’ve had those same, almost sub-conscious, tendencies. While I will most likely be more aware of when the bubbles are green, I honestly don’t care that much about the difference. A few of my siblings have non-Apple phones, and it’s never bothered me to a significant extent.

After that I asked a few more questions to quantify green bubble feelings – 1 being “They don’t bother me at all” and 5 being “I won’t text people with green bubbles.” It appears most iPhone users don’t actually hate Android and most don’t even care about green bubbles.

Aside from some closing thoughts, that was the end for the iPhone users. Android and “dumb” phone owners got a separate survey, and most of them answered that they text iPhone users often. I asked which device they use and what they knew about iMessage; it seems that non-Apple people aren’t as familiar with the service.

I asked them to read the article, too, and most thought the whole thing was ridiculous.

• I think they should feel privileged to have an iPhone at all, and a home, and food/clean water.
• These people are being ridiculous. As is Apple, to be honest. This feels like a divide and conquer type deal, making Apple advocates aware of their Android-owning friends. It’s underhanded and slightly ridiculous.
• I think the color green can induce some sort of negative psychological effects as opposed to blue, which can induce relaxing and calming feelings. But I believe the people on Twitter described in the article are taking it to a whole other (and unnecessary) level.
• No merit, just a nuance of society. Also a pretty sad indication of what people allow to affect them.
• I wonder if green has some kind of uncomfortable sight type deal. Like red rooms are said to make you more on edge, etc.?

In all, it seems like most people surveyed don’t let green bubbles affect them too much. Twitter has fiercely voiced their bit, though. Who’s right?

Are Green Bubbles Are Here to Stay?

Perhaps it’s just me, but this phenomenon is deeply fascinating. How can such a tiny design choice, that likely didn’t have any malicious intent behind it, spark such a huge movement of people who hate green bubbles with a passion? It would be quite a sight to see the survey answers from people who are tweeting like this.


As the final word on this: no, Apple didn’t do this on purpose. That’s a bit of a far-fetched claim. However, they’re probably loving the effect green bubbles have had on iPhone users, and if just a few people switched to an Apple device because of this minute complaint, they’ve made a profit.
The question that survey respondents answered that folks on Twitter haven’t is why they prefer blue bubbles. Is it an OCD-like effect where they want everything to be the same color, or do they really feel that people with iPhones are above texting people without them? That’s a study for another day.


Another interesting point to bring up is that changing the color of your text message is a simple tweak you can make on Android, even without rooting. Using an alternative texting app, you can fine-tune the color for both incoming and outgoing messages. So, if it’s really all about the bubble colors, then maybe these iPhone users are using the wrong device.
If you enjoyed this topic, I invite you to view all the responses (only names have been removed) and if you’d like to take the survey yourself, I’d love to read your thoughts! You’ll also be able to find plenty of tweets about green bubbles by searching for the term on Twitter, if you’d like to see for yourself.
Hangouts, an all-in-one app that’s Android’s closest counterpart to iMessage, is a great app and one Android users might enjoy for messaging each other.

How do you feel about green bubbles? Do you find this as fascinating as I do? I totally want to hear your thoughts on this one, so leave me a comment with your take!

What is the Best Mobile Flight Tracker App?

People who have family in far flung places, who travel frequently, or who simply have a love of aviation will all be acutely aware of the frustrations of air travel. Whether it’s knowing if a plane has been delayed, trying to work out what time to get to the airport to pick up a loved one, or working out landing times across multiple time zones, it’s not easy to navigate the minefield of information available.
There’s always been websites to track flights, but with the advent of smartphones, life has become a little easier for seasoned users of airlines. Most major carriers now provide their own apps, and there are numerous services that can tell you exactly where a flight is at any given moment.
Here we look at some of the best flight tracker apps.

FlightAware Flight Tracker

With more than 1 million downloads, the FlightAware app is one of the most popular flight trackers in the Google Play Store, and with an average rating of four stars off more than 21,000 reviews, you can be sure you are in good hands.

The app lets users see the latest updates and exact location of any commercial flight anywhere in the world, as well as any charter or private flight in the skies over the United States or Canada. The data provided by the app includes radar overlays, complete flight details, and even terminals of departure and arrival. This makes the app especially useful if you’re rushing to make a connection, or your flight has been re-routed to a different terminal or airport.
Finally, you can create alerts for specific flights, enable push notifications, and share travel details with friends in your contact list.
We didn’t include this in our list of best Android apps, but it’s highly recommended!

GateGuru

GateGuru claims to be “revolutionising the airport experience”, and their grandiose claims are surprisingly accurate. The app is like a better version of the once-popular GoHow Airport which we reviewed back in 2012.

They brand themselves as a day-of-travel app, meaning that they try and offer useful resources to travellers from the moment you leave your house to the moment you eventually arrive at your end destination.
The app covers airports around the world (125 in the United States, 17 in Canada, 31 in Europe, 29 in Asia, and 2 in Australia), and not only offers data about where your flight is, but also airport maps, car rental information, where to check-in, weather conditions and last-minute hotel deals.

Google Now and FlightStats

Google Now has lots of hidden features, but lovers of the service will be aware that for some time it has offered its users the ability to track their flights. To find out the necessary information, you simply need to search within Google Now for your flight number and the app will give you updates (if you have a flight reservation in your inbox — either yours or one that someone forward to you — this process should be automatic).
What is less-well advertised is that Google uses a service called FlightStats to provide you with the data. It means that if you either don’t have or don’t like Google Now, you can still access the same information.

FlightStats is available for free in the Google Play Store, and is a real-time flight status and airport tracking application. The full app actually offers considerably more useful material than the condensed Google Now version, and should definitely be part of your armoury even if you are an avid Google Now user.
You can access any flight status in the world as long as you know either its flight number, airport of departure or route, you can watch flights move around the globe in real time, and you can access lists of delays, gates and weather for almost all major airports.

Flightradar24 – Flight Tracker

This app is not free, costing $3.99 in the app store, however, if you are a keen aviation enthusiast, it will definitely appeal. In addition to the typical flight tracking and live updates, Flightradar24 includes some unique features that set it apart from the crowd.
Firstly, it includes a point-and-identify feature. That means that if you’re in your back garden, sitting at an airport viewing area, or driving along a road, and you see a plane in the sky — no matter how high or low — you just need to point your Android device at it and you will get a complete breakdown of flight number, airline, and destination; it works surprisingly well.

Secondly, the app includes a way to see what a pilot sees. This means you just need to select a plane from the map and you’ll be presented with a real-time 3D visualisation what the pilot is looking at through the cockpit. Not so exciting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but a really cool feature when a plane is over cities or interesting natural landscapes.
The app works by using ADS-B transponders (something most modern aircraft are fitted with) to access a plane’s positional data. They claim they have a “rapidly growing network of several thousand ground stations around the world to receive [the] data” and thus can use multi-lateration to work out the locations of planes that don’t have ADS-B transponders fitted. They also have access to a live feed from the US Federal Aviation Administration.
There is a free version of the app — but that doesn’t include the appealing 3D visualisations, search functions, and data about altitude and speed.

So Which Is The Best?

If you’re prepared to spend some money, then Flightradar24 is the clear choice. Its depth of features and level of coverage (almost 100 percent globally) sets it apart from all the free offerings.
If you think Flightradar24 is a bit unnecessarily complicated, it is a tough choice between FlightStats and FlightAware. FlightStats will suit users on Google Now because the data and updates will be coordinated with the advice they receive elsewhere, but FlightAware’s NEXRAD radar overlay is an added boon for those who like to feel like a pro.
The advice? Try them all and settle on the one you are most comfortable with.

Have you used any of the four recommendations? If so, we’d love you hear from you. What features did you find worked well? Are there any features you wish were included? Let us know in the comments below.

8 Unique Apps to Help You Save Gas Money

Although gas prices are currently lower than they have been in years, saving a little pocket change is always a good thing. Americans spend $1,000-$3,000 on gas each year. This average can vary due to commuting distance, market changes, and vehicle health.
Even if you’re not the best at shopping for gas, there’s an app to help. Mobile apps can save you money by helping you efficiently manage your vehicle’s mileage and fuel costs. Test your vehicle’s performance or find the nearest gas station with the best prices. Do the basics well with some app help.
Please note that while the apps listed below are related to driving and your vehicle, you should never use your smartphone while driving. For the safety of yourself and others, please only use these apps either before or after your commute has taken place.

FuelLog (Android, Free)

One of the oldest and most trusted apps designed to help you save money on gas, FuelLog is free to download and use. A unique feature — FuelLog supports electric cars and provides a detailed report of your gas usage and expenses. You can anticipate gas costs by using the fuel calculator and track vehicle maintenance within the app.
The Pro version of FuelLog is available for $2.59 on Android only. It includes an unlimited number of cars, graphs, and cost entries in an ad-free environment. With FuelLogPRO users can import or export data, making in-depth analysis of expense costs simple during tax season.
Either version of FuelLog can help you save money by increasing awareness of fuel expenses, trip costs and car maintenance issues affecting gas purchases.

Garmin Mechanic (Android, Free)

Garmin Mechanic makes it easy to track your vehicle’s speed, total distance and mileage to help you save money on gas. It can be your mobile toolbox on Android smartphones and tablets.
Garmin Mechanic stands out from other apps because it analyzes fuel usage and vehicle performance over time. Entering your information at fill up provides insights into cost per mile, total fuel used, and approximate miles per gallon for one or more vehicles.
Pairing Garmin Mechanic with ecoRoute HD (a $99.99 upgrade) opens up more robust vehicle tracking tools, including real-time data about your vehicle’s essential functions. You can track everything from oil pressure to air flow while accessing precise fuel economy information specific to your vehicle.

GasBuddy (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

Whether gas prices are falling or on an upswing, GasBuddy will help you save money by finding the least-expensive gas prices in your area. Perfect for savvy shoppers seeking the best local deal, GasBuddy is available online and via mobile apps.
Like Waze, it works by user participation. Fellow users update the database daily ensuring the app’s customers can access the lowest local gas prices.
Compared with similar apps, GasBuddy focuses on finding the cheapest gas prices in the area and where to find them. The database spans the U.S. and Canada, making it ideal for road trips and local travel.
GasBuddy also uses gamification to motivate users to update the database. Reporting gas prices earns users awards, points and daily entries for a $100 gas gift card.

AAA TripTik (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

Save money on road trips. AAA’s TripTik web and mobile apps do not need a paid membership for AAA to access the trip planning features.
Besides mapping travel distance, users can search for the nearest gas stations or electric car charging stations, which is helpful when comparison shopping in an unfamiliar location. Fuel-economy aside, you can also find nearby hotels, restaurants, pharmacies and other local amenities.
For AAA members ($66-$126 annually), the mobile apps offer more functionality like in-app roadside help requests, optional Passbook integration, and battery replacement quotes.

Gas Manager (iOS and Android, Free)

Gas Manager is a helpful companion for frugal drivers. The freemium app tracks gas usage and expenses.
Tracking the first 10 fill-ups is free; then, an in-app purchase of $3.99 unlocks unlimited fill-up tracking. Using Gas Manager helps you save money by monitoring gas consumption, price and mile per dollar.
Viewing fuel data within the app also provides a glimpse of your vehicle’s fuel economy and efficiency. The app also helps track your vehicle’s carbon footprint.
Helpful features like geolocation of your parking spot or the ability to find local gas stations and mechanics, add to the app’s value and money-saving potential.
For more apps with a wide variety of vehicle management features, check out these car mode apps for Android.

Waze (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

Like GasBuddy, Waze mobilizes the power of a community to ensure information is constantly updated.
Compared with traditional gas-related apps, Waze saves you time and money by providing traffic and road hazard information in real time.
It is particularly useful for those with long daily commutes. Waze can help you avoid traffic jams (a super inefficient use of fuel) and get to your destination quicker. The app also points you in the direction of the cheapest gas prices.
Specific data transmitted via Waze includes law enforcement traps, closed roads and accidents on local roads. A live map is accessible and customizable within Waze, allowing you to tailor the information shown to include only the most relevant updates. Users gain points for adding new data to Waze and using Waze as their GPS, making travel and fuel tracking a daily game.

Gas Guru (iOS and Android, Free)

Developed by Yellowpages.com, Gas Guru’s features are similar to those of GasBuddy, as the app helps you locate the nearest gas station with the lowest prices. But when have you ever just needed gas?
Whether you need an oil change or a quick bite to eat, Gas Guru points you in the right direction. Between enhancing the efficiency of your daily commute and finding the least-expensive gas stations in your area, Gas Guru can help you save a significant sum.
Built-in social sharing and location ratings make it easy to help friends save money on gas and shop at the highest-rated local businesses. In an emergency, Gas Guru also helps you locate nearby mechanics and ATMs.
Fuel price information is consistently updated via the Oil Price Information Service as opposed to the app’s community of users.

Dash (iOS and Android, Free)

Dash stands out on this list for two reasons. First, it does need extra equipment in the form of an on-board diagnostic device (OBD), which, depending on the vendor, begins at around $20.
Dash is a Bluetooth-connected app (itself free to use, minus equipment costs) that tracks your driving style, compares nearby gas prices, and even evaluates what the unexpected check engine light is signaling.
Dash offers real-time MPG information and custom driver scores, while saving you money by helping you become a better driver and scouting the best gas prices. It supports many vehicles.
One of Dash’s most exciting features is the ability to see your driver rating compared to other users, which is a motivator to consistently improve your fuel efficiency habits.
If an OBD device sounds like a good fit for you, you can also check your car’s performance with these other OBD devices.

Where Will You Travel?

The average price of gas within a geographical area can vary by 10 cents or more per gallon. Using any one of these tools can save you a few dollars each time you fill up. Now that you’re equipped with apps to track and save every penny, where will you go with all the extra cash?

Replace Samsung Apps With These Better Alternatives

Samsung phones have been among the most popular because they are very capable devices with handy features built in. There’s S Health, S Note, S Voice, and so much more.
However, even if you don’t have a Samsung phone, you can still get the same features that those apps provide. Also, these alternatives are a good way to avoid the Samsung-provided apps if you don’t like them.

For Imitating S Health

There are a few apps you can use to replace S Health. Google Fit can help you track your fitness goals and record your progress just by carrying your phone with you while you walk, run, or bike.
MyFitnessPal can help with counting calories and making sure that you’re eating just the right amount.
Finally, to get your approximate heart rate, you can use an app like Instant Heart Rate, which uses your phone’s camera and flash to track color changes in your finger that are used to get a rough estimate of your heart rate. In other words, you can use it without your phone actually having heart rate-monitoring hardware.

For Imitating S Note

S Note is a great application for taking handwritten notes, especially with the S Pen on Galaxy Note phones. However, Evernote has the capability for you to make handwritten notes as well (and plenty of other uses), so there’s little need to have to use S Note.
If you don’t have a Galaxy Note phone, you can also just buy a stylus or a pen/stylus all-in-one for cheap. Evernote is by far the best solution because S Note has the option to synchronize handwritten notes to Evernote; it’d be easier to just use Evernote from the beginning since it includes all of your notes, no matter what type they are.

For Imitating S Voice

S Voice can be replaced by Google Now, which varies in effectiveness based on how many of Google’s services you use. If you’re just doing random Web searches, then Google Now is great for everyone, but if you need it to make appointments in your calendar for you, it might be best if you’re already using Google Calendars.
You can do all sorts of things with the voice controls of Google Now, and it really is changing the way people search. It can even remind you where you parked. It’s a very solid alternative.

For Imitating Touchwiz

Touchwiz, the default launcher and user interface that comes with Samsung phones, has certainly gotten better in recent years, and there’s hope that it might actually be awesome (gasp!) as the Lollipop updates start rolling out.
However, for the time being, I still can’t recommend it. In fact, any other launcher will be great, with my two top picks being Buzz Launcher and the Google Now Launcher.
Buzz Launcher is highly customizable and lets you make your phone truly yours, while the Google Now Launcher makes using Google Now easy and keeps the rest of the experience simple and intuitive. However, there are certainly plenty of launchers to choose from, including some super simple ones.

For Imitating Hancom Office

Samsung phones come with the Hancom Office suite, which is alright enough for viewing office files. However, there are plenty of excellent options you can install on both Samsung and non-Samsung phones, such as Google Drive, Microsoft Office, and Polaris Office.
With all of these options, you will still be able to work on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. If you’re not sure which one to pick, just install all three and then uninstall the ones you end up not liking or not using, or check out some of our comparisons.

For Imitating the GALAXY App Store

Samsung devices come with another app store, the GALAXY App Store. While you can’t get it on other phones, there is still another app store you can add to your device if you’d like more than just the Google Play Store: the Amazon Appstore.
While I personally don’t like other app stores because they cause fragmentation, I won’t tell others that they shouldn’t add them to their phones. And if you do add another app store, you might as well add the one from Amazon. While it’s not as great as the Google Play Store, it’s still a pretty nice addition to gain easy access to some extra apps. They often have great deals on free or cheap apps too.

Which Samsung Apps and Features Do You Want?

With these apps, you’ll get the same popular features that come with Samsung phones. If you have a Samsung phone and don’t like the Samsung apps that come with it, these are great alternatives that provide the same functionality.

Best of all, they’re easy to get and work on any phone running a recent version of Android.

4 Tips & Tricks Every Android User Needs to Know

Android is an awesome mobile operating system, but feeling lost while using it is completely understandable. To make sure you’re not alone, we’ve written a guide for absolute beginners detailing how to get a grip on your device, and a sequel ensuring you’ve mastered all the basics.
If you’re ready to move onto some more tips for your Android device, you’ve come to the right place. Today we’ll cover some beginner-level tricks; while they might not be as obvious or essential to daily use as what’s been covered in the other posts, they’ll give you even more control over your device. Let’s begin!

Control Your Default Apps and Notifications

When you open a link on Android, if you have multiple apps that can handle it, you’ll have to choose which one you’d like to use. This pop-up includes two choices: Just Once and Always. Choosing the former means you’ll be asked next time you try to open a similar link, while the latter sets that app as default for those kind of links.
Let’s take an example. Say you have multiple Twitter apps on your phone, and you click on a link to a tweet. That link can be opened in your Chrome browser by taking you to the mobile webpage, but it can also be opened in the official Twitter app or any others you have installed. If you only use the alternative Twitter app, it makes sense to set it as default.

Once you click Always (it does happen by accident!), you won’t be asked next time you try to open a link like that. Should you need to clear that app due to a mistake, just head to Settings > Apps > [App Name] and choose Clear Defaults to reset your choice.
While you’re here, you can also clear the Show Notifications box if you’d prefer not to be notified by an app at all. Notification ads are easily removed if you suspect a problem.

You can change your choices as many times as you’d like. For some apps, such as your favorite browser, you probably won’t have to change the default often. Others, though, may have you change your mind more frequently.
Mihir has covered an alternative solution to app defaults if you’re dissatisfied with how Android handles it natively.

Make Changes to Your Apps on the Play Store

Google Play is the place to get all kinds of apps for your Android; we’ve shown you some essential ones for newcomers if you need some suggestions. Out of the box, though, Google Play exhibits a few behaviors you might find irritating. Here’s how to fix them.
First, you might notice that apps automatically update without you having to explicitly tell them to. Since keeping everything up to date keeps you safe, it’s wise to leave this enabled so your apps don’t become horribly outdated. However, some may be concerned about these updates using their data plan or otherwise object to the practice.
If you want to take on the responsibility for updates, open the Play Store on your phone and tap the slide-out menu in the top left, followed by Settings. In this menu, you can turn auto updates off completely, enable them on WiFi only, or let them run at any time. The WiFi option is probably the wisest choice, but it’s up to you.

These settings also hold some other options you should examine. The Add icon to Home screen option automatically adds shortcuts to your launcher every time you install an app; this is annoying, and you’ll probably want to disable it.
Finally, the Require authentication for purchases option will force you to enter your Google account password whenever you buy an app. You can choose it to ask every half-hour, every time, or never. Since in-app purchases are so rampant and mistakes happen, setting this to 30 minutes is a good idea.

Shut Off Autocorrect

Autocorrect is essential on most Android devices, as typing on a tiny keyboard doesn’t lend itself well to accuracy. The best keyboards all implement autocorrect with varying degrees of success, but sometimes you don’t want your phone to assume it knows what you mean. For those times when you’re just jotting down notes or practicing your typing accuracy, you can easily turn off auto-correction.
Using the stock Google keyboard, head to Settings > Language & Input > Google Keyboard > Text Correction > Auto-correction and you can set it to Off. If you’d like, you can also make it more aggressive here.

Other keyboards, like SwiftKey or Swype, will be different and may not even allow for autocorrect to be turned off since it’s the backbone of their service.

Take a Screenshot

In nearly every article about Android we write, you see plenty of screenshots to accompany the text. Screenshots are extremely useful for illustrating an issue you’re having or for capturing a funny moment, perhaps in a text message or on Facebook.
Thankfully, in recent versions of Android, the action for taking a screenshot has been simplified. Just push Power + Volume Down at any time to take a picture of what’s on the screen. It will be saved to your Gallery; from there you can send it to a friend or post it online.

This combination might not work for you if you’re on an older Android device. Hopefully not many people are using outdated phones, but if you’re having trouble taking a screenshot, see Chris’ guide for multiple workarounds.

Feel Like an Expert?

It takes lots of time to learn Android and become comfortable with how it works. Mastering these tips is another step on your journey to becoming an Android expert; make sure to share this list with a friend who’s just starting out too!
We have even more resources available if you’re a novice looking for knowledge. Check out what to do right away with a new phone, as well as the best apps for any user.

What other questions do you have about using Android? Did these tips answer any of your questions? Leave a comment if you’re a newer user and let me know where you’re at!

When Disaster Strikes: Android Apps You Want in Case of an Emergency

A natural disaster can come with days of warning, or one can strike at a moment’s notice. Either way, it pays to be prepared.
Here are some of the potentially life-saving apps that you might just want to have lying around on your Android phone or tablet during an emergency, along with a few tips on how to put them to use.

Stay Alert & Gather Information

Your first thought during a natural disaster may be to stay glued to the weather station, but as it turns out, the American Red Cross has you covered as well. The organization has roughly a dozen apps available on Google Play, with many geared towards natural disasters. While it doesn’t have every type represented, there’s an app for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.

Chances are you don’t live in a place where you need to keep all of these installed at once (please leave a comment if you do), but if you reside somewhere that regularly suffers from any of these disturbances, it doesn’t hurt to be prudent.
Each of these apps comes with step-by-step guides on what to do before, during, and after things turn bad. If you know something is incoming but don’t know where, they offer maps so you can see precisely which areas are being hit. And in the lead up to an incident, you can take tests and unlock achievements that verify whether you’ve absorbed the information.

Learn First Aid

First Aid

The Red Cross’s First Aid app is good to have around for any type of accident, but it’s especially useful during an emergency when you may not have time to think or perform an Internet search.
You can learn how to stop bleeding, respond to a heart attack, or tend to broken bones. If someone is hurt, this is the kind of app you want guiding you through the process of making sure whatever’s afflicting them doesn’t get worse.

The British Red Cross offers an app with instructions on how to perform first aid on kids. And since family members aren’t always human, the American Red Cross has produced a first aid app for pets, too.

AR First Aid

The Red Cross isn’t the only one producing these types of apps. There are plenty of options available in the Play Store, including AR First Aid, which you can see on display in this delightfully low budget trailer.

AR First Aid contains information on everything from allergies and burns to insect bites, electric shocks, broken bones, and fevers. The app isn’t particularly pretty, but the information is thorough. You may even want to study up beforehand, because you never know when you may need to save someone’s life.

Have a Flashlight & Survival Tools Handy

One thing all of the aforementioned natural disasters have in common is their ability to knock out the power. In which case, it helps to have a flashlight around.
Your phone’s battery may not like powering its LED light for long, but depending on the situation, a dead battery is a secondary concern. There are no shortage of flashlight (or “torch”) apps out there, so I’m only going to pick out a couple.

iHandy’s High-Powered Flashlight

iHandy’s High-Powered Flashlight supplements its ability to light up a room with a strobe mode, a built-in SOS signal, and the addition of a compass. This way if you’re injured or stranded away from shelter, you may be able to find your way home or call for help.
Nevertheless, it’s good to know how to turn your phone into a survival kit in case you find yourself separated for a while.

Power Torch

Power Torch doesn’t come with nearly as many features, but it does let you turn on your light without unlocking your phone. Just long-press the power button. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Some phones may come with a flashlight toggle in their notification shade, so check there first before going out in search of an app. And if your phone doesn’t have a quick toggle present out-of-the-box, you can always create one yourself.

Save Emergency Information

In case you or a family member needs medical care, it’s good to have a record of everyone’s medical history. This way emergency medical technicians, nurses, and doctors can get to work in a way that doesn’t put anyone in further danger. The In Case of Emergency ICE app is one of the various options in the Play Store that can help with such a task.
In Case of Emergency ICE can also store information about your insurance providers, so if extended care is in the works, doctors know how much is covered. And if you don’t want folks messing around any parts of your phone you don’t want, even while you’re in critical condition, you can make In Case of Emergency ICE visible while everything else is locked.

Some of the features are tucked away behind a paid version that costs $1.98. ICE: In Case of Emergency is a similarly-named alternative you may want to consider, but it goes for $3.99 and doesn’t have a free option to tinker around with.

What Apps Do You Keep around for an Emergency?

There’s no one way to be perfectly prepared for the unexpected, because no matter how much warning you have, things can get chaotic very quickly. Hopefully some of these apps can help you keep your cool. But please, make sure your have more than just your phone around in the event of an emergency.

I did not cover all of the potentially useful apps available for Android. Which ones do you feel a little bit safer knowing are tucked away inside your pocket?