We’ve got a cool giveaway for you guys this week here at AFN. Evolutive Labs has graciously provided a free Rhino Shield for the Sony Xperia Z1 to AFN for us to give away! Isn’t that awesome?! I’ve been using their screen protector on my personal Z1 since day 1. There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a tough screen protector that can stand up to the worst kinds of hits and scrapes. My Z1 is still in pretty great shape to this day thanks to the protection of the Rhino Shield.

The giveaway is for an unopened front and back screen protector for the Sony Xperia Z1 (C6902/C6903/C6906/C6943). This will not line up properly on the T-Mobile Sony Xperia Z1S. If you haven’t seen their product demonstration on YouTube yet, check it out below. Yes, the video is real, and I can attest to its strength personally on my own device. Neither I nor AFN are being paid for saying this. I just really love this product.

1. Enter by commenting on the giveaway post on Google+, then reshare it.

2. You have until 11:59 PM CST on Friday (6/13/2014) to enter.

3. The winner will be announced on Saturday (6/14/2014).

4. You have 48 hours to claim your prize, or we’ll pick a new winner.

5. This prize is valued at $30 USD.

Circle and +1 us for more cool stuff! The winner will be announced below and on Google+.

Winner:

This could have been YOU!

I guess we’ll try again some other time.

Image Credits: nexus5accessories

The post Rhino Shield Screen Protector for the Sony Xperia Z1 Giveaway appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Available in eleven colors, it is super thin and doesn’t add any bulk to an already large device. I like that the volume and power button areas are notched out instead of covered since it gives your finger and thumb a place to land without looking down. The bottom cutout for the charging port area is wide enough not to interfere with opening that stupid waterproof cover Samsung used. Something a little different, and a nice detail, is the teardrop shaped cutout around the IR blaster and ambient noise microphone.

The Bugdroid Circuit pattern remains similar to the previous year’s models, but with the addition of a CruzerLite “C” logo on the Bugdroid not seen on the Galaxy S4 case. Of the eleven colors available, red and blue are my favorites, especially on the pearl white Galaxy S5. As you can see in the video, this combination just really pops out at you.

You can find the BugDroid Circuit case on CruzerLite’s website for $13 or in their official Amazon store.

Image Credits: CruzerLite

The post Review – CruzerLite Bugdroid Circuit TPU Case for the Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Like many of us, I am pretty leery of all these new accessory brands popping up and if what I am spending hard earned cash on is worth it. Not having heard of TechMatte or their AmFilm screen protectors, I was not sure what I would receive when asked to take a look at these. Turns out their AmFilm Premium HD clear screen protectors are really good ones and I had no cause for concern.

The AmFilm Premium HD Clear is a plastic film screen protector, but of sufficient hardness and thickness that it has not picked up pocket scratches in the week of use. Installation was easy enough since AmFilm includes stickers you can use to align the screen protector and remove dust. The included wipe is a quality microfiber type and not one of the cheap paper wipes you find in the disposable 99 cent 5 packs. The adhesive AmFilm uses doesn’t have any rainbow effect and this really is crystal clear. The alignment of the cutouts is pretty tight and the flim covers edge to edge and around the camera and speaker, but they did leave the area under the home button open.

I would certainly recommend these if you are looking for a premium type screen protector that isn’t ridiculously overpriced like other offerings. You can find these at TechMatte’s Amazon store for $5-7 which includes a lifetime replacement warranty.

Image Credits: TechMatte

The post Review – TechMatte AmFilm Premium HD Clear for Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

The AmCase Hybrid Bumper Case from TechMatte is a well made, lightweight, protection option for your Galaxy S5. The case’s construction is a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) outer bumper ring bonded to a transparent frosted polycarbonate back panel giving your phone a light drop protection while still letting the Samsung’s “Glam” show through. The case pops on easy and fits snug as to not add bulk to an already large device. Volume keys and the power button are covered by the TPU bumper, but the tactile feel and responsiveness are not lost. Cutouts around the microphones, speaker, camera and other sensors are tight, but without interfering which strikes a good balance between protection and usability.

TechMatte, maker of the AmCase and AmFilm brand of accessories, is a relative newcomer, but are quickly establishing themselves with quality products and customer service. Definitely check them out if you are in the market for a case. You can find their AmCase Hybrid Bumper on Amazon for $6 to $10 in black/frosted as shown here.

Image Credits: Techmatte

The post Review: TechMatte AmCase Hybrid Bumper for Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Google Voice – Gavin

This is an oldie, but a good one. It is rough on the eyes and does not adhere to Google’s own design requirements suggestions, but it is invaluable. It is a voice mail replacement, a free way to text and make calls over WiFi (3rd party app required), and a throw away number.

Even today, with multiple free alternatives out there, some carriers still charge for visual voicemail. Visual voicemail is simple, the ability to choose what message you listen to and in what order, all through the ability to see(hence the word visual) said messages. There are many benefits to this, such as not accidentally erasing a message, not having to listen to five old messages just to listen to the newest one, or simply not forgetting about an old message because you see it every time you open your voicemail app. Another added feature of Google Voice is transcribed messages. While wildly inaccurate, the ability to get an idea of what the voicemail is about without having to put the phone to your ear is priceless when you are unable to listen – like when you are in a meeting.

Another benefit of Google Voice is the ability to never give my primary phone number out. If my bank, a website, USPS, UPS, etc requires my phone number, they get my Google Voice number. Google Voice allows you to add people to a blocked list or set all calls to silent, helping maintain my sanity from the ever-increasing computer calls about my “free vacation” that I just won. While I would prefer to never give out my number, it is necessary for some companies that I deal with to have a way to contact me, but they also do not need my direct private number. I want my bank to be able to call me if they suspect fraudulent activity, but at the same time I do not want to have to worry about them selling my number to a third-party. With Google Voice, if they do, I can always just change the number or block them.

This is my favorite use for Google Voice: free WiFi calling or texting. The last time I was overseas, I had to place a two-minute phone call from Germany to Belgium due to a delayed flight, and AT&T thought this was worth $14. With Google Voice and a third-party app (such as Talkatone) you can place calls from anywhere in the world to the US for free when on Wi-Fi or using your cellular data. There is no set up, and it uses your free Google Voice number, and the call quality is great. Even if you get a SIM in the country you are visiting, you will have a phone number for that country and it will require a long distance call when you call the US. Save yourself money and use Google Voice.

Note: **Google Voice is discontinuing third-party app support May 15th. There are paid alternatives out there that provide you a similar service without Google Voice if you are currently using this method for free-calling and texting, so be prepared.**

Head to the link below to download Google Voice for free. Do you depend on Google Voice? Chime in and let me know how you rely on Google Voice and any other creative uses you have found for it.

APK Share & Backup – Dave

Ever have an app or an APK that you must share with your friends or family? Or you just want a simple way to back it up to you SD card or one of your cloud based services?

Let’s rewind to when that developer had that dopey game Flappy Bird on the Play Store and told us we had 24 hours to download before be took it down for good because the game and players were making him mental (lol). If you are (or were) a fan of Flappy Bird, this would have been the best time to have an app like APK Share & Backup installed. Those few silly people buying Galaxy S III’s for crazy amounts of money with Flappy Bird installed could have saved a lot of time and money if they did.

APK Share & Backup is pretty simple to use really. After installing it and opening APK Share & Backup, it will give you a list of all the apps you have downloaded on your device. Once you find the app you would like to share or back up, simply hit the check box for the app in the list and you’ll be presented a list of options to either share the APK to your favorite social media, cloud based storage, e-mail and other very simple ways to get that APK to your friends, or back it up (it backs up to your SD card).

So, keep this app handy. You never know when a developer goes completely bonkers, not wanting $50,000 a day in ad revenue, and pulls his app from the Play Store, or you found an app that you must simply keep a backup of or share it. Either way, APK Share & Backup is an extremely easy to use for beginners and seasoned Android users to accomplish this. Hit the link below to grab APK Share & Backup from Google Play.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

The post Android Fan Network’s Weekly App Picks – May 11 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Mixology – Sean

How many of you wish you knew how to make a certain drink or wanted to know what wine went with a certain food? Show of hands? Well the summer is fast approaching and a lot of you will be hosting parties and will surely want to know these answers. I work in a liquor store and I get asked these questions all the time.

Mixology is a great little app to help with these questions. It’s a nice little app that you can browse through a slew of recipes, search by drinks, liquors, wine and so on. You can lookup what kind of things you should have in your bar as far as tools are concerned, what alcohol you should have on hand and how to make the drinks you seek. There’s even a random setting where you can set what booze you want to mix and when you shake the device, it will give you a list of drinks you can make given the types you’ve chosen. I like it because this is straightforward and easy to use. There is an in app purchase that removes ads for $ .99 so as to not clutter your screen space up.

Lowe’s – Gavin

Being a homeowner in the middle of a remodel, I am familiar with the local hardware stores. Lowe’s is not only the closest to me, but they also have an app that other businesses should try to mimic. It of course has the prerequisite store finder and ability to purchase items, but what makes it stand apart is My Lowe’s.

My Lowe’s is a true digital assistant, saving all of your purchases and storing all of your frequently purchased items. Light bulb burn out? No longer do you have to pull out a ladder and climb up just to see the type and wattage, the Lowe’s app stores that info for you. I have three different sized air filters for my HVAC system, and I have all three written down at home, which does me no good when I am at Lowe’s trying to remember. You simply snap a picture of the item, assign it to a room in your house, and enter any info you want to remember. Now that info is stored in my phone, no more angry trips home because I forgot what wattage light bulb my refrigerator takes.

Another part I use is the storing of purchases. Not only does it attach any online purchases or purchases made through the app, but it will associate purchases made in the store with my account. It does this through your phone number. When you first set up the app and create a free account, you have the option to link your phone number. This allows you to give the cashier at Lowe’s your phone number at check out to link purchases to your account. No cards to scan, no need to open the app, no extra numbers to remember.

Head to the link below to set up your free account. The first time you are standing in the aisle looking at rows of water filters and can not remember the type you need, you will be happy to have this app.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

The post Android Fan Network’s Weekly App Picks – May 4 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Gerblins – Sean

Gerblins Free is quite the time killer from Butterscotch Shenanigans. Yes, I seem to review a lot of their games, but hey… they’re tons of fun!

The Blergs are being infected by an unknown virus and you have to help cure them and release them from the midst of the other Blergs without uncovering a Gerblins thus bringing down more Blergs and making quite a mess. By tapping on a Blerg, they will show a number as to how many of its neighbors are infected. 0 means none are and that Blerg is set free. Come across a number though, now you have to be careful. Once you think you have pinned down a possible location of a Gerblins, hit the potion button and tap on the Blerg you think is infected. Get it right and the Gerblin disease is cured for that one. Get it wrong, more Gerblins are released and more are stacked onto your current pile.

Addictive and annoying this game is, but for those who like strategy games, this may just fit the bill for you. Gerblins is free to play through 1 of 6 game levels. Buying the paid version unlocks all the levels.

Confide – Kenny

Confide is a new app available for Android users that lets you send self-destructing messages like you’re Inspector Gadget. iOS users have had this app available for a few months now. Confide works a bit like Snapchat, but it is aimed more towards the business world. Messages can be sent to any phone number or e-mail address, and you’re even told when a message has been read. All messages you send through Confide are encrypted and will erase themselves after being viewed. The clever thing about this app is its screenshot prevention system. To read a message, users must slide their fingers along the message to reveal the words. The words in the message reveal themselves as you swipe along the sentence and disappear once your finger slides on to the next word. The orange and white color palette looks a bit on the ugly side to me, but the app works well enough that I don’t really care.

On my Z1, trying to take a screenshot gets you an error about the storage device being in use. Of course there are ways around this for rooted users, but the app already has that covered with the swipe to read mechanic. Recording or photographing the device’s screen with another device is not out of the question, but that’s a bit extreme. I’m sure something simpler, such as an Xposed module or crack along those lines is going to pop up sooner or later, but right now, this is a solid app with an inventive developer behind it. I’m sure they will be monitoring hacks and updating Confide to compensate as needed. The one thing that detracts me from Confide is the fact that you have to sign up with your name, phone number, and e-mail address. You are also able to log in to Facebook to pull in contacts there as well. This makes the app feel a bit less secretive, but then again it isn’t designed to be SnapChat. It’s meant more for the professional world. I strongly recommend Confide for keeping your insults about Becky’s horrible hairdo a secret from her prying eyes!

AIR Remote – Gavin

If you are lucky enough to own a phone with an IR Blaster, this app is for you. Well, if it is a supported phone. Oh, and if you have an Apple TV. And you know, if you want to use said phone to control said Apple TV. Still with me? AIR Remote FREE for Apple TV lets you use your IR equipped phone to control your Apple TV. Simple. That is all it does, and it works well.

Why spend hundreds on a universal remote or have a basket of remotes when you can use something that you already have on you, your smartphone? There is no set up required, just download the app, open, and point it at your Apple TV, and you are up and running. Currently the app only supports newer HTC and Samsung devices, but it worked on my M8 and S5 even though they are not officially supported. There is a free version with a few ads or an ad-free version for $3.99. Head to the link below and enjoy.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

The post Android Fan Network’s Weekly App Picks – April 27 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Google Play Games – Gavin

A key advantage that Android has over iOS is Google Play Games. iOS’s Game Center is in desparate need of an update and does not work for most games when trying to save your progress and move to a new device. Google Play Games allows your progress to be synced across multiple devices and even has an Easter Egg for those of us that grew up playing Nintendo and Sega. Using the infamous Konami code, you are greeted with nod to Sega’s poorly translated Zero Wing. Here’s the steps:

1. Open Google Play Games
2. Swipe across the screen in sequence – up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right
3. A retro 8-bit controller will pop-up
4. Press B, A, and start in order
5. Your acheivement will be unlocked

Unlocking the achievement doesn’t do anything but unlock a smirk for those of us that remember, but still it’s a neat nod to the retro games we grew up on.

Ookla Speedtest – Kevin

With LTE rolled out to all the carriers, everyone wants to know just how fast their network really is and hit the share button for bragging rights. That said, the go to app for any Android fan is Ookla’s Speedtest app. To use, just open it up and hit start. The app will use your location to find the nearest server and start the download test followed by upload.

The fun is reading about Ookla, the company’s namesake and (slightly) evil cat. Long departed, Ookla continues to live on in their app. To read Ookla’s chilling tale, run a speed test and swipe down over the meter when done.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

The post Easter Egg Edition – Android Fan Network’s Weekly App Picks – April 20 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Freeway Mutant – Sean

Here we have another game from Butterscotch Shenanigans. I have to start off by this… Darn you Butterscotch Shenanigans!!! I say that because this is yet another game that completely sucks you in and get lost in. Freeway Mutant is another endless runner type game and, in this instance, you’re a mutant that kind of looks like the Battletoads from years past (remember that game)?

The object of Freeway Mutant is simple, run throughout a seemingly endless level of a battle scorned bridge while avoiding various monsters and land mines by sliding your finger left or right to avoid obstacles. Your mutant automatically fires when an enemy is in front of him. Along the way, you will need to collect parts like bolts, monster kidneys, or depleted plutonium barrels to upgrade your weapon. The monsters get stronger as you progress so building a better gun is a must.

Playing on a phone like a Note or something with a similar screen size is possible, but your finger can cover up your guy and make it hard to see where your going. I find it best to play on a tablet sized device. This is just a little advice: don’t focus on the screen. Kind of let your eyes just relax and it’s amazing how well you’ll do. Trying to focus will only make you crash into enemies.

The game is free to download, but as always, there are in-app purchases that can be made such as upgrades to your gun. Any purchase removes ads from the game forever.

MLB.com At Bat – Gavin

Lots of people use apps on their phone to make their lives easier. I use mine to follow events that cause pain in my life and that’s why I picked MLB.com At Bat for this week.

Team Page

MLB.com At Bat keeps me up to date with exactly how bad the Phillies are doing. I can read about it, listen to it happen live, or if I am really hating myself, I can watch it happen live. If I am too busy to watch or am just trying not to be depressed, I can set up notifications to alert me about the game. Notifications are customizable and range from scoring updates every inning or just the final score.

What’s great about the customizable notifications is that I can have a false sense of hope most days. The Phillies can be winning going into the 9th, and when Papelbon blows the save I can get a notification instantly reminding me how much he is overpaid. I mean if the Phillies want to spend $12 million a year on a guy with a bad attitude and who can’t throw, why aren’t they calling me? Seriously, what a waste of money.

Speaking of a waste of money, beginning this year you no longer have to pay to watch games twice. In prior years you would have to pay for the MLB package at home to watch games on TV and then again for MLB.com if you wanted to watch it on your PC or mobile device. Now you can just subscribe to MLB Extra Innings through your TV provider and that will unlock all video content on the mobile app. Or if you do not want to pay that much only to be let down by your favorite team, packages start at $2.99 monthly for just audio streaming or you can just use the free app for its news and notifications.

What are you waiting for? Head on over to the Play Store at the link below and have your dreams crushed. Or, if you are a Braves fan, stop reading and crawl back under the rock you came out from, your glory years are over.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

The post Android Fan Network’s Weekly App Picks – April 6 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Into the Dead – Kevin

Into the Dead is an original twist on the endless running genre. The story goes that your helicopter has crashed in a field of zombies so, to escape and survive, you need to run. Controls can be set to tilt and tap to fire, tapping on the left or right edges and center to fire, or sliding. If screen controls are not your thing, it is also Moga compatible. Tilting worked well enough, tapping or sliding occasionally fired the weapon when my thumb wandered out of the control area. After the first solo run, canine companions and weapon crates are introduced to help you clear out the zombies in your path.

While Into the Dead is a free download, upgrades need coins from completing missions or in-app purchases. The prompts to upgrade are everywhere, almost to the point of annoying. Ads are fairly light, but there are several ads or link you can intentionally go through to earn coins. Once you have coins built up, you may use them for adding zombie packs, unlocking weapons, skipping missions, or getting different canines to help you on the run.

Being an Android app, I would have expected the developer to use Google Play Games for ranking, but instead went with Facebook integration. Challenging gameplay and good graphics on both phone and tablet make up for this and the upgrade nags. You can check out Into the Dead on Google Play.

Silence Premium – Gavin

Silence Premium offers something that some phone manufacturers overlook, the ability to set up scheduled do not disturb times. Sure, Samsung, HTC and Motorola offer their own do not disturb mode, but other phones simply do not have the feature (Nexus family) or have implemented it poorly (Sony).

Silence Premium compares closely to Motorola’s Moto Assist from their newest phone line. Silence Premium not only lets you set up a scheduled quiet time, but it also will silence your phone according to your calendar. So you can set up a quiet time of 11PM to 7AM daily, and have the app scan your upcoming appointments to trigger quiet times.

Silence Premium also takes it one step further, allowing you to choose exceptions to the rule. You can allow certain contacts or calling scenarios through, such as two calls from the same number in five minutes, regardless of the time. You can also set up automatic text replies notifying the caller that you are away or sleeping.

This app allows me to not have to remember to silence my phone before bed, something I am sure we have all forgotten to do before. It comes in a free trial version called Do Not Disturb so you can give it a try before buying. When your trial runs out, you can grab the full version of Silence Premium for $2.50 at the link below.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

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