Instagram has just announced a new update to its Android and iOS applications that brings three new filters and the ability to use emojis in hashtags.
The three new filters available in the app are called Lark, Reyes and Juno, and are quite subtle compared to the multitude of other filters currently available. Here’s how Instagram describes each new addition:
Lark desaturates reds while punching up blues and greens to bring your landscapes to life. Reyes brings a dusty, vintage look to your moments. And finally, Juno tints cool tones green while making warm tones pop and whites glow for vibrant photos of people.
In addition to the new filters, Instagram is also gaining the ability to use emojis in hashtags. Just like with any other hashtag, simply type in a ‘#’ followed by the emoji you’d like to use.
The version 6.20.0 update is now live in the Google Play Store, so follow the link below to grab it!
Update: Google’s support page “Link your phone to Google” indicates that, in addition to the four commands mentioned below, you can also use the “set a reminder” command. We couldn’t get it to work on our devices, but it’s worth trying for yourself.
The page also clarifies the requirements for the feature to work:
“For now, you have to be in the United States with your browser language set to English.
The Android device you want to link needs to have:
It’s not just “send directions” and “find my phone.” It looks like Google is adding a slew of commands that let you control your Android phone from Google Search.
As discovered by Google Operating System, you can now quickly set alarms and send notes to your Android phone by typing in some simple commands.
For now, the features are only available in the United States, though “find my phone” works worldwide so there’s a good chance the others will follow. If you want to try them out from elsewhere, you can try adding “&gl=us” at the end of the URL of your search query, like this: “https://www.google.com/search?q=set+an+alarm&gl=us”
To set an alarm on your phone, just type “set an alarm” or “set alarm” and you will be shown an interface that lets you pick the hour and the device that you want to set the alarm on. You can also type “set and alarm for 12pm” to pre-select the hour.
It’s just as simple to send a note: type “send a note” or “note to self” and you will be shown a text field where you can type in a brief note. Click the send button and a notification with the note will appear almost instantly on your device. You can also include the note text in the main command, like “note to self visit Android Authority.” From there, you can either copy the text or share the note to Gmail or Google Keep.
To recap, you can now use the following commands in Google Search:
“send directions”
“find my phone”
“set an alarm”
“send a note”
We’ll keep an eye for more functionality, so stay tuned and let us know if these work for you.
Facebook has just announced that it’s bringing free video calling to its Messenger application on both Android and iOS. The update, which is rolling out now in the Play Store, will allow you to simply tap the video camera icon on any existing Messenger conversation to instantly connect with your friends and family.
The update is now available in the U.S., the U.K., Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Laos, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal and Uruguay. Facebook says that more countries will be added in the coming months.
Facebook adding free video calling to Messenger is big news, especially because it now pits them up against other popular video chatting applications like Skype, ooVoo, Tango and many others. Facebook has been introducing many other features to Messenger lately, such as third party app integration, launching Messenger as a standalone website and more.
Be sure to head to the Google Play Store to grab the newest version of Messenger!
Asus brought glorious Zenfones 2. Zenfone 2 is a nice upgrade over Asus’s previous Zenfone devices which were launched at their CES event last year. Let’s take a closer look at the specifications, price and availability of Zenfone 2.
It looks like Huawei might release the unannouncedP8 Lite after all. The mid-range sibling of Huawei P8and P8max appeared for pre-order in Germany with €249 price tag.
The smartphone is available to order in black and silver/gold color scheme. According to the retail listing, the Huawei P8 Lite will begin shipping to customers on May 15.
As its name suggests, Huawei P8 Lite is a toned down version of the recently announced P8 flagship. Its specs include 5” 720p IPS display, Kirin 620 SoC with octa-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 13MP main camera, and 5MP front-facing unit.
With Android thoroughly dominating the mobile industry, picking the best Android smartphones is almost synonymous with choosing the best smartphones, period. But while Android phones have few real opponents on other platforms, internal competition is incredibly fierce.
From sleek devices that impress with premium design, to powerhouses brimming with features, to all-around great devices, and affordable phones that punch above their weight, the Android ecosystem is populated by a staggering variety of attractive phones.
But “greatness” is subjective, and sometimes spec sheets and feature lists are not enough to make an idea of how good a phone really is. In this roundup, we’re looking at the absolute best – the Android phones you can’t go wrong with.
Editor’s note: we’ll be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.
Samsung Galaxy S6 (and S6 Edge)
Depending on who you ask, one might tell you that the last truly impressive member of the Galaxy S famly was the widely popular GS3. While the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 were not bad handsets, their highly derivative nature came under fire, bolstered further by the fact that many of its rivals have since taken to pushing more premium builds made of metal, glass and other similar materials.
With the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Korean giant has finally delivered a truly premium Galaxy S experience, melding a glass front and back with a metal frame. Most tech journalists and even everyday tech enthusiasts agree that the redesign is a welcome one. Of course, Samsung’s new look isn’t without sacrifice, ditching Samsung staples like a removable back and battery. The microSD slot is also absent on the Galaxy S6.
Another major change for the Galaxy S6 is the processing package, with Samsung electing to leave behind Qualcomm, solely offering up its Exynos 7420 processor, paired with 3GB RAM. And finally, the software has also been scaled back a bit with the latest iteration of the Galaxy S.
Like the idea of the Galaxy S6, but hoping for something that stands out even further? The Galaxy S6 Edge offers the same specs, but adds dual-edges and a few special features that take advantage of the phone’s unique design.
Specs
5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Exynos 7420
3GB of RAM
32/64/128GB storage options (non-expandable)
16 MP rear camera with OIS
5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens
Non-removable 2,550 mAh battery
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm 138 grams
Android 5.0 Lollipop with TouchWiz
HTC One M9
Probably the biggest complaint we had about the One M8 was the fact it stuck to HTC’s less than great Ultrapixel camera approach. The design was excellent, as were the specs and software. With the HTC One M9, all that made the One M8 great makes a return with a few extra coats of polish added and the Ultrapixel camera finally getting the boot.
The new handset looks quite similar to its predecessor, but trades up the specs for a Snapdragon 810, a 20MP rear cam with sapphire cover lens, an UltraPixel front cam and plenty of other improvements that make this handset worth looking out for when it officially starts shipping in the near future.
Specs
Display 5-inch LCD with Full HD (1920 x 1080), 442 ppi
2 Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
3GB of RAM
Storage 32GB with microSD slot (up to 128GB)
Camera 20MP rear cam with sapphire cover lens, UltraPixel front cam
2,840 mAh battery
144.6 x 69.7 x 9.61 mm, 157 grams
Android 5.0 with Sense 7.0
Moto X (2014)
With the original Moto X, Motorola proved you don’t need to have the latest specs to get a great user experience. With the second generation, the Lenovo-owned company took no chances and double-downed on the spec side as well, packing the new Moto X (2014) with a dense 5.2-inch AMOLED screen, a beefy processor, and a capable 13MP camera.
The Moto X (2014) is well equipped on the inside, but it’s the customizable skin that really sets it apart from other top Android phones out there. Motorola lets you choose your own combination of colors and materials, including the yet to be matched leather and natural wood options. The ability to harmonize its appearance to different styles makes the Moto a great gift for someone dear this holiday season. Other big selling points are the near-stock interface and Motorola’s proven commitment to bringing fast updates to it. If you’re looking for a balanced, stylish, and capable device, the Moto X (2014) should be high up your list.
Specs
5.2-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming very soon)
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Years after Samsung gambled on the original Note, the concept is still the phone to beat when it comes to large devices. While some competitors are offering larger screens, none of them can match the Note 4’s productivity-boosting stylus. The S Pen can truly enhance the way you interact with your phone, with a strong focus on doing actual work, from basic research, to composing a quick message, to multi-tasking. But it’s not just work: basically anything that requires precision and speed can be done better with a stylus.
While Samsung’s TouchWiz Android implementation has a bad reputation, nobody can deny that the Note 4’s feature set is compelling. You can make the most of that 5.7-inch screen with the new and improved multi-tasking tools, and that’s something you simply don’t get on other high-end Android phones. And, with the latest iteration of the series, the Note looks as good as it works, thanks to a finely chamfered aluminum frame. If you’re looking for the ultimate device for getting things done, the Note 4 is probably your best choice.
Specs
5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU
3GB of RAM
32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
16MP rear cam, 3.7MP front cam
Removable 3220 mAh battery
153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm, 176g
Frosted White, Charcoal Black, Bronze Gold, or Blossom Pink
Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming down the pipeline)
Nexus 6
The Nexus 6 is a staple on any list of top Android handsets of the moment, looming large both literally and through what it represents – Google’s vision of what Android software should be like and what hardware that software needs in order to truly shine. That’s always been the case with Nexus devices, but the Motorola-made Nexus 6 is nothing like the understated Nexus 5, which almost vanished in the background to let Android shine through. The Nexus 6 is big and powerful; it makes a statement about its user and it turns heads.
The biggest drawback of the Nexus 6 is the one that makes it stand out – with its six inches display, the Nexus 6 will never be a good choice for everyone. However, if you’re fine with the size, there’s a lot to like about this phone – the screen is amazing, the processing package is top-notch, the camera is powerful, and build quality is as good as any. Plus, even if Motorola and other phonemakers are upping their updates game, Nexus is still the way to go if you like your phones up to date.
Specs
5.96-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU
3GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, non-expandable
13MP rear cam, 2MP front cam
Non-removable 3220 mAh battery
159.3 x 83 x 10.1 mm, 184g
Midnight Blue, Cloud White
Android 5.0 Lollipop
Best bang for the buck: OnePlus One
OnePlus came out of nowhere to get everyone talking about its “flagship killer.” Of course, OnePlus couldn’t hold all its bold promises, but the Chinese startup didn’t disappoint in one crucial area – the price. There’s simply no competitor delivering what the OnePlus One delivers at $300. And the One isn’t just a great affordable phone; it’s a great phone it its own.
With solid specs, unique features, and the clean CyanogenMod running on it, the OnePlus One is a great proposition for just about any user. All that considered, the device sells for half the price of similar devices, so it can’t miss from our list of best Android smartphones of 2014.
Specs
5.5-inch LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU
3GB of RAM
16/64GB of on-board storage, non-expandable
13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
Non-removable 3,100 mAh battery
152.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm, 162 g
Silk White, Sandstone Black
Android 4.4 KitKat/CyanogenMod 11
Special mention: LG G Flex 2
The first major device of the year, the LG G Flex 2 made quite a big splash when it debuted at CES 2015. Unfortunately, once the first reviews started to surface, it was clear that the phone was attractive, unique and had some impressive specs, but also suffered from some performance issues. Whether these issues are deal breakers depend on who you ask, but ultimately the G Flex 2 is still one of the best options out there if you are looking for something that stands out from the crowd.
The G Flex 2 features an improved self-healing back, a smaller display from its predecessor, and plenty of other enhancements including a Snapdragon 810 processor.
Specs
5.5-inch Full HD Curved P-OLED (1080 x 1920 pixels / 403 ppi)
