All Posts by Florence Ion | Android Central

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All Posts by Florence Ion

U.S. Department of Labor investigation into Google gender pay gap could change Silicon Valley

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Posted by Florence Ion on 21 Jul 2017 12:00 pm
Android's maker has been ordered to hand over 8,000 employees' contact info for failing to adhere to equal pay laws. It's been a few days since a judge ruled that Google had to hand over 8,000 of its employees' contact information to the U.S. Department of Labor, but the reason for it remains a prescient matter — and one worth studying up on before heading into the weekend. Android's maker is...

From blah to blob: The history of Android emoji

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Posted by Florence Ion on 19 Jul 2017 12:00 pm
A reflection on the yellow-bellied emoji that many of us have come to love over the years. If you've been following along with what's to come in Android O, then you've likely heard that Google is retiring its line of blob-like emoji. Plenty of loyal Android users have expressed their joy over the upgrade to circular emoji, conforming to the rest of the emoji standards set forth in the mobile...

Designing a game for virtual reality is kind of like writing a movie

Posted by Florence Ion on 19 Jul 2017 10:00 am
We talked to two of the creators of Virtual VR, about the process of developing the game for a mobile headset and how many drafts it took to get the story straight. Take it from me, and the rest of the brains behind the site you're currently perusing: writing a story is hard work, and writing one for other people to experience and enjoy is even more laborious. A good story requires more than...

There's an AI storm brewing between Google and Microsoft

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Posted by Florence Ion on 14 Jul 2017 1:00 pm
Both companies announced larger AI initiatives this week, and it's all under the guise of making humanity great again. Ever wonder whether artificial intelligence is a one-trick pony? Are there other practical applications for AI, besides giving a marketing edge to the latest smartphone releases? That's what Google, and a whole host of other technology companies, are aiming to figure out....

Feeling depressed? These apps can help, or get you help

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Posted by Florence Ion on 12 Jul 2017 10:00 am
Life is long and arduous, and some of us have to face it with a health condition in tow. But sometimes, an app can help. Mental health is not the easiest topic of discussion considering the social stigma surrounding it, but that hasn't stopped the breadth of mobile therapy and mood diary apps available in the Google Play Store. Treatment can be cost-prohibitive if you're not insured or don't...

How to get Google Home to softly lull you to sleep

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Posted by Florence Ion on 11 Jul 2017 8:00 am
Google Home acts as a white noise machine for when you're having trouble drifting off into slumber. Finding it hard to fall asleep with the blaring summer heat? Google Home is good for more than turning off the lights or playing back your favorite podcast. You can use it as a noise machine of sorts for when the current environment just isn't your vibe. If you're in the U.S., you can use these...

Google Assistant could learn a thing or two from Bixby Voice

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Posted by Florence Ion on 7 Jul 2017 12:00 pm
Bixby's conversational, apologetic nature helps make it one of the more humanized digital assistants out there. Bixby Voice still isn't live yet, even as Samsung as made plans to launch more products with it in the future. The service has officially missed its originally projected launch window, and it looks like it won't be ready until after the Galaxy Note 8. At present, all we have to pull...

OnePlus 5 vs. LG G6: A duel of dual cameras

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Posted by Florence Ion on 6 Jul 2017 12:00 pm
Four rear cameras. Two phones. Which one offers the better deal? That's what we're going to find out. Ahh, gimmicks. What would the Android world be without them? Fortunately for OnePlus and LG, the dual rear camera setups on their respective flagship smartphones are quite innovative in their offerings. Regardless of whether you pick the OnePlus 5 or LG G6, you're choosing from two devices...

How to keep your Android contacts current and duplicate-free

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Posted by Florence Ion on 5 Jul 2017 8:00 am
Any time is the perfect time to do a little phone book shuffling. Although smartphones have progressed exponentially through the last decade, I'm still finding myself bumping up against remnants of the past. Take my contacts list, for instance, or my "electronic Rolodex," if you will. I've had these contacts since I held my first smartphone in 2010. But there were some strange happenings...

5 features the OnePlus 5 does better than other smartphones

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Posted by Florence Ion on 4 Jul 2017 9:00 am
It's the little things that make a phone, and these sorts of things might even convince you to bring home the OnePlus 5. Whether you're a diehard Android subscriber or merely curious about venturing away from the rest of what everyone else is carrying in their hands, you might be wondering whether to consider the OnePlus 5 as a lofty alternative. The phone is a worthy competitor against...

An Android user's look back at 10 years of iPhone

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Posted by Florence Ion on 1 Jul 2017 1:00 pm
I spent years of my life avoiding Apple products, but it's a wonder if my life would exist as an Android user if the iPhone hadn't been a success. Where were you ten years ago when Apple first launched the iPhone? I was midway through college and barely able to fathom what technology would look like in the year 2017. There was no such thing as a "smartphone" back then; they were all called...

Best Sprint Phones

Posted by Florence Ion on 30 Jun 2017 11:21 am
Best Sprint Phones
Sprint offers some of the best smartphones worth bringing home. We've rounded them up just for you! Sprint doesn't exactly play well with others, at least in the sense that the selection of unlocked phones that you can bring to its network is rather limited. If you are trying to bring your unlocked phone to Sprint, it's best to head to the nearest location and ask if your device is compatible...

Need to cut down your phone's rampant data usage? Google wants to help

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Posted by Florence Ion on 29 Jun 2017 10:45 pm
Google is testing a new app in the Philippines aimed at helping users keep better tabs on their data. Data is currency in the developing world, and with so little of it, your time on the internet is relative to your ability to top off. That's why Google's launched an experimental app to help those particular users in regions of the world where data is most crucial. The app is called Triangle and...

Best Verizon Phones

Posted by Florence Ion on 29 Jun 2017 11:00 am
Want a new Verizon phone? See what the largest operator in the United States has to offer. Whether you're an existing Verizon subscriber looking to upgrade, or you're thinking of coming over to Verizon and want to know what its phone selection looks like out, we're here to help you. We've put together our list of the best phones Verizon has to offer. Check out the linked reviews to learn more...

Did you know Google+ is 6 years old today?

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Posted by Florence Ion on 28 Jun 2017 4:03 pm
google plus
Are you even still using the social network? Look, I'd never go up to a six-year-old kid and say, bluntly, "I forgot it was your birthday." That would probably melt the child's heart enough to warrant at least a year of therapy when he hits college. But the truth is, I forgot that today was Google+'s birthday (thanks to Android Police for reminding us to send a card). I didn't even realize that...

Android Things Console developer preview is available for those who like to tinker

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Posted by Florence Ion on 28 Jun 2017 2:53 pm
Android Things Console
Doing its part to make Android Things into a thing, Google gives its developers a dedicated control console. Ready to sync more things together in your house to make the next, best smart home? Android Things now offers a console for developers to more easily interact and tinker with all the devices operating on the Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The Things console essentially gives...

How to take better photos with the Huawei Mate 9

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Posted by Florence Ion on 28 Jun 2017 10:00 am
Are you Mate 9 photos not looking so good? Try these tips. The Huawei Mate 9's dual rear-facing cameras are a ton of fun to shoot with, made even better by their bundled in camera modes and extra features. But maybe you're feeling a little overwhelmed by it all and you're not sure where to start — that's okay. Here's are some quick tips for putting the Mate 9's cameras to proper use.

Dreams do come true: Chrome OS will soon have a native night mode

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Posted by Florence Ion on 27 Jun 2017 3:33 pm
Your circadian rhythm thanks you. Night owls, I understand your perspective. Night time is the right time to hunker down, light a few candles, and get into the zone with your Chromebook. But all that blue light shining in our faces is detrimental to our sleep health, which is why Chrome OS will soon have a native night mode. By way of Android Police, there's a Night Light feature that's just...

OnePlus 5: Which model should you buy?

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Posted by Florence Ion on 27 Jun 2017 10:00 am
OnePlus 5 colors
Do you require 64GB or 128GB of space? And is the extra RAM really that necessary? OnePlus has certainly figured out its formula for selling smartphones: take a no-fuss design, shove in an all-day battery along with the latest processor, and keep the Android software tweaks at a minimum. The OnePlus 5 is a great depiction of that vision as it's equipped with all the components that fit in with...

Already missing Silicon Valley? Then you'll want to download this app

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Posted by Florence Ion on 26 Jun 2017 4:10 pm
Find out if what you're eating is a hot dog — or not. HBO's famed show about the Silicon Valley has officially aired its last episode for the season, but don't fret! There's an app available to help tide you over until the next season. That's right, Jian-Yang's venerable Not Hotdog app is in the Google Play Store. It's ridiculous, and it doesn't do much save for identifying if whether or not...

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