BlackBerry’s new Priv smartphone is out in the market and there is a lot of buzz regarding it as this is first Android phone that runs Android apps. In fact, it’s also the first Android phone that has actual, physical keyboard. Coming at the price of $699, here we are providing the full review of this Android phone.
Firstly, it’d be right to put that Blackberry that decently customized Android. Though, it doesn’t run the very latest version, but then there are also no silly ideas regarding how to use a phone. You are also free to ignore or turn off the changes BlackBerry made, in case you don’t like them. Meanwhile, there are some bug issues that need to be sorted that there are some apps that freeze up and there were some issues with tag recognition. Sometimes the phone gets really hot. The company has been updating several of the software lately and in the coming days there are going to be more software updates.
Google has surprised one and all with its new introduction Nexus 6P, that’s the first phone made of metal and made by Chinese vendor Huawei. In fact, it’s also first to include both a fingerprint reader as well as Android 6.0 software aka Marshmallow with Google Now on Tap. It has 5.7-inch screen display and the best thing is that the Nexus phones are compatible with all major carriers, as well as Google’s own unique Google-Fi wireless service and then there is an affordable handset insurance plan offering next-day replacement.
Even the camera quality is quite extraordinary as the 6P’s 12-megepixel camera (powered by a Sony image sensor) takes nice shots in bright daylight and low light. It’s also good performance wise and has good battery life and the Google Imprint fingerprint is praiseworthy.
Going by the current trend the demand for mobile app development is certain to grow by large extent in the coming years. Nowadays we see businesses at start-up or enterprise level benefiting hugely from PhoneGap, which is counted among the best cross platforms development tools.
If you’re wondering whether your business is going to benefit from one or more apps, then we have a solution for you. It goes without saying that for successful running of a business you must target a large group of people and among them many would be those using different mobile platforms for iOS, Android or Windows. However, you would be keen on splurging the amount three times for the same time. And with PhoneGap you get the answer to your query as with the help of this mobile development framework developers can easily write out the code for an app and deploy it across multiple platforms for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, etc sans the need to write different code for different platforms.
Well, this comes around as certainly a big news for the Blackberry lovers as the brand is all set to release its first smartphone that runs Google’s Android software, instead of Blackberry OS, that seems to not enjoy the same attention as it did previously. In the age where iPhone and Android are enjoying huge prominence, Blackberry has indeed took a major step by coming up with Blackberry Priv with Android software. This is indeed an attempt made by Blackberry to regain its lost sheen, while it continues to focus on privacy, which has been its major feature.
The new version of Android is out and it’s officially called Android 6.0 Marshmallow. With this Google has chose to focus on the few big features, like Now on Tap and with the same there are other small changes for better battery life and performance. As it comes to the look, Google has chosen not to give it an all new look as the operating system uses the same colorful Material design theme introduced with Android 5.0 Lollipop last year.
Here we bring to you the features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow:
Now On Tap
Google Now is highly accessible now with the newly introduced featured named Now on Tap. This is helpful in pulling up extra information in top of whatever you’re doing, based on what’s on your screen. This button simply works by pressing and holding the home button on your phone. Now On Tap is useful in various ways as it includes shortcuts to apps on your phone, like with the OpenTable app installed, you can use an OpenTable shortcut from the Now on Tap card to book a table.
This is also useful in running a voice search as Google is going to use the context of what’s on the screen to offer you results. For instance, if you’re looking at a restaurant in the Foursquare app and ask Google how far it is from you, then it will show the results of the restaurant on your screen, giving you the right travel times. This wonderfully works when you play music on your phone as you can ask for details about the artist or band.
In all, Google Now on Tap offers quick answers helping you figure out the next step. This well-designed feature is helpful when in need and then it disappears so you can perform the action you were doing earlier.
Android Pay
This is Google’s new mobile payments system that also works on OS other than Android 6.0. This will help you in making purchases at participating stores using your phone’s NFC chip. Just as you do with Apple Pay, here as well you can hold your phone to the credit card terminal and follow the onscreen prompts to pay. Samsung Pay enables you to pay at different kinds of credit card machine. This way you can make purchases on your phone, like paying for an in-app purchase. Google Wallet, Google’s original mobile payment app is changing to handle only peer-to-peer payments that can be made between friends, family and others. It successfully works with 700,000 stores.
Source: CNET
Power
Google’s Nexus device is supporting the new USB Type-C standard of charging cable. This way it can be charged or can also charge other devices, while the shape is same on both the sides, thus no need to struggle with which side is “up.” Android 6.0 Marshmallow also consists of Doze, which is an automatic energy-saving feature that uses less power than the current standby mode.
Source: CNET
App permissions
Earlier on, installing an app meant you agreeing to let it use whatever parts of your phone it asked to use. However, now apps will seek permission to access to parts of your phone or Google account when needed, and you can approve those requests or not. Like, a messaging app will certainly not ask for permission to use your camera until you try to take and send a photo. This lends additional security to Android, giving you more control over how apps can use your phone’s resources.
Source: CNET
Fingerprint support
Yes, Google has now included support for a fingerprint reader, allowing the the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P to use a fingerprint scanner to unlock your phone as well as apps. At the same time you can use your fingerprint to authorize payments.
Redesigned app drawer
This app drawer is the menu where all the apps installed on your phone or tablet live, get a new layout in Marshmallow. You will find a search bar at the top, where you can quickly find an app. Below are the apps Google thinks you want to use right now, based on time of day or your typical app-opening habits.
Source: CNET
Landscape home screen
Now you can rotate your home screen to landscape mode. This feature is present in Google Now settings and might not be available on all phones.
Stay tuned to have more updates regarding Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Apple’s latest Mac operating system, OS X EI Capitan is going to be available today to the general public and it’s believed that the shipped version is somewhat identical to the Gold Master build that early adopters are already using. However, there are still some wonderful changes as compared to the EI Capitan that will be certainly welcomed.
Pros:
Faster performance
Split-screen multi-tasking
Transit directions in Maps
Safari gets pinned tabs and tabs can be muted easily
Useful tweaks to other built-in apps, like Mail and Notes
