O+ USA Unveiled The 360 Touch

O+ USA unveiled their newest innovation, the 360 Touch, which allows easier navigation on your phone with just one hand!

As the name initially suggests, these devices sport a back touch panel. This new feature is something very unusual, which makes it one of the key selling points of these devices.

Two Variants

There are two phones under the newly unveiled O+ 360 Series: the O+ 360 and O+ 360 Alpha. The O+ 360 is the larger of the two smartphones, while the O+ 360 Alpha is smaller and more affordable.

The O+ 360 which is priced higher than the 360 Alpha, features 5-inch qHD IPS display and comes equipped with 8 megapixel rear camera. The phone has a quad a core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage with up to 32GB microSD card expansion. It is a dual SIM phone and is capable of rendering 3G connection service. As for the operating system, it comes with the Android 4.4.2 KitKat with some software-enhanced features such as Air Shuffle, Peace to Selfie, Mobile Anti-Theft, Flip to Silent, Shake to Answer Calls, Shake to Switch, Encrypted Messages, Selfie Fix.

O+ 360 Specifications:

• 5-inch qHD IPS LCD display (950×540) – not scratch resistant
• Cortex-A7, Quad core,1.3GHz speed
• Mali-400 MP, 2 core, 400MHz speed
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB internal storage expandable via MicroSD up to 32GB
• 8 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash
• 5 megapixel front facing camera
• Dual SIM, Dual Standby
• 3G, WiFi, WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth
• GPS, A-GPS
• Android 4.4 Kitkat
• Battery: 2,000mAh Li-ion
• Dimension: 146 x 74 x 8.6 mm

O+ 360 Alpha Specifications:

• 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS  854×480 (not scratch resistant)
• Quad core, 1.3GHz speed, MT6582V/X Cortex-A7
• Mali-400 MP, 2 core, 400MHz speed GPU
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB internal storage expandable via MicroSD up to 32GB
• 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash
• 5 megapixel front facing camera
• Dual SIM, Dual Standby
• 3G, WiFi, WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth
• GPS, A-GPS
• Android 4.4 Kitkat
• Dimension: 135.4 x 66.8 x 9.1 mm
• Battery: 1700mAh Li-Ion

Android Wear: The New Smart Companion

Launched less than a year ago, Android Wear is now coming into its early golden age with devices such as Sony's Smart Watch 3, LG's G Watch R, Motorola's Moto 360 and more.

What Android Wear does?

Android Wear is intended to provide "information that moves with you" and so far it lives up to that promise. It puts the entire world inches from your suddenly-free fingertips.

It doesn't just tell the time. The wearable operating system makes suggestions based on time and it factors location into its context-sensitive data.

There are now several hundred apps available for the OS, augmenting your Android Wearable's powers beyond the standard notifications 'n' fitness realm. 

Extending Android to Wearables

Android Wear extends the Android platform to a new generation of devices, 

with a user experience that's designed specifically for wearables.

• Get glanceable, actionable information at just the right time with notifications that are synced from your handheld device.
• Say “Ok Google” to send messages, ask questions, and get stuff done.
• Design apps that can access a wide range of sensors and other hardware directly on the wearable.

Developing for Android Wear

The Android Wear APIs are delivered in the Android Support Library and Google Play services. When using these libraries, handheld devices running Android 4.3 or later can communicate with wearables.

Synced Notifications

Notifications on handhelds can automatically sync to wearables, so design them with both devices in mind.

Voice Actions

Register your app to handle voice actions, like "Ok Google, take a note," for a hands-free experience.

Build Wearable Apps

Create custom experiences with activities, services, sensors, and much more with the Android SDK.

Send Data

Send data and actions between handhelds and wearables with data replication APIs and RPCs.

Lenovo Vibe Z Features

Lenovo Vibe Z, a blazingly-fast smartphone. The Vibe Z originally ran Android 4.2.2, also known as "Jelly Bean." It now comes with Android 4.3 and Lenovo has announced an upgrade to 4.4 Lenovo customized the dialer in order to facilitate one handed dialling. Lenovo has also included numerous proprietary apps. SECUREit includes antivirus, child safety, privacy and anti-theft functionality. SYNCit backs up and restores contacts, messages, and call logs. SHAREit facilitates file sharing, including via direct connections using Bluetooth and ad-hoc wi-fi. Power Manager extends battery life and protects the battery from premature failure.

Features of Lenovo Vibe Z are:

• Qualcomm® 2.2GHz Snapdragon™ 800 Processor. Thrilling speed and smooth navigation characterize the Lenovo VIBE Z smartphone. The power-efficient Qualcomm® Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz processor delivers the muscle to match any combination of apps, videos or 3D games.
• Dual High Resolution Cameras. The VIBE Z makes you centre of attention with its 5 megapixel front camera and 84° wide angle lens for high quality self shots, plus amazing video chat. You can also capture sensational images, even in low-light conditions, with a 13 megapixel rear camera with BSI sensor, and shoot 1080p HD video.
• 4G Speed. The VIBE Z supports high-speed LTE (4G) networks for the fastest data connectivity making websites, apps and games reach their full potential.
• 20/20 Vision. Enjoy vibrant and pin-sharp images, gaming and video with the VIBE Z’s 5.5” 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution display. At more than 400 pixels per inch you can browse full-version websites, or enjoy and share hi-res images and video at their absolute finest. Plus, in-plane switching (IPS) allows for nearly 180-degrees of wide-angle viewing.
• Lenovo DOit Apps. Lenovo's new DOit series of apps let you and your device do more including sharing data with other Android devices without requiring a network, preventing viruses and malware, and backing up your contacts and sms log. Go to the Apps tab for more details.
• Lenovo Smart UI. With Lenovo Smart User Interface, one hand smartphone control has never been easier. To light up, press the volume button, and you can answer a call by just putting the VIBE Z to your ear. In addition Smart UI makes it easier to find your favorite apps with simple drag and drop folder organization.
• Android 4.3. Android 4.3 includes restricted profiles which control access to apps and content helping secure your smartphone. In addition, Bluetooth Smart support enables mobile apps that connect to fitness sensors, while games look great thanks to the 3D realistic, high performance graphics powered by OpenGL ES 3.0.
• Comfortable and Light. Ultrathin at 7.9mm and with a power-to-weight ratio to envy at only 147g, the VIBE Z slips easily into your pocket or bag. Its laser-etched fabric-feel rear cover also offers a comfortable grip and resistance to fingerprints and scratches, while its Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 display is as tough as they come.

Google Messenger: The Latest Messaging App

Google has released Lollipop Messenger app, the new Google Messenger app will ship on Android 5.0-powered devices like the Nexus 6 in addition to Hangouts, giving folks the option to choose whether to integrate SMS into Hangouts or not. For those that are curious enough to try out the app now, the APK has been unofficially made available and seems to work just fine on Android 4.4 KitKat.

As you can see, the app is very minimalistic in design and follows the Material Design guidelines that you’d expect from a new Lollipop app. If you’re coming from a fresh install without imported messages, you’ll have nothing more than a blank screen on the main page, though as you add conversations they’ll populate here. As with many other apps, your contacts with either have an associated photo or a colored circle with a the first letter of their name.

If you're not a fan of using Hangouts on stock Android to send and receive an SMS then don't worry, the Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google has included a new messaging application for SMS & MMS bearing the features of Material Design. And best of all - you can download it today! Messenger is now available for install from the Google Play Store.

Key features:

• Faster sharing: Select or take pictures and videos directly from the app and share easily. You can even send audio messages to your contacts.
• Easy search: Search through contacts and conversation threads to find exactly what you are looking for.
• Purposeful design: New, fluid, material design that is intuitive and delightful.
• More control: Ability to block SMS senders. No interruptions when you don’t want them!
• More features: audio messages, emoji support 😃, colored text threads, message archiving and more.

Messenger is supported on devices running Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean, and above.