Circa News is such a unique and interesting source of information. The Circa team uses their own journalists to write articles for those on the go. It gives off an extremely personal vibe that is easy to read and keep up with. They have a pretty cool ‘Follow’ feature which pushes you a notification that will keep you up-to-date with the article. Along with that, they’ll send you notifications via push or email for breaking news, weekly summary of the important stories out there, and ‘Other’ updates which I’m not sure what that is about yet.

The app also has the standard sharing features which will send the article to whichever service you so desire. It also contains the sources at the bottom of every article along with related stories. The best part of all is that it is completely free and actually an exceptional experience. The design is gorgeous and has a card style layout in each article. I’m a huge fan of this app, and I want all of you to be one, too. Download this right now! Consider it an early Christmas gift.

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

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The post Review: Circa appeared first on Android Fan Network.

The makers of the feature packed Dolphin Browser have come out with a simple, NSA-proof browser for those looking to keep your browsing data to yourself, Dolphin Zero.  The browser is a lightweight, clean cut browser that deletes your browsing data the instant you exit the application. When I say simple, I really mean it. The only features Dolphin Zero has is the ability to keep your data private and delete it upon exit.

For those that are accustom to Google/Bing/Yahoo as your default search provider, this alters that slightly by setting DuckGoGo as your safe and secure default search option. It keeps the same speed you’re used to in the original Dolphin Browser, so there should be no worries when it comes to slowness.

For those interested, the download link is at the bottom after the gallery!

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post Dolphin Zero Released appeared first on Android Fan Network.

1. Click here
2. Click on ‘Shop for Accessories‘ button
3. From the drop down menu, select ‘Nokia‘ and click on the ‘Shop Now‘ button
4. Scroll down and select the Nokia 920 device
5. Scroll down and select the Nokia DT-900 Wireless Charger and add to cart
6. Total will be $12.25 with free shipping

Also, it looks like all non-Apple accessories are 50% off! Get in there quick before they’re gone!

Source: Slickdeals

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post Deal Alert! Nokia DT-900 Wireless Charger – $12 with Free Shipping appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Google has released 2 new Google Play Edition devices today, the Sony Z Ultra and the LG G Pad 8.3. Both are available today and they both come with stock Android 4.4 KitKat. The Sony Z Ultra will sell for a tidy $649 and the LG G Pad 8.3 is selling for 349.99. Google is also offering free shipping for a limited time. Better get those orders in while free shipping is available!

Sony Z Ultra

LG G Pad 8.3

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post Google Play Editions of the Sony Z Ultra and LG G Pad 8.3 Released appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Droid DNA owners, your wishes will soon be granted. HTC and Verizon have not forgot about this device (yet). Verizon has finally approved an update which will bring DNA owners to 4.2.2 and Sense 5.

Mohammed Versi, HTC’s executive director, tweeted that Verizon has approved the update after a 4 month wait.

DNA Owners! We have received technical approval from Verizon on OS 4.2.2 + Sense 5!! Thank you for your patience, the OTA will go out soon!!

— Mo (@moversi) December 5, 2013

Versi also replied to a question on Twitter that it should start pushing out tomorrow.

@bkgamer @DrLovePiston Verizon pushes out the update. Should start receiving by tomorrow. Thanks.

— Mo (@moversi) December 5, 2013

This will bring along BlinkFeed as well as a nice overhaul in the visual department. It has definitely been a long wait for HTC Droid DNA owners, but at least they have confirmed the device is still on HTC’s list to receive 4.3/4.4. The Droid DNA is still a worthy phone in this day and age even though it was overshadowed by the HTC One.

To those that are still rocking the Droid DNA, I salute you. I owned the coveted red employee edition you see above and can say this was one amazing piece of hardware. So for the Droid DNA owners out there, let us know when you get the update and how you like Sense 5!

Source: Twitter

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post Droid DNA OTA update to 4.2.2 and Sense 5 to be out soon appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Unboxing and First Impression

The packaging is fairly minimal. There is a cardboard sleeve, and once you slide that off, you have the box with the controller, a slight manual, and a 3″ USB to microUSB cable for charging. Overall, it’s nice packaging for the controllers, since it doesn’t waste a tree.

Onto the controllers! The Pro Power feels fantastic, and the Hero Power feels so-so. Let’s just say the Hero Power is a modified version of last year’s first Moga controller, the Pocket Controller (the one they were literally giving away for free). If you’ve used last year’s model, you’ll know how cramped the Hero Power is.

The Pro Power, on the other hand, feels extremely similar to an Xbox 360 controller, which is to say, it’s wonderful. It has a black plastic finish on the outside of the controller, and surrounding the buttons, D-pad, and analog sticks are glossy.

These controllers are definitely sturdy, just be careful with the hinge. After opening and closing it a myriad of times, I can definitely see this becoming loose to the point that it might break. Honestly, I’m not worried about it, but it is something that’s worth mentioning.

Day to Day, Play and Play

I played two games with the controllers, Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2. First up, the Hero Power. It was a decent experience. I had a huge problem with the triggers. They are an extremely awkward experience. They are stiff and shallow, and if you’re used to an Xbox 360 controller, you’ll understand what I mean. The Hero Power feels very cramped and small. I have average sized hands and can’t imagine anyone else using this for long stints.

The Pro Power was a fantastic upgrade to the Hero Power. It brought me back to when I would play Xbox 360 for hours on end. It felt nearly perfect, especially with the Xbox 360-like triggers. The one issue I had with this controller was that the trigger started to have less tension after a few hours of playtime. I was playing Asphalt 8 when I noticed less resistance from the trigger. Other than that, it was a joy to use!

Battery, please!

I was able to play Asphalt 8 for about 2 hours on my Nexus 4 and switch to the Nexus 7 for about 30 minutes, and the Pro Power still had about 75% left. Here’s the thing, I didn’t play with the controller charging my phone or tablet. I tested it without that feature at first because I wanted to see how the battery life is, and suffice to say, I’m pretty happy.

However, you’re better off having your phone plugged into an external power source if you’re really wanting to play and charge. Charging on my Nexus 4, wasn’t really a great experience. I didn’t experience any overheating, but if you touched the phone, it was noticeably warm (warmer than just sitting on a charger). It didn’t cause alarm, but it is something to think about. Depending on the game, you might not really notice any benefit from the controller’s charging aspect. While it did charge, it did so at a negative rate. That is to say that my phone had 100%, but after 20 minutes of Asphalt 8 with it charging, the battery dropped to 98%.

I’m pleased with the performance despite the charging feature’s shortcomings. Don’t expect to play for 15-20 hours charging your phone though! If you’re wondering the battery differences, it’s minimal, yet still enough to consider paying more. The Hero Power holds an 1800 mAh battery while the Pro Power holds 2200 mAh of battery juiciness. I haven’t seen anything documented by Moga in regards to the estimated length of use.

Final Thoughts

I think these would be great gifts. They would definitely make the gamer in your family happy. If you have a little one, don’t worry about getting the Pro Power, the Hero Power will more than satisfy them. However, if you are or have a serious gamer, get the Pro Power. It’s more comfortable, and it just feels better. The Hero Power is, of course, the more portable of the two.

The Hero Power retails for $59.99, while the Pro Power retails for $79.99. If you’re thinking those are steep prices, you are right. However, if mobile gaming is where you spend your time, then these are competitive with console controllers, and the cost is definitely offset by the cost of the game.

Get them at Moga’s site and a bunch of other retailers just in time for Christmas!

Hero Power

Pro Power

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

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The post Review: Moga Hero Power and Pro Power Controller appeared first on Android Fan Network.

For those not willing to wait for the OTA from 4.3 to 4.4 KitKat, you can download the update now!

Our friends over at XDA found the manual installation URLs. One goes from 4.3 JellyBean (JWR66Y) to 4.4 KitKat (KRT16S). The other goes from 4.4 KitKat (KRT16O) to the 4.4 bugfix OTA (KRT16S). It’s easy to install! Just place the zip in your ADB folder and sideload it like you normally would.

Enjoy your KitKat!

4.3 (JWR66Y) to 4.4 (KRT16S) – Download

4.4 (KRT16O) to 4.4 (KRT16S) – Download

Source: XDA

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post 4.4 KitKat OTA links are available for the Nexus 4 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Do you remember Motorola’s last foray into the tablet market? Remember how lackluster it was? Enter the Droid Xyboard 8.2 and 10.1. These tablets came out almost 2 years ago launching with Android 3.0, a.k.a. Honeycomb. They were then updated to 4.0, ICS, but then they were lost in the shuffle of the myriad of Android tablets that followed.

Starting yesterday, Verizon is trying to make up for the lackluster product that is the Xyboard line. They are updating them to Android 4.1.2, JellyBean. I know it isn’t the latest, but the new Motorola is trying their hardest to become a respectable competitor in the mobile field again.  These tablets don’t have the best specs, but for the time, they were actually above average. Anyway, go ahead and try and pull down the update via Settings > About Tablet > System Updates, and rejoice in the buttery goodness that is JellyBean!

Source: Verizon

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post Droid Xyboard 8.2 and 10.1 updated to JellyBean 4.1.2 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Let me start off by saying that this app solved a major problem that started after I got married. Usually when it’s time to go to sleep, I like to watch something. It usually helps me fall asleep, unless it’s a new series that I want to see more of. It is a terrible idea to start a new series before bed, because if it draws you in, you’re going to want to watch more. Anyway, after I got married, I couldn’t watch anything unless the audio was completely off or so low that only dogs could hear it. This is where SoundWire came to my rescue.

Setup

SoundWire is a simple, yet effective app that streams the sound from your PC to your Android device. It’s extremely simple to set up, and it’s extremely simple to use. There are two versions out there: free and full (paid). Once you install the app, you’ll actually need to go to your PC and download the server client. After you install and run it, head on over to the app on your tablet or phone. As long as you both are on the same WiFi network, you can click on the SoundWire image at the top. It’ll automatically find the server on your network, and it’ll start syncing the sound from your PC. It’s that easy.

Now, it is possible to use it over 3G/4G, but it’s going to be extremely hit or miss depending on your connection. Also, it’ll eat your data up quickly, so you might want to stray away or be on one of the lucky few who have good unlimited service.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Unlimited audio streaming
• Great compression codecs
• Very low latency use (unless downloading a file or you have several other devices attached to your network)
• Excellent sound quality
• You can save what you hear to an MP3 or WAV
• No ads (on Full version)

Cons

• (Free version) 10 minute free trial of their awesome Opus audio compression 
• (Free version) Every 45 minutes, the app announces itself by name.
• (Free version) Displays ads
• Rarely there’s latency issues when there’s absolutely nothing else using the network
• Has an old outdated style from the Gingerbread era

Conclusion

So what can I say, I love this app. I use it nightly now, and it has been a blessing. I highly recommend this app and suggest that you purchase the full version for the compression, no interruptions, and no ads!  The only problem is that the app costs $3.99, so that might be a negative to some folks.

The server is compatible with only Windows (XP, 7, 8) and Linux.

Get the Full version here:

Get the Free version here:

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post App Review: SoundWire appeared first on Android Fan Network.

If you just read our article on the Installer release, I’m sure you’re all wondering how the CyanogenMod Installer works now that they’ve released a beta app/beta Windows installer. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s a simple process with a few perks and one major caveat in my opinion.

Instructions

1. Start by downloading the app here.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Visit CyanogenMod’s site for the Windows installer.

4. The Windows installer will walk you through several steps (if your device is supported)

a. It has you plug your device in, allow your PC’s address always, and then unlock the bootloader.

5. It will load a CyanogenMod bootloader image (the mascot) and download/install the latest official version of the ROM.

6. That is it. It’ll reboot and CyanogenMod will be loaded on your device!

Caveat, you say?

Here’s the deal… If you want to revert your device back to stock, you better be a knowledgeable power user of Android already because there’s absolutely no way to revert yourself. There’s definitely benefits of using Cyanogen over Touchwiz or any of the other OEMs skinned versions, but if you want those features back or need to return your device to stock for whatever reason, you will need to know a lot more than just following an installer/prompt.

If you have a Nexus device, it’s pretty simple and self explanatory if you use something like Wug’s Nexus Root Toolkit. Any other device though, you’ll have to go searching for an answer elsewhere like XDA or RootzWiki.

I ran this on a Nexus 7 (2012), and it installed extremely quickly and simply. I reverted back to stock with Wug’s toolkit so it was simple both ways for me!

If you have any questions, I’ll be more than happy to answer them in the comments!

CyanogenMod Installer App

CyanogenMod Windows Installer

About Derek Lockovich

I work in Network Services. I love music and play a little guitar. Android is my favorite mobile OS, and it always will be as long as Google keeps pushing out fantastic products. The Nexus 4 is my smartphone and will soon be upgraded to a Nexus 5.

• More Posts (15)

The post CyanogenMod Installer How-To and Review appeared first on Android Fan Network.