Android software

Samsung HomeSync is a Jelly Bean-powered Apple TV rival

BARCELONA, Spain--Samsung's not content with just making smart TVs -- now it's taking another lunge into your living room with HomeSync, an Android-powered media hub.

The glossy black box, announced today at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, has an HDMI connection, but also hooks up to other gadgets over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The HomeSync hub streams Android movies, TV shows, and games, but Samsung promises the system will also work with Galaxy smartphones, giving smartphone owners the power to beam their home movies or photos onto the big screen.

Samsung says the HomeSync will feature a "… Read more

Watch YouTube videos in a floating window on Android

If you own an Android tablet, or just a phone with a huge screen, watching YouTube videos while you perform other tasks can be superconvenient. Perhaps you're checking e-mail and watching videos from your favorite band, or maybe you're watching a scene from a play and following along in the script. This split-screen feature is available on the Samsung Galaxy Note II, but hasn't rolled out to many other handsets. Ready to add more multitasking power to your device?

First you'll need to install a copy of Floating YouTube Popup Video on your Android device, then … Read more

Getting started with Any.DO Moment for Android

In the older version of Any.Do you had to schedule each task on your list individually. While this was effective in the sense that it set off notifications, it wasn't efficient. Luckily, the new Any.Do Moment feature creates a path between listing your tasks and getting things done by helping you plan out your day.

Before you get started, make sure you have the latest version of Any.Do installed on your device. You'll probably see an update, but if not, head to Google Play and grab the latest version.

Once you open Any.Do on … Read more

Google warns of an increase in attempted account hijackings

The New York Times' report Monday of state-sponsored hacking in China drew new attention to the sophisticated techniques that would-be infiltrators use to gain access to victims' accounts. But it's not just China, Google said today -- the techniques used against U.S. government agencies and corporations are being used increasingly by hackers around the world.

"Compared to five years ago, more scams [and] illegal, fraudulent, or spammy messages today come from someone you know," security engineer Mike Hearn said in a blog post. "Although spam filters have become very powerful -- in Gmail, less than … Read more

Skype rolls out video messaging beta

Did you ever want to leave a message for a Skype buddy who just wasn't there? Skype's new video-messaging feature, now in a beta of sorts, is the interactive way to do it.

Available today for users in the U.S., U.K., and other select countries (Skype isn't listing them all,) video messaging sends a recording to friends who may be offline or on another call.

Android, iOS, and Mac users don't have to do anything to play around with the prerelease feature, except to make sure they've got the most recent software update (… Read more

Did screenshots of a Samsung Altius smartwatch leak?

Move over, Apple -- there might be another smartwatch entering the fray.

An unnamed Korean forum has posted images of what could be a Samsung smartwatch, Slashgear is reporting today. Slashgear did not, however, link to the forum posting.

The images published by Slashgear show black-and-white display screenshots that Slashgear says measure 500x500 pixels. It's not clear, though, whether the watch comes with a 500x500 display or the images were crunched down.

Some of the images themselves show time being displayed, while others illustrate the ability to choose other entertainment options like music. The screenshots indicate that whatever the … Read more

App to start fresh on Valentines day

Face it dude, what's done is done. Get over your ex by purging your collections and recollections so that you can get back in the game with a fresh state of body, mind, and wallet.

Now for some precautionary measures. I'm not one to doubt you guys as those who lack self control and willpower, but hey, it's that time of year so why risk it? Use Stupid Phone Calls Blocker to stop yourself from 'accidentally' dialing that ex boyfriend/girlfriend of yours. You can also use this to stop incoming calls and texts from he/she-who-must-not-be-named. … Read more

Android, iOS combine for 91 percent of market

Android and iOS completely dominate the mobile market, according to new data from research firm IDC.

IDC revealed today that Android owned 70.1 percent of the smartphone OS market in the fourth quarter, on 159.8 million shipments. Last year during the same period, Android owned 52.9 percent of the space, on 85 million shipments.

Android's popularity was similarly strong throughout 2012, as the operating system scored 68.8 percent ownership, on 497.1 million shipments.

Apple's iOS proved to be a distant second during the fourth quarter and throughout 2012. According to IDC, Apple's … Read more

Download these winning apps for a perfect Valentine's Day

If you didn't get caught in Cupid's spray this year, we have some pretty good ideas for how to spend your free day. Take a day off and spend it with the classiest person you know: that special guy/gal in the mirror. Of course there's nothing stopping you from using this list to get started on the best date ever, if you're lucky enough to feel the sweet warm embrace of requited love.

Go on an urban adventure The world is a big and terrifying place, and it will remind you of that fact every … Read more