Get more from Google’s £30 media streamer

CHR MECAST
Screen-cast from Chrome
Stream from any source BEST BOOST
Tweak hidden settings CAMERA YOUR
PHONES
RECOVER LOST PHONE
FILES Get your deleted
data back
MASTER
YOUR MEDIA
Do more with videos and games

MOTO
360
SPORT
Moto’s smartwatch Get better
goes slimline performance and more
functionality today

ISSUE 061
 THE WORLD’S BEST
TV-BOOSTING SOUNDBASES
JUST GOT BETTER

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Create your own Improve your
media centre audio setup
Upgrade Cast to
your gaming anything
experience
Will VR
take over
All-new your eyes?
Android TV
Take control
of your videos,
games and
audio with our
Welcome
complete guide
on p18
The humble Chromecast may not look like if the worst should happen, in our masterclass
much on the outside, but it’s a powerhouse on recovering lost and deleted files on p28.
within. While you can’t root Google’s little media We have a stack of tutorials for you too,
streamer, you can get it to do a lot more than covering everything from troubleshooting an
you’d expect. Head over to the Hacker Zone and Android TV to blocking apps from notifying you
find out more on p46. when you’re busy. Plus we take a look at the
In fact, media has changed a great deal over best smartphones for shooting photos on p60,
the past few years and Android – once a simple get hands-on with the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
OS for smartphones – is at the forefront of the
revolution. On p18 you’ll discover just what
on p68 and the Lenovo Tab 3 Pro – which
comes with its own built-in projector! – on p70.
Android devices can do to keep you entertained And as ever we round up the latest and greatest
– as it turns out, it’s quite a lot!
But we haven’t forgotten about your phone.
Turn to p12 to discover a range of apps that will
apps and games to keep you amused.
Enjo
help you increase its performance and get
more from it, no root required. Elsewhere, we
take a look at what you can do to protect your April
files and data, and how you can recover them Editor
FREE – exclusive with this issue
» Unboxing videos
» Video tutorials
» Wallpapers
ww.filesilo.co.uk/android
Welcome
To issue 61 «
MEET THE TEAM
What would your ultimate
Android media player do?
April Madden
Editor
I want a media player that can
talk to all of the streaming
services I use as well as my
own libraries, giving me quick
access to my Netflix and Play
Music accounts within the app.
Oliver Hill
Features Editor
I want an all-encompassing
media player that caters for
some of the more awkward file
formats I encounter on my
device. VLC comes close, but
there’s still some work to do.
Adam Markiewicz
Senior Designer
I want to have a media player
that fulfils all my needs,
especially one that can encode
any audio or video format for
me quickly, seamlessly and
without a hitch.
GET IN TOUCH
What do you think?
Let us know!
»email
qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Drop us an email and let us know what
you’d like to see in the mag
»facebook/littlegreenrobot
Like us on Facebook to send us
your comments
»twitter @lgrobot
Follow us on Twitter and send us
your thoughts
Watch us get our hands on the
new BlackBerry Priv smartphone
Expert video guides on getting
more from your Android device
Stunning backgrounds for phones,
tablets and Chromebooks
3
Contents www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk
»Inside issue 61

CONTENTS
26 Exclusive subscription offer 67 Special offer for international readers

Launcher
Previews, news
and speculation
from the world
of Android

BOOST
06 Big names bet on YOUR
PHONE
mobile gaming
Triple-A developers invest in
mobile gaming

1 Give y device a full

internal upgrade with
the help of these apps

08 10 things you need to

know about home
automation
The house of the future is a
smart one

MASTER RECOVERLOST
YOUR MEDIA &DELETEDFILES
10 Ulo
Mu Design wants to help keep
a beady eye on your home
18 Kit and apps to turn Android
into a media powerhouse 28 Don’t despair when data
loss strikes!

4
 HackerZone This month’s top mods and tweaks Visit the Android Magazine online shop at

46 Chromecast unlocked for back issues and books

Get the most from your TV streaming

Tutorials
device with these tips

52 Hacking Tips & Tricks

Essential hacking advice, including
how to customise phone features Get more from
54 Customise your your Android device
hardware buttons
You can make the buttons on your 28 Masterclass:
device act any way you like Recover lost & deleted files
Don’t depair when data loss strikes!
56 Use NetGuard to protect your It’s possible to recover your files
mobile bandwidth
Stop your mobile data running out 32 Tutorials
before the end of the month 32 Fix casting issues
on Chromecast
57 Get more accurate battery 34 Control Wi-Fi with Change My
life readings Adapters MTU
Automatically calibrate your Android 36 Get Apple Music on your
device’s battery for perfect readings Android device

58 Add a personal touch with 46

CHROMECAST
37 Set up your own
Notifications drawer
your own font UNLOCKED 38 How to troubleshoot Android TV
Create your own font for all Android 40 Make your phone work for you
devices, plus modify any existing one 42 Block distracting apps

92 Droid Support
68
XIAOMI REDMI
NOTE 3 Reviews
Latest tech tested
Readers’ questions answered

36
APPLE MUSIC
60 Smartphone cameras ON ANDROID

68 Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

70 Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro
72 Moto 360 Sport
73 Vector Luna
74 Moto X Force
75 Honor Band Z1

76 Accessories
Earbuds and a tablet case
70
LENOVO YOGA
TAB 3 PRO
88 Buyer’s Guide
Our official top 10 lists

Apps
Your complete guide
to Google Play
78 App reviews
The latest and greatest
apps tested in full
84
RAYMAN
82 Head-to-head ADVENTURES
AccuWeather vs The
Weather Channel

84 Game reviews
The best new games reviewed 30+ APPS 5
Check our website daily
for even more news »www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk
 All the latest from the world of Android devices

Big names bet on Fallout 4 creator’s new

mobile gaming Montreal office will focus

on mobile games

Fallout 4 and Skyrim creator, Bethesda Game

Studios, has expanded into Canada with the
launch of its new development studio in Montreal,
Quebec at the end of 2015.
Over the last few years, Bethesda Game Studios
has been building itself a reputation as one of the
biggest names in game development, and
Montreal marked the company’s very first satellite
office. Excitingly, when Bethesda announced this
new development studio it also confirmed that it
would have a strong mobile games focus.
Bethesda Game Studios is best known for titles
such as The Elder Scrolls and the critically
acclaimed post-apocalyptic role-playing game,
Fallout. The franchise’s most recent instalment,
Fallout 4, made a big splash towards the end of
2015, generating $750 million in sales during its
first week of release – in addition to selling 1.87
“Fallout Shelter
proved franchises can
generate huge sales
on mobile devices”
million digital copies on Steam, Xbox One and
PlayStation 4 during that same week.
Speaking about the new Canadian studio,
Bethesda’s game director and executive producer
Todd Howard said: “We’ve worked with some very
talented developers in Montreal for a long time,
and decided it was time to open a studio there. It’s
exciting to think about the new games we’ll be
building together.”
In fact, the new Montreal office followed
Bethesda Game Studios’ collaboration with
Montreal-based Behaviour Interactive, who worked
with the company to produce Bethesda’s very first
mobile game, Fallout Shelter.
Fallout Shelter for Android and iOS turned out to
be last year’s surprise hit. Following its June/August
release, Fallout Shelter quickly became the top
downloaded game in 45 countries and the top
downloaded app of any kind in 25 countries. It even
briefly overtook King’s Candy Crush Saga as one of
the top-grossing mobile games!
On the surface, Fallout Shelter is a
straightforward simulator game that challenges
the player to build and manage their own state-of-
the-art underground vault. Players rescue dwellers
from the wasteland and assign them to different
buildings in their vault, using the SPECIAL statistics

6

Top 10 Android games
Game
Clash of Clans
Game of War – Fire Age
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Soda Saga
Clash of Kings
Boom Beach
Candy Crush Jelly Saga
Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
Marvel Contest of Champions Kabam
Mobile Strike
Secrets of mobile success
The mobile gaming world has, until now, had a
vastly different set of players to the traditional
world of console and computer gaming.
For a long time casual games dominated the
mobile arena, as seen by the sheer amount of
Candy Crush games in the Play store’s Top
Grossing Apps list. As graphics began to improve,
more tactical games started to make an entrance,
with multiplayer strategy battler Clash of Clans
taking the top spot (accompanied by its various
clones and spin-offs). These apps are powered by
the freemium model – they’re free to download
and play, but extra features can be unlocked via
system many gamers are already familiar with from
other Fallout games.
After the success of Fallout Shelter, it’ll be
interesting to see whether there’s any shift in the
games being produced for mobile devices. Fallout
Shelter proved that franchises adored by hardcore
gamers can generate big audiences and huge
sales on mobile devices. Traditionally, the
big-hitters in the mobile gaming industry have been
mobile-first titles, but following the success of
Fallout Shelter, could we be about to see more
developers of traditional console and PC games
expanding into mobile gaming?
Over the past few years a select few classic
console games have been successfully ported to
mobile devices, with several of the Oddworld titles
recently seeing an Android and iOS re-release.
There might also be some scope for developers to
release mobile games as a companion to their
console games – Fallout Shelter, although
massively successful in its own right, was originally
intended as a preview, companion game to Fallout
4. In the future, maybe our first taste of the next
big console releases will be a preview version
released for mobile devices.
Producer
Supercell
Machine Zone, Inc
King
King
Elex Wireless
Supercell
King
Electronic Arts
Epic War
in-app purchases. This model dominates the
mobile gaming market, and while more traditional
gamers may rail against it, it’s definitely here to
stay. Classic console game developers have often
struggled with it though – EA is the only one of the
old guard to make it into the Top Ten below, and
that’s with a hot-property Star Wars game.
A combination of the addictive playability of a
casual game with the graphical and storyline
strengths of a Triple A developer (and a popular IP,
like Fallout) may be the holy grail of mobile gaming,
but whether the freemium model can support the
necessary development costs is another matter.
Speaking about Bethesda’s first mobile game,
Howard said: “We are going to support Fallout
Shelter for a long time. This is something we did on
the side and were blown away by the response.”
Following the success of Fallout Shelter, it
makes perfect sense for Bethesda’s Montreal
office to focus on mobile gaming, but it currently
seems unlikely that we’ll see mobile versions of all
Bethesda’s core releases. In 2015, Bethesda
Softworks’ vice president of PR and marketing Pete
Hines discussed Bethesda’s mobile future with
IGN, where he said: “We’d been thinking about
[making Fallout Shelter] for a while. It was a case of
‘We won’t do it unless it’s a good fit’. This isn’t the
start of a formula where every time we make a
game we need to do a mobile game.”
Bethesda’s Montreal outpost will be led by
industry veteran Yves Lachance, who served as the
studio head of Behavior Interactive and senior VP
on Wolfenstein: The New Order and Fallout Shelter.
So what can we expect from Bethesda in 2016?
At the moment, we know that it’s planning to
release an Elder Scrolls-themed card game for iOS,
but whether we’re going to see another Bethesda
Android app anytime soon, remains to be seen.
7
 things you
need to know
about...
home
automation

connections can be
schedules and used for home
make heating automation. By getting
adjustments with
an Android app.
all of the devices on a
secure network to
With an Android- communicate with each
compatible smoke and other, the range issue is
carbon-monoxide detector, then overcome. Samsung
as well as a host of other Nest- led the way back in 2014 with
compatible devices in the works with Nest store, its Bluetooth Smart LED light
the home-automation options are proving to be bulbs that needed no bridge
varied and popular. for connectivity.
IFTTT is essential
The IF app by IFTTT works with many other
home-automated devices ranging from Philips Hue
lighting to WeMo switches so you can make it a
fundamental part of your smart home setup. It lets
you come up with all sorts of weird and wonderful
recipes, many of which connect with the wider
internet, and it encourages you to play around so
you can experiment with a myriad of possibilities.

8
 Vulnerabilities
are being
tackled
Security is one of the
biggest worries for
d people when
ad, an connecting devices
e online and there’s no
cut doubt that
ng vulnerabilities do exist:
at the tail-end of 2015,
of a vulnerability was
me found in the Yale Home System (Europe) Android
oid app, which permitted attackers to potentially
tandard bypass its protection system. Nevertheless, the
icking Google-led Thread network is secure, based on a
s been mesh network and encrypted, meaning any
and it’s security holes should be speedily closed. It will only
permit authorised devices to be connected,
heading off potential threats before they have even
had a chance to flourish.
gs
now
ng from Your home is
locks, protected
to go The Weave home-
use a automation protocol is
o now in use in a new Yale
roid lock called Linus. It works
ble to with Nest and, not only
does it automatically lock
the door if you forget to do
it, it permits users to
create door-opening
passwords. Nest hopes
more devices will use the
Weave communication protocol during 2016. It has
also released the Nest Cam API, enabling
developers to connect their products directly to the
camera. Nest Cam has proven to be a popular Wi-Fi
home-security camera that streams to your
Android device and automatically alerts you to any
potential problems in your home.
oped a
hose
t Use wearables
If you have lots of Tasker plug-ins on one of your
Android devices, AutoApps may have already
nd it proved useful since it creates a central hub.
However, it’s been shown that it’s possible to use
lets you AutoApps with Android Wear, enabling you to
ules control your automated home from your wrist. It’s a
. little tricky, which is why we suggest you check out
g 3. the Android Wear Channel
your own apps. However, at ifttt.com/
LG is demonstrating that android_wear.
appliances can become Modules can let
more intelligent. Its you use your
Smart Diagnosis app is watch to turn on
able to automatically lights or power
diagnose any faults, sockets, for
enabling it to take care instance. The
of its product power is now
maintenance without just on the back
any hassle on your part. of your hands.

9
 NEW TECH Home-monitoring device
Customise taps
There is a capacitive

Ulo
Mu Design wants to help you
Those big eyes
Each of the eyes is made up
of a 1.22-inch LCD screen
that displays numerous
animations. Your Android
device can customise your
button on top of Ulo.
Different modes can be
activated depending on
certain tap sequences
that can be customised
on your Android device
particular Ulo’s look
keep a beady eye on your
home or garden
It may look like a cool ornament as it sits on your
bookshelf, but there’s more than what meets
the eye when it comes to Ulo. For those two
large peepers are actually LCD screens and they
not only follow your movements as you wander
around the room, they also enable non-verbal
communication.
With a range of eye expressions, this home-
monitoring system almost feels alive. Ulo has a
motion detector and a camera within its beak and
What’s behind
it blinks when you take a snapshot of what it’s
that beak?
seeing. It also squints when you’re watching live The beak is made up of a
video and its beady eyes will let you know when it’s two-way mirror and it
running out of battery. It can even see in the dark! contains a 1080p HD
surveillance camera
Best of all, Ulo works with your Android device.
(capable of 30fps) and a
Shh! It’s listening
While the eyes permit effective one-to-one motion sensor As well as having a built-in
communication – telling you when Ulo is puzzled, speaker, Ulo comes with a
microphone so that it can
upset or grumpy – the Android app lets you alter pick up audio and stream
their colour, size and shape. You can also it to you if necessary
instantly view streaming video and audio, and
set up recipes using the IFTTT app. The bad
news: you’ll have to wait until November 2016 to
get your hands on it!

At a glance
» Product name Ulo
» Available from mu-design.lu/store/ulo
» Price €169
Ulo was successfully funded through a Kickstarter
campaign, starting at €99 for early birds, but it is
currently taking preorders. Customise your very own Ulo to your liking directly from the Ulo’s eye expressions will change to look tired when the
Android Ulo app battery is dying. Charge it up with the USB cable provided

Vivien Muller, the owner of Mu
Design, talks to us about his
inspiration for the Ulo
home-monitoring device
Where did the idea for Ulo come from?
I saw an owl sculpture in an antique
A shop that really caught my eye and I
[just] thought it would be a nice idea to build
upon my previous campaign, WATCHme, which
didn’t raise the money I’d hoped [for].
WATCHme was a cute charging stand for Apple
Watch that turned the wearable’s display into
[a] watching, blinking eye. I thought I could
combine it with an owl.
What does Ulo do that other home-
monitoring gadgets don’t do?
Q&A
It depends. Ulo is waterproof and it can
A also recognise people’s faces and react to
them, but I designed Ulo so that it was mainly a
friendly interface. It is an example of emotive
technology. It’s not intended to replace other
technology and it’s not an intruder alarm either:
it’s entirely a home-monitoring system.
What functions does the partner Android
app have for users?
With the app, users are able to customise
A and set up [the] Ulo. They can use it to
view live streams and take snapshots from the
point of view of the device.
Do you think it captures enough footage
for normal daily activity?
I do. The number of minutes it can take
A depends on the quality you want. You can
choose between 480p, 720p and 1080p and
you can add extra memory using microSD cards.
How secure is it and is there a worry
people can see into your home?
The system is perfectly secure and
A you won’t have any worries about
people seeing your belongings in your
house. We have a two-step verification
protocol and data encryption to make sure
that everything is safe for users.
What else are you planning for Ulo in
the future?
A Lots of secret stuff!

10
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11
Feature
» Boost your phone
Give your device a full internal upgrade with the help of these apps
No matter which Android device you invest in, it’s
never going to be perfect. Whether it’s low battery
life, poor CPU implementation or perhaps too much
bloatware, there’s always room for improvements.
While some may look to the world of rooting to help
solve their problems, most will want to venture to
the Play Store for a worthwhile solution and take
advantage of the thousands upon thousands of
utility apps that all promise quick fixes.
12
While many of these available apps are
completely safe and offer good solutions to your
phone woes, there are a number of apps out there
that do next to nothing and can cause significant
damage to your device. With this in mind, we’d
highly recommend following our guide on the apps
you should be using, just to be on the safe side.
But don’t let us scare you, as once you’ve managed
to get the right combination of apps, you’ll be able
to give your device a bit of TLC and a much needed
boost. Our quick fixes will immediately give your
device a new lease of life, and while the
improvements won’t last long-term, for the most
part they can enhance your device’s everyday
usability. It’s a much cheaper option than
continuously upgrading your phone with new
contracts, and the changes should help you enjoy
using your phone more than ever before.
Hibernate
CPU-guzzling
apps Speed up core processes by restricting
unruly apps with Greenify
It’s all well and good having the latest prioritise when looking to improve the usabi
Snapdragon or Qualcomm processor your device. Greenify includes a unique hiber
implemented on your device, but it feature that essentially puts apps to sleep,
accounts for nothing if your CPU is being throttled meaning they’ll stop draining your device’s CPU
by your installed apps. While you may not actively usage. You’ll notice a difference in speed almos
have any apps open on your device, that doesn’t instantly and it can help prevent other common
prevent them from running in the background, issues Android users face, such as overheating
sucking all your power. It’s these apps you need to and battery problems.

1 Grant access to Greenify

When you first open the app, you’ll be
2 What to block?
The next screen will provide you with an
3 Ch
With
prompted to allow Greenify usage access. With initial scan of the apps that are running, in addition ‘zzz’ icon at t p
this option enabled, the app will be able to take a to how long they’ve been running for. You just need to sleep. The a nent
closer look at the apps that are currently using to select one of the apps in order to start the hibernation un to wake it up through
your device’s CPU. hibernation process. the App Info me u.

Improve your Wi-Fi Optimise device

frequency band temperature
Most Android devices can run Overheating issues are a
on the lightning-quick 5GHz problem for Android users, and
frequency band, but many are it’s imperative that they aren’t
set to work on the 2.4GHz band by taken lightly. Too much heat emitting
default. The difference between the two from your device can be detrimental to
is massive and you’re likely to get a much both your device’s battery life and
better signal using the 5GHz band. To processor, so keeping it nice and cool is
change your frequency band, head into important. Download the Cooler Master
the Wi-Fi section of the Settings app app from the Play Store, which will
before selecting Advanced. From here instantly track the current temperature of
you’ll find the Frequency Band option your device. Anything around the
listed, within which, you need to choose 25-degrees mark is considered normal,
the 5 GHz only option that’s provided. To but if it’s higher than that, use the Detect
confirm the changes you’ll need to menu to find out what’s causing the
restart your device. overheating and block it.

13
Feature
» Boost your phone

Achieve perfect
web browsing
speeds Chrome’s hidden settings make it easier
to mimic desktop browsing speeds
We love using Chrome, but it can be a features for your solution, but we do this with a
little sluggish at times and generally small amount of caution. These features are still in
pales in comparison to the experience of their developmental phase and shouldn’t be
using the desktop version of the browser. A quick adjusted unless you truly know what you’re doing.
speed boost is essential but you don’t need to look However, this clever fix is completely safe and will
outside of the app for a fix. Instead, you’re going to give Chrome more access to your device’s
want to find Chrome’s range of experimental memory. Here’s how to do it.

1 Access hidden settings

Open a new tab within the Chrome browser
and type chrome://flags into the URL bar provided.
After a few seconds, you should find that a page of
experimental features will be shown.
What to look for
2 The list of features is fairly exhaustive and
there’s no easy way to find the setting we’re after.
Scroll down the list provided until you find the
Default tile width and Default tile height options.

3 Alter defaults
If this is your first time accessing this menu,
both options are listed with the Default setting
enabled. We need to change this, so select the
first Default tab to make a change.
4 Make the change
For newer devices, select 512 for both
menus. This opens up a good portion of RAM for
Chrome to use. For older devices, or those with
less than 1GB of RAM, select the 256 option.
Did it work?
5 Hit the Relaunch button at the bottom of
the experimental options menu to save and
restart your edits. Load up some websites and you
should see that browsing speeds have improved.

How to keep your device in tip-top shape Use these handy tips to help keep things running nice and nippy, in addition to the practices you
need to avoid for fear of slowing things down

Perform regular Calibrate your Scan for viruses

maintenance
If your current Android device is
one you plan to use for years to
come, you need to keep it in good condition
both inside and out. Get in the habit of
uninstalling unused apps, freeing up storage by
transporting it to the cloud and keeping an eye
on your device’s core temperature.
battery
To maximise the lifespan of your
device’s battery, you’ll want to
frequently calibrate it. To do this, let it
completely drain to 0% when in use, before
charging it right back up to 100%. Ultimately this
will help guarantee that your battery is
performing at its absolute peak at all times.
Malicious software is rife, so
regular scans with an anti-virus
app are essential. These apps can
not only find malicious files deep within your
device’s system, but also remove the threat
from your device. One of the great things about
the best anti-virus apps is that they’re also
completely free. It's a no-brainer.

14
 Feature
Boost your phone «

Boost your battery Upgrade your

audio output
by 20 per cent Learn to configure the bass and
treble levels to achieve a more
complete audio experience.

Easily extend your device’s battery life between charges

One of the biggest cons on the Play Store is the
plethora of battery-saving apps that in reality do
very little. However, the ones that do work offer a
great way to help extend and improve your device’s
battery life over a period of time. Battery Doctor
falls into the latter and is a handy tool for
optimising how your device is currently using your
battery. It’s quick to highlight how your battery is
performing, in addition to pointing out the areas
where you’re using it the most. But instead of
having to manually toggle these settings yourself,
the included Optimize button will streamline your
device’s core functions in addition to helping
extend your battery life.

Check your history Time to optimise

The history chart will map The Optimize button will
out how your battery has KPUVCPVN[ ƒIWTG QWV VJG DGUV
fared over the past 24 way to streamline your
hours. It’s a helpful current battery usage. It’s
indicator for you to identify worthwhile using this
the time of day where your option every time you give
battery is being consumed
the most.
your device a charge, as
the difference it makes is
1. Master audio sliders
FGƒPKVGN[ PQVKEGCDNG When you first open the app, select the
Equalizer icon to the bottom right of the
display. From here, use the far-left slider to give
your bass levels a distinct boost.
6CUM URGEKƒE Switch modes
It’s common knowledge By disabling certain
that your battery will features on your device,
deplete faster when you’ll instantly be able to
undertaking certain tasks. prolong your battery
For a concise listing of the charge. Battery Doctor has
time remaining on your a range of preset battery
current charge for certain modes readily available via
tasks, check out the Power the Mode tab found at the
Remaining menu. bottom of the app.

Charging woes
If your battery isn’t
Watch out
charging properly, select for Wi-Fi
the Charge tab to try and One of the biggest battery
diagnose the issue. You’ll drainers on your device will
be able to see if there’s a be Wi-Fi, so make sure you 2. Preset audio
problem with the battery use the Notification toggle Alternatively, select the Preset tab at the top
itself, the charging cable to disable when you
you’re using or a software of the app to choose from one of the preset
aren’t using it.
related issue. audio menus that can help completely change
the way your device transmits audio.

Avoid bulky apps Be careful of rooting Don't try to tinker

While we champion anti-virus apps
in general, certain anti-virus suites
built for mobile are bulky and can
cause some significant slowdown on your
device. Before installing an app, scroll to the
bottom of its Play Store listing and check out its
install size. Anything that’s over a few
megabytes isn’t worth downloading.
Rooting your device is a great idea
for unlocking tweaks that can help
improve how it functions, but it’s
dangerous if you don’t know exactly what you’re
doing. We implore you to check out both our
very own Hacker Zone and the XDA Forums for
guides on getting yourself acquainted with the
general rooting process.
with your display
Be careful when undertaking tasks
that relate to improving your
device’s display. The vast majority don't really do
anything, but some can actually harm the
brightness levels. What's more, on very rare
occasions they can cause your device to pick up
dead pixels throughout the display.

15
Feature
» Boost your phone
Power up with
root apps
System App
Remover
Bloatware can slow down your device, so using
System App Remover is a simple way of
removing stock apps that you no longer want,
or will not use in the near future.
SetCPU
Change processor levels in an instant
to streamline everyday performance, make
apps run faster and help prolong battery life. A
must-have for any rooted device.
Root Booster
One of the key features of Root
Booster is its hibernation feature, which is able
to optimise the Android OS so it has less
impact on your device’s RAM usage.
Link2SD
Link2SD bridges the gap between
internal and external storage, enabling users
to free up their device’s internal storage by
transferring files to and from it.
App Ops
Enjoy using an installed app, but not
too keen on the permissions it has access to?
Use App Ops to revoke the permissions they
have access to, giving you peace of mind.
16
Remove residual
files Delve into your device's
directories to create space
Before tackling cached files to gain more space, users who are keen to really free up some storage and
give their device a boost will want to spring clean their device’s directories. Depending on how new your
device is, many core directories will be empty, but you may be surprised with how many residual files
appear within. SD Maid remains the premier app for locating and removing these files from your directories.
1 Select your
directories 2 Confirm the
clear out 3 What’s left?
It’s also possible to
Use SD Maid’s search system to A confirmation box will appear. manually delete residual files
locate the directories you’d like Press the OK button to confirm. from within directories yourself.
to clear out. Some will be listed Depending on the files that will There isn't any harm in doing
as empty, but are still worth be removed, this process can this, just in case any have been
clearing for residual files. take up to five minutes. left behind.
Permanently delete
cached files
Free up storage and notice a speed boost in your device
For many, cached files are something you’d only
experience on desktop computers, but that’s far
from the actual truth. Cached files are frequent on
your smartphone, especially if you use apps that
require logins and access to certain device
permissions. The ES File Explorer app may be best
loyed for digging out large files, but it’s also
ing cached files. Trust
Search your storage
1 Head
to the storage section of the ES File
er app and look for your installed apps. You
d find a cached file option, which will contain
e expendable caches that can be removed.
Select and delete
2 Long-press
one of the files to open the
selection screen, before pressing the subsequent
files to remove. Confirm the deletion process by
pressing the Trash icon at the top of the app.

Give your device an internal
spring clean
Clean Master
Speed is of the essence when it comes to an
initial scan within Clean Master. It can be
argued it’s perhaps not as thorough with this
scan as the others, but it’ll pick up the majority
of files and directories that need a spring clean.
Each and every item that’s set to be cleaned is
listed directly underneath the information taken
from your initial scan. Use the Advanced tab
provided to search for specific files. It’s a
system that works well in use.
As long as the app isn’t recommending you
remove over 1GB of space from your device, the
actual cleaning process in Clean Master is
surprisingly quick. The speediness does lead to
some slight overheating, however.
» Verdict
It lacks the thoroughness of CCleaner, but it
trumps it massively in the speed department.
We’re a little anxious on the overheating
aspect, but this is still a great app.
Which one of these cleaning apps is best for dusting the
cobwebs off your device’s internals?
Just Cleaner
Initial scanning
We love how Just Cleaner gives a complete
overview of your device’s current status, before
enabling users to perform a scan for junk files
that need cleaning. Depending on how old your
phone is, this initial scan can take a while.
Search system
With different sections listed through the
homepage of the app, it’s easy to find any file
or folder you’re particularly looking for. Each tab
is then broken into further sections to help aid
easy identification.
Search system
Removing files requires you to scan different
areas of your device, meaning you’ll also need
to start the removal process from several areas
of the app. We’d prefer it if we could remove all
files and folders at once.
» Verdict
Just Cleaner is the recommended choice for
those who want control of the areas on their
device that are set to be cleared. A great menu
and listing system make this a good choice.
Feature
Boost your phone «
CCleaner
CCleaner’s initial scan is the slowest of the
group, but that certainly isn’t a bad thing. It’s
thorough and does a great job at locating some
of the clogged-up spaces on your phone that
other apps wouldn’t necessarily find.
Files and folders are categorised under
different tabs, making it easy to identity the
areas of your phone set to be cleaned. There’s
no actual search button though, which makes
trawling through the list on the slow side.
Similar to its scanning process, the
thoroughness of the CCleaner app means
cleaning times are fairly lengthy. When dealing
with larger files and directories, you can find
the app will momentarily freeze on occasion.
» Verdict
If time is of the essence, then CCleaner isn’t
for you as both scanning and cleaning times
are lengthy. However, it's noticeably more
thorough than the competition here.
17
Feature
» Master your media

Create your own Improve your

media centre audio setup

Upgrade Cast to
your gaming anything
experience

Will VR
take over
All-new your eyes?
Android TV

MASTER
YOUR MEDIA
Explore the hardware and software that’s making Android a media powerhouse
The world of Android as we know it is changing at a
ridiculous rate. Where once the world’s most
popular OS was limited to our smartphones and
tablets, it’s now commonplace to see devices
launch with an augmented version of Android in
tow. It opens up new and varied choices, increases
competition and drives down prices.
Arguably the biggest advancement in Android-
related tech is how we consume our media. A
plethora of hardware and subscription services
have launched to expand and challenge how we
normally manage our downloaded media. No
matter if it’s movies, audio files or games, there’s
always something new out there to try out. Some
are new takes on classic ideas, while some are
aiming to be the next big thing this year, but they’ve
all got one thing in common – they’re brilliant
solutions to get your media fix.
Check out the following pages for the products
and the different services you should be checking
out in 2016.

18
 Feature
Master your media «

The best HDMI

How about
Now TV?
Streaming is the
Sky's very own Now TV
box is another device worth
considering. It's cheaper
than standard Sky TV and
sticks on the market
Google Chromecast
he best thing about
he Chromecast is that
works with a plethora
f Google’s own apps.
o no matter if it’s
or even photos,
there s an app available for you to stream

future of media
It’s time to sell that collection of DVDs that are gathering dust
The problem with collecting physical media is that
it takes up room, something that many of us don’t
have enough of. Due to internet speeds steadily
increasing around the world, the idea of streaming
is now entirely plausible and a very real alternative
to the gargantuan collection of movies and CDs
you may own. Through apps like Google Play
Movies, users now have access to a digital library
of downloadable movies that they can safely store
on their device, or in the cloud, and stream them
in a matter of seconds. Plus for those who like to
play around with codec and audio settings, there
are numerous video players on hand to help you
out. If you haven’t checked out VLC Player yet, we
implore you to do so.
you can cancel your them on to your TV.
subscriptions
whenever.
Amazon Fire Stick
If you’re an Amazon
Prime member, then
the Fire Stick should
But if money is tight, then arguably a digital be your port of call. It
library isn’t an idea worth exploring, and instead tes to set up and
the world of subscriptions should be your port of connect to your Wi-Fi, and is compatible with
call. Millions of us around the world have invested any movies or TV shows you want to
in a Netflix subscription, and rightly so. All-you-can- wirelessly stream.
eat movies and TV at your fingertips that costs you
less than a price of a cinema ticket? What a Roku
bargain. One of the best things about this sort of
hy many people
streaming service is that you can partner it with
hoose Roku over the
one of the many HDMI sticks on the market to get
ompetition is that it
the content on your TV. Both the Chromecast and
allows for users to mirror their Android
Fire Stick cost less than £35, and provide a
device’s screen on to their TV, no matter what
seamless way to bridge the gap between devices
sort of media you’re enjoying or whatever task
and media that can be streamed. Physical media
you’re undertaking.
sales are declining, so when will you switch?

19
Feature
» Master your media

Why you need

to buy a Nexus
Player right now
Asus’ fantastic Nexus Player may have taken a
backseat from the limelight since the latest
Chromecast was released at the latter end of last
year, but it’s still the premier media management
device on the market. It essentially acts as the
middleman between your device and non-Android
TV, storing apps that can be seamlessly streamed
directly on to your TV. What we especially like
about the Nexus Player is its Google
integration, with free online multipla
plausible from any of your compatib
games – which is considerably chea
home consoles. If you haven’t got t
fork out for an Android TV, this is the

Android
e concept of Android on your TV has never been more real
hanks to the open-source nature of the
Android operating system, implementing it on
to a TV is far easier than you may think. It’s
designed in the same style as your
martphone, but with a media orientated
rface for users to enjoy. Movie and music
ections are instantly available, and there’s full
mpatibility with Netflix and YouTube, if your own
media downloads don’t quite cut it. Some of the
world’s leading TV manufacturers have already
implemented Android on to their units, with Sony
currently partnering its amazing Bravia technology
to make a TV experience you really need to check
out. What we’re most excited about when it comes
to Android TV, however, is how sooner rather than
later we’ll be able to view our downloaded content
in beautiful 4K quality. TV tech and Android make
the perfect partnership.

Deal with
problematic
codecs

Open Decoder menu Enable decoder Select your codecs

After opening the MX Player app,
press on the menu icon located at
the top left of the app before
selecting the settings option. On
the menu that now opens, press
on the Decoder option provided.
To start tinkering with codecs,
you’ll need to enable the HW+
decoder option listed at the top of
the app. Once done, select the
HW+ video codecs option listed
halfway down the page.
The codecs on offer are plentiful,
so scroll down through the menu
and tick all the ones you want
enabled. Now head to the Player
section of the app and test out a
previously problematic video.

20
 Feature
Master your media «

Create your own Get Kodi working on

your device
media centre
Kodi is a one-stop shop for discovering new ways to enjoy
your favourite content
Formerly known as XBMC, Kodi is an all-in-one
media centre that caters for streaming videos,
music and direct links from the internet. While in Download and install
previous iterations it had been confined to Head over to www.kodi.tv and download the
specialist equipment, a range of cheap Kodi set latest version of Kodi available. From here you’ll
top boxes are now available from various online want to follow the set up instructions listed
retailers. These boxes offer a blank canvas for within the server to correctly configure the
seasoned Android users to implement their own latest version of Kodi to your device.
add-ons to enhance how they use it. Add-ons
perform different functions, but some of the best
ones enable you to access content you typically
wouldn’t be able to. For example, Kodi breaks
down the barriers between yourself and content
that’s typically restricted by your location. Of
course, there are video player add-ons for your
own stored media, but if you want to discover new
content that you’ve never had the chance to view Install add-ons
before, picking up a Kodi box should be at the top Open the add-ons menu to install any of your
of your list. pre-download Kodi add-ons. Make sure to use
the search system to open the correct directory.
On occasion, you may be asked to restart Kodi
“These boxes offer a blank canvas for users to when the add-on has been implemented.

install their own add-ons”

Choosingaportableprojector
Enjoy your movies on an even bigger screen
If you’ve got the necessary wall space, a portable
projector is a fantastic piece of kit for enjoying your
stored movie files on a larger display. Picking the
right one can be difficult, however. Ideally you’ll
want to find something that offers high brightness
levels (surpassing the 50 lumens mark is an
absolute must) and that includes enough depth so
Give it a try
Once you’ve configured Kodi on to your device,
that adjusting the resolution and focus isn’t a
you should have free rein to enjoy watching a
difficult task. What we highly recommend is that
movie or two. For future reference, regularly
you partner any portable projector with a decent
check the Kodi website for any updates, as
headset, as by and large, you’ll find low audio
new features are always being added.
levels and high fan volume a continuous issue.

Connections made easy

For a direct connection between
your smartphone and portable
projector, your best bet will be to use
a microUSB cable. However, most
projectors also contain HDMI and
SD card slots as an alternative Size matters
Despite their portability, the
better mobile projectors will
include an optical engine that
can deliver up to 150-inch
Native resolution projected images, or up to
;QWŦNN DG JCTFRTGUUGF VQ ƒPF C 80-inches if the projector is
portable projector that offers 1080p battery powered
playback, with most resorting to a
1280 x 800 native resolution. The
differences aren’t too obvious when
projecting on to a large space

21
Feature
» Master your media

Breathe new lif

into mobile ga
Put your Xbox away and try out the Nvidia Sh
Mobile gaming has never been as popular as it is today, but we
still lack dedicated consoles to enjoy the games on. The Nvidia
Shield primarily uses its own K1 tablet, which is powered by a
2.2GHz quad-core GPU and utilises Nvidia’s own GeForce
graphics – so that any game you play will run without issue. A
dedicated console-styled controller forms the other part of the
Shield experience and helps gamers get that console
experience they crave. The technology still has some kinks to
be ironed out, but with mobile games consistently improving,
Nvidia may have the answers we need.

It’s all about the Pi Since its release back in February 2013, the
Raspberry Pi has fast become the best-selling
computer in the UK. While its primary purpose is
to help educate people about coding, modders
and hackers have already revolutionised what
can be done with this amazing piece of kit. The
Extended GPIO The price is right tiny computer can be programmed to run an
The side-mounted pins Not only is it a great way abundance of different programs, which makes
can be used to connect to to learn about computing
an array of power LEDs, and enhancing your it ideal for tinkering and creating your own
motors and mini-displays. media consumption, at projects to help manage and enhance your
It opens up other just £4/$5 it’s the same media experience. With just a little bit of work,
connection options too price as a pint of beer!
users are able to hack the Pi to work as a
dedicated media server, a fully-fledged games
console, or even make your own on-board car
HDMI connection Plenty of power computer. Oh, and did we mention that the new
A mini HDMI port sits at It has enough power to Pi Zero is just £4/$5? Yes you heard us right,
the top of the Pi Zero, run a media server with
enabling easy connection no issues. It runs at
£4/$5. No matter if you’ve never worked with
to any TV, smartphone, or 700MHz and is partnered Linux before, the Raspberry Pi is a great entry
monitor. A great solution by 512MB of RAM to keep point to improve media consumption on your
for playback moving the right way Android device.

DIY Pi Zero media projects

Empower any speaker Say cheese Build your own game

By equipping an aerial to the side of the Pi Zero,
it’s possible to turn it into a mobile FM
transmitter. It’s a good solution if you want to
share the music with people around you, or want
to improve the signal of an FM radio nearby.
That’s right, you can transform the Pi Zero into a
fully-fledged replacement for your smartphone
camera. The PiCamera expansion is capable of
recording slow-motion video and stop-motion
animation. It’s a lot better than you might think!
Once you become familiar with the workings of
the Pi Zero, you may consider programming your
own game through the unit. Some of the best
mods for Minecraft have been created using the
Pi Zero as its base computer.

22
 Feature
Master your media «

Is the price
Comfort
Both Oculus and
right? The VR games you
HTC have equipped
an adjustable band
6JGUG ƒTUV NKPG QH
VR headsets aren't
cheap. The Rift has
need to play right now
to the rear on their been designed as
devices to make entry-level product,
sure users are able but it'll still set you
to comfortably wear back over £400
their VR headsets
for long periods

Wearing It's an illusion

glasses Dual video feeds Rigs: Mechanised
Some companies
have been tinkering
help give the effect
of 3D, even when
Combat League
their headsets so you're just playing a Robots and sport isn’t something we’re overly
wearers of glasses 2D title. If you've familiar with, but Rigs just looks so much fun.
can get in on the ever played a
fun. Expect to see Nintendo 3DS, you'll You control one of the Rigs robots as you aim to
these units shortly get the same 3D score more goals than your opponent. Did we
effect here mention there’s an abundance of weapons to
help you out?

VR is the future of
gaming Oculus and HTC are leading the
charge for virtual reality
The argument over whether everyday consumers
are ready for VR headsets is still out there, but
after countless demos over the past six months,
they could very much be the future of how many of
us consume our mobile games. The Oculus Rift is
widely regarded as the leading product in the race
for your eyes, and the technology as a whole looks
to bring a new immersive experience to mobile
gaming. It’s remarkably clever how the system
works, with the unit splitting two video feeds on to
the same screen, which gives the illusion of 3D,
when actually you’re still playing a 2D game. A
built-in ARM processor isn’t just for keeping games
running at 60FPS, but it also plays an essential
Samsung Gear VR
u’re a Samsung
artphone owner, the
r VR might be the best
ry point into the world
irtual reality for you.
o the front of the device
with a myriad of sensors providing a 3D-esque
view to enjoy. The enlarged field of view is great
for enjoying a movie, or playing through a
compatible VR game.
role in reducing motion sickness and helps once
again with that 3D effect.
Although more famed for its work in
smartphones, HTC has also ventured into the
world of VR with its Vive headset. Touted as a
high-end alternative to the Rift, the Vive includes
an assortment of sensors to help give it a more
accurate tracking experience compared to the Rift,
as well as a front-facing camera, which has been
augmented to help blend physical and virtual
worlds together. 2016 is undoubtedly going to be
the year that VR comes into a world of its own, but
will it be the way you consume mobile games for
years to come?
Homido VR
For those on a budget,
the Homido VR is a
decent, but not
spectacular alternative
to Google Cardboard. It
uses dual-lenses fitted to the front of the
headset, which can be adjusted depending on
the device fitted to it and also the distance
between your eyes and the lenses. It’s one of
the few headsets built for glasses wearers.
POLLEN
POLLEN is a slightly different take on the
adventure genre, with players required to figure
out what happened to the empty spaceship
you’re on. Find objects, solve puzzles and try
and figure out an answer.
Lucky’s Tale
If you’ve ever enjoyed a classic third-person
platformer, then Lucky’s Tale will be perfect for
you. It contains all the old-school platform
nuances, as well as an abundance of new
features that are suited to the VR experience.
Dreadhalls
FPS horror games have always been scary, but
wearing a VR headset takes them to a new
level. Dreadhalls requires you to find an escape
route from the maze you’re trapped in. There
are monsters to jump out at you at every turn.
EVE: Valkryie
EVE is set to be one of the first space
multiplayer titles available for VR headsets. It’s
heavily focused on combat, so expect to see
plenty of explosions, on-screen fireballs and
absolute carnage throughout your experience.

23
Feature
» Master your media

The audio equipment

you need to buy
Cowin Ark 4:1
This speaker and
soundbar system
work in tandem to
produce room-
filling sound at a
decent price. A
range of simple playback controls sit at the top
of the speaker for easy control.

B&O Play H3
Improve your audio
Although more
famed for its
speakers, B&O’s
game Kit your home out with the must-have
audio products of the year
H3 in-ear The ways in which we enjoy our music have undoubtedly be your next hardware purchase.
headphones offer unbelievable bass for their shifted in the past 12 months. Audio streaming When picking such kit, there are several factors
size and are comfortable enough to wear for services have had a surge of popularity, with users that need to be considered. For one, you’ll want to
long periods of times. paying a monthly subscription to access millions of make sure the frequency is correctly configured to
songs and albums instead of collecting CDs, or deliver high quality bass, while also properly
Orbitsound A70 even cassettes if you’re old school. But with all the
advancements in the software side of things, the
dealing with highs and lows in your music. Volume
is also another big factor to think about, because
While the A70
hardware we use to enjoy them has also changed. you may be surprised how bad some speakers
soundbar is
Smartphone speakers have become recognisable sound on a louder volume, with sound often
unbelievable when
as viable replacements for portable speakers, with compressed and grainy when it goes over a
partnered with a
a few high-end phones equipping Dolby technology certain level. But whatever you do, don’t
TV, it’s the
into their front-facing speakers. compensate on price; high-end speakers are
accompanying subwoofer that helps add that
But if you really care about your music, then a usually high-end for a reason. Stump up the cash
extra bit of punch to your audio.
high-end pair of headphones or a soundbar should and enjoy the ride.

Cast to anything
Nobody likes having multiple wires sprouting out
of their speaker, and thankfully wireless
streaming has improved so much that the need
for such wires has greatly diminished. Google
Cast bridges the gap between smartphone and
speaker to create a seamless streaming
experience. Most speakers released in the past
12 months have full Cast support and the
streaming process maintains the high quality of
your files, or generally improves them if your
music isn’t quite up to scratch. If your speaker
lacks wireless integration, then pick up and
connect a Chromecast Audio device; it’s £30 and
adds a wireless connection to any aging speaker.

24

Which streaming service is
right for you?
Spotify
Price Free (with adverts)
£9.99/$9.99 (ad-free)
Designed for: Phone and tablet
Requires Android: Varies with device
Spotify’s vault is streets ahead of the competition,
with it holding many exclusive rights to several
tracks and albums. If there’s something obscure
you’re looking to find, Spotify is probably the place
you’ll find it.
Although the default bitrate for streaming sits at
160 kbps, there’s a ‘high quality’ streaming option
available that will then start streaming from 320
kbps if you’ve a good enough connection, which is
simply divine.
People can use the Follow feature to keep tabs on
the tracks you listen to, and which ones you add to
your library and playlists. It’s a well-used social
feature within the app and definitely worth
checking out.
If your primary reason for investing in a
subscription service is to discover new artists,
then Spotify simply can’t be beaten. Its vault is
consistently getting bigger, so new tracks are
plentiful, as are new discoveries.
Improve audio
in Google
Play Music
Open settings
Press on the side menu icon within
the app and open the settings tab
that’s listed within. From here you’ll
want to select the equaliser to begin
the changes.
We put the best music streaming apps to the
test to figure out which one comes out on top
Google
Play Music
Price £9.99/$9.99
(ad-free)
Designed for: Phone and tablet
Requires Android: Varies with device
Track selection
One thing we can praise Google for is that its
adding new artists at an alarming rate. Some
artists are missing key songs though, and it
isn’t the best place to find the latest tracks for
instant streaming.
Streaming quality
Sound quality can be improved through the built-in
equaliser to some degree, but standard streaming
is at 320 kbps. Instead of constant buffering,
those on a slower internet connection will
automatically stream at a lower bitrate.
Extra features
Playlists are a massive part of what makes Play
Music great, and whether it’s a pre-curated
playlist, or something that a fellow user has put
together, you’ll never be short of a great mix to
listen to.
Out of the three services here, Play Music seems
to be the one with most potential. It’s growing at
an alarming rate, with Google constantly trying
out new features to see which ones stick.
Definitely one to watch.
What to change?
Toggle the equaliser on at the top of
the menu, and then adjust the sliders
until you get a good mix of sound. For
improved bass, also adjust the bass
boost slider.
Feature
Master your media «
TIDAL
Price £9.99/$9.99,
£19.99/$19.99
(high-fidelity sound)
Designed for: Phone and tablet
Requires Android: Varies with device
Despite being relatively new on the scene, TIDAL
includes a hefty library of tracks already, even
including some lesser streamed artists. There are
a small number of exclusives available that will
appeal to rap and hip-hop fans especially.
TIDAL’s key selling point is that any and all songs
contained within can be streamed at high
fidelity. It’s a nice bonus to have, but you’ll want
to make sure you’ve the headphones that can
make use of it.
There’s a decent amount of editorial that covers
everything from articles to interviews and
everything in between. If you discover a new artist
for the first time, there’s bound to be some
editorial covering them.
TIDAL’s high-fidelity streaming will be a big plus
for those who really care about their music. If
you’ve the headphones to match, this is a solid
subscription choice to make, and it can boast
some exclusive tracks too.
Tailored for you
If you listen to a specific genre, a list
of preset audio settings can be found
by pressing on the FX Booster option.
But it isn’t the best choice if you’ve
got diverse taste in music.
25
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Masterclass
» masterclass
Recoverlostand
deleted files
When files are deleted on any device, they
are not always completely destroyed
because some fragment of the original
structure remains. This gives us all hope
that an accidental screen tap will not be a
disaster and that there is a possibility of
recovering from a mistake. In Android, if data
is deleted from the internal drive your best
bet is to ensure that your device is rooted;
this is so that you can get to otherwise
impossible to access parts of the system.
However, it is still possible to retrieve files
Other things to contemplate
Use a file manager
It makes sense to install a file manager on your
Android device so you can become familiar with
what is stored on it – this will also give you
better control over how files are deleted.
28
Don’t despair when data loss strikes – you have
the potential to retrieve deleted files and photos
even without full root access. Despite the fact
that it is often possible to recover files, we
will also cover taking the right precautions to
ensure you don’t need to even look at the
complicated options of recovery. The old
adage that ‘prevention is better than cure’
has never been truer than in the world of
computing, and it need not be a chore to back
up your data or use an app that sits alongside
the deletion process. These can work in the
background and may not be noticeable at all
in daily use. Let’s recover some files!
There is a lot to consider when
managing Android files
Increase your allowance Go offline immediately
Increase your data allowance for all of the Turn on Airplane Mode the moment you
benefits of the cloud. Backups, file management accidentally delete a file. This will stop any
and so many other features will be available no automated updates occurring and increase the
matter where you are and your files will be safer. likelihood of recovering the files that you need.
Five tips on preventing
deletion accidents
1. Stop right there
It is important to remember that if you delete
files accidentally, you should not open another
app. Begin the process of recovery immediately.
2. Use an expansion card
If possible, try to put as much data as possible
on an expansion card. This makes sense anyway
due to the natural lack of internal memory, but it
is often much easier to recover data from an
expansion card than from internal memory.
3. Think before you delete
This may seem obvious, but taking a second or
two to consider what you are doing when
deleting files will save a huge amount of time.
4. Beware of apps that delete
Avoid apps that claim to save lots of memory
with one tap. It is better to know exactly what
you are deleting by doing so manually and, if you
are running out of memory, you may need to
consider a new device for your typical usage.
5. Google backup
Always select the Google backup option when
setting up a new device.
 Re
»mver d
co

as ele
ter te
cla d
ss file
Restore You can recover images
Nothing works better
to stop you needing to

s
that have been deleted recover photos than
min
photos quickly in mere seconds gu de
having an automated
backup procedure

It is likely that you will accidentally delete photos more than any other file type. With a
simple free app, you can get them back instantly and it will be as if the mistake never
happened. This is a very handy solution to have installed!
Backup photos
with Dropbox

In the dedicated Dropbox app on your

1 Android device, go to settings and then
look for the Turn on Camera Upload feature –
it is very easy to find.

1 Grab the app

Go to Google Play to download and install
Restore Image (Super easy). It’s free and works as
intended, in particular for images that you have
deleted recently. However, none of these solutions
are guaranteed to work 100 per cent of the time.
2 See the deleted photos
The app will immediately show you any
photos that have been deleted on your Android.
Take some time to look at what images are listed
to see if the ones you need to restore have been
captured. The scanning process is almost instant.

Tap the option and then select What to

2 upload. Select Photos and videos or
Photos only. Choosing only photos will save a
lot of mobile data in the long run.

3 Choose some photos

Tap the photos you want to restore, but
remember that you should not pick too many to
avoid corrupting the process and potentially losing
some images for good. Select up to five images
and then tap the Restore button at the bottom.
4 A restored image
Once the process has completed, go to
your photo viewer of choice and look for the image Finally, tap How to upload and choose
3 Wi-Fi or data plan, if you have enough
or images you restored. It should be located in a
new folder and you can then save it elsewhere or allowance to let files back up constantly.
edit it as you would normally. Photos will be backed up in real time.

29
Masterclass
Recover deleted files
from internal memory
With a PC, you really do Possibly the best chance you have of
recovering deleted files that were saved to
have the ability to recover internal memory is to connect your device
to a PC and use an app like Recuva.
This type of app has the ability to dive
deeply into recent activity on your Android
and can even work when the device is not
rooted. As always, there are no guarantees as
to how well it will work on each occasion, but
in our tests it has proved more than capable
of recovering files that have been deleted in
the recent past. You should always take some
time to check reviews and to make sure that
the app you want to try is safe because there
are solutions available that do not tick all of
the boxes when it comes to securing the
safety of your data. We will show you how to
set up Recuva and also how to recover files;
with a bit of luck, you will be as successful as
we have been.

1 Download the app

Go to piriform.com/recuva and look for the
free version of Recuva. This is worth trying and, if
you’re impressed, you can upgrade to the
professional and professional plus versions.
Remember, you will only use it occasionally.
2 Install the app
Install the app as you would any other and
wait until the process has completed before you
start playing with your PC. The app is quite small
and in our tests it has proved stable so you should
not run into any significant problems.

3 Choose a file type

Select the type of file(s) you are trying to
recover from your connected Android. Doing this
will speed up the recovery process because the
app can focus on exactly what you are looking for
without having to scan entire directories.
4 Choose a location
Next, select a location, which in this case
should be your Android device. Make sure it is
connected to your PC via USB and that it is listed in
the options. You may need USB debugging enabled
to permit this process to work.
5 Your files are recovered
If everything works as it should, you should
be presented with a list of recovered files. In our
tests we located almost every file that had been
deleted recently and this proved that Recuva really
does work as it promises to.

30
 Re
Message us! »facebook »twitter

»mver d
co
Got a top tip for file /littlegreenrobot @lgrobot

as ele
Get help from our Follow us to send your
recovery? Let us know!

ter te
Facebook community questions and thoughts

cla d
ss file
Prevention is Understanding how to recover files when they have been
accidentally deleted is very useful, but it cannot replace a timely

s
back up of important data. Many of the files you use will likely
reside on an expansion card and so we would recommend manually

better than cure

You should back up your Android device and
backing it up at least once a week so that the chances of losing
important data are kept to a minimum. Most cards used in Android
devices outstrip the actual device in terms of memory and so it makes
sense to back up your phone to the card first, then back up the card
to a desktop or laptop computer. It takes only a few minutes to keep
any expansion cards regularly your data as secure as possible.

1 Connect the card

If your computer does not offer an
expansion card slot, you can buy a USB adaptor
very cheaply, but no matter which solution you
use, you should see it listed in your file manager as
soon as it is inserted and connected.
2 Copy the content
Our advice would be to manually copy the
content you want to back up using your file
manager, as this is by far the safest way to stop
any corruption. The process is manual, but it
should still only take seconds to complete.
3 Save your files elsewhere
The final step is to paste the content into a
folder and this can be done every single week so
that lots of space is not wasted. You can overwrite
the backup each time and all of your precious data
should still remain safe.

min
gu de
Use a recycle bin
Add a recycle bin to your Android device to protect your files

1 Recycle Bin app 2 Customise app 3 Do a test 4 Delete again

Go to Google Play and search
for Recycle Bin, then select an app
that looks suitable for your needs.
Some trial and error may be needed
to find the one that works perfectly
on your particular device and with
your file manager.
Open the app and choose the
exact file types that will be managed
by the Recycle Bin app. Try to limit
the selections to only the types of
files that you normally deal with –
this will speed up the general
performance of the app.
You should now be able to
delete files and be completely at
ease with the fact that they will
remain available on your Android
device should you need to access
them again. Make sure you test the
app with unimportant files first.
All of your deleted files should
be available in the Recycle Bin app
should you ever need to access
them again in the future. Just make
sure that you take some time to
remove them on occasion in order
to save on precious space.

31
Tutorials
App used » Chromecast Works with » Android 4.4.2 and up

Fix casting issues on

Chromecast Get Google’s handy streaming gadget
working again when it’s not playing nicely

ogle’s Chromecast devices are so simple
set up and use that they don’t come with
manual, just a three-step Getting Started
ide. Whether you have the video
romecast or the Chromecast Audio, all you
ed to do is plug it into a power source,
tach the HDMI cable to a TV or the audio
ble to your speakers and then connect the
hromecast to your wireless network using
e app. After that, just tap the casting icon in
a compatible app or the Chrome browser and
stream. It’s that simple. Well, not always.
Sometimes technology doesn’t do what it’s
supposed to. For Google’s Chromecast, that
can include it not playing what you’re
casting, even when it’s detected by the device
you’re casting from, or seeing your
Chromecast show up on TV but there’s no
casting icon in any apps. In this tutorial, we’ll
help you solve these problems if they arise.

1 Try a soft reset

If your Chromecast doesn’t show up on
your television, make sure that its power cable is
connected properly and check that the LED power
light is on. If it is, try a soft reset by unplugging the
dongle’s USB, waiting a few seconds and then
plugging it back in.
2 Now for the hard reset
When a soft reset doesn’t help, your
Chromecast might have corrupted firmware. A
Factory Data Reset may fix it so follow the
instructions in our two-minute guide. If that
doesn’t work, it might be a dud. Return it for a
replacement or contact Chromecast Support.

3 Wireless signal woes

If compatible apps aren’t showing the
casting icon, your Chromecast might not be on the
same network as your casting device. To check,
open the Chromecast app, go to Devices and tap
the three-dot menu in the corner of the wallpaper
that represents your Chromecast dongle.
4 Check the connection
Choose Chromecast settings from the
dongle’s menu, look for Wi-Fi and check the
network. If you need to change it, tap on Wi-Fi,
enter your network’s SSID and password, then tap
OK to return to Chromecast Settings. Finally,
restart the app you were trying to cast from.
Mirroring restrictions
5 Not seeing Cast Screen/Audio in the app
menu? Recent updates have restricted screen
mirroring to Android 4.4.2 and up. Consequently,
this entry is missing if you use earlier versions of
the OS . Older app versions have it, but they don’t
work with the second-generation Chromecast.

32
 More tips to help you cast with ease from any operating system
1 Unsupported casting 2 Stream across platforms 3 Be plugged in 4 Signal not getting through? 5 Mobile-to-mobile mirroring
Install the BubbleUPnP app to cast To cast from Windows, Linux or Mac It’s better to power a Chromecast If there’s no output from your For screen mirroring to PCs and

tips media using Share from apps that

don’t support Chromecast.
computers using Chrome, install
the Google Cast extension.
from the mains rather than a
television’s USB port.
Chromecast, check that your HDMI
or audio port works.
mobile devices, there’s a software
alternative called Reflector.

Restore to the
min factory settings
guide A Factory Data Reset (FDR) can cure a Chromecast crash
and erase all of the configuration data from your dongle

Jittery video playback

6 Casting HD video requires plenty of
bandwidth, which can cause buffering or a
low-quality image if your wireless signal is weak.
Moving your router away from interference or closer
to your Chromecast might help. Alternatively, buy
the Chromecast Ethernet Adapter.

1 Press the button 2 Reset from the app

If the Chromecast app is not detecting If your Chromecast is detected by the
your Chromecast dongle, you will have to do an app, you can do a hard reset from there. Tap
FDR on the unit itself. Hold down the button on Devices and the three-dot menu next to the
the side until the blinking orange indicator light name of your dongle to bring up the Settings

7 File not supported on the end turns white. Then release the button menu. Next tap the three-dot menu in the top
and wait for the Chromecast to reboot. right of the Chromecast Settings screen.
Chromecast can handle most video file
types, but there are a few it will not play if you
send them directly from your device, including
WMV, FLV and AVI. The easiest way around this is
to cast these files using an app that does
on-the-fly transcoding, such as MegaCast.

8 Firmware faults
Even properly installed firmware can
cause problems. If you know the version number,
you can search online to see if you’re up to date
and if issues are widespread with other users. To
find the number, go to Settings, scroll to the
bottom and look for Firmware Version.
3 Erase and rewind
Choose Factory Reset from the menu
and select Factory Reset Chromecast. That will
produce a prompt asking you to confirm, so Tap
OK. The reset only takes a few seconds and will
erase any settings you have entered, including
your network password.
4 Restart from scratch
If the FDR was successful, your
Chromecast should fire up just as if you were
configuring it for the first time. It will prompt you
for a PIN to reconnect with the Chromecast app
and for network settings. It might also perform a
system update if new firmware is available.

33
Tutorials
Apps used » Change My Adapters MTU Works with » 1.6 and up
Pick an adapter

Control Wi-Fi
The current adaptor displayed at the
top of the screen tells you which
adaptor you’re changing the settings
for. You can use the box below to
change which adaptor you’re altering.
If you don’t know what they are, a

with Change My
Google search should tell you.

Adapters MTU
Get technical with your wireless connection and speed
things up on your Android device
A bit of a technical one this. Change My Adapters MTU is End the procedure
an app for rooted devices that enables you to change the The buttons at the bottom of the list
maximum transmission unit of your Wi-Fi. If you don’t ƒPCNKUG GXGT[VJKPI 4GHTGUJKPI NGVU
you select a different adaptor; saving
know what that means, then it’s probably best you don’t settings lets you keep your changes
continue with this tutorial until you do. There’s some without applying them; and applying Alter the value
danger you could end up breaking your Wi-Fi network, not changes sets the new numbers. This box is where you can change
'CU[ VQ WPFGTUVCPFŰ CU NQPI CU [QW the MTU value of the adaptor that
just your phone, so understanding what you’re doing is WPFGTUVCPF KV KP VJG ƒTUV RNCEGЯ you’re currently tweaking. It’s as
essential. You’re basically tweaking the amount of data that simple as tapping the box and then
your router can send at once. Your ISP will have set that for typing in a new integer. You can
a reason, so it’s worth looking into how much it can Simple but essential technically type in anything you want,
but that’s not a good idea.
actually handle, in addition to what effect changing the This is the main page of the app. As
you can see, it’s not the most
settings will have. If you are comfortable that you’ve got a
attractive app on the Play Store, but
solid enough footing in all the jargon and possible this is one time where function
outcomes, then you’re pretty much set to have a crack at the FGƒPKVGN[ QWVYGKIJU HQTO 'XGT[VJKPI
tutorial. We’ll walk you through the app itself first, and you need is within easy reach, and
the explanations are simple.
then break down what you actually need to do.

“There’s some danger you could break your

Wi-Fi network, not just your phone, so

1 Get the app

First up you’ll need to download the app
from the Play Store. It costs 79p/$1 and you’ll
need a rooted device to do anything with it. It’s
worth downloading it and making sure it works,
although we didn’t have any problems. If it doesn’t
work, get a refund before the window runs out.
2 The only page
The app is made up of a single page, which
shows you everything you need. If you’ve not
checked out the annotated image above, do that
now to get an idea of what you’re looking at, how
everything works and what it does. Once you are
familiar with everything, onto the next step!
3 The current adaptor
The Current Adapter box tells you which
adaptor you’re about to change the MTU values for.
You’ll want it set to wlan0 to tweak your Wi-Fi. This
will represent the Wi-Fi chip in your Android tablet
or phone. You can just ignore the rest of the
adaptor options for now.

34
 Some more tips to take tighter control of your Wi-Fi
1 Know your stuff 2 Different settings 3 Check and check 4 Keep a note 5 Try, search, and try again

tips
Only attempt this if you have a There are different optimal MTU Make sure you keep checking Remember what MTU values you’ve If you keep failing, there are
solid grip of what’s going on – settings depending on what your Wi-Fi is still working tried so you’re not repeating plenty of resources online that
you could cause damage. you’re doing. Have a search first. properly as you tweak it. yourself over and over again. will help set you right again.

Ask your own

question online at
littlegreenrobot.co.uk

4 Know the MTU
Your current MTU is likely to be set at
1500. That’s the base value for most Android
devices. First up you’ll need to check what MTU
values your ISP can deal with. Remember this will
only work with one ISP at a time, and it may well
not work if you connect to others.
6 What’s this for?
You’re trying to find out the MTU number
at which your ISP stops fragmenting the
packages it’s sending. Fragmented packages
need to be put back together by the router, so it
isn’t really an optimal way to deal with the data
you’re receiving.
Should I change
the MTU of my PC
as well?
If it’s using the same network
then yes, it’s definitely worth
tweaking the settings of your
PC to make sure you’re getting
optimal speeds. It’s not the end
5 Test your MTU
Essentially, on your PC you have to ping a
of the world if you don’t,
though, and it’s unlikely that
site to find out the size of the packets that your you’ll see a huge difference in
ISP can send without fragmentation. If you want a quality unless you’re a heavy
simple breakdown of how to do this on your internet user.
computer, then head to this site – tinyurl.com/
bwlyhz – and follow the steps. What about when I
connect to other
routers and
wireless networks?
It’s best to reset your device to
its default settings when you’re
on other networks, unless
you’re willing to take the time to
ping the ISP and find out which
is your optimal setting. With
that in mind, it might not be
worth changing the MTU on
your phone if you’re often
changing to different Wi-Fi
networks. It’s helpful for tablets
7 Find the fragments
When you find the highest number where
you solely use on your home
network, though.
the packages stop fragmenting, you’ve found your
optimal MTU for your ISP. This is the number you’ll
want to input into the MTU box in the app to
ensure you get data quicker, so head back to it
when you’ve discovered the right integer.

Need help?
Got a problem with your
Android phone or tablet?
Get in touch with us...
»facebook /littlegreenrobot
Get help from our
Facebook community

8 Add the MTU

Type the MTU you want to use into the box.
9 Check your Wi-Fi
If everything seems stable with your Wi-Fi
»twitter @lgrobot
Follow us to send your
questions and thoughts
When it’s added, tap on the button at the bottom connection, then the process has worked. If there
that applies the changes you’ve made. It shouldn’t
take too long to get the new settings up and
running. Then it’s time to carry out a check to
are glitches, head back to the app and try entering
a different MTU value. Sometimes you might find
you need to take 12 away from the value to
»email
qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Send your questions for our team of
ensure everything is working. account for the package wrapping. experts to tackle

35
Tutorials
App used » Apple Music Works with » Android 4.3 and up

Get Apple Music on your

Android d
Now that Apple Music is
Have a search
Tapping on the search button
lets you have a browse. You
can search the entire
catalogue or, if you’d prefer,
just look through your own
music. You will see some of
finally available for your the most popular searches
here too and can look for
Android device, it may be them with a single tap

worth giving that three-

month free trial a whirl
Have a look around
Apple’s new Apple Music service is The main page of the app
now available on Android. The app is shows you your
in beta, but it’s pretty stable and offers recommendations. You can
tap on the menu button in the
the same functionality you would get top left-hand corner of the
with the iOS version. screen. This shows you the
Essentially the service is Apple’s other pages you can access
including the settings page
answer to Spotify, letting you stream
music directly to your device. You will
need an Apple ID to set everything up,
but there’s a three-month trial that lets
you test everything Apple Music has to Your Apple ID
You will need to have an
offer before you decide whether you Apple ID in order to sign up. If
want to subscribe. you don’t have one, the app
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how will walk you through getting
that set up. You’ll need to add
the app works and give you a few hints
your card details, but you
to ensure you’re getting the best won’t get charged until the
recommendations. All you’ll need is a three-month trial is over
few minutes, an internet connection
and your Android device.

Get more from Apple Music

Here are some more hints and tips to make sure
you’re getting the best out of Apple’s new service
on your Android phone or tablet

Choose your
radio station
A good way to listen to the
music you like is through
the radio. Pick Radio from
the main menu and then
scroll down to find a
particular station that
you think you might like
or, alternatively, use the
search bar to find your
favourite station.
Your recommendations
To start off, your
recommendations could be a
little sketchy, depending on how
eclectic your musical taste is.
Don’t worry though: they will get
better as you listen to more of the
music you like using the app.
Tapping on a playlist or artist will
open the relevant page
Change the Meet new artists
app’s settings Tap the Connect option,
The long press
If your contract doesn’t where you can then
If you long press on any of
have unlimited data, it’s choose artists and
curators to follow. This the options on the various
best to jump into the
settings. The app is will show you news from pages, you will be shown a
automatically set to your favourite musicians pop-up with a variety of
stream using mobile data and link you to playlists options. The most important
as well as using data and that you might find one of these at the start of
Wi-Fi for downloads. interesting. You can your Apple Music journey is
Change these settings to follow artists directly at the bottom as it lets you
avoid a nasty bill. from their page too. unlike a recommendation

36
App used » Snap Swipe Drawer Works with » Android 4.1 and up

Set up your own Add widgets

The button in the top-right
corner of the drawer takes
you to the Snap Swipe
Drawer app. Here you can
add widgets and play with the

Notifications
Use Snap Swipe Drawer to
settings of the drawer. You
YKNN CNUQ ƒPF C NKUV QH YKFIGVU
you can add and then resize
however you like

create your own custom

Notifications drawer and
populate it with widgets The widget drawer
This is what the widget
The Notifications drawer has been a big part of drawer looks like when it’s
Android ever since its inception. It’s a quick populated. By default, it’s set
way to access a variety of settings, notifications to appear when you swipe
down from the top right of the
and other handy tools. Snap Swipe Drawer takes screen. If you prefer, you can
things one step further, letting you set up change it to the left or the
another customised drawer that you can middle in the app’s settings
populate with the widgets you want to use. It’s
really easy to set up and means you can do the
things you most often do with your phone or
tablet that much quicker. Just grab your Android Tap that
device and connect to the internet to begin. We’ll You can tap a widget to jump
show you exactly what you need to do, as well as to its app. The drawer is set to
scroll through your widgets
suggest a few useful tricks on the way. with a swipe on the screen
edge. If your widget contains

“Access a variety of more information than it’s

currently displaying, you can
swipe through with a single
settings, notifications and ƒPIGT VQ UGG OQTG

other handy tools”

Useful tips for Snap Swipe Drawer
Here are a few more tips for Snap Swipe Drawer to
make sure you’re getting the most out of the new
home for your widgets
Upgrade time?
If you like the app, you can
upgrade to the premium
version with an IAP. This gets
rid of the adverts that
sometimes appear and lets
you put unlimited widgets
into your drawer. It’s worth it if
[QW ƒPF [QWTUGNH ƒNNKPI VJG
drawer too quickly

Change the size
Once you have added a
widget to your drawer,
you can resize it if you’re
not perfectly happy. Go to
the main screen of the
app and then tap the
widget that you would
like to change and adjust
the numbers. This may
take some trial and error
to get it right for you.
For Marshmallow
6.0 users
If you’re using the latest
version of Android (6.0),
you will need to go through
an extra step in order to
use the app. You must give
the app permissions to
overlay itself on
everything. Fortunately, it
will logically walk you
through the steps to do so.
Access widgets
on the lockscreen
Head to the settings from
the main screen of the
app and you will be able
to set up the widgets
drawer over your
lockscreen. This will give
you a quick way to check
a variety of things
without having to unlock
your Android device.
Swap drawers
If you want to access your
PQVKƒECVKQPU FTCYGT YJGP
your widgets drawer is open,
you’ll need to swipe back up
to close it, then swipe to open
VJG 0QVKƒECVKQPU FTCYGT Ţ
although if you’re moving to
your widgets from
0QVKƒECVKQPU KV KU RQUUKDNG VQ
swipe it straight open

7
Tutorials
App used » Android TV Works with » Android 6.0

How to
troubleshoo
Android TV
Enhance your viewing pleasure by
ironing out those niggling problems
When development of Google TV came to
end on 14 June 2014 after four years, some
saw it as the end of the company’s
televisual ambitions – but it wasn’t. For in
its place came Android TV and while it was
slow to take off in its first few months, it has
now started to gather momentum in the
world’s living rooms, making 2016 the year to
watch out for. Built into a growing number of
TVs and available on many set-top boxes,
Android TV rivals similar offerings from the
likes of Amazon and Apple, but with one
distinct advantage: it uses our favourite
open-source OS and it looks set to form a
standard for smart televisions.
That said, things don’t always go so
smoothly. There are bound to be issues with
images, sound or apps that don’t run
1 Turn it on and off
It may sound like a cliché, but if you’re
2 Reset the machine
If you’re finding that an Android TV player is
properly. In most cases, you can troubleshoot having a problem with Android TV, try restarting it. not being recognised by your television, then roll
issues by delving into Settings, but some Unplug the device or television set, wait 20 back to factory settings. Scroll from the
problems, as we’ll see with casting, need seconds or so to be sure and plug it back in. homescreen and select Settings. Under Device,
more legwork. Here we look at some ways to Hopefully any niggling issue with freezing screens select Storage & Reset>Factory data reset, select
get a troublesome Android TV working again. and so on should now be sorted. Factory data reset again and erase everything.

3 Sort out sound issues

You may find that when you are playing
back media on Android TV that there is no sound.
First of all check you haven’t turned the sound
down on the TV or AV receiver then look at the
connections. Nexus Players, for instance, work
better with HDMI. Try different HDMI inputs.
4 No picture showing
Sometimes Android players accidentally go
to sleep – pressing a button on the unit should
wake it. If the screen is blank and Android TV is
active, check the HDMI ports and the cables: are
they damaged? Ensure the TV source matches the
HDMI port and, if possible, test with another TV.
5 Deactivate sleep mode
Users of Nvidia Shield report having issues
with the device going to sleep when they are
listening to music or watching films. If this is
affecting you then you may want to turn the mode
off during such times. Go to Settings>Daydream>
When to Sleep and select Never.

38
 Get in touch
We’re on Facebook and Twitter, or
»facebook »twitter »email
just drop us an email
6 Pair a remote control
Don’t fret if your remote or gamepad won’t
pair up with Android TV. Press the button on the
bottom of the Nexus Player, then press back and
Home on the remote together for five seconds.
Google advises turning a Bluetooth device off and
on if you struggle to pair an accessory.
8 Voice control is broken
Unfortunately, the Netflix app for Android
TV does not have integrated voice search so you
can stop looking to fix this particular issue – it’s
one for Netflix to sort out. There are no
recommendations either, which is another
bugbear for users wanting to find more boxsets.
11 Stop recommendations
You may find the list of recommendations
when you turn on Android TV annoying. To turn
them off, go to Settings>Apps and choose the
offending app. Click Silence and then click Off for
notifications. Please note that Google apps are
located within system apps.
/littlegreenrobot @lgrobot
Like us on Facebook and Follow us to send your
join our community comments and pics
7 Voice search isn’t working
Searching via voice is a great way of finding
content. If you are having problems, you will need
to check it’s connected to the internet and then
enable the microphone permissions for the app
you’re using. Go to an app’s page in the Play store
and select Permission details.
9 Trouble casting videos
A fair few people have been having issues
casting videos to Android TV. If this is happening to
you, then the solution is to install the latest
version of the Google Cast Receiver, which you can
get from the Google Play store. This should sort
out all of the underlying issues for you.
12 Toggle captions on apps
Some apps will provide closed captions
and you may want to turn them on or off. You can
do this by going to Settings and selecting
Accessibility under Preferences. Choose Captions,
select Display and select On or Off. You can also
choose text size, style and language.
qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Need help? Got a question? Drop us
an email and let us know
Ask your own
question online at
littlegreenrobot.co.uk
How do I figure out
what the issue is?
Troubleshooting can be a bit of
an art form and it’s usually a
case of isolating the issue. For
example, if you can’t get a Wi-Fi
connection on Android TV, you
can see if the network or the
box is at fault by checking if
other devices work. If not then
reset the router. If they are at
fault, check your password and
reset Android TV.
10 Resolve streaming issues
When Android TV is having problems
streaming, it could be your connection speed that
is at fault. Open a browser on your device and go
to broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk. You will need at
least 1.5Mbps or you will struggle to get anything
close to approaching acceptable streaming quality.
13 Is it up to date?
By keeping Android TV up to date with the
latest firmware and software, you will be able to
ensure that it runs at its optimal level. The easiest
way to do this is to make sure automatic software
downloads are always turned on, but you can also
check for them manually under settings.
39
Tutorials
App used » Automate Works with » Android 4.0 and up

Make your phone

work for you
Wave goodbye to There are plenty of benefits when it comes to
automating your device. Not only is it a great way to
mundane tasks cut out plenty of mundane smartphone tasks, it can
with help from help uncover some of the features and functions you
may not have realised your Android device was
the Automate app capable of undertaking.
While the IFTTT app is far and away the best option
for those who want to automate the key functions on
device, for anyone who wants to really
what their device is capable of,
Automate is the app of choice. The automation process
in Automate centres on the use of flow charts; piecing
different modules together to create a workflow that
performs an action. Actions can be as complicated or
as simple as you like, but whatever you choose, there
are around 100 different modules to pick from.
If you’ve decided it’s time to take the automation
levels of your device to the next level, use the
following steps to get acquainted with the inner
workings of the Automate app.

1 Prebuilt flow charts

When you first open up the Automate app,
you’ll be greeted with a selection of prebuilt flow
charts. It’s a good idea to look through these, as it
can give you an idea of the automation tasks you’ll
be able to complete through the app. Press the +
icon to continue.
2 Choose a module
With a blank flow chart in front of you,
select the side menu icon to the top left of the
app. A list of modules will appear, with one of
these forming the basis of an automation task.
Scroll through the list until you find one that you
want to use and select it.

3 Add further modules

Your first module will be added to the flow
chart, from which you’ll need to add other
connectors around it. Open up the Module menu
for a second time and choose an appropriate
connector. It’s important that the modules work
together else your task simply won’t activate.
4 Format your workflow
By default, you’ll find that modules are
placed on the top and bottom of the workflow, but
to make it easier to manage, you may want to
move them around. Long-press on a module and
drag it to where you want it to sit. You should find
that the module snaps into place.
5 Dot to dot
Once in place, it’s time to connect the
modules together. Press on the dot at the end of a
module before dragging it to the module you need
to connect it with. If it’s a viable fit, a connected
line will appear between them. Simply repeat the
process until done.

40
 Get in touch
We’re on Facebook and Twitter, or
»facebook »twitter »email
just drop us an email
6 Edit modules
Now that our flow chart is connected, it’s
time to edit the modules to include the correct
data. Each module is different, but you’ll find that
you need to edit the Input Arguments that are
listed at the top of the map. Some will require you
to enter numbers.
8 Be cautious
Some of the modules can be detrimental
to your device if incorrectly configured. When
editing modules, make sure that the information
you input is correct. Once complete, press on the
Done icon to the top right of the menu and save
the changes you’ve made.
11 Rename it
Press on the pencil icon to alter the
properties of the task. Use the top panel to give it
a name and the bottom panel to give it a
description. Make the description fairly detailed,
so it’s easily recognisable once you’ve created a
library of tasks.
/littlegreenrobot @lgrobot
Like us on Facebook and Follow us to send your
join our community comments and pics
7 Discover extra options
If you can’t figure out what you need to
type, press on the small triangle to the right of the
Input Arguments tab. This will open up a drop-
down menu where you can choose an option from
the list. Each option will have a brief overview, so
you know what you’re pressing.
9 Read it through
Before saving and starting your newly
created task, walk yourself through it to make sure
both the order and functions work. If you do spot
any errors, it’s easy enough to move the
connectors around, or make the necessary
changes to any of the modules.
12 Manage permissions
Now press on the menu icon to the top
right of the app, press Settings and then open the
Manage permissions option provided. Some of the
advanced tasks you can create will require special
access, so toggle these options to On, and
download any extra apps you’re prompted to.
qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Need help? Got a question? Drop us
an email and let us know
Ask your own
question online at
littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Could this harm
my device?
As long as you read the steps
provided here in addition to the
instructions built into the app,
you’ll cause no damage to your
device. It’s imperative that you
don’t edit any modules that you
don’t completely understand,
nor add them to a workflow
that you want to use, as this is
where problems tend to start.
10 Start it up
Use the tick icon to save the task and after
you’re taken back to the homepage, select your
new task from the list provided. Press on the Start
option provided to test out your workflow – a work
log should appear underneath letting you know if
the test was a success.
13 Import from the cloud
If you have friends who are also using the
Automate app, you can incorporate their flow
charts into your own library. Use the Import option
from within the app to be taken to your Google
Drive account, where you can import any task that
has been sent to you.
41
Tutorials
Apps used » AppBlock Works with » Android 4.0 and up
Block
distracting
apps Stay focused by temporarily
blocking unruly apps
One of the bad things about owning a
smartphone is the myriad of distractions
on hand to disrupt your focus. Be it constant
notifications, app updates or incoming calls
and texts, there’s usually always something
trying to grab your attention. While some
may look to simply turn off their device
altogether, you could potentially miss
something important, but don’t worry, there’s
another solution on hand.
AppBlock uses a blocking system that can
temporarily prevent installed apps from
notifying you when you’re busy. Different
profiles can be created based around the
times you want to remain completely
focused, and you can even alter the level of
blocking implemented by the app. Profiles
are completely customisable and any and all
installed apps can be blocked for as long, or
as little time as you require.
If social media is proving to lower your
productivity, or you’ve got an important
deadline creeping up on you, then creating
blocking profiles can prove to be a big help to
keep your attention solely on your work.
Here’s how to do just that within AppBlock.
1 Before you start
When you first open the app, you may find
that AppBlock performs a quick scan of your phone
to see the apps you currently have installed on
your device. Once done, you’ll need to enable a
couple of permissions and menus that AppBlock
requires access to when in use.
42
Multiple times
2TQƒNGU FQPŦV JCXG VQ DG
NKOKVGF VQ QPG URGEKƒE VKOG
during the day. If you’ve got a
very particular work pattern,
make sure to add multiple
blocking times around it. You
can add two times before
needing to upgrade to the
premium version
Keep it blocked
Use the toggles provided to
select how you want to block
the apps included in this
RCTVKEWNCT RTQƒNG (QT VQVCN
privacy, we recommend both
VJG #RR 0QVKƒECVKQP CPF
Application Launch options
are both toggled to on
Block it daily
One of the great things about
AppBlock is that it can be
tailored to work around your Choose the
own schedule. You can
choose to have a one off
right apps
While blocking social media
blocking session, or to have it
apps is a great idea, it’s
recurring on a daily basis
imperative that you don’t
block your Phone app for an
extended amount of time.
You never know when an
urgent call might appear
2 Allow app access
Press on the Enable Now option at the top
3 Days to block
Press the + button at the bottom of the
of the AppBlock app to open a new page. From overview menu to set up a new blocking system,
here, you’ll be prompted to select AppBlock as one before using the Days tab to select the days you
of the apps that has usage access to your device. want to block certain apps. If you change your
Repeat the same process for allowing AppBlock mind at any point, the days you select can be
notification access. altered through this menu.
 Top apps to curb your smartphone addiction
1 Stay on Task 2 Stay Focused 3 Procrastination Punisher 4 ClearFocus 5 Study Timer

tips
An unobtrusive app that Set time limits on how often Block apps for 15-minute Plan your day ahead of time and A simple timer app for getting
makes sure you’re doing the you can use certain apps on a periods to get odd jobs and work through tasks to a strict time your work done and making
work that needs to be done. day-to-day basis. small tasks completed. schedule created in ClearFocus. sure your eyes don’t wander.

Ask your own

question online at
littlegreenrobot.co.uk

Will I get a backlog

of notifications
when my app
blocking session
has expired?
This is purely app dependent,
as some apps will instantly
4 Set timings
Press on the time bar to open up
5 Filter applications
Scroll down the menu and select the Add
send you any incoming
notifications you missed while
AppBlock’s built-in clock feature. First select a time button next to the applications. Within the pop-up the app was blocked, while
you want your blocking session to start and then menu that appears you’ll need to choose the apps others won’t send you anything.
an ending time. After pressing OK, you should find you’re looking to block. Use the search bar at the Don’t blame us if you block an
that the time bar has now updated with the new top of the menu if you’re looking to locate a single app that inundates you with
50+ notifications as soon as
blocking times listed. app from the list.
your session has expired!

Should I upgrade
to the premium
version of
AppBlock?
While the premium version of
the app doesn’t necessarily add
any new features, it does
expand on the current suite of
features within the app. For
instance, if you want to be able
to create more than five
blocking profiles, then we highly
6 What to block?
Now use the toggles above the application
7 Add a name
If you’re looking to create different blocking
recommend upgrading to the
premium version.
section to choose how you want these apps to be profiles, the easiest way to differentiate between
blocked. Users have the choice between simply them is by setting new names for them. Select the
blocking the app from being launched, or to have menu icon to the top right of the session menu
all incoming notifications blocked until your before choosing the Edit Profile Name option.
scheduled end time has been reached. Confirm the changes by pressing OK.

Need help?
Got a problem with your
Android phone or tablet?
Get in touch with us...
»facebook /littlegreenrobot
Get help from our
Facebook community

8 Stay protected
To keep your created schedules safe from
9 Manage sessions
If you head back to the overview screen
»twitter @lgrobot
Follow us to send your
questions and thoughts
outside interference, make sure to implement a you’ll be able to see your various created profiles
PIN into the AppBlock app. Select the settings icon
through the menu section of the AppBlock app
before choosing the PIN option. Now enter the four
listed. If you decide you’d like to disable one of the
sessions, use the toggles on the right side. To
create another profile, use the + icon located at
»email
qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Send your questions for our team of
digits you want to set as your protective PIN. the bottom of the app. experts to tackle

43
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 Hacker Zøne
Top mods and
tweaks for your
rooted device

Jargon Buster
Get up to speed with all the terms you
will need to know when it comes to
hacking your phone
OS
Short for operating system. Often the Android ROM will
be referred to as the OS – this just means the system
files on the Android device that make up your user
experience, and is similar to Windows, Mac OS X or
Ubuntu on a desktop computer.

ROM
Stands for read-only memory. In the context of Android,
54
CUSTOM
the ROM refers to all the files that make up the
operating system that is installed on your device.
HARDWARE
Gaining root privileges allows for replacement of the
BUTTONS
standard ROM with a custom one.

Root
Rooting your phone gives apps access to parts of the
OS that are normally hidden from consumers. This
enables you to run more powerful software and install
custom ROMs on your phone.

ROM Manager
An app available from the Android Market that enables
you to install a whole new version of your OS with a
single click. It requires a rooted phone to use and is
ideal for those new on the scene.

Titanium Backup
57
GET PERFECT
This app from Google Play enables you to back up BATTERY
everything on your phone – apps, data, settings and all. READINGS
It means that you can restore your phone to how it was,
even after you’ve updated or changed the ROM. 46
CHROMECAST
Unrevoked UNLOCKED
Available from unrevoked.com, this is a
one-click tool that can be used for rooting many
popular HTC smartphones.

ADB
Stands for Android Debug Bridge. ADB is mainly used for
software development, but it also has some uses for 46 Chromecast unlocked 57 Get more accurate battery
hacking your phone. It can be used to push files onto Get the most from your TV streaming
the system folder, for instance. life readings
device with these tips Learn how to automatically calibrate
Nandroid your Android device’s battery for perfect
You might come across the phrase perform a Nandroid 52 Hacking Tips & Tricks battery readings
backup. This means using a custom recovery tool
to make a back-up image of everything currently on your
Essential hacking advice, including how
phone: OS, apps, data etc. It’s very useful should you
to customise your phone’s features 58 Add a personal touch with your
wish to restore your phone to its previous state later. own font
54 Customise your Create your own font for all Android
Radio hardware buttons devices, plus modify any existing one
‘Radio’ refers to the software on your Android device
that deals with making phone calls and data You can make the buttons on your
connections. Updating your radio version can bring device act any way you like
better battery life and signal strength to your device.
Some ROMs require the latest radio. 56 Use NetGuard to protect your
mobile bandwidth
Flash
The storage in your device comprises flash memory,
which is a type of solid-state storage. The terms to flash
Stop your mobile data running out
before the end of the month
52TIPS
or flashing mean installing some new software onto & TRICKS
your device’s storage.
 Hacker Zøne

ECAST
KED
romecast is one of the best accessories
buy. The tiny dongle plugs in around
k of your TV — and there’s also a new
dio model that attaches to pretty much any
t of speakers — and turns the device into a
ully connected media streaming system. With a
price of just £30 but frequently available for even
less, and often including an extra £20 Play Store
credit, it’s an absolute no-brainer. Everyone
should own a Chromecast.
If you’re only using your Chromecast to stream
Get the most from
our TV streaming
device with these tips
increasingly possible to get content from your PC
or phone to your TV, from virtually any source.
In this guide we’ll take a look at using the
streamer with Kodi, the popular Android
TV-style service we examined in detail a couple
of issues ago, show you how to stream local
video files, and even uncover some very well
hidden configuration settings.
One thing we won’t be looking at is rooting a
Chromecast. Although the original device was
— very briefly — rootable, all models are now
y locked down. It’s a shame, but doesn’t
nge the fact that the Chromecast is still
pable of far more than you imagined.

Five top tips

Don’t want a Chromecast? Check out
how to get the same features elsewhere
osed manufacturers, but they’re not to
n be sniffed at. After all, they’re
ut you cheap, include the Play Store, and
aren’t can be used to run any TV or
also media-streaming app. When you
ch the look at it like that, they do the job
you you need them to and at a very
? ocal files too.
Chromecast if you’ve already got a
smart TV, as the Chromecast is
meant to give a normal television
the properties of a smart TV. The
set’s online access will give you
things like Netflix and iPlayer, and
if it’s got a USB port you can play
Watch overseas Netflix
you’ve set up Netflix to work with overseas
ervices, you should know that it probably will
ot work on a Chromecast. Chromecast ignores
ny VPN you’re using on your desktop — you will
eed to change the DNS settings in your router
you really want to get it working.
. Beware of lag
en though screen mirroring is now a basic
ature of an Android phone, it is only good for
pecific things, such as giving presentations.
here’s quite a bit of lag with mirroring, and no
ound, so it’s not ideal for video or gaming.
. Full screen cast
ne of the newer options for a Chromecast is
ll screen casting of your PC screen from within
hrome. Click the Chromecast icon then the
mall drop down arrow and select Cast screen/
window (experimental). As the name implies, it’s
a feature that delivers mixed results.
4. Chromecast via Ethernet
If your Chromecast frequently acts up, your
wireless router may be to blame. Google has
launched an adaptor that enables you to
connect your Chromecast directly to the router
via an ethernet cable. This should guarantee
much faster and more stable speeds.
5. Audio on headphones
Using the LocalCast app you can select Route
Audio to Phone, which casts a video’s picture to
your TV, but the sound to your phone, so you
can plug in headphones. Perfect if you don’t
want to disturb the rest of your household.

46
Cast local videos with
Videostream
The easy way to stream and control your local videos
The Chromecast is designed primarily to connect to online streaming services. However it is also
possible to cast your own videos to your TV using the device. The best app for doing this is
Videostream, which works within the Chrome browser and has its own Android-powered
controller, which we’ll look at in full later.
1 Get the app
Videostream is a Chrome app. Launch the
Chrome browser on your desktop and go to the
Chrome webstore at chrome.google.com/
webstore. Search for Videostream and install it
— it will appear as an app under the Start menu
on Windows or in Spotlight on a Mac.
3 Connect
Once you have selected your video you’ll be
prompted to connect to your Chromecast. Choose
your device from the list and casting will begin. It
often takes a little while to get started, as some
videos are transcoded in browser, so be patient
while it gets going.
2
A Chromecast
regularly gives you
exclusive freebies.
minutes
guide
Check what is
available to you
right now.
Chromecast
freebies
Install the Chromecast app, and set it
1 up to identify the device or devices on
your network. Deals are offered per device,
not per user.
2 Choose your video
Launch Videostream and click on the big
Choose a Video button in the centre of the screen.
The app works with all video formats, and is
especially good with MP4. Files encoded at a very
high bitrate may have problems, but those shot on
your phone should be fine.
Slide out the sidebar from the left edge
2 of the screen and select Offers. All your
available offers will be listed here, and they’re
updated on a regular basis.
4 Improve performance
The quality of streaming can be affected by
the quality of the video as well as the Wi-Fi signal
strength between your PC and Chromecast. If you Among the offers are free movie rentals
3 from the Play Store. Launch the Store
have buffering issues, click on the Quality button
and drop to a lower resolution — 576p will put far app and redeem the offer. You can only have
less strain on your network than 1080p. one free rental at once.
47
 Hacker Zøne
Stream from Kodi to
ast This hack turns your phone in a
full-on Android TV system
odi is an open source media streaming
rvice that we’ve looked at before in
ndroid Magazine. It’s an incredibly
owerful tool that works on pretty much
very platform, and if you install it on an
Android device you can even create your
wn ad hoc Android TV system. One thing
hat Kodi is missing (and the one thing that
would really make it indispensable) is
Chromecast support. Using screen mirroring
as a workaround is only partly successful and
tends to be quite laggy, while the only
dedicated Android app to provide the feature
Download the apps
1 Get
started by downloading Kodi, ES File
Explorer and LocalCast. There are free versions for
all of them. Launch Kodi and go through the setup
process to add video channels and other content.
Then exit the app and close it completely.
Paste the file
4 Tap
and hold on the file and select Copy.
Navigate to the folder Android/data/org.xbmc.
Settings and tick back kodi/files/.kodi/userdata/ and paste the .xml file
button and navigate to the downloaded .xm file. It into it. Note the .kodi folder is normally hidden,
should be stored in the Downloads folder. which is why step 3 is so important to follow.
48
is KodiCast. This is a paid app without a trial
version, so there’s no way to test whether it
will work for you.
Instead, we’ll use a hack solution to bring
Chromecast streaming to Kodi on your
Android device. It requires a selection of
apps, and involves pasting a customised .xml
file into the Kodi system. Once completed, all
Kodi videos will play in the LocalCast app by
default, which you can then connect to
Chromecast. With a little effort, you’ll soon be
the proud owner of a complete Android TV
setup – at a fraction of the usual price.
2 Get the custom .xml file
Download a file called coreplayerfactory.
xml. This changes the default video player in Kodi
to LocalCast, which is Chromecast compatible.
Grab it from http://bit.ly/1QEqnIo. It’s a tiny file so
will only take a second to download.
5 Cast from Kodi
Now relaunch Kodi and play a video. The
video should now not play in Kodi, but instead play
in LocalCast. Follow the onscreen instructions in
this app to connect it to your Chromecast. You can
now cast videos straight from Kodi to your TV.
Explore The Chromecast is a defiantly consumer-
oriented product. It’s simple to set up and
use, and accessible to everyone. You don’t
the casting of Hangouts chats, all on the
main Chromecast settings screen accessed
through the Chrome browser. They just

Chromecast’s have to navigate your way through countless

settings screens to get started, and you
happen to be hidden by default.
A little tweak of some code will make the

(very) hidden won’t be intimidated by a mass of options.

But that doesn’t mean those options don’t
exist. There’s a screen full of additional
options magically appear. Any changes you
make are not permanent; they’re better seen
as experimental developer settings, but can

settings settings that enable you to tweak things like

the quality of video output, and to configure
help you streamline your Chromecast’s
performance should you run into problems.

1 InOpen the settings

Chrome on your desktop, click the
Chromecast icon in the top right corner and select
Options. The basic options screen will open, with
very limited things to tweak. Now highlight any word
on the screen, then right click and choose Inspect.
2 Change the code
The Developer Tools panel is now open. In
the HTML section (either top or left) locate the line
beginning <div class=”options-sections ng-hide”
and highlight it. In the CSS section, below or right,
hover over display:none and untick the box.
3 Make your changes
The hidden settings now appear, enabling
you to change things like the maximum bitrate of
your videos — lower it for better performance.
Your changes aren’t permanent, so you’ll need to
make the tweaks again next time you cast.

2 Use the Xposed Framework

minutes
The Awesome Pop-up Video module for the Xposed Framework shows videos in a separate window, and
guide
includes Chromecast support

1 Install and reboot

With the Xposed Installer
already setup and running, install
the Awesome Pop-up Video module
through the Downloads section.
Once installed, activate the module
and restart your phone. When the
phone restarts launch the app.
Launch the app
2 The app includes its own
range of videos to choose from.
Simply tap on one and it opens in its
own window, which you can continue
watching while working in another
app. Drag the window around the
screen for a convenient place for it.
3 Share a video
You can use the app with
other video players, including
YouTube. Find the video you want in
YouTube then tap the Share icon and
choose Awesome Pop-up Video from
the list. The video will now reopen in
its own pop-up window.
4 Cast your movie
To switch from watching on
your device to watching on your big
screen TV, open the video in full
screen mode once more, then tap
the Chromecast icon. The transition
from one screen to another should
happen almost instantaneously.

49
 Hacker Zøne
Chromecastremote
controlwith Videostream
Control and stream Videostream Chromecast: Mobile is the intuitive and easy to use. The main thing when
companion app to the excellent Videostream getting started is to ensure that your laptop, phone
movies using your service we looked at earlier. If you use the desktop and Chromecast are all connected to the same
phone and the app then the remote for your Android phone is a Wi-Fi network so that they can detect each other.
must. It effectively removes your PC or laptop from You cannot use the app on your mobile network, for
excellent Videostream the equation entirely, giving you complete control example. Once you’re fully set up, your home TV
app on your desktop from your handset. The app is, for the most part, streaming system will be complete.

1 Set up the app

Download and install the app. Make sure
that Videostream is running on your desktop
computer and connected to the same network
as your phone. On launching the app it should
detect Videostream on your PC. Click through to
get set up.
Pair your devices
2 When prompted on your phone click to
pair with your laptop. You’ll then be prompted to
do the same on your laptop. On the next screen
choose a folder, or more than one, where you
store the videos you will want to cast. Upon
selecting them they will appear on your phone.
Choose a video
3 Back on your phone, tap on one of the
folders that is now listed. You should see all
your videos listed here. To cast a video, all you
need to do is simply tap on one of the items in
the list and choose your Chromecast from the
pop-up that appears.

Control the video

4 The
remote app has a good selection of
options, such as the ability to add subtitles,
control volume and skip forward and back 30
seconds through the video. Remember that
you’re connected via your PC, so any screen
taps may not have an instant effect.
5 Carry on working
Once you have queued up and started
playing your video you can switch away on your
phone and it will continue playing. A notification
will give you quick access to the main controls,
while tapping on the same notification will take
you back into the app.
6 Keep desktop running
As you use the mobile app, the desktop
app continues working as it did. You need to
keep it open in a Chrome tab, or the video will
end. You should tweak performance settings in
the desktop app, including activating Buffering
Fixes, which compresses video on the fly.

50
 FOR THE GNU GENERATION
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 Hacker Zøne
status update
Which devices are best for
the hacking scene?
Samsung Gear
S2 Watch
Rooted?: Yes
Active development:
QQQMedium
Tips & Tricks scroll down and put the brakes on the gear icon for ten seconds, and
No, it’s not running the apps that have heavy data use. release to activate the Android
Android (it runs Tizen
Simply tap the app you wish to limit Marshmallow System UI Tuner.
instead) but this device is
eminently hackable thanks to the Odin and enable the Restrict app Next, head to Google Play and
tool, which is usually used for unlocking background data option. install Custom Quick Settings from
Samsung phones. Mighty Quinn Apps, and once this is
Create custom done, follow the steps to enable the
HTC One (M9) toggle tiles app’s write permission. Open
Rooted?: Yes Settings>System UI Tuner, click on
Active development: Want custom toggles for the Quick Quick Settings>Add tile and create a
QQQHigh
Settings menu? Begin by ensuring new custom tile, naming it
HTC certainly seems to
love the hacking your phone is in Developer Mode by ‘CUSTOMTILE0’, then head back to
community, a fact fully opening Settings>About Phone and the app and tap Done.
demonstrated in this tapping Build Number seven times. With a basic toggle created, you
popular device, which
has a huge selection of
Then drag down the Quick Settings can now use the Custom Quick
custom ROMs. Don’t exceed your data limit! menu with two fingers, tap and hold Settings app to assign a title, icon,
short and long click actions, and
OnePlus One Prevent any app other properties. Once you’re done,
hit the tick button to save, and the
Rooted?: Yes
Active development:
using mobile data tile will be added to the Quick
QQQHigh You may not realise this, but various Settings menu.
Designed for hacking, apps are leeching on your mobile
with a whole host of
Lollipop and internet connection, resulting in Create custom
Marshmallow ROMs greater data and battery use.
available, if you don’t Android has a built-in tool to widgets
have a OnePlus, you’re
prevent you from exceeding your Custom widgets can be configured
not really a hacker…
network limit, and if you’re not using with rooted devices, but not all
it already, you really should be. Open devices, of course, are rooted. To
LG Watch Settings>Data usage to get started, customise the look of existing
Urbane and tap the switch to enable widgets on your phone or tablet,
Rooted?: Yes monitoring for mobile data. UCCW – Ultimate Custom Widget,
Active
development:
Next, enable Set mobile data free from Google Play with in-app
QQQMedium limit, and use the sliders to set a purchases, is a good place to start.
Want to get hacking in warning notification and upper limit. A selection of widgets can be
a new community? Th With this feature enabled, Android reconfigured with skins, which can
wearable has an unoffici l
kernel and TWRP recovery image, and the will prevent any data from being also be downloaded from the Play
dev community is growing around it. used once the limit is reached. But Create your own toggle tiles with the
Store. By applying them to the
rather than reach this point, you can System UI Tuner widgets, you can drastically revise

q hacks
Enable Greenify
Aggressive
Doze mode
A great beta testing program to get
involved with is Greenify, which
releases beta versions of updates,
allowing you to try new features
before they’re released, such as an
aggressive version of Android
Marshmallow’s Doze mode.
Join the beta program
1 Search
Google for the Greenify
Beta Program, and click the Become a
tester button to get started. Wait for
the update, or uninstall and reinstall
the app to get the beta version, with
the new features ready to use.
Enable Aggressive Doze
2 With
the app installed (check
APKMirror.com if you can’t get the
beta on Google Play), open the menu,
tap Experimental features and check
the box for Aggressive Doze, available
for Android 6.0 Marshmallow and up.
Use Aggressive Doze
3 Aggressive
Doze boosts the
Android M Doze mode, with a
low-use state initiated whenever
your phone is laid flat with the
screen off. This can increase the
battery life considerably.

52
 Share your tips
Got a custom hack?
»facebook »twitter »email
/littlegreenrobot @lgrobot qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to Discovered anything good about
Let us know about it! join our online community send us your tips & tricks your Android phone? Let us know!

screen crack, which some types of
screen protector can save you from.
The secret to applying a screen
protector to a smartphone is to make
sure your device display is clean, the
screen protector is fresh out of the
packet, and that you have some
sticky tape. Taping the long edge of
Google and other developers offer
you the chance to do just that by
downloading special app updates
that are intended only for beta
testers. With these updates
installed, you can provide manual or
automated feedback to the
developers, who can then tweak
Contribute to making Android
apps beta!
their code to ensure the app works
as intended.
To join a beta program, you’ll need
to run a Google search for the app
you’re interested in testing, followed
by the words “beta program”. If a
testing program is available for you to
join, follow the link and sign up.

Reskin your widgets to create a unique

home screen

the look of your Android device’s

home screen.
For instance, you might add a new
clock widget with text that differs for
each time or calendar element. The
size and shape can be adjusted, and
hotspots added to the widget that
will launch a particular app when
tapped. To add the saved custom
widget, open the add widget view on
the home screen as usual, select
UCCW, and this will display any
custom widgets you have saved,
which can then be added.
Screen protector application is simple with
sticky tape
the screen protector to your phone
enables careful positioning and
regular wiping of dust.
Add to this a small piece of plastic
(such as a loyalty card key fob) to
squeeze the air bubbles from the
protector when you remove the
protective covering, and you should
find annoying dust bubbles are a
thing of the past.

Use tape to apply Get involved with

screen protectors
Sure, it’s not a tech hack, but so few
people seem to be able to apply a
screen protector without
sandwiching half a lifetime of dust
that it is certainly worth looking at.
Consider this a screen hack, if you
will, which is far preferable to a
beta app testing
Wouldn’t it be great to get a look at
app updates and test them out
before they’re put on general release
in Google Play? Taking part in beta
programmes is an important part of
app development, especially on a
platform as fragmented as Android.

Hacking the easy way Get great new features without getting your hands (too) dirty

NetGuard Set Orientation Edge Colour

Price: Free Price: Free Notifications
From: Market From: Market Price: Free
Need root? No Need root? No From: Market
An alternative way of Force your Android Need root? Yes
blocking apps from display into any Intrigued by the Edge
accessing the internet orientation with this notifications on the
and draining your monthly handy app – this is latest Samsung S6
allowance, this no-root particularly useful in phones? You don’t need
firewall allows you to projects such as building to buy a new Samsung to
individually select which a smartphone projector. try out this sleek
apps can access Wi-Fi or Works with Android 1.6 navigation feature, as it
mobile data. and later. is available in a free app.

Check our website daily

for even more tips & tricks
»www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 53
 Hacker Zøne
Works with » Android 1.6 and up Difficulty » Advanced

Customise
yourhardware
b ns
You can make the buttons on your There is no such thing as a phone
that works exactly the way
device act any way you like everyone wants it to and this is
why Android is such a popular
1 Download the app
Go to the Google Play store
platform. With the help of millions and search for Home2 Shortcut.
of apps, you really do have the Check the permissions it wants you
ability to change almost to approve to make sure you are
every aspect of the interface happy with them and then install it as
nd even how the hardware you would any other app. Don’t worry
s so that it feels right for that the design looks a little dated
wever, there will be and basic because we are looking for
s of any Android pure functionality here.
tatic, such as
n and
uttons,
for

ps
s.
ow to
he app
it up to
most used
n time you may
6 Double tap home
to launch the app
on it as one of your Once set, you should find that the app
rtant utilities. In you chose will launch in the future
ou will not even notice when you double tap the hardware
t it is running because it home button, but there are a couple
ts in the background, but of steps you still need to complete to
rust us when we say that it will make sure it all works as intended.
o the work for you unobtrusively It’s a very clever and customisable
every single day. Follow the steps to hack of the Android operating system.
perfect your phone.

54
 2 Lose the icon
A standard app icon will
appear as expected in your
Android’s app drawer, but you
should be able to hide it or place it
in a folder once you have completed
the setup. There should be no need
to use this app more than once
unless you want to make more
changes in the future.
7 Double
interval
tap
Scroll down a little and then tap the
button shown in the Step2 section
on your screen. You will see a list of
intervals to select from and we
would suggest that you experiment
with each to see what works best
with your Android hardware. One is
bound to work perfectly for you.
3 An unusual
interface
The interface tends to rely on text
more than graphics, but don’t be
put off by this. The instructions are
cleanly presented throughout each
screen and will help ease the setup
process. Tap the Choose
Application button to get started
and make your first customisation.
8 The final step
Scroll down again to the
Step3 section and then tap the
Choose Home Application button to
select the app or shortcut that is
normally launched when pressing
the home button just once. Follow
the instructions to set Home2
Shortcut as the default for the
home button action.
4 Make a choice
You will now be presented
with a small panel showing four
options; Unused, Installed
Applications, Shortcuts and
Plug-ins. Start off by selecting
Installed Applications to see how
the app can change the way the
home button works. The options
are logical throughout the process.
9 Other key
settings
Tapping the Other key settings
button lets you assign apps and
shortcuts to launch when you press
Home and Menu, Home and Back, a
long press of the Search key or a
long press of the Camera key. You
can change the actions for most of
the hardware buttons.
5 Select an app
you use a lot
Scroll through the app list until you
find an app you use very often and
tap it. Remember that in this case
we are picking an app to launch
when you double tap the home
button, so make sure you choose
one that you will want to use every
day on your device.
10 Not just for apps
You can also select
Shortcuts to launch from one of the
hardware buttons, which includes a
myriad of useful functions that you
may often use. Everything from
saved directions on maps to a
music playlist can be launched
using a simple and quick button
command in the future.
55
 Hacker Zøne
Works with » Android 5.0 up Difficulty » Easy

Use NetGuard to protect

your mobile bandwidth
Stop your mobile We’ve looked at managing which apps connect to
the web using Android’s native features in the
data running out Tips & Tricks section (page 52), but what if you
before the end of want to go further? Is it possible to block apps from
downloading data on Wi-Fi?
the month Perhaps you’d prefer to be able to manage apps
individually, rather than relying on toggling the
connectivity options. This way, you can retain a
connection for email, for instance, but disable
intrusive and data leeching apps like Facebook. This
is made possible with NetGuard, a no-root firewall,
available free on Google Play.
With NetGuard, you can open a view that displays
which apps have which type of connection to your
mobile internet and Wi-Fi, and there is even an
option to block connectivity for roaming. In just a
few short minutes you’ll regain control of your
phone’s data usage, and start saving money!

1 Install NetGuard 2 Check settings 3 Enable NetGuard

NetGuard doesn’t require root, and is
available for Android 5.0 and up. It’s free on
Google Play or F-Droid and installation is
painless. Take note of the warning that pops up;
some devices can crash, and others can have
all traffic blocked, so spend time testing first.
With the app running, but before
activating, open the Settings menu to find the
‘parent’ settings. There are lots of options here,
such as opting to block mobile and/or Wi-Fi by
default, or only allowing them when the screen
is on. You can also define rules for system apps.
Individual app access is enabled by
flicking the switch in the app’s main view.
NetGuard uses a VPN to manage connections,
so accept the pop-up saying this. By default,
app conditions are greyed out. Tap the Wi-Fi and
mobile internet icons on the right to enable.

4 Use ‘Screen on’ options 5 Metered Wi-Fi 6 Export your settings

To prevent apps using too much data
when the screen is off, use the ‘Screen on’
conditions. For instance, you might have ‘Block
mobile by default’ enabled in Settings, but have
an app set to ‘Allow Wi-Fi when screen is on’,
ensuring no data is used while in your pocket.
NetGuard can be used to handle
metered Wi-Fi networks, treating your mobile
internet as if it is Wi-Fi. You can also ensure your
settings apply only to particular networks using
the Wi-Fi home networks option. Find both
options at the bottom of the Settings screen.
Whether you’re switching devices,
resetting or installing a custom ROM, it’s a good
idea to export the settings you have established
with NetGuard. Open Settings, scroll to the end
and tap Export settings, then restore on the
new device with the Import settings option.

56
Works with » Android 4.1 and up » Difficulty Intermediate

Get more accurate

battery life readings
Automatically Have you ever been watching a video, listening to
music or performing some other battery-intensive
calibrate your activity on your device when the percentage of your
Android device’s remaining battery life drops suddenly? Or maybe
your device has shut down out of nowhere, even
battery for perfect though it looked like you had plenty of battery left?
battery readings As batteries age their characteristics change, but
the Android system’s understanding of the battery
doesn’t. This can lead to the two getting out of sync,
lulling you into a false sense of security.
XBatteryControl+ is a battery calibrator that aims to
bring your device’s battery readings back into line
with your actual battery life.
This is fairly easy, but there’s some setup needed
as even if your device is rooted, your SELinux
settings can prevent the mod from installing.

1 Download 2 Change SELinux mode 3 Back up your device

SELinuxModeChanger
Before you start, you need to set your device’s
SELinux to Permissive. Download the
SELinuxModeChanger apk from goo.gl/6sViCG,
then use a file explorer app to navigate to your
Downloads. Tap the SELinuxModeChanger apk.
When prompted, tap Install. Launch the
SELinuxModeChanger app and grant it super
user permissions. Tap the Permissive button.
For the next steps your device will need to be
fully charged, so at this point you may need to
charge your battery to 100 per cent.
As always, create a full backup of your
device just in case anything goes wrong with the
flashing process, then head over to goo.gl/
xvdW7i and download the XBatteryControl+ zip.
Boot into your device’s custom recovery. Select
Install ZIP and navigate to your Downloads.

4 Look for calibration.log 5 Measure your battery

Flash the XBatteryControl+ file and wipe
your device’s cache and dalvik-cache. Reboot.
To check the mod has installed successfully,
open your file explorer app and go to system/
etc/SSCE/LOGS. If the mod has installed
correctly, you will find a calibration.log file.
To keep an eye on your battery to see
whether your device’s battery readings are
proving to be more accurate, you’ll need a
third-party battery-measuring app such as
BetterBatteryStats (£1.74/$2.16). Launch the
app and select Install as system app.
6 Add a percentage icon
Reboot. Launch BetterBatteryStats and
you will see statistics about the amount of
charge remaining on the main screen. For a
clearer indication of your battery life, you can
download an app from Google Play that will
display your battery life as a percentage icon.

57
 Hacker Zøne
Difficulty » Advanced

Add a personal
touch with
yourown font
Create your own font for all
Android devices, plus modify
any existing font
While there are a lot of ways to
customise your Android device,
creating your own font is
1 Download
particularly exciting as it’s a change FontForge
s across so many areas Grab FontForge from goo.gl/pz9lJb.
oid system, including Depending on your OS, you may also
menus. need to download XQuartz. You’ll find
tutorial you’ll learn how both download links in either
fy any TrueType font (ttf) FontForge’s Short Guide or Detailed
create your own font from Guide. After downloading both files,
. The trickiest part of double click the XQuartz file and
g a font is how long it takes follow the instructions to install.
ch your own version of
ingle letter, number and
l used throughout the
d system, but the real
ge is installing the finished
your device.
u have rooted your device,
n use a font installer app, but
you don’t have root then you
ill need to use a custom
auncher. In this tutorial, we
will be using GO Launcher
e). You’ll need to use a file
plorer app to create a Fonts
older and then copy/paste your
f file into this folder. Finally,
ou will tell GO Launcher to
an for new fonts, before
electing your custom ttf file.
Whichever method you
choose in the end, your custom
ont won’t be applied to every
ece of text you encounter on
6 Are you rooted?
Transfer your ttf file to your
ur Android device, particularly Android device. If you have already
web pages, which often use achieved root, the easiest way of
eir own specific fonts. This applying your custom font is to
nsistency is also true of your download the Font Installer app from
ice’s stock fonts, but it’s worth the Google Play store. Open Font
ring in mind that if you create Installer and select the Local tab,
r own wild, wacky and individual then navigate to the place where you
t then this inconsistency will be stored your ttf file.
ch more noticeable.

58
 2 Launch FontForge
Next, double click the
FontForge file and follow the
installation instructions. Then
launch the FontForge app, where
you’ll see a blank glyphs table. This
is where you can create your
custom font. At this point, you can
either create a new font from
scratch or modify an existing one.
7 Preview and
install the font
Select the font you want to install
and tap Preview to see an example
of how it will look on your device. If
you do decide to go ahead and
apply the font, return to the Local
tab, tap the font again and select
Install. Reboot to apply the font
across your Android device.
3 Modify an
existing font
You can modify any ttf file in
FontForge. If you don’t already have
a particular font in mind, you’ll find
lots of free fonts at goo.gl/ZVHzHy.
Download and unzip your chosen
font. In the FontForge window,
select File>Open and then select
the ttf you want to modify.
8 Don’t have root?
If you aren’t rooted, you can
apply new fonts using a custom
launcher. To apply a font using GO
Launcher, set GO as your default
launcher. Then use a file explorer
app, such as ES File Explorer (free
from the Google Play store), to open
your storage/emulated/0/
GoLauncherEX folder.
4 Generate your
own font
FontForge will load your font into a
fresh grid. Double click each letter,
number and symbol, then edit in
the window that appears. Once you
have finished editing, select File
and then Generate Fonts. Make
sure to save the font in the
Android-compatible ttf format.
9 Copy and paste
Create a new sub folder
inside GoLauncherEX by tapping the
menu icon and selecting New,
followed by Folder. Name this folder
Fonts, for ease of use. Navigate
back to your ttf file, long press it
and select Copy from the toolbar.
Return to your Fonts folder and then
tap the Paste icon.
5 Start from
scratch
To create your very own font, open a
fresh grid (by selecting File>New)
and then double click each blank
square to open the editing window.
You can then create and style each
letter, number and symbol. Once
finished, select File>Generate Font
and save your font in ttf format.
10 Scan for fonts
Exit ES File Explorer. Long
press on your homescreen and
select Go Settings, followed by
Personalisation, Font and Select
Font. Tap Scan font to completely
update the fonts list, then scroll
until you find your custom font. Give
it a tap to apply this font across
your whole launcher.
59
 The best
smartphone
cameras
The world’s sharpest shooters put through their paces
For many people, smartphones have become the primary
camera used for capturing quick snaps, family photos
and of course, selfies. A typical smartphone can rival a
regular compact camera when it comes to this kind of
photography, and many manufacturers now include some
advanced imaging features as standard.
Not all smartphone cameras are created equal,
however. In the past, some brands have surprised us with
bog-standard cameras on otherwise excellent handsets,
while others have shone when it comes to photography.
The brands we look at here are all likely contenders for
60
your next smartphone, and all of them boast features
we’d be happy with in an all-round device. What we’re
concentrating on here is the usability of their photography
interfaces and the quality of the shots that they snap.
There are representatives from brands known for the high
quality of their lenses and sensors, and others that are
being given a second chance to shine after their previous
camera offerings weren’t quite up to snuff. We found
improvements on past models and even a couple of nice
surprises in the mix – but which one will we crown as the
ultimate sharp shooter?
+

61
Group test
»The best smartphone cameras

Samsung $CVVGT[ NKHG

The 2550mAh li-Ion cell
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phone ticking along for
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»More information www.samsung.com/uk The front-facing camera
»Supplied by Samsung lacks the wow factor that
the main camera
technical specs generates but it does a
more than serviceable job.
» Operating system........Android 5.1.1 +H UGNƒGU CTG [QWT VJKPI
» Processor...........................Quad-core 1.5 GHz [QWŦXG IQV PQVJKPI VQ
Cortex-A53 & Quad-core YQTT[ CDQWV
2.1 GHz Cortex-A57
» Memory ...............................3GB RAM, up to 128GB
storage
» Dimensions.......................143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm
» Weight...................................138g
» Display size .......................5.1-inch
» Display resolution........1440 x 2560
» Connectivity .....................Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 0Q OKETQ 5&
» Camera ................................Main: 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm, 7PNKMG RTGXKQWU OQFGNU
OIS, autofocus, LED flash, there is no micro SD slot
1/2.6” sensor size QP VJG 5 UQ [QWŦNN PGGF VQ
Front: 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm DG YCT[ QH JQY OCP[

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The S6 is easily the lightest phone in the You get quick access to
group test and you do get a wonderfully the camera from the lock
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crisp display to act as a viewfinder. The
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slightly but that never concerned us. the camera and ensuring
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Software
Samsung’s camera app is very easy to
use. The powerful specs ensure everything
works quickly, and all options are laid out
clearly. Easy to understand menus are at
the top and bottom of the screen.

Shooting options
Auto mode offers amazing point-and-shoot
results with little effort, but there’s also a
wide range of professional shooting modes
to ensure experts can pinpoint the white
balance, shutter, exposure and focus.
Performance
It’s hard to fault the S6’s performance. We
found some shots were oversaturated, but
when you transfer images to a desktop
computer you realise that Samsung’s vivid,
super AMOLED display is partly to blame.
Samsung Galaxy S6
The S6 was a big comeback for Samsung. Was the
camera one of its highlights?
Samsung has history of making great smartphone
cameras – and 2015’s S6 model is no different. It’s a
point-and-shoot option out of the very top draw. At 16
megapixels it doesn’t lead the group test in simple
terms, but Samsung’s engineers have worked digital
wonders to create such a good camera. If you’re not
a seasoned camera user, you’ll love how simple it is
to take great photos. The results you get on auto
mode, while putting in minimal effort, are of a high
Photographers keen to do more with the camera will
be more than happy with the S6’s expanded
selection of shooting modes. Pro mode allows for
manual focus, setting the white balance and
tweaking of the sensor’s sensitivity. Unless you know
exactly what you’re doing, you’ll find results are a bit
hit and miss, but Samsung couldn’t have provided a
simpler and more intuitive user interface if it tried.
When you get it right, it’s magical. The detail in

»A camera
Verdict
of the highest
enough quality to trick anyone into thinking they were
taken with a DSLR. HDR mode is a one-tap fix for
better snaps, while focus and shutter speed are
quality. Samsung has a great really quick. Colours are vibrant and really pop off the
history for cameras, and the screen. Blues in particular come out very well – in
fact, they almost look unnaturally good. If we were to
S6 is no different. Images have one criticism it would that images are just a
look unnaturally good fraction oversaturated. The S6’s super AMOLED
display is partly to blame here, but we found images
needed a little toning down in the editing suite.
pictures is crystal clear, especially in subject’s faces.
Samsung ships a basic editing suite with the S6’s
Gallery app. There’s a handy auto adjust tool, as well
as simple rotation and crop options to rescue poorly
framed shots. A separate Photo Editor tab is a
glorified Instagram clone, while sharing options
include direct upload links to Dropbox and Google
Drive. And the images will be well sharing. The S6
was one of the phones of the last 12 months, and its
camera is easily one of its highlights.

62
 The best smartphone cameras «
Group test

Optical image Moto X Style

stabilisation
Motorola ships the X Style
with optical image
stabilisation, meaning blur
is reduced and low light
performance improved.
Not all the phones in this
test do, so it’s a major plus
Battery life
The non-removable
3000mAh battery sounds
big, but it’s got a huge
screen to power. There is
a quick charge feature
that’ll give you 34% in 15
minutes – so pack that
power bank if you plan on
longer shoots
information
Price £350
»More information www.motorola.com
»Supplied by Motorola
technical specs
» Operating system........Android 5.1.1
» Processor...........................Dual-core 1.8 GHz
Cortex-A57 & quad-core
1.44 GHz Cortex-A53
» Memory ...............................3GB RAM, up to 64GB
internal storage plus
micro SD support
» Dimensions.......................153.9 x 76.2 x 11.1 mm
» Weight...................................179g
» Display size .......................5.7-inch
» Display resolution........1440 x 2560
» Connectivity .....................Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1

Water protection » Camera ................................Main: 21 MP, f/2.0, 27 mm,

The Moto X Style has
DCUKE YCVGTRTQQƒPI UQ
you can keep shooting
even if the heavens open.
The phone has a lovely
rear casing that helps offer
excellent grip when you’re
out and about
Quick access
The Moto X Style has a
clever way of opening the
Camera app. Hold it and
twist twice. You’ll feel a
vibration notifying you that
you’ve engaged the
camera, which is waiting
instantly for you
phase detection
autofocus, dual-LED (dual
tone) flash, 1/2.4’ sensor
size. Front: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1.4
µm pixel size
»head-to-head
Hardware
The Moto X Style is a big smartphone. It
pushes the boundaries of pocketability,
but you do get a huge viewfinder in return,
which is great when you’re shooting a
panorama. All down to personal preference.

Software
Moto’s Camera app isn’t quite at the level
we’d expect. There aren’t a great deal of
features, so it’s surprising that the app is
rather hard to navigate. Menus are hidden
and not well labelled.

Moto X Style Shooting options

Motorola shocks with us the most natural results of the group
In comparison to Samsung, Motorola doesn’t have a
history of making good smartphone cameras. If you
were buying a Moto device, it wouldn’t be because of
the camera. The Moto X Style does a really good job
at quashing our fears. The software is a bit clunky but
overall performance was the surprise hit of this test.
The 21 megapixels on offer in the main camera do
a great job of producing images that are accurate and
high in detail. Colours are generally pleasing and
white balance almost always spot-on in outdoor
conditions. The Moto X Style uses a phase detection
auto focus system, and we found it to work extremely
well. Good job, because there’s no tap-to-focus
gesture when shooting – tapping any part of the
screen will take the photo. Focusing on objects in the
distance didn’t have any adverse effect on the image
perimeters, thanks to the on-as-standard HDR mode
that brightens areas. Motorola has done an excellent
job. We really liked the extra screen size when
There are no pro-level shooting options.
There are obvious enough controls to keep
a casual photographer happy, but anyone
looking to tweak the way images are
shooting. At 5.7 inches, it might be too big for general snapped will be disappointed.
everyday use, but as a camera it’s the perfect size,
with a wide-angle viewfinder and a sharp canvas of Performance
520ppi to admire your shots and use any editing While we had some complaints regarding
facilities you need. Navigating around Motorola’s the software and lack of pro-level modes,
camera app isn’t particularly intuitive, certainly not in performance is pleasantly surprising.
comparison to Samsung’s app. Shooting modes are Colours come out beautifully and detail is
invisible (you need to swipe right to see them) and are sharp. HDR mode is spot-on.
only shown by an icon, so selecting the right settings
is hit and miss. It will be frustrating to use, and even
when you’ve worked out what is what, you won’t find
many professional shooting options. We did like the
»If youVerdict
can get over the clunky
16:9 Widescreen and Panorama options for software, the end results
landscape photography and the Low Light setting did will please any photographer.
help, but the lack of anything remotely professional is
disappointing. The front-facing camera is helped by an
Even on a winter’s day,
LED flash for low-light selfies, but expect skin tones to colours are vibrant
be on the paler side as a result. At least you have that
option, though.

63
Group test
»The best smartphone cameras

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The eight-megapixel front
camera is high class. If
Nexus 6P [QWŦTG RCTV QH VJG UGNƒG
generation you’ll be

information
amazed by the quality on
offer. It’s powerful enough Tough nut
to shoot full HD video It might not have an IP
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Price £492 have Corning Gorilla Glass
»More information store.google.com 4 with an oleophobic
»Supplied by Google coating to ensure it
survives the bumps and
technical specs Marshmallow scratches of everyday life

» Operating system........Android 6.0 DGPGƒVU

» Processor...........................Quad-core 1.55 GHz 6JG 0':75 2 KU VJG QPN[
Cortex-A53 & Quad-core device in the test to ship
2.0 GHz Cortex-A57 YKVJ #PFTQKF  CU
» Memory ...............................3GB RAM, up 128GB standard. You’ll get the
DGPGƒV QH PGY HGCVWTGU
internal storage
such as Doze for extra
» Dimensions.......................159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm
battery life during shoots
» Weight...................................178 g
» Display size .......................5.7 inches
» Display resolution........1440 x 2560
» Connectivity .....................Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
» Camera ................................Main: 12.3 MP, f/2.0,
1.55µm pixel size, laser
autofocus, dual-LED flash USB C
Front: 8 MP, f/2.4 6JG 2 WUGU VJG PGY 75$

»head-to-head
C standard for charging
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you’re got the correct
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Hardware have existing accessories
The main camera is housed in a slight [QWŦF NKMG VQ VCMG YKVJ [QW
hump at the top of the handset. It doesn’t
protrude much in truth, and we are once
again favouring the large screen size.

Software
The 6P has a minimal interface, but we
wouldn’t call this a bad thing at all. At least
everything was easy to navigate – a far cry
from Motorola’s convoluted effort.

Shooting options
A little too basic for our liking. It’s a shame
there isn’t a pro mode to really make this
camera stand out. We had some fun with
the Lens Blur effect, and panorama mode
stitched together well.
Performance
Pixel size has been boosted beyond the
traditional, so the 6P triumphs in trickier
shooting conditions where light isn’t great.
In normal conditions, it holds its own.
Nexus 6P
Another sub-par Nexus camera, or a
genuine sharp shooter?
Google has responded to claims that its Nexus 5 and
6 smartphones suffered with sub-standard cameras
by boosting the 12.3MP rear camera to capture 1.55
micron pixels. This is a big step up from the standard
1.4 microns used as standard in most current-
generation smartphones. In layman’s terms, bigger
pixels translate to more light being captured. So the
good news for those of you who love Nexus devices
and their perfectly stock Android skins, is that finally
professional shooting options. It’s missing a pro
mode, although you do get a dual-LED flash, HDR+
mode and a timer as default options. You’ll need to
delve into the drop-down menu to activate Photo
sphere, Panorama and Lens Blur effects. We would
have liked to have seen some white balance settings
in particular. If we had one criticism it would be that
some images were left with a slight yellow or blue
tint. A small tweak before shooting would’ve solved

»A realVerdict
improvement on what
you have a camera that’s worthy of the Nexus name.
In comparison to what’s come before, you can take
superior indoor photos, even in low-light conditions.
has come before. Options a Landscape photography came up really well, but
little basic for our liking, but colours don’t quite get up to Samsung or even
Motorola standards. We were also impressed by the
we don’t mind so much when quality of shots at full zoom, too. The front-facing
the results come out looking selfie cam is the best in this group test by a country
as good as they do mile. Selfie fans rejoice. It packs a whopping eight
megapixels and can even record 1080p video at 30
frames per second. What is lacking are more
this, and the lack of professional-style options is
frustrating. The Nexus 6P (the camera is identical to
the 5X for anyone wondering) also lacks optical
image stabilisation. It’s the sort of digital trickery that
deserves a place on a premium product, and without
it, blur and noise can creep in. Google should be
praised for finally giving the Nexus range a more than
serviceable camera. It might be a little basic, but
quality is excellent. If Nexus users aren’t traditionally
the photography type, at least they now have the
hardware to challenge that stereotype.

64
 The best smartphone cameras «
Group test

Odd storage
HTC One A9
capacities
You get different amounts
of memory with different
information
storage versions. 32GB is Price £465
the top, which is very low, »More information www.htc.com
but you can supplement it »Supplied by HTC
with up to 200GB on an
SD card technical specs
» Operating system........Android 6.0
» Processor...........................Quad-core 1.5 GHz
Cortex-A53 & quad-core
1.2 GHz Cortex-A
UltraPixels
HTC has stuck with its
» Memory ...............................2GB RAM/16GB internal
storage or 3GB RAM/32GB
UltraPixel theory for the internal storage
front camera (why only
one of them?) and it does » Dimensions.......................145.8 x 70.8 x 7.3 mm
a serviceable job but lacks » Weight...................................143 g
any type of wow factor » Display size .......................5-inch
» Display resolution........1080 x 1920
iPhone clone » Connectivity .....................Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
It’s hard not to mention » Camera ................................Main: 13 MP, f/2.0,
how similar the A9 is in autofocus, OIS, dual-LED
terms of looks to the (dual tone) flash
iPhone. Like Apple, HTC Front: 4 MP, f/2.0, 27mm,
has ignored the clamber 1/3” sensor size, 2µm
for huge specs and pixel size
Processing
concentrated on the
software and performance
We processed a few RAW
images and found
everything almost ground
»head-to-head
to a halt, while the Hardware
aluminium got hot. It’s a In no way is the HTC One A9 a leader in the
nice option to have, but it
spec race. That’s not necessarily the end
might be a bit
unnecessary too of the world, but we could’ve done with a
few more megapixels to improve the detail
found in shots.

Software
If the spec sheet isn’t impressive, the
software is. Android 6.0 runs so smoothly,
and HTC has done a fine job at optimising
the camera software and making the UI so
simple to navigate.

Shooting options
The HTC One A9 is the only camera in
the group test to challenge Samsung’s
monopoly of advanced, professional grade
shooting options. You can even shoot in
RAW. Impressive.

Performance
To get great images, you need to work
really hard. You’ll use the Pro mode to help,
but the standard doesn’t quite match the
others. When you get it right, you’ll feel a
sense of pride.

»Optimised
Verdict
software is a big
bonus, but the HTC One
A9 doesn’t reach the highs
others do. It is not a bad
camera but not the best

65
Group test
The best smartphone cameras
»

The Winner... GROUP

TEST WINNER

Samsung
Galaxy S6
In the end, the winner of this group test
was fairly obvious. No entry took bad
photos, and to differentiate between them
took more than a simple glance with the
naked eye. Samsung has done a wonderful
job at creating a camera that will appeal to
amateurs looking to take a quick snap, and
more advanced users looking to tweak
settings and get more professional-looking
photos. The opportunities are virtually
endless with the S6, and the results are
class leading. You’ll be amazed by the colour
reproduction in particular, but images also
look sharp and the definition (even when
you zoom in) is exceptional. Samsung may
be an unimaginative choice as group test
winner, but it simply has the best
smartphone camera on the market.
Motorola’s X Style was the group’s surprise
package. We didn’t like the camera app very
much and advanced modes were missing,
but results were outstanding. The HDR
feature on Auto mode was a real highlight,
helping to lighten dark areas and produce
an almost flawless image. If you can handle
the clunky software, we’d highly
recommend the camera. Nexus users finally
have a device with an excellent camera.
Combining the power of stock Android 6.0, a
great screen and a sharp shooter is going to
appeal to a lot of users, especially at its
price point. Results just lacked a bit of wow
factor for us – which is the same criticism of
the HTC One A9. Certainly not a bad
camera, but one that just falls short of
class-leading standards.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Moto X Style Nexus 6P HTC One A9

OS Android 5.1.1 Android 5.1.1 Android 6.0 Android 6.0

Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 & Quad-core 1.55 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 &
Processor Quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A57 quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53

3GB RAM, up to 128GB storage 3GB RAM, up to 64GB internal 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage or
Memory storage plus micro SD support
3GB RAM, up 128GB internal storage
3GB RAM/32GB internal storage

Dimensions 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.1 mm 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm 145.8 x 70.8 x 7.3 mm

Weight 138g 179g 178 g 143 g

Display size 5.1-inch 5.7-inch 5.7-inch 5-inch

Display resolution 1440 x 2560 1440 x 2560 1440 x 2560 pixels 1080 x 1920

Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1

Main: 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm, OIS,
autofocus, LED flash, 1/2.6”
Camera sensor size.
Front: 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm
Main: 21 MP, f/2.0, 27 mm, phase Main: 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, OIS,
Main: 12.3 MP, f/2.0, 1.55µm pixel
detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual dual-LED (dual tone) flash
tone) flash, 1/2.4’ sensor size
size, laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
Front: 4 MP, f/2.0, 27mm, 1/3”
Front: 8 MP, f/2.4
Front: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1.4 µm pixel sensor size, 2µm pixel size

Overall score

66
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Reviews
EDITOR’S
CHOICE Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Is Xiaomi’s upgraded, mid-range Redmi Note – now with metal
EQPUVTWEVKQPCPFCƒPIGTRTKPV TGCFGT Ţ UVKNN C XCNWG EJCORKQP!
New Xiaomi releases come thick and fast. We
only recently reviewed the Redmi Note 2,
Battery champion
The Redmi Note 3 has 32 per
awarding it an impressive four out of five, yet cent more battery than the
here we have its successor already. Each time a Note 2 yet the weight has only
new product is released, we ask ourselves – will increased by 4g, despite the
new metal construction. The
this be the phone that signals Xiaomi’s entry into device doesn’t feel bulky like
the Western market? How does it hold up the ZUK Z1, which also packs a
against the devices that more established 4,000mAh battery
companies in this market have to offer?
Not only does Xiaomi release phones very
frequently, the range of devices available to buy
at any one time is vast. The Redmi Note 3 sits in MIUI 7
the lower tiers of the range, but in terms of Xiaomi ships its devices in two
build, materials and specifications, the buyer is EQPƒIWTCVKQPU Ţ C %JKPGUG
version (without Play store) and
left wanting for little. In the premium version of an International version (with
the device that we’re reviewing here, a Mediatek 2NC[ UVQTG 'XGP VJG %JKPGUG
Helio X10 processor powers the phone, together version includes full English
language support and the Play
with 32GB storage (expandable via microSD) and
store is easily added, which
3GB RAM. Within the metal unibody sits a makes importing much easier
5.5-inch full HD IPS screen, a 13MP primary
camera with phase detection auto focus, a 5MP
front-facing camera, a fingerprint reader and a
huge 4,000mAh battery (yet the device itself is
still only 8.7mm thick). Dual-SIM functionality with

“Each time a new product is

released, we ask ourselves – will this
be the phone that signals Xiaomi’s
entry into the Western market?”
single SIM LTE support on bands one, three and
seven is accompanied by dual-band Wi-Fi (rare in
low to mid-tier devices) and Bluetooth 4.1
connectivity. An FM radio is included as is an IR
transmitter. Really the only thing missing from #ORNG EQPPGEVKXKV[
+VŦU SWKVG EQOOQP VQ ƒPF QPN[
this long list is NFC, which is often the case for
2.4GHz Wi-Fi on budget to
handsets from Chinese manufacturers. mid-range devices, however,
The latest version of Xiaomi’s software is MIUI the Redmi Note 3 has 5GHz
7, which rather confusingly can run on both 802.11ac support, as well as
dual-SIM, dual-standby
Lollipop and Marshmallow. The Note 3 runs MIUI functionality. Signal strength is
on top of Lollipop, so not quite the latest version very good and shows no ill
of Android, but with so many changes to the OS, effects at all from its very slick
metal construction
this becomes largely academic.
With such impressive specifications at such a
low price, it’s not unreasonable to expect there
to be a catch. The thing is… we can’t really find
one. The fit and finish of the device is excellent
and from the moment you wake the phone with
the ultra-fast fingerprint reader, everything

68

speeds along. The most ardent stock Android
fans probably won’t like the MIUI software layer,
but for everyone else, there are some genuinely
useful additions. The Mediatek Helio X10
processor already proved itself to be a capable
performer in the Note 2, and the ample helping
of memory helps to ensure performance is
consistently good. If there is one weakness in
the chipset, it is the graphics processor –
although the Note 3 is more than capable of
running most games, it falls behind flagship
devices in this regard. Still, there’s no shame in
this given its market positioning!
The 13MP camera on the Note 3 focuses
quickly and snaps photographs without any real
lag, but while the quality of images is good, it’s
here where the phone can’t keep up with the
Processing power
The Mediatek Helio X10
processor in the Redmi Note 3
is a 2GHz octa-core chip,
paired with eMMC 5 memory
for optimal performance. The
graphics processor is clocked
at 700MHz on the premium
32GB model and 550MHz on
the entry-level 16GB device
Colour choices
The Redmi Note 3 is available
with a black front and grey
back, white front and silver
back or gold front and gold
back. The branding overall is
very subtle and the device is up
there with the best-looking
phones on the market
most expensive Android devices on the market.
Low-light performance is variable and the lack
of an auto HDR mode is quite disappointing.
Slow-motion video is a useful inclusion, as is
the 36-level beauty shot on the surprisingly
good front-facing camera.
Given that we liked the Note 2 a lot, it’s no
surprise that we love the Note 3. The actual
hardware changes are minimal, but they are in the
right places – the new device feels far more
premium because of its metal unibody and the
fingerprint reader adds considerable convenience.
We don’t know yet whether the Note 3 will be
amongst the first Xiaomi devices to officially
launch on UK shores, but once again, if you’re
looking to import a device with unbeatable value,
then you need look no further.
SIM or microSD
The Note 3 follows the recent
trend of enabling either dual
SIM cards or a single SIM and
a microSD card. Thankfully, the
device includes 32GB storage,
so space shouldn’t be an issue
for anyone except the most
demanding of users
Review
Xiaomi
Redmi Note 3
899 CNY (16GB model)
1099 CNY (32GB model)
import cost £150
»More information mi.com/note3
»Supplied by Top One Trading Co. Ltd
Technical specs
»Operating system............. Android 5.0.1 with MIUI 7
»Processor ................................ MediaTek Helio X10 2GHz
octa-core
»Memory..................................... 16GB/32GB storage
2GB/3GB RAM
»Dimensions............................ 150 x 76 x 8.65 mm
»Weight......................................... 164g
»Display size ............................ 5.5-inches
»Display resolution............. 1920 x 1080 pixels (403ppi)
»Front camera........................ 13MP
»Rear camera.......................... 5MP
»Connectivity .......................... 4G LTE B1 / B3 / B7, 802.11ac
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
»Expansion slot..................... microSD to 128GB
Battery life
The 4,000mAh battery means the Note 3 will outlast
almost any other Android device
Good for
Power users
For power users, the fantastic battery life means you won’t
need to hunt for a charger during the day
Sound and video
The large screen for video playback is accompanied by a
surprisingly loud speaker
Bad for
Pro photographers
Although the camera is pretty good, there’s no support for
full manual controls or the Camera2 API
Hardcore gamers
The Helio X10 processor is fine for all but the most
demanding tasks and it struggles with complex games
Verdict
The Redmi Note 3 has set a new
high standard for budget devices,
provided you can live with the MIUI 7
software layered over Lollipop
69
Reviews
Move your media
If your main focus for the Tab 3
Pro is centred around media,
make sure to take advantage of
the microSD slot. It caters for
cards up 128GB, which is useful
for storing your library of movies
Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro
Can a built-in projector put the spotlight on Lenovo’s latest tablet offering?
The one problem that’s haunted many of the
latest tablets we’ve gone hands-on with is that
they’ve lacked anything that helps them
differentiate themselves from the competition.
So you can imagine our excitement when we
went eyes-on with Lenovo’s latest offering, the
Yoga Tab 3 Pro, which brings something a little
different to the table.
First and foremost, at its core this is a fairly
mediocre-looking tablet, featuring a
predominantly textured plastic back and Lenovo
branding on the front. The metallic hinge, from
which the Yoga gets its name, can be contorted
for improved tablet viewing angles, or for the
more daring, hung up via the keyhole shaped
space. It’s a fairly robust alternative to buying a
tablet stand and does a good job at keeping the
device level at all times.
Aside from the usual selection of ports,
there’s also the addition of a projector button,
which opens up the Tab 3 Pro’s killer feature.
Built in to the rotatable hinge is a projector with
a bright 50-lumen output that can project an
image up to 70 inches on any surface. With a
70
quick twist of the hinge you can get the projector
to sit at different angles, but it doesn’t allow for
the small incremental movements that we would
have liked. The quality is comparable to many
entry-level projectors and it certainly adds a new
way to enjoy your installed media on the fly. The
dedicated projector app is a bit clunky to use,
but all the necessary options are there and this
helps make sure it’s something that you’ll
continually come back to.
While you may be worrying that a built-in
projector is going to be a massive burden on
battery life, Lenovo has dealt with the issue
head-on with the inclusion of a monster
10,200mAh battery. It easily surpasses a day of
use without using the projector, but you’ll still hit
around the 10-hour mark of continuous
“The quality is comparable to many entry-level
projectors and it certainly adds a new way to
enjoy your installed media on the fly”
Power for anything
In smaller tablets, an Intel Atom
processor may seem like overkill,
but with the added size and
features of the Yoga Tab 3 Pro, it
helps to keep things running
smoothly at all times
Average display
Perhaps the only real downside
to the Tab 3 Pro is its IPS display.
Colours certainly look good, but
there’s a touch of pixellation in
icons and images that leave it
lacking at times
projecting – even if it’s incredibly unlikely that you
will perform such a task. Lollipop 5.1 is a fairly
unobtrusive OS, and thus has minimal impact on
battery life, and there’s no real bloatware to note
– apart from the Projector app that, although
slightly clumsy, is a highly useful addition.
We were also pleased to see the inclusion of
a quad-core Intel Atom processor. Clocked at
1.44GHz, it offers power comparable to many
budget laptops and didn’t stutter through any
task we put in front of it. The added power can
be a big boost when projecting, as there’s
enough left in reserve to multi-task as a movie is
being streamed. It seems strange that only 2GB
of RAM was implemented, but we suspect this
was down to the effect it would have had on
battery life more than anything else.

Streaming made
simple
Once you’ve adjusted the focus,
the built-in projector is capable
of projecting at up to 70 inches
on any display. Use the hinge to
adjust your projection to the
perfect angle for you
Built to last
Having a 10,200mAh battery
embedded into the Tab 3 Pro
helps maintain strong, all-day
battery life, despite the increased
pressure that the projector
places on it
A rotatable hinge allows you to hang the tablet on the wall to
project video from the optimum height
A 13-megapixel rear camera is capable of
snapping decent, if unspectacular images.
Shooting options are plentiful, but some are fairly
superfluous for the most part and aren’t worth
fussing too much over. Images can be enjoyed
on the 10.1-inch IPS display, which does
especially well at bringing out bright colours and
adding some deep tones to darker parts.
Compared to other 10-inch tablets, the general
display quality is average at best, but again, with
the Tab 3 Pro being centred on the projector,
perhaps you’ll be using the display for fewer
activities than you think.
Review
Lenovo Yoga
Tab 3 Pro
£399.99/$479.99
»More information lenovo.com
»Supplied by Lenovo
Technical specs
»Operating system............. Android 5.1 Lollipop
»Processor ................................ Intel Atom X5-Z8500, quad-core
Twist and turn 2.2GHz
One of the key reasons for the »Memory..................................... 32GB storage, 2GB RAM
inclusion of the adjustable hinge »Dimensions............................ 247 x 179 x 4.68mm
is to perfect the viewing angles
of the tablet. It saves having to
»Weight......................................... 667g
pay for a separate tablet stand »Display size ............................ 10.1 inches
and case combination »Display resolution............. 1600 x 2560 pixels (299 ppi)
»Front camera........................ 5 megapixels
»Rear camera.......................... 13 megapixels
»Connectivity .......................... Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
»Expansion slot..................... microSD up to 128GB
Battery life
At 10,200mAh, the included battery is a
powerhouse at all times
Good for
On the fly projecting
It’s far more than a gimmick, and is one of the better entry-
level projectors available
Going travelling
The battery size provides enough power to keep charges
as infrequent as possible
The microSD slot allows you to boost the tablet’s 32GB built-in
Bad for
storage by up to 128GB Enjoying the display
There’s a small amount of pixellation that holds back the
If we were judging the Tab 3 on its core tablet display to some degree
functions, we perhaps wouldn’t have really
recommended it over some of its similarly priced
Holding for long periods
The only downside to the hinge is that it can make the
competitors. But when you then mix in the tablet uncomfortable to hold
addition of a capable projector, the whole
landscape changes. This is a great media-
consumption device and for on-the-fly streaming,
Verdict
there’s nothing really like it on the market right As far as tablet and projector
now. A monster battery life and great processing combinations go, this is by far the
power keep things running smoothly, and if you
can compromise on the average display quality,
best on the market today
the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is up there with the best on
the market.
71
Reviews
Much of the same Built with AnyLight
Despite the aesthetics, The 1.37-inch LCD display
there’s not a whole lot of adapts to different lighting
difference between the situations, meaning it
Moto 360 Sport and the should be backlit in low
Moto 360 2 variants. light conditions, but then
There’s the same 4GB of the screen will darken
internal storage in both when using it outside and
devices, as well as the in brighter conditions.
decent 300mAh battery to
keep the watch going for
days between charges.

M
£219.99/$299.99
»More information www.motorola.com
»Supplied by Motorola
6CKNQTGF HQT ƒVPGUU
All-in-one
There’s a single silicone
The default watch face is Technical specs
heavily customised for
case and band that
surrounds the Moto 360
ƒVPGUU WUGTU YKVJ VTCEMGTU »Operating system............. Wear OS
Sport, which has a UV
littering the outside.
Motorola’s own Body
»Processor ................................ Snapdragon 400, quad-core
EQCVKPI VQ JGNR ƒIJV QHH 1.2GHz
Fitness suite is decent, but
moisture. There are added
there’s full compatibility for
»Memory..................................... 4GB, 512MB RAM
air vents on the side for
extra comfort when in use.
Endomondo and other »Dimensions............................ 45mm diameter x 11.5mm high
VJKTFRCTV[ ƒVPGUU CRRU »Weight......................................... 54g
»Display size ............................ 1.37-inch
»Display resolution............. 360 x 325 pixels (263 ppi)
»Front camera........................ N/A

Moto 360 Sport »Rear camera.......................... N/A

Motorola’s rough and rugged smartwatch wants to be
your ultimate outdoor companion
The quest for the best-looking smartwatch is
hotly contested, but one watch we can safely
say won’t make it onto the podium is the Moto
360 Sport. The bland silicone exterior isn’t that
appealing, but with a device aimed heavily at the
fitness market, is this really a flaw?
While being largely the same size as the Moto
360 2, the Sport variant fits better on the wrist
and feels more robust, but we should stress that
it isn’t waterproof. One of the major additions to
the Sport is Motorola’s new AnyLight display. This
naturally adapts to different lighting conditions,
depending on whether you’re inside or outside.
In practice it works well, but the changes can be
a little on the slow side to take effect.
There is a plethora of fitness-orientated
features that litter the Sport, and it all stems
from the default watch face that’s scattered with
different tracking elements. It’s customisable –
after all this is Motorola – but with a device built
to blur the lines between fitness tracker and
smartwatch, it’s not built for showing off.
Pre-installed apps also tip their hats towards
those with the fitness bug, with Motorola’s
impressive Body app taking centre stage. As
you’d expect, Google apps are plentiful, and the
4GB storage and 300mAh battery is the same as
the smaller version of the Moto 360 2. There’s
also the benefit of built-in Wi-Fi, so you don’t
need your smartphone during a workout.
The tetherless nature of the Sport is a
massive plus in terms of working out without
your smartphone, and even if Motorola’s tracking
apps don’t take your fancy, there’s full
compatibility with Endomondo and the like. We
were also pleased to see a flawless optical heart
rate monitor for tracking BPM on the fly, in
addition to a barometric altimeter if you prefer
working out at a high altitude.
Not since the Sony SmartWatch 3 have we
seen a smartwatch so targeted at the fitness
market. Motorola has made great efforts to
make sure this is the device you use on your
workout, and being able to use the tracking
functions without your smartphone in tow is a
massive plus. But that said, we’re not totally
convinced by the AnyLight display and the lack of
a waterproof exterior is a bit of an annoyance.
For those on the hunt for something a bit more
than a fitness tracker, the Moto 360 Sport will
fill the gap well, but for a dedicated smartwatch,
there are better alternatives.
»Connectivity .......................... Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
»Expansion slot..................... N/A
Battery life
300mAh is big enough to keep the Sport going for a
couple of days between charges
Good for
Being built for you
From a sweat-proof band to tetherless tracking, this is a
great fitness accessory
Lightweight frame
Weight has been kept to a minimum, providing a more
comfortable fit for your wrist
Bad for
AnyLight
The display is slow to adapt to different light conditions,
but it works great once it does change
Silicone or bust
There’s no customising the one-piece silicone band, even
if you’d like to upgrade
Verdict
It lacks as a smartwatch, but it’s the
new benchmark when it comes to
fitness trackers

72

No sensors
This is one of the few
smartwatches to not
include rear sensors for
ƒVPGUU VTCEMKPI +PUVGCF
it’s a fairly minimal affair,
with just a single charging
port to give the Luna a
boost when needed
Unbelievable
battery
6JG NCEM QH 9GCT 15 KU C
big boost to the battery life
QP VJG .WPC &WTKPI QWT
tests, we found that
Vector’s claims of a 30-day
DCVVGT[ NKHG CTG DCEMGF WR
1VJGT OCPWHCEVWTGTU
UJQWNF VCMG PQVG
Vector Luna
Meet the smartwatch that can boast a 30-hour battery life
We love seeing emerging manufacturers make
us stand up and take notice of them and Vector
is certainly doing that with the Luna
smartwatch. Out of the box you’re greeted with a
stainless steel unit that’s the ideal weight
without being too bulky. It doesn’t sit completely
flush to the wrist, but this is a common problem
with larger framed smartwatches, rather than a
specific issue with Vector.
There are no rear sensors built in and apart
from a small charging port, it’s a true minimal
piece that oozes class from top to bottom. The
rear sensor isn’t the only omission here, as
there’s no coloured display, no touchscreen and
no Android Wear to use. It’s a smartwatch,
without the smarts. Instead, the Luna takes a
more minimal approach to wearables, offering
the core functions of a smartwatch, but nothing
more. All of this is controllable through the
accompanying app, which is easy to use and
customisable at will. That said, without the app,
the Luna is fairly redundant, so you’ll need your
phone with you at all times.
Options are plentiful for basic functions, but
it’s the personalisation potential that really
makes it stand out from the crowd. Moving
between menus is completed through the
side-mounted buttons, mimicking the classic
Casio watches of yesteryear. It’s a feature we
found ourselves really enjoying and it’s generally
a much better navigation experience than the
Mounted buttons
9KVJ PQ VQWEJUETGGP QP
board, navigating the Luna
is done through the
UKFGOQWPVGF DWVVQPU +VŦU
C TGOCTMCDN[ GCU[ U[UVGO
to use when scrolling
through various menus
and settings
Limited options
9KVJQWV CP[ FKTGEV NKPMU VQ
Android, the Luna is fairly
NKOKVGF D[ KVU CRR UGNGEVKQP
#RRU NKMG '520 CPF 6JG
'EQPQOKUV CTG RTGUGPV DWV
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(CEGDQQM CXCKNCDNG HQT C
little while yet
substandard capacitive displays we’ve been
used to previously.
The lack of Wear OS and bloatware is a
godsend for both processor speeds and battery
life. The 280mAh lithium-ion battery may look
tiny on paper, but it just keeps on going with no
real OS draining it. During our tests, the 30-day
battery life that Vector claims is completely
realistic, perhaps even a little conservative.
Similarly, a lesser processor has been
implemented here, with no Snapdragon in sight.
Again, the lack of real OS means there’s no need
to pack in excess power, but slowdown is
noticeable when using third-party apps.
On the topic of apps, there’s no direct link to
Google Play through the Luna watch, and instead
your options are limited to Vector’s own app
store. Choices are minimal, but some of the big
hitters are included. Again we look to the fact
that this is a smartwatch utilising core features,
but the lack of apps will be a bit too much of a
stretch for some to compromise on.
It’s safe to say that the Vector Luna is going to
split opinion. It won’t appeal to those who want
their smartwatch to function as an independent
device, and the lack of a touchscreen and colour
display will perhaps turn off the more discerning
Android user. What it can deliver though, is a
smartwatch that delivers a true extension to
your smartphone and that 30-day battery life is
unrivalled. Which side will you fall on?
Review
Ve
£219/$249
»More information www.vectorwatch.com
»Supplied by Vector
Technical specs
»Operating system............. Android 4.4
»Processor ................................ Proprietary
»Memory..................................... 512MB
»Dimensions............................ 44 x 22 x 11mm
»Weight......................................... 157g
»Display size ............................ 1.4 inch
»Display resolution............. N/A
»Front camera........................ N/A
»Rear camera.......................... N/A
»Networks.................................. Bluetooth/NFC
»Expansion slot..................... N/A
Battery life
280mAh doesn’t sound a lot, but the claims of a
30-hour battery life are backed up
Good for
Long battery life
The Luna takes smartphone battery life to a new level, with
30 days between charges perfectly plausible
Great design
Its minimal design looks great, the perfect accessory for
budding fashionistas out there
Bad for
Going it alone
The Luna relies heavily on the accompanying app, so you’ll
need your smartphone with you at all times
App selection
Don’t expect many of the big name apps to be available
for download through the Vector store
Verdict
A brave attempt at reinventing the
smartwatch that’s mostly successful,
but will be a little basic for some
73
Reviews
Premium
materials
The Moto X Force is
available with a number of
different materials on the
back, including leather, soft
grip and our favourite,
ballistic nylon, as seen on
previous Moto devices
available in the US. It’s
grippy and feels tough.
Moto X Force
If you need your phone to be virtually indestructible, but retain
considerable style, check out the Moto X Force
Let’s get straight to the point – the Moto X
Force has one special talent, and that is that it’s
very, very tough. The screen, protected by Moto
Shattershield, is split into four components – the
exterior protective lens, interior lens, dual touch
layer and the AMOLED display, which itself sits
within an aluminium chassis designed to prevent
breakage. The result is a screen guaranteed not
to break for four years. If you opt for the ballistic
nylon back, you have a formidable companion
even if you are a careless owner.
The best thing about the X Force is that even
though it’s tough, it doesn’t look too different
from any other high-end phone, aside from the
exterior protective lens (which resembles a thick
screen protector). It has a reassuring weight and
girth to it, but this is as much due to the huge
battery that’s included as it is to the screen.
The phone has a high-end price, but also
high-end internals. With the ubiquitous
Snapdragon 810 processor, ample RAM and
storage, microSD expansion, every form of
connectivity you could want and even wireless
charging, the X Force spec list reads like a phone
fan’s wishlist, with one exception. There is no
74
Near-stock
Android
The X Force runs a near-
stock Android version, and
minimal customisations.
Lollipop ships out of the
box, with a Marshmallow
update imminent. The
enhanced camera
application is a particular
highlight over stock.
Moto Maker
If you are happy to buy
Moto X Force
your Moto X Force SIM
free, then it is available to £479
EQPƒIWTG WUKPI /QVQ »More information www.motorola.co.uk
Maker, which allows the »Supplied by Amazon UK
buyer to specify various
colours and materials of
their choice, as well as Technical specs
custom engravings and
additional storage. »Operating system............. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
»Processor ................................ Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
processor 2.0 GHz octa-core
Moto Shattershield »Memory..................................... 32GB / 3GB
The Moto X Force is so »Dimensions............................ 149.8 mm x 78 mm x 7.6 mm -
named because its 9.2 mm (curved)
‘shattershield’ equipped »Weight......................................... 169g
screen can take a beating
– and then some.
»Display size ............................ 5.4 inch
Motorola guarantees that
»Display resolution............. 2560 x 1440 (540 ppi)
the screen won’t crack for »Front camera........................ 21 MP / f/2.0 aperture
four years. Phone droppers »Rear camera.......................... 5 MP / f/2.0 aperture
Ţ [QW OC[ ƒPCNN[ JCXG OGV
your match!
»Connectivity:......................... 4G LTE / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFC
»Expansion slot..................... microSD up to 2TB
Battery life
The monster 3760mAh battery in the Moto X Force leads
to class-leading, multi-day battery life.
fingerprint reader, in line with other current Moto
smartphone models, which is disappointing. If
Good for
you’ve had one, typing in a PIN feels like going Power users
The X Force battery and its Snapdragon 810 can manage
back to the Dark Ages. intensive tasks such as gaming with no problems.
On the design, software and customisations
side, the X Force is very much business as usual Case haters
and recognisably Motorola, right down to the If you don’t like to use a case but want a device that can
stand up to everyday life, the X Force is ideal.
signature dimple on the back. On the whole, that
the phone is a typical Moto smartphone is a Bad for
good thing. It means performance is good, the
software is pleasingly light and a sprinkling of
Audiophiles
Moto has eschewed the excellent top and bottom speaker
customisations leads us to think that Moto can design for two average speakers at the bottom.
do stock Android better than Google itself.
It’s difficult to pick out a particular stand-out
Fashionistas
The Moto X Force, while far from being rugged, isn’t the
feature on the X Force, but it’s perfect example thinnest or prettiest phone on the block.
of doing everything well. The AMOLED screen,
while not up there with the best such as the
Note 5, is very good. Similarly, the 21 megapixel
Verdict
camera, while not quite up there with the Galaxy Don’t assume the Moto X Force
S6 or LG G4, is very competent. Gaming or other
is just a one-trick pony. Yes, it’s
intensive tasks are handled with ease, although
it can get slightly warm under load. The Moto X
exceptionally good at one thing, but
Force sits right at the top of Moto’s device line
it’s also a great all-rounder
and deserves its place there. There’s a lot to like
and very little that disappoints.
 Review

OLED screen
The Honor Band Z1 has a
1.06-inch OLED display
with a resolution of 128 by
128 pixels. That may
sound like a very low
Colour choices
resolution (and it is), but it The Z1 is available in three
JCU C FGƒPKVG TGVTQ EJCTO colour models: a black
about it with its light blue bezel and a large black
on black text strap, a silver bezel and a
small white strap or a silver
bezel with a small cream
strap. The bezel is crafted
from stainless steel

Honor Band Z1
Connectivity £59.99/$85
The Band Z1 connects to »More information hihonor.in
your phone via Bluetooth,
Dustproof and »Supplied by VMall
providing a range of up to
ten metres. An alert can be waterproof
EQPƒIWTGF HQT YJGP [QWT
watch and phone go out of
It is both waterproof and
dustproof, with IP68
Technical specs
EGTVKƒECVKQP 6JKU OGCPU KV
range of each other, in
order to help you avoid KU ƒPG HQT YGCTKPI KP VJG
»Operating system............. Proprietary
forgetting your phone! rain, but isn’t suitable for »Processor ................................ Not specified
submersion below 1.5 »Memory..................................... 512KB storage / 128KB RAM
metres. Honor explicitly
tells you not to dive with it!
»Dimensions............................ 244.4 x 38 x 9.5 mm
»Weight......................................... 25g

Honor Band Z1
Is Honor’s entry-level wearable a viable alternative to more
expensive smartwatches or does cheap mean too basic?
When it comes to mobile phones, Honor,
Huawei’s brand for digital natives, has a
reputation for delivering exceptional value. The
Honor Band Z1 marks the brand’s first foray into
wearables, although Huawei does have some
products available in this category, including the
Talkband B2 (on which the Z1 is loosely based)
and the critically acclaimed Huawei Watch
powered by Android Wear. At a price point of
under £60, rather than nearly £300, the Honor
Band is clearly going to be lacking in features
compared to high-end smartwatches – but that
might not matter if it’s still genuinely useful.
Advanced wearables have powerful internals
and big screens, which means big batteries and
bulky designs. The Z1 is compact, feels great on
the wrist and will suit arms both large and small.
It has a black round face (although the actual
OLED screen is square) and either a black bezel
or silver bezel. The back of the watch is plastic
with pogo pins for connecting to the charging
dock, which attaches via magnets. The rubber
strap is sadly not changeable, but the quality is
good and on the whole the band feels like a
quality piece of kit.
The best way to think of the Z1 is as a part
smartwatch, part fitness-tracking device. When
woken, the display shows the date and time, and
swiping on the screen displays your number of
steps, your calorie burn, your sleep statistics
(which are automatically tracked) and enables
you to start recording a workout. A settings
menu lets users switch between a small number
of watchfaces and reboot or reset the watch.
Notifications can be displayed from a connected
phone, courtesy of the Huawei Wear app.
The companion app provides a view of the
recorded data, together with the ability to
connect to Jawbone’s Up service. As well as
notifications (that can be enabled on a per-app
basis), the app enables customisation of idle
reminders and vibrating alarms.
Functionally, the Z1 is solid, but how well does
it all work? Well, with some caveats. The main
problems are a slowness to wake or respond to
swipes and a limited notification experience
– basic notifications can be viewed on the
screen, but there is no ability to action the
notifications (for example to archive an email).
Given the basic screen, it’s also a shame that it
has to be woken rather than being always on.
Since the original release of the band, Honor
has continually improved the experience. As a
low cost alternative to a full Android Wear watch,
it has value, particularly as a fitness device, but
the niggles in the experience mean that this
time Honor isn’t quite punching as far above its
weight as we have come to expect.
»Display size ............................ 1.06-inches
»Display resolution............. 128 by 128 pixels (170 ppi)
»Front camera........................ N/A
»Rear camera.......................... N/A
»Connectivity .......................... Bluetooth LE 4.0
»Expansion slot..................... N/A
Battery life
Despite a tiny 70mAh battery that’s charged in only 90
minutes, the Honor Band Z1 lasts around four days
Good for
Fitness tracking
The band’s fitness tracking is accurate and the fact it
syncs to the Jawbone Up service is a useful feature
Smaller wrists
Full Android Wear devices are too big for a lot of people –
fortunately, the Honor Band Z1 is a lot smaller
Bad for
Apps
No apps are available to install for the Honor Band Z1,
meaning the functionality isn’t extensible
Responding to content
The Honor Band Z1 is purely for viewing notification
content, no actions can be taken from the band itself
Verdict
The Honor Band Z1 is a useful
wearable, but with minor tweaks it
could have been so much more

75
Reviews
Knomo Knomad Leather Mini
Portable Organiser
If you’re looking for a high-end tablet wallet, this could be it
Knomo is well known for its high-quality
bags, cases and organisers, and deservedly
so. This little folder is made of buttery soft
leather lined with RPET canvas, which is
made from recycled bottles and allows your
devices to snuggle down comfortably inside
the padded interior. Knomo optimistically
claims that this miniature version of its
Organiser can carry “an eight-inch tablet,
smartphone, passport and cards, pen,
slimline battery pack, A5 notebook” and
much more. Challenge accepted.
5Q YJCV FKF YG OCPCIG VQ ƒV KP! 6CDNGV
check. Phablet phone, check. A card wallet
and assorted business cards, a set of
earphones, a pen, and a tiny notebook;
check. We found that an A5 notebook didn’t
have a snowball’s chance in hell of
squeezing in however, though the odds
might improve if you have a slimmer tablet
VJCP VJG 0GZWU  YG VTKGF 9G EQWNFPŦV ƒV C
portable battery pack in there, but then we These cardholder pockets are great for SD cards,
didn’t have one of Knomo’s super-skinny making it great for tablet and phone accessories
ones to hand, as they’re sold separately.
The thing is, though, you’re likely to be
putting this case inside a larger bag
(although if you do use it as a clutch purse
we won’t judge you), meaning it doesn’t
really need to pack in quite as much as it
claims to be able to. So, if you like the look
and don’t mind the price, it’s a great little
case for the stylish Android lover.
» Price £79.00
» More information www.knomobags.com
1PG QH -PQOQŦU UNKONKPG RQTVCDNG EJCTIGTU YKNN ƒV KP
here so you can boost your devices on the move

Recycled material
The RPET canvas inside is
made from recycled bottles.
The fabric is smooth and
won’t scratch devices

Luscious leather
The outside is encased in
soft leather that’s available
in a range of colours, from
subtle to bright

Packed with pockets

The plethora of pockets inside
give you room to safely carry a
tablet, phone, cards,
earphones and much more

76

Woodbuds
Wooden you like some trendy earphones?
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FQPŦVUVKEMVJGYQQFGPDKVUKP[QWTGCTUNow
that we’ve established that, we can begin to
take a proper look at these classy earphones
from Woodbuds.
It’s the outer part of the earphone that
gives the Woodbuds their name. Made from
sustainable walnut and engraved with the
Woodbuds logo, each pair – each earphone,
in fact – is unique. They’ve been tightly
turned and smoothly sanded, and are
surprisingly lightweight when compared to
common or garden plastic earphones. They
come with three sizes of earpiece in the way
that Skullcandy headphones do, and these
are standard soft silicon that’s perfectly safe
and comfortable to wear in your ears. The
cable is flat, so it’s less prone to tangling,
and it’s made out of bio-plastic, making it
The USP
Woodbuds’ unique selling point
is the wooden caps on the
earpieces, which are made out
of sustainably sourced walnut
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Accessories
almost as sustainable as the wooden
earbuds themselves. The audio jack on the
end is high quality and gold-plated for
maximum performance, and the earphones
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background noise.
That care and attention to detail in the
product extends to the fully recyclable
packaging, which is well designed, and the 'CEJ GCTRKGEG KU WPKSWG VJCPMU VQ YQQFŦU ITCKP CPF EQNQWTU
inner card is hand-letterpressed by a small, OGCPKPIPQVYQRCKTUQH9QQFDWFUCTGGZCEVN[CNKMG
long-running printers from the Woodbuds
team’s local area. They practically ooze
sustainable, artisanal, high-performance hipster
cool – and the price isn’t bad for what you’re
getting, either.
» Price £30.00
» More information www.woodbuds.com
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TGUKUVCPEGVQEQTTQUKQPOGCPUDGVVGTEQPPGEVKXKV[CPFC
NQPIGTYQTMKPINKHG
Interchangeable
earpieces
The part that actually goes into
your ear is safe, soft silicon, and
the Woodbuds come with
earpieces in three sizes for
maximum comfort
Tangle-free cord
The flat cable is less prone to
the usually annoying tangling
and snagging, and is available in
a range of six colours for the
fashion-conscious music lover
77
Apps
Adobe Premiere Clip
Easily create video sequences synced to music
Adobe’s smart
video-editing app
makes it incredibly easy
for even complete
novices to quickly string together
stylish sequences of video clips and
photos, whose transitions are
automatically synced to match the
beat of the accompanying music. So
it’s a great way to quickly create
mood-capturing video montages –
say, of a particular event like a
holiday or wedding – and share them
with friends. And while the standard
video creation process is largely
automated, there are also some
more advanced options available to
allow greater customisation.
First, you’ll need to sign in with an
Adobe ID, or create an account. This
enables you to sync your creations to
a Creative Cloud folder (you’re given
2GB of free storage), with the option
of editing them further in Adobe
Premiere Pro CC – available on
subscription for £17.15/$19.99 per
month – on a Mac or PC. You can
The Community Videos tab
includes some impressive
examples to inspire you
78
also use your Creative Cloud storage
to access video clips taken on
another device, such as a GoPro.
Fairly similar to its iOS equivalent
in its appearance, the Android app
features three tabs on its main
screen. While the My Projects and
My Published Videos sections will be
empty at first, the Community
Videos tab offers some polished
examples of what can be achieved
with Adobe Premiere Clip, such as a
night sky time-lapse, a BMX biking
montage and a music video, all
synced nicely with their
accompanying soundtracks.
To start creating your own first
video sequence, just tap the ‘+’
button in the corner, then choose
one of four icons: either to import
footage/photos from the device,
Adobe Lightroom, Creative Cloud, or
shoot new material with the camera.
Since the device import option only
gives you a choice of Camera and
other app folders, instead of
enabling full access to your Photos
library, there’s no way to
directly access assets
synced to the latter from
another device – so
you’ll need to
download them in
Photos first.
Change the soundtrack and choose at what Freeform mode offers more advanced
point to start it for the video editing options to customise your creation
Unhelpfully, there’s also no filter
option to show only videos or stills. 2 hour wonder
After tapping the videos and/or Want your money back?
stills you want to use, you get a You’ve got 120 mins to decide!
choice of automatically generating a ! 40 »0-40 minutes
video or trimming and editing the 120 80 Automatic video creation is
quick and easy
sequence manually in Freeform
mode. The automatic option quickly ! 40 »40-80 minutes
creates a preview that you can play, The results are impressive,
120 80
with smart music syncing
with options to set a music starting
point and replace the default ! 40 »80-120 minutes
soundtrack – either with the app’s Freeform mode is more like a
120 80
standard video editor
selection of themes or a locally
stored track of your own. A second keep refund
tab offers a slider to alter the pace of
the sequence. The grid icon enables
you to drag and drop clips/photos » specification
into the order you want. Finally, Price Free
there’s an option to convert the Designed for: Phone and tablet
sequence into Freeform mode, which Requires Android: 4.4 and up
brings up a more traditional video
editor view in which you can trim, » verdict
duplicate and split clips. Performance
Further Freeform options include
altering clip audio volume and Design
fade-in/out, adjusting exposure,
highlights and shadows, and
Value
changing footage speed. There’s also The best of both worlds, it’s
a selection of 30 ‘Looks’ (filters) to very easy to use but offers
apply to the entire sequence, or you some extra editing options
can use custom Looks created in the
Adobe Capture CC app.
»like this?
try this!
KINEMASTER – PRO VIDEO EDITOR » This sophisticated editor
allows the creation of multiple video layers for pro-style effects
 EDITOR’S
CHOICE
Triller
While it’s not the first
app to let you shoot
your own video while
lip-syncing to pop hits,
Triller does offer one killer feature its
competitors are lacking. As well as
offering access to a vast, searchable
library of 30-second music clips, it
allows you to use any tracks stored
locally on your device – just swipe left
from the main Highlights screen. As
well as enabling you to use any
ES File Explorer/
Manager PRO
Considering the free version of ES File Explorer has served us well for
years, why fork out for this premium version? Well, it removes some
of the bloatware recently added to the free app, which could be seen
»best
alternative
ES FILE EXPLORER FILE MANAGER » The free version offers a
near identical feature set and still works well
‘Cos this is triller,
triller night…
music, including any tracks you’ve
created yourself, this means you’re
not limited to 30 seconds. Indeed,
you could use the entire track if you
want, although it’s probably best to
start off with an excerpt – just move
the start and end points (with the aid
of sound preview) to mark it out.
Once you have the music ready, it’s
time to start filming the video as you
lip-sync along. You can shoot up to
three takes, letting you use different
Search the large library of
audio clips, or swipe left to use
your own music
Is it really that
different?
as a sneaky way of urging users to
upgrade. Instead of opening the
Homepage by default (though this
can be changed in the free version),
the PRO app goes straight to Home,
showing the folders on your internal
or SD card storage. Other than that,
and a new background, it looks
similar and has the same tools and
features. As before, it lets you browse
and organise all your files, including
those in cloud storage, LANs, FTP
servers and Bluetooth devices.
» Price £2.00/$2.99
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 2.2 and up
It looks snazzier, but is pretty much identical
to the free app in practice
An auto-edited video with colour-coded clips
on the timeline – swipe up to swap one out
locations and/or outfits to mix things
up. Another way to add variety is using
the array of filters. There’s also the
option of a Slow or Fast setting –
counterintuitively, this results in the
opposite speed of music playback,
but results in a slow- or fast-motion
effect in the resulting footage. This
way you get the effect of lip-syncing in
slow motion you see in many
commercially produced music videos.
Happy ID
Know all about who’s calling
Ever had someone call you
out of the blue and, while
caller ID shows their
name, you can’t remember what
company they’re from or other
important details? HappyID can help
you out by showing you details such
as notes, company, position, and
closest calendar event during the
call. You can even create your own
notes and sync them with Evernote.
All of the various information fields
can also be
toggled on or off
according to your
preferences.
HappyID is a
simple but
ingenious idea and
comes free
without any ads.
» Price Free EDITOR’S
CHOICE
» Designed for Phone
» Requires Android 4.0 and up
Once you’ve shot your takes, Triller
will automatically create a video by
cutting between them. While you
can’t alter the timings of the cuts,
you can switch unwanted clips by
swiping up. If you still don’t like it, hit
Re-Edit to get a new version.
The lack of editing options may
disappoint some, but it does make
Triller very easy to use. The results
are quite impressive and can be
shared via social media and saved.
» specification
Price Free
Designed for: Phone and tablet
Requires Android: 4.3 and up
» verdict
Despite some limitations,
it’s great fun to shoot your
own music videos
» like this? try this!
Redub
Make your own video – with optional
split-screen – using music and movie clips
App
Comparison
Is the grass greener?
Are you considering
swapping your Android
device for a Windows
Phone? No, us neither! For those
who are, though, Microsoft’s app
may be useful. It searches through
the apps on your Android device and
suggests alternatives available in the
Windows Phone Store. Before it
starts its analysis, you’re prompted
to select two or more categories you
like. It’ll present a
list of matching
apps and, if not
identical, what
they’re similar to. It
only managed to
match about a
third of our own
apps, however.
» Price Free
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 4.1 and up
79
Apps
Join
Share everything between
devices
Pushbullet has always
been great for sharing
notifications and other
data between devices, but its recent
monetisation push means some key
features – including clipboard
sharing – now require a paid
subscription. Currently in beta
testing, Join is a promising free
alternative. Just sign in with a Google
account and give it the permissions
required to start sharing your
clipboard, files, notifications and
more between devices – including
computers via a Chrome browser
extension. A handy Diagnostics
screen enables you to check all the
features are working. Numerous
settings let you customise the
service to your needs, like whether
to auto-open links and deciding
which apps’ notifications are shared.
There’s also an option to enable
remote SMS sending. Another nice
touch is the ability to write text notes
directly to another device.
Join’s array of options can prove
bewildering at first, so a little more
guidance would be welcome. It’s also
a little lacking in stability. Even so,
Join is well worth checking out.
Link up as many devices as you like using a
Google account sign-in
» Price Free
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 4.1
80
Cardboard Camera
Explore 360-degree panoramas and immersive stories
Enabling everyone to
experience virtual
reality, Google
Cardboard DIY headsets now
work with more phones, including
larger ones with screens of up to
6 inches. While it’s always been
fun for viewing videos and photos
in stereoscopic 3D, it’s largely
been a passive experience, bar
the odd compatible game. The
Cardboard Camera app changes
The central bar fills as you slowly rotate
the device to capture the scene
Arts & Culture
Google raises its high brow
Aiming to inject some high
culture into the Play Store,
Google’s official app
features artworks and artefacts from
over 850 museums and archives
from around the globe. With such a
huge amount of content to explore,
you might be wondering why the app
only weighs in at a mere 52kB. Well, it
turns out it’s just an app wrapper for
the Google Cultural Institute website
(goo.gl/IFMxQe), which might well
explain why it’s a little laggy at times.
Still, the app’s layout is optimised for
»like this?
try this!
DAILYART – DAILY DOSE OF ART » Presents you with a classic work
of art every day, complete with historical information
all that, turning your phone into a VR look very far up and down. Still, the
camera to create your own overall effect is impressive and
panoramic scenes with optional features convincing depth-of-field.
audio to capture the moment. Capturing your own scene is
Upon first launch, the app offers a incredibly easy, aided by on-screen
selection of sample scenes to view, tips. Holding your phone in portrait
including a view from atop Mount mode, you move rotate slowly
Kilimanjaro. Place the phone in your through 360 degrees, recording
Cardboard headset and a split- optional ambient audio. There’s also
screen view delivers stereoscopic a handy setting to lock the camera
imagery as you move your head exposure if you find it reacting to
around to view the scene. One varying light levels as you shoot. The
drawback is that the top and bottom app then takes less than a minute to
are always blurred out, so you can’t process the scene, stitching the
You’ll need a Cardboard headset to appreciate the stereoscopic scenes
mobile viewing, enabling you to
swipe between three main sections:
Art, History and Wonders. The left
menu also offers some extra options
for filtering content, including Zoom
Views (zoom in for extra detail),
Museum Views and Online Exhibits.
The content itself is excellent and
comprises a mixture of pictures,
articles and Street View-style virtual
museum tours.
» Price Free
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 4.4 and up
Explore a whole new world of fine art and
historical artefacts

photos together and blurring distant
objects to create that simulated
depth-of-field effect. We were
impressed by the results, which were
virtually (no pun intended) seamless,
although naturally you need to avoid
anything in the scene moving while
you’re shooting.
At the time of writing, the only way
to share your VR scenes is via
opening them in the Photos gallery,
but the recipient can view them as
intended in Cardboard Camera.
There’s also no option to import any
Photo Spheres taken previously with
the stock Camera app.
» specification
Price Free
Designed for Phone
Requires Android 4.4 and up
» verdict
Performance
Design
Value
A few limitations, but it really
does capture convincing VR
scenes with ease
» like this? try this!
Street View While not true VR, its
Cardboard option lets you view Photo
Spheres from around the globe
Pick one of more moods to be presented
with helpful viewing suggestions
Your captured VR
panoramas are
added to the
examples on the
main screen
2 hour wonder
Want your money back? You’ve
got 120 minutes to decide!
! 40 »0-40 minutes
120 80
The sample scenes make for
impressive viewing
! 40 »40-80 minutes
It’s easy to shoot a panorama
120 80
and the results are good
! 40 »80-120 minutes
You share via Photos; you
120 80
can’t import Photo Spheres
keep refund
YahooVideo Guide
One TV app to rule them all
With so many streaming
services these days, it can
be difficult to keep track of
what’s on where. Yahoo Video Guide
isn’t the first app to attempt to
tackle this problem, but it covers a
large range of major streaming
services and TV channels for US
viewers, including Hulu, Netflix, HBO
and Showtime. You select the ones
you use from a list; it’ll also detect
any of their apps on your device.
Yahoo Video Guide‘s main screen
features three tabs – Featured,
Movies and Shows – with content to
»like this?
try this!
FAN TV » This TV guide lets you add shows to a watch list, notifying
you when they’re on
Check our website daily
for even more app reviews
match your services and arranged by
genre. As well as browsing, you can
use a powerful search facility to look
for movies, shows or actors.
When you find something you like,
you can tap a streaming service to
watch it within the relevant app. One
interesting addition is the Mood
Picker option: select any of ten
moods for apt suggestions.
» Price Free
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 4.1 and up
»www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk
quickhits
top apps for...
ovie makers
Sun Seeker
£5.75/$7.49
When planning an exterior
shooting schedule, you’ll need to know
where the sun is going to be throughout
the day. Sun Seeker includes a detailed
augmented reality view to show its path.
FxGuru: Movie FX
Director Free + IAP
Want to shoot more exciting
mobile movies? This amazing app lets
you add all sorts of Hollywood-style
special effects – sci-fi, horror, disasters
etc – cleverly matched to the camera’s
motion.
Digital Clapper
Free + IAP
Serious filmmakers will want
a digital clapperboard to capture exact
timings on set for syncing sound and
video. This free app does the job well
and will make you feel like a pro!
LightMeter Free
Free
While designed mainly for still
photography, this free light
meter app will help you get the exposure
settings just right on a dedicated video
camera. There’s nothing worse than
blown-out footage.
Stop Motion
Studio Free + IAP
Want stop-motion animation?
This easy-to-use app will help you to do
it, letting you add music and narration.
Extra features via in-app purchases
include green screen and rotoscoping.
81
 head tohead
to
Brighten up your day with one of
these fantastic weather apps

ACCUWEATHER
vs
CHANNEL
The weather is more unpredictable than
ever, so the need for a weather app to
plan your day has never been more in
demand. While both AccuWeather and
» specification The Weather Channel » specification
Price Free both have legions of Price Free
Designed for: Phone and tablet users, which one should Designed for: Phone and tablet
Requires Android: Varies with device Requires Android: Varies with device
you be using?
AccuWeather The Weather Channel
Weather listings are The colourful diagrams give
detailed and contain each you a visual representation of
and every bit of information
you could need. They aren’t
LOCATION the current climate in your
area, without compromising
the most attractive screens OVERVIEW on the detail that they
to look at, however. provide you with.

Forecasts are not only easily The lack of a basic forecast

accessible, but great for a
basic overview of upcoming
conditions. Detailed listings
are also available for those
who want more information.
overview is an annoyance,
but the same colourful panel
14DAYFORECAST design is available for each
daily forecast available in
this section.

Not only is the radar view The radar view can be

highly useful, the top toolbar
is ideal for seeing the levels
of rain and snow you can
expect to hit your area in the
near future.
configured using the symbols
lined at the bottom of the
USINGSATELLITES stage. It’s surprisingly simple
to use and definitely not a
gimmick.

Weather alerts will pop up Make sure to tick the option

on the homescreen of the
AccuWeather app, notifying
you instantly of warnings in
any of your tracked
locations through the app.
within the Weather
Channel’s app settings to
WEATHER ALERTS enable service alerts, or you
may find them pretty hard to
come by for the most part.

Through the videos feature, Weather Channel’s key

you’ll be able to see user
videos of the weather in
their area. It’s possible to
leave comments and share
them on Facebook.
social feature enables users
to rate the weather in their
SOCIAL FEATURES area. The user base is a
little sparse, so it’s quite
basic for the most part.

And the winner is... We can applaud The Weather Channel’s design, but AccuWeather
ACCUWEATHER feels like a more complete app for the most part. It’s user-friendly in
every possible way and we especially like the built-in social features
that help link your social media profiles with the app.
82
 From the makers of

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GalaxyThe Complete Manual
No matter what Galaxy device you have, this book will help you
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Digital edition available at www.greatdigitalmags.com
Games
Rayman Adventures
More than 20 years after
his gaming debut, Rayman
is yet to grow any visible
arms or legs – they were originally
left out to make him easier to
animate – but he’s still running
along. Unlike his last two mobile
outings, Adventures adopts a
free-to-play model and is a curious
hybrid of 2D platformer and endless
runner. While Rayman (or his co-star
Barbara) keeps jogging along
automatically until he hits a wall or
obstacle, you can swipe left or right
at any point to make him change
direction. This proves essential as
you explore stages to rescue cute
little critters, since it enables you to
backtrack and find any you’v
missed, along with secret a
you’d expect, there’s also a great
deal of jumping involved – using
screen taps – including leaping via
walls and rings to reach higher
places. A swipe forwards or
downwards while in mid-air is used to
A Protector shields Rayman as he battles
foes in a Brawler stage
what we’ve
been playing
Starific – Endless
Reactor Free + IAP
With procedurally generated
arenas, each game is different in this
frenetic, radial Breakout-style game.
There’s so much stuff to unlock, including
themes and a more sedate Moves mode.
Horizon Chase
– World Tour
Free + IAP
This brilliant retro racer still has us
hooked. Its arcade action is compelling
and there are a huge number of cars
and upgrades to unlock.
Recommend a game…
84 »twitter @lgrobot
Seekers can help you to locate trapped critters and other items
destroy obstacles and attack
enemies – or you can also jump on
their heads.
The main platform action is
enjoyable, with polished
presentation and stages that only
take a few minutes to finish – ideal
for mobile play. The other aspect of
the game involves collecting a
menagerie of Incrediball creatures.
Hatched from eggs, they come in
three main types. Seekers direct you
to hidden items and critters to
rescue, while Inhalers suck up
nearby Lums and coins – the more
Mad Aces
Chocks away!
This endless flyer proves
amazingly addictive despite
the simplicity of its design.
As your character – selected from an
expanding roster of Aces as you
unlock them – heads towards the
right of the screen, you move them
up or down to any of three vertical
positions to avoid the hazards
ahead. While you can just smash
through stone blocks without harm,
hitting spikes results in instant
death. To help you out of a tight spot
– if you’ve flown into a deadly dead
end, say – collected fireballs can be
used to blast through hazards.
Although extra characters can be
He just keeps
on going
you gather, the better your end-of- watching video ads. The good news
level score to unlock three tiers of is that while an internet connection
rewards; Protectors shield you from is required, there’s no recharging
attacks, so are best saved for energy system for playing stages,
Brawler stages. There’s a little although you do have to wait for
strategy involved in using your Incrediball eggs to hatch before you
Incrediballs wisely, since they can make use of them. Some players
effectively function as power-ups. may also be annoyed by the inability
Gems are the game’s main to return to an area of levels once
currency, enabling you to buy new they’ve moved onto the next.
costumes and lucky tickets, which
reward you with random goodies.
» Price Free + IAP
» Designed for Phone and tablet
While also available via IAP, naturally, » Requires Android 4.1
Gems are awarded for level
completion, achievements and
You can smash through blocks, but keep away from those lethal spikes
bought with real cash, the IAPs are just-one-more-go factor, Mad Aces is
purely optional and the game is well worth a test flight.
littered with collectable coins, as
well as awarding you free gifts every
» Price Free + IAPs
» Designed for Phone and tablet
so often – plus 20 coins from » Requires Android 4.0 and up
watching video ads. With its cute
Crossy Road-style visuals and that
 quickhits
Don’t miss out
Lifeline: Silent Night Someone needs
your help again
While Lifeline 2 featured Sometimes you have to wait quite a
a different protagonist, while for Taylor to do something; if
setting and style from you reach the end of a story path,
the original, Silent Night sees the however, you can actually rewind to
return of Taylor the young a checkpoint to change your
astronaut. Having been saved decision. There’s also the option of
from an alien moon by a mining a fast mode that lets you skip the
ship – assuming you managed to waiting, which is a nice touch and
avoid getting him killed in Lifeline, will keep you gripped.
that is – he needs your assistance The design of the game is sparse
again, as he’s concerned about an – although you do at least get a map
unidentified craft that is heading of the ship this time, unlike in
in their direction. previous offerings – but the
As before, the story plays out in engaging story draws you in, Inky Blocks
real time as Taylor sends you text particularly if you’ve already formed Free + IAP
Resembling a radial version of
messages, which also appear as an emotional attachment with Tetris, it has you rotating and placing
notifications, to relate what’s Taylor from the first game. blocks to make rows of ten or more.
happening. Every so often you Lengthy video ads are annoying unless
make a choice between two
» Price £2.45/$2.99 you pay (£0.83/$0.99) to remove them.
» Designed for Phone and tablet
options, your decisions affecting » Requires Android 4.0 and up
how the storyline plays out in this
work of interactive fiction.
A ship map shows you Taylor’s current
location on the White Star
Bit Blaster Free + IAP
This Asteroids-like space
shooter features an
auto-thrusting, auto-firing ship with
rotational controls, collectable ammo

Orph Juggle your balls

and a good variety of power-ups. It’s very
simple, but also very addictive.

It sounds simple enough – just slide the gaps in

the on-screen lines to allow red and blue balls
through to their matching coloured areas (fire
and water) to complete each stage – but this puzzler soon
increases in complexity and offers an addictive challenge.
Multiple balls and lines make your task akin to juggling as
you try to keep some balls contained while allowing others
through, and you also have to account for balls colliding
and changing trajectory. Later levels introduce switchable
coloured lines that only allow matching balls through, plus
balls that can be tapped to enable them to pass through
lines for three seconds. Completing a stage in faster time
earns you up to the maximum three-bar ratings, adding an
incentive to replay levels. This is probably just as well as
there are currently only just over 50 levels.
» Price Free + IAP
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 2.3 and up
Move the line gap to get the coloured
balls into their matching areas
Maestria £2.00/$2.00
In this attractive isometric
puzzler, you need to ring the
bells in the correct order – by moving
them or the female protagonist – to
complete each of 160 stages. It’s a
thoughtful and relaxing game.
Avoid those deadly spinning blades while you grab that key
Super Dangerous Facility 47
£2.99/$3.99 + IAP
This classy room-escape game
Dungeons The key to
success
combines impressive 3D scenes and a
strong storyline with solid puzzles as you
try to solve the mystery of why you were
left at an abandoned Antarctic research
Originally a Flash game, this pixel-art platformer centre.
has been remade for mobile, with redesigned
stages and touchscreen controls. While it
doesn’t bring anything new to the genre, it offers some Space Jet Free + IAP
enjoyable gameplay. You guide Timmy the treasure hunter This online 3D space shooter
around slightly scrolling stages where the aim is to collect has you competing in real-time
battles for up to ten players on a large
a key and make it safely to the exit, while avoiding deadly variety of maps. There are as many as
spikes, blades and chasms. To add extra interest, there 20 ships to unlock and lots of
are levers to pull, crates to push and bosses to defeat. customisation options too.
There’s a lot of precision jumping and timing involved,
so it can get frustrating, although Timmy has infinite lives.
The 40-odd stages shouldn’t take long to complete, but a Blown Away:
Time Trial mode adds some replay potential. First Try Free + IAP
Try the first 30 stages of this
intriguing platformer for free. Instead of
» Price Free + IAP jumping, alien protagonist Henrik uses
» Designed for Phone and tablet his teleport shoes to zoom forwards to
» Requires Android 2.3 and up avoid various hazards and obstacles.

Check our website for

even more game reviews »www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 85
Games
Use the unique precision steering system to
weave through traffic
StarSkater
Don’t try this at home
The most interesting
aspect of this blocky 3D
skateboarding game is its
innovative touch controls. While you
can tap either side to glide in the
respective direction, the further
down you hold the screen, the
sharper the turn. So you can slide
your finger up and down to make
precise adjustments as you
negotiate bends. While a little tricky
to get to grips with, this system
makes for far more skilful gameplay
than in most racing games. In
addition, holding both sides of the
screen results in a power slide that
acts as a brake – the side you
release first then determines which
way round you skate off again.
Switching foot in this way earns you
trick points, as do spins in mid-air
after flying off ramps.
It all makes for a really fun quick-play
game as you try to complete short
timed stages while dodging traffic or
performing tricks in pipes. In-game
bucks earned along the way can be
spent in a vending machine to unlock
crazy characters,
plus wheel and board
upgrades – which EDITOR’S
CHOICE
can also be bought
with real cash.
» Price Free + IAP
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 4.0 and up
»likeBOARDTASTIC
this? try this!
SKATEBOARDING 2
» If you’re into tricks, perform like
a pro on the half-pipes here
86
Gods of Rome
A truly epic fighting game
Despite its title, this
mythological mash-up
features gods and
heroes from both Ancient Rome
and Greece – not that the story
matters that much as they all get
to beat the living daylights out of
each other in one-on-one combat.
Still, it adds to the atmosphere, as
do some spectacular 3D visuals
– which explain the vast data
download (around 500MB)
required upon launching.
The fluidly animated fighters
battle it out on some sumptuous
Upgrading fighters with Ichor and gold is essential for progress
Sky Hoppers Hop it or die
All you have to do is follow
the highlighted path on a
chequerboard. The trouble
is that the path may be partially
hidden until you reach a certain
point, or disappear afterwards,
leaving you to try to recall where to
go. Step on the wrong tile and you’ll
fall instantly to your death. You have
to be really quick, too, as even path
tiles will soon crumble beneath your
feet if you hang about for too long.
While the controls are simple – swipe
left or right, tap to advance – we
found that it sometimes interpreted
a tap as a swipe, or vice versa,
leading to frustration.
As expected, there are a whole
bunch of characters to unlock
backdrops, including Mount
Olympus. Fortunately, the touch
controls are kept simple. A tap or
swipe on the right of the screen
results in a light or medium attack,
while a long press charges up your
character’s heavy attack. Holding the
left side causes your hero to block
most enemy attacks, while swiping
left will make them jump back to
avoid heavy strikes. It works well and
requires some skill to defeat the
more powerful foes. In addition, you
can unleash a special attack when
your rage meter fills up.
randomly via gift boxes bought with
coins earned. We’re not sure we’ll be
playing this one long enough to
unlock them all, though.
Follow the red line,
which disappears
at times – you need
to be quick
Story quests offer forking routes, but you
can go back and replay them
The main story mode quests see
you progressing across a map, with
occasional path choices, engaging in
a series of battles. Along the way,
you’re rewarded with spheres that
contain upgrade items, health
potions or new warriors. Team
building is a major aspect, as you
gradually upgrade your warriors.
There’s also strategy in deciding
which fighters to take into battle; a
bonus effect is gained by using those
who share a Bond, for instance.
Extra rewards may be earned in
Special Events, as well as a fun
Player vs Player mode. While gold is
needed to upgrade fighters, the main
currency is gems, also available via
IAP. The game is generous with free
regular spheres, however. On the
downside, slowly recharging energy
is required for each battle.
» Price Free + IAP
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 2.3 and up
 quickhits
top games for...
Blockheads

Crossy Road
Free + IAP
The debut game from
Australian indie developer Hipster Whale
has been a deserved monster hit. Based
on the classic Frogger, it’s an
ultra-addictive endless hopper that’s
packed with fun details.

» specification
Price Free + IAP 2 hour wonder
Designed for Phone and tablet
Requires Android 4.0 and up Want your money back?
You’ve got 2 hours to decide!
» verdict »0-40 minutes Minecraft Pocket
! 40
Stunning visuals give it a real Edition £4.99/$6.99
Performance 120 80
wow factor Originally a very simplified
affair, the radically updated Pocket
Design ! 40 »40-80 minutes The smoothly animated visuals are
absolutely heavenly
Edition is now almost as sophisticated as
The combat mechanic seems the PC version. It’s the ultimate sandbox
120 80
Value to work well game where the only real limitation is
your imagination.
An impressive fighting ! 40 »80-120 minutes » like this? try this!
game with hidden depths 120 80
Building up a good team will
Blood & Glory: Legend Not for
take a while
the squeamish, this gory gladiatorial
combat game is a blood-soaked triumph
Shooty Skies
keep refund Free + IAP
Hipster Whale’s old-school
arcade blaster takes 3D pixel art to new
heights. Shooting down arcade cabinets

A Snow Fort Too Far
The ultimate snowball fight
Snowball fights are great
fun, but you need snow. If
you lack the white stuff, A
Snow Fort Too Far is an interesting
digital alternative. In this tower-
defence/RTS game, you command
an army of snowball-wielding
children in a battle to take control of
your neighbourhood.
We’d advise trying out the four
tutorial levels first, which show how
to capture a fort, defend it, guide a
lone ‘soldier’ behind enemy lines
and overcome an enemy’s higher
ground advantage.
Your soldiers – which come in
Defenders – will keep advancing
unless entrenched in a snow fort. In
addition, Builders can build and
upgrade forts, as well as snowmen
– this will help you recruit more
soldiers to your side. Managing your
resources and limited credits is key
to your strategy.
While its PC origins are obvious
from the style, the gameplay is
solid, the theme appealing, and
there’s even a fun online two-player
mode. The only IAPs are to remove
ads and add a second item slot.
»like this?
try this!
SNOWJINKS » If you’re after an arcade-style snowball fight, this is
probably the best Android offering
Command an army of snowball-wielding kids
in this quirky tower defence strategy game
» Price Free + IAP
» Designed for Phone and tablet
» Requires Android 2.3 and up
and ghetto blasters is really fun, even
when the frantic action becomes chaotic
and confusing.
Down The
Mountain Free
This innovative endless
runner sees you racing down a blocky 3D
mountain, avoiding hazards and
collecting goodies. Simple but fun, it has
300 objectives and 99 cute characters
to unlock.
Block Gun 3D:
Ghost Ops Free + IAP
If Call of Duty were set in a
pixel-art world, it would look like this.
Shot enemies even explode into a pile of
blocks that can be forged into new
weapons! Online death-matches add to
the fun.

various types, such as Hurlers and

Check our website daily

for even more app reviews »www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk 87
 BUYER’S GUIDE
Discover the best smartphones, tablets and accessories
t b i t t h t

For the most up-to-date reviews, head to www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

THE LATEST ONLINE INCLUDE... ONEPLUS X » HUAWEI MATE S » AMAZON FIRE

88
 Buyer’s Guide
TOP 10 SUPER SMARTPHONES THE BEST FLAGSHIP AND MID-RANGE
ANDROID PHONES ON THE MARKET

1
Samsung Galaxy S6 £479
Samsung has come out fighting after the humdrum response to the S5, with this stunning handset
made entirely of metal and glass. Samsung has had to sacrifice microSD support and a removable
battery to make it so thin and light to hold, but it offers a 16MP camera, wireless and superfast See issue 52
charging, an improved fingerprint scanner and a benchmark-beating processor instead.

Nexus 6P £449
2 Finally, we have a Nexus that is truly a device without compromise – a worthy flagship for Android
heading into 2016. The camera is one of the best in the business, while the beautiful screen could
truly see the end of your tablet use. Even the 64GB model represents a real bargain. See issue 58

LG G4 £372
3 The LG G4 is a close second for the phone of the year behind the Galaxy S6 with a distinctive
leather-back case and superior camera. Its unique Quantum IPS screen will amaze with bright and
crisp images that offer vivid colours, while its 200GB microSD port offers lots of extra storage. See issue 52

Sony Xperia Z5 £549

4 It’s another device that prioritises evolution over revolution, but that’s not to say Sony’s fifth-
generation Xperia handset is a dull affair. The cameras are arguably the best we’ve ever seen, while it
ticks every specification wishlist. It’s waterproof and dustproof too, but it does come at a price. See issue 57

Moto X Style £399

5 Although it isn’t a direct replacement for the second-generation Moto X, the Style is a step up in terms
of specifications (bigger battery, more RAM, better screen resolution and a hexa-core processor). The
screen really is a sight to behold and the design is cool and edgy. It’s superb value for money too. See issue 57

Huawei Mate S £469

6 Stunning, in every sense of the word. Huawei’s best-ever device could be your next droid. The build
quality can’t fail to impress, the design is beautiful and the option to go either dual-SIM or to add a
storage upgrade via a microSD slot offers an excellent degree of customisation. See issue 59

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium £629

7 The Z5 Premium is a very good phone, but it’s just too expensive and the 4K screen adds little value.
Nonetheless it’s the first instance of a phone with a 4K screen, so we’ll be interested to see whether
other manufacturers follow Sony’s latest innovation. See issue 59

HTC A9 £449
8 The M9 remains a great device, but the A9 feels like a change in direction for HTC. Taking on board
criticisms of its flagship device, HTC has kitted the A9 with bleeding-edge specs and even shipped it
with Android Marshmallow. As you’d expect, the build quality is of the highest order. See issue 58

HTC One M9 £579.99

9 We marked the M9 down for only being a very minor update on the M8, but it is undeniably a superb
phone. Underneath its elegant silver and gold chrome shell, it houses a superfast Snapdragon 810
processor, 20MP camera, 3GB RAM, 32GB memory and some clever customisation tools. See issue 50

Moto X (2014) £219.99

10 The second-gen Moto X remains a contender for best phone despite only launching last year. It offers
a stock Android experience with a 13MP camera, 15-minute Turbo charging, but is much cheaper than
the Nexus 6 that has the same features. Its other specs are starting to look a bit dated though. See issue 45

In case you missed it... Big-brand tablets Read more in issue 60

Sony Xperia Z4 Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 Dell Venue 10 Vodafone Tab prime 6
WINNER
Tablet » Price £399 » Price £279 » Price £150
» Price £499 » Website samsung.com » Website dell.com » Website vodafone.co.uk
» Website sonymobile.com
Samsung’s tablet game is The surprise package in this test. If you’re on the
You’ll find a tablet with a officially strong and the Galaxy For your money you get lookout for a budget
gorgeous display and more Tab S2 is a dependable design, a full HD tablet, there are
power than you could imagine! powerhouse, but display that you’ll fall in love with plenty of other
Drop the it had the and enough options out there,
keyboard for potential to be power to please but Vodafone gets
an extra value much more. heavy business top marks for
price point. Disappointing. users. design!

89
Buyer’s Guide
TOP 10 BUDGET BUYS IF YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR A SMARTPHONE ON A SHOESTRING, CHECK
OUT THESE LOW-COST MOBILE MUST-HAVES

1
Vodafone Smart ultra 6 £115
Our newly crowned best budget phone in the world marries excellent specs and a smooth user
experience to topple the ZTE Blade S6 back into second place. We love this phone’s octa-core
processor, 1080p screen and 2GB RAM – specs you’d expect to see in a premium handset. Throw in See issue 56
the fact it looks good and the cameras work brilliantly, and you’ve got a serious bargain.

ZTE Blade S6 £149.95

2 While its price puts it at the top end of what we would call a budget phone, the Blade S6 is the best
ZTE Blade in years. It runs Android Lollipop, has a 64-bit Snapdragon processor, 2GB RAM and the
exact same IMX214 camera as the Sony Xperia Z3 – which costs around three times as much! See issue 50

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 £150

3 The Redmi Note 3 has set a new high standard for budget devices, provided that you can live with the
MIUI 7 running over Lollipop and you’re not averse to importing your phone. The fantastic battery life is
a particular highlight, as is the surprisingly loud speaker. See issue 61
NEW ENTRY

Wileyfox Swift £129

4 The Wileyfox Swift is excellent value for money and good fun too. It matches its rivals in the market
with a 5-inch HD screen, 2GB RAM and a five-lens camera enclosure, perfect for taking photos in low
light. Cyanogen 12.1 proves to be an authentic alternative to stock Android. See issue 56

Moto G (2015) £159

5 The newly updated third-gen Moto G (2015) model doesn’t offer the same metallic finish as the ZTE
Blade S6 or Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3, but you can personalise its design before you buy, like you can
the much more expensive Moto X. It is also waterproof, offers 4G and has a dual-flash 13MP camera. See issue 55

Moto G 4G (2015) £139.99

6 Now that the regular Moto G and Moto E have been updated and both offer LTE, this handset doesn’t
offer much except that it’s slightly cheaper than the Moto G (2015). It also looks very similar with a
5-inch screen, booming dual speakers and vanilla Android 5.0.2, but it only offers an 8MP camera. See issue 51

Moto E (2015) £109

7 The second-gen Moto E is nipping at the heels of the Moto G for the title of Motorola’s ultimate
no-strings-attached smartphone. It also offers 4G and has Android Lollipop built in, with the added
promise of an all-day battery. But its 5MP camera, bulky size and poor display reflect its budget price. See issue 54

Asus ZenFone 5 £149.99

8 While it is one of the most expensive phones in our budget buys chart, the ZenFone 5 offers an awful
lot for less than most mid-range phones. A stylish metal design is available in a range of colours, it has
a sharp 5-inch screen, powerful Intel Atom processor and an 8MP shooter with a range of modes. See issue 48

Honor 4X £148.86
9 The biggest and best of the mid-range Honor phones, the 5.5-inch Honor 4X has a lot going for it,
including a 13MP camera, off-brand octa-core processor and 4G connectivity. However, you pay for the
high specs at a low cost in other areas: it only runs Android 4.4 KitKat and has a mediocre screen. See issue 53

Sony Xperia M2 Aqua £150

10 Just like Sony’s flagship Xperia Z5, this mid-range marvel is waterproof up to at least 1.5 metres.
Sony’s other top feature is here as well with an 8MP rear camera and a suite of photography tools.
The only downside is that after you factor in all the preloaded apps, it only has 4GB of storage. See issue 48

In case you missed it… Role-playing games Read more in issue 58

Battleheart
WINNER
Legacy
» Price £3.12/$4.99
While offering far more
depth than the original
Battleheart, Legacy is
an ideal introduction to the RPG
genre. Cute cartoon graphics add to
the appeal and the real-time combat
is fun. A great one to explore if
you’re new to in-depth RPGs.
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Star Wars: KOTOR Evoland
Edition » Price £7.78/$9.99 » Price £3.49/$4.99
» Price £6.34/$9.99 The full Knights of the This adventure borrows
This HD update of the Old Republic ideas from classic RPGs
classic PC game experience on mobile as it takes you through
provides a vast provides an epic the history of the genre
adventure. It’s a combat-heavy role-playing experience. As a Jedi from monochrome to three-
RPG for hardcore fans who should in this classic RPG, you get to learn dimensional graphics and from
also check out the Enhanced new Force powers and choose turn-based battles to real-time boss
editions of Baldur’s Gate I and II for your own path – will you embrace fights. It starts out like a retro game
ultimate old-school roleplaying. the Dark Side? and the graphics evolve as you play.

90
 Buyer’s Guide
TOP 10 BEST TABLETS WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SEVEN OR TEN-INCH DISPLAY,
THESE ARE THE TOP TABLETS AVAILABLE ON ANDROID

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

1 £505
Sony’s lightest and brightest tablet ever, the Z4 has made us fall back in love with the 10-inch tablet
when the Nexus 10 left us cold. With a clip-on keyboard and Microsoft apps bundled in, it is a top
tablet for when you want to set up a mobile office. But all work and no play makes for a dull device, so
the Z4 also supports PlayStation Remote Play and has a crisp 2K display screen, a Snapdragon 810 See issue 54
processor and 3GB RAM to ensure it can keep up with console-quality frame rates.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact £269

2 If the Xperia Z4 is an iPad killer, the 8-inch Z3 has the iPad mini in its sights. Weighing just 270g, it’s
slim and stylish like its bigger brother, with 3GB RAM and a Triluminos display to boot. It also integrates
with the PS4 so the only real difference between the Z3 Compact and the Z4 is its size and price tag. See issue 46

Google Nexus 9 £299

3 A mighty Nvidia Tegra K1 processor and 2GB RAM mean that even running the most graphic-heavy
games won’t slow this 64-bit tablet down. The built-in BoomSound speakers also offer great sound
quality, making Google’s new tablet an all-round media consumption device. See issue 45

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 £349

4 Ultra thin and ultra bright, colours look vibrant and details distinct on this powerful Super Amoled
screen. Samsung’s iPad slayer also puts many other Android tablets to shame with a multiwindow
mode to display several apps at once and octa-core processor ensuring lightning-fast performance. See issue 43

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet £309.95

5 Arguably one of the most portable 10-inch tablets available, the Xperia Z2 Tablet is waterproof and
can support a SIM card for 4G use. It is also surprisingly thin and light to carry, and includes
power-saving modes to ensure longer battery life. Reasonably high-spec, it has a whopping 3GB RAM. See issue 39

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro £399

6 Ths far as tablet and projector combinations go, this is by far the best on the market today. This
unique feature gives the Lenovo Tab 3 Pro automatic entry into the top ten, but it should be noted that
it’s somewhat lacking in other areas. See issue 61
NEW ENTRY

Samsung Galaxy TabPRO (8.4, Wi-Fi) £199

7 The smallest tablet in Samsung’s collection, the TabPRO 8.4 proves that good things do come in small
packages. A stunning 359ppi screen puts the Nexus 7 to shame, though we’d prefer higher-quality
speakers. However, an 8MP camera and an intuitive interface are good compensation. See issue 38

Vodafone Tab Prime 6 £70

8 Vodafone’s 4G tablet is the network’s best own-brand device yet, shipping with Android Lollipop built
in, a Snapdragon 410 processor and 32GB microSD. Obviously it also requires a Vodafone contract
so we recommend buying it outright for £150 and getting the pay as you go deal with 6GB data. See issue 53

Amazon Fire £50

9 A solid effort from Amazon who have priced it correctly for new and seasoned Android users alike.
The £50 price means that this will be the go-to Android tablet for many new users, although that low
price point is reflected in its build quality and design. See issue 59

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 £149.99

10 We praise Lenovo for trying to be different. The outstanding points easily outweigh the usual
cutbacks. The kickstand, excellent speakers and rotational camera are all surprisingly excellent
features that make this budget-tablet offering a serious challenge to the big boys. See issue 60

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91
DroidSupport
»troubleshooting advice »hints and tips
»Gotemail an expert
an Android-
related problem that
you need solving?
Let us know!
qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Should I use a
Share your tips & tricks
Join us on Facebook and Twitter
to share and receive some
great tips and advice
Battery Saverapp?
»facebook
/littlegreenrobot
“I would like to extend the average battery life of my
Like us on Facebook and join
in our Android community smartphone and wondered if any of the battery-
»twitter@lgrobot
saving apps are worth trying? They make some bold
Follow us on Twitter to send
your thoughts and questions claims, but are they actually realistic and could they
do any damage?” Clive Sully
Hi Clive. The short widgets, which can be used to much more reliable and frugal
A answer to your question
is no, but we should take
disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and
oth features that use
phone, which will offer more
benefits in the long run. Also,
some time to explain why we say lot experiment with location
that. There are some good m and try to minimise the
reasons to use battery-saving m day

Did you know? apps because they can automate

If you look at your app list in Settings and
become alarmed because some apps are
missing, fear not because they will be
there. Look for folders at the top of the list
and tap one to find the missing apps. They
will all be listed as expected.
functions that you may normally
undertake manually, which
genuinely do help to preserve
battery life. The problem,
however, is that many also have
a tendency to do things that are
either not useful or can, at times,
negatively effect the way your
phone works. You should never
need to close apps to save
battery and doing so
automatically will often cause
more stress on your device
because many of the apps will
reopen again quickly and some
will be needed for a variety of
commonly used tasks. The app
that are often seen as using
memory and battery are not
always doing so, and disabli
them only causes more
consumption when they ar
opened again. It’s a bit lik
extra fuel a car uses when
starting up compared to l
t idling for a short period
me. The best way to sav
attery is to install quick
should learn what apps rea
re you install them

92
 »facebook »email

DroidSupport
Ask your questions
Got a problem with your Android phone or tablet? /littlegreenrobot qa@littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Get help from our Send your questions for our team of
Send it to us and we’ll find the solution Facebook community experts to tackle

No notifications when
I’m not on Wi-Fi
“I am not sure if I have changed a setting on my Moto G, but I am no
longer receiving any notifications when my phone is not connected to
Wi-Fi. It is getting very annoying and means that I cannot use my
phone most of the time.” Jenny Black
Hi Jenny! We are fairly operators can be extremely high.
A certain we know what
the problem is here,
On the same screen, scroll down
to see the apps and services that
purely because you say you are are using the most data and you
not receiving any notifications can then tap any to see more
when not connected to Wi-Fi. Go information. You will also see an
to Settings and look for the Data option called ‘Restrict app
usage option in the Wireless & background data’, which will You can customise exactly how data is
networks section. Tap it and stop it from using data when it is managed on your device
then make sure that Mobile data not the active app on your every app requires data and so
is enabled. This will mean that, screen. This is not only useful for we would advise you to purch
by default, mobile data will be blocking unwanted data a plan with as much data as y
used by all apps and services requests, but it should also have can afford so that you don’t ne
that send you notifications. a beneficial effect on battery to worry about fiddling with th
However, you should make sure performance. Trying to use any advanced data settings.
you have a data plan that is mobile device without an To repeat, tap the option at
suitable for high usage because internet connection is now close top and you should receive all Mobile data is needed for the majority of
overall charges from mobile to impossible because almost your notifications again. Android apps and services

hints&tips Customise characters, time and your own personal dictionary

Type special characters Get the exact time Remove dictionary entries

2 3
It is very easy to type special characters If you want to check the accuracy of your It is easy to remove words that you have
é and ñ using the standard Google Android device clock, go to time.is and you saved in the personal dictionary. Go to
lding down a will see the exact current time plus an Settings>Language & input and then tap
indication of how far away your device’s time is. It any listed entry. Now tap the rubbish can in the
works as efficiently as any competing app. top right-hand corner to remove it.

93
DroidSupport
there are some simple methods
that you can use to solve all of
your problems. With regards to
Can I unify
the notifications, try deleting the
app and then re-installing it
all of my
with the notifications disabled.
This has been known to work for
messages?
many people and should solve I recently moved from a
the problem once and for all. It BlackBerry phone that used
may also have a beneficial effect
the extremely useful
on your battery performance,
but probably not to the level that
BlackBerry Hub. Everything
you would want. Instead, we
else has felt more natural
would suggest going a new way and, in many cases, better on
altogether and then completely Android, but I am missing the
deleting the app. When you use unification of my
Facebook via a mobile browser, communications and
all of the main features remain wondered if you knew of any
and the mobile presentation is alternative solutions. It would
easily good enough to still enjoy complete the Android
Dust and fluff can cause all the Facebook experience. You experience for me!
sorts of problems will only be using the same Grace Wheeler
amount of battery that a live

My phone Facebook i browser uses and you should see

A
Hi Grace. It is indeed
ckBerry Hub

does not killing my eature,

le

always battery life cle of mobile

t it is

charge Help! Facebook is destroying my

battery life according to the stat
that
bile
I am experiencing a really strange in Settings and it is also sending ve not tried
problem with my LG phone in that it notifications constantly, even th he beauty of
only charges occasionally and often I have disabled them. I’m not wever, is that
requires me to wiggle the charger a convinced that Facebook on a ph usands of
lot to get it working. Is it more likely to is the right experience for me so working on
be the phone or charger? help curing these problems wou do know of a
Phil Stevens very much appreciated. may go
Colin Lewis giving you
Hi Phil. It is possible on that you
A that your charging port
or the cable itself is at
A
Hi Colin. The Faceb
app has quite a histo
can find
at
fault and this is easy to test. Try when it comes to bat .com and
another cable and if it works, you usage and quirky performan ink to
know that there is an issue with on all mobile platforms, but e Snowball
the one you use now. We would will detail
suggest you bin it just in case it arted and
causes further problems. up so that it
Another cause, which is eds.
surprisingly likely, is that there we will see
could be fluff caught in the port alternative
itself right at the bottom. You can pear soon
use a torch to have a look and pell the end
then carefully remove any dust e final unique
or dirt that is embedded at the eatures – this
bottom using a blunt object. droid even
When carried in pockets, most ful than ever
phones will build up fluff in their start
ports and cause connection ified
problems when charging or n Android!
listening to music through the
ability to unify
headphone port. If none of this Sometimes a browser can be just as ages in one
works, then it is the phone itself. effective as an app -party apps

94
 Did you know?
When muting your Android, remember that many functions will not
sound as you may expect. Alarms will sound, but some functions,
such as timers, will likely remain silent. Mute your device only when
necessary to make sure you don’t miss important alerts.
1 Download the app
Go to Google Play and search for Snowball
- Smart Notifications. The app requires extensive
permissions, but in this case it is understandable
given the number of default Android features it
needs to touch to work properly. Once installed,
you will be ready to start experimenting.
3 Give permission
You will be prompted to give Notification
access to Snowball and you will need to enable
this for it to work. It is also a good opportunity to
see which other apps have been granted this
access and if any need to be removed. You are
now ready to start using Snowball.
Swipe on notifications
5 Swipe
right on any notification to mark it as
read and left to hide or mark it as important. It is a
very intuitive system that takes a while to sink in,
but once it becomes familiar you will be using it
instinctively every day. You will be able to manage
your notifications in an instant.
2 Understand the features
Take some time to read through the
welcome screens. There is a lot to learn and
understanding the changes you can make will
create a more personalised experience that
should suit you. Some time spent learning at the
start will pay dividends in the long run.
4 See your new notifications
Snowball works within and replaces much
of the notification centre. Swipe from the top of
the screen to see how Snowball presents all of
your latest messages. It is a very different look to
the default Android setup, but it is clean and
exceptionally easy to read in mere seconds.
Swipe for settings
6 Swipe
from the top when the Notification
centre is open for quick access to all of the most
important settings on your Android. Nothing has
been missed with regards to making the system
as comprehensive as possible and the
customisation options are almost limitless.
Check our website daily
for even more tips & tricks »www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk
Imagine Publishing Ltd
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Magazine team
Editor April Madden
april.madden@imagine-publishing.co.uk
 01202 586218
Features Editor Oliver Hill
Senior Designer Adam Markiewicz
Photographer James Sheppard
Senior Art Editor Andy Downes
Editor in Chief Dan Hutchinson
Publishing Director Aaron Asadi
Head of Design Ross Andrews
Contributors
Andy Betts, Christian Cawley, Jo Cole, David Crookes, Sanne
De Boer, Philip King, Shaun McGill, Philip Morris, Jen Neal, Paul
O’Brien, Katy Sheen, Michael Simpson, Harry Slater and
Jessica Thornsby
Advertising
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Contact the International department to discuss
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licensing@imagine-publishing.co.uk
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Circulation
Head of Circulation Darren Pearce
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Production
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Finance
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Founder
Group Managing Director Damian Butt
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Printed by William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road,
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Distributed in the UK, Eire & the Rest of the World by:
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Distributed in Australia by: Network Services (a division of
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Disclaimer
The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material
lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of
Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher.
All copyrights are recognised and used speciically for the purpose
of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endeavoured
to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and
availability may change. This magazine is fully independent and
not afiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
If you submit material to Imagine Publishing via post, email, social
network or any other means, you automatically grant Imagine Publishing
an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free license to use the material across
its entire portfolio, in print, online and digital, and to deliver the material
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agents or subcontractors shall be liable for the loss or damage.
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
© Imagine Publishing Ltd 2016
ISSN 2047-1580
95
Resources
YOUR FREE RESOURCES
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smartphone software, video tutorials and free wallpapers

10 free wallpaper collection of designs

OUR BONUS
ESOURCES
ON OUR BRAND-NEW
FILESILO THIS ISSUE
YOU WILL FIND AN
UNMISSABLE
COLLECTION OF
ANDROID RESOURCES
» Exclusive hands-on videos of
the latest hardware
» Videos to guide you through some
of the magazine’s best tutorials
» Wallpapers for your phone
Unboxing videos St i d kt ll
Hands-on with the latest devices

FREE RESOURCES1 Expert video guides

TOTAL NUMBER OF
Walking you through the new OS

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96

»FILESILO – THE HOME OF PRO RESOURCES
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Updated continually with cool resources
Lets you keep your downloads organised
Browse and access your content from anywhere
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Digital magazine owners get all the content too!
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The most popular downloads are
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97
Resources
How to use
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To access FileSilo, please visit www.filesilo.co.uk/android

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unlock all the content by
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GET IN TOUCH WITH ANDROID

MAGAZINE
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Issue 62 of Android Magazine is on sale 17 March 2016 from GreatDigitalMags.com

98
Turn on your
imagination
Paint with light
Turn your everyday lighting into an extraordinary experience.
Play with coloárs or sync lights with your music, TV and games for an
immersive effect. The possibilities are endless once you start exploring.
And with hundreds of apps to choose from,
Sync lights with
the only real limit is your imagination.
music and movies

Light schedules for

home automation

Light for your

well-being
 SUPER SONIC. SUPER SVELTE.

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