Google reportedly partners with Audi for on-board Android

Google is reportedly hitting the road for its next battle with Apple for mobile OS market share.
The Web giant has teamed with carmaker Audi to develop in-car entertainment and information systems based on the Android operating system, according to the Wall Street Journal. The aim of the partnership, which is expected to be announced next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, would allow for in-car integration of music and navigation apps currently available on smartphones, sources told the Journal.

The partnership is expected to generate a challenger to Apple's iOS in the Car, which aims to integrate users' iPhones with their car's onboard receiver or "infotainment" system. Unveiled in June at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, the feature is expected to provide an interface that lets users control things like music, messages, and maps right through the vehicle.

So far, Apple has signed up such automakers as BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Nissan, Ferrari, Hyundai, Kia, and Infiniti to integrate more iOS features into their cars. However, unlike Apple's platform, which requires and iOS device, this new flavor of Android would run on the vehicle's built-in hardware, the Journal's sources said.

The Journal did not indicate when the pair's efforts might appear in vehicles. CNET has contacted Google for comment and will update this report when we learn more.

At WWDC, Apple VP Eddy Cue said the iOS integration could kick off as soon as 2014, meaning the feature could begin appearing in select 2015 models. Possibly signaling that the new feature is on schedule, Apple released a second version of the iOS 7.1 beta to developers earlier this month that included a setting in that lets users turn a "Car Display" on and off.

Apple's iOS Completely Blew Away Google's Android For Shopping On Christmas

Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, continues to blow away Google's Android in mobile commerce, according to IBM analytics.

IBM put out a press release about what it saw during Christmas. It's not good for Android:

iOS vs. Android: As a percentage of total online sales, iOS was more than five times higher than Android, driving 23 percent vs. 4.6 percent for Android. On average, iOS users spent $93.94 per order, nearly twice that of Android users, who spent $48.10 per order. iOS also led as a component of overall traffic with 32.6 percent vs. 14.8 percent for Android.

Over and over we hear about Apple getting creamed by Android in marketshare, and yet, IBM's data says that iOS is a clear cut winner when it comes to mobile traffic and shopping.

The caveat here is that this U.S. only data. But, in the U.S. iOS reportedly has a minority share of the smartphone market. Android is supposedly the biggest operating system.

So, the question is: What do people do with Android phones? Why don't they use them for shopping, or surfing the web?

If this trend is true internationally as well as domestically, then Apple's iPhone business is in even better shape than people think.

The only reason people think Apple is in trouble is because its share of the smartphone market is small. The debate around iOS and Android market share matters because historically, developers have gravitated to one platform and prioritized their efforts for that platform. The platform that typically wins has the most users.

As a result, the growth of Android would suggest developers are going to make the best apps for Android and thus relegate iOS to a second tier platform.

But, if the market share numbers are hollow - that is, if no one is using Android, despite big market share - then it doesn't matter. Developers will develop for people that actually use the devices, and people that actually spend money on those devices.

There's three ways for developers to make money: Selling apps, in-app payments, or advertising. People that don't use apps, or don't buy stuff through the device aren't good targets for developers.

The IBM data isn't all that new. It said the same thing at Thanksgiving.

What's interesting is that if the IBM data was wildly wrong, Google would have probably contested it. We haven't seen any evidence from Google, or developers, that these numbers are out of whack.

Maybe it's time to admit that Apple is doing the exact right thing with its iPhone business.

Atheer One Android Smart Glass is a Cheaper Google Glass Alternative

The way we use computers has drastically changed over the last years. While 10 years ago touchscreen technology was as far from user’s minds as Warp Drives, these days they can be found in most devices starting from ATMs to watches. In order to make user interaction even better, developers are hard at work creating “the next best thing”, which many believe it to be the 3D smart glasses. Even big companies like Google have been developing such devices, but besides them, others like Atheer Labs have created working prototypes that have a lot of potential.

The Atheer One is one such device that has the possibility to harness the power of modern Android smartphones and provide users with a fully functional 3D HUD, capable of understanding the user’s gestures, voice and head movements. This offers a major advantage over conventional computer controllers, as the user interacts with the system in a more natural way. Atheer One is now seeking funding on the popular crowd-funding platform Indiegogo, seeking to ship the Development Kit to developers as soon as possible.

What makes Atheer One stand out?

The team at Atheer Labs has been hard at work over the past year, creating a working prototype and a development kit which has all the APIs and SDK to get developers started in creating content for the device. Even though there are many issues to iron out, the biggest problem so far is the lack of content for 3D glasses, but as we’ve seen before, this should not be a problem for too long. As we’ve seen from the company’s ad, such gadgets, if widely adopted, will become useful in most aspects of our life. The technology to create such a future exists today, and the software barrier will be broken soon enough.

In terms of the actual hardware, Atheer provides two devices at the moment. The Development Kit is targeted towards developers who are trying to create apps for the platform. While somewhat different from the finished product, it provides most of the features. The glasses have a narrower field of view, and connect to an external processing unit equipped with a Snapdragon 800 CPU, WiFi, Bluetooth GPS and all the goodies that you would find on a top-spec smartphone. The device also has two 5MP cameras which can track the user’s hands and compare them with a library of pre-stored gestures.

The less advanced Atheer One is a working prototype and looks much more appealing. It has a larger field of view, being equivalent to a 26-inch screen. The biggest difference between the two is the external processing unit, which is not present in the prototype. The Atheer One uses a microUSB cable to plug into an Android smartphone and harness its power This is very annoying, but Atheer says they had to keep it this way to keep the weight of the smartglass down. But thanks to the powerful components of smartphones, Atheer One is capable of some amazing feats.

Software-wise, the Atheer One will run Android OS, giving users access to almost 1 million apps from the get-go. Of course, these won’t be seen in 3D, but the gadget will emulate a large screen where the apps can run. For developers who wish to further expand the platform by creating compatible apps, the Dev Portal supplies all the tools they need, such as APIs, the SDK, Vuforia and Unity3d engines for AR apps and games.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Even though the project is now on Indiegogo, there will be some time before anyone can get their hands on it. Dev Kits will be shipped starting from June 2014, while the finished product, the Atheer One will only start arriving next a year from now, that is December 2014 – at least it will make an awesome present next year. In terms of price,  The Atheer One, as of this writing can be pre-purchased on the Indiegogo page for $350. This is a special Early Bird price, but the when these run out, users will be able to pick them up for $500.

The Dev Kit is more expensive, as it ships with the processing device which has some pretty expensive hardware inside. This device is priced for $850, but more eager developers can pay a little more, that is $1000, for the chance to get the Atheer Dev Kit two months in advance, in April 2014.

Thanks Verizon for the very late 4.3 update

Over the weekend, Verizon Wireless gave the owners of Samsung Galaxy Note 2 handsets a gift — quite late, but welcome nonetheless. Android 4.3 was finally shipped over the air to customers making Verizon the last of the major U.S. wireless suppliers to provide this update to its customers.

Customers of Verizon Wireless have been anxiously waiting for the security and feature updates that were included in newer versions of Android. Customers at an Android 4.1.2 level watched as Google's Android 4.2 was released in November, 2012 and Android 4.3 was released in July, 2013.Google announced Android 4.4 in October 2013.

Customers who wanted to learn when updates were coming out or why they were being delayed were not  given an explanation by  Verizon Wireless, Samsung or Google. Verizon Wireless was contacted as little as a week ago and none of the customer service agents knew the release schedule. They suggested calling Samsung.

Samsung was contacted a week ago and the customer service agents didn't know the release date either. They suggested calling Verizon.

Is it any wonder that the people suggesting that phones be rooted, unlocked and updated software loaded are singing their song louder and louder?

Protect your Android device from malware

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The adoption rate of mobile devices continues to soar, with Android leading the way. The open-source operating system that is led by Google is now found on more than half of all smartphones. In fact, research firm Strategy Analytics found that 81.3 percent, or 204.4 million, of smartphones shipped in the third quarter of 2013 were powered by Android.

This massive user base has caught the attention of cybercriminals, who have begun to double down on their efforts to illegally obtain personal information from Android owners. While most mobile malware is found in countries like Russia and China, users from Europe and the United States aren't completely immune.

Bogdan Botezatu, a senior e-threat analyst for security firm BitDefender, explained in an interview with CNET that malware is more accessible than ever before because "no coding is required to bind Android apps with malicious programs."

The analyst went on to say that "people look at phones more like phones, rather than intelligent computers," adding that most people don't understand that these devices are susceptible to malware similar to the strands found on PCs.

The most common malware regardless of platform is related to short message fraud and personal life invasion. Botezatu noted that "one of most important things that can happen with Android is privacy invasion." Mobile malware can allow cybercriminals to intercept messages, monitor calls, steal personal information, and even listen in with the device's microphone.

Perhaps even more troubling is that cybercriminals are now coming up with more complex ways to attack mobile devices, most of which are not protected. Botezatu pointed me to an alarming statistic from research firm IDC, which revealed that only 5 percent of smartphones and tablets have some sort of antivirus program installed.

While antivirus apps can help secure your device, there are other steps that can be taken to better protect yourself from encountering mobile malware.

Legitimate app stores

When downloading apps it's imperative that you only do so from a legitimate app store; that means from companies like Google, Amazon, Samsung, or another major manufacturer or carrier.

These marketplaces are monitored and scanned for potentially dangerous or fraudulent programs. On occasion, however, malicious apps sometimes slip through the cracks, often disguised as legitimate ones.

A fake BBM app recently appeared in the Google Play store and managed to secure more than 100,000 downloads before being removed. The app itself was nothing more than a spamming service.

Suspicious apps

The fake BBM app is a great example. While anyone who actually read the reviews wouldn't have downloaded it, thousands of users did. One of the best defenses against malware is to notice things like suspicious apps with outrageous promises, bad reviews, and sketchy app permissions.

Pirated apps

I'm not here to lecture you on the ethics of pirating programs (it's illegal), but I am here to warn you about the dangerous that can come from it. As Botezatu said, taking a legitimate Android application package (APK) file and binding it with a malicious program is a relatively simple process.

Downloading apps outside of legitimate app stores can make 

your device vulnerable to malware.

(Credit: Jason Cipriani/CNET)

Most pirated or cracked apps usually contain some form of malware. You could spend a couple of bucks on that game you always wanted, which in the long run will give you hours of entertainment and reward the developer for their hard work, or you can pirate it and put your personal information at risk. The decision shouldn't be hard.

For those of you interested in side loading apps, make sure to only do so with apps downloaded from a trusted developer's Web site.

Settings

Google includes numerous settings in the Android operating system that can prevent malicious attacks. Devices running Android 2.2 or higher, which essentially means nearly all Android devices, have access to Google's malware scanner. Prior to installing an application you downloaded outside of the Play store, Google will scan the app and warn you of any potential threats.

This feature is enabled by default and can be accessed in the Google Settings app in your device's app drawer. Alternatively, devices running Android 4.2 or higher can access the feature by going to Settings, clicking on Security, and scrolling down to Verify apps.

Google added new security features in Android 4.2.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNET)

Devices running Android 4.2 or higher are also protected from premium SMS charges. A notification will alert you if an app is attempting to send a text message using a premium service, at which point you can approve or deny the transaction. This feature is built directly into the operating system and does not need to be enabled.

Software updates

While this may not be an option for most users, if there is an update for your device make sure you download and install it. Manufacturers, carriers, and Google are constantly pushing out updates with bug fixes, enhancements, and new features that can make your device more secure.

A system update can fix bugs and patch vulnerabilities in your device.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNET)

To check for an update on stock Android go to Settings, click on the "About phone" or "About tablet" option, and select System Updates.

Antivirus apps

The Google Play store is also home to hundreds of antivirus apps that can offer an extra layer of protection. Finding the right one, however, can sometimes be difficult. A simple "antivirus" search in the store yields more than 250 results. So which one should you choose?

Companies like Avast, AVG, BitDefender, Kaspersky, Sophos, Symantec (Norton), andTrendMicro have long and established histories as some of the most trusted brands in the industry.

Overall results of Android security apps in the AV-Test 

endurance test between January and June 2013. (Credit: AV-Test)

Newcomers Lookout and TrustGo have also made a name for themselves as some of the top mobile security providers. Earlier this year, AV-Test, an independent IT security institute that ranks antivirus apps based on protection and usability, rated TrustGo and Lookout as the top two antivirus programs on the Android platform.

Each security provider I mentioned above scored higher than average for protection against malware, with most detecting malicious apps more than 99 percent of the time. Any of these programs would be a safe and smart option for your smartphone or tablet.

Detection rates of Android security apps in the AV-Test endurancetest between January and June 2013.

(Credit: AV-Test)

Many of these companies also offer additional features for a small monthly fee. These include things like anti-theft protection, safer Web browsing, device tracking, remote wiping, and more. It should be noted, however, that Google's Android Device Manager offers similar functionality for locating a lost or stolen device. The tool can be accessed online or through a free app on the Play store.

As for antivirus programs, whether you opt for the basic or premium features, Botezatu noted that, at least concerning BitDefender, the basic malware protection is the same.

"We are trying to make security available to all users with no distinction," he said, adding that the premium features are just an extra layer of protection.

Use your PC or Tablet to send SMS through your Android phone with MightyText

Ever got into such situation that you are using PC or your lovely tablet and just then you need to send a text, but your mobile is fairly away from the reach of your hand. 

This situation forces you to overcome your laziness. Also even this is not the situation then also you may not like to type long text messages on your tiny phone's screen.

Remember those days when Nokia's symbian phones allows you to send you text messages through Nokia PC suite on your PC. But today there is hardly anyone using those symbian phones in this Android age.

But don't worry MythText is the solution for you. It syncs all your text message between all your devices. 

  First of all on your Android phone you have to download  this.
And if you want to use it on your PC then download the PC app here or if you want to use your tablet then download this app.
Complete the setup and you are done. Enjoy texting :-)

Latest Android update for the Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition fixes major bugs

As Android updates go, version 4.4.2 shouldn't get anyone hot under the collar -- it's mostly just bug fixes and software removals. But in the case of the Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition, the requisite fixes are, in fact, quite substantial. As we noted in our hands-on with the massive 6.44-inch device, the Z Ultra shipped with a few unforgivable quirks, like the inability to uninstall apps (which is what you'd expect from a skinned device, not pure Android), or sideload apps via the Unknown Sources option in the security settings menu. With 4.4.2. rolling out today, all of that's now been remedied, in addition the convenient deletion of Google's not ready for primetime Apps Op feature which allowed users to manage privacy settings for individual apps. Again, it's as humdrum as updates get, but at least now your très cher Z Ultra is actually worth the money.

How to make money by turning your Android phone into an SMS spambot

We’ve heard a lot about Android security flaws this year but what happens when Android users voluntarily allow third parties to turn their smartphones into text-messaging spambots? BBC News directs our attention to a new breed of Android apps that promise users cash in exchange for letting spammers take advantage of their unlimited texting plans to send out messages to mobile phones around the world.

Adaptive Mobile researcher Cahal McDaid tells BBC News that the new apps tap into “a huge market in sending text messages as cheaply as possible around the world.” McDaid also says that he and his team have seen smartphones that have downloaded one of the apps send out “thousands” of text messages.

Just because you can make money from letting spammers send out texts with your phone doesn’t mean that you should actually do it, however. For one thing, carriers are not happy with the idea that their unlimited text plans are being used to potentially annoy customers. McDaid warns that users who install text-spamming Android apps risk having their numbers blocked by carriers if they’re found to be sending out an inordinately large number of text messages.

Even worse, if carriers find that you’ve violated their terms of service by downloading a text-spam app, they could fine you a significant sum of money.

“If your operator decides to bill you their ‘out of bundle’ or overage rate for violating their terms you could be billed hundreds of pounds for those messages,” Lookout mobile security analyst Marc Rogers tells BBC News. ”Aside from the potential issues with your operator, you are allowing people to send messages from your mobile number, without having any control or visibility of what those messages are,” he said. “But you may have to face the consequences.”

Google removes privacy control in latest Android update

App Ops was a privacy component installed in the Android 4.3 which shielded information that users wanted to protect from any new app.Enhanced privacy controls in the Android 4.3, which allowed the installation of apps while blocking their ability to gather sensitive data from a user, have been removed in the new Android 4.4.2. Google says the feature's original release was an accident.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reported Wednesday that just a day after it had lauded the privacy feature via a blog post on its site, the organization learned that the option is no longer available on the Android 4.4.2 update, which was released earlier this week.

Google told EFF that the feature was included in 4.3 by accident, claiming the control was experimental and could ultimately break apps policed by it.

EFF stressed that there are ways Google could easily remedy such concerns if it so desired, by feeding fake information to the app or telling app developers that the privacy control could disrupt their program.

EFF called the disappearance of App Ops a “Stygian hole in the Android security model,” given that there is now no way to curb app permissions, despite the easy fixes which are available.

The digital rights group urged Google to renew App Ops for Android while improving the feature. Google could do this, EFF says, by adding targeted controls for users to be able to pick and choose which apps have access to sensitive data. In addition, Google could make App Ops workable for app developers in the process, the organization stated.

EFF says at the moment, though, Android users must choose between privacy and overall protection, as Android 4.4.2 includes updates to security and denial-of-service bugs.

The loss of the security feature comes at a time when mobile phone users are having to deal with unwanted snooping by the apps that they download - even when such data sharing is opt-out.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently came down on the makers of the ‘Brightest Flashlight,’ a popular free Android app that adapted the flash built into a handset to make it behave like a standard flashlight. Unbeknownst to users, however, the app had been secretly harvesting location and unique device identifier data and sharing it with advertisers and marketing networks.

Goldenshores Technologies, the US developer behind the Brightest Flashlight app, recently reached a settlement with the FTC. The app had been installed on “tens of millions” of Android devices, according to the agency.

Easy & Safe Way to Root Various Android With Kingo Android Root One-Click Tool

In our How to section you will find lots of tutorial to root android smartphone and tablets. All the guide has the different method to root the different android models. But today in this article we will explain you about a new one click root tool called Kingo Android Root. Kingo Android Root is free windows application which helps you to root various android devices with one click. One of the safest and easiest way to root any android device, the application supports most of the popular android models such as Google Nexus 4, Galaxy Nexus (GSM), Google Nexus S, HTC 920E, HTC Wildfire, HTC Vision, HTC Thunderbolt, HTC One X, HTC One V, HTC One S, HTC One, HTC Incredible, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Desire, Moto Defy Me 525, Galaxy Note (i9220), Galaxy Note II (N7100), S3, S4, S2, LG Optimus One, Sony Xperia Z and lots more, to check the whole list of supported device.

There are some advantages and disadvantage of rooting device. Rooting immediately voids your phone’s warranty and if you are not following the rooting guide properly then you will brick your phone. Advantages, after rooting you will do modifications on your phone, install custom ROMs, install rooted application. Before following the bellow mention guide do take the full backup o your device and read all the steps very carefully to root your android.

 Pre-requisites and Requirements

a) Before following the guide do take the Full Backup of your Android Apps, SMS, Contacts, Call Logs, Bookmarks. Looking for more ways to get the Backup your android device click here. So, in case if you lost some of your important data and files in the update or rooting process, then you can easily restore them from your backup file. Read also how to take the backup of WhatsApp messages and restore it.

b) Once the backup files are saved on your device or on your desktop, Enable USB debugging mode on your device, read the guide here how to enable USB debugging mode.

c) Make sure that your  Android is full charge or near about 60-70% battery level.

d) Download the Latest Android Device USB drivers on your PC and install it to start the root process. You need these drivers to connect your device with the computer to follow this guide.

After following the above mention steps follow the below mention guide one by one. All the above mention steps are very important, so do follow all the steps and do exactly what is told.

How to Use Kingo Android Root One-Click Tool

Step 1. Download the Kingo Android Root windows application here and install it on your windows desktop.

Step 2. Once the installation is finished, run the application and connect the device to the computer with USB cable to start the process, Now the application will install the latest drivers on your PC.

Kingo Android Root

Step 3. This will take some time to install the drivers, once the drivers are installed on your PC you will see the new screen on your desktop with your device name and ROOT button. See the screenshot below:-

Root Android Smartphone

Step 4. Hit the red color ROOT Button form the app screen to start the Root process on you phone.

Step 5. Wait for some time to finish the process on your android, Once the process will completed you will see the “Root Succeeded” Message on your screen.

Now you device is rooted, with the help of this application you will unroot your device too. all you hvae to hit the Unroot button and follow the onscren instructions.

The first 6 things you need to do with your new Android tablet

Before you get started with your new Android tablet, here are a few things you may want to first check off your todo list.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

So you now have an Android tablet. Congrats. Android tablets are arguably -- some would say inarguably -- the most versatile tablets you can buy. However, after you've gone through the initial setup and before you begin actual normal use of your shiny new portable device, there are a few things -- six things in fact -- you'll want to take care of.

Actually, despite the title of this blog, you don't have to do any of these things right away or at all, but each will most definitely enhance your tablet experience. So just go ahead and do them.

Optimize your tablet for longer battery life
Tablet battery life is determined by a number of factors, most of which are out of your control -- battery size, OS optimizations, etc. -- , but there are a few settings you can control that have a huge impact on how long your battery lasts.

Display luminance: the bane of your battery's existence.

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET)

The biggest drain on your tablet's battery is its screen and the best way to control its drain on your battery is to keep it dim. Not so much that you can't easily see your screen or appreciate its brightness, but it's best to think in terms of balance.

Unless you're constantly using your tablet in direct sunlight, there's no need to set its brightness to maximum. Depending on the tablet, 50 percent brightness or even slightly less should provide more than enough luminance in normal lighting conditions. In a completely dark room -- say, right before bedtime -- , turning the brightness to zero will give you more than enough light to use the tablet effectively.

Next on the chopping block are unused services, all of which can be found in Settings. You'll probably be using Wi-Fi a lot so I don't recommend switching on airplane mode -- unless of course you're on an airplane. However, the next few options can easily be turned off, depending on your needs at the time: bluetooth, location access, NFC, and cellular will all drain your battery, even if you're not using them. So, turning one or all of these services off will save your tablet's battery life, allowing you to use it more and charge it less.

Install a file manager
One of the great perks of Android compared to iOS is the ease in which you can directly access your file system and one of the best apps that allows you to do that is ES File Explorer. The app gives you access to every file, folder, and everything in-between stored not only on your tablet's built-in internal storage, but any SD cards you may have installed as well.

ES File Explorer File Manager keeps your files organized and more importantly, accessible.

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET)

This is comes in handy when storing more than just apps on your tablet, like movies, TV shows, documents, etc. You can also use it to email files directly and search for any file you may have misplaced.

Get your streaming app of choice
Tablets are kind of made for playing videos. Sure, in actuality they're made for a lot of things, but they do video pretty well. Now, the great thing about streaming video, it that you can watch a bunch of movies and TV shows without them taking up valuable storage space. Also, there's no waiting for them to download. So as long as you have an Internet connection, you're good.

Netflix and Hulu are the obvious first choices, but there are also channel-specific apps for the ABC, CBS, and the CW. When all you want to do on a rainy Saturday is stay in bed and catch up on your favorite TV shows, that's when you really start to appreciate the benefits of having a portable thin device.

Unfortunately, Amazon Prime members will need to purchase either a Kindle Fire tablet or an iPad to stream Amazon's vast video library.

Install HD Widgets
It's no secret that the Android OS is highly customizable and one of the reasons it has so much flexibility in its interface is its support for widgets. Widgets are a way to further enhance and tailor your Android interface and HD Widgets in particular allows you add widgets that take advantage of a tablet's larger and likely high resolution display.

Lock screen shortcuts, courtesy of HD Widgets.

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET)

With HD widgets you can add a digital clock and a current weather tracker to the home screen. You can also add a shortcut bar for easy access to Wi-Fi settings, brightness, screen timeout, tilt, battery life, among others. Place them on the lock screen for even quicker access to options and info.

Widgets are a great way to personalize and distinguish your interface from others, so do not sleep on them.

Secure your tablet
The disadvantage in having a more open OS, like Android is that it opens the door tonogoodniks. To be honest, I'd say you're less likely to acquire Malware on your tablet than your smartphone, but if you're the cautious type, it can't hurt to add a bit of protection to at the vert least give you peace of mind.

You can also use the app to remotely lock the tablet or wipe personal data from it. However, one of my favorite features is the task killer which allows you to shutdown any task or process running in the background. Background apps can adversely affect performance, so this feature can be quite useful.AVG AntiVirus is free -- with ads at the bottom of the screen --, includes a manual scanner, and real-time protection when visiting websites it deems suspicious. There's also a useful anti-theft feature that locates your device on Google Maps if its ever lost or stolen.

Run 3DMark
Mobile games have continuously improved by leaps and bounds over the last few years and unless you own a dedicated portable console, gaming on a tablet -- as opposed to a smartphone -- is the preferred way to get some gaming in.

If you're only planning on a few occasional Angry Birds or Candy Crush sessions, you'll be fine with pretty much any device. However, for hardcore 3D gaming it's helpful to know which apps make sense to run on your tablet and which apps will overwhelm its graphical bandwidth. That's where 3DMark comes in.

3DMark provides a pretty accurate picture of your tablet's graphical capability.

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET)

3DMark is a graphics benchmark focused on delivering a real-world assessment of your tablet's graphical prowess. It delivers its results in frames-per-second as well as an overall algorithmically generated score.

For best results, I suggest running the 3DMark Unlimited test, since it runs in your tablet's native resolution as opposed to 720p (the Default test) or 1080p (the Extreme test). Once you have your scores, visit 3DMark's list of results for mobile devices to see where your tablet's score ranks. The higher the number, the better its potential 3D gaming performance.

Google Fixes Earlier Bugs With Latest 2.02 Update For Hangout App On Android

Google hopes to incorporate its Voice service on Hangout app 
by early next year. (Photo : Reuters )

Google works round the clock to make its apps and services more effective. The latest initiative from Google is an update(2.02) for its messaging app, Hangout, on Android.

Goggle rolled out 2.0 update for its messaging app, Hangout, last month. But the previous version is reportedly riddled with problems. The good news is that the latest update 2.02 on Hangout fixes the  bugs in the previous edition and is more cost effective, reads a recent post on Phonearena.      

 The 2.0 update was primarily rolled out for Nexus 5 and later made available on other Android devices. While using the 2.0 update to send out a message across multiple users, it turned into an MMS, which costs much more compared to normal texts. The latest 2.02 update provides an easy option in the settings; the user can turn off the above feature and happily send messages in bulk. In fact, the 2.02 update gives a chance to the Hangout users to manually configure the Access Point Name settings, a gateway to mobile carrier network, which makes data services much faster on mobiles.

The recent update also brings in another minor tweak like showing up previous messages on the app. This option was unavailable in the previous edition; messages sent or received could not be viewed earlier.

Google may take some more time to roll out the update on all the Android-based devices, claims a recent post on AndroidPolice.  Users who can't wait that long can download the update by following the guidelines on the Google Application packaging kit.

However, the latest update unfortunately doesn't include the option of Google Voice, the web-based telecommunication service from the search engine giant that many of the Google fans have been long craving for. Hopefully it will be available on the next update releasing early next year.

Top 5 Entertainment Apps For Old People

Entertainment is the need of every human being. The age doesn’t play any role in being zealous to get entertained. Even people getting old or retiring from their job need it more as they have a lot of free time to get bored. The smart phone era counter this problem up to a certain level and keep the oldies busy. There are some apps for older people who can keep them entertained and not feeling just of no use any more. The niche of these apps could be anything but that should come under entertainment only. Some of the examples of these apps could be live TV apps, newspaper and magazine apps, song apps, photo editing apps and many more. So if you’re about to retire from your job and will have immense time to spend then the apps mentioned below could help you out surely to spend your time. Here is our list of top 5 entertainment apps for old people.

Songs and Videos

Songs and videos are likeable by people of each age group. These apps get you the access to not only the latest songs but videos, ringtones, wallpapers and games too. These apps have an in-built download manager to download what you like, with pause and resume buttons. The simple looks and graphics of these apps are the most suitable to get what you want from it. So, installing these apps will surely help passing your time.

Books and Magazine

In free time, reading the books is the best option to kill the time. There are lot apps available to just provide you the books you like and the latest magazines to stay updated even after quitting the job. Access to these apps will surely keep you busy most of the time and you won’t feel bored anymore at home.

Games

There are a bunch of games available for smart phone. Some of these games are not very much like a mission or huge task to complete. You can surely play some of them in your free time and get yourself entertained. Few games like Temple Run 2 and Subway Surfers are examples of those, you can get many more on Google Play absolutely free of cost.

Photography

If you’re one of the photography enthusiasts then it is the right time to use your skills. There are many apps available for editing and effects to photos clicked by you. You can spend some of your free time on these apps being busy. Some of these apps are Photo Editor, PhotoFunia, PicsArt and many more. All these are available on Google Play easily and for free.

Social Networking

Social networking is not limited to younger people anymore. But, In case you haven’t got time for all this while doing the job then this might be the right time for you. Get your accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other websites and let people know you are free now to join them. Make new friends and I’m sure there are many people like you who are looking to kill the time. Your work experience could also be beneficial to people and you can share them on website like LinkedIn and other blogs. You’ll be helping many people by doing so and spending your time with meaning.
I think now you’re having a lot of options for how to spend your topic and you’ll be really enjoying your time now by using some of the above apps. We’ll get back to you soon with some more entertainment options till then enjoy with these.