As we close out one week and kick off another, let’s take a moment to look back at the top tips and tricks from the past seven days (March 31 – April 6). Some of the tips you may recall, some may be new to you, but all the “how-tos” below are worthy of a second mention.
Samsung Galaxy S5 comes out on top in battery life comparison
A new battery life comparison chart has revealed the true performance of the Samsung Galaxy S5. The smartphone was pitted against other high end flagships that are available in the market today, including the likes of the Apple iPhone 5s, the LG G2 as well as the Nexus 5.
Tip: Speed up Google Chrome for Android with this neat mod
The Chrome Browser on Android isn’t exactly the fastest in terms in performance, although it has come a long way since its early days. Given that it’s the stock browser on most Android smartphones, users don’t have much of a choice as far as alternatives go, especially considering all the features that it comes with. So here’s a neat little trick to speed up performance and load up times on the browser substantially, as noted by a user over at Reddit.
How to access the Recent App list in the Nokia X
Unlike all other Android handsets out there, the Nokia X only comes with a single back button for navigation. It lacks the usual Home and Menu/Recents app key that are present in nearly every other Android device out there. Read the article to find out how you can get the Recent App list on the Nokia X.
Galaxy S5’s outdoor shot
Camera Comparison: Galaxy S5 vs HTC One (M8) vs Sony Xperia Z2 vs LG G Pro 2
While the HTC One (M8) and the LG G Pro 2 are currently available for sale in a few select markets, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 are still awaiting their final release. If you’re interested in any of these devices and you care about their camera performance, you should check out the detailed camera comparison posted by ePrice.
Positioned, arguably, at the opposite end of the smartphone spectrum from Samsung, with a sealed design made from metal and with idiosyncratic component choices, the HTC One won critical acclaim in 2013 (here’s our full long term review) though didn’t achieve mass market sales in the same way as its plastic-favouring Far Eastern rivals. The new ‘M8′ variant of the One keeps the HTC design fairly and squarely left field, though, as before, there’s a lot to like.
How to get the new UI in Facebook for Android
It is no secret that the official Facebook app for Android could do with some major revamp. The app feels extremely clunky and lags even on today’s high end devices. While Facebook has been testing a new design for the app via its alpha channel for quite a few months, it has not rolled it out for all its Android users.
Since the new layout is implemented from the server side, users could not just sideload the APK of the alpha version to get their hands on it. But now, it looks like Facebook has decided to enable its new UI for its Android app for all its alpha testers. If you want to test the new UI for Facebook, here’s how to do it.
How to increase the Nexus 5 speaker and headphone volume output
The Nexus 5 might have dual speaker grilles on the bottom, but there is only a tiny mono speaker residing on the bottom left of the handset. Compared to the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5 speaker sounds downright awful and quiet. Google fixed the volume issue to a certain extent with the Android 4.4.1 update and later on even updated the speaker grilles on the handset to deliver a louder and cleaner output.
Why Android users should care about Windows Phone 8.1
Microsoft announced Windows 8.1 along with Windows Phone 8.1 yesterday at their Build Developer conference and for a Windows skeptic like me, there were many pleasant surprises along the way that had me claiming that this is the first time I would consider buying and maybe using a Lumia as a second device. In the following post, I’ll explain my point of view and why we, as Android users, should care about it.
Google brings a new People section to the Play Store
Google is bringing some decent social networking related updates to the Play Store with the addition of a new People section right within the app. This will help users check out the activity of their Google+ circles, which includes apps that your friends might have reviewed or even shared on G+. These changes have been spotted with the current version of the Play Store(4.6.17), so we’re guessing it won’t need a formal update.
5 Rugged Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has started selling in a few countries and is about to hit multiple worldwide markets soon. Despite the fact that it is water and dust resistant, it is still not shockproof and will need a little protection against falls and hits. That’s why we’ve picked 5 of the best rugged cases you can get for the Galaxy S5 if you have pre-ordered or you own one.
5 Beautiful and unique cases for the Samsung Galaxy S5
Yesterday, we listed 5 rugged cases that would protect your Galaxy S5 against falls and bumps, and today we’re back with a different selection of cases that are slimmer but don’t compromise on protection or style. Check them out below.
